Spazio Caffé, an Italian Coffee House with 18 Flavored Hot Chocolates, Soft Serves

Phone: 310-899-6769
Status: Soft open today
Spazio Caffé Santa Monica, one of two planned Westside locations to launch this year, soft opened today on Montana. An official push 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 foodstuffs — 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, if sterile, design here was done by De Gressi architecture and La Galleria Del Tempo.

Behind this and the forthcoming Main Street location are David Sandor King, Laszlo Geber and Istvan Bessenyei, the same team that operates Caffé Bellos in Santa Monica and West Hollywood.
Additional Reading: Coming Attractions, 7/23