Montana Avenue in Santa Monica is currently THE go-to for bagels (three of the best within a couple of blocks!) and some great brunch spots, but did you know this shopping street is also home to a fresh crop of fab female-led businesses? The team at Smith & Berg Property Group set out to interview the women behind four of our fave shops. Whether you’re looking for a house-warming gift, a last-minute bottle of wine, a book for your upcoming book club, or the perfect vintage piece, these four new (or new-to-you) boutiques are well worth a visit.
SBP RECOMMENDED!
O&V CA
📍 1109 Montana Avenue | @oandvcalifornia
This beachy-Tuscan shop is a haven for globally sourced extra-virgin olive oils, barrel-aged balsamic vinegars, and a stunning array of artisan ceramics and culinary treasures. We spent over an hour exploring and left inspired (and hungry). Curious to learn more, we asked founder Tanna Harris to share her vision and how her Santa Monica roots influence the space (scroll for the scoop). With tastings, classes, and corporate gifting in the works — and whispers of a Smith & Berg summer team event — this gem is firmly on our radar.
1. You’ve created such a warm and elevated experience at O&V. How do you see your Santa Monica roots influencing the way you connect with your customers?
Being near our ocean feeds my soul as I presume the same for my customers since most are local and have chosen to live here, too, so I created and curated a space that is reflective of that lifestyle and mindset. My customers may be busy, scheduled, hard-charging in their lives, which is why I wanted the feeling in O&V to be calming, serene, with a very neighborhood, community vibe where busy-ness lives very low on the list.
2. From tastings to corporate gifting, O&V feels like so much more than a shop. What inspired you to create a space where people could gather, learn, and share around food?
I knew what I wanted to share in terms of knowledge of olive oils and balsamic vinegars, but having my own store allows me to stretch both my creative and culinary muscles in curating unique items my instincts tell me my customers, neighbors will appreciate and love. All within a gorgeous setting. We are more an experience than simply a retail store, and our many already repeat customers and the leisurely time they spend with us confirms my instincts are dead on.
Zibby’s Book Shop
📍 1113 Montana Avenue | @zibbysbookshop | Website
Zibby’s is the kind of bookshop you wish existed in every neighborhood: cozy, curated, and brimming with charm. Founded by author and publisher Zibby Owens, this independent bookstore brings serious literary cred with frequent author events, a book club, and expert staff that includes screenwriters and agents. It’s also a go-to for thoughtful gifting (we recently scored some amazing children's books here). Whether you’re on the hunt for your next beach read or just want to browse with a coffee in hand, Zibby’s is your spot.
Divine Vintage
📍 1025 Montana Avenue | @divinevintagesm | Website
Come for the wine, stay for the vintage. Divine Vintage is the latest passion project from Jennifer Rush (yes, the same Jenny behind Blue Plate Oysterette and Blue Plate Taco). Her chic Montana Avenue boutique blends daily wine tastings and small-batch pours with a standout selection of vintage clothing and jewelry. Think retro glam with a refined twist — and don’t miss the delicious, well-priced Moroccan Rosé (an SBP favorite). We caught up with Jennifer to learn what inspired the concept and how she curates the experience.
1. You’ve made your mark on Santa Monica with iconic restaurants — what made you want to pivot into wine and vintage fashion?
I’ve always been an avid vintage collector, appreciating the craftsmanship of the past. Growing up, we were encouraged to thrift and trade clothes, which sparked my love for treasure hunting. As I traveled, vintage shopping became a favorite activity. My boyfriend Nick Dumergue has traveled the world teaching people about wine. I’d go find vintage, he’d find wine — we’d bring our finds home and call them “vintage hauls.” Eventually, our house was so full and people wanted to buy, so I thought, let’s open a wine bar/vintage store to share it all.
2. Divine Vintage brings together such an unexpected but magical pairing. How do you want people to feel when they walk through your doors?
Like they’re transported. Our space is small, so everything is carefully curated — the best, but still approachable. Our wines, cheeses, clothing, and jewelry come from all over (Italy, France, South Africa), so it feels like a vacation. Whether you’re sipping wine on the patio, snacking on Spanish cheese, or finding a Pucci scarf, no two visits are the same.
Bijou Indochine
📍 1107 Montana Avenue | @bijouindochine | Website
A serene jewel box of a store, Bijou Indochine is where heritage, healing, and high style converge. Created by Natalie Vo Karlin, the shop blends vintage Asian textiles and accessories with her own line of gemstone-based jewelry — pieces that reflect her Vietnamese Buddhist roots and contemporary design sensibility. You’ll find everything from jade Buddhas to silver snake rings, plus curated treasures from Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, and beyond. It’s one of those rare places that feels as soulful as it does stylish.
1. Your pieces are steeped in heritage and personal meaning. How does your Vietnamese Buddhist background shape the way you curate and design for Bijou Indochine?
I always describe my shop as an extension of who I am. I curate and make jewelry that are both reflective of my Asian background and my love for gemstones. We love telling the story of what each gemstone or symbol means because it’s always more meaningful when you understand what they mean or where your jewelry comes from. I also curate my shop with vintage Asian jackets, kimonos and brooches with some pieces dating back to the 1950’s. I love to travel, especially Vietnam where I was born, and our shop is always filled with unique items that I bring back.
2. We love that your store feels like a peaceful escape. What do you hope people take away from their experience — beyond the beautiful jewelry?
Thank you for your kind words. The best compliment anyone who walks into my shop can give me is “your shop feels great and has such good energy.” We pride ourselves in being a true community shop. We’ve always been the shop that people love to stop by and just chat or say hi without feeling the need to purchase anything. During the fires in the Palisades, we were one of the shops who changed our layout to provide essential items to the community during the month of January. It’s one thing for the shop to look great and inviting but for someone to walk in and feel good about being there is everything to me.
