Whether you’re a real estate agent, screenwriter, entrepreneur, student or struggling actor, everyone in LA has his or her favorite coffee shop – and takes coffee seriously. Here are The Agency’s personal picks for the 10 best coffee shops in this buzzing metropolis.
Incredibly chic and yet still with a warm atmosphere, Alfred is a must-stop coffee shop close to the Beverly Center. The snacks and pastries are excellent, and the Stumptown coffee they brew is superb. Plus, it’s a great spot to people watch; this is fashion central, near many of the city’s best clothing boutiques.
Right across from a popular new oyster bar, and minutes from a busy dog park and reservoir, this Silver Lake favorite is ideal for the lover of true gourmet coffee. The coffee boutique that not only taps into the artisan coffee craze, with all sorts of specialized glass-wear, beakers and pour/drip methods – it’s also a great place to have lunch or a work meeting too.
3. Brighton Coffee Shop, Beverly Hills
Brighton is a tiny old school coffee shop in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Beverly Hills. Their coffee and food are delicious, and almost every time you go in, you’re sure to see celebrities chilling ingonito. A few of our recent spottings include: Matthew Broderick, Emmy Rossum, Emile Hirsch and Lone Survivor author Marcus Luttrell.
Another artisan coffee spot, this Brentwood favorite has a real community vibe. In addition to making incredible lattes, they host all sorts of art events, from short film presentations to live music to contemporary art exhibitions. And of course, don’t miss their infamous latte art showdown.
Culver City is certainly not short on coffee shops, but Bar Nine stands out. Zayde Naquib and Jereme Pitts deliver an exceptional product, and their store is “designed to showcase every aspect of coffee production: from green storage to roasting and packaging to the intricacies of extraction.” It’s well worth a stop next time you’re in the neighborhood.
This unassuming spot on Little Santa Monica is one of the best places in LA for an espresso. The small shop, with friendly husband and wife owners, take pride in their espresso, and some of the best chefs in town regularly stop by here for a “shot.”
7. Swingers
We had to include at least one LA diner in this list. With locations in both Los Angeles (near the 101) and Santa Monica, Swingers is a low-key diner where you can enjoy a good, old-school cup of coffee at the bar. This isn’t part of the fancy artisan trend that’s sweeping LA. It’s just good hot coffee, a pleasant atmosphere, and great service.
Right around the corner from Rudy’s Barbershop – a fellow Seattle import – Caffe Vita opened on Sunset Boulevard in 2013. With two stories of seating and a strong cold brew always on tap, Vita is a light-filled coffee shop serving its own single-origin and blend coffees roasted in Seattle.
The delicious Coffee Commissary is located next to butcher shop Lindy & Grundy in a mixed-use building on Fairfax. It specializes in pour-overs and espressos made with top-notch blends, and the atmosphere is casual and friendly. Plus, there’s free Wi-Fi.
10. Intelligentsia, Sunset Junction
This hipster haven, which originated in Chicago, opened their first LA shop in Silver Lake in 2007, and now they have locations in Venice and Pasadena, too. The sunshine-filled patio, eye-catching blue tile, vest-wearing baristas, and artisan coffee (hot and iced), draw the young creative set here on a daily basis. Expect lines.
