Intelligentsia to Test First Drive-Thru Specialty Coffeebar at 3010 Pico

Intelligentsia is converting the compact, restored A-frame at 3010 Pico Blvd into what the roaster calls a test of a convenience-focused specialty coffee model, bringing a drive-thru lane and walk-up window to Santa Monica for the first time under this concept. The site will emphasize outdoor gathering over indoor seating, with a patio planned to seat more than 40 people.

The building previously housed a Wienerschnitzel/Weinerschnitzel stand, and the design keeps the A-frame character while reworking circulation for cars and foot traffic. Intelligentsia’s marketing copy teases “an innovative drive-thru specialty coffee experience” and promises “beautiful, handmade drinks delivered right to your car window,” with interior “look inside” images and a “Santa Monica - Coming Soon” page already live. The company’s Instagram account also teased the project with a caption fragment: “Putting the finishing touches on our new coffeebar in Santa Monica. Located on the vibrant Pico Boulevard, we can't wait to welcome the”.

Menu coverage so far focuses on espresso- and tea-based drinks and several signature items. The Iced Angeleno is described as “made with four shots of espresso shaken with milk and house-made vanilla syrup.” The Avena Latte combines oatmilk, simple syrup, ginger, cinnamon, vanilla and orange peel. The Santa Monica coffeebar will offer a children’s menu with “steamed drinks flavored with chocolate, strawberry, vanilla or honey,” and “items designed for dogs are also planned.”

This location will be Intelligentsia’s fifth in Los Angeles, joining shops in Silver Lake, Venice, Hollywood and Pasadena. The company launched in 1995 in Chicago and maintains locations beyond Southern California, with other counts cited at three in Chicago, one in New York, two in Boston, one in Austin and four in Korea. The Pico project is being framed as a test to see how a specialty roaster can adapt the third-wave approach to a higher convenience format.

Lori Haughey, vice president of retail for Intelligentsia, framed the site’s strategic importance: “This is a super important location for us. It will be our first drive‑thru location with the concept of Intelligentsia, and I don’t know that there are many third‑wave coffee businesses that have opened up drive‑thru locations.” She added, “We’re really going to learn a lot from this one and if all goes as planned, we’re going to look into leaning into the drive‑thru concept as we continue to refine it for future opportunities both in and outside of L.A.”

There is no firm opening date; company materials and local reports say the timeline depends on final renovations and city inspections. Designers and neighbors will be watching how the project balances drive-thru traffic with the patio’s promised sunny, communal feel.

For Santa Monica coffee drinkers this could mean faster grab-and-go access to Intelligentsia’s signature drinks without losing the brand’s specialty focus, and for the wider café scene it’s a practical experiment in blending third-wave craft with convenience. Expect more details on hours, full menu and the official opening as renovations wrap and permits clear.