The Cafe at Cookbook

Tucked inside a pristine white bungalow in Larchmont Village sits Cookbook, a boutique grocery store that doubles as a paradise for anyone who gets excited about organic produce, quality tinned fish, and biodynamic wines. But the real draw here isn’t the curated shelves—it’s the attached cafe that transforms this specialty market into a legitimate lunch destination.

The menu, put together by the talented folks behind Jon & Vinny’s, walks an interesting line. While the space lives inside an Italian-leaning grocer, the food reads more like an elevated version of what you’d find at an upscale department store cafe—think refined sandwich-salad-soup combinations. The buttered cheese toastie stuffed with sweet caramelized leeks is comfort food done right, while the treviso and apple salad arrives looking like it was styled for a Chez Panisse cookbook photo shoot.

Dining at Cookbook’s cafe means embracing a certain LA aesthetic. You’ll find yourself sipping turmeric tonics and premium chicken broth while basking in the California sunshine on their lovely outdoor patio. Yes, you might feel like a walking stereotype of wellness-obsessed Angeleno culture, but sometimes leaning into the cliché is exactly what the moment calls for.

If you’re in the mood for a leisurely, see-and-be-seen lunch in one of LA’s most charming neighborhoods, the Cafe at Cookbook delivers. Just know that while the cafe offers genuine value, the surrounding grocery aisles are designed to tempt your wallet at every turn. Come for the food, maybe linger for the vibe, and try not to leave with a $40 jar of artisanal honey.