Veronese Gallery & Cafe is a cozy hideaway that doubles as an art gallery and coffee shop
By Janica Torres
Stepping inside Veronese Gallery & Café feels like traversing a dreamscape. The tranquil setting takes you far from the bustle of downtown Fullerton to a secret garden where you can savor your coffee in serenity.
While the ambiance is quiet, the aesthetic includes a wild mishmash of artifacts that meld together with lush foliage throughout the restaurant.
Ren Collantes, a junior at the Orange County School of Arts, described his first impression of the café as surreal.
“When you walk in, it’s an influx of aesthetics, and they make the atmosphere dreamlike with the music,” said Collantes.
Art History
The café is a relic as the property was originally a house that’s been around for over a century and is considered a historic landmark in Fullerton. The blend of art and coffee is ground in manager Seulki Kim’s family history. Kim’s parents, who are both artists, purchased the house and turned it into an art gallery to showcase her mother’s paintings.
Born in South Korea by way of France, the Kim family converted the house into an art gallery in 2004. Veronese was solely an exhibit back then, but soon after, they slowly began selling coffee to draw more people to the business.
“Little by little, we just started serving coffee,” said Kim. “Then we expanded a bit more, so now it’s become a major draw; the coffee shop is our major and then the gallery an aside.”
A Hush-Hush Hideaway
Secrecy and seclusion make Veronese the perfect place for students to study or take a date. Their outdoor seating is ample and picturesque: intricately designed to provide nooks of private space. Its location is deceiving, situated in a residential neighborhood and obscured by shrubbery and orange groves that are symbolic of the city.
Hannah Collantes, a nursing student at Cypress College, found out about the café by word of mouth, which is how most folks find their way here. What keeps her coming back is that they do their own thing.
“Nowadays, most coffee shops are modern and minimalistic,” said Collantes. “This is the exact opposite: it takes you to a whole different environment that makes a great place for a date or studying, maybe a mix of both.”
Folks are welcome to study, use the Wi-Fi, or power their devices, so long as each person in the party orders one item off the menu.
Worldly Eats And Distinct Drinks
Veronese’s menu is a combination of international influences. They offer renditions of Korean ramen, Italian spaghetti and paninis, and French crepes that Kim perfected while living in France prior to coming to the US.
The café’s biggest draw is their array of eclectic coffees, teas, and fresh juices. They also serve a diverse selection of beer, wine, and Korean makcrash: a milky and fruity iced alcoholic treat. What’s most unique is their offering of traditional Korean healthy teas served hot or iced that you won’t find at any boba shop in town.
If you’re looking for a change of pace, a quiet space to catch up on work, or a romantic setting to get to know that special someone, Veronese Gallery & Café promises an exquisite experience that will transport you to a secret realm right here in Fullerton.
