Village Well Books & Coffee

A cafe and bookstore in one right in the heart of Culver City. Having just moved to the neighborhood, we were delighted to discover Village Well Books. It’s a cozy space with room for a decent, if not extensive, collection of books, and a coffee counter offering a variety of coffee options. There’s also plenty of mostly communal seating to browse a book or two while enjoying coffee.

Such a phenomenal place! I came here for a visit with my family and we had amazing visit. The book selection cannot be beat and the café food and drinks really hit the spot. This was a good place to relax, buy good books, and talk with staff who are knowledgeable about what they do. I'll come back every time I'm in LA.

This place was very inviting with a diverse crowd, young, old, it didn’t matter everybody there had a really pleasant energy. Nice quaint bookstore with interesting reads and a cafe!!!!!!!!! My wife and I performed at the open mic and it was a great time. Definitely recommend and will definitely be back.

Woman-owned bookstore that started during the pandemic and quickly became so successful that they've now recently doubled in size. It's a bustling place with a calendar full of poet readings, comedy events, author talks, and more. Last time i went in there i saw they'd placed a Spanish-language section right up in front and are asking for tips on authors to stock in Spanish. That was so exciting to me, because it's so hard to find Spanish language literature stateside!!! I order all my books through them and they have an efficient text messaging system to let me know when they're ready for me. And last but not least their little coffee shop is great, with very delicious bread for all of the toast and sandwich offerings. I highly recommend this place!!!!!!

Every time I come here I feel a sense of calm. The staff are really passionate about books, super friendly and easy to talk to, the place is cozy but not crowded, and everyone is extremely helpful. I even needed a receipt my boss had lost once, and was able to get a copy sent over to me within 10 minutes. Really grateful to have a bookstore like this nearby.

Such a cute book store and coffee shop! The staff are super friendly and helpful. The London fog from the cafe was excellent. This is a super fun spot to find a book, grab a drink, and relax!

What a wonderful place to have a cup of coffee and search for books. It’s so nice to know that a bookstore can survive in this climate of e-books and downloads. The owner said they’re even expanding into the next space and he’s excited to add more books. Nice parking lot on the side right next to a post office. If you love books and coffee, this is the place to visit in Culver City!

Fabulous bookstore on a great street with lots to explore! Kind staff and well organized location. I stumbled upon a reasonably priced signed copy of a new release. The Identity section was my favorite! Seating available throughout the inside and outside of the store. A cute cafe inside as well!

This bookstore is such Culver City haven. It's cozy . The staff is so nice. Families are welcome. But the thing I want to highlight that makes me love this bookstore so much is a specific thing. Many bookstores in Los Angeles that could be categorized with Village Well, have become hotbeds for political propaganda regarding international geopolitics. Village well is ACTUALLY INCLUSIVE. It steers clear of isolating people and celebrates togetherness and a love for reading. It's a great place to bring your laptop and their cafés is nice too . I'm so glad it's in my neighborhood.

I recently went on a book crawl in the Culver City area and Village Well was the first stop. Coffee and books are my jam so I was looking forward to seeing what this place had to offer. My first stop inside was to the coffee shop. There were quite a few people in line already and the line moved a bit slow. I ordered a vanilla latte and it came out faster than I expected. The coffee was good but nothing out of this world. There are plenty of tables to study, read, catch up with friends over coffee, etc. Next, I started walking around the store and my eyes were drawn to all their fun stickers. They have a good selection of stickers, stationery, and other fun stationery-related items. I then browsed their well-rounded selection of books. There are staff recommendations throughout the various bookshelves. I didn't really have anything I was looking for and was just going to get something if it caught my eye. After much browsing and debating, I settled on A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. The Village Well is a great place to browse books, have coffee, or both. Parking can be a bit difficult but be persistent!

I used to love coming here to enjoy a coffee, pastry and get some work done. However since they expanded, it's gone downhill. First, they expanded the book area but failed to add more tables for the cafe, which were always full. And now, they now have reserved a bunch of tables as "laptop free seating" which makes it almost impossible to get food, and a spot to sit and do some work. Unfortunately they have now lost another paying customer - because not only do they have these seats but they are pretty rude about it. Why not make these seats "for those eating and drinking"? At least then you'll get more purchases and not lose customers ...

