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25 of the Best Cafés in Los Angeles (And One Must-Visit in OC)
By Dana Dickey,
2023-03-24
Fact: Cafés have always been the backbone of any great city. Somewhere you can rendezvous, maybe go on a date, get some work done (ahem, procrastinate ) or grab a coffee done right. But with a caffeine fix available on practically every corner, how are you supposed to know which spot is going to gel with your vibe (and serve you your iced matcha latte just the way you like it)? Relax—we’ve got you covered. As a serious java enthusiast, as well as a devoted café-sitter, I've been to a lot of coffee shops in the city but these are the ones I keep coming back to again and again. (If I had a dollar for every time I've needed a welcoming cafe when I've needed to wait a couple hours for rush hour traffic to die down, the curse of being an Angeleno.) From a spot with monastery-like vibes so you can actually focus, to coffee shops that are mindful about their beans and community, I've found just the place to enjoy delicious pastries or a light meal, at these 25 best cafés in Los Angeles (and one must-visit in Orange County).
Location: Historic Filipinotown (2510 Temple St., Los Angeles)
Price Range: $ to $$
Why We Recommend It: small-batch seasonal pastries, amazing chicken sandwich, innovative drinks (that are all made in-house)
Why settle for coffee at home when you could sip on an iced coffee sweetened with Catalana (orange, cinnamon, and vanilla) syrup whilst trying a passion fruit pie lined with graham cracker crust? And if you’re really hungry, the menu of breakfast items, rice bowls and more, is nothing short of yummy and filling. All of which are made in-house. Nestled on a sunny corner in Historic Filipinotown, grab a seat outside or indoors—which is just as bright and airy. Make sure to stop by on the first and second Saturday of each month for their fresh bread pop up by Out of Thin Air , which is a must-try for carb lovers (aka, everyone).
Location: Echo Park (318 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles)
Price Range: $$$
Why We Recommend It: Nordic design details, delicious toasts, tons of latte art
If super zen and minimalist design is your vibe, this tucked-away gem in Echo Park is for you. This quirky triangular cafe is detailed with communal cement seating, gorgeous blonde wood tables and a window area you can sit in front of that gives off major breakfast bar vibes. Or pull up a chair and drink your latte in their patio overlooking Glendale boulevard. Either way, you should have no problem focusing at this no-distractions spot.
Why We Recommend It: shoebox-themed packages for desserts; gluten-free, vegan, and sugar-free options; great playlist
If you’re looking for a day trip to Huntington Beach, this trendy number is located in Huntington Harbour—only a five minute drive from the HB sand. Vibe in this woman-owned, basketball-themed cafe while listening to throwback R&B and hip hop hits, and enjoying their house-made bread or cakes. Sip on coffee that’s sourced from women-owned co-ops while perusing displayed art, quotes and more. Hailing from Queens, New York, the owner of this cafe played basketball growing up and integrated the sport into the aesthetic of the cafe, down to the takeaway shoeboxes for desserts (which are totally reusable by the way). If that doesn’t impress you, maybe the floating-flowered hallway to the bathroom (or the decor in the bathrooms themselves) will.
Location: Koreatown (3033 W. 6th St., Los Angeles)
Price Range: $ to $$
Why We Recommend It: innovative cake-themed coffee drinks, delicious toasts
We love the laid-back vibes at Koreatown spot, but their specialty is definitely their menu—both coffee and food. Their Vienna coffee went viral for its delicious tiramisu-inspired recipe. Not to mention, the Lox and Prosciutto toasts are nothing short of fantastic. This little Koreatown gem, while being small in size, is big in flavor and quality.
Location: Little Tokyo (358 E. 2nd St., Los Angeles)
Price Range: $ to $$
Why We Recommend It: roast their own coffee, curated selection of unique small-batch goods, martial arts
The owners of Cafe Dulce , Cindy and James Choi, brought their coffee expertise to this unique location in Little Tokyo. A coffee bar and store in one—filled with decor, drinks, trinkets and more from fellow AAPI small businesses—is a must-visit. But there’s more: sip your coffee in the back seating area where you might catch a live jiu-jitsu fight. The cafe has mats for people to train Brazilian jiu jitsu during certain days and times, which is almost as thrilling as your next cup of coffee.
Location: East Hollywood (5233 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles)
Price Range: $ to $$
Why We Recommend It: Black-owned and Asian-owned, delicious Filipino iced coffee, ‘70s vibes
An intriguingly delicious menu with a ‘70s inspired theme, this Thai Town cafe is passionate about community and coffee. Ask for their housemade oat-condensed milk for a little extra oomph to your latte or try one of their specialties like the Filipino Iced Coffee, made with the creamiest ube milk. And if caffeine is a no-go, you really can’t go wrong with a freshly squeezed lemonade.
