A Local's Guide to Mother's Day in the South Bay

Sunday, May 10, 2026

Plan Ahead: Reservations Are Essential

Mother's Day is one of the highest-traffic dining days of the year. Every South Bay restaurant worth booking will be full by mid-week. If you haven't reserved yet, call today.

Start the Day Right: Flowers First

Before brunch, before the pier walk, stop at Rolling Hills Flower Mart in the Riviera Village. This family-owned upscale florist has been in the South Bay for over 30 years, sourcing high-quality blooms from around the world with shipments arriving multiple times a week. They are open on Mother's Day Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The shop is a step above a typical retail florist: you can build your own arrangement, browse seasonal stems, and find gift items alongside the flowers. Arrive early, as selection will thin out by midday.

Rolling Hills Flower Mart, 231 Vista Del Mar, Redondo Beach (Riviera Village)

Brunch: From Casual to Occasion

Martha's in Hermosa Beach is the relaxed, locally loved option for families who want beach-town atmosphere over a prix fixe format. Open since 1984, Martha's has been a community staple at 25 22nd Street, with an outdoor patio, beach views, mimosas, and an all-day menu that covers eggs Benedicts, pancakes, and the celebrated White Corn Scramble. The critical detail: Martha's does not take reservations; it has operated first-come, first-served for decades. On a normal Sunday there can be a 15-20 minute wait. On Mother's Day, plan for longer. Arrive early (before 8:30 a.m.) or come ready to wait and enjoy it. This is not the table for a timed celebration, but it is the most genuinely South Bay experience on this list.

The Strand House in downtown Manhattan Beach is the perennial local choice for a proper Mother's Day meal. Brunch runs Sunday, May 10 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with a four-course prix fixe menu and live classical jazz downstairs at StrandBar. Pacific coastline views, walkable location, and a format that keeps the meal feeling like an occasion. Reserve through OpenTable or thestrandhousemb.com.

Terranea Resort remains the definitive South Bay splurge. The Palos Verdes Grand Ballroom Brunch runs Sunday, May 10 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. with live entertainment, and the spread is genuinely exceptional: a smoked salmon and bagel bar, seasonal salads, and a chilled seafood display featuring jumbo shrimp, king crab legs, oysters, and ceviche. This is the table for a multigenerational group that wants the full experience. Reserve at terranea.com.

Portofino Hotel & Marina is hosting its Mother's Day Bayside Ballroom Brunch on May 10 starting at 10 a.m. The buffet opens with freshly baked pastries, a smoked salmon station, made-to-order omelets, and buttermilk pancakes, followed by prime rib au jus, fajitas, and a dessert spread featuring seasonal tarts, mini cupcakes, and cheesecakes. The King Harbor setting and floor-to-ceiling water views make this a strong option for families. Reserve at hotelportofino.com.

RYLA in Hermosa Beach is the move for something more inventive. The menu features Yuzu Shio Butter Ramen, Crispy Taiwanese Egg Crepe, Pork Belly Eggs Benedict, sushi rolls, and Japanese pancakes. Follow brunch with a walk on the Hermosa pier.

Evening: Dinner at Coucou

For the mom who prefers dinner to brunch, Coucou Manhattan Beach is the newest and most compelling addition to the local dining scene. This French bistro at 1131 Manhattan Avenue channels apero culture, Parisian energy, and a coastal California sensibility, led by Bouchon-alum Chef Jacob Wetherington. The menu leans into steak frites, oyster platters, and inventive bistro dishes like a fancy hot dog topped with onion jam, and the daily apero hour from 5 to 6 p.m. pairs cocktails with two snacks for $33. This is the spot for a smaller party that wants something lively, design-forward, and decidedly not a brunch buffet. Coucou is dinner-only; reserve through Resy.

The Weekend Market: Saturday, May 9

If mom would rather shop than sit, Sun & Sea Collective is partnering with Promenade PV in Rolling Hills Estates for a Mother's Day Pop-Up Market on Saturday, May 9. There will be 30 local vendors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., selling apparel, jewelry, plants, sweet treats, and more. RSVP online for this free event. A natural pairing with the Promenade's newer dining options for lunch.

The Outdoors Option

Not every mom wants a restaurant table on the busiest brunch day of the year. The South Bay's natural landscape is at its best in May.

The Strand from Manhattan Beach through Hermosa and Redondo remains one of the best Sunday morning routes in Southern California. Bike it, walk it, or simply take it slow with a coffee to go. May weather here is reliably clear and in the mid-60s.

South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes offers 87 acres of cultivated gardens with rotating seasonal plantings and walking paths that feel genuinely unhurried compared to any restaurant on this list.

The Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy has a volunteer day at White Point Nature Preserve on the morning of May 10 for families who want something with meaning built into it.

A Note on Logistics

A few practical details worth knowing before you finalize plans:

The Strand House, Terranea, and Portofino all book out fast. If you are still looking for a table as of this week, call directly rather than relying solely on OpenTable availability.

Martha's does not take reservations. Arrive before 8:30 a.m. if you want to avoid a significant wait.

Rolling Hills Flower Mart closes at 3 p.m. on Sundays, so stop in before brunch or first thing in the morning, not after.

Coucou opens at 5 p.m. and is a Resy reservation. It books quickly on weekends.

Downtown Manhattan Beach has close to 100 locally owned retailers and is an easy add-on before or after any meal near the pier.

Mother's Day falls on Sunday, May 10, 2026.