Gjusta in the heart of Venice, California

GJUSTA

The snowstorm that hit the east coast last week gave me another day in LA.  I can’t say I was too sad about it.  In fact, I was pretty excited to have the chance to check out a couple more places that I had been hearing about.  My friend Diane has two sons and both live in LA.  They find the best places, and after hearing about Gjusta…I knew I had to go.

 

Gjusta is a little bit of everything.  And they do it all really well.  It’s part bakery, coffee shop, pizza place, deli, juice bar, and a really great place to hang out.

Take a number

My friend let me in on the layout before I arrived.  She said, “Just take a number and the cute guys working at the counter will walk you through. THE COFFEE IS THE BEST.”  And this is exactly how it worked.  I ended up ordering a slice of the most delicious pizza, two cookies (a date one and an oatmeal cookie because oatmeal is my order taker’s favorite) and of course a cappuccino.  With my pizza I was asked if I would like a center cut or a corner, more bread or less bread?  I mean, who does that?  I always want to pick my slice and generally my asking is met with an evil stare.  At Gjusta I didn’t even have to ask, he asked me my preference?!

The Garden

There’s a rustic outdoor garden through the old fashioned screen doors at the end of the building.  I love the water spigot.  I’ll be pinning this to my Pinterest board where I gather all my ideas for our next house. It’s called The Little House Inspired by Pinterest.

Even the ladies room had cool features.  I mean look at those privacy window panes.  And the rustic marble sink.

I took Uber Pool to get to Gjusta in Venice from my hotel. The thing about Uber Pool is that it often lets you out a block or two away from your actual destination.  Gjusta doesn’t have a big sign or an awning so I was skeptical for a moment that the driver let me off in the right place.  It’s a pretty non-descript building on Sunset.  Once you look a little closer you see the potted tree and the pretty wood bi-fold doors.  And then you walk in and smell the bread, the food, and the coffee and you are so glad you made the trip!

The Exterior

Oh, and do not miss the Gjusta Goods shop right next door.  They sell their linen napkins and pottery that are used in the café and gorgeous linen pillows in the perfect hues that include mossy green, blush pink, mustard gold, heather oatmeal, and ocean blues.

My only regret is that I didn’t walk the mile to the Venice Canal Historic District.  Did you know it was developed by Abbot Kinney in 1905?  I guess we need to go back.  Who’s with me? 

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