Bonsai Coffee & Bar — Restaurant in Los Angeles

A Hidden Gem - Truly Exceptional in Every Way I don't say this lightly: Bonsai Café is one of the most thoughtfully curated and genuinely satisfying café experiences l've had in a long time - and I've visited a lot of cafés. From the moment you walk in, you feel it. The ambiance is calm, clean, modern, and yet inviting — there's a subtle elegance in the way they've designed the space. It's a perfect blend of minimalism and warmth, making it equally ideal for a solo visit, a relaxed meeting, or a quiet afternoon with friends. The Star of the Show: Iced Matcha Latte I had heard good things, but nothing prepared me for how perfectly balanced, refreshing, and smooth their iced matcha latte is. It's not overly sweet (a rare achievement), the matcha is authentic and earthy, and the milk is perfectly frothed and chilled. You can tell they use quality ingredients, and most importantly - they know what they're doing. This drink alone is worth the trip. Quality, Consistency, and Care Service was warm and attentive without being overbearing. The staff were knowledgeable, kind, and genuinely seemed to care about creating a great experience - which shows in the smallest details, from presentation to cleanliness to timing. The rest of the menu also looked impressive and well-curated. Though I focused on the matcha this time, I'm definitely coming back to try more. The pastry selection, for example, looked fresh and thoughtfully paired. Final Thoughts If you're a matcha lover - or just someone looking for a café that delivers more than just drinks, Bonsai Café will surprise you in the best way, It's rare to find places that balance aesthetic, flavor, service, and...

A few months ago I saw that a new coffee shop was opening in the Sawtelle neighborhood where Honey Boba used to be. Finally opened and it did not disappoint!

Parking: there's a parking lot on Federal Ave that's like two doors down from the shop and it has a ton of parking (there's a lower level too).

Space: suuuper spacious for a coffee shop. The space has 4 round tables that seat 3 people each, a couch area with two small sofas, a lounge area by the entrance that seats like 8 people, and a bigass long table in the middle spa that sits 12 people with multiple outlets (perfect for working (peep the wifi speed 290/38 fast af)).

Drinks: I had the Bonsai Latte in the morning which was a solid 9/10 - just the right amount of matcha taste. I decided to run home and get my laptop to come back and do some work, and then ordered the Yuzu Matcha Latte (iced) in the afternoon which was 10/10 - it had a great balance of yuzu and matcha while somehow wasn't too sweet (definitely try this if you want an iced drink)!

Vibes: ngl, as much as I liked honey boba, the new design of the space is a huge improvement. They definitely had the Japanese minimalist aesthetic in mind when they re-designed the space and it turned out really well. True to its name, the shop has a few bonsai trees around various parts of the space that add a calming and earthy feel to the space. While I was working, they were playing chill Korean hip-hop/lofi which was slapping but in the calm way that facilitates work.

This is definitely gonna be my new...

Wonderful spot for matcha + wifi + getting work done.

I happened to be in the area and found there were so many coffee shops! I decided on Bonsai because the yuzu matcha from reviews sounded interesting. I didn't see it on the menu this time, so I opted for MATCHA x MATCHA. It was matcha with the cream foam on top. The drink was good! The line wasn't too long, but it seemed like they were making several orders before my drink came out. I also didn't see many fresh pastries, so I decided not to get any food.

The music is loud. I'd describe it as Indie pop. There is plenty of indoor seating. They have long windows that almost reach the ceiling, so the sun gets inside easily. There is one long communal high-top table in the center but lots of smaller tables around. Reminded me of a smaller version of About Time in Koreatown, Los Angeles.

Parking was easy to find. I loved all the bonsai decor! The one on my table was fake though.

Apple Pay/credit card accepted. Free underground parking in the structure Free wifi (get access code from cashier) Free bathroom (gender-separated) Plenty of...