They have great events here & I have bought a couple of books. Tiny parking lot. They have a cafe. They just expanded. A bit cramped/cozy, but it's a local gem. They have some outdoor seating. LOVE this place.

Village Well is a great female-owned book store. I enjoy placing orders online and picking up in-store when I want to have a physical copy of a book (and not read using Libby). Staff is very helpful and kind. The tables are often packed with people studying or doing work, so I've only been able to snag an outdoor table if I needed to get work done. However, I am happy they are making changes and allowing for some tables to be used for non-laptop use. Their coffee is really good, too!

Such a cool bookstore. Plenty of seating, a cute cafe that serves coffee, tea, pastries and wine. Customer service at the cafe and register were very welcoming. However a staff member on the floor was a bit rude. A customer started talking to me in the mystery section...asking what books I'd recommend. Midway through suggesting my favorites the staff member cut me off and proceeded to take over. Both me and the other customer were a bit thrown off. Are customers interacting in the bookstore not allowed? I would think for a neighborhood bookstore building community would be a good thing. Stars off for that rude and confusing interaction. It's a small bookstore so they won't carry every book but they have all the new releases and plenty of inventory. They can also order a book for you. Parking on the side is great!

Finally made it in here after being on their mailing list for quite a while. What an amazing little spot! First off, huge selection of books. Lots of sections complete with staff reviews. There is a little retail section that seems aimed at the New Age wellness area. Large children's book section with a dedicated staff member. My kid got right to reading. And ta da....my favorite part--a wine bar in bookshop! Smart, smart. There is a happy hour as well I intend to take advantage of one day. For the reviewer who was cranky about the laptop free zones, I'd like to say, I was happy to see those signs. This is, after all, a book store. For reading. Books.

This independent book store and coffee shop has something for everyone! I love the book displays, as well as the little gifts (stickers, tote bags, crystals, bookmarks) that they sell. Also came here to work and enjoyed it! Decent amount of seating. They do have some laptop-free tables, which I do appreciate and encourage us to share the space. WiFi was stable, with some outlets. Music level was a good level. Coffee prices are on par with other places I've been but the food is a bit more expensive than what I'm used to. Street parking was easy to find. They also have some outdoor seating. Overall, I will always love an independent bookstore and this will now go on my list of go-to places to work remotely, especially since they are open until 8!

This used to be a great place to work until they started thinking that creating "laptop free zones" when they don't even have enough seats to begin with would be a good idea. Clearly whoever came up with that idea didn't take a second to think about their customer base at all. I'll start refraining from ever coming here as a peaceful place to work since they want to create ridiculous rules.

Really nice location right in the corner in Culver City. Stopped here after having breakfast nearby. Was really impressed with the customer service. The book selection is plentiful and I picked up a text while I was visiting. Will certainly be back!

Amazing indie bookstore. The employees are always very helpful with finding what you need if you want to get in and out, but they have a fantastic selection that I love to just wander and see what catches my eye. They recently expanded the store into the space next door to help with some of the crowding that has happened since becoming more popular. They do many weekly events and have a small cafe with tables inside where you can grab and drink and work if you like, but keep in mind this is also their event space so if one is going on you'll need to plan accordingly. They also have a rewards program that translates into credit for future purchases which as a frequent shopper I love.

So happy to still have stores like this. Absolutely incredible spot, good book collection, good coffee, super awesome staff. Very clean and organized. Will definitely be back.

This is a small bookstore with a large coffee shop in downtown Culver City. The book store aisles are well organized, and the staff go out of their way to help find specific titles. The place is neat and tidy. I have yet to check out their coffee.

I really like this place. It gets crowded, however, so if you want to stake out a spot to work like I do, get there EARLY! I love the vibes of books and coffee together. So great for getting work done. I love their cheddar scallion biscuit, too.

