Stopped by Gum Tree in Hermosa Beach and really enjoyed the cozy, welcoming feel inside. It's a…read morenice spot to sit, relax, and take a break from walking around the area. I had a coffee, which was good and hit the spot, and my friend ordered the grilled cheese with a fruit plate - simple, comforting, and nicely done. Service was good and staff friendly. One cool detail out front is a small wishing tree where you can hang tags, which adds a fun, thoughtful touch to the place. The gift shop next door was bright and festive, perfect for the holidays, and a great spot to pick up some last-minute, unique gifts you don't see everywhere. Overall, a really pleasant café and shop combo that's worth checking out.

I used to really enjoy the atmosphere, but over time things changed. Some employees started…read moretreating me poorly as a customer, and that didn't feel right. I'm an adult woman, almost 48, and I don't appreciate being told how I should behave in a disrespectful way. At one point, an employee even told me not to talk to other customers--even when they were the ones starting conversations with me. That felt like bullying. Thankfully, that employee is no longer there, but the overall attitude still hasn't fully improved. I've been bringing my two dogs with me for a long time without any issues. Recently, I was told I can't use the bathroom anymore--even just to quickly wash my hands before eating. I understand rules about dogs not being allowed in certain areas, and that was explained properly, but the way everything was handled felt unnecessary and unwelcoming. Because of this shift in attitude, I've noticed other customers have stopped coming as well, like Alex and Trisha. Some people have even mentioned that the overall environment and customer treatment aren't as good as they used to be. It's disappointing, because this used to be a place I really liked. Now it feels like the attitude has changed, and not in a good way.

The Hive is one of my go-to spots in Manhattan Beach. The food is super clean and healthy, but…read morestill filling--tons of great high-protein, well-balanced options that don't feel like you're sacrificing taste. The location is perfect too. You get that laid-back beach vibe with a great view, and it's ideal whether you're grabbing a quick bite before heading back to the sand for volleyball or settling in for a chill remote work session. It really feels like a local staple--easy, consistent, and exactly what you want when you're trying to eat well but still enjoy the whole Manhattan Beach lifestyle.

I had lunch at The Hive because highly recommended the "healthy-tasty food". I wasn't sure what to…read moreexpect, but my expectations were met! All the servers were warm and beyond the usual helpfulness. My friend saw an empty table they needed to be wiped so she asked a server for a towel to wipe it. He immediately said, "No, I'll do it." And he grabbed a towel and wiped in extra well with a smile. Two of us ordered the Buddha vegan bowl (9/10; quinoa was fluffy, tofu was tasty but a little firm for me, everything else about it was fresh and well-done. The mushroom serving was my favorite part.) My friend ordered the Beef Macro bowl (9/10: beef was the best part and everything else was good. The wild rice was tender; but it tastes "healthy"). My last friend ordered the salmon bowl (9/10: all of us raved about the salmon. Had the same wild rice. I liked it but my friend said it was too soft for her. The rest of the items that came with it were similar and tasty). Before I left, Molly helped me order a mushroom reishi hot chocolate drink. Molly was so sweet and helpful. She recommended the homemade almond milk. (8/10). The ambiance was warm and cozy. I loved the multi-level structure. Therefore, the name, "The Hive". Cute design and a good place to bring a computer and have a quiet spot to chill.

I came to this coffee shop on my way back from a long run at the beach. I've been wanting to try it…read moreout for a while and finally got the chance. The inside is large and spacious with a lot of seats. It's really open and has nice natural lighting and there is also a little patio area with outdoor seating. I really liked the vibes of the cafe and that alone would convince me to come back. There's a lot of various merch on display as well as house coffee beans and bottled drinks. There's also an area with board games and books to borrow. The cashier at the front was really nice and chill. He listed the different options for milk for my lattes and refilled the water tank at the end of the station after being notified it was low. I love that they had a chilled water tank that's self serve in the cafe because that hit after my run. For drinks I got a teddy graham latte with oat milk which was a seasonal spring menu item. It was topped with cinnamon which gave it almost a little spicy kick in the beginning that I was not mad about. The oat milk was so creamy and I liked that the latte wasn't overly sweet. I also got a matcha latte with oat milk for my mother-in-law. The matcha was delicious and the drink again was not overly sweet which can be the case at some other places. I didn't get any food this time but the pastries were all very temping and looked so good on display. I also saw some other customers eating sandwiches that looked hearty so I may need to make another trip here to try out some of the food. Overall, really nice cafe that I would definitely recommend to anyone coming to the area!

