This review isn't about the café itself -- it happened to be closed the day I visited -- but rather about the grounds, because this place absolutely deserves its own shoutout. I'd been wanting to come here for a while but honestly assumed that if the café was closed, the whole property would be off-limits too. Not the case at all! You can freely drive in regardless, and there are two parking areas -- one at the bottom and another up on a small hill to the left of the café. Really convenient. Now, the views. There's a trail that takes you down just a short distance to the rocks, and what you'll find there is genuinely breathtaking. I'm not even going to try to describe it properly -- you just have to see it for yourself. Trust me on this one. Around the grounds there are several picnic-style tables where you can sit, have some tea, or enjoy a snack. There's also a covered seating area right on the café's patio -- lovely spot, but a heads up: there was a full swarm of bees gathered at one edge of the roof. Not sure if it's just the season, but I'd steer clear of that corner for now. Restrooms are available on the property, and if you follow the trail a bit further, there's an observatory -- I didn't make it there myself, but it's worth exploring if you have the time. Overall, this is a genuinely peaceful and beautiful place. Fresh forest air, stunning scenery, and a calm atmosphere that's hard to find. I'm so glad I made the trip and will definitely be back -- next time hopefully with the café open!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

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The food offerings were the same as what you'd find at a high school footballl game (hot dogs, hamburgers, and soda cans). Anywhere else, this food would be underwhelming. But after a day of hiking and driving, this place hits! I got the chili cheese dog--that hit me in all the right places. And kept me satisfied, during the 4-mile hike (Switzer Falls) I did after. Views are also amazing! read more

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Apparently this place believes in work-life balance and only shows up between April and October. Fair enough. After some sightseeing or a hike, it's a great spot to refuel and remind yourself why you climbed that mountain in the first place. The food selection is reasonable--not exactly a Michelin-starred experience, but definitely better than the crushed granola bar that's been living in your backpack since last summer. The quality is surprisingly good, and the staff are friendly, helpful, and seem genuinely happy to be there. The real star of the show is the view. It's absolutely stunning. If it weren't for the fact that it's an hour-long uphill drive from my house, I could easily picture myself sipping a coffee here every morning and pretending I have my life completely figured out. One thing to note: you'll need an Adventure Pass to park in the national forest. That said, I noticed about half the cars weren't displaying one. Maybe they're feeling adventurous in a different way. Personally, I'd rather spend my money on a parking pass than make a donation directly to the ticket-writing fund. read more

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Hit the spot after a hike! We did a loop from chantry flat so timed our summit to mt Wilson at opening time. There's a selection of wraps and chili but we just grabbed some hot dogs and a drink. Plenty of picnic benches and clean restrooms and water refill station nearby. Limited or no cell reception but the free wifi in the area was helpful. read more

Cosmic Cafe - Exterior - Cafes Near Me - Mt Wilson, California

Scenery is beautiful. Lots of little easy trails to walk around. Great views. Better on a clear day. Staff super nice and helpful Seating is picnic benches The food is ‍. I got chili dog. Dog tasted old, chili was hormel from the can. Go for the views and people but take your own food. read more

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The food here was what you'd expect, it hits the spot just right when you're on a hike or just there to enjoy the view! The service was great, think concession stand but at the top of a mountain. read more

Cosmic Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Mt Wilson, California

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Awesome views, but more importantly warm and welcoming people. Their chili and tomato soup is delightful.

came here for a quick hotdog with chili. too bomb after a long day of bike riding in the angeles crest. they have stellar baked goods from a local pasadena bakery "little flower". the cookies there are out of this world. cosmic. seasonal hours so ... make sure to look online and whatnot before coming. beautiful ambiance atop the pasadena mountains. lots of bikers and hikers scattered about, and bathrooms just behind the building! read more

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Tried the chili con carne w shredded cheese and a cup of coffee on a rainy day on top of mount W. After a hike definitely you can replenish here with a simple menu to choose from. read more

Cosmic Cafe - Food chili con carne with shredded cheese coffee jalapeño - Cafes Near Me - Mt Wilson, California