One of the best, local bookstores in all of Los Angeles! They have a book for everyone! The cafe environment is very loud and there's not many places to sit, as everyone is there working on their laptops. The rest of the store is cozy and welcoming, and I hope the expansion next door adds more seating for reading and relaxing. Perfect to sit down with a drink and one of their delicious food options. (The turkey and cheddar sandwich is amazing!) The staff here is beyond helpful in finding the perfect book, in addition to also giving great food and drink recommendations in the Cafe. Be sure not to don't miss the creative and fun window displays and interior store decor that change with the seasons!

This is the absolute best place to come to work! Such a great atmosphere! Also if you need a place to find nice little gifts there is a little boutique inside that is very nice! I will definitely be coming back here a lot! They also have food and beer!

A very clean and friendly independent bookstore that caters to the neighborhood and community. The bookstore is also a gathering spot for Game Night held once a month, where locals meet and play a variety of board and card games. Anyone can attend and you can bring games of your choosing. I went and had such a fun time meeting new people. The bookstore serves coffee, wine, beer as well as a number of food offerings. Village Well reminds me of the kind of bookstore where you can find unique books for that special someone's birthday or Christmas gift.

WHEN: Sun @8:45pm PARKING: They have their own parking lot around the corner on Duquesne, but limited so get there early like I did to score a free spot! This place is the dream: a bookstore and cafe (with pastries, food, and beverages) combo with good amount of seating with outlets! Here's what I got: MATCHA LATTE - $6 Pretty darn good! I was here for around 5 hours. I first sat by the windows but there are not outlets there so I eventually moved to the large tables where they had outlets on the ground to charge my iPad and phone. I love it here so much.

I love this place. I wish I lived a smidge closer! Highly recommend checking their calendar: they have book signings, music/acoustic nights, board game nights, and more! Cute little cafe area, great book selection, solid board game corner, and the staff are wonderful. A great community spot - please support your local small businesses! :)

An incredible selection of books. The kids area holds some of our favorites ever! Glad this place exists. Perfect for gifts and novel reads.

There is no place in Culver City that I visit as much as the Village Well. My kids and I are there at least once a month and multiple times during birthday season. I love the newly expanded children's book section. They have a wonderful selection and a cozy and welcoming environment for children to take their time perusing through the books. The best addition to the section is the extremely informative woman with who works there. She will help you pick out the right book for every occasion and child. I love hearing her talk about books because her passion and insight are so thoughtful. My children have loved all the books I brought home on her recommendation. I also love that you get points for all your purchases that turn into credit for future purchases of books and anything from the coffee shop. Best local independent book store in Culver City!

This place is a gem! We loved perusing the book shop part before we got coffee. They have almond and oat milk for non-dairy drinkers. I got an iced almond milk latte, and my mom got a regular latte. We both thought they were excellent. The inside seating area was pretty full when we got there around 10 am on a Thursday (it was a holiday, though). It was definitely quiet - people were there to study and work remotely. So I wouldn't suggest for meeting up to gab with a friend unless you plan to sit outside. Contemporary pricing.

Great spot! I came around 11am on a Sunday for a book club meeting with my friends and it was super cute. We ordered drinks at the cafe. Seating was somewhat limited as it's a busy and popular spot on the weekends, we luckily found a spot inside.

cozy and cute bookstore/cafe in culver city studyability: seats are limited, but ive never not found a spot to sit. tables and couch chairs available. good music, not too loud, but sometimes people talking can get loud. FREE WIFI! limited outlets. drinks: very decent matcha latte! a little pricey, but nothing unusual for LA food: avocado toast is mehh, but ive heard the sandwiches are decent. its nice that they have actual food and pastries for whatever mood you're in bathrooms: clean and accessible bathrooms! parking: street parking or lowk can park at the post office lot right next door

