Bonsai Coffee Bar
11573 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA
Crema's Take
“Bonsai Coffee & Bar is a vibrant Santa Monica hub where serious matcha enthusiasts gather alongside laptop warriors, earning consistent praise for their exceptional matcha program that goes beyond the basics with creative offerings like pandan and coco varieties. The cozy spot practically buzzes with energy—expect a lively crowd of students and remote workers, particularly during peak hours, though the friendly pace and quality drinks make the wait worthwhile. If you're seeking a calm, quiet refuge, this isn't it; but if you want to be part of a buzzing community fueled by expertly crafted matcha and coffee, Bonsai delivers.”
What to expect
Strong matcha and tea selection, with creative signature drinks. A laptop-friendly, quick-grab spot, good for meetings.
Google Reviews
Came in on a friday morning to grab a quick drink. The place was packed with students and people working on their laptops. There was a line when I got there, it moved at a fairly okay pace. I was in and out of here in 20 minutes (parking meter was set to 24 minutes). I read a…
Busy cafe, a student magnet. Hoodies and laptops everywhere. Fortunate to snag a table when we arrived, not everyone did. It was a weekday afternoon. I found it too busy. My partner liked the young vibe. Good matcha. WiFi - You ask the barista for a code. It appears on the…
Bonsai was recommended to me but I was a bit disappointed overall. To start, metered parking can be difficult to find due to the busy area. The place itself is nice but a bit too busy for me. There was no place to sit so I stood outside and ate. As for the food, I ordered the…
Reached there around 2pm on MLK day to a really long queue, but I didn’t mind. Got a cream top matcha and the Pork and Shrimp Dumplings to go — the matcha was one of the best I’ve drank (even beating some touristy outlets in Japan), would definitely return for it :) The…
If you’re a real matcha enthusiast, you need to try Bonsai because they are not messing around. I love the variety of matcha and flavors that they offer. There’s some fun ones too like pandan and coconut. I also tried my first hojicha latte here and loved it. It’s like matcha’s…
Crema Reviews
You might also like
The Hive Superfood Eats & Organic Cafe - Santa Monica
★ 4.4 (555)
This independent Santa Monica spot has built genuine loyalty around their…
Gnarwhal Coffee Co.
★ 4.4 (335)
Gnarwhal Coffee Co. sits in a prime Main Street pocket near Venice Beach, where…
Kavahana
★ 4.8 (320)
Kavahana transforms a Santa Monica corner into an unexpectedly meditative space…
Couplet Coffee
★ 4.8 (60)
Couplet Coffee brings a refreshingly warm, friend's-living-room vibe to Santa…