Renowned in Southern California for its signature heirloom, organic coffee, fine tea and health-conscious cuisine, Urth Caffé brings it all and more to its new location on the second level of Wynn Plaza that opens to the public November 10.
It’s been almost 30 years since Jilla and Shallom Berkman founded a mail-order company offering non-toxic and natural products for the home that soon grew into the nation’s first exclusively organic, heirloom coffee company and several Southern California restaurants that have attracted thousands of loyal fans.
Urth Caffé is considered the first, exclusive organic coffee roaster in the nation, roasting coffees from around the world daily at its downtown Los Angeles headquarters. Urth partners with coffee farmers worldwide who use sustainable growing methods to protect soil vitality, yield healthier crops while providing economic diversity for the growers.
Urth sources the finest imported black, green, white and oolong teas from the tea gardens of the world. Most are certified organic or are from traditional gardens that have been growing tea in harmony with nature for hundreds of years. Urth’s herbal infusions are its own recipes developed with fresh, hand-picked, 100 percent certified organic herbs.
Each Urth Caffé’s menu uses only the highest quality, all-natural ingredients, organically grown whenever possible. Menu items are fresh-made daily and fit the spectrum of diets, from strictly vegan to gluten-free to pure decadence, to offer healthy choices for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and dessert.
Urth Caffé at Wynn Plaza will debut a specially selected line of organic, biodynamic and sustainable wines and beers from around the world as well as local Las Vegas microbreweries.
The Wynn Plaza location is a long way from Urth’s first branch in Manhattan Beach, a 300-square-foot café with just five seats. Since then Urth has opened six locations in Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles, Laguna Beach and Terminal 1 at Los Angeles International Airport. Soon to open are a much-anticipated café in historic Old Towne Orange and a new headquarters and café in Hawthorne, California.
Jilla Berkman, Urth’s chief designer, planned the interior décor for Wynn Plaza as she has for all cafés. “Since this is our first location that does not have an outdoor patio, Jilla designed the café to incorporate natural sunlight, water features and natural materials such as walnut wood and stone to give guests the feeling of a lovely Californian outdoor experience,” said Shallom Berkman.
Sunlight shines down from the restaurant’s focal point – a spectacular star-shaped skylight soaring above an olive tree surrounded by a fountain decorated by ornate geckos, all handcrafted by Southern California tile artists. Tiles inset in overhead beams sparkle with 24-karat gold glaze, also featured in skylight tiles. Very rare stone, including genuine turquoise, decorate many surfaces. Jilla’s design signature – red hearts – can be seen throughout the restaurant.
