3 Square Café & Röckenwagner Bakery

Venice, United States

4.1

Open now

28 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 310-399-6504
Website:
rockenwagner.com
Address:
1121 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA, 90291
Venice
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
2 miDowntown Santa Monica
2.2 mi17th Street/Santa Monica College
2.5 mi26th Street/Bergamot
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Bussiness info

Takes Reservations
No
Delivery
No
Take-out
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Good For
Lunch
Parking
Valet, Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Kids
Yes
Good for Groups
No
Attire
Casual
Ambience
Casual
Noise Level
Average
Alcohol
Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Wi-Fi
No
Has TV
No
Dogs Allowed
Yes
Waiter Service
Yes
Caters
Yes

Today

Today 6:30 am – 4:30 pm
Open now
Local time (Venice) 07:55 Sunday, 25 May 2025

Business hours

Monday 6:30 am – 4:30 pm
Tuesday 6:30 am – 4:30 pm
Wednesday 6:30 am – 4:30 pm
Thursday 6:30 am – 4:30 pm
Friday 6:30 am – 4:30 pm
Saturday 6:30 am – 4:30 pm
Sunday 6:30 am – 4:30 pm

Description

Specialties

It caters to the surrounding local businesses as well as to the area’s international tourists, casual shoppers and happy moviegoers. Offering salads, soups and sandwiches featuring produce from the farmers market and daily baked breads, the bakery is a favorite gathering place for the entire community.

History

Established in 2007.

3 Square Café, located at 1121 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in artsy Venice, California, is a casual, contemporary neighborhood eatery serving «3 square» meals. Breakfast features a number of fresh-​baked breads and sweets as well as pancakes and organic egg dishes. Lunch caters to the Abbot Kinney shopping and gallery crowd with artisan sandwiches and salads for which Röckenwagner has become known. Dinner offers comfort food with a contemporary twist including favorites such as the Pretzel Burger and Avocado Fries with Fire-​Roasted Salsa.

The adjacent bakery offers the Röckenwagner Bakery product line, including pretzel rolls, Rudolf Steiner Health Bread, scones, danishes, breads, cheese twists and cookies, as well as convenient sandwiches and snacks to go. Changing German and Austrian pastry specials are offered, giving Abbot Kinney a new venue for the traditional «Kaffeeklatsch.»

Meet the Business Owner

Hans R.

Business Owner

3 Square Café and Röckenwagner Bakery are the latest ventures of longtime Los Angeles chef/​restaurateur Hans Röckenwagner. Hans’ background spans thirty years of cooking in kitchens in Germany, Switzerland, Chicago and Los Angeles, and includes operating his own fine dining restaurant, running a full-​scale retail and wholesale bakery, consulting to major hospitality-​related businesses, and penning a cookbook. Known for his individuality, Hans’ reputation was built around his springtime white asparagus menus, innovative dishes like crab soufflé with lobster-​butter sauce and the popular pretzel burger, and his craftsmanship in designing and building his restaurants.

3 Square Café & Röckenwagner Bakery also recommends

Röckenwagner Bakery

167

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Sandwiches

Hans R. says,

«Try the Cro-​dough!»

Rockenwagner — CLOSED

84

reviews

Bakeries

Hans R. says,

«Great Café as you shop 3rd St. Santa Monica!»

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28 reviews of 3 Square Café & Röckenwagner Bakery

