Listing of the Week: 3815 Via Dolce, a Canal-Front Villa in Marina del Rey

The single-family homes on the Marina del Rey canals are among the rarest and most coveted inventory on the entire Westside. In a neighborhood where roughly 98% of housing is condos and apartments, a true canal-front villa, with water at the back door, the beach a short walk away, and a rooftop capturing the whole coastline, is the kind of property that comes available only occasionally. 3815 Via Dolce is exactly that property, and it is our listing of the week.

Designed by the late architect Guy Bartoli, this Tuscan-inspired residence blends grand architectural character with the relaxed rhythm of coastal canal living. Four bedrooms, five bathrooms, positioned directly along the water and moments from the beach, the Marina, and the scenic bike paths that define this stretch of the coast. Built in 2000 and recently upgraded, it represents a rare opportunity in one of the most sought-after settings in Marina del Rey.

Here is a closer look, along with a guide to the exceptional food, coffee, and recreation that surround it.

The Home: Four Levels of Refined Coastal Living

What makes this villa distinctive is how it uses its four levels, each with its own character and purpose.

The main level welcomes you with soaring coffered ceilings, an elegant fireplace, and dramatic double French doors opening to a private balcony overlooking the canal. A grand staircase sets the tone for refined entertaining. The formal dining room and the beautifully appointed chef's kitchen anchor the floor, the kitchen complete with a center island, abundant cabinetry and counter space, and a charming eat-in area with its own balcony access. A stylish powder room completes the level. It is a floor designed for both everyday living and effortless hosting.

The second level houses three spacious en-suite bedrooms, including a stunning primary retreat with two sets of French doors framing tranquil canal views, a cozy fireplace, and an inviting sitting area. The spa-inspired primary bath offers dual vanities, a soaking tub, and a separate glass-enclosed shower, a genuine private sanctuary above the water.

The third-floor rooftop deck is the crown of the home, capturing breathtaking 360-degree views stretching from the ocean to the mountains. Designed for unforgettable gatherings, it includes a convenient kitchenette with refrigerator and dishwasher, plus a generous storage room ideal for catered events. This is the kind of space that defines a home's entertaining potential, and few properties anywhere offer a view like this one.

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The versatile ground level offers an additional living room with fireplace and French doors opening to an expansive, beautifully landscaped waterfront patio. This floor also includes a private guest bedroom and bath, a laundry room, and direct access to the attached two-car garage. Crucially, it has its own separate entrance from the canal walkway, giving it exceptional flexibility as a guest suite, private office, gym, media room, or extended-stay setup.

The home has been recently upgraded with new Andersen windows and doors throughout, marrying its timeless architectural character with modern performance.

The Setting: The Marina del Rey Canals

The Via Dolce canal homes occupy one of the most charming and walkable pockets of the entire Westside. Life here is oriented to the water. The canal at your back door, the beach a short stroll away, the Marina harbor and its thousands of boats just around the corner, and the Marvin Braude bike path, connecting all the way to Santa Monica in one direction and beyond Playa del Rey in the other, right at hand.

It is a setting that combines the tranquility of waterfront living with genuine access to everything that makes the coastal Westside special. Here is what surrounds it.

 The Via Dolce Canal.

The Food

The dining within a short walk or bike ride of Via Dolce is genuinely excellent, spanning casual waterfront spots to serious destinations.

Just across into the Marina and along Washington Boulevard toward Venice, the options open up quickly. The Venice end of Washington Boulevard offers a dense concentration of acclaimed restaurants and casual favorites. Waterfront dining within the Marina delivers the quintessential harbor meal, fresh seafood, cocktails, and views of the boats. Fisherman's Village along the harbor offers casual dining and weekend concerts.

For the walkable everyday, the shops and eateries around the Marina Peninsula and the nearby Marina marketplaces provide coffee, quick bites, and neighborhood dining. And the entire culinary universe of Venice, Marina del Rey, and Playa del Rey, from acclaimed sit-down destinations to beloved casual counters, sits within a few minutes by bike or car. This is one of the great advantages of the location: you are at the meeting point of several distinct dining neighborhoods.

The Coffee

The Marina del Rey and Venice coffee scene is one of the best on the Westside, and it is highly accessible from Via Dolce. The defining ritual here is a morning coffee taken to the canal or the beach, the walkable neighborhood putting cafes and independent roasters within easy reach. Venice's celebrated independent coffee culture, some of the most respected roasters and cafes in Los Angeles, is a short ride north, making Via Dolce ideal for anyone who takes their morning coffee seriously and likes to combine it with a walk along the water.