I love the concept of this coffee shop; it's the perfect place to study/work or unwind as you sip on a cup of coffee and read one of the MANY books from the shelves. The coffee was good and the raspberry cheese pastry was delicious, they offered to warm it for me and it tasted like it was fresh from the oven. The pastry is sort of the reason for the low review too. After I ordered and they put my pastry in the oven to warm, I notice a fly just making its way from one pastry to the next in the showcase (which was open.) Disgusted, I immediately told the staff and asked if they can cancel the pastry order. I'm happy they had a closed box of fresh pastries on the side, and replaced mine with a fresh one. Did they do anything with the rest of the pastries in the case? Nope. Not while I was still standing there, anyway. I really wish they would keep their pastries in a closed showcase or just leave "dummy pastries" on display and keep the rest covered. I wonder how many people didn't notice flies smearing E.coli all over their food. 0_o Staff seemed apathetic at first, but were much more friendly after the pastry incident. The speed of service was great, though; got my items in no time. The place was packed when I arrived in the late afternoon. There were barely any seats left, but the counter wasn't busy.

I used to love coming to The Village Well to browse books, read, and get some work done. Ever since they started having the "laptop free zones," every visit has been less pleasant than the last. A friend and I were asked to move out of the "laptop free zone" even though there were no other spots in the store. Normally I'm fine with respecting these sorts of rules, but given that seating is already limited here, people were standing in the aisles while eating, and I currently have a broken foot, I was hoping for an exception. The store owner asked us to move, but I let her know there were no other seats and we had just ordered food "for here." She directed us to go outside, which was already full, and to two tables that also had the no laptop signs on them. And all across the store there were people sitting at these "no laptop" tables with their laptops open and working, yet she didn't say anything to them. Also, how does she know we aren't reading an e-book on our laptop? Even though she was relatively polite, it still felt abrasive and unwelcoming. I will be hesitant to come here going forward. For the remainder of my visit no one even sat in those "laptop free" chairs. This put a bad taste in my mouth and I hope they consider getting rid of the laptop free zones or adding more general seating.

Finding a good spot to read as well as have a coffee. Great spot for studying or meeting to read, also doubles as a book store. Plenty of tables and seating. They have a very small parking area shared with another business, maybe 6 spots and i assume taken most of the time. Latte was good, nothing crazy, but they did have a good variety of syrups. My only comment would be for as much reading people were doing here, the cafe area gets very loud with talking. I noticed it mostly from employees, all loud talkers. It was just distracting and i was surprised nobody was saying anything about it.

Cute spot with nice vibes. It's a small bookstore that also offers board games and a cafe. There's a good number of seats and tables available, but be warned - it's competitive. After speaking with the employees and going there myself, it's clear that the people who frequent this store stay for a long time, so it could be challenging to get a spot. But if you manage to find a spot, good for you. It's worth it. The music and environment is just right for reading or working. There's indoor and outdoor seating. If you don't need a table, there are a few lounge seats and some stools throughout the store. The cafe is also nice. It's got a solid menu list, and the coffee is comparable to that of a reputable coffee shop. Would love to spend weekends here, but I'll need to plan it out for a seat :)

I agree with the other reviews that it is super busy, but what do you expect in any cafe on the weekend? It's fun to see all the families and not just "the millennials who are too cheap to pay for a co-working space." The drinks were alright and I'm happy to support a community place. I found the employees to be helpful and kind, the book prices to be fair or even below the suggested retail price, and the wifi to work well even with all the traffic. They have such a large variety of books and authors in a relatively small space too. One of the employees made my day because she wrapped my book so beautifully! Will be coming again :)

Village Well is a really nice independent bookstore in Culver City! They're supportive of the community. When we were there for a poetry event, we had to make way after we were done for another event. It's good to see a local place thriving with community involvement. The staff was friendly. I had a great cup of espresso from the cafe as well and my wife enjoyed the tea she ordered (though weird it was served in a teapot with a strainer for loose leaf tea but it was actually just a tea bag.) Glad to see an independent bookstore thriving with two way community support.

We came here to meet with people and it worked out. There is street parking along with a few (very few) private spots in the lot behind. The inside had some good long tables and seating areas, and the outside had some chairs as well. There is a good number of books that were great for browsing and a few good spots to sit and read. The is a small coffee bar serving up all the classics, and it was good coffee. they also have a small area that can be converted to a stage and often have guest presenters and readers. They were setting up for one as we were leaving. This is not a good place for groups and the seating is crowded and hard to find space together for a lot of people.

