SALA Coffee & Wine Bar Verified listing

Nestled in the heart of Bixby Knolls, SALA Coffee & Wine—the underrated gem of a space that blends coffee, music, wine, and always solid grub—is diving into the world of dinner with their Cuevita concept. Headed by Chef Jose Molina—an apprentice of the much-missed Chef Melissa Ortiz—owners and partners Brandee Raygoza and Derrick Montiel continue to exude what they’ve exuded since day one: A tenacity to expand their business, their presence, and their connection to the community.

“After we were forced to limit our major events, we knew we had to reconfigure SALA on the everyday side,” Derrick said. “We know the Bixby Knolls community is constantly looking for more dinner options. And with Lima opening next door, it felt the right time to step into dinner. However, we didn’t want people confused: Is it a coffee shop? Is it a dinner space? So we felt like branding it ‘Cuevita’ helps with that. SALA in the morning and through the day. Cuevita at night.

SALA, if you were anywhere on TikTok, had a string of moments where its events were wildly packed. In a strange enforcement of bureaucratic tape, the city deemed the events to be “club-like” and asked Brandee and Derrick to get the appropriate license for such operations. The events, though, were anything but a club. Spinning classic vinyl and pouring wine, SALA’s events were more like chasing vibes and less about twerking.

In the end, it has caused the pair to—yet again—pivot. And Cuevita was born.

SALA is the kind of spot that quietly redefines what a neighborhood hangout can be. By day, you’ve got the hum of Stereoscope Coffee brews and the glow of morning light through big windows. By evening, the space shifts—natural-wine bottles line the wall, soft funk or soul plays on the turntables, and the vibe transitions to mellow, communal, slightly spirited.

The name “Sala” (Spanish for living room) isn’t accidental. The co-founders, Brandee Raygoza and Derrick Montiel, envisioned a place where both the laptopping-solo-coffee crowd and the late-night wine-chat set felt equally welcome. Their story began three years earlier, in an upstairs loft in Whittier, where they turned pop-ups and bags of beans into a full-blown café-wine hybrid.

Written and photos by Brian Addison.

For Brian Addison's full feature on SALA, click here.