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    Bonsai Coffee Bar

    4.3 (501 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

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    BONSAI COFFEE BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Good for working
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Bonsai Coffee Bar

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    Baked goods (May 2026)
    Luke L.

    Bonsai Coffee Bar is one of several newly opened matcha shops in the Sawtelle area. This is the flagship location and the cafe plans to open a second location at Geneva @ Venice in Culver City most likely later this year. [Parking]: There is a parking garage behind the cafe with an entrance on Federal Ave. There is a sign stating that free 1st floor parking is available for Bonsai Coffee Bar customers. I had no issue finding an available spot. [Atmosphere]: This is an extremely popular matcha shop with all tables occupied by students or young professionals working or studying on their laptops. The indoor space is large enough for 20+ customers, but our party was still unable to find an available table at 10 AM on Sunday. The cafe has a very modern decor with bonsai trees displayed near the entrance. It has the right vibe for a first date, but it is not a reliable place for anyone hoping to find an available table to sit down and have a conversation. [Amenity]: A restroom is available and no key is required. For Wi-Fi, ask the staff for the access code. [Menu]: According to the website, the best selling drinks are the Cream Top Matcha Latte, Matcha x Matcha, Tiramisu Latte, Biscoff Cookie Latte, and Cream Top Vietnamese Coffee. Please note that the cafe no longer serves Mango Matcha as the cashier said the drink was not popular enough and the shop took it off the menu. *** Cream Top Matcha Latte (Matcha latte + sweet sea salt cream on top - $7.50) & Cream Top Hojicha Latte (Hojicha latte + sweet sea salt cream on top - iced drink only - $7.50): Our party waited about 15 minutes for both drinks because the cafe was busy with a constant flow of customers. Both drinks tasted a bit watery and the hojicha tasted somewhat like a light weighed hojicha chocolate milk. *** This is an alright matcha shop for anyone who just wants a quick matcha fix and doesn't want to drive all the way to Koreatown for s-tier matcha drinks.

    Inside IG: @ammysalamii
    Angela G.

    Decided to grab lunch down the street so we dropped by this coffee shop to try! It's been on my list for a while so I'm glad we finally got to check it out. Parking is awful. As usual around LA in general, no parking. You don't really want to pay for parking either for a quick coffee run. I drove around the block and found an open meter 2 blocks down and just walked. Unfortunately though, it was only a 15 minute meter so by the time we got to the cafe and waited in line outside, stepped foot inside, my bf had to walk back to the meter to put in more time. At least he got to check the place out but yeah, the line was out the door!! The place was SUPER packed when we got here on Saturday around 11 ish. Surprised how busy it was and probably took 40 minutes total. It is really pretty inside but super loud. Lots of people reading or studying but I honestly don't know how they could because it was just so loud inside. I ordered a Bonsai Latte for my bf and a Biscoff Cookie Latte for myself. Haven't had a good Biscoff cookie latte in a while so I was very excited. I sat at an open seat at the bar but it's a weird spot. They put mobile orders on the bar so people are just constantly reaching over you. Idk how the girl studying next to me could even deal with that. They have a separate small pickup area for in store orders. The drinks were fantastic!! Strong matcha/espresso in the bonsai latte and the biscoff cookie latte was amazing. Nothing watered down, both super flavorful and for the prices, incredible. Especially in this area, I expected it to be a bit more expensive but I was very happy with everything here. Worth coming back for in the near future! IG: @ammysalamii

    Okinawa Latte
    Andy T.

    Bonsai Coffee was the pick for an afternoon pick me up after a big lunch. When it came to parking, there was a parking structure in the back of the building. However, it's a shared complex with other business and has specific labels for the store. I went at around 3 pm on a Saturday and had a hard time grabbing a spot. However, just as I was pulling out from the structure, there was a spot that freed up. When it came to the interior, I liked the Japandi aesthetic that they were going for. It was definitely very busy at the time with lots of people sitting around and studying/working. When browsing the menu, I was curious about the Okinawa latte. I also grabbed an ube cornflake brownie from the front. The latte took a few minutes to be ready, so I appreciate the quickness of the service. However, both of the items were underwhelming. The latte was didn't taste good and I ended up not finishing it. The ube cornflake brownie was very sweet. The ube part left a better impression since it wasn't too sweet. I'll only return to try their matcha, which seems to be the more popular item on the menu. American Express is accepted here.

    Meera S.

    Tried this UCLA student hotspot while mid bike ride for the West LA cicLAvia event. It's a cute spot with a decent amount of seating for you to post up with your laptop or meet with friends. Met a few people outside the shop who raved about Bonsai and said they're regulars as it's just that good. Our experience was short and sweet in that we popped in, ordered an iced matcha latte, and enjoyed it on the go. It was good! As someone who is pretty selective with matcha, Bonsai delivers. Pricing was pretty standard and comparable to boutique matcha's these days. I'd love to go back and spend some time there as the atmosphere was lively and vibrant.