The Recreation

This is where the location truly distinguishes itself. Life on the Via Dolce canals is oriented to the outdoors and the water in a way few homes anywhere can match.

On the water. With the canal at your back door and the Marina harbor around the corner, paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing, and boating are all immediately accessible. The largest man-made small-craft harbor in North America is your neighbor.

On the sand. The beach is a short walk away. Mother's Beach, the calm protected harbor beach ideal for families and swimming, is nearby, along with the wide-open stretches of Marina del Rey and Venice beach.

On the path. The Marvin Braude bike path, one of the great cycling and running routes in Southern California, runs right through the neighborhood, connecting Via Dolce to Santa Monica, Venice, Playa del Rey, and the entire coastal path system. A morning ride along the ocean is a daily option, not a special occasion.

In the parks. Burton Chase Park, the lovely harbor-side green space, and the various pocket parks and green corridors of the Marina and Venice areas provide additional recreation moments from the door.

For anyone who wants the water and the coast to be the center of daily life, the Via Dolce setting is close to ideal.

Why This Property, Right Now

Canal-front single-family homes in Marina del Rey are genuinely scarce, and they come available only occasionally. This villa combines that rare setting with serious architectural pedigree, four flexible levels of living space, a rooftop with one of the best views in the neighborhood, and recent upgrades that keep it current. It is the kind of property that rewards a personal visit, because the way the home uses its water frontage and its rooftop is difficult to fully convey in photos.

For buyers drawn to the Marina del Rey lifestyle who want the rare combination of a true single-family home, direct water frontage, and immediate beach access, 3815 Via Dolce is an exceptional opportunity in one of the area's most coveted coastal settings.

See It for Yourself

A full photo gallery and complete details are available on the listing page. For a private showing or a conversation about the Marina del Rey canal market, we are here.

3815 Via Dolce, Marina del Rey, CA 90292

4 Bedrooms | 5 Bathrooms | Built 2000 | MLS #26854819

Designed by architect Guy Bartoli | Canal-front | Rooftop deck with 360-degree views

Listed by the Stephanie Younger Group. Call 310.499.2020 or reach out online to schedule a private showing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where is 3815 Via Dolce located?

3815 Via Dolce is a canal-front villa in Marina del Rey, in the 90292 zip code, positioned directly along the water and moments from the beach, the Marina harbor, and the scenic Marvin Braude bike path. It sits in one of the rare and highly coveted single-family canal pockets of Marina del Rey, where the vast majority of housing is condos and apartments.

Q: What are the key features of 3815 Via Dolce?

The Tuscan-inspired residence, designed by the late architect Guy Bartoli and built in 2000, offers 4 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms across four levels. Highlights include soaring coffered ceilings, multiple fireplaces, a chef's kitchen with center island and eat-in area, a primary retreat with canal views and spa-inspired bath, a third-floor rooftop deck with 360-degree ocean-to-mountain views and a kitchenette, a flexible ground level with separate canal entrance, waterfront landscaped patio, and an attached two-car garage. It has been recently upgraded with new Andersen windows and doors throughout.

Q: What makes the Marina del Rey canals a desirable place to live?

The canal homes offer one of the rarest lifestyles on the Westside: true single-family waterfront living with a canal at the back door, the beach a short walk away, the Marina harbor and its thousands of boats around the corner, and the coastal bike path running through the neighborhood. Life is oriented to the water and the outdoors, with paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing, cycling, and beach access all immediately available, plus the dining and coffee scenes of Marina del Rey and Venice within easy reach.

Q: What is there to do near 3815 Via Dolce?

The location sits at the meeting point of several distinct coastal neighborhoods. On the water: paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing, and boating from the canal and adjacent harbor. On land: the beach and Mother's Beach for swimming, the Marvin Braude bike path for cycling and running to Santa Monica and Playa del Rey, and Burton Chase Park along the harbor. For dining and coffee, the acclaimed restaurants and independent coffee roasters of Venice, the waterfront dining of the Marina, and Fisherman's Village are all within a short walk or bike ride.

Q: How can I schedule a showing of 3815 Via Dolce?

Contact the Stephanie Younger Group at 310.499.2020 or reach out through the website to schedule a private showing. A full photo gallery and complete details are available on the listing page.