There are two times in my life: the time before I visited Cosmic Cafe, and the time after. Incredibly friendly and polite service. Amazing atmosphere. Delicious food. I hiked to the top of Mount Wilson and in the cold weather their hot cocoa, coffee, and big bowl of chili were the most delicious things I ever tasted. 1000/10 highly recommend. read more

Visited Sat 19 April 25: a beautiful sunny but cool day, so finding a spot in the sun made for a lovely meal. Cosmic Cafe has a covered outdoor dining area, which would be perfect in the summer. The vegetable wrap was surprisingly good- very fresh veg, a good quality wrap that was not at all soggy despite being pre-made, and a tangy carrot ginger sauce to top it off. It's a counter service place, which was quick, efficient and run by helpful staff. There were delicious-looking fresh brownies and other treats on offer, which we managed to resist. Intrepid cyclists and hikers who have scaled the mountain would deserve and appreciate them. It's worth the trip through stunning mountain scenery to visit the cafe and observatory. Give it a try if you're in or around LA. One suggestion for the cafe - adding a vegan chili or soup would be great while the weather is still cooler, as there wasn't any hot food on offer for vegetarians. read more

This was our first stop after we parked our car. Husband ordered: 1) jumbo hot dog 2) chili dog The order took a long time to arrive, I think they forgot about us. Service was slow. read more

Cosmic Cafe - Jumbo hot dog , chili dog - Cafes Near Me - Mt Wilson, California

came to have a coffee above the clouds! most romantic place for Valentine's day with the most spectacular view in Los Angeles! must go place!! read more

Cosmic Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Mt Wilson, California

I'd have to give it a 5- star not because it is the highest quality food but for its location and providing food and cold/hot drinks where it is very difficult to do so. Amazing place with friendly staff! The view from the balcony is also breathtaking. read more

Cosmic Cafe - Mt. Wilson Observatory from Cosmic Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Mt Wilson, California

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Hiked/ran from Sierra Madre to Mount Wilson today and arrived at the Cosmic Cafe. Although they were not open yet, the very nice Manager, I can't remember her name, was kind enough to share a cup of ice that made my water refill quite refreshing and made my return trip to Sierra Madre a bit more bearable. Many thanks and highly recommend taking a day trip, either by car or foot to visit Mount Wilson, both for the views and the kindness, service and food at the Cosmic Cafe read more

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tl,dr: Very nice, thoughtful touch. Likes: + Clever respite atop a difficult hike. + Food, drinks, restrooms, water refill. + Staff very nice and helpful. + There's both shaded and non-shaded seating. Non-likes: - Understandably expensive. - They have an unannounced hour break at 1-2pm, which is inconveniently near typical lunchtime. Various wanderers were needing help at the time but the Café was closed. Thankfully the staff behind the closed window were nice enough to address their issues. - Restroom toilet stalls need a lil more lighting. And people need to wash their hands before leaving. - Toilet paper dispensers need to be on a frictionless roller instead of a stiff bar. I paid: 10.50 Chili Dog + 0.00 cheese + 4.00 Hot chocolate + 10.00 Banana split + caramel sauce + 9.5% tax + 14.50 Turkey Wheat sandwich + 3.75 Arnold Palmer + 2.00 Apple + 2.25 Popsicle + 9.5% tax = $51.47 yikes! read more

I love this place!! The workers are great! Great views! I love coming here after a long hike. My only complaint is that when I returned here after the seasonal closure, I found they got rid of pup cups! & the dog photo wall :( My pup was one of the first photos on the wall so we made sure to come visit every other weekend. She would get a pup cup and I would get chili or a root beer float. Sadly no more pup cups, photo wall, or root beer floats. I'll still come since it's an awesome snack place, great employees, and I want to keep it in operation. I'm sure it's hard to run a business on top of a mountain but I would gladly pay a couple bucks for a cup of whipped cream! Hopefully the owner stops being a grump! read more

