TLDR: For serious caffeine aficionados, this is the best bang for your buck on the west side
Lily and Isaac know their coffee and everything bar nine. It can be easy to mistake it for a regular coffee shop, but this is an incredible experiment in new age coffee.
They moved away from an expansive menu to a minimalist approach. Gone are the pour overs and regular coffee, and instead they have become the best at espressos, barrel aged espressos that are batch brewed. Get the best beans, roast it in their in house roastery, use a patented oxygen free process to extract liquid espresso that’s concentrated, and boom, store it in a steel cask, and boom you can make any drink from this delicious concoction.
They also serve a very limited number of pastries from Michelin awarded Gwen.
The crew is super friendly and knows the LA coffee scene. The place is relatively big (think warehouse) where a lot of laptop warriors are working peacefully, drinking incredible caffeinated drinks and occasionally enjoying Michelin pastries at a great price (yes I compared for you and it’s a deal compared to the source).
The ambiance is that of a chic modernist co working space meets the wake up and savor the smell of coffee at a European coffee shop (think Rome on a Sunday morning).
The best part is the friendly crew who will patiently explain and recommend drinks.
Tip: Parking for 2 hours is free on the street but there is relatively low cost metered street parking.
They are moving away from selling coffee beans to focusing on batch brewed espressos, which you can buy and make at $1.50/drink at home (1oz =1 shot).
If you are looking for a home away from home, a place to feel welcome, a place to work away from distractions, with possibly some of the best coffee (I loved their super smooth americano, try the premium Ethiopian guji), Bar Nine is one the best secrets on the west side.
Tip: Why bar nine? The best espressos reveal their beaniest best flavors when extracted with 9 bars of pressure.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Carrie W
Wow I picked the bonbon in americano And it literally tasted like WATER They should never pre-make their espresso
Not recommended.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 2
Kasper J
It’s alright overall, nothing exceptional regarding the coffee itself. Quite expensive for what you get.
Eve
I recently visited this coffee shop with a group of friends, and overall, I really enjoyed the atmosphere. The space is cozy, and the menu has a lot of fun drink options that caught my eye. My friends all ordered coffee, which they loved, and I got a pastry. Although the $16 price tag for a single pastry at a coffeeshop felt a bit steep, I still appreciated the effort put into the presentation.
There was one small moment that dampened the experience, though. I had a cup from another coffee shop with me (which was almost empty), and a staff member asked me to discard it due to their policy of not allowing outside items. I totally understand the reasoning behind this, but since we had all already made purchases and the café was pretty quiet, it felt a bit unnecessary. It didn't ruin the visit, but it left a slightly sour note.
That being said, I would still come back to try some of the drinks myself and hang out with friends. The vibe is really lovely, and there's a lot to like about the place!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eric Meyer
Boutique industrial cafe that provides great service, superior coffees/teas, and a collection of uncomfortable seating options. A must visit for any coffee connoisseur.
Update Summer 2024, hot as ever. Still better than the alternatives.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Felipe Hofmann
Nifty location, but 6 bucks for tea is a little too expensive.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Caleb Harris
Sweet spot for the best iced coffee in Culver. Maybe in LA.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brewed Coffee
Daniel Toback
We are visiting LA and happened upon Bar Nine while exploring our Airbnb neighborhood. Not only were the pastries incredible and unique (we had a Wagyu beef croissant), the coffee was excellent! Bar Nine features a variety of special, signature espresso roasts for your drink. We had the strawberry daiquiri espresso which had an excellent, subtle flavor in our cappuccinos. Apart from the coffee and pastries, the service is what really elevated our experience. From the start, our barista, Isaac, was friendly, funny, and incredibly knowledgeable and helpful with our questions and in helping us choose the best options! We plan to return before our trip ends for a great cup of coffee but also for a visit with Isaac!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Brian Hall
Had a great visit to Bar Nine. Great coffee, unique concept, and nice atmosphere. Thank you, Isaac!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Corinne Leong
Great pastries and coffee (despite being incredibly expensive) but MAN you guys need more baristas…hasn’t been a single time I’ve come in here and haven’t had to wait at least 2 mins even when there’s no line, just because this place only has one person working both steamers (and sometimes the register…!)
Also idk service here has gotten a lot worse recently, kind of snooty employees. Just had an interaction where the woman at the counter only said one single word to me as I was ordering. No need to be peppy but at least treat me like a person!
Came here right at opening. Super spacious, clean and quick service. Tons of street parking all around. We got an iced americano and a mocha. Both amazing! Highly recommend. Will definitely be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jonathan Knobel
Hospitality is great and Baristas seem to provide as good of customer service to dogs as people
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sandra Cheng
My boyfriend and I hadn’t been back here since we were first dating in 2016, I think. I’m glad it survived the pandemic.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Arshiya Atlani
Fantastic coffee! I love their Bon Bon espresso
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gogu Ma
Probably the best coffee shop for work around culver area. I have come here multiple times and coffee is always good their pastries are great. Very spacious. Good for work and chill
TLDR: For serious caffeine aficionados, this is the best bang for your buck on the west side
Lily and Isaac know their coffee and everything bar nine. It can be easy to mistake it for a regular coffee shop, but this is an incredible experiment in new age coffee.