Location: Chinatown (938 N. Hill St., Los Angeles)
Price Range: $$
Why We Recommend It: innovative drink menu, located inside a stationary store
Is there anything that makes you feel more like a freakin’ boss than writing a to-do list while sipping your morning coffee? Accomplish both at the tiny but mighty Thank You Coffee location in Chinatown that lets you shop stationary while you sip. (Adorable greeting cards, planners and tiny pencils galore!) Not to mention, they’ve got a menu of one-of-a-kind drinks. Try a Hojicha latte–made with oat milk and green tea–to start your day on the right foot. Some drinks come in a packaged to-go version, too.
Location: South Bay (1201 S Pacific Coast Hwy., Redondo Beach)
Price: Range: $ to $$
Why We Recommend It: family owned, tamale Tuesdays, proximity to beach
This South Bay gem is the perfect cozy cafe to nestle in and play some board games in, or to pop in on a Tuesday for some house-made tamales. Sip on their fan-favorite Iced Shaken Espresso in their outdoor seating area (which is only two blocks from the Redondo Beach sand, by the way).
Location: Arts District (11019 S. Santa Fe Ave., Los Angeles)
Price Range: $ to $$
Why We Recommend It: roast their own coffee in the Arts District, relaxing vibe
Maru’s stand-alone structure between two bigger buildings in the Arts District, beautifully boutique-esq and inviting, is just as tranquil inside as it is on the outside. Sip on some of the most potent and freshest coffee you might ever try while enjoying an especially peaceful atmosphere—when they’re not having community events like toy drives in their space, that is (which we also love).
Why We Recommend It: half clothing store, half coffee shop; great playlist
Retail therapy whilst sipping an iced latte sounds like the perfect Saturday activity in our book. Sip and shop and at this motorcycle-themed clothing store and coffee shop, but if you’re not in the browsing mood, there’s ample indoor and outdoor seating area where you can sit and relax instead.
Why We Recommend It: wine bar plus coffee shop, live music every weekend
Vibe at this Pasadena location with live music every weekend from 2 to 4 p.m. while sipping on your favorite espresso drink or glass of wine (or both!). This green space is perfect for getting some work done during the week and kicking off some fun on the weekend. Work hard, play hard.
Why We Recommend It: fresh bread baked in-house, ample seating area
From freshly made loaves of bread to organic, hand-rolled bagels and pastries perfect for your sweet tooth, this place in Echo Park is a carb lover’s dream. Though known for their made-in-house bread, their coffee is also noteworthy. Come for the smooth espresso drinks and ready-made breakfast sandwich, stay for the endless and delicious glutenous selection.
Location: DTLA Fashion District (1118 San Julian St., Los Angeles)
Price Range: $ to $$
Why We Recommend It: hearty breakfast fare, beans roasted on premises
No gimmicks, just good coffee that's roasted on site by a small team that's knowledgeable about coffee, without the attitude. This, combined with the bags of coffee you can pick up to take home after hanging out in this minimalist-cool spot, makes us stop in whenever we're seeing a show at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising or on an early-morning flower market run.
Why We Recommend It: outdoor tables on walkable retail street, creative drink specials
"But first...coffee" is this brand's logo, and we're here for it. With 16 locations spread across LA, it excels in both the strong classics (carrying a cup of their iced latte is practically a status move) along with seasonal specials linked to current events like a pop star's just-released single or a TV network's new lineup. The Melrose Place location is a great place to hang out with your laptop if you can snag one of the seats at the elevated work table, and it's also a clutch move to take out-of-towners for a light snack to people-watch the fashionable crowd.
Location: East Hollywood (4473 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles)
Price Range: $ to $$
Why We Recommend It: cineaste heaven, inventive baked goods
Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino bought the historic Vista theatre next door and promptly opened this accompanying cafe, named after the 1973 blaxploitation action movie Coffy , indelibly portrayed by actress Pam Grier. The coffee here isn't anything special: “Pam’s Bold Black Mamba” is served in old-fashioned metal pots from diners. But it's serviceable, and the pastries from North Hollywood’s Cake Monkey Bakery are good. But what you're here for are to soak in the atmosphere of the place, decorated with kitsch movie memorabilia and vivid oversized movie posters. It's well worth turning up early to a matinee next door to hang here.