Love this as a bookstore and a cafe! But dear god somebody needs to help the baristas with their knife and kitchen skills. We found several slivers of avocado skin in our avocado toast. My boyfriend said he watched the barista hack into the avocado with a knife without removing the pit -- convinced someone is gonna hurt themselves back there. Avocado itself was a bit underripe and underseasoned, so not even worth the bits of skin. Will still return for coffee, which was delicious, but probably won't order food again.

I love bookstores. I love coffee shops. Imagine how much I enjoyed visiting VILLAGE WELL BOOKS & COFFEE! On a Saturday morning! While it was raining!!!! This is bliss. There are two large communal tables where everyone seemed busy working. On a rainy Saturday morning. The baristas were super friendly, helpful, patient and cheerful. The CORTADO was fantastic. Creamy, rich and strong. The CHAI LATTE is spicy and warm, temperature not withstanding. I love that there is a shelf with these laminated short guides to a lot of things. The store isn't gigantic, but the offerings on each and every shelf is interesting. Though this is our second visit here. I would definitely come back again and again and would wish every visit was longer.

A friend recently introduced me to this spot and I'm a huge fan. 1) The drinks are good. I've tried a cappuccino and an iced latte and both were on point. It also does not cost extra to do a milk substitution with a non-dairy option and this I'm a huge fan of. 2) Staff are super friendly. 3) The bookstore itself is super quaint with a good variety. And 4) It's a good place to have a work/study session. 10/10 recommend and am recurring now. :)

Didn't go in, but leaving review with regards to parking situation and didn't want to impact the rating too much. There's about 7 spots reserved for the bookstore and 2 handicap spots. If you can't get these spots you will have to park on the street and all the street parking I saw was 30 minute or 2 hour limit unless you have a permit. I wanted to study here for more than 2 hours so I just left to find another coffee place. It did look very spacious inside though.

I love a bookstore. I love a cafe. I love a good bookstore cafe :) there's a lot of seating, for eating, for working, for reading. Each staff member I talked to was lovely and helpful. The selection was impressive for such a relatively small space. I also happened to be there when they were having an author event, which was a lot of fun! They have their own parking lot, but the spaces are limited. Downtown Culver City is pretty walkable, though, so worth parking a little farther and walking over.

Not a bad spot to work in! They have lots of outlets, good wifi, and seating (but it gets packed in the afternoon)! The library is so cute and I got an iced tea that was delicious. The only downside is that it's hard to find parking; we ended up parking in the Erehwon garage and walking over from there.

I placed an order with Village Well Books through email in July in order to get a signed copy of a book they were able to provide through an arrangement with the author. The staff were wonderfully kind and kept me informed throughout the process. The book arrived quickly and was well-packed to keep it nice and new in transit. I'm thrilled with how everything went and am glad to be able to support an independent bookstore!

My favorite bookstore in LA! Great place to also get work done. STORE: They have a comprehensive book selection. They sell popular books as well as fiction and nonfiction books from across genres (memoir to nature to historical). They also have a kids section. Everything is well organized and I love their displays. It is bright and they also have various knick knacks like stickers and notepads. CAFE: My favorite place to get work done! The baristas are friendly and food/drinks comes out fast. They have coffee, pastries, tea, salads, and even wine! There are outlets, free wifi, and a bathroom. You can definitely stay awhile here, and I always feel productive because everyone is doing their work. Such a gem in Culver!

All the best things about a bookstore in one place! This place has all the best things about a bookstore: places to sit to read or work, unique gifts, great coffee, and a nice variety of books and recommendations. The space is bright, lively, and has a great little kids area with books in the back. The new expansion is great! I especially appreciate the focus on books with social justice and diverse themes throughout the store. My new favorite place to visit and wander on the weekends.

Wonderful atmosphere, interesting book selection. Great open mic experience. The store is nicely laid out, you can grab coffee or free water, and the staff is very nice and helpful. The open mic performers were supportive of each other and the whole "vibe" is positive and interesting.

