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    Viola’s Bar & Bistro

    4.6 (17 reviews)

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    Mimosa
    Joy B.

    Loved our brunch here! The period decor is impressive, down to the plates and silverware. Servers are very attentive although they seemed to still be learning which table was supposed to get which dishes. The food and drinks were excellent--we thought it was like fine dining experience at very reasonable prices. I had the Tuna Tartine and Peach Blossom and my husband had the Croque Madame Viola and a Mimosa. We sat in the dining room, which was nice, but there was a lot of traffic from people coming in and servers going in and out of the kitchen. Next time I'm going to reserve our table in the parlor, it's a much quieter, lower traffic spot. The outside areas would be nice on a day with good weather. We will definitely be back--such a great addition to Monrovia!

    Chicken liver mousse
    Karen L.

    Reservations are definitely needed during this grand opening period and the place doesn't have a ton. Because it was hot, we had our reservation inside the dining room. Unsure if they have AC because they had a fan running but it was a fair temperature inside. Service was fine but on the slower end. The staff actually took another table's order before ours, even though we were seated first, so it felt like the experience of waiting for everything took longer than we would've liked. The meal definitely is not one to be rushed, as it took well over an hour from being seated to getting all our food. For the food, the chicken liver mousse was interesting with a sweetness to it although we later realized they did forget the cornichons/pickles that the menu said it would come with. My avocado tartine was quite delicious with the good call to add the salmon add-on on top. Good quality salmon. The butter lettuce was well made, tender, and savory with dressing.

    Nennette F.

    Wow. This historical landmark is Monrovia's new pride and joy! Absolutely beautiful grounds--perfect for any occasion. The food is just lovely and the ambience is so classic with lots of antiques and restored pieces and memorabilia from the original owners of the house. The ambition of its designers and architects deserves much accolade! What a gem! It is also an inn, a classic B&B. Read up on its history!

    Darby V.

    Just left Viola's after an amazing brunch! I called and made a reservation and for a party of four they told us we would be outside. I requested shade. I have issues sitting in the sun and skin cancer in the past. I was met by a lovely hostess named Chloe, who went out of her way to put us inside to protect me. We then met Jamison, who was a phenomenal busser and made some wonderful suggestions. Stephanie was our server and the food, atmosphere and drinks were absolutely wonderful. Fantastic experience hold on! I would give it more stars if that was an option

    Brunch Menu
    Anthony G.

    Viola's is the definition of brunch and fine dining. The service was top notch with servers like Paulette and Jameson coming by to check on us every few minutes to make sure our experience was flawless. Highly recommend the Creme Brûlée Pain Perdu, and the Braised Bacon. Also their Banana Bread Latte and Orange Dreamsicle Latte were definitely highlights. Recommend to get a reservation so you can get a spot inside and really take in the ambiance and magic of the interior design. Coming back to try the dinner menu as well.

    Annie S.

    This hidden gem is an absolute must! The building itself is absolutely beautiful and a true piece of history. The food was incredible. Best deviled eggs I've ever had. Best pot roast I've ever had, packed with flavor and fork tender. The salad has carefully sourced and safe lettuce with the most delicious light vinaigrette. The mussels were tender and the broth was so good. My mom had the cod and it was butter soft and served with fresh dill. Peach cobbler and chocolate pot for dessert and lattes. We were in heaven and will definitely be back and soon!

    Different rooms for dining

    We had brunch inside and the food was yummy but the house itself was beautiful! The wait staff seemed a bit perplexed seems a manager, who was very nice, needed to jump in and help . Overall good food great ambiance.

    The crème brûlée French toast was quite superb and delicious!

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    Ask the Community - Viola’s Bar & Bistro

    Is is wheelchair accessible?

    I believe it is - I remember there was a ramp going up to the entrance.

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    Review Highlights - Viola’s Bar & Bistro

    We sat at the parlor and enjoyed everything from appetizers, main course, drinks and food.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    Yi's Cafe

    Yi's Cafe

    4.8
    (276 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $

    First timer here, amazing experience! The best coffee in…read moretown and the best prices you will ever get for coffee! Well said 5/5 Its a must try. - Cookie butter with oat milk 5/5 -Turamisu latte with oat milk 5/5 - Spanish latte with oat milk 5/5 - pina colada 5/5 - Iced lemon tea 5/5 * Chicken pesta panini. 5/5 * Ham and cheese 5/5 Great customer service, welcoming, and very polite, Nice. Clean environment, small and well Decorated. No restrooms Street parking available Outside seating available in front Definitely recommended Friends and family I will be back soon for more.

