When we think of Los Angeles the first thing that comes to mind is the sunny beaches and the Hollywood actors. However, we are still not so much aware of its coffee scene that is happening right in front of our noses.
It’s most certainly true that this US city never had a lack of energy, but when it comes to the culture of drinking coffee, it’s more of a habit then the actual taste that matters. And yes, there are lots of coffee shops around Los Angeles, and we took upon ourselves a mission of tasting and trying coffee around L. A. to find you the best places out there.
But before we dig in and tell you all about the perfect spots to grab a cup of coffee, we must admit that in the past few years there was a huge boom of knowledgeable professionals who brought the coffee game right into L. A. They certainly put the preparing coffee on high level by having the interest in picking the right seeds and preparing them in a way that can meet the worlds brewing standards.
Some of the best coffee shops in L. A. are now pulling some of the most exotic flavors you may ever find, and they are waiting for you right around the corner. Their way of preparing coffee is definitely one thing that separates them from chains of coffee shops like Starbucks, and the experience of having coffee is way more pleasant and takes coffee on a whole new level.
Each cup is brewing by separate order; the amount of coffee is carefully measured and heated just till boiling, and then slowly and with care poured over right into a cup. Add to that a perfectly made latte art and you are in heaven!
So, without further ado, we will start talking about what we came for. Fasten your seatbelts, 10 best coffee shops in Los Angeles, here we come!
10. Joan’s on Third
- Address: 8350 W 3rd St, 8350 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048-4311
- Working hours: Monday to Saturday: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm; Sunday: 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
- Telephone: (323) 655-2285
- Website: http://www.joansonthird.com
Joan’s on Third is a right place to visit while in Los Angeles. Its modern look from the outside, with glass windows that are allowing full view of the surroundings but hiding you from the outside world, serve as a shield from the busy street outside. But if you are more up for the open space, then their garden will fit your needs. While you are sitting by the table near the street, protected under a massive umbrella, you can watch the endless procession of passengers that are walking by.
The interior is quite modern, with high shelves all around the coffee shop, that offer various pastries that are simply inviting you to take a bite. The only remark we could find about Joana’s on the third is that they don’t have enough space to sit inside. The vast space indoors simply looks more like a pastry gallery then the actual place to spend a part of your day.
However, when you taste their coffee, everything is forgotten. Their coffee latte is a real work of art! The perfect amount of well roasted coffee seeds and rich flavor of milk will give you the energy for the whole day and make you forget the world around you. As a right companion to the coffee we recommend their hash browns that you will most certainly find rich in flavor and energizing for the start of the day.
If you are more up to for something fruity, their freshly squeezed orange juice will help you bring back your liveliness and cool you down during the hot summer days.
As far as the staff is concerned, the service is perfectly tuned with their offer. Staff is attentive and at your service at all times. You just have to give yourself in and try what Joan’s on the third has to offer.
9. Caffe Latte
- Address: 6254 Wilshire Boulevard, LA, CA 90048
- Working hours: Monday – Friday: 7:30AM – 7:00PM; Saturday – Sunday: 8:00AM – 2:30PM
- Telephone: 936-5213
- Website: https://www.caffelattela.com
This quaint little café is located in a row of stores in Central L.A. It has a 25 year old serving tradition as a staple café and a restaurant. It’s a perfect spot for a late afternoon weekend time with your loved ones.
Don’t let the regular looking interior fool you. The offer they have more then compensates. Before we get to the stuff, very important to mention Is the free parking you get right in front, which is virtually impossible in this part of town.
Now for the offer. As the name clearly states they specialize in coffee. What they have is a custom blend fresh roasted coffee which will make the coffee connoisseurs ask for more! They also specialize in espresso drinks, loose leaf tea, fruit smoothies, protein smoothies and of course freshly squeezed juices.
As far as the food goes, what distinguishes them from the rest is the vegan options for food and also an overall wide array of healthy stuff. For instance we should mention the salads especially spinach and Romaine Caesar and the Pear Mango Chicken Salad.
All in all the café latte has that old diner feel from back in the day. If you are visiting and looking for the old American feel, this is the right place for you!
