You haven’t really been to LA until you’ve stood in line for Sqirl for a borderline absurd amount of time on a Saturday morning, after a “hike” up Griffith and 2 circles around the block to find street parking. Sqirl is peak LA in every way possible. I mean, there’s the name: what other city would be able to embrace it the way LA does?
And then there’s the food, championing a new way of eating, Californian comforts that are produce-forward, seasonally oriented and globally inspired but in a trying so hard to be hipster it becomes mainstream kind of way. And then there’s the vibe: a tiny interior that is dwarfed by the line that snakes from it and wraps around the block. A shaded patio with extra seating, and more tables and chairs spilled out onto the sidewalk, seemingly stretching longer over the years.
Sqirl is probably best known for their jams. There’s a cookbook dedicated to it. Boutiques across the country carry it. There was jam-gate 2020. And even cynics have to admit that their jams are pretty damn good. Add in the produce-forward foods and photogenic pastries and you’ve got yourself the original all day cafe.
But all hype aside, you have to give Sqirl credit for its influence on the way LA eats. After all, half our meals are things on toast and the other half are things in bowls.
the details
| Address | 720 N Virgil Ave #4, Los Angeles |
| Website | https://sqirlla.com/ |
| Yelp | https://www.yelp.com/biz/sqirl-los-angeles-4 |
| @sqirlla | |
| Hours | 8am – 8pm every day |
| Price | $$ – generally $10-20 |
| Aesthetic | casual, homey, backyard cafe-y |
good to know
Go here for: the scene, the experience, breakfast
Order this: pesto sorrel bowl, the famous rainbow jam toast, you know, everything Instagram tells you to order
Amount of time to spend: 20-30 minutes for waiting + an hourish for a leisurely meal
When to come: bright and early on a weekday. No seriously, 8am on a Wednesday is the time to come
Parking: is a pain in this area. Unless you show up early in the morning, there will likely be no meters open on Virgil, so you’ll have to circle around the bumpy residential streets a few times to find street parking.
Other things to note:
- You order at the counter first and then take a seat, so if you see a long line around the block, it’s the ordering line.
- They have limited indoor and covered seating so not the best choice for a rare rainy day (but also, maybe good for avoiding a line?)
Last visited: February 2020
Last updated: April 2021
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