Bar Nine

Before Bar Nine, there was the coffee bar installation at Transmission LA, the 2012 exhibition/festival curated by Mike D. of the Beastie Boys at the Geffen at MOCA. In addition to the art, films, music and more in the show, there was also a challenge to Zayde Naquib and Rob McKinley to re-imagine the coffee shop experience. After that, Naquib was inspired  to open a new coffee company with Jeremie Pitts, and now there is Bar Nine on Helms in Culver City—a wide open garage-y space sparsely decorated and intensely perfumed with roasting coffee. Your options are simple: espresso, espresso + milk, pour over or cold brew. The beans are expertly sourced and roasted: three single-origin coffees and one decaf. In the corner, a record player and stacks of vinyl. There's delicious seasonal breakfast and lunch items. It's not exactly a "we're not in Kansas anymore" coffee shop, but it's also really cool.