Why We Recommend It: sleek interior, well-edited menu of solid sips, vegan options
This cafe—named in a fit of self-empowerment after the 6'1" female owner was insulted as a "sasquatch"—is tiny but packs a big punch. The living wall of plants and shiny white surfaces contrast with the gritty street outside, and the strong coffee drinks make from custom-selected beans will likewise wake you up. There's a tight selection of vegan and gluten-free small bites, too.
Maurice Harris, the proprietor of Bloom & Plume floral design, expanded his life-enhancing offerings beyond flowers in 2019 when he opened this colorful cafe serving Stumptown coffee and light bites. The powerful color-on-color design, the sunny space and the inventive drinks like the chaga-chino, made with chaga mushroom, cacao, Vanilla, cinnamon sweetened by monkfruit. espresso and steamed milk, keep clients pleasantly stimulated.
Why We Recommend It: casual morning/lunch service, sidewalk sitting
From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., this is a mild-mannered cafe that serves eggs and toast, bodega sammies and achiote-rubbed chicken, as well as strong coffee from roasting specialists. Then the place closes for a few hours before dinner service, with a full menu and full bar. Win-win.
Location: San Fernando Valley (18600 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana)
Price Range: $ to $$
Why We Recommend It: sidewalk seating, irrestistable toast selection
West Valley residents swear by this female-owned coffee roastery cafe, where there's an emphasis on sustainably grown coffee which is then roasted, bagged and brewed (as well as sold by the bag) on premises. As well as carefully crafted coffee drinks, it's worth a visit to relax over one of the fat breakfast burritos or many toasts, heaped with avocados or buttery jam or walnuts and cheese or nut butter and bananas...it's an ever-evolving list.
Why We Recommend It: arty vibe, lack of wi-fi encourages chatting
This artistically designed spot feels like you're in Buenos Aires or Rio rather than halfway between Hollywood and the Beach. In this charming small table-dotted indoor-outdoor space, the coffee drinks here are way better than they need to be (order the house specialty, the Magic Latte made with condensed oat milk and clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger). Best marketing gambit, ever: the place doesn't have wi-fi, so you'll need to bring your own hotspot or be social.
Why We Recommend It: beautiful location, bean sourced from small roasters
Located inside Pasadena's stunning Burlington Arcade, this Asian- and woman-owned coffee shop turns out gorgeous gems of espresso and a killer flat white. But what's really special are the signature drinks like the Toasty, which is organic Booibos, cinnamon and brown sugar with espresso (great in iced form, btw) and the Gua Hui latte: espresso, oat mile, osmanthus honey and cardamom bitters.
Why We Recommend It : gorgeous setting, casual vibe, cyclist theme
This cafe started as a community hang-out for the vibrant cyclist community of Calabasas, a place for long rides over rolling hills of Superbloom and green. Now the brand also has branches in Sawtelle and Santa Monica, but we love a hang at the O.G. digs, which operates as restaurant Pedaler's Fork beginning with dinner service. Nitro, cold brew or an iced golden latte are just the thing for your day trip pit stop or to steel you to finish that overdue assignment on your laptop.
Location: Silverlake (4459 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles)
Price Range: $ to $$
Why We Recommend It: sweet matcha, buzzy scene, customizable options
The popular Korean brand Camel Coffee (imagine a giant chain, along the lines of Starbucks-sized popular) has opened its first outpost in Silverlake, and it's drawing the crowds. Expect to wait as long as an hour at peak coffee-imbibing weekend hours for one of the perfectly crafted drinks that, though a relatively compact 8 ounces, please foodie patrons with options like vegan cream and chocolate orange latte.
Location: La Brea (133 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles)
Price Range: $ to $$
Why We Recommend It: pretty courtyard, great pastries
This cafe opened as a throwback to the days of lingering over your coffee, so there's no WiFi, but there is a beautiful tile courtyard to muse over while you're enjoying an ultra-flaky elephant ear and gluten-free and vegan options. Coffee options include Chemex, nitro and Japanese flash brew.
Two New Zealanders decided to bring their country's love of bold coffee to the South Bay in 2011, and now have locations in Redondo, Manhattan Beach and El Segundo. Hearty breakfast fare is made with local eggs and you can buy their proprietary two-bean blend in bags as well as enjoy it iced on premises.
Only Shugar Cafe in HB. Have you tried Lilly Pop and Sunbliss Cafe in Anaheim Hills? Thank You Coffee-Anaheim in Anaheim, Paris in a Cup in Downtown Orange, and there are quite a few cafes here and there in Orange County. Thank you for the article. If I am in LA, I will check one of these cafes.
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