    There are not enough words in a Yelp review to say all I want to say about this place, but I'll…read moregive it a shot. Yi's Cafe is a spot on the corner of a street that is a bit unassuming, with just two tables and a bit of seating outside. But don't let that fool you, this is one of the best cafe experiences Arcadia, and even SoCal, have to offer! Even though it was my first time, it felt like I'd known Eric for years. His friendliness, down-to-earth style of handling things, and open communication about wait times were highlights of the amazing customer service here. We waited approx. 20 minutes for our food and drinks, and were offered two free pastries along with it. We got a banana chip muffin and a matcha muffin, both phenomenal quick bites that satisfied our cravings and hunger for a bit while we waited for our food. We ended up spending about $23 for two entrees, two drinks, and two muffins. The bang for your buck here is unbeatable. I've never seen anything like it. The two entrees we picked were Yi's Beef Burrito and the Chicken Pesto Panini. Both were delicious and hearty, feeling more like a nostalgic meal from back home than lunch out. The drinks are quite literally $4. $4 for a coffee nowadays is like winning the lottery on your first try. No better feeling. Both were amazing, with bold coffee flavors and strong notes of tiramisu and cookie butter. No notes at all. Overall, I think this place does exactly what it needs to. It's a small, corner shop-style cafe with an owner that cares about his customers, remembering "usual" orders and having conversations with them while making their drinks. He's patient, hardworking, and deserves all of the success he gets! I hope Yi's Cafe is around to stay, because I will definitely be back! 10/10.

    Photos
    Simple and clean
    Simple and clean
    Banana chocolate chip muffins!! Look so good!
    Banana chocolate chip muffins!! Look so good!
    The seasonal Lovers Latte - vanilla, rose, & strawberry with a decorative rose on top! Loved it - would get again! (Jan 2026)

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    The seasonal Lovers Latte - vanilla, rose, & strawberry with a decorative rose on top! Loved it - would get again! (Jan 2026)
    Cup of Cha Tea House

    Cup of Cha Tea House

    4.6
    (750 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Free parking

    Really enjoy the watermelon series which was not overly sweet and very refreshing…read more The boba was cooked nicely and paired well with the lychee jelly. Nice ambiance overall.l

    I stopped by Cup of Cha Tea House today while passing through Monrovia, and I'm so glad I did. It's…read morelocated right in Old Town Monrovia, and the shop itself is super cute, spacious, and inviting. This is a great little spot to hang out with friends or family, play games, go on a date, or just relax by yourself with a drink. I came with my baby sister and we both really liked the atmosphere. The front of the store has cute seating, and there's also a smaller, almost private, area toward the back near the bathrooms with a little couch and board games, which gives the place even more personality. I'd say the back area with the small couch is more of a first-come, first-served spot. The couch could comfortably fit a group of 4-5 people you came with, or maybe just one couple. Otherwise, it might feel a little awkward sharing such a small space with people you don't know unless you're not socially awkward. They have a good variety of drinks on the menu, though they don't sell any food. My sister didn't like the drink she initially ordered because she had requested foam and salt, but the staff was kind enough to remake it to her liking, which we really appreciated. Good customer service makes such a difference, and they handled it very kindly. My drink came out great... good size, good flavor, and fairly priced. Overall, I'd definitely come back here again if I'm in the area. Cute shop, good drinks, great service, and a nice cozy vibe without feeling cramped.

    Photos
    Try us today! We won't disappoint you!!
    Try us today! We won't disappoint you!!
    Cup of Cha Tea House
    O.M.G Fruit Tea

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    O.M.G Fruit Tea
    Torotea

    Torotea

    4.5
    (535 reviews)
    6.3 mi
    Locally owned & operated
    Women-owned & operated

    Solid spot for creamy popcorn milk tea and plenty of decaf options! This is one of my go-to places…read morewhen I'm craving a more dessert- or latte-style boba drink. I usually get the popcorn milk tea, which is sweet and creamy and pairs really well with the boba jelly. The tea flavor is a little harder to pick out in this drink, but everything works well together. I also love that they have several decaf options, including the barley milk tea, which has nice roasty flavors, along with other milk tea and fruit tea choices. The interior is also really aesthetic and inviting. I know that whenever I bring a friend here, they'll enjoy it--it's a spot that seems to be a crowd-pleaser with everyone around me!

    Stopped by here for some milk tea. There's several parking spots located right in front of the…read morestore including some 20 minute parking spots that made it easy for to go. The interior is very clean and aesthetic, love the vibe. There's plenty of seating to wait for your drink. Not really a place to sit and study as no tables. Service was good. I was pleasantly surprised at the popcorn milk tea! It was pretty good although a bit sweet for my liking with the perfect sugar level 70%. I liked the ember milk tea at 50% sugar more, although wish it was more tea forward as I prefer less milky milk teas but still very good and refreshing! I absolutely love their tapiochi jelly's!!!

    Photos
    Torotea
    Torotea
    Torotea

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    Fika Fika Coffee

    Fika Fika Coffee

    4.3
    (996 reviews)
    4.1 mi
    $

    This is hands down my favorite places to get ice cream! The ice cream has the most amazing…read morestretchy, chewy texture that's unlike anything I've had before. The flavors are incredible, rich, and so delicious. Every time I come here, it's consistently amazing. If you're looking for something unique and seriously tasty, you have to try this place. Highly recommend!

