A Hip German Coffee Shop Just Quietly Opened Its First U.S. Location in Los Angeles
Concierge Coffee’s first U.S. store is located in the Arts District.
A third-wave coffee shop from Berlin, Germany just opened in the Arts District. Founded by Benjamin Pates and Namdar Nosratifard in 2013, Concierge Coffee’s first U.S. store is located at 821 Traction Avenue in the Signal retail cluster. The shop seats up to 30 people inside and another 50 in the courtyard. “The vision is bringing what Concierge is known for in Berlin, which is just really good third-wave coffee, but we let the coffee speak for itself and it’s more about the service and the environment,” Pates tells Eater.
Rather than expand the brand within Germany, the two partners set their sights on LA because “the rest of Germany is just kind of boring,” says Pates, who is self-described as half-American and half-English. “LA just offers a lot more opportunity and the brand itself has such a momentum and creative charge that we felt it’s kind of a shame to only stay in Berlin.” The shop specializes in espresso-based drinks and is best known for its flat whites. Look out for the signature “concierge cream,” which Pates describes as “an iced latte affogato fusion.” The shop is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. but plans to extend hours in the future based on staffing and demand.
Hojicha latte at Concierge Coffee.
Let’s talk tipple
The Culinary Historians of Southern California are hosting a free, in-person lecture with author Richard Foss titled, “Imbibing LA: Boozing It Up In The City of Angels,” on Saturday, May 11, at 10:30 a.m. at the Central Library’s Mark Taper Auditorium (630 W. Fifth Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071). From pious monks to law-dodging partiers and a cocktail renaissance, this talk covers it all. A themed reception will follow the talk. Reservations are requested.
Be a cake eater
Fans of olive oil cake ought to visit Maryn Silverberg’s newly opened shop Peace of Cake on level 2 of the Westfield Century City mall. The shop offers a build-your-own-cake experience for optimal customization options. Whole cakes need to be ordered in advance and can be decorated to match any occasion.
Pasadena boba trail
Boba shops have been proliferating in Pasadena in the past decade. The city’s tourism arm is celebrating the abundant options with a new initiative called the Boba Trail Passport, an app of sorts that allows boba heads to record and check in to more than 25 boba shops in Pasadena to collect points that can be redeemed for prizes.
A new Northeast LA pizza shop
Highland Park is getting a new pizzeria this summer from Miles Okabayashi, who started making pizzas for friends and family during the pandemic, reports What Now Los Angeles. Wildcrust will be located across the street from Queen St. and Fondry at 4705 York Boulevard and will serve Neopolitan-style pies.
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