    Cream Top Matcha Latte Tiramisu Latte
    Shareef V.

    Busy. Great vibe. Easy parking in the back. Matcha was amazing. Very packed with people studying this was a great lab for iced drinks.

    MATCHA x MATCHA
    Dante B.

    Really cute bonsai themed cafe with plenty of seating. We arrived after lunch and all seats were filled with steady stream of incoming customers. My husband and I both got the matcha x matcha which is a matcha latte with salted matcha cream top. This was so good!! The matcha itself is very umami and grassy. The cream top was perfectly salted and complemented the matcha so well. If you are a matcha enthusiast come see for yourself! Parking can be a bit challenging. We parked in the garage around the back which had some limited spaces.

    Christina N.

    We were in the area so came by to grab some breakfast. Matcha cream top - honestly I don't get the hype. Maybe this is the best in the area, but I've definitely had better. Vietnamese iced coffee - not a fan of the roast. Spam musubi with egg and avocado - this was okay. Tasted exactly like how you'd expect it. I was expecting the spam to be a bit more caramelized but nope. Food and drinks took a while to be ready but there's plenty of seating around while you wait. I can see why this place is popular, especially for students looking for a chill cafe to hang out. That said, it doesn't hit the spot for me.

    Blueberry croissant
    Peggy S.

    The food options here are very appealing and I went with a blueberry croissant which I felt was unique. They bake it in house and I enjoyed that the croissant was soft & had a subtle taste of blueberry. I opted for the hojicha latte which had strong notes of tea, perfect to keep me awake while I work. The aesthetic inside is beautiful and there were cute plants sprinkled throughout. This place is so popular and packed. The time limit is 90 min for wifi, which is quite an indicator of how busy it is. It can be difficult to find a charger outlet when it's busy though so bring your laptop charged when you get here. There is parking downstairs in the lot but only in spots that are designated for Bonsai which is sprinkled throughout the structure. I ended up parking on the street farther away after not finding anything in the lot.

    Agnes N.

    I was in the area and needed a place to study so I decided to try this cafe out. It was located at a corner under an apartment complex with a parking lot structure behind. There's quite a few parking spots reserved for bonsai, which I really appreciated. Upon entering, there was also a decent amount of tables and chairs, but not an equal amount of outlets. After ordering, the server usually provides a code for you to enter in order to access their WiFi. You need to receive a new code every 2 hours before being booted off. Since I came on a Friday evening, my drink took around 10 minutes to make. I got the double matcha (my usual go to at most matcha places) & it didn't disappoint at all. It was the perfect amount of sweetness, creaminess, & richness. I was in awe by how perfectly crafted it was. Later on I got hungry so I ordered two spam musubi. It was nothing special but it hit the spot. Overall, I would come back again if I was ever in the area. It's not in my top 5 favorite matcha cafes in LA. In fact, I've been telling my friends about my new found love for bonsai!

    Faith T.

    Nice and busy cafe located in Sawtelle, amazing service from the worker who gave me some insight on what option drink to go with. I was feeling a bit tired so I chose the Vietnamese iced coffee since it usually gets the job done. It wasn't the best I've had but it is very very strong in flavor and not as sweet so that was the only negative for me. If I do visit again I know now to try maybe a latte or matcha!

    Matcha Latte
    Erin T.

    I tried out this cute café in Sawtelle with my roommate while studying for midterms, and overall, I thought it was pretty good. The interior and decor are super cute, and there are plenty of seats available. However, it does get pretty busy, so spots fill up quickly. The noise level is generally manageable since most people are working, but it can occasionally get crowded and loud. I usually wear noise-canceling AirPods, so it didn't bother me much. The baristas are also really sweet and kind whenever I interact with them. I ordered the matcha latte, and I'd say it was pretty good. Definitely not the best I've had, but also far from the worst, and probably one of the better ones in the area that I've tried. The price was pretty average for L.A. and the cup size was decent enough to last me through about five hours of studying there. The only downside is that the free Wi-Fi only lasts for two hours. After that, I had to switch to my phone hotspot, so I'd recommend bringing a power bank if you plan on staying for a while. When logging into the Wi-Fi, it asks for a phone number, so I'm not sure if it tracks access by device IP or phone number. Also for my people taking the bus back to UCLA, note that there is no visible bus sign due to construction in the area. It's really confusing at first and you will get scared, but my tip is to wait with a small group of people around where the sign should be and usually the bus will stop (sometimes it doesn't though unfortunately). Overall, this is a really cute and nice café for getting work done or doing some studying as long as you don't mind the time-limited wifi.

    Menu
    Chris W.

