Spazio Caffé (1511 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, 90403; 310.899-.6769) Santa Monica is one of two planned locations to launch this year by David Sandor King,Laszlo Geber and Istvan Bessenyei, the same team that operates Caffé Bellos in Santa Monica and West Hollywood. It’s officially soft opened and grand opening is set for January 26 with gratis coffee for the first 50 guests.
An offshoot of an Italian coffee house chain, the cafe serves coffee drinks made from Manuel Caffé’s espresso beans (a barista was flown in from Italy to train employees), and croissants, pastries, cold and hot panini, open omelet sandwiches (were decided by Chef Pierpaolo Mattei of Locanda Del Lago). There’s also 18 flavors of “thick” hot chocolate from hazelnut chocolate to pear. The modern, stark, design of the space was done by De Gressi architecture and La Galleria Del Tempo.
Soon, a Main Street location will be in the works!
