We knew that Miami’s hip Italian “food and lifestyle” brand, Casa Tua Cucina, was coming to Beverly Hills. It was first reported to be joining the massive One Beverly Hills project. But things seem to have changed. There’s a new ABC application up on the space at 153-159 S Beverly Dr that appears to show the lauded eatery is landing across the street from South Beverly Grill. What Now is confirming the new location. I’ll keep my eye on the space to see what develops, until then read more about Casa Tua here.
In a town packed with powerhouse restaurants, quiet little Sushi Kiyono has been happily serving devoted locals for 27 years at 255 S Beverly Blvd. Sadly, that is about to come to an end. A gracious note on the front door cites retirement and says that the final day of service will be this Saturday November 22. The note also welcomes their replacement: The Brothers Sushi. An ABC application on the front confirms it. With locations in Woodland Hills, Santa Monica, and Culver City, The Brothers Sushiis the much lauded and wildly popular “high-end” sushi spot that offers seasonal “Omakase Chefs courses or Ala Carte options”.
“On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 8:00am, Levain Bakery will celebrate its Beverly Hills grand opening – and third opening in the Los Angeles area – with a team ribbon cutting. The first 100 people in line will receive a custom Levain Bakery Beverly Hills tote bag filled with fun bakery swag celebrating the Beverly Hills community. To further celebrate the opening of their Beverly Hills bakery, Levain will offer a brand new limited edition cookie flavor available exclusively at the new Beverly Hills bakery – Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Chip. This cookie, available for just one month, is a new twist on a classic, and a tribute to Levain’s original Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip cookie. All proceeds from Levain Bakery’s Beverly Hills opening day will support Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles, whose mission is to combat hunger by providing meals, love, unity and community. To that end, OBKLA mobilizes volunteers in Los Angeles to cook and package meals for those facing food insecurity.”
Levain Bakery is located at 130 S Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills, and is open from 7:00am to 10:00pm daily (on opening day, we will open at 8am).
Breezy Italian charm is coming to 252B S Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills. With one location in Venice Beach, Castanea Sicilian Cafe appears to be opening a second location at this address. According to the website, “castanea” means chestnut, and the cafe is named after a famous chestnut tree on Mount Etna. Castanea Sicilian Cafe is passionate about “authentic Sicilian flavors and coffee culture”. They are opening another location in Hollywood as well.
Carbs are back with a bang. The evidence? The lines at new bagel shops are out the door on most days. Riding the wave, reliable Sam’s Bagels is opening a new Beverly Hills location at 191 S Beverly Dr.
Crazy popular Levain Bakery continues its LA expansion. There’s window paper up at 130 S Beverly Dr, previously home to a poke shop, announcing the latest branch. Levain Bakery began in NYC in 1995 and has since grown to a smattering of locations around New York and other locations including Larchmont Village, and a new location in Venice. They are famous for ridiculously good handmade cookies that they describe as, “crispy, chewy, soft and melty”.
The entire Westside heaved a sigh of relief when I reported that bakery darling Sweet Lady Jane had been saved from oblivion. (Read the story of how that happened here.) But, after a triumphant opening of some locations this week, Santa Monica’s newly opened branch has apparently hit a snag. There’s an LA County notice of closure affixed to the front door. There’s also an explanation from the current owner, who places the blame squarely on “ex-owners who didn’t request permits for their remodels”. They are apparently scrambling to make things right as soon as possible. The drama of the triple berry cake continues…
I first told you about Strings Ramen, the Chicago-based Japanese concept, back in early 2021, when it began to take form at 255 S Beverly Dr in Beverly Hills. It was open briefly but is now closed again. A note in the window lets us know that this is a temporary closure and that they will be “upgrading to a Curry House”. Looks like they’re aiming for an August re-opening.
Planet Smoothie made a brief appearance at 193 1/2 S Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills, then unceremoniously disappeared. Now the address is getting a new tenant. Window paper is up announcing the arrival of Sweetfin. Sweetfindescribes itself as a “healthful, chef-driven, California-inspired poke and plant-based bowl concept” that has locations throughout SoCal.