8. The Coffee Co.
- Address: 8751 La Tijera Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045-3906
- Working hours: Work days: 7:00 am – 3:00 pm ; Weekend: 7:00 am – 3:30 pm
- Telephone: +1 310-645-7315
- Website: http://www.laxcoffeeco.com/
Located very near Los Angeles airport The Coffee Co. makes it convenient to grab a bite or a cup of coffee when you say your first “hello” to Los Angeles, or a last sad “goodbye”. The venue is designed in a quite old-fashioned manner, with its wooden chairs and tables that are jammed close to each other.
Their Iced mocha is here to help you recuperate from a long trip, and a perfectly made cappuccino is here to welcome you to the city. However, if you are up to plain and simple, one strong cup of espresso will bring you back in life. Because they care about the coffee they are serving as well as the customers, their coffee seeds are perfectly roasted and brewed and offer a whole new different view on well-known Arabica coffee seeds.
Grabbing a bite here now became a tradition for every experienced visitor of Los Angeles. They offer a wide range of dishes, Mediterranean, oriental as well as Continental dishes to meet every visitor’s desire. However, if you want to keep it simple and American, please do note that their sandwiches are more than enough to keep you full trough out the whole day.
On the other hand, we have to mention that the queue can be a real pain, but it is worth it to be patient because the experience of visiting The Coffee Co. will meet your expectations.
7. Menotti’s Coffee Stop
- Address: 56 Windward Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90291-4102
- Working hours: Monday to Sunday: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Telephone: +1 310-392-7232
- Website: http://www.coffeeveniceca.com/
Located in a Bohemian part of the Los Angeles, Menotti’s Coffee Stop is a real hidden gem among avenue of Venice that has been slowly making its reputation. From the outside, this shabby looking café is not giving the impression of something worth visiting. But, we early learned the pronoun about not judging the book by its covers, and Menotti’s Coffee Stop certainly confirms it.
As you enter the coffee shop, you will be able to witness a different story. Very simple, but yet a modern design is something that can be used to describe this coffee shop. Photographs of people and different places are hanging from white simple walls, and four old-fashioned wooden chairs and tables are here to greet a small group of visitors. That’s why you have to be patient in order to get seated.
However, when you take your seat and order their espresso, you will forget about the world and all your worries will be left behind. You can smell Menotti’s Coffee from mile away, and the taste of it does really meet the expectations.
This coffee shop will give you the choice to try their delicious cookies that will definitely rock your world. If you are asking about the service, we can only give you praises for the baristas who know what proper coffee is. Good job Menotti’s!
6. Javista Organic Coffee Bar
- Address: 56 Windward Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90291-4102
- Working hours: Monday to Sunday: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Telephone: +1 310-392-7232
- Website: http://javistacafe.com/
Javista Organic Coffee Bar represents the typical American coffee shop that can be found walking by the streets of Hollywood. Their big windows are not allowing much to see from the outside, but the guest inside will get the full access to the happenings on the street. As though the movie theatre is the venue itself and street is the movie.
The wooden tables and metal chairs are making a perfect combination of traditional and modern, hot and cold. And stripped walls with drawings on them are a perfect mix of raw energy and creativity. This coffee shop is the perfect introduction in to American culture for everyone who are meeting it for the first time.
If you decide to take a break in the Javista Organic Coffee Bar you will have the opportunity to taste one of the best cappuccinos out there. Their strongly brewed coffee seeds mixed with rich milk perfectly steamed and served into a coffee cup.
If you want to refresh yourself, the perfect choice for that is certainly freshly squeezed orange juice that will give you much energy to get through the morning.
About the staff we can’t say much other than the commendations. Line does get very long from time to time, given that a lot of people love this place for its charming appearance and the quality of service, but after a little bit of waiting the cup of coffee here is the perfect reward.
