LA has a lot of places that are overhyped. That have reputations that precede them. That are a scene. But some hype is due. But some scenes are worth it. Gjusta is Californian in the best way. It’s a scene but it’s the scene I want to be in. Casually indulgent. Effortlessly excessive. The salty air, a tree-shaded patio with mismatched furnishing, a nondescript entrance that leads to a slightly chaotic counter order experience.
Going to Gjusta, or rather, being able to elegantly(change) navigate a Gjusta experience is a rite of passage for Angelenos. Going to Gjusta is overwhelming in the best way. Kinda like going to Porto’s except a little more intimidating with the clientele. There’s so much to look at. So many options. So many decisions to make. The good news is that you can’t really go wrong with anything. The business is loosely divided into three parts. On one side there is a retail shop selling a curated selection of home goods and house-made specialties. On the other side is a dine-in restaurant (outdoor) where you can order from their menu all day (a great place to be any time of the day from breakfast to dinner). And the star of the show is the bakery-deli-cafe, a counter serve space that puts everything on display for customers to move from section to section, collecting delicious goodies from sweet to salty and back.
Gjusta is more than a restaurant or a deli or even a lifestyle home goods shop. Gjusta is selling an aspirational lifestyle that even we diehard east siders have a soft spot for. A breezy, casual west side life with good artisanal food and an ocean breeze. What more could you possibly want?
the details
| Address | 320 Sunset Ave, Venice |
| Website | http://www.gjusta.com/ |
| Yelp | https://www.yelp.com/biz/gjusta-venice |
| @gjustabakery | |
| Hours | 7am – 9pm every day |
| Price | $$$ – just pricey enough for you to question your life decisions but you get what you pay for |
| Aesthetic | California rustic |
good to know
Go here for: a nice outdoor meal, a stop by to pick up goodies for a dinner party
Order this: literally any of their pastries and breads, and definitely some kind of smoked fish
Amount of time to spend: an hour or two for a sit down meal, or a quick 15 min stop by to pick up to go
When to come: weekday during the day because that’s the vibe
Parking: is a hit or miss, but generally if you circle a couple times around the residential blocks you can snag some free street parking but it might take some patience on a weekend morning
Other things to note:
- They have a lifestyle store next door, Gjusta Goods and even a little rental apartment upstairs.
- You can order ahead online for pick up.
- It’s counter service for take out and dine in (they give you a number and it’s self seat in the patio).
Last visited: September 2021
Last updated: November 2021
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