    First time at Fika Fika and I'm pleasantly surprised! Fika Fika serves reasonably priced coffee and…read moretea, as well as ice cream and treats. They have quite a lot of seating inside, but its rare to get a table, as its always packed! The person taking our order was friendly and helpful! We ended up getting a vanilla cloud cold brew and a butterfly floral latte. Both are delicious! I love myself a strong coffee flavor, so when I saw they had one of my favorite things ever (cold brew), I was practically jumping up and down for joy. I was not disappointed, as the coffee flavor punches through and makes itself very known. One of my favorite sips I've had in a while. The floral latte was really tasty too! You can really taste the distinct flavors, and its nice and creamy without being super overwhelmingly rich. Definitely recommend. Overall, my first experience with Fika Fika was very positive! I'll be coming back for some more cold brew for sure! Also want to try their ice cream. Some of the items are shaped like super cute pandas and capybaras so I want to give that a try as well. Fika Fika gets an 8.5/10 rating and a recommend from me!!

    Photos
    Front Desk
    Front Desk
    Smoked Salmon Toast
    Smoked Salmon Toast
    Hazelnut latte

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    Hazelnut latte
    Cafe De Olla Bakery

    Cafe De Olla Bakery

    4.0
    (118 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Free parking

    I absolutely love Cafe De Olla Bakery! Come check this out! It has great atmosphere and as you…read morewalk in you can smell fresh baked goods. My favorite is the Cold Mango Matcha. They also have great frappes and coffee drinks. They make delicious hot breakfast burritos to order. I will absolutely come back and try their breakfast croissant sandwiches. Make sure to save room for desserts like chocoflan, too! Kiara was my server and she is very courteous and very knowledgeable. The staff is super friendly, and the service is fast. It is the perfect spot for a quick coffee and sweet treats!

    We came in for breakfast with the family & we're seated in the back & advised to scan the QR code…read moreto view the menu, but there was no reception ‍ - Server came around to ask us what we would like to drink, again we struggled to view a menu so we just opt to get what they were known for cafe de olla, while attempting to upload their menu, so we just ordered 3 iced coffee to get started & they came right away. -we kept trying to connect to a WiFi & we finally were able to get 1 physical menu to share with the table. & after viewing I was disappointed because they had a variety of drinks to choose from, & were not informed of the available options. We should've waited I guess to view the physical menu. - taste wise iced coffee was good & we ordered another round. - husband said his burrito lacked taste & had to drench it in habanero -my omelette was not good im sorry but they melted 2 of those sandwich square cheese on top of the egg & it tasted gross... aren't you suppose to use shredded cheese on top? Or if not, melt the cheese inside the omelet? - lastly we got dessert, I got a Nutella filled flakey bread and expected the Nutella to be smooth & creamy but it tasted stale and the chocolate was clumpy - the service was excellent, but the food wasn't.

    Photos
    Front lobby
    Front lobby
    Pan
    Pan
    Cafe De Olla

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    Cafe De Olla
    Cafe De Olla

    Cafe De Olla

    4.2
    (1.7k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Finally checked Café de Olla off my brunch list, & I'm so glad we stopped by! I've been eyeing this…read morespot for a while, & it definitely lived up to the hype. To drink, I ordered the Horchata Latte! It was a little stronger than my usual preference (since I'm not a coffee drinker), but our server was so nice & brought me extra horchata to mix in, which made it absolutely perfect. We also tried the refreshing cucumber agua fresca, & it was so light & refreshing on these hot days! For brunch, I went with the Machaca con Huevo served with warm corn tortillas, & it was perfect, exactly what I was hoping for. We also had to order the Berry Banana French Toast, & it was the perfect way to balance out our meal. Having something savory followed by something sweet is always the move. One of my favorite little touches? They serve fresh conchas tableside, which made the whole experience feel even more special. If you've been looking for a cozy brunch spot in Monrovia, consider this your sign to check out Café de Olla!

    I always see a line here and this was my first time trying!…read more I would definitely recommend joining the waitlist ahead of time as I had to wait around 40 min. We got the chorizo con huevos and very berry french toast. The food came out very quickly. The chorizo con huevos was very flavorful and a good portion size. They also come with your choice of flour or corn tortillas, I got corn and it came with 3. I loved their rice and beans, everything was very flavorful and not too greasy. The french toast was good, I loved the whipped cream it came with. Overall, I liked the food a lot and would come back!

    Photos
    Inside restaurant
    Inside restaurant
    Fajita Omelette
    Fajita Omelette
    Chorizo con papas

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    Chorizo con papas

    Viola’s Bar & Bistro - french - Updated August 2026

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