Such a great bookstore! I recently came here since we organized an event with the bookstore. The staff was so great! If I lived closer, I would honestly come more often or it would be a spot that I came to hang out more. They have an area with communal tables. There's a cafe so you can get coffee and some food. The coffee is great and they make all their own syrups. I got an iced vanilla latte. It was good!

I visited Village Well Books & Coffee recently for the first time ever. I thought they have a decent selection of books. I like that there is a cafe on-site. I did feel a bit cramped as the aisles are a bit narrow.

This place is so cute!! My friend who lives near Culver City recommended that we meet at this bookstore/cafe. I don't drink coffee, but my friend does, and she had an iced latte with skim milk, plus one of the coconut chia pudding dishes to have for a breakfast. It looked delicious and very filling (so many chia seeds). I was more interested in the bookstore aspect of the shop, and wandered around. It's a small space, but laid out well: new releases, local authors, poetry, travel, horror/thriller and general fiction, a little taste of everything. I don't think their selection is very extensive due to the size of the shop, and there were only a few books that had multiple copies on the shelves (such as the new Emily Henry, which had about three copies available). There is a separate young adult section and children's section, and my friend bought a few children's books to have wrapped (they were wrapped very well; they were shaped oddly so I'm sure it was a challenge) and I bought a YA. Normally when I buy books while traveling I ask if there is a way to get a stamp of the bookstore on the inside cover, but this store didn't have one; I got a sticker instead. That'll do. Great spot. I'd definitely go back.

Such a great place to find the perfect gift. I love being able to walk through the aisles and flip through pages. They are the perfect place to find gifts and the staff is so helpful. I recently got a gift for a friend and he loved it. They gift wrap.

The Village Well has a wonderful vibe, great coffee & grub, and their bookshelves are curated with care and a personal touch--- I love to know what their staff is reading, what they like and why. VW includes bookcases specializing in local history and areas focused on local authors, which I love. For such a small space, they pack a lot into their shelves without producing a feeling of crowdedness. Display books catch the eye, and the shelves invite you to browse deeper. When I order books online, I love getting a friendly email with updates about my order. The staff is friendly and upfront (such as when a book is back-ordered). I've attended a fair few events here--- Women's Open Mic and Game Nights with Heroes' Workshop--- and the events have always been well-organized and fun, which is no small feat. This is a favorite spot to have coffee with friends (where the conversation never runs dry--- we just need to look around and find something new and fascinating to discuss!). I love ordering books from here and also browsing to find something new and exciting. Amazing place. Long live the Village Well!

I was walking to the post office next door when I saw the beautifully decorated windows that were so creative and fun! The kites went into the entry of the store as well... so much fun! I've been coming here for many years, but owner of this place doesn't seem like she is running the store very well. I also noticed that they're expanding next door, which will be nice and I hope the window displays are added to the store next door, as they really are inviting and the main reason I entered the store the first time... I love seeing them change throughout the seasons! So fun. Recently it seems like the store hasn't been performing like it was a few years ago. There was dust on all the bookshelves, there was a dead fly on one of the books, the lamps were so dirty, and the vibes is just off. I don't know who the owner is, but she/he needs to get it together. This store is falling apart, and I had a lot of hope for this place! I used to tell all my friends to stop here, but i have since stopped, until things improve! I hope the owner sees this, and the store goes through a lot of improvements once the expansion is completed.

I LOVE this place. The drinks are fine but the ambience is amazing. Love the book selection here and I just love this place.

Great vibes, great customer service, and fun place to be at. However, It's hard to find a spot inside to sit but it's only because it's always busy and is a good place to study. Easier to get a spot outside, but I do wish there was more seating inside. However, the to go cups are very unappealing. Not to mention it doesn't matter if you order iced or hot, it's always served in these blank white paper cups that doesn't look or feel right when drinking an iced coffee. The coffee and it's option's it serves are not bad but it's needs more quality of presentation and detail. Also a little pricy for the sizes available.