Chapman Court

No matter your starting point, it’s worth a trip to Chapman Court in LA’s Koreatown. The historic building was built in 1929 by Morgan, Walls & Clements, the architectural firm known for its devotion to Spanish Revival–style design. The exterior is almost castlelike, with thick concrete walls fashioned to resemble sandstone and decorated with ornate detailing some architecture buffs call Churrigueresque, referencing a style of ornamentation popular in 17th-century Spain.   

But stuck in the past Chapman Court is not. Designed by wrk-shp, our cafe revels in the historic elements, integrating the existing wrought-iron railings and fluted wall panels into the two-story space. But past commingles with the present in the very materials we use: the amber-toned Botticino Semiclassico marble from Italy is our ode to the classic, while the sleek warmth of furniture made of walnut wood anchors us to the here and now. Enjoy the details—including the view from the upstairs of an inner courtyard green with olive trees—while drinking coffees as precisely rendered as the space.