Situated in Downtown Los Angeles, on the rapidly changing Broadway corridor, isย a bright blue paintedย storefront inviting you to โcome early, stay late.โ Thatโs the motto at Mega Bodega, Downtownโs newest coffee and beer destination. Outside, youโll notice a wooden patio somewhat reminiscent of a parkletโa refreshing scene in an area becoming more pedestrian-friendly every day. Once inside, youโll findย a calm, inviting coffee-and-craft beer hybrid space with tables, various bar seats, and stylish cubes to sit on.
Owner Scott Kroha designed the space with the help of a friend. There are no distracting colors or elements, just a rendition of a beer-drinking ouroboros painted on the wall. The sleek, wooden finishย inย light neutral tones, paired with large open windows letting the natural light flood in, sets the mood for you to stay as long as you like.
Mega Bodega has a beer-and-wine license, and you can get a beer as early (or late) as you please. Twelve brews areย on tap, with an additional few selections of bottles and cans, as well as local kombuchas. โWe branch out, but itโs mostly small craft brewers with a focus on local California and West Coast beers,” explains Kroha. “We really just try to get whatever we can thatโs unique and seasonal.โ The wine list also focuses mainly on West Coast producers, though there areย plans to branch out there as well.
As for coffee, Mega Bodega exclusively serves San Franciscoโs Four Barrelย from a La Marzocco Linea Classic, all ground on a Mazzer Robur grinder. Kroha also hopes to โdo some features with different roasters in the future.โ Although there are already some craft coffee shops in the surrounding area, Kroha wanted a different space for locals, โa one-stop place where you can get a coffee and breakfast in the morning, or come in after work and on the weekend to have coffee and beer.โ It achievesย a nice balance. โYou [could]ย get a beer when we open and a coffee when we close,โ Kroha says.
The food menu is made up of a variety of sandwiches, sweet and savory toasts, and pastries from local bakery Bread Lounge. Kroha designed the menu to feature โsimple things that go well with coffee, wine, and beer.โ “Simple” doesnโt speak toย the quality here thoughโMega Bodegaโs sandwiches can includeย house-pickled veggies and the best-quality charcuterie and meats available. โEverything is about sourcing the best ingredients we can, even using the same pastrami as Langerโs Deli,โ Kroha says, mentioning LAโs most famous pastrami institution. The turkey sandwich, another popular item, is made with Maryโs free-range organic turkey, pickled onions, and avocado. Highlighting the variety of libations is the Smorgasbord, a bread, cheese, and meat plate thatโd satisfy any happy-hour craving.
In the future, Mega Bodega plansย to hold events highlighting all of their offerings. A tap takeover is in the works, which will showcase some of the various new breweries in Downtown LA. Kroha also plans to expand on the coffee he offers, with a possibility of rotating local roasters monthly.
As Mega Bodega closes its doorsย for the night, you can glimpseย the popular Mega Man videogame from the 1980s, representing one more noteย toย the cafe’s ambience. At the end of the day, that’s what Kroha wants to cultivate: a community spot driven byย the same lighthearted fun we used to get from those old consoles.
Tatiana Ernst is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer and photographer. Read more Tatiana Ernst onย Sprudge.