No registration required
Place rating: 4
Santa Barbara, CA
I think it’s a sweet lil shop. The girl behind the counter was exceptionally friendly and welcoming, telling us about their cro doughs. The cro doughs are almost like cronuts with the custard fillings except they’re not flaky layered. Still, I thought the vanilla cro dough was quite yummy. My friend wasn’t impressed with her Nutella one.
We dropped in while walking the Abbott Kinney strip, of course. There are a lot of cutesy bake shops such as this one. I do like that they’ve fresh squeezed orange juice: $ 4
There’s a few tables inside and a couple curbside. Just be wary of bad drivers trying to park.
Place rating: 5
Downtown, Atlanta, GA
We stumbled upon this restaurant for lunch/​brunch and had a fantastic meal-​my son the b burrito, myself the breakfast sandwich and my husband the eggs/​bacon/​pancake-​the free pretzel rolls and the muffins were awesome. My b sandwich was great w the most amazing soft pretzel roll-​but what was exquisite was the pancake and the brioche w homemade jam-​swoon!
Ice tea perfect-​hope to be back soon!
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
Everything here was delicious! Even the salad were extremely flavorful!
Place rating: 4
Stevenson Ranch, CA
Here’s my go to brunch café since 2012. :) Their food is amazing and it seems healthy too! My favorite is their avocado friess. It’s so good and fresh! They also have amazing cold brew! You’ll love this place ! Their service is okay not outstanding but not bad. Street parking is really hard in this area, and the valet thing is too expensive.:(be aware!
Place rating: 5
Hickman, CA
Visiting from out of town and loved this place! I had the Cuban sandwich and it might be the best sandwich I’ve ever had! Highly recommend!
Place rating: 5
Santa Monica, CA
Mac & Cheese and German Apple pancake!!! Need I say more?! This place is so amazing! I crave the Mac & Cheese at least once a week!
Place rating: 4
Los Angeles, CA
One of my favorite places for brunch on Abbot Kinney. The food and service is great and there’s never an atrocious wait. I’ve never had to wait longer than ten minutes to be seated — HUGE plus. I love, love, love their breakfast burrito and the free mini muffins and pretzels they give out while you wait. I’ve only been disappointed with their pretzel burger and breakfast sandwich. Not bad but not great, so I avoid those two items.
They are mostly open for breakfast and lunch but occasionally do dinner pop ups. I’m always on the lookout for those — absolutely loved when they did the La Sal: Tapas by Cesar pop up.
Place rating: 4
Manhattan, NY
a great little coffee spot/​bakery on Abbott Kinney. The pretzel rolls are delicious. Coffee is… meh. I would get the coffee from Blue Bottle and get the pastries here.
Place rating: 5
Venice, CA
Ok I just had the pancake for the first time and it was by far and away the best pancake I have ever had and holy shit I’m gonna have to have it every single time I go.
Place rating: 5
Menlo Park, CA
Absolutely delicious. Great selection of brunch foods and various coffees. I got the salmon bagel with cream cheese and tomatoes and it may have been the best brunch ever.
Only slightly bummed since there wasn’t any seating left outside (ambiance of the restaurant was nice since it was in the heart of Venice beach). 5⁄5
Place rating: 1
Los Angeles, CA
Their own website clearly shows that the bakery is open until 7 pm, so I rushed out of work, because I wanted to pick up some stollen. I was so pleased when I got there and parked with over 10 minutes to spare, only to find the place locked. I finally got the woman inside to open the door and she told me they closed at 6, and she couldn’t sell me anything, because she woiuld «get in trouble.»
Unbelievable. If you’re shortening your hours, the first thing you should do is update your website. The restaurant is open until 10 (according to the website), but she told me they no longer serve dinner, so apparently not.
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
The oatmeal is out of this world good. I’ve never had anything that good. Honey, vanilla, berries. Soaked overnight. Try it!!!
Place rating: 3
Oakland, CA
This place was alright. If you’re in the area and need a place to eat, it’s not terrible. I went in around 2:30 on a Saturday and was seated immediately. The waitress was very nice and checked on me a few times. I got the fish tacos. They were okay… nothing really special. They also don’t come with any sides. I thought it was over priced at $ 15 for 3 fish tacos without any sides. I don’t think I’d go back here again as there are many other places to try on the street, but worth trying once.
Place rating: 4
Manhattan, NY
I’m quite surprised myself I didn’t review this place before because it’s one of my favorite restaurants in LA.
The location can’t be better since it’s right in the middle of the happening: Abbott Kinney. Love the neighborhood and love the exact place of the restaurant, right on the corner with big windows so you can have a nice breeze in the warm weather Los Angeles offers.
