Leilō Coffee Says Aloha In Culver City

Inside the new Leilō Coffee shop in Culver City, Los Angeles. All images courtesy of Leilō Coffee.

From the team behind neighboring Nikkei-spirited eatery Nikó Sando and Malou Coffee in Brentwood, Los Angeles, a third concept called Leilō Coffee is now open in Culver City.

Taking its name from a Hawaiian garland and leaning into a Hawaii-inspired theme rooted in slow living, nature and togetherness, Leilō wraps guests in warm terracotta-toned walls contrasted by gleaming metal tables, shelving and bench seating.

Single-origin coffees served as manual pourovers and house drinks such as the Maple Cinnamon Cappuccino arrive in grounded ceramics or steel drinkware. The founders describe Culver City as “a very suburban-in-the-heart-of-LA” kind of neighborhood, and the shop’s look plays on that duality.

“The coffee shop is nestled between a quiet neighborhood and a bustling main street with a view of the SONY Studios. So L.A.,” Maddie Dickerson of PR agency MGPR said on behalf of Leilō owner Ilan Noi, who also co-owns the other two businesses. “The neighbors have been extremely supportive throughout the soft opening, [and] very excited for a new neighborhood shop to open up.”

With Mazzer and Mahlkönig grinders, manual and batch brewers and a La Marzocco Strada espresso machine, drinks are built from coffees roasted across the U.S. by a rotating slate of quality-focused suppliers, including Pacific Northwest roasters Roseline Coffee and Camber Coffee and New York-based SEY and La Cabra.

A washed Colombian coffee with caramel and citrus notes is currently the house drip offering, while a Mexican coffee produced through extended fermentation is the seasonal espresso, with the company describing notes of maraschino cherry and orange blossom. While a Hawaiian coffee might best fit the theme, the owners said they prioritize high quality and vibrant flavors over origin for origin’s sake.

“That quality with a Hawaiian bean is rare,” Dickerson said. “However, if our roaster is ever offering that quality, we’d make it a point to include in our rotation.”

While the smaller Malou Coffee, which opened in spring 2025, strikes a brighter, more fast-paced chord, Leilō offers a larger indoor footprint and plated service. Both concepts feature menus designed by Los Angeles barista Omar Camarillo.

“What sets [the cafes] apart is the vibe and how you enjoy the coffee,” Dickerson said. “Leilō is built for lingering with a larger indoor space, plated service in beautiful glassware and a slower, ‘Hawaiian-inspired’ sense of hospitality. Malou has a more energetic and outdoor vibe — quick, bustling and social.”

At Leilō, locally baked pastries are available alongside savory and breakfast options made in-house, including a breakfast burrito, harvest salad, acai bowl and caprese sandwiches. The menu is expected to evolve seasonally, and while the focus for now is settling the Culver City shop into its groove, additional concepts may follow under the same umbrella.

“You can think of [Nikó Sando, Malou and Leilō] as the first expressions of a growing family rather than a traditional chain,” said Dickerson. “While the future isn’t fully mapped out, the goal is to let each new location develop its own identity while staying rooted in that shared philosophy.”

Leilō Coffee is located at 10606 Culver Blvd in Culver City. 

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