Picture this– you wake up to a vibrant blue sky and a cool breeze, ideal beach weather. You convince some friends to head over, and of course, they agree, but there’s just one little problem– you’re all absolutely starving. You’re already on the steps at Anita Beach, and a bustling cafe catches your eye; the sweet and savory scent wafts over, nearly picking you up and plopping you down at the front door. Active Culture is a Cali-Mexican cafe focused solely on the well-being and happiness of its customers. The location was founded by their dedicated team in 2010 by Faye, Katrina, Jennifer, and Johann. They have locations in Laguna Beach, where they originally started, San Clemente, Long Beach, Bend, and Navato. Their Laguna branch location is right along Pacific Coast Highway and Anita Street, right across from the beloved Anita Street beach.
Active culture is a welcoming environment for all types of customers. Beachgoers pick up a quick acai for a tasty and refreshing treat. Busy moms might go for a protein-packed lentil bowl for a satisfying lunch. Teens and kids tend to go straight to the fro-yo bar and dress it with the many topping options. While it is a trendy spot, the relaxed atmosphere and beachy ambiance create upbeat attitudes in the employees, which improve the experience as a whole. At the same time, the Mediterranean-esque interior provides a fun but comforting sense of vacation, complete with coastal tunes. While one waits for their food, they might want to take a peek at the mini art gallery, with fascinating pieces of Laguna’s artistic culture and rich history. It has original framed pieces and costumes from the Pageant of the Masters and Sawdust Festival, the main tourist attractions that represent the artistic values of Laguna Beach.
Active Culture’s specialty items will genuinely impact your tastebuds. The fan-favorite wholesome bowl is a protein-packed delight. Consisting of brown rice, lentils, creamy avocado, a kick of salsa, all kinds of beans, rich cheddar cheese, all drenched in their flavorful OG sauce, and topped with a sprig of fresh cilantro. Their specialty Velvet Bowl is heaven in a spoonful and an edible mosaic of fresh fruit. The velvet-smooth acai, crunchy honey granola, fresh berries, and coconut shavings melt in your mouth and explode with a guilt-free sweetness, making the perfect refreshing treat for a beach day. To cool down your mouth after a hot bowl of chili with Have’a chips (laguna made), make the genius decision to grab a Pina Colada shake with their coconut vanilla froyo base. The smooth and creamy consistency is something straight out of what feels like a tropical heaven. With a momentary crunch of almonds and divine banana pineapple flavor, you’ll question why you ever drank another smoothie. Active culture represents all that’s good in Laguna Beach and reminds us of love through food.