COME UP THE MOUNTAIN FOR A WONDERFUL LUNCH IN AN INCOMPARABLE SETTING! Only in my dreams would this cafe be open year around. HOURS: SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM & Only APRIL - NOVEMBER When I first started hiking Mt. Wilson, this cafe had a very limited selection of food but this year the menu has expanded so much. Cosmic Cafe offers a variety of snacks and food. They have easy grab and go bags of chips to cooked delicious hot dogs and some of the best Sandwiches & PB&J's (after a killer hike or bike ride up it's all so delicious) The Cafe is located in the pavilion overlooking the large parking lot at the entrance to the Observatory, they have a plenty of tables to relax and enjoy a meal or just cool down and relax. As you enjoy the top of the mountain FREE WiFi is now available (YAY!) Staff is always amazing. They definitely make you feel welcomed and understand that hikers/runners/ and or bikers come Hangry (Hungry & Angry) LoL You may also purchase great souvenirs at the cafe. They have selections from sweaters, tee shirts, patches, and more. Don't leave empty handed ;) On my last visit the free water station was still closed, so make sure to bring cash or debt/credit to purchase water or anything else needed to refill. Hope you have a great day! Enjoy :) read more

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An amazing spot to take a break once you reach the top of mt Wilson on a day hike. Restrooms & water avalible read more

Cosmic Cafe - Treats - Cafes Near Me - Mt Wilson, California

Pretty limited menu and pricey but you're paying for the view. $14.50 for a ham sandwich without chips. $10 for a hot dog. Not gourmet but if you're up at Mt. Wilson and need a bite, this is your only option. Views are breathtaking but next time, I'm packing a lunch. Service was good but make sure you ask for napkins etc. Almost every customer had to ask. read more

"Closed until further notice." That is what was on a sign at the front gate, referencing COVID-19. I guess the public does not frequent this food oasis enough to keep decent hours, or the observatory staff bring their own lunch while conducting research. I just enjoy the idea of having food awaiting on top once you've reached the end of your trail, and is something that motivates a person to conquer the trail with this in mind. I hope COVID-19 is resolved soon, so things get back to normal... read more

Cosmic Cafe - Closed for COVID-19. - Cafes Near Me - Mt Wilson, California

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Subjective: After a long 5 hour hike up Mt. Wilson, nothing was more welcoming than the promise of food and a place to sit, and Cosmic Cafe deliciously delivered. Since we had promised ourselves a post hike treat, the bf and I decided to split a pastrami sandwich and kettle chips. The in-house made kettle chips were amazing- fresh, crunch, and a simple yet well done flavoring of salt and pepper. Definitely glad we went for those rather than the regular bagged chips! The pastrami sandwich was delicious as well, decently sized with plenty of protein we needed to refuel. I was a little disappointed in the banana split because though it was plentiful, it only had vanilla ice cream and sparse toppings. Objective: Date of visit: 5/27/2018 Previous visits: none Takes reservations/call aheads?: no Parking: lot parking, or hike up like we did Perceived capacity: large, plenty of outdoor only seating Perceived atmosphere: casual Wait time to seating: none What I/we got: pastrami sandwich with kettle chips, banana split cost: about $10 Assessment: 4 stars, optimal way to summit a mountain in my opinion. Surprisingly well priced food given the demand, and delicious to boot! Plan: Would definitely check it out again for future hikes or tours of the observatory. read more

Cosmic Cafe - Banana split - Cafes Near Me - Mt Wilson, California

I checked online to make sure they were going to be opened and all sites I checked said 4pm. And when we got there yesterday (Sunday 11/20/2022) they were closed. We got there at 1 pm for an anniversary lunch with a view super bummed. read more

Cosmic Cafe - a view of the mountains from the top of a mountain - Cafes Near Me - Mt Wilson, California

Really cool spot to have a cafe. Staff was nice and options were decent. Drip coffee was actually pretty good, which surprised me. Views were a bit obstructed by fencing (and some big trees, but I'm not going to complain about nature being in nature...)! The biggest thing was the flies. They were rampant. I know there's some things that can be set up in outdoor areas to deter flies. It would be a worthwhile investment. A couple people had fly net head coverings, but that's not quite the vibe you want when trying to sit and sip some coffee. read more

