Perched atop the carefully sculpted hills of the Pacific Design Center lawn, this casual patio offers satisfying ordered-through-a-window food and great views of the shoppers, designers, publicists and execs hurtling in and out.

Open for breakfast and lunch on the weekdays, Design Cafe serves basic but satisfying coffees, soups, salads and sandwiches like turkey and cranberry on fresh, soft rolls to nabe shoppers and PDC execs. The service from within the round, silver tube at the corner of the railed-in patio is crisp and honest: When we asked about the potato salad, we were told by the young woman behind the register that she hadn't tried it because she doesn't eat mayonnaise. As we waited at our tables for our sandwiches, and even after they arrived, our eyes were kept supremely busy. Young men and graceful women raced up the steps to meet appointments inside—the ever-busier building hosts design showrooms, A-list publicity firms and more—while laid-back moms chatted over salads in the corner.