about us

our story

about us

inspired basque cuisine in the heart of downtown, los angeles

Café Basque is an all-day dining destination celebrating Basque inspired cooking, French pastries, strong coffee, curated cocktails, and great wine. Our doors are open - come as you are.

Peppers

A LOVE LETTER

"Café Basque Los Angeles is a love letter. Straddling the borders of France and Spain, wedged between the Pyrenees and the Atlantic, the Pays Basque (Basque Country) is fiercely independent and culturally and linguistically distinct from anywhere in the world. The cooking is joyful, generous and uncomplicated. Overflowing with excellent local products from the mountains and the sea, it has the particularity of being marked by the use of sweet and mildly hot peppers. Named after a town in the mountains above the port of St Jean de Luz, Espelette peppers were imported from central and south America in the 16th century and are a cornerstone of Basque cuisine in the same way that the American tomato has defined a large part of Italian cooking. Meanwhile, amid this rich culture and history, the Basque coast has been one of the world’s great surf destinations since the 1960s. 

Someone who writes a love letter is not necessarily a specialist on the subject and I do not pretend to be a specialist in Basque cooking. My love affaire is with France and its regions which have been an infinite source of inspiration to me for more than 20 years. To identify the essence of each cuisine and remain loyal to the approach and then to share it with each restaurant - colleagues and customers alike - is a source of particular personal satisfaction."

— Chef Daniel Rose

Our team

We are a team of talented and passionate individuals with a unique approach to providing exceptional hospitality.

daniel rose
chef partner
Headshot of General Manager
Darryl Jenkins
general manager
Headshot of Chef de Cuisine
Rudy Lopez
Chef de cuisine
Headshot of Beverage Director
Christopher maxwell
beverage manager

We're pretty optimistic about the future because of our past.

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Emily Colsen

Cofounder and Web Designer
Cofounder and Web Designer
Cofounder and Web Designer
Cofounder and Web Designer
Cofounder and Web Designer
Cofounder and Web Designer
Cofounder and Web Designer
Cofounder and Web Designer

Frank Thorne

Cofounder and Web Designer
Cofounder and Web Designer
Cofounder and Web Designer
Cofounder and Web Designer
Cofounder and Web Designer
Cofounder and Web Designer
Cofounder and Web Designer
Cofounder and Web Designer