Monica Cafe

One of the main highlights of this place—and the main reason we went—was the Çılbır, and it absolutely delivered. Rich, comforting, and beautifully balanced, it truly stood out. If you’re coming here for one dish, this is the one. We ordered several other items from the menu as well, and everything was top-notch. The menu has a really nice mix of Turkish and Middle Eastern flavors, presented in a modern, thoughtful way. Every dish felt fresh, well-executed, and made with high-quality ingredients. It’s a great spot for breakfast or lunch, and I also loved the presentation—the way everything was designed and laid out on the table added to the experience and showed great attention to detail. Definitely looking forward to going back.

Had breakfast here today and absolutely loved it. The food was fresh, flavorful, and came out fast. I ordered a simple plate and it tasted way better than I expected and everything was seasoned perfectly. The coffee was amazing too. Smooth, strong, and not bitter at all. You can tell they use good beans and know what they’re doing. The staff was super welcoming and the whole place has a cozy feel. Perfect spot to start the morning. I’ll definitely be coming back again!

We went to Monica Cafe in Santa Monica and honestly loved everything about it. The food is so fresh and delicious, especially knowing it all comes from the Santa Monica Farmers Market. We ordered the breakfast salad and added grilled chicken, and it was absolutely amazing full of flavor and very filling. We also got a cappuccino and cold brew and they were very nice and strong ( hard to find around here). The atmosphere is so cute and relaxing, and the staff is incredibly kind and welcoming. You really feel taken care of from the moment you walk in. Everything was perfect, from the food to the service. I’ll definitely be coming back and recommending this place to everyone! 💛

I had a wonderful experience at Monica Cafe when my friends and I dropped by for breakfast. The breakfast items were not only super delicious but also incredibly fresh. The ambiance was warm and inviting, and the staff treated us with such kindness that we felt right at home. I’m definitely saving this spot for future visits and will happily bring any out-of-town guests here. Highly recommend!

Stopped by for breakfast and lunch. Menemen was fresh and perfectly balanced, and the latte was smooth with great flavor and not bitter at all. You can tell they care about quality. The space feels clean and cozy, and the staff was super welcoming. Definitely adding this to my regular morning spots

I LOVE THIS PLACE SO MUCH! The haus coffee and cold brew were amazing. On my top coffee list for sure. I also had the Smashed egg and tuna sandwich, and they were delicious! Definitely will be coming back to try more items! I am obsessed! Also the decor inside, gorgeous. It's such a vibe.

Monica Café is honestly one of my favorite spots in town. Everything they serve is top-notch—the lattes are smooth and delicious, the muffins are always fresh (those raised muffins are amazing!), and the smashed eggs on the sesame loaf is such a perfect, feel-good dish. But what really makes this place special are the owners. They’re incredibly friendly and make you feel welcome the second you walk through the door. The service is warm, quick, and full of good vibes. Love the decor and the sitting. It’s the kind of café that just makes your day better. Highly recommend stopping by!

The experience I had in this cafe was fabulous. I ordered eggs on bread and yogurt bowl, they stand out from those in other cafes. The bread was soft and with perfectly balanced moisture. You can have your eggs poached if you like and they were amazing. Coffee was of high quality with amazing flavour. The staff was welcoming and dining in was the most divine and cozy thing in the morning. A wise choice if you are visiting Santa Monica as a tourist!

Everything is homemade, from the fresh bread to the delicious pastries. I had the best scrambled eggs here. This establishment is absolutely worth a visit and is clearly run with passion.

Monica Cafe is such a great spot in Santa Monica! The music is always on point, creating a fun but relaxed vibe. The staff is friendly, attentive, and welcoming, which really makes the experience even better. The dining area is big and spacious, so it never feels crowded and is perfect for hanging out, working, or meeting friends. The food is a highlight too -- yummy pastries and dishes made with fresh ingredients that you can really taste. Everything feels high quality and thoughtfully prepared. Definitely a place I'll keep coming back to!

The good quality food, breakfast and lunch choices, and the coffee choices are simply wonderful. The flavors, the bread and pastries, just divine. The feeling in the restaurant is warm and friendly when you arrive. Curated wall of art makes for a fun art and great food experience. We will be back when in LA.

From the Lokl Haus team, this is a superior, bigger spot than the original on Santa Monica Blvd. Most locals know the Blue Daisy for Mediterranean brunch, but Monica Cafe offers rare Turkish breakfast classics like Menemen (don't forget the Sucuk!) and a solid coffee program with warm, laid-back service. Now, will anyone bring back the full Turkish breakfast spread like Alchemist Cafe (RIP) did?

Incredible addition to Santa Monica!! We got the breakfast wrap and the smashed eggs and both were amazing. The bread is incredible, eggs were light and fluffy, coffee was also on point. This place is big with a second level upstairs and would be great to work from too. Huge fan of Turkish food and will be back!!

Food is so fresh and delicious. Staff are incredibly kind and welcoming. This is their bigger location but they also have a smaller location a few streets away called lokl haus. Definitely our new favorite brunch spot. Everything is halal!

Great casual brunch spot. I had the Mediterranean breakfast wrap and my wife had the smashed eggs. Both were very tasty and we enjoyed the coffee as well.

So glad to see a local cafe open up in the area. I love the chicken ceasar wrap, all the salads, and enjoy their espresso too. The food is genuinely of great quality. So fresh and flavorful. Plenty of seating, and it seems like a calm and quiet place to work/study.