The chef is extraordinary. I came the first time here with my family for dinner and it was a pop up restaurant just for the summer. The menu was a combination of different tapas and they were all astonishing. Every single little bit was like heaven so that’s why we kept coming. It’s great for brunch and their avocado toast is killer. Also the Cubano is a great choice.
You can’t go wrong in this place specially if you come here hungry ;-)
Place rating: 3
Los Angeles, CA
Cute place with minimalist décor, very attentive, sweet staff and a varied menu of above average food. The downside? Wayyyyy too pricey for what you get. Rather felt ripped off. I know Abbott Kinney has gotten expensive but, this was a bit over the top.
Place rating: 4
San Francisco, CA
We walked on Abbott Kinney and randomly found this restaurant so we decided to give it a try since they had an open window sitting that gave a relaxed feeling. I ordered the Chicken Club and my husband ordered the Reuben sandwich. Both sandwiches were very good! My chicken club was a bit unconventional and creative that it had a slight touch of sweetness probably from that «yellow layer» of goodness. Foods were served hot and very fresh and that was a big plus. My French fries were very good too! Crispy on the outside, fresh, hot, and still a bit of soft inside are just amazing. I will go back there if I am ever around Venice beach again.
Place rating: 3
Redwood City, CA
I’m a big fan of croissants, and I ended up getting a bacon cheddar scone with an almond croissant, but the croissant had way too much filling, and it overpowered the flaky buttery flavors. I’d like to try it again, but overall, it didn’t do anything above average.
Place rating: 4
West Hollywood, CA
Centrally located in the middle of the adorable abbot kinney. 3 square has some great service, but the pretzel burger I got was just ok.
I came here with my husband and we were both starving from walking around all morning, showing our guests the cool parts of our city.
I open the menu and the pretzel burger is just staring at me, I love pretzel buns!
First few bites were good, but as I got less and less hungry I realized just how greasy the burger is. And while it was good, it was not worth the gross feeling that followed it.
So why 4 stars and not 3? Because I tasted my husbands fish tacos and they were a gift from above. So delicious and fresh! I immediately regretted not getting them, and vowed to never get a burger at a restaurant again.
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
Always the coolest most helpful crew. I work on Abbot Kinney and these guys know my drink as I walk in the door. I sometimes see them twice a day and it is always pleasant, thanks guys for like the last 4 years…
Place rating: 4
Los Angeles, CA
I have been a patron of 3 Square for many years, and I have always been positively impressed with the quality of the food and service.
That said, there are some things that have changed over time, much to the detriment of the 3 Square experience.
The German Apple Pancake, which takes 20 – 30 minutes to prepare, has been tweaked to be ready in just a few minutes. My understanding is that this is accomplished by pre-​cooking a stock of pancakes and then fast-​cooking them at the last moment, aka re-​heating. This leads to an pancake that is over cooked on the outside and under cooked within, not authentic and not appealing.
More recently, the rösti (German style hash browns) on the menu has been replaced with a tasteless slide of baked potato, which I understand is less labor intensive, but does not seem worth serving. This choice absolutely ruins the Weißwurst breakfast — which is the only German breakfast offering on the menu aside from the pancake.
I live in the neighborhood and will continue to patronize 3 Square, but I recommend avoiding the pancake and skipping the potato when ordering the Weißwurst breakfast if you are looking for an authentic Deutsche vibe.
Place rating: 4
Los Angeles, CA
Sad to see so many Rockenwagner closing down, i really enjoy their pretzels and baked goods.
Prices are fair, the quality is always excellent. Pretzel was great, not quite like I had in Germany, but very close and tasty, croissants baked well.
Dine in or take it to go which I did.
Nice in and outdoor seating, great location, parking can be a pain though, worth checking out in the area, perfect for breakfast or a light lunch.
Place rating: 4
Seattle, WA
This place was delightful and scrumptious. Great locale with outside tables overlooking AK. I had the sandwich sampler which includes three mini sammies from a selection of six or seven. I had the chicken schnitzel, the avocado toast and the BLT — served on different types of mini buns. Side of fries which was unremarkable. The Sammy trio comes with sides of cauliflower, beets and homemade chips. I’d come back again. I also had a fresh squeezed orange juice. I’m somewhat of an OJ connoisseur and this one was excellent. And served in a wine glass to boot.
Place rating: 4
Los Angeles, CA
I found this place randomly on a Saturday morning. It looked welcoming from the outside so I decided to give it a try.