I visited Lavender and Honey Café on Saturday morning and encountered a bit of a wait. There were…read morefour people ahead of me in line, and it took about 30 minutes before it was my turn. The café was crowded, and some guests were pushing and shoving in line, which put me in a slightly grumpy mood at first. Thankfully, the food more than made up for the wait. The menu isn't very large, so I chose the turkey club, not expecting much from what I assumed would be a basic sandwich. I was pleasantly surprised. The country white bread was phenomenal, all the ingredients tasted fresh, and the sandwich was generously filled with turkey. The addition of arugula brought everything together beautifully and created an excellent balance of flavors. I also ordered a hot brown sugar latte, which had just the right level of sweetness and paired perfectly with the sandwich. The matcha was refreshing and well made, and the almond pastry was nicely crisp. Altogether, the food and drinks completely turned my day around. The total for all four items came to $33, which is a bit on the expensive side, but ultimately felt well worth it given the quality. Since I had my dog with me, I sat outside on the patio. While functional, the outdoor seating could use a bit more ambiance. It felt somewhat desolate, though the lavender bushes lining the sides show promise and will likely look wonderful once they grow larger and fuller. Overall, despite the initial wait and crowd, the quality of the food and drinks made this a very enjoyable experience, and I would happily return.

We visited on a recent Saturday morning just as they were wrapping up a busy breakfast rush. We…read morewere told our food would take about 25-30 minutes, but it was absolutely worth the wait. By the time our order arrived, the crowd had cleared, and we were able to relax and enjoy everything at a slower pace. I had a cortado along with a warm, toasty ham and cheese croissant. My husband ordered the wagyu brioche and couldn't stop reacting with "oohs" and "ahhs." One thing to note that the brioche is toasted, but the sliced beef is served cold. That didn't bother him at all since the meat was incredibly tender. The dressing that came with the side salad also had some heat! As for me, I loved the Cendrillon Doré pancake. It was light, fluffy, and topped with mandarin oranges. It reminded me of pancakes I once had in Amsterdam, but even better. We also had the chance to chat with the owner, Mary, who was so kind and welcoming. She shared a bit about her Moroccan background and her time in France, where she learned many of her recipes. Next time, we'll definitely come earlier since the avocado toast was already sold out. And our pup loved that it's a pet-friendly spot too!

Enjoyed the beautiful ambiance, great sandwich, coffee and pastry…read more Very close to the strand. Service was great and personable. It was a cozy visit indeed. I would definitely come back.

Martha's is an almost perfect breakfast spot. Heck, even lunch. Food is solid, staff is usually…read morehelpful and friendly (usually, though we've observed a few bad days with the staff). Great location. Short walk to the beach after your meal. Go early or prepare to wait a bit. I'd say 15-20 mins for a couple and double for a larger party than 4.

Oh Martha. We gotta have a talk girl. What is going on?…read more I stopped by on a Sunday about 11:30ish for a party of 2. We got sat pretty quickly as this place was busyyyy. busyyy worker bees. Everyone was wanting to get a seat at Martha's! I only waited about 20 minutes if that. Not too shabbyyyy ! I started with an iced Spanish latte as I love my Spanish lattes. This is where everything started going downhill. First sip, questionable. Second sip, even more questionable. Mix the coffee with the straw for a minute, another sip, even worse. It tasted like I was drinking the water from a burnt coffee bean with a hint of cinnamon. It was NOT good. I was very sad. I ended up ordering an iced chai latte as a secondary choice.. because how hard is it to mess up a chai? WELP. It was managed to be messed up as well. How?! Martha girl, who was making the drinks this day, cause nuh uh, more training now. The iced chai latte was watery. It did not resemble a chai at all, even the color was weird. I took 2 sips and never finished either drink. I had my counterpart try it-- mind you, I took a sip and gave no reaction to not bias my counterpart. Once they tried it, they were just as astonished to how horrible both drinks were. They ordered the banana bread latte. oh my-lanta. Artificial, sweet, sour banana flavor, he had it switched out for a blended pump shake that was much better-- REALLY sweet, but they loved it. For the breakfast option, I ended up ordering the huevos playa. The hashbrowns were cooked evenly and tender. The sauce/salsa it was sitting in. not it. you're not that guy pal. tasted like pace salsa from a jar or something. that weird salsa taste that makes you aware that it is not home made. I did not like it whatsoever. The sour cream, guac and eggs were the only thing I enjoyed out of this dish. I would not order this again. The cinnamon pancake was the only thing that saved the experience, but even then, $17 for a singular pancake is absolutely insane. Overall, I was extremely, and I mean extremely, disappointed. I wish it lived up to all the social media hype that is around, but my taste buds were extremely unhappy leaving. Service was great, the lady removed the banana bread latte off our bill for not liking it, but I stayed with my 2 awful drinks. I ended up going to a coffee shop to fill my Spanish latte cravings after leaving. Parking is on the street, metered. fills up FAST.

My huisband, myself and kids came in on a busy Sunday all tables full even outside, but didnt wait…read moreat all for our order to be taken. The lady that took our order was also making drinks her name was Jess, she was so efficient and really nice, we talked to her about how long she had been at this location since this was the first time we saw her. She had been here only a couple of months, but she was amazing our drinks where delicious, we got a iced creme brulee and a strawberry spritz along with food. The food was good, I recomment the show off and the melt. Jess was soo good with all customers especially my kids, i know they can be a bit much in public places but here comes Jess with coloring papers and crayons so the kids can be entertained! And we can enjoy our coffees while they arent melted! How great is that!! Jess really made this day comfortable and relaxing, we have been back 3x since then and each time she has been top notch. Im so glad that she was added to this team! Next time we are definately bringing friends!!

