If you veer off the beaten path (aka Sunset Blvd), into the residential streets of Echo Park, you’ll occassionally come across a lot of really cute houses and occasionally a really cute establishment. Insert Pollen. The peachy hues and a sunny, plant-adorned patio make for the perfect day time escape. If you try hard enough you might even be able to convince yourself you’ve left LA for Australia.
Which means this Australian cafe is doing its job. Pollen is beautiful and inviting. It bridges that gap between sit-down eatery and casual cafe in the way many Australian cafes do. If you’re dining in, they bring you a menu to the table. If you’re grabbing to go, you order at the counter. The menu is also a plus up from your typical cafe fare. As in, things you’d happily use utensils for. Perfect for a brunch with friends or perhaps an indulgent weekday “working” lunch with your laptop. The food is as beautiful as the space too. So snag a table and get comfy, you’ll be here for a while.
UPDATE: Sadly, as of January 2020, Pollen has closed. TBD on whether HappyFat (the Australia-based restaurant group behind the concept) has any future plans in LA.
Address | 2100 Echo Park Ave, Los Angeles, CA |
Website | https://www.pollenlosangeles.com/ |
Yelp | https://www.yelp.com/biz/pollen-los-angeles-2 |
@pollenlosangeles | |
Hours | 8am-3pm Monday through Wednesday, 8am to 10pm Thursday to Sunday |
Price | $$ – brekkie and lunch entrees are $10-20 |
Aesthetic | sunny and breezy, like your effortlessly cool Aussie friend, manifested in cafe form |
Go here for: brunch, a nice weekday lunch, or an upgraded “cafe work session”
Order this: pollen bread ($5 + toppings), the burrata ($10), the lemon and poppyseed pancakes ($15)
Amount of time to spend: this is the kind of place where it’s a shame to get things to-go when you can loiter for a whole day
When to come: weekdays are pretty chill, weekend have more brunch crowds
Parking: is a hit or miss. They have a teeny lot with tandem spots, but it usually isn’t too bad to find street parking on the residential streets, but they have restrictions so be sure to peep the signs.
Last visited: March 2019
Last updated: January 2020