It was a shock when the Starbucks on the corner of Olympic and Sawtelle, in the One Westside “aquarium” shopping center, abruptly closed. It always seemed so busy. Now the location is about to get a fresh new tenant. Window paper has recently gone up announcing the arrival of Rok Matcha. Rok has a location in K-Town and promises, “Premium matcha moments, bold specialty coffee, and thick, dessert-style drinks made to impress”.
In other icy treat news… Congratulations good people of Santa Monica, a second Bacio di Latte is on the way! It appears that Italian gelato is continuing its inexorable conquest of The Westside. Here is the location of the upcoming second Santa Monica branch of Italian-born brand Bacio di Latte, at 1510 Montana Ave, right next to another Italian brand, Sogno Toscano. Because why should anyone have to drive more than a few blocks for luscious, creamy, artisanal gelato?
A delightful new icy treat shop is setting up housekeeping at 11301 W Olympic Blvd in Sawtelle Japantown. The Korean Ice Co. is planning on throwing open their doors this Saturday, April 18 at 12pm. On offer is bingsu, or Korean shaved ice in flavors such as mango, red bean, ube, and matcha. We wish them the best of luck.
Porta Via, at 424 N Canon in Beverly Hills, was a beloved and polished neighborhood spot, well-known for power lunches and catering to well-heeled regulars. Then tragedy struck. A fire closed Porta Via Beverly Hills at the end of last year. But don’t count them out yet. Porta Via Beverly Hills is moving to a new space that used to house Nusr-Et, just down the street at 184 N Canon Dr. There’s an application on the front of the space confirming the happy news. They are promising an opening soon. The “contemporary California Bistro & Bar” is still operating two other locations (their Pacific Palisades location remains temporarily closed). (Thanks Les!)
The new location…
Their old location...
Santa Monica’s fave plant-based Thai restaurant appears to be opening a new location. There’s (faint) lettering on the front of a former massage space at 3020 Wilshire Blvd. announcing the arrival of Thai Vegan. A more recent sign lists the business as Thai Vegi. I believe that Thai Vegi is related to Thai Vegan, which has a longstanding location on Main St., and previously operated an outpost on Santa Monica Blvd. I don’t know exactly what will be in store, but I would imagine the menu will be similar to the Main St. location.
The capricious food/beverage world of Santa Monica’s Third St. Promenade is a nearly constant environment of change. The City’s renewed push to improve conditions for businesses will hopefully bring a fresh crop of arrivals. But there are already new businesses moving in. There are the heavy hitters like Raising Cane’s, and there are also some new enterprises willing to chance Downtown SM. One of these is a new java joint, Dragon Alley Coffee Shop, that is currently setting up housekeeping at 312 Santa Monica Blvd. The still-developing website reveals that Dragon Alley is the dream project of Sage and Richard Chand, whose inspiring story you can read about here. We wish them the best of luck.
It was with great excitement that I told you about the arrival of Pret A Manger (also known as Pret) to Los Angeles. If you are unfamiliar with the brand, Pret A Manger (which means ready to eat in French) is a popular grab-and-go super fresh prepared sandwich chain that began in 1986 in London and has since spread to many locations across the globe (including New York and Chicago). In 2024, they opened a branch at 901 Westwood Blvd. in Westwood Village, then another location in the Westfield Century City Shopping Center, with hints of more on the way. Sadly, I’m hearing from multiple people that both locations are now closed. There is still one outpost at Tom Bradley in LAX. Does this spell the end of an LA expansion?
Taro root treat experts Holey Grail Donuts vanished a few weeks ago from their location at 2441 Main St. in Santa Monica. Wasting no time, a new tenant is moving in according to a small notice on the door. La Diperie began in 2014 in Montreal, and has since spread to multiple locations across Canada. With locations in Florida, it looks like this is their first West Coast opening. The concept appears to be that you choose between ice cream, cakes, donuts, or cookies which are then dipped into various dips such as chocolate, and topped with a choice of over 20 toppings.
Plywood is up on a complete build-out of a new sushi restaurant in The Runway in Playa Vista. Seabutter has four other locations (Beverly Hils, Glendale, Laguna Beach, and Westlake Village) and promises “fresh fish, an innovative menu, and a warm and inviting atmosphere”. I’m not sure when they will start dishing fish at this location, but until then, check out their menu here.
There’s cheery pink window paper up at 9637 S Santa Monica Blvd in Beverly Hills announcing the arrival of a new baked goods store. The location was (I believe) previously a psychic shop and sits right next door to the erstwhile Sprinkles. The new tenant, Sweet E’s Bake Shop, was founded in 2009 by Erica “Sweet E” Tucker right here in LA in 2009 and has since expanded to an “established bakery serving Los Angeles clients, and an e-commerce site delivering delicious treats like cookies, cakesicles, and more across the United States”. Check out their list of Los Angeles’ fave bakes here.