    It is a very popular place because it is surrounded by UCLA and the drink here is good This is the place you can meet with school project or a grab and go drink place The service is good and weekend is fully packed

    Matcha x Matcha & Okinawa Latte
    Mary A.

    Came around 11:30 and it was super packed. It's a great spot for studying though! Lots of seating available, which is a plus. Parking was easy with the garage along Federal Ave. Ordered the Matcha X Matcha and the Okinawa latte ($14 total). The Okinawa latte was pretty good, but the matcha was a bit disappointing. It tasted more milky than before and not as strong as I remember, but it was still creamy. Still a solid place to hang out or study.

    double MATCHA x MATCHA, Okinawa Latte, and Biscoff Cookie Latte (from left to right)

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    Bonsai Coffee Bar Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Bonsai Coffee Bar

    Are dogs allowed inside on the floor? Planning to grab to have breakfast with my dogs since it's currently raining.

    Can you continue sitting/working between 4-5pm?

    Hi Gina! Unfortunately, no. It is a full close between 4-5pm as we close down the coffee shop and open up the bar restaurant.

    Where is the free parking? Is it under the building? I tried going there today, but there was a sign saying it was for LA GYM parking only. I didn't see anywhere else to park so I left.

    The free parking is around the corner behind Bonsai. All of the parking spots are labeled so you just have to find one that says it's for bonsai, there are usually spots on both levels of the garage you just gotta look for them!

    What kind of milk is in there? Is it lactose free?

    We have oat, almond, whole, and 2%

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    neat

    neat

    4.2
    (255 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    Came here for happy hour on a Friday night after work. Luckily we found street parking fairly…read moreeasily just about a block from the bar. Appreciate that the bartenders were attentive and that the place wasn't too full or busy. Happy hour drinks are worth the price. The regular cocktails are good but cannot compare to more well known places. I liked that there were bar seats, standing tables and seated areas. I wish they had some bar snacks but because they don't offer food, you can bring your own.

    Stopped in on a Saturday night. It may have been way too early (around 7:30pm) but we easily found…read morea seat at the bar. It had a cool vibe and tons of allocated bottles on the bar (tequila and whiskey and whisky to name a few categories). The staff greeted us quickly and supplied us with some menus. I opted for the Idyllwild cocktail and loved it! It had the most complementary flavors and was so refreshing with the bourbon, yuzu, chartreuse, honey, and lemon flavors. My husband opted for a neat Caballito Cerrero Puntas pour (high proof agave spirit). They only had 0.5 Oz for their bottle and only charged for the partial pour. People came in and ordered anything from cocktails to neat pours to flights. It was a cool spot and the bartenders seemed pretty well versed in different cocktails, giving a few suggestions to different patrons. Even making a few Espresso Martinis for a couple of girls that didn't really like their initial cocktails. Staff was cool, attentive, and pretty quick and efficient with the pours. I'd definitely be down to try more drinks here if we roll through again. Luckily, we found some close street parking and it wasn't super busy so we easily found parking in the area. It also wasn't super packed in the venue so we could've opted for other seating--lounge areas, a few tables, or just at the bar.

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    Locked and loaded
    Locked and loaded
    Great night tasting a unique brand - Koval
    Great night tasting a unique brand - Koval
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    Bar Chloe

    Bar Chloe

    3.9
    (511 reviews)
    3.2 mi
    $$

    Intimate setting speakeasy, perfect sized room, great for date night and conversations. Nothing…read morememorable or impressive, not bad if you're around the area and want to stop by for quick drinks. Left after one drink, and went to another bar. Most of the bars are dive bars in downtown Santa Monica, and parking is quite accessible for this place. So I'd recommend for that reason. In terms of the drinks, I'm a huge fan of cocktail but I would say their menu selections are a bit limited. Nothing in the signature cocktail looks interesting to me, so I had the bartender make a classic cocktail instead. He's very attentive and friendly, didn't take forever to get a drink either, no attitude. Drinks aren't watered down either. Nice! You come here to grab quick drinks when you don't feel like being at a loud dive bar in the area, it's in a hotel but not too upscale, no strict dress code. Music is not loud and they have couches and booth if bar table if not your thing, you don't have to yell or pretend you hear everything to hold a conversation here (lol). ** Keep in mind 20% gratuity is automatically included in bill, it's my first time here. But I think I've other spots I'd prefer to be in, even at Santa Monica. Wouldn't be self-motivated to come back because there are better places that specialises mixology, and there are also better upscale hotel bars to be at. But if you're around the area it's a great intimate bar for date night that's not overly pricey. Wouldn't travel all the way to here just for this (if you know what I mean).

    I loved this bar. It was such a vibe. Very dark and moody, and served up great drinks. Located in…read moresanta monica, its a great spot to walk to from a few other eateries. I had the french 75 and it was tasty. We werent there long but it was busy for a Thursday night, would love to come back.

