With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
The tiny coffee spot at 5,700 feet above LA is open for the season
If you're going all the way up to Mount Wilson Observatory, you'll probably want a cup of coffee when you get there.
(
Courtesy of Mt. Wilson
)
You can get coffee every which way nowadays in Los Angeles. But only one spot — we're pretty sure — comes with a twisty, 20-mile-plus haul up the San Gabriels and a singular experience of the city along with that cup of joe.
And the Cosmic Cafe, just a paved pathway from the landmark Mount Wilson Observatory, is "the only place that you can get something to eat for miles around," said Sarah Emery Bunn, director of communications for the observatory and manager of the cafe.
The beloved eatery has reopened for business for the season — on every weekend between now and November — serving coffee, wraps and snacks in a setting unlike any other.
Listen
• 1:59
The tiny coffee spot at 5,700 feet above LA is open for the season
Support for LAist comes from
"On a good day, you can see all the way to Catalina. On a medium day you can see downtown for sure. On a cloudy day, we are generally up above the cloud level, so we still get some bright sunny days," Emery Bunn added.
The spot, which Emery Bunn estimated to be around 150 square feet, is smack in the middle of the Pavillion surrounded with picnic tables and 360-degree nature.
Last year, Emery Bunn got the short straw to truck in all the supplies for the cafe's operations.
That means delivering ingredients for hot dogs, chili, chips and drinks from grocery stores on Thursdays. Then making that same haul Saturday mornings for freshly made wraps and salads, plus other goodies, from Little Flower in Pasadena. The coffee is from Java Madre roaster in Sierra Madre.
Patrons at the Cosmic Cafe braved a foggy day. Usually, there's more of a view.
(
Courtesy Mount Wilson Observatory
)
That journey, clocked from La Cañada Flintridge, took the better part of an hour each way. And Emery Bunn enjoyed every mile of it in her little Fiat 500.
Support for LAist comes from
" If you're driving carefully — 40 minutes," said Emery Bunn. "Imagine the tiny backseat of the hatchback filled up with hot dog rolls and mustard packets."
This season, Emery Bunn handed delivery off to another staffer. On any given weekend, three people work the cafe, including to sell merch.
All proceeds go to the operations of the observatory. Emery Bunn said all the challenges of running a small food business in Los Angeles apply to operating the Cosmic Cafe. But its remote location poses extra considerations.
"Our traffic is very unpredictable," she said, adding that customer turnout is heavily weather-dependent. " But when it's a good day, boy is it a good day."
The merch store is next to the Cosmic Cafe at at the observatory.
(
Courtesy Mt. Wilson Observatory
)
And the commute sometimes makes hiring difficult.
"When you get somebody who loves it, they're happy to do it," Emery Bunn said. But, "that drive is not for everyone."
Support for LAist comes from
But for her and many others, the experience never gets old.
" It's a treasure. It's almost a secret. Not a lot of people know about it," she said. "You get up there and you can't believe that something this magical and historic is pretty much right in your backyard."
Details
Cosmic Cafe
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every weekend until November.
Menu: Chili dogs, turkey wraps and much more here.
For hikers: Some areas in the Angeles National Forest are closed due to the Eaton Fire, including parts of Mt. Wilson Trail. Updates here.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Tens of thousands of workers across Southern California walk out over pay and staffing issues. -
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for areas around the Airport Fire burn scar in Orange County mid morning. -
Jet Propulsion Laboratory leadership says the cuts amount to 11% of the workforce. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care.
Best of LAist