Very sad to be writing this. Idk what happened to this location. Daniel T left and it went down the…read moredrain with customer service. They had two girls one named Bella and she was so sweet along with the other young lady. 5yrs.... I've enjoyed this location. James was another great barista. There's a blonde female that has bangs that I think is an original from the last 2-3yrs (she use to have deep black hair when she first started). I haven't seen her in a bit. The new staff is super harsh or just straight rude to a lot of customers. Sometimes impatient with new customers that stand too long trying to figure out what to get. My very last issue was a staff member whipping sweat from her uncovered head as she was making my sandwich. (I'm still waiting for that drink and sandwich refund from MONTHS ago) from corporate. I sent it back they brought the same sandwich out. They have been making the drinks incorrectly (because they are always training new staff since the fall and it's almost spring). Then that staff leaves after a short stint. They keep flying through managers since Daniel T left. One left after just a few weeks without warning. If you go in the left bathroom (I'm not trying to be crude) but, there has been oxidized period bl00d for two years now. No joke. It's on the wall by their orange trashcan from a woman probably tossing their tampon from a seated position. Their tables are often dirty lately. They did recently get new seats. Coffee beans are very good but, when you can't enjoy the location anymore it over shadows everything that's good. I spend 200-300 at a time for coffee beans. I can't even walk in to get a bag without your newest male staff member being very short with you at the register. I'm not sure why. I miss the smiles. I miss the baristas that really got to know you. What happened?

Very delicious, & plate always looks well presented. Been here quite a few times already. My only…read morecomplaint was that my hash browns were kinda burnt and crispy (and left the top burnt layer on my plate). Service is great, although last time I tried to go eat there, my party along with another, was turned away due to a private event (and I didn't see a private event there after walking back from "Good Stuff" restaurant down the street on the strand), which kinda bummed me out because I liked this place & haven't been back since.

I had been wanting to try Uncle Stavros Cafe for some time after noticing this cute little café on…read morethe corner, and I am so glad we finally stopped by. It is bright and airy and perfect for a relaxed Saturday afternoon lunch. From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel incredibly welcome, almost like we had been invited over to a relative's or friend's home. The menu is approachable and thoughtful, with some really delightful Greek dishes. And yes, Uncle Stavros has to be Greek, right? My wife and I shared the Greek salad and the chicken gyro. Both plates looked amazing and tasted just as good. I almost went with the beef and lamb gyro, but for lunch the chicken felt right, and it did not disappoint. It was perfectly seasoned and cooked. The salad was full of great flavors and textures. After tasting the gyro chicken, we both agreed the salad would be even better with that same chicken added in. The real showstopper, though, was the pita. I honestly cannot remember the last time I had a gyro where the pita itself stood out. It was so good that we ordered extra to take home. All around, it was a fantastic experience. I was surprised to see some of the lower Yelp reviews, but after reading them, they seemed to focus on things like an Apple Pay issue, an unfriendly waitress, or even a chair being moved. We experienced none of that. What we did experience was great food, warm hospitality, and friendly regulars who added to the neighborhood vibe. We really enjoyed Uncle Stavros Cafe and cannot wait to return. 5 stars.

The food is very good, I had the breakfast burrito for breakfast and a Cobb salad for dinner…read more Service was ok, just mange your expectations. They only have one person working, and they go in the back to make your food leaving the bar unattended, so people wait and are confused why there is no one at the bar. I ordered a Moscow mule and it was in a can and poured into the glass. But it was good. Go upstairs and enjoy the sunset away from the crowds.

Perfect location, friendly attentive staff, absolutely delicious large, stuffed breakfast burrito…read morewith specialty coffees

I mean, why is their rating so low? If you sit on the patio, the views are great. I can imagine…read moremaybe they had an issue with poor service. That seems to be a bulk of their poor reviews. When I went, service was ok. They don't deserve such a low rating. I think Uncle Bills is better, but I understand why it's way more crowded. So come for the view, just don't be prepared to get your socks blown off by the food. It's passable, come for the view. So, I have a new rating system......I will be write what I feel honestly about an establishment. The only ratings I will give are 5 stars, which is enjoyable, or 3 stars which is "needs work."

Came by for brunch with a party of three. We were seated at a small table on the outdoor patio,…read morewhich felt a bit cramped for three people. The table was also unbalanced and shaky. We started with a coffee and café latte, which were just okay. We wanted to order the ceviche, but it was unfortunately unavailable. Eggs Benedict with Ham: Not worth the $19 price tag. The egg wasn't very runny, and the overall flavors were nothing special. Belgian Waffle: Met expectations--a safe choice. Breakfast Pita: Essentially a breakfast burrito in pita bread form. Very solid and served with a great hot sauce. The spiced hashbrowns were also a very nice touch. Overall, the menu felt stronger on the Mexican side than the Mediterranean. Unfortunately, the hot sauce ended up being the most flavorful part of our meal. If I were to return, I'd stick to one of the Mexican dishes. Parking: Metered street parking, which can be difficult to find during peak meal times.