Esperanza Cocina de la Playa can keep serving on its second-floor dining area until 2 a.m. every night of the week, permanently.
The Manhattan Beach Planning Commission voted 5-0 on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, to make the restaurant's extended second-floor hours official, ending a 21-month permit process that began in October 2024. The decision means the downtown spot at 309 Manhattan Beach Boulevard no longer operates under a trial clock.
Under the approved hours, Esperanza's second-floor indoor space can stay open until 2 a.m. seven days a week. The outdoor patio closes at 11 p.m. nightly. The commission added one new condition: the second-floor patio doors must remain closed whenever the patio itself is closed, a measure aimed at keeping noise from drifting after hours.
Zero noise complaints on file during the trial period helped seal the deal. Vice Chair Kristin Sistos, who participated via Zoom, pointed to that record during deliberation. "There were no noise complaints on file — that's part of what led us to the decision that we made about the length of duration of time on the outdoor patio," Sistos said.
Jordan Cressman, Esperanza's vice president of operations, told commissioners the restaurant doesn't currently offer live entertainment on the second floor and agreed to the door-closure condition without objection.
Commissioner Jill Schecter moved to approve the request with the patio-door edit. Commissioner Dina Treyger seconded. Chair Rachel Hackett, Vice Chair Sistos, and Commissioner Robert Siemak all voted aye. The 48-minute meeting wrapped up with no opposition from the public.
The backstory stretches to Wednesday, October 9, 2024, when the commission first approved a use permit amendment and coastal development permit for Esperanza's second-floor expansion, including outdoor dining, alcohol service, and live entertainment. That approval came with a 12-month trial period. Jill Lamkin, executive director of the Manhattan Beach Downtown Business and Professional Association, spoke in support at the 2024 hearing. Downtown resident Jim Burton also backed the project but flagged noise and hours-of-operation concerns.
In February 2026, Esperanza submitted a request to make the expanded hours permanent. A public hearing on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, resulted in the commission continuing the matter to July 8 and directing staff to draft an approval resolution. Associate Planner Tari Kuvhenguhwa presented the staff report at the July 8 hearing, recommending approval.
The next Manhattan Beach Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at 3 p.m. in City Council Chambers.
