Intelligentsia Coffee Venice — Restaurant in Los Angeles

I've given this review two starts but even though what i'm about to write is shocking, Ive also used this coffee shop and had a nice experience. The staff are friendly, and the coffee is good.

So, what lost intelligentsia starts?

On Monday I went to this coffee shop. It was very busy inside, but I found a free spot at the rear on the upper level. After ordering my coffee I set up my lap top ready to work. Unfortunately I was having an issue with my lap top, and so I called my husband to see if it was a simple fix. He asked if I could quickly face time him, so he could see the error message.

With is about 5 seconds for the call, the man next to me told me I was not aloud to use my phone on speaker. I replied politely, saying that I would only be a few minutes, and turned down the volume. (unfortunately, id forgotten my headphones!) The man ignored me and told me to go out side. I explained that I was just trying to resolve an issue on my lap top and wouldn't be long. After that, he kept telling me I was being rude and should leave. I tried to ignore him so I could hear my husband, but he kept on. I asked him to please stop talking to me, but he kept on telling me to leave. He then said I need to "F**king go out side". When my husband said "What did he just say?" The man tried to look over my shoulder at my phone.

At that point I said in a very loudly voice hi (Shout) "stop talking to me, I did't know him and I don't want to talk to you." (I'd been on the phone for about three minutes by now but the man kept talking over my conversation with my husband!)

He then called a member of staff to come over. The staff member told him that there were no rules about using face time, (why would there be?! its a coffee shop were people work, but ALSO socialize,) and offered to find him a new seat. He declined the offer. However, this gave me a few seconds to show my husband the issue. After the staff member left the man, who sounded South African, got out his phone and made a call to someone called Nicole. He said, "Hey Nicole, can you come to the coffee shop i'm in? There is a girl here who is on her phone," (then said something about me using the speaker.) My husband told me he had to go to a meeting, but I should call the police, and we hung up. The Man obviously heard that my husband told me to call the police and asked me, "Why are you calling the police?" I said, because you are on the phone to someone telling them to come down here for me. I asked him "Why are you asking them to come here?" He then said, "You will see. stay here, and see." I jumped out my seat and ran to the staff below. I told them what he said. I was scared and shaking. The man came down the stairs still on his phone pointing at me. Then left.

The staff member told me he did't think I should worry because the man come's in there all the time, and he didn't think the man would bring anyone down to hurt me.

Sadly I now feel I can not go back to this coffee shop. I do not want to get into a confrontation with a man like that.

This man sounded South African, looked to be in his 40's was about 5ft 8 and around 210lb, also had shaven or short cut hair. Watch out for him. I'm only 110lb and he had no issue bullying me! Maybe he can be a nice guy, but clearly if you annoy him, he...

I wish I could give this place a better review. I never quite understand why a cafe fails to offer its clientele outlets to charge at and if everything else at Intelligentsia weren't so packed with eye-candy and awesomeness, this place would be a 5 Star hands down. Perhaps this location is too busy to allow people to stay for long and charge their devices. I wouldn't be surprised. A gigantic arching doorway takes Intelligentsia go-ers at this Venice location down a long hallway that is more of an artistic immersion. Wooden boxes and wall sits provide a place for folks to take of their cool and sit outside in the shade among very tall art walls and a bustling crowd. Every time I am here it is full of people to the brim. Although you enter through what feels like the gates of a castle into a playful land of color and life, Intelligentsia's interior resembles much more of a scientific lab like roastery and much less a gated castle. Still, it feels like you walking over a moat as you descend up the slope into the mad coffee brewers hideout. Inside there is a clear-paned structure that looks like it could either be a wing of an old wright brothers air plane or an old garage door and there are pipes, and poles, and amusing facades of metal, iron, and glass work that create a gleaming play on light which can both distract and inspire. Wooden beams, shelving unite, concert bars and metals seats/tables fill up the rest of every corner of this unique coffee spot. Last but not least, the drinks are great. They are tasteful, diverse, and sophisticated. With Intelligentsia it is all about...

This coffee shop has been on my radar for a while now however there are no locations in OC. It's located in Abbot Kinney and can be hard to miss if you're not paying attention or absent-mindly distracted by your smart phone.

At first glance, the interior was impressive. Before ordering I took in the industrial architecture, the creative use of glass and woodwork, and the various coffee machines. There's a small menu and they are very strict about the quality of coffee served here. While I am a coffee aficionado I don't want anything super strong or bitter and the mocha seemed to fit my taste. While waiting for our drinks it was a treat to watch them being made. They don't hide behind the counter like most coffee shops and you watch your cuppa being made and poured to perfection. If it doesn't suit their needs, they'll toss it out and make another. We found that highly impressive and wish we could have caught it on film but were ill prepared.

We got our lattes with maple pecan muffins and grabbed a seat on what I guess can be considered a 2nd floor. It was great to look out and watch the operation of the whole place and sip on some of the smoothest richest coffee ever; not too bitter, not too strong and not very chocolately either. I enjoyed every last drop and the muffin itself was deliciously moist and complementary to my coffee.

It's a tiny place but I'll definitely have to...