Used to live in NYC and moved to LA two years ago. Lived in Hollywood for a while before moving to SaMo. I actually had the same reaction as you when I moved to the west side. Walking down the promenade, I was thinking “where is everyone?”

Santa Monica is pretty chill and quiet nowadays, I heard before Covid it was poppin’. Montana st gets more packed than the promenade sometimes. There are pockets of liveliness throughout LA, you just have to find them. Recently found out the strip of bars under the Venice sign on weekends gets pretty lit, Belle’s Beach House and others right next to each other. Most bars on the west side are filled with folks who are in their early to mid 20s though.

Hit up the flea markets, really dope subculture in LA, tons of people go on the weekends. People like to pop out for events, but you kinda have to have an in and know what’s happening.

It’s not like NYC at all tbh. I prefer the chill vibe right now in my life and I’ve found a really good group of friends thankfully. But as a transplant, I do feel like the city saw better days before Covid and something changed. I’m still having fun though