5. Urth Caffe
- Address: 267 S Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90212-3807
- Working hours: Monday to Thursday: 6:30 am – 11:30 pm ; Friday: 6:30 am – 12:00 am ; Saturday:
- 7:00 am – 12:00 am ; Sunday: 7:00 am – 11:00 pm
- Telephone: +1 310-205-9311
- Website: https://urthcaffe.com/
This café is on the perfect spot in the Los Angeles arts district. And to match its location, this venue’s interior is designed to meet the aesthetic eye of any customer. Within its brick walls you can find beautiful mosaic tiles that are perfectly combined into a piece of art, rather than just act as a simple decoration.
Vast space of the coffee shop seems even bigger with its enormous glass windows and doors, shaped to evoke the lost bohemian times. And within the shelves of the Urth Caffe you will find numerous products, perfectly placed to catch the eye of the viewer.
The selection of coffee that Urth cafe is offering is more than enough to meet the expectations of every coffee junkie out there. Especially if you know that their coffee is organic with strong and sweet flavor. You don’t even have to limit yourself to drinking it only in this café because they sell their coffee that you can drink at your place.
We do recommend their latte, which is rich in taste and it’s perfect for lazy afternoons. However, if you are hungry we will recommend you to take their egg with avocado sandwich with a salad or the cheesecake if you are more up for the sweet stuff.
The service is excellent, attentive and at your demand. All you have to do is just relax and enjoy!
4. The Cow’s End Cafe
- Address: 34 Washington Blvd, Venice Beach, Los Angeles, CA 90292-5124
- Working hours: Monday to Friday: 6:00 am – 9:30 pm ; Friday to Sunday: 6:00 am – 10:00 pm
- Telephone: +1 310-574-1080
- Website: http://www.thecowsendcafe.com
The Cow’s End Café is situated in a cowboy western looking black and white wooden building. The black and white represent the colors of a cow, and you cant miss it if you are searching for it just because there is a big black and white cow back end sticking out of the top middle of this wooden building.
The front of the café has big wide brown benches and tables that can seat a lot of people. The interior of the the building isn’t as cowboy looking as the exterior but it certainly bears some elements such as a bunch of cows at every corner of the venue. The non cow part of the interior is modern and comfortable.
The coffee that the Cow’s end café offers is just magnificent. We can write a novel about it, but we will try to keep it light and informative. You can take all their coffee drinks to go and they come in three different sizes medium, large and extra large. They offer the regular coffee with one free refill, café au lat which is, as you probably know, coffee with steamed milk. We can also recommend Mocha au lat and white mocha.
The espresso drinks come in two sizes and you can also take them to go. The sizes are called single and double. Out of these we can recommend macchiato which is marvelous, espresso con panna and espresso fresco. We are well aware that you can’t try them all but you might as well take a shot or a shooter which is their mix of darkest roast coffee with a shot of espresso.
You should also try the cappuccino with or without the cream, and of course the americano. A lot of the coffees also come in an iced version, if you are in the need for the summer refreshments, and LA does tend to get hot!
As for the other drinks, we can recommend their smoothies which you can drink flat or add some nutritional supplements such as vitamins and proteins various antioxidants etc. You should also try the freshly squeezed juice mixes which will fill you up with vitamins essential for the body.
We mustn’t forget the food of course. The bagels to start with are to die for. They come in all possible variations and mixes of sweet and the savory. Anything mixed with eggs is great for the breakfast but it is served all day so if you feel like eating an omelette in the afternoon feel free to order it at the Cow’s end café. They also offer very affordable and healthy salads like the Tuscan salad or the pesto Caesar salad.
And if your best dog friend is making your company, you can buy him a treat – doggy bones.
All in all we found the cow’s end café to be one of the most amusing cafes in LA because of its sassy look and a very well made menu. You should definitely drop by and try anything we mentioned, because we can guarantee you won’t be disappointed, on the contrary you will be greeted by the always smiling staff which are even now ready to take your order!
3. Toast Bakery Cafe
- Address: 8221 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048-4302
- Working hours: Monday to Sunday: 7:30 am – 6:00 pm
- Telephone: +1 323-655-5018
- Website: http://www.toastbakerycafe.net
There is nothing more ore less to say For the Toast Bakery Café then – amazing. From the moment you walk in to the moment you’re gone. First impression about this venue is guaranteed to be good, and the first impressions are usually the most important ones.
