Previews

Curious Palate and King’s Road Cafe Planned at Santa Monica Place

The Market at Santa Monica Place: An early look
The Market at Santa Monica Place: An early look Photo: Santa Monica Place

We know which big name chefs and chain restaurants are due in Santa Monica Place when it reopens this summer, and we’ve just been updated with the mall’s plans for an open-air rooftop gourmet foods bazaar called The Market. Emphasizing independent businesses and comparing itself to New York’s Chelsea Market and San Fran’s Ferry Building, The Market seeks to gather artisan food vendors with hand-made cooking products like the usual cheese and oils, plus a “boutique-sized” farmer’s market with one purveyor for every food category in a truncated version of Santa Monica’s popular farmer’s market. So, who are the familiar names to first sign on?

Three businesses have announced their involvement in this project that could come months after the mall’s August re-opening. Curious Palate, the organic soup and handmade sandwich cafe found on Venice Blvd. in Mar Vista, will start a second store at The Market to sell their carefully crafted olive oils and pastas, as well as serve hot chocolate and farm-sourced ciders. Handling coffee and tea duties will be King’s Road Cafe, the budding chain that roasts its own heirloom beans and has been a popular place for tea-heads in Studio City and West Hollywood. Lastly, Coco-Luxe Confections, an import from more-sustainable-than-thou San Francisco, will bring its whimsical printed caramels and truffles to The Market from Haight Street. Now we just need a meat shop and wine vendor to start cooking. Stay tuned to get the full picture of The Market and Santa Monica Place’s dining destinations as we get closer to the August opening.

Curious Palate and King’s Road Cafe Planned at Santa Monica Place