Located on the property of the Mt Wilson Observatory. It's a simple, rustic, outdoor concession stand, nestled in between majestic evergreens and woods that serves a limited menu of comfort food and beverages. As the temps can be 15-20 degrees cooler than the valley, it's nice to bundle up in the fall and grab a hot chocolate and Frito Pie and sit on one of the picnic benches that overlook the city all the way to the beach! The staff members are very sweet and can answer most questions you might have about the observatory. There is a bulletin board that has some information and map on the side. You can buy the ADVENTURE PASS here (although I recommend buying one at a local sporting good store before driving up). You do need this parking pass to park here or anywhere along the Angeles National Forest drive. Proceeds help fund the State Parks, Rangers, roads, etc. So please buy a pass and know you are helping keep our parks clean and open. While you are here, check out the Mt Wilson Observatory and trails. read more

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Such a nice, scenic spot on top of Mt. Wilson. I love sitting here and enjoying a coffee, tea, or other drink. They have nice food options, keep in mind that it's a little kiosk on top of a mountain...so don't expect fine cuisine. The sandwiches I've had are always fresh, so is their chili. They offer ham sandwiches, veggie sandwiches (my favorite), chili, chili dogs, hot dogs, muffins, apple pie, hummus, chips, PBJ sandwiches, banana splits, ice cream sundaes, etc....and of course beverages. There's several picnic style wooden benches with tables to give you shade in the summer. It's nice to take in the views or just smell the outdoors. Please be patient, sometimes they do run out of certain items, but again, you're on top of a mountain! I find this place very beautiful and relaxing. read more

These mfs never bother to update their hours on yelp or google or on Apple Maps. You have to check the website for the correct times.

No I was indeed at the Cosmic Cafe the last day it was open for the season. It was not "some other establishment." One woman was doing everything and the food was poor quality. It's better to just have vending machines. Maybe this is because I was there the last day it was open but it was understaffed and food was poor quality and expensive. Mt. Wilson needs to dramatically improve the quality of the food for the high prices it charges. I recommend bringing your own food and hot beverages when it is cold. I felt really badly for the woman working who was doing everything- taking orders and cooking. Nice to have up at Mt. Wilson but poor quality food. read more

Beautiful view, delicious food, & great service. What more can you ask? I'm on Keto diet and asked for no bread sandwich with extra avocado. The girl that took my order asked if I want my sandwich filling to be cut up like salad. I asked, would you do that?? She said, yes absolutely! Love the extra mile service! Free coffee refill and nothing beats the view here.. read more

What a beautiful day at Mount Wilson and The Cosmic Cafe. We drove up yesterday from DTLA and it was a quick drive up and down. Less than an hour trip. We brought our dogs. Stopped for sandwich and drinks at the cafe. The girl who helped me was very kind to me. Wasn't too busy which was nice. I know this place has become popular on tiktok. After lunch we went to look at the view point from parking lot. Make sure you bring your sun screen. There are lots of picnic benches on way up and near cafe to sit and hangout. I had a really good time and would like to come back so I can see the observatory. Could see from cafe but couldn't figure out how to get there. Also saw a road you can take to get to ski slopes. Might have to take a trip back. Thank you everyone for keeping everything so beautiful and clean up there. Saw big black bees flying, lizards and 2 different butterflies. Also saw signs for bears, dogs on leashes. read more

What a relief that there is a cafe at the top of Mt Wilson. The picnic tables, hot chocolate and apple pie were definitely needed after the long hike up. Staff is really friendly and the view you have while eating is incredible. So peaceful. read more

Cosmic Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Mt Wilson, California

Oh hell Yeah! Just what i need after climbing 5000' on my bike! I'll take anything you have just be open please. Had the apple pie ala mode and some of the other items. Very good. So thankful to have this place at the top. Always a gorgeous sight every time i see their open window. Feed me please read more

