Open a map of Los Angeles and look for Hermosa Beach, and sometimes you won't even find it. It is a narrow strip of coastline squeezed between Manhattan Beach to the north and Redondo Beach to the south — a city of just over 1.4 square miles (about 3.7 km²) and close to 19,000 residents, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. In the episode, Jason Lanzarini sums it up: it's "like Manhattan Beach, only smaller." And almost all of it is beach.

Dina Silveira, a South Bay realtor, explains why this small city is one of the most sought-after in the region: it's the lifestyle of someone on vacation all year round, but with a home, a job and a routine.

"It's a quiet city, even though it's a beach town. It isn't as touristy as Santa Monica and Venice." — Dina Silveira, in the episode

A whole city a short bike ride from the sand

Because the city is so narrow, even people living on the east side — farthest from the ocean — reach the sand in a few minutes. Dina notes that the e-bike has become the neighborhood's way of getting around: she lives about 15 minutes away by bike and says the ride to Hermosa is her favorite outing.

Three places shape the city's outdoor life:

• The Strand, the beachfront path that connects Hermosa to the neighboring beaches, used for walking, running, cycling, skateboarding and rollerblading.
• The pier, which reaches about 1,140 feet (roughly 350 meters) out to sea, and Pier Plaza, the pedestrian street that ends at it, lined with bars, restaurants and shops.
• The Greenbelt, a green strip that runs through the city from north to south, a few blocks from the beach. It was the bed of the old Santa Fe railroad; the city set aside funds to buy the land in 1988 and, after the tracks were removed, it became a packed-dirt trail of almost 2 miles (about 3 km) inside the city — a place to walk the dog and run away from traffic.

The beach is also the city's sports court. Hermosa has a beach volleyball tradition — Jason says he used to play there when he lived nearby — and today it shares the sand with beach tennis and footvolley, which brings Brazilians together on weekends.

The pier, the bars and the 2 a.m. rule

Hermosa's nightlife is about bars and pubs, not clubs. Dina says the old, larger nightclubs are gone; what you find along the pier walkway are bars with live music, themed pubs, restaurants and even açaí spots.

One detail that surprises newcomers, mentioned in the episode: the night ends at 2 a.m. It isn't a city rule, it's state law — in California, selling alcohol is prohibited between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. at any licensed establishment (Business and Professions Code, section 25631).

No smoking on the street — vaping included

Another rule that catches newcomers' attention: in Hermosa Beach you don't smoke in public places. On August 23, 2016, the City Council expanded the city's smoking ordinance (chapter 8.40 of the municipal code) to ban smoking in all outdoor public spaces, effective September 22 of that year. The ban covers cigarettes, cigars, vapes and marijuana on the beach, the pier, Pier Plaza, the Strand, sidewalks and parks. The city's campaign is called Healthy Air Hermosa, and violators can be fined.

Safety, schools and who lives there

For Dina, people who buy in Hermosa are mainly looking for quality of life — and status comes with it, because the city is one of the most valued areas on the Los Angeles coast. Jason highlights the family atmosphere: compared with the beaches farther north, where homelessness is more visible, the South Bay is calmer.

Schools weigh heavily in the decision, and Dina points out that in the United States it is common for high-income families to keep their kids in public school when the district is highly rated. In Hermosa, education through 8th grade is handled by the Hermosa Beach City School District. For high school, the city has a peculiarity: since the region's school districts were reorganized in the early 1990s, teenagers who live in Hermosa can choose between Mira Costa High School, in Manhattan Beach, and Redondo Union High School, in Redondo Beach — a choice guaranteed by a 1993 state law.

Before closing a deal because of the schools, confirm the current situation directly with the districts: enrollment and transfer rules can change.

Away from the crowds, close to everything

Despite the "South" in the name, Dina considers the South Bay a central region. By her count, from Hermosa you can reach downtown Los Angeles in about 40 minutes (30 on a Sunday) and Disneyland, in Orange County, in a similar time — keeping in mind that just getting from the beach to the freeway takes about 10 minutes. LAX airport is a few miles to the north.

In a small city, she says, everything is close — including City Hall, and day-to-day problems get solved more easily.

Brazilian spots nearby

Anyone worried about culture shock will find support in the neighborhood. In the episode, Jason and Dina mention hair salons, nail salons, massage, a Brazilian market and restaurants in the South Bay. Two names come up in the conversation:

• Silvio's, a Brazilian barbecue restaurant that was on the pier walkway (20 Pier Ave). In 2026, review platforms began listing the restaurant as closed — worth checking before you go.
• Fogo de Chão, the steakhouse the episode places "in Manhattan Beach": the location is actually in El Segundo (2121 Rosecrans Ave), a few minutes from the Manhattan Village mall.

What Hermosa Beach doesn't offer

An honest guide needs the other side. Dina points out two things:

• Backyards are rare. Lots are small and most houses grow upward; the outdoor space is usually the rooftop terrace — or the beach itself. The style of the houses has its own article in this newspaper.
• Limited inventory and beach-town prices. With few homes available and high demand, a well-located, well-priced property gets multiple offers. The market numbers are in another article in this series.

Sources and verification

• U.S. Census Bureau — 2020 Census: Hermosa Beach population (about 19,700) and land area.
• City of Hermosa Beach — Healthy Air Hermosa: amendments to chapter 8.40 of the municipal code approved on 08/23/2016, in effect since 09/22/2016; ban on the beach, pier, Pier Plaza, Strand and public spaces.
• City of Hermosa Beach — Hermosa Beach Pier (about 1,140 feet long).
• Hermosa Beach Historical Society — Green Belt: former Santa Fe railroad right-of-way, land purchase by the city (funds set aside in 1988).
• California Business and Professions Code, section 25631: ban on alcohol sales between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.
• Hermosa Beach City School District — choice between Mira Costa High School and Redondo Union High School for high school (1993 state legislation).
• Fogo de Chão — El Segundo location, 2121 Rosecrans Ave; Silvio's Brazilian BBQ, 20 Pier Ave (status on review platforms, 2026).
• Transcript and chapters of episode 12 of the Cadê Moradia podcast (May 2026), with Dina Silveira and Jason Lanzarini.

Watch this part of the episode:

Lifestyle: Beach volleyball, beach tennis and the "toes in the sand" boardwalk. — starting at 1:06 · CADÊ BRAZIL