It appears that The Westfield Century City Shopping Center is getting a new coffee purveyor. But not just any coffee…. There’s paper up on one of the ground floor spaces announcing a brand-new Nespresso Boutique. While Bloomingdale’s carries the line, I would imagine this will be more like the Beverly Hills boutique with a light menu of coffees and pastries and a sexy showroom to highlight the snazzy machines and proprietary coffee.
It looks like a new java joint is heading to the West Edge development, at Olympic and Bundy in West LA. There’s window paper up on space #9 announcing the arrival of Menotti’s Coffee Stop. Menotti’s has two other LA locations (and one in Tokyo) and specializes in selectively sourced coffee “primarily from Central and South America” that supports small, independent farmers. I’m not sure what will be on offer at this location, but you can get an idea here.
The troubled spaces at 11758 and 11754 San Vicente Blvd in Brentwood have hosted a number of restaurants, most recently Planta, and Kreation and Pizzicotto before that. Now a plucky new concept is giving the tricky locations a go. Window paper is now up announcing a branch of Neighborly. As I understand it, Neighborly is a “curated kitchen & marketplace” housing a number of different eateries where you can “mix & match across multiple menus.” I’m envisioning something along the lines of “smart kitchen” The Colony. This location offers six different menus including longtime LA institutions such as The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills Pizza and Gaby’s. Neighborly has another location in Westlake Village.
It was a year ago when I told you about the arrival of a new modern Thai eatery to a second-floor space in the Westfield Century City Shopping Center, previously home to California Pizza Kitchen. Finally, Very Thai has thrown open their doors with limited hours as of yesterday (March 12). This exciting new addition to the mall offers fresh takes on Thai classics such as green papaya salad, super seeds shrimp toast, three distinct pad thai, and green curry. Read more about the company behind Very Thai here.
A charming new java joint is currently in build-out at 1260 15th St (corner of Arizona), surrounded by medical buildings. Sonia’s Café appears to be settling into the address, promising, “Where coffee meets a smile.” You can get a glimpse of what the new cozy coffee corner will look like in the artist’s rendering below.
From my inbox, tickets here:
We’re back, taking over Santa Monica, for our annual TWO DAY St. Patrick’s bar crawl, “Kiss Me, I’m Irish”, March 14th & 17th
PARTICIPATING BARS:
BRITANNIA PUB [REGISTRATION]
1212
BARNEY’S BEANERY
CABO CANTINA
HOLEY MOLEY
LOULOU
SANTA MONICA WHALER
Here is how it works:
1) Pre-Purchase Your Bar Crawl Wristband.
2) Check in at Britannia Pub (318 Santa Monica Blvd) to get your wristband and map with participating bars, their location, and their drink specials. (Registration on Saturday, 3/14 from 2PM-8PM & Tuesday, 3/17 from 6PM-11PM) ***WRISTBAND MUST BE PICKED UP DURING THESE TIMES***
3) Your wristband gets you into any of the participating bars with no cover, plus gets you drink specials all night
4) Have Fun!
Adorable, but short-lived Bar Monette caused quite a sensation when if opened in 2023. Then it quietly slipped out of its location at 109 Santa Monica Blvd in Downtown Santa Monica. Now the troubled space (also previously home to another flashy eatery Red Ruby before Bar Monette) is getting a new tenant. There’s a new ABC application in the window announcing the impending arrival of Kogen Omakase. I can’t seem to find a lot of information on the new Japanese restaurant, so if you have more info let me know.
(A reader (Thanks Jorge!) found this website.)
Almost overnight, a new burger joint has slipped into the old Prince of Venice spot at 1091 Broxton in Westwood Village. But not just any burger joint. NADC Burger (Not A Damn Chance) is the brainchild of pro skateboarder Neen Williams and hard-working local Michelin-starred chef Phillip Frankland Lee. NADC has locations across the US and has a simple menu of 100% Wagyu burgers and beef tallow fries. Food & Wine magazine last year named their Chicago location one of “Top Burger Spots in the US“.
Ever since the beloved landmark Izzy’s Deli closed at 1433 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica, people have been peppering me with questions about what would take its place. In 2020 there was a brief promise of a re-opening, but nothing happened. Then in 2022, the for lease signs went up and we all came to the painful conclusion that after 50 years, the famed “Deli to the Stars” simply was no more. After all these years of no perceptible activity, readers are excitedly writing to tell me that window paper is now up revealing a new eatery, Chattanooga Restaurant, is setting up housekeeping at the famous address. With little information out there except the promise of “Pure Persian Flavor”, you can get an idea of what the new restaurant will look inside like by checking out the artist’s rendering below.
We all know that the nostalgic Swedish candy craze is huge right now. There’s something thrilling about creating your own taste experience at a “pick-and-mix” wall of delectable sweet treats. Just such an opportunity is coming to tony Montana Ave in Santa Monica. Teaser window paper is up at 1230 Montana Ave Ste 103, spilling the beans that Kändi Swedish Sweets is setting up housekeeping at this address. Kändi has a location in Studio City and offers a wide array of brightly colored candies and pre-packed bags.
Toddrickallen 