Cosmic Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Mt Wilson, California

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Cosmic Cafe floats a mile above Los Angeles at the top of Mt Wilson. This small walk-up window cafe is only open 10am - 4pm Saturdays and Sundays in the covered pavilion near the parking for the Mt Wilson Observatory. Cosmic's main role appears to be as a quick weekend vendor for the $5 daily parking lot permit. It also offers a variety of bottled drinks, sandwiches, a couple salads/soups, and snacks. If you are thirsty, hungry, or just want to take a break then Cosmic Cafe and the pavilion is the place to chill at the peak. The lady behind the window serving us was extremely helpful. She was part server, part park ranger, and part tour guide which makes her three parts cool. Cosmic Cafe is a nice alternative if your own picnic didn't work out or you want to grab something to eat/drink. Since the top of Mt. Wilson is less than 45 minutes from Pasadena, having lunch with some grub from Cosmic Cafe while enjoying the view, peaceful quiet, and fresh air is a great way to spend a weekend afternoon. read more

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Location, location, location! The view from this cafe is amazing! Located at the top of Mt. Wilson, it probably doesn't get better than this--at least in LA County. :) There are three ways of getting here: A) drive to the Mt Wilson parking lot B) bike all the way to the top C) HIKE to the top I hiked to the top (14 grueling miles round trip!). And let me tell you, food is mighty tasty when you have a ravenous appetite after hiking in the warm sun for 3 1/2 hours! So, the Cosmic Cafe at the Mt. Wilson Observatory is a cafe that has many snacks and sandwiches like roast beef, hummus, chicken salad and the like. They have chips (no fries or such since they don't have a deep fryer), but that should not deter you! I was happy that they sold Izzy drinks. I got the pomegranate Izzy. Truthfully, I only got two items: sun chips and the drink. I brought my own sandwich since I didn't believe my friends about an actual cafe being at the top! However, I did eat one of my friend's coleslaw--very tangy and zingy. Wait, does that mean the same thing? Well, anyhow, the slaw had pepper, fresh dill, and vinegar which made it taste so yum! Funny, growing up I used to HATE cole slaw. I think it's because I was only exposed to slaw from KFC and that government subsidized stuff. This was GOOD! My friends seemed to enjoy their sandwiches. Another great thing about this place, purchases support the Mt Wilson Observatory. That's out of this world! While eating your goodies, you can enjoy the view. I actually saw a sliver of the ocean beyond the smog covering LA County. :) It does get pretty windy up here. It's very easy to not be mindful about trash getting blown and polluting the grounds. Remember people, GIVE A HOOT, and DON'T POLLUTE. Sorry, it really saddens me when we trash our beautiful state and in the process destroy animal homes.Boo! After eating your meal, you can easily mosey your way over to the observatory. Yet, another cool place! There's even a few photographs of Albert Einstein with some other scientist. Yes. Albert Einstein was actually at Mt Wilson. Well, before there was a cosmic cafe, that is. :) After an hour of eating and resting, it was time for us to go back down the trail. A tip, if you plan on hiking to the cafe, it's best to start on the trail around 6:30am. It gets pretty toasty! And bring at LEAST two liters of water. Why the hike? I'm preparing to backpack Mt. Whitney! Eek! I will let you know how that goes, if I make it out alive. ;) read more

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After a brutal hike up to the top of Mount Wilson, we reached Cosmic Cafe. My friends and I went on a backpacking trip and set up camp at Spruce Grove and then hiked up Mount Wilson. Our group was pretty much out of water by the time we reached the top. Luckily, Cosmic Cafe has a water bottle refill station that fills the bottles very quickly. We were all very happy. My boyfriend got an Arnold Palmer (one free refill) and I had a coke and apple pie with vanilla ice cream. I never drink coke, but I felt like it was well deserved. It was SO REFRESHING. Everything I ever dreamed of. I'm not a huge fan of apple pie, but I thought this one was very good. My boyfriend said he didn't want any of my coke or pie, but that quickly changed once he had a little taste. The rest of the group liked everything they had there too. They serve root beer floats if you prefer that over apple pie. They also had a bunch of sandwiches/paninis, chili, hot dogs, and some other items. The restroom next to the cafe has soap! They were also pretty clean. We all made sure to take advantage of the restroom before the trek back down to our camp. Initially, we thought that our friend was lying to us when he said there was a cafe at the top that served apple pie and root beer floats... but he was telling the truth! I would definitely recommend stopping by here if you're hiking up Mt. Wilson. Definitely a great place for a treat. read more

