Recreational Coffee Verified listing

If you haven’t noticed, there’s a slightly different, queer-er vibe at the always-welcoming Recreational Coffee in Downtown Long Beach: Coffee bean labels are brighter and outright cartoon-y in the best way possible, a little pink coffee mug cart…

And there’s a reason: It’s fairly-newly minted owner Brooklyn Warden who has taken over—and she’s ready to let the rainbow shine bright on the continually growing, always gorgeous world of Long Beach coffee. With quite a team of backing from both her boyfriend and friends’n’neighbors—including co-owner Daniel Ferradas—Brooklyn was able to move forward with slowly but surely making Recreational go through some therapy to rediscover itself.

“As a queer, feminine presenting person, I feel like there is still a lack of a third space for us where people can just go to relax,” Brooklyn said. “I’ve seen the uptick with places like Wood Coffee or WEOP which gave their space to their queer sisters—and that’s exactly what I want to be a part of… Bobby was always so open about hiring openly queer people—ever since working here, I’ve always been side-by-side with people with different sexualities and genders. I want to continue and uplift those people because I frankly feel there’s a lack of it.”

What does that mean? Events, communal gatherings, niche clubs, alterations to aesthetics… And, of course, some of the best coffee in the city.

Photos and written by Brian Addison.

For the full feature on Recreational Coffee, click here.