In the latest entry in our series looking at beautiful coffee shops and cafes we love is Frontside Cafe in Ventura, California. This Aussie-style cafe is a go-to spot for local surfers, foodies, and anybody with a penchant for popular, casual eats — meat pies, smoothies, avocado toast — staples of Australian coastal living but with a plussed-up culinary touch.
The atmosphere and decor are aesthetically spot on with that beachy, Aussie vibe. The cafe fills a space that feels like a former garage. Beautifully framed large-format photography lines the walls. References to surf culture are infused in the space. In the middle of the dining area is a massive communal table over what appears to be a white area rug, which upon closer inspection is not an actual rug but a painting of one on the sealed concrete floor. Fig plants accent the space and a monochromatic mural of black leaves is painted the breadth of a long wall.
We’ve spent a lot of time in Australia and have awesome memories of tucking into Aussie breakfasts there (“brekkie,” as it were), freshly-baked sausage rolls, and thick rejuvenating smoothies that taste amazing after a long surf session or a workout.
The name Frontside is a surfing term that refers to riding a wave such that your body is facing it, though it could easily refer to the fact that the coffee shop’s location is virtually on the oceanfront, though the beach itself is actually a couple of hundred yards away.
GLOBAL GRAPHICA 