Sunset Beach is the small, mostly residential community at the northwest end of Huntington Beach, annexed in 2011 but distinct in character — older beach cottages on narrow lots, no high-rises, and a single low-key commercial strip on the inland side of PCH. The beach itself is wide, the waves are softer than at the pier, and parking is easier.
A grassy median, locally called the Greenbelt, runs the length of the community between the two parallel one-way lanes of PCH; locals sunbathe and play volleyball on it. The strip of bars and breakfast spots on the inland side — Mother's Tavern, Harbor House Cafe, Don the Beachcomber (the original tiki bar, reopened in this location) — has more character than anywhere in central HB.