Super cute coffee shop right in the heart of Santa Monica with plenty of seating and cool art work! Plenty of metered parking out front. Cashier was super friendly and helpful. We tried the iced and hot vanilla lattes along with smashed egg on sesame loaf. The coffee was strong and tasty, just the way I like it- enough to keep me going for the rest of a long day. The egg loaf was super unique with a Mediterranean twist. The labne gave it a refreshing feel while the muhammara gave it a nice kick. Overall 10/10.

Don't know where to start. The food?! Service?! Family? This is a gem of a place. The love that has been put into this establishment shows. The nourishing food is beautiful and absolutely phenomenal tasting. All the house drinks are specially crafted. It's also such a beautiful atmosphere to be enjoyed & savored. And their lovely family services everyone as if they are also part of it. If I could rate this a 10 I would!

There is a reason this restaurant is trending. It is a great place to work and eat. The food is authentic from Turkish recipes and the staff is warm and welcoming. I ordered scrambled eggs and a peach tea. The eggs were fluffy and perfect and served with olive oil and sumac. My tea came in a glass pot and I poured it into a tiny glass drinking carafe. Little touches like that make a big impression. I felt like I was on vacation. I took 2 salads Togo--chicken Cesar and a Mediterranean chop. Both were seasoned well and the dressings were homemade. If I lived closer they would see me there every morning.

A clean downtown atmosphere where one can relax, have a good cup of coffee and relax...maybe even try a pastry or sandwich. Pleasant associates!

We recently moved to the neighborhood and were on a morning walk when we stumbled upon Monica Cafe! It's such a nice spot for coffee and pastries! Spoke with the barista and the lady who took my order, who I later learned was the owner, and learned that the art in the shop is all authentic and owned by them! The ambiance is modern, and comfortable - I can absolutely see this becoming one of our routinely visited cafes!

I dont usually put review, but this place 1/5 for me. The staffs were nice & place is good too +1 Pastries - COLD Iced/ hot coffee- BAD Waiting time was like 45mins to 1hr. - WORSE I brought my family here around 10-11 am, december time. And i thought was a good idea. But nope. Will never going back.

Nice chill new to place in the area. The guys running place were warm and friendly. Lots of seating. There's a great selection of food. I had the Mediterranean wrap which was flavorful and healthy. I could tell the eggs were fresh. My friend had the smashed toast but found the bread was sliced a little too thick, he still enjoyed it. I had the Americano but it was probably as good and as strong as they Turkish coffee on their menu. I would definitely come back.

Nice vibe, nice menu and delicious food. Plenty of seating and good service. Coffee drinks looked great too, will have to try next time.

The vibe of this place seems nice to relax and/or get some work done. Seems like they have some great food options as well. Staff is very nice and they were very quick. I have to be honest though, the only reason I came here was that I was doing some research on best matcha in the area and it came up so I wanted to try it. It was probably one of the worst ones I've had: color was off, tasted like grass, couldn't even finish it. The photo I saw of it was misleading, I thought they used cold foam which excited me but it turns out they just shake the carton of milk and pour it on top. I feel bad saying this because they probably aren't matcha pros and I'm sure their food and coffee is great, but I just had to spare anyone who wanted to come here for the matcha alone.

I found this coffee spot yesterday. On my way to work. I tried the Turkish coffee and a coffee cake, so delicious. The two gentlemen that helped me out. We're so friendly and so helpful made me feel so Welcome definitely went back the next day, and got a hot caramel latte and a cheese danish so delicious Also, all their sauces are done and store. So Beautiful Made, not to mention when you walk into the store. You see so much artwork, so Beautifully clean Can't wait to try their breakfast options.

We had the menemen and the Turkish breakfast. Amazing food. Takes some time to prepare fresh

I wasn't even hungry but then I couldn't say no to their high quality Turkish coffee and the best chicken croissant. This new place is must to go to as the service as good as LoKl cafe as they made you feel like having a coffee at home.

The food at this restaurant is really good, and the service is quick. There's plenty of seating, and everything is clean. The owner also seems to genuinely care about the community, which is great to see. If I could change one thing, it would be the price--a latte at eight dollars feels a bit high. Other then that great place

This was one of the best cafes I've ever been to. The staff is so kind and service was so fast, and food was delicious! I had the smashed eggs and it was the best thing that has ever laid on my taste buds. Also I had the pumpkin spice latte and it was just amazing! Everyone there is family and the community is just amazing and so welcoming. My daughter said the drinks are so addicting, definitely will be coming back!

Visiting Santa Monica and walked this morning looking for a breakfast spot. Came across Monica and the menu posted in the window looked inviting. The meal was a terrific surprise! Excellent and unexpected Turkish breakfast, beautifully colorfully presented. I wished I had taken a photo- Instagram worthy! The wait staff was helpful in answering menu question. The owner visited our table and was super hospitable and brought us extra toast for free. Today was three month anniversary. Looking forward to visiting again next time in Santa Monica!

Great food and very nice atmosphere. Beautifully decorated and great staff. Most try the Mediterranean brakefast wrap. Absolutely amazing.

I want to commend this place for having great customer service and great food. My friends and I were in this weekend for some quick drinks, and we were greeted with a calming and quaint ambiance. The staff took our orders and answered all of our questions. We got three matchas between us, with varying customizations, and added on a spanakopita we saw in the snack case. There was a miscommunication with one of the drinks, but it wasn't a big deal and we intended to keep the drink as-is. When we were waiting for our spanakopita, they surprised us by bringing out a remade drink. We super appreciated that attention to detail and their commitment to great customer service. They were also very kind the entire time we were in the cafe. The drinks were great, but I think what really shone was the spanakopita. Thank you to the staff for the kindness and the accommodation, and we look forward to trying more drinks and more food items.