A friendly hostess asked if my family wanted to sit outside or inside. If we wanted to sit outside, we could choose between a tiny space wedged between two buildings, or a few tables by the curb. We chose to sit inside. The place wasn’t big, but they found ways to make it appear roomy. The waitress was quick to take our order. I got an orange juice to go with their German apple pancake. My husband got a cappuccino and a breakfast sandwich. We got a pancake combo kids meal for our toddler. The orange juice was fresh and foamy and came in a small wine glass. I loved it and wish they’d have given me more! My pancake was cinnamon-​y and had the texture of a bread pudding. They layered thin slices of apples at the bottom to add a slight crunch. It wasn’t what I expected but I have to say I enjoyed the meal. My husband’s sandwich had chunky avocado and bacon slices. It was a well-​made sandwich comprised of fresh ingredients and mayonnaise. He also said his cappuccino was amazing. The toddler’s meal came with milk, a small pancake, a few slices of strawberries, and a slice of bacon. It was a good deal. Oh and they brought us pretzel bread and tiny muffins before our order arrived. I liked that extra touch!
After breakfast, we wandered into the bakery next door and discovered that they’re the same shop. It’s a café and bakery combined. I couldn’t help but indulge my sweet tooth and get some pastries to go. The marshmallow yam brownie was unlike any brownie I’ve ever had. It was sweet yet salty and really gooey in texture. It was better heated up. I still can’t make up my mind on whether I’m a fan or not. It was definitely unique! I loved the berry scone! It had a flaky/​crispy top and was crumbly inside. Yum! The almond croissant was above average. It had crispy layers, a tiny bit of filling inside, and some powdered sugar on top. The cashier there told me I could also order food from the café and eat at the bakery. Nice to know!
I’m glad we found this little place! We’ll be back for sure.
Place rating: 4
La Canada Flintridge, CA
At first I was a little hesitant to enter, because there were only two people sitting on the patio on a Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. Down the street at Gjelina there was a line of people out the door hoping to secure a table inside.
3 Square Café is not Gjelina, however it is a great spot for a gourmet burger, fries and salad. There were four of us and we all ordered burgers. I had the Quinoa Burger with a dab of Romesco Sauce, sautéed Spinach and sautéed Red Bell Peppers on a soft Potato Bun. It was a fried patty and good. The double SalmonBurger was terrific with a salmon filet and gravlax, cucumber yogurt salad and mayo on a Rockenwagner Brioche Bun. My dad ordered the Pretzel Burger with house-​ground beef, melted Swiss, caramelized onions, lettuce and tomato on a Pretzel Knot bun. He loved it.
They also have a chicken burger on a pumpernickel bun, lamb-​feta burger on a croissant bun, Kobe sliders and a mushroom burger on an English muffin bun.
They offer an interesting selection of wine and beer to pair with your burgers.
The service is great too. Brian was friendly and catered to our requests. The manager gave us a buzzer and encouraged us to play their Saturday night trivia game. It was supposed to start at 7 p.m., however they waited until the patio had more diners eager to play.
By 7:45 we were hitting our buzzer and answering a variety of interesting trivia questions. Our team won and we were given a Rockenwagner mini pie as a prize to take home.
We left around 8:15 p.m. and there wasn’t an empty table, other than our own. People were drinking German beer, biting into burgers on Rockenwagner’s famous pretzel buns and finishing with his lovely bakery desserts.
It was great fun and we will be back again on a Saturday night for burger and trivia!
Place rating: 5
Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles, CA
This has nothing to do with food, but our lab puppy got overheated on a walk yesterday right around 3 Square Café and he needed to take a brief break on the outdoor patio. The staff brought him out water, were super helpful, and even though we weren’t eating there… they were incredibly cool.
5 stars for just being good folks. Gonna hit them up for brunch this weekend.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
We had a very tasty strawberry «cronut» here after a long afternoon of walking. It was totally delicious, and a nice break from the rain.
Place rating: 5
Santa Monica, CA
A very solid restaurant with reliably yummy food, centrally located in the heart of trendy Abbott Kinney! Gorgeous outside patio seating with hearers for chilly evenings and balmy winter mornings for brunch! I loved the pretzel burger, schnitzel and avocado fries! Fun beer and food menu for Oktoberfest celebrations in September/​October period!
Place rating: 3
Los Angeles, CA
I do not like their lunch that much.
Super SLOW service! It took them like 40 min from the time we sat till the dishes came to the table. It wasn’t that packed either. The server just doing slowly.
The food was just okay. My friend had the sampler, where she got the bah-​mi for me. It was really dry and lack of flavor. Do not recommend. And my mushroom omelet tastes so bland, that I could not even finish it. Toast on the side was plain too. Only the hash brown was good. I will not consider coming back again.