LA has an extreme number of cafes. While a few are fantastic, the majority are merely decent, and a handful are complete rip-offs. I went to various places for several months and these 12 are the ones that I really get back to.
Short Answer
The best coffee shops in Los Angeles are Verve Coffee Roasters, Go Get Em Tiger, Blue Bottle Coffee, Intelligentsia, Barista Parlor, and Endorffeine. Most are located in Downtown LA, the Arts District, Silver Lake, and Koreatown.
12 Best Cafés in Los Angeles
1. Verve Coffee Roasters (Downtown LA)
Address: 833 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
The place where Verve operates downtown is this very big old building that looks like it has been made out of concrete and has very large windows. Their pour-over coffee? Really good. Like, you’ll notice the difference from Starbucks immediately.
Tons of people show up with laptops around 9am. There’s a giant shared table that usually has space. They get pastries delivered from other bakeries in LA each morning. WiFi is fast.
My coffee always comes out the same which is why I keep going back. An espresso, honey latte, or any other coffee – they just make it perfectly. That consistency reminds me of Seattle’s best coffee shops where quality control is everything.
2. Barista Parlor (Silver Lake)
Address: 3201 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
This place has exposed brick and old chairs that are actually comfortable. They roast beans in-house. The single-origin options rotate every few weeks.
Their breakfast sandwich is surprisingly good. Better than it should be for a cafe. Saturdays and Sundays get packed, but Tuesday afternoons? You’ll probably be alone.
Street parking only. But if you’re in the area, stop by.
Check our recent Guide on : Coffee Shops in San Francisco
3. Go Get Em Tiger (Multiple Locations)
Address: 230 N Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004 (Larchmont location)
GGET has a few locations now. The Larchmont one is my favorite because it’s spacious and has outdoor tables. They work directly with coffee farms.
Everyone orders the Gibraltar (it’s a cortado in a specific type of glass). Their almond milk is homemade and doesn’t taste watery. The matcha is good too.
Food includes avocado toast, pastries, grain bowls. Nothing crazy but everything’s fresh. Like the best cafes in Denver, sometimes you just want reliable coffee without drama.
4. Café Dulce (Little Tokyo)
Address: 134 Japanese Village Plaza Mall, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Hidden in Little Tokyo’s plaza. They make honey lavender lattes and rose cappuccinos. Sounds like it could be gross but it’s not.
Here’s a more subtle version:
The Japanese pastries are legit. Only problem is seating – maybe 15 people fit, which reminds me of some of the best coffee shops in Austin with their cozy setups. Lunch rush means taking your drink elsewhere.
Perfect when you’re walking around Little Tokyo and want something besides basic coffee.
5. Hello Kitty Cafe (Pop-up Locations)
Address: Check website for schedule
This isn’t a real cafe. It’s a truck that moves around LA. When it shows up somewhere, lines get long. Sometimes an hour wait.
Everything has Hello Kitty on it. Pink drinks, character macarons, special boxes. Expensive? Yes. But you’re paying for photos and the experience.
Check their website first because they’re never in the same spot twice.
6. Blue Bottle Coffee (Arts District)
Address: 582 Mateo St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Blue Bottle took over a warehouse in the Arts District. High ceilings, lots of space, very LA. Coffee is consistently good with lighter roasts.
I always get the New Orleans iced coffee. It’s a cold brew with chicory and milk. Weird combo but tastes amazing. They also sell bags of beans and fresh pastries.
Mornings are busy but the line moves. Never waited more than 10 minutes even when packed.
7. Intelligentsia Coffee (Silver Lake)
Address: 3922 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029
Chicago coffee shop that came to LA. Silver Lake location is clean with a patio. They sometimes do coffee classes here.
Espresso is smooth, never bitter. They rotate seasonal coffees and give you detailed notes on each one. Food is just pastries.
Parking is easier here than other Silver Lake cafes. Good afternoon spot.
8. Botanica (Silver Lake)
Address: 1620 Silver Lake Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Plants. Everywhere. Hanging from ceiling, in corners, on tables. Big windows facing Silver Lake Boulevard let in tons of light.
They use Equator beans. Menu has turmeric lattes, beetroot lattes, plus normal coffee. Food is healthy – vegan and gluten-free stuff that doesn’t taste like cardboard.
Good for working or hanging out. Looks cool if you care about that.
9. Cafecito Organico (Echo Park)
Address: 2819 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Organic Mexican coffee. Echo Park location feels like a neighborhood spot because it is. Staff remembers regulars.
Mexican mocha uses real chocolate and cinnamon. Not syrup. Fresh pastries and breakfast items. Prices won’t kill you like some places.
Not many seats inside. Benches outside work when the weather’s nice. Feels real, not trying to be trendy.
10. Dayglow (Venice)
Address: 1534 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90291
Coffee in the morning, wine at night. On Abbot Kinney so it’s always busy. Space is big and bright.
Coffee from LA roasters. Staff knows their stuff. Food menu is bigger than typical cafes – real salads, sandwiches, seasonal plates.
Venice weekends are crazy but they have room. Works from morning to evening.
11. Endorffeine (Koreatown)
Address: 3213 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020
Best cafe in Koreatown. Super minimal – white walls, wood accents. Coffee is excellent. They do Korean specialty drinks.
Bingsu (Korean shaved ice) shows up in summer. Gets packed on weekends but people don’t camp out forever.
Parking in Ktown sucks. Give yourself extra time. Coffee makes up for it.
12. Zinc Café & Market (Arts District)
Address: 580 Mateo St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
More restaurants than cafes but coffee holds up. Arts District location has a huge patio. Coffee is strong and balanced.
Food menu is big. All-day breakfast, salads, lunch stuff. Everything is made in-house and fresh.
French cafe vibe with pastries and setup. Go if you want coffee but might want food too.
Quick Look
| Café | Area | Why | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verve | Downtown | Pour-over, work space | Warehouse feel |
| Barista Parlor | Silver Lake | Own beans | Old furniture |
| Go Get Em Tiger | Larchmont | Gibraltar drink | Modern, big |
| Café Dulce | Little Tokyo | Unique flavors | Tiny spot |
| Blue Bottle | Arts District | Reliable | Industrial |
| Intelligentsia | Silver Lake | Smooth espresso | Clean |
| Botanica | Silver Lake | Plants | Natural light |
| Cafecito | Echo Park | Cheap, organic | Local vibe |
| Dayglow | Venice | All day | Bright |
| Endorffeine | Koreatown | Korean style | Minimal |
| Zinc | Arts District | Food + coffee | Restaurant size |
Before You Go
Parking: Most don’t have lots. Street parking or paid lots nearby. Downtown and Arts District usually have paid options.
When: 8-10am weekdays are packed. Try 2-4pm instead.
Laptops: Some limit use during busy times. Call first if you plan to work for hours.
Payment: Most take cards. Some smaller ones prefer cash or have minimums.
Why These Work
These cafes get the basics right. Good beans, trained baristas, comfortable spaces. Some are big warehouses (Downtown, Arts District). Some have vintage stuff (Silver Lake). Koreatown brings Korean minimal design.
Your favorite depends on location, coffee preference, and vibe you want. Each LA neighborhood has its own style.
Bottom Line
These 12 stay consistently good. Need breakfast? Workspace? Just coffee? Something here works.
Downtown cafes give you work space. Hello Kitty is for the experience. Koreatown shows how neighborhoods create different coffee scenes.
Try a few and see what fits. Each brings something different.