A bowl of chili is now $5 but it's worth it. The lemonade is refillable one more time My hubby ordered a hot cocoa and it came with a load of marshmallows. . Only when you park, remember to purchase a parking pads even though the guards do not inspect too closely. Oh, I couldn't check in because the wifi didn't work. read more

Really fun snack bar on the top of the mountain. A perfect place to have a snack after a long hike to the top and to enjoy the views. They are serving a limited menu with limited hours but had hot dogs which seemed to be the most popular. At $7 each they are pricey but also very large and high quality. read more

DO NOT EAT HERE!! I REPEAT DO NOT EAT HERE!! A group of us went for a bike ride this weekend and we ended up eating here when we got to the observatory. Well, I got FOOD POISONING from this place along with a few of my riding buddies. Yuck I felt sick all day and puked several times. I would never ever eat here again and if you're thinking about it well maybe you should move on to a more sanitary eatery. read more

View is great! The food prices are outrageous. A can of Coke was $3.29. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich is $9. The desserts look like they're from Costco. read more

[NOTE: This review, dated 8/8/2010, originally appeared in the original Yelp page for the Cosmic Cafe, but it was inexplicably moved to the page for the Mount Wilson Observatory. I'm reposting it here] For accurate opening dates, check their Facebook page for more info, esp. when they close/open for the season: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Cosmic-Cafe-at-Mt-Wilson-Observatory/129955707044228 The first trick of eating at the cafe is getting there. If on foot, you can visit the Cosmic Cafe through any of the following routes (all are yelp-able): (1) The Mt. Wilson Trail from Sierra Madre; (2) The Sturtevant Trail or Upper Winter Creek Trail from Chantry Flat; or (3) The Mt. Wilson Toll Road via Eaton Canyon or Hastings Peak/Bailey Canyon. The cafe is located at the upper deck of the brown pavilion above the fenced-in parking lot (where all the construction equipment is located). They accept cash or Visa/Mastercard. Surprisingly clean bathrooms are located in a separate building 30 feet past the pavilion. For sandwich orders, you get your choice of a French roll, wheat, or rye. Free fixings include tomatoes, pickles, lettuce, onion, mayo, and yellow/brown mustard (cheese or avocado are extra). The turkey, ham, and avocado/hummus sandwiches start at $6.75; the roast beef is $7.25 [[UPDATE: Sandwich prices have recently changed and are in the $7-$8 range; see the menu picture for Nov. 2012 prices: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/cosmic-cafe-los-angeles-county?select=sa5nbP2zDZi27ESOEIyJHQ#sa5nbP2zDZi27ESOEIyJHQ ]]. All sandwich orders include a side of coleslaw. Chowing down on a freshly made sandwich after a hefty hike is bliss, pure bliss. Food truly does taste better once you've earned it through a strenuous slog up a mountain. If you're a Jean-Luc fan, you can also order a cup of tea, Earl Grey, hot. [UPDATE: Get the chili dog with cheddar cheese and onions. Trust me, it kicks the ass of any cold sandwich. Be sure to eat it with a knife and fork a la Mr. Pitt from Seinfeld, because it will collapse under its own weight when you pick it up.] Heed the limited operating hours! You do not want to hike the 6-7 miles to Mt. Wilson with the expectation that you'll be fed at the top, only to discover that you'll have to hike home on an empty stomach. read more

Cosmic Cafe - Black forest ham sandwich with coleslaw ($7.75). A separate "naan" bread sandwich (actually just simple pita bread) is below it. - Cafes Near Me - Mt Wilson, California

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