They moved away from an expansive menu to a minimalist approach. Gone are the pour overs and regular coffee, and instead they have become the best at espressos, barrel aged espressos that are batch brewed. Get the best beans, roast it in their in house roastery, use a patented oxygen free process to extract liquid espresso that’s concentrated, and boom, store it in a steel cask, and boom you can make any drink from this delicious concoction.
They also serve a very limited number of pastries from Michelin awarded Gwen.
The crew is super friendly and knows the LA coffee scene. The place is relatively big (think warehouse) where a lot of laptop warriors are working peacefully, drinking incredible caffeinated drinks and occasionally enjoying Michelin pastries at a great price (yes I compared for you and it’s a deal compared to the source).
The ambiance is that of a chic modernist co working space meets the wake up and savor the smell of coffee at a European coffee shop (think Rome on a Sunday morning).
The best part is the friendly crew who will patiently explain and recommend drinks.
Tip: Parking for 2 hours is free on the street but there is relatively low cost metered street parking.
They are moving away from selling coffee beans to focusing on batch brewed espressos, which you can buy and make at $1.50/drink at home (1oz =1 shot).
If you are looking for a home away from home, a place to feel welcome, a place to work away from distractions, with possibly some of the best coffee (I loved their super smooth americano, try the premium Ethiopian guji), Bar Nine is one the best secrets on the west side.
Tip: Why bar nine? The best espressos reveal their beaniest best flavors when extracted with 9 bars of pressure.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wow I picked the bonbon in americano
And it literally tasted like WATER
They should never pre-make their espresso
Not recommended.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 2
It’s alright overall, nothing exceptional regarding the coffee itself. Quite expensive for what you get.
I recently visited this coffee shop with a group of friends, and overall, I really enjoyed the atmosphere. The space is cozy, and the menu has a lot of fun drink options that caught my eye. My friends all ordered coffee, which they loved, and I got a pastry. Although the $16 price tag for a single pastry at a coffeeshop felt a bit steep, I still appreciated the effort put into the presentation.
There was one small moment that dampened the experience, though. I had a cup from another coffee shop with me (which was almost empty), and a staff member asked me to discard it due to their policy of not allowing outside items. I totally understand the reasoning behind this, but since we had all already made purchases and the café was pretty quiet, it felt a bit unnecessary. It didn't ruin the visit, but it left a slightly sour note.
That being said, I would still come back to try some of the drinks myself and hang out with friends. The vibe is really lovely, and there's a lot to like about the place!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Boutique industrial cafe that provides great service, superior coffees/teas, and a collection of uncomfortable seating options. A must visit for any coffee connoisseur.
Update Summer 2024, hot as ever. Still better than the alternatives.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nifty location, but 6 bucks for tea is a little too expensive.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Sweet spot for the best iced coffee in Culver. Maybe in LA.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brewed Coffee
We are visiting LA and happened upon Bar Nine while exploring our Airbnb neighborhood. Not only were the pastries incredible and unique (we had a Wagyu beef croissant), the coffee was excellent! Bar Nine features a variety of special, signature espresso roasts for your drink. We had the strawberry daiquiri espresso which had an excellent, subtle flavor in our cappuccinos. Apart from the coffee and pastries, the service is what really elevated our experience. From the start, our barista, Isaac, was friendly, funny, and incredibly knowledgeable and helpful with our questions and in helping us choose the best options! We plan to return before our trip ends for a great cup of coffee but also for a visit with Isaac!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had a great visit to Bar Nine. Great coffee, unique concept, and nice atmosphere. Thank you, Isaac!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Great pastries and coffee (despite being incredibly expensive) but MAN you guys need more baristas…hasn’t been a single time I’ve come in here and haven’t had to wait at least 2 mins even when there’s no line, just because this place only has one person working both steamers (and sometimes the register…!)
Also idk service here has gotten a lot worse recently, kind of snooty employees. Just had an interaction where the woman at the counter only said one single word to me as I was ordering. No need to be peppy but at least treat me like a person!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
Restaurantji Recommends
Came here right at opening. Super spacious, clean and quick service. Tons of street parking all around. We got an iced americano and a mocha. Both amazing! Highly recommend. Will definitely be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hospitality is great and Baristas seem to provide as good of customer service to dogs as people
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My boyfriend and I hadn’t been back here since we were first dating in 2016, I think. I’m glad it survived the pandemic.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fantastic coffee! I love their Bon Bon espresso
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Probably the best coffee shop for work around culver area.
I have come here multiple times and coffee is always good their pastries are great. Very spacious. Good for work and chill
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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