But the best thing about this place is certainly the food. On the terrace outside you can enjoy the view and eat their delicious Cobb salad with perfectly grilled chicken breast and avocado, as well as the hard-boiled egg with a sides of cherry tomato. Or you can try Tony’s salad with mixed greens topped with crumbled blue cheese and grilled chicken breasts.
As for the coffee, their cappuccino double is every coffee addict’s dream. If you are a fan of cream, for more than reasonable price you can get their conpane – espresso with whip cream. And without further ado, we will recommend their cheese cake, which is quite refreshing.
The staff is more than welcoming, your only occupation is just to try their goods.
2. The Griddle Cafe
- Address: 7916 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046-3304
- Working hours: Monday to Friday: 7:00 am – 4:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Telephone: +1 323-874-0377
- Website: http://www.thegriddlecafe.com/
The griddle café is located on the famous Sunset boulevard. Its plaint not so special exterior hides a welcoming old American diner mixed with a European café looking interior. The very hospitable and warm staff are well trained and prepared to serve the neediest customers.
Their coffee is micro roasted in a French press which means it comes out as the freshest cup of coffee you will ever drink. The French press takes a little bit more time to squeeze out the best taste out of the blend of coffee of your choosing, but that time is well spent and worth the wait. We can kindly recommend any of the following: The Griddle Caffe latte or cappuccino, caramel mocha or vanilla late, coconut Choco latte or the plain regular espresso.
If you are hungry you can choose a variety of foods depending on the time of day or your general interests – what you feel like eating today. They have funny names for their meals like the “Hear me roar” or the “BLUESberry” which are both, we might add, delicious. As for some stronger food, we can recommend burgers, any of the specialty sandwiches or the grilled chicken.
1. Porto’s Bakery & Cafe
- Address: 315 N Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203-2303
- Working hours: Monday to Saturday: 6:30 am – 8:00 pm ; Sunday: 7:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Telephone: +1 818-956-5996
- Website: http://www.portosbakery.com/
Porto’s bakery and café is located in Glendale and its famous for having the best deserts and takeaway coffee in town. First thing you will probably notice is the crow of people some patiently some impatiently waiting to get their shot of coffee or the best sweets out there. What that tells us that the wait is most certainly worth it because the quality you are waiting for is worth much more then money it costs.
First, we will go with the take out or sit in coffee. The list of the coffees offered would take us a long time to try it all, so we will try to bring to light only the best ones we had. The classic and always good americano is there if you are not up to testing or the murky waters of trying out something new, it doesn’t mean its bad, quite the contrary, its perfect in its simplicity.
If you are feeling more adventures try the Gourmet coffee, French roast or the red eye. If you want the sweeter kind, you can go for the hazelnut flavor, vanilla latte or the French vanilla all of which taste heavenly. And last but not least the house special Porto’s Cortadito will kick you back on track when those hard days come.
The food is simply put: delicious. There is a reason for the big line that can even sometimes go all the way up to the doors. If we would have to pick and choose out of all the things they offer, we would go for the Cuban sandwich and the chicken Croquetas de Pollo. Basically, you cant go wrong here, anything you order wont disappoint.
Don’t come here if you are in a great hurry, because you will almost always be greeted by a large line of people, but the same line only proves the great food and drinks this place has to offer. Great job for the guys at the Porto’s Bakery & Café!
Conclusion
The American continent is amazing by itself, and Los Angeles is the capital of artistic living, bohemian culture mixed with the modern man’s anxiety to make a living and to succeed. This is an ever-growing, fast city where everything changes with the speed of light. The coffee culture, as well, keeps the pace with the progress.
That’s why we decided to give you a whiff of ten best coffee shops in Los Angeles that are representing the perfect match between fast modern time and slow and calm culture of drinking coffee. If you are interested how Asia finds its own ways to give an old coffee a touch of modern look, you should definitely read our article about coffee shops in Bangkok, and, as for Europe, we talked a bit about coffee shops in Prague and Amsterdam.