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London dreams in La-La Land at Bricks & Scones
February 1, 2010
LOS ANGELES, USA – Sticks and stones may break my bones…but Bricks & Scones is my new favorite coffee spot in LA. After arriving in Larchmont Village last fall, the café has quickly become the kind of place where the freelance crowd returns day after day, claiming regular tables as proxy offices and either hosting lively group meetings or pounding away in silence at laptops. It’s also a gathering point for friends and fraternizing.
Today I’ve come here because a storm is raging in L.A., complete with tornado watches. The foul weather has caused a power outage in my neighborhood, leaving me a refugee without a place to cook or work. Luckily, Bricks & Scones is a short five minute drive away, promising warmth, sustenance, and a can’t-be-beat workspace.
As the scones in the name suggest, the café’s got a sort of cozy British feel. Downstairs, you’ll find chocolate leather seating at sturdy walnut tables as well as a pair of cushy brocade chairs and even a settee for reclining. Mustard walls, soft lighting, and multihued wood floors complete the homey feel. Of course, as the name promises, there are bricks, too. An exposed brick wall on the main level is hung with a creative variety of brick-centric artwork.
Upstairs, you’ll find The Study. This is a writer’s or student’s haven! All the comforts of home without any of the distractions. There are real, honest-to-goodness desks to spread out on in here, and signs warn that no talking is allowed. The most coveted spot is the desk by the window facing Larchmont through a picture window. If you’re able to snag it, you’ll feel like Virginia Woolf in the crook of an English country house. I fantasize about camping out there and finishing my novel. For those who prefer a few distractions, there’s free Wi-Fi and plentiful options for diversion, from the swap-in/swap-out selection of books to the collection of board games.
But let’s get down to the real business – what’s cooking? Plenty. The owner’s mother is the in-house pastry chef, and she whips up a selection of cupcakes, muffins, croissants, pastries, gluten-free treats, and of course scones on a daily basis. On today’s visit, divine offerings included a hot cocoa espresso muffin, hazelnut croissant, and cran-walnut scone. There’s an excellent selection of high quality teas served in cute little personal pots; I’m partial to the grapefruit green tea with its delicate citrus notes. The “afternoon tea” special ($5.95; served all day) includes a pot of tea and two scones with jam, clotted cream, and lemon curd (yum!). Coffee is from Intelligentsia, and lattes are luscious (BYO mug for a 10% discount). For something heartier, there’s a selection of sandwiches like the turkey/pesto/mozzarella panini served with salad or beautiful fresh fruit.
In warm weather, plentiful outdoor seating is available on the brick patio. But honestly, I prefer Bricks & Scones on a gloomy, stormy day like today when I can curl up like a Romantic poet in The Study and pretend I’m in London, not La-La Land.
Bricks & Scones
403 N. Larchmont Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
(1) 323-463-0811
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