The Venice Beach community's beloved all-day bakery, deli, and restaurant from the Gjelina restaurant group. An industrial-chic space where surfers and celebrities line up for extraordinary sandwiches, grain bowls, house-smoked fish, and remarkable pastries.
Gjusta on Sunset Avenue in Venice, California, is the all-day bakery, deli, and casual restaurant from the Gjelina restaurant group that has become one of Los Angeles's essential food destinations since opening in 2014. The sprawling industrial space — exposed concrete, communal wooden tables, a large courtyard — operates as a counter-service destination where surfers, tech workers, and food lovers queue for a rotating selection of extraordinary sandwiches, house-smoked fish, grain bowls, roasted vegetables, and pastries. The smoked fish program is particularly exceptional: house-cured salmon, whitefish salad, and smoked trout are prepared with the same care given to comparable operations in New York's finest Jewish delis. Za'atar flatbread from the wood-fired oven, grain bowls loaded with seasonal California vegetables, and a pastry case that changes daily from kouign-amann to cardamom morning buns establish Gjusta as a multi-disciplinary food operation rather than simply a café. The line can be long on weekend mornings but moves steadily; items are ordered at the counter and collected from a pickup window. The courtyard seating fills quickly and is not reservable. Gjusta at 320 Sunset Avenue operates daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and functions equally well as a breakfast destination, a lunch stop, or an early dinner before a Venice Beach walk. The bakery's breads and pastries are also sold at sister restaurant Gjelina one block away on Abbot Kinney Boulevard.
Location
320 Sunset Ave, Venice, CA 90291
Highlights
- Venice Beach all-day bakery, deli, and smokehouse from the Gjelina group drawing locals and food tourists daily since 2014
- Exceptional house-smoked fish program — cured salmon, whitefish salad, and smoked trout prepared with deli-level precision
- Wood-fired za'atar flatbread, seasonal grain bowls, and a daily-changing pastry case from kouign-amann to cardamom morning buns
- Industrial-chic courtyard space where surfers, tech workers, and food lovers share communal tables
- Breads and pastries shared across the Gjelina group; sister restaurant Gjelina is one block away on Abbot Kinney
Tips for visiting
- The line moves fast. Order at the counter and find a communal table outside. The pastry case changes daily.
Accessibility
Gjusta is on a single level with step-free access from the street. The courtyard and indoor dining areas accommodate wheelchair users, though the space can be crowded during peak hours. The counter and pickup window are at accessible heights.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gjusta counter service or table service?
Gjusta is entirely counter service. Guests queue to order at the counter, items are called out at a pickup window, and seating is first-come-first-served at communal tables inside and in the courtyard. There are no reservations.
What should I order at Gjusta?
The smoked fish plate or smoked fish sandwich are standouts. The grain bowls change with the season and are consistently excellent. The daily pastry case is worth scanning carefully — the morning buns and kouign-amann sell out fastest on weekends.
When is the best time to visit?
Weekday mornings between 7 and 10 a.m. see shorter lines and the fullest pastry case. Weekend mornings are busiest; arriving at opening time is advisable. The courtyard is most pleasant in late morning sun.
Is parking available nearby?
Street parking in Venice near Gjusta is limited and competitive, particularly on weekends. Cycling from the beach path or rideshare is a popular alternative; the restaurant is a short walk from the Venice Boardwalk.