Kavat Café — Restaurant in Los Angeles

If you are a fan of System of a Down or rock concert photography, this cafe and the Eye for Sound gallery are worth checking out. Serj Tankian also has some of his personal art on display. Prices for prints are fair and very professional, it seemed the prices were a few hundred dollars for most of them, and they were limited runs, so you’d have something unique.

So I’d been wanting to check this place out since their grand opening a while back, and I have a few friends who are into the band, so it was a great place for us to meet up for morning coffee.

The space - well lit, fairly industrial space with poured concrete floors. The art and photography really are the star of the show here, there’s not much else to look at. There are few 2 and 4-person tables up front with big windows out to the street. There is a door at the back of the gallery that leads to an outdoor seating space with a few more tables and couches shaded by a mesh sail. The couch looks comfy, and if you’ve got a larger group, this probably where you’d want to hang out. There’s also a ping pong table, but I didn’t look close enough or inquire about how to go about getting balls or paddles.

The coffee - I usually order a cappuccino at new place to get an idea about the coffee beans and espresso on offer. I’ve been to all of the other coffee shops in the neighborhood, so I know what’s available nearby and that’s my basis for comparison. Unfortunately, the espresso was fairly average and the milk was too hot. With so much competition nearby, I don’t know that I’d pick this cafe for coffee over others. That said, my friends ordered some of the sweeter mixed coffee drinks and they seemed to like their orders. I suppose I’ll have to try something a little more adventurous next time, or maybe the barista was having an off-day.

Admittedly, I need to try some of the other food items before I can give a fair food review, but I did split an almond croissant with a friend and it also was below average. I know there are some awesome pastry suppliers in Los Angeles, but this is not one of them.

There is a glass case at the rear of the gallery with some t-shirt and record merch if you are wanting a neat souvenir but can’t spring for the art or photos.

Serj, if you read this, I’ll be back! I think there’s room for improvement on the coffee and...

I first started selling and serving Kavat organic Armenian coffee at my bakery 2.5 years ago, and I’ve watched customers come back for it over and over, raving about its smooth, rich taste. When Serj Tankian, one of my favorite musicians and rock legends, announced the opening of Kavat Cafe in Highland Park, I was ecstatic.

On the day of the grand opening, I got to try a cortado, an iced latte, and my kids enjoyed hot chocolates. We shared some fresh baked goods, and everything was delicious. The coffee was smooth and perfectly balanced. Their manager, Ara, is a true coffee artist. I love that they use organic milk for their drinks; it’s rare to find a coffee shop that does.

Since the opening day, we’ve come back a few more times, and I can easily say Kavat is my new favorite coffee shop. The space is inviting, light, and spacious. The walls feature Serj Tankian’s beautiful artwork, and they even sell his music and merchandise. The staff is professional and well-trained, making your overall experience memorable and enjoyable.

Parking is easy to find, which is a huge bonus for LA. Their patio is spacious and has tables as well as a comfortable sectional to lounge on. The ping-pong table is an added bonus; I love playing it with my kids. Occasionally, you’ll see Serj and other SOAD bandmates hanging out there. All SOAD fans are awesome and give their favorite musicians plenty of space while enjoying their presence.

I hope you will enjoy your experience at Kavat as much as I do.

I’m a...

Great place! Thank you Serj! This place allows the masses to taste real coffee, unlike Starbucks “coffee”.

Dec 2024 update This place stole my heart, so I got bunch of friends and we flew from Dallas Texas to Los Angeles for the weekend just to go to Kavat and have their London Fog tea. The Bakhlava was top-of-the-line as well. I lost my count how many pastries we had and how many cups of London fog tea… He was just beyond good, and all of my friends told me that they could never go back to Starbucks, never again. Hopefully, Serj will open more of these amazing coffee shops across the country and across the world so people can taste what real coffee and real tea is. I cannot drink tea at Starbucks anymore. I’m surprised they are still in business.

The people working there were so nice too… Just very kind, welcoming, and genuine

The outdoor space is just so cool that I just didn’t wanna leave

Classy people do everything...