Many years ago a friend from Seattle suggested we have coffee at a little Known shop in Culver City.
Now, if you have never visited the Washington State area I can tell you for fact that the coffee houses are very good no matter what drink you like. Generally they also have excellent water to make the coffee with, no small fact. So when he mentioned Conservatory in downtown Culver City I decided to see what it was all about.
The Conservatory is a relatively small coffee shop compared to many of the commercial houses. The parking is atrocious and it can be noisy and over crowded even with long lines stretching outside trying to get in and out quick.
The inside is everything you would expect from a family owned coffee shop. The feel is one of visiting a good friend or the feeling you used to get by having lunch at a coffee shop in Hollywood, now most of the good ones are gone.
Inside Conservatory is also everything you would imagine if you were a set designer making a movie about coffee houses. As you first walk through the door you see their coffee roaster with it's wooden barrel in front where the beans are dumped.
Next you notice hugh burlap bags of coffee beans scattered around. They also have burlap bags covering the walls as art. The entire place is designed to give you the feeling of relaxing in a recliner. The smell of fresh coffee roasting, beans grinding, and a worn dated look seals the deal -- you know you are in something different, both in place and space!
Some good advise here, never go during breakfast or lunch hours if you can. You will always notice a crowd early in the morning or in the afternoon because of regulars. Among many, Sony Pictures right across the street.
Which brings me to another point regarding reviews, and the character of a place. I've been in the Conservatory many times when the place was packed and I mean packed, been behind someone who has ordered as many as two dozen drinks and the baristas never blinked an eye. Never gave that my head is killing me look. That alone says the most important thing about the people behind the counter.
Augustus Smith, Worlds Finest Coffees
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