Beverly Hills is about to get a whole lot sweeter… There’s a small notice in the window of the space at 255 1/2 S Beverly Dr. (previously home to Chokolatta) announcing the impending arrival of Beverly Hills Cookies. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because they’ve had a presence at many of LA’s top events for years. I had a chance to talk to company rep Barry, who gave me the skinny on the new brick-and-mortar. Beverly Hills Cookies specializes in proprietary artisan gourmet cookies, but this store will have a whole lot more on offer. They will also have new and unique “soft-serve gelato” cups and milkshakes in flavors such as Beverly Hills Chocolate Chunk and Tripple Chocolate. There will also be rich European-style hot chocolate and coffee drinks that I’m guaranteed will be completely different from other shops in the area. Expect an opening in a few weeks, and I’m told they’re also looking to expand as well. We wish them the best of luck.
I’m a little late in reporting this, but I’ve been hearing from shocked readers that Chin Chin has closed its doors at 206 S Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills. I’m not entirely sure what happened, but the Asian-ish eatery has been a staple of the Beverly Hills dining scene for 25 years. One reader (Thanks Steve!) claimed it was due to leasing issues, and noted that the nearby branch in Brentwood is getting a much-needed scrub-up so don’t count Chin Chin out yet. It appears that the space is already leased, and as always, I’ll keep an eye out to see what may develop.
Update: While I have not confirmed this, a reader (Thanks Robin!) reports that this will be a branch of San Diego’s ownParakeet Cafe.
Congratulations Good People of Beverly Hills, mojito mint coffee is heading your way… Beverly Hills lost its branches of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in the company’s mass extinction event that occurred over a year ago when multiple SoCal locations closed (there are still a smattering of branches around). But the chain’s previous address at 233 S Beverly Dr. is destined to be a java joint once more. According to window paper, the Bay Area’s third wave darling, Philz Coffee, will be replacing the second wave CBTL at this location.
You know the old saying; When the Lord closes an ice cream shop, somewhere he opens another. People were devastated by the recent closure of Santa Monica’s longstanding and beloved branch of popular icy treat brand Ben & Jerry’s. But from out of nowhere, a brand new location has opened at 253 S Beverly Dr. (formerly home to Creamistry). You’re welcome.
I first learned of Cinderella Cakes arrival to 214 S Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills back in Summer of 2019. Sadly, they have vacated the location, leaving an opportunity for a new star bakery. There’s now a notice on the front that this will be the new home of a branch of ever-popular Sweet Lady Jane. And according to their website, they will soon be bringing their signature Triple Berry Cakes to Manhattan Beach as well.
It looks like Beverly Hills is about to get a fresh new noodle shop. A sign is up on the space at 255 S Beverly Dr., formerly home to The Coral Tree Cafe, announcing that Strings Ramen is moving in. While I don’t have confirmation, I believe this is the same Strings Ramenthat has been voted Chicago’s best ramen and is famous for their “Monster Hell Ramen Challenge“, or a challenge to empty their level 5 hell ramen bowl in 20 minutes to recieve a $50 gift certificate and a t-shirt. There’s an ABC application on the front as well, so beer and wine will be on offer. Check out this concept video to get a glimpse of what’s coming…
It looks like Beverly Hills’ branch of liquid nitrogen ice cream experts Creamistry has vacated their location at 253 S Bevely Dr. The prominent for lease sign lets us know they aren’t coming back. It looks like the space has already been leased, so I’ll keep my eye on it to see who’s moving in.
Times have most certainly not been good for coffee joints. If you’ve been reading this site, you know that The Coffee Beanhas been hit particularly hard. But just recently, I noticed that Peet’s Coffeehas quit its location at 258 S Beverly Dr. in Bevery Hills. I don’t think we’re done with this trend yet…
Earlier this week, I told you about the permanent closure of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leafon S Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills. I reader was quick to point out that the CBTL that anchors the corner of Santa Monica Blvd. and S Beverly Glen Blvd. was also closing as of Sunday, May 17th. I went by the coffee shop and checked it out: A notice in the window confirms that this branch is now permanently closed. What’s going on with CBTL?
I’m not sure what the circumstances were, but it appears that the normally crowded Coffee Bean & Tea Leafat 233 S Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills has permanently closed. There’s a notice in the window thanking customers for their support. I’ll keep my eye on the space.
So far, as you can see from reading this blog, 2020 has seen a shocking number of restaurant closings. And we’re not done yet… Coral Tree Cafe is now closed at 225 S Beverly Blvd. in Beverly Hills. A gracious note on the front door blames rising costs of labor and rent. That leaves just two locations left (Encino and Brentwood) for the coffee and sandwich chain founded by Brentwood residents in 2002.
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