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    Bar Chloe
    Bar Chloe
    Bar Chloe

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    Chelsea

    Chelsea

    4.6
    (198 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    Definitely worth trying .. especially happy hour .. no reason not to…read more Food, drinks, and service were all 5/5 .. shout out to Ty for top tier service The kimchi grilled cheese was the stand out. Seems weird but it really worked. Menu didn't say so but came with some really good tomato soup dip also. Love a good food surprise Drinks come next .. wow .. really unique and delicious. American Samurai and Shades of Pink .. both home runs The Sea Bass in coconut lemongrass deliciousness. A bit pricey but fair for Sea Bass and location. The portion was pretty large compared to other places. Excellent Tempura cauliflower.. this was good but the only thing I have any notes on .. I'd like a sauce .. it's has flavorful toppings and something like chili oil on the plate .. wish chili oil was more of a sauce .. but still was very good .. texture was perfect tho .. a little crunchier than traditional tempura which was nice Ambiance was charming .. cute little place .. a must try

    Chelsea was a beautiful, moody interior restaurant with vibrant dishes and fun cocktails…read more Especially loved the yellowtail and watermelon dish as well as the grilled octopus. I believe everyone enjoyed their dishes, but docking a star as they overcooked the steak frites! We ordered it medium rare but it came to us medium-well done. It is always disappointing to get a steak more done than you requested. They had a seasonal banana foster dessert at the end that was delicious. Service was attentive and pleasant. Definitely a pricier place, but worth it to try the different dishes on the menu!

    Photos
    Interior is stunning
    Interior is stunning
    Escargot mushrooms
    Escargot mushrooms
    Shades of Pink cocktail #yumola

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    Shades of Pink cocktail #yumola
    The Rosegold Saloon

    The Rosegold Saloon

    4.9
    (179 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$$

    Goodness we always have our happy hours here and we love this place!…read more The food is really delicious. Honestly the food and the service keeps us coming back. There was a female waitress that gave me coworker a little attitude but it was my friends fault for confusing and asking another waiter for help. The onions rings are my absolute favorite. They have mini burgers too that we absolutely love. They have a wedge salad that is 12/10. The Mac and cheese is a bit dry but still delicious. The ceviche is also fresh and tasty. The drinks are amazing, they are priced fairly and even after 08pm they are still priced fairly. I'm not sure who the owner is but he was chill. There was also another gentleman who helped us out as we were DYING of heat in our little corner and he came by and gave us an electric fan. He definitely went out of his way and accommodated us. Overall service is great, food is absolutely delicious and the vibes are fun. We happened to stay past 08 to join for karaoke hour! We will be back soon!

    I went to The Rosegold Saloon last night with some pals. We had never been to it before. The…read morelighting, seating, and music stood out to me. I got a Watermelon cocktail. We hung out at the bar for some time then moved to a booth. I enjoyed most of our time there, but there were some odd interactions with staff. I thought it was odd that we got carded at the bar by a doorman instead of at the door. Also, near closing time we were shouted at twice about the last call for drinks. Also, around closing time a staff member came over to our table and yelled that we had to leave and that he will get fired whilst clearing our table. I told him we were waiting on our friend to leave since they went had just gone to the restroom. He said he understood. Upon him stepping away briefly and then returning to clear more items from our table, I asked him to not shout at us as it was our first time visiting the place. He didn't respond. I felt disappointed leaving the bar in how we were treated towards the end of our visit.

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    Inside bar
    Inside bar
    Tuna bites, brussel sprouts
    Tuna bites, brussel sprouts
    Late night bites Fish taco $7

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    The Wellesbourne

    The Wellesbourne

    4.0
    (1.1k reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$$

    A stunning lounge that leans fully into that old money, royal feel. Every detail is intentional…read more Dark wood, rich textures, low lighting. It doesn't just look good, it pulls you into a different mood the moment you walk in. The space is thoughtfully split. One side has a cozy fireplace with lounge seating that feels intimate and elevated. The other side opens up into the bar with dining tables up front, giving it a more social, slightly livelier energy. Drinks are absolutely amazing. Crafted well, balanced, and consistent. But what really stands out is how the ambiance takes over the entire experience. The crowd shows up. Well dressed, confident, and adds to the overall vibe instead of taking away from it. Some places you go just for drinks. Here, the ambiance takes it to another level. It feels like an experience, not just a night out. Reservation needed: Recommended for busy nights but not for the bar/drinks Parking: 5/10 Crowd: 10/10 Vibe: 10/10 Music: 8.5/10 Drinks: 9/10 Price: $$$

    Came here for on a weekday where they had live music in their patio! Turns out they have live music…read more3 nights a week! This is a great bar to come and chill with a group of friends. They have great cocktails and fancy tasting mocktails as well! All the servers and manager were very inviting and provided fast service! Will definitely come back!

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