Jurassic Magic is more than a coffee shop—it’s an inspiring neighborhood hot spot for culture, community and connection.
Co-owner Angela Ziemer at the espresso machine PHOTO COURTESY OF JURASSIC MAGIC
When Carlos Nunez and Angela Ziemer moved from MacArthur Park to Mid-City Heights, they found themselves without a nearby place to caffeinate when the inevitable 3PM slump hit. The duo—who run a creative agency from their second-floor home—often joked with their downstairs neighbor and frequent collaborator, Caroline De Sousa, about opening a coffee shop together.
“We asked ourselves why we were driving eight minutes for a cup of coffee,” shares De Sousa, founder of Brazilian art collective Sendo. “So, when a space became available in the building, it motivated us to create this little joke into reality.”
A bookshelf filled with books, plants and ceramics keeps guests engaged. PHOTO COURTESY OF JURASSIC MAGIC
The team opened Jurassic Magic to almost immediate success, something that can be attributed to its creative, welcoming atmosphere and unique menu. In contrast to many of L.A.’s newer coffee shops, the space is the opposite of austere, and filled with a wonderful high-low mix of artwork, design books and interesting objets. There’s always music playing—with Spotify soundtracks noted on the shop’s website—and a recently added art gallery (Brazilian designs curated by De Sousa) and plantfilled outdoor area means the sense of discovery continues, through an Alice in Wonderland-esque mirrored hallway no less. “Every time you come in, you’ll find something new to catch your eye,” says Nunez.
The shop recently opened a new outdoor area accessible through a mirrored hallway and connected to a gallery showcasing art and fashion by Brazilian makers PHOTO COURTESY OF JURASSIC MAGIC
The drink menu was inspired by a coffee bar Nunez visited in Japan. “It strictly focused on mocktails and feels like a speakeasy,” he explains. “I wanted to develop a few drinks with elements of aromatics and flavor that highlight the coffee and enhance it in a different way.” This can be seen in concoctions like The Goldblum, cold brew agitated with orange and lemon peel infused with agave, and the aptly name Magic Latte, which contains sweet condensed oat milk and Jurassic Spice, a blend of clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger. Nunez also wanted to keep any snobbery at bay. “I wanted to take away the ‘nose up in the air’ element, yet still provide quality coffee without alienating anyone,” he says. In addition to the more unique drinks, standard lattes, coffees and teas are available, as well as spectacular pastries.
Jurassic Magic’s menu consists of artfully imagined beverages—some of which are seasonal— and pastries. PHOTO COURTESY OF JURASSIC MAGIC
Next up, the team wants to open another coffee shop in MacArthur Park. “For the next version of the shop, I’d love to have more of a tonic element to it,” says Nunez. “More of what the original pharmacy would do, where they’d mix you a drink based on what you needed. I’m obsessed with Woolworths and keep thinking that I want to make a modern version.”
Until then, the Mid-City Heights shop—and the neighborhood—is open and ready to welcome visitors. “I feel like this neighborhood is the closest thing I’ve experienced to New York,” says De Sousa. “It’s what makes L.A. so interesting; there are these distinct little bubbles. Here it feels like there’s a very eclectic diverse group of people.” jurassicmagic.xyz
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