The Best Cafes in Los Angeles

Though I took a small break from coffee consumption, I remain a fan of the cafe setting. I’m slowly rebuilding my tolerance for high-octane. But even with my current one-cup-per-day regimen, I can fully enjoy and experience the beautiful places LA offers. Keep in mind all of these are subjective and my preference alone. But I am pretty discerning with my pallet, and I have visited a lot of cafes. So. Am I an expert? I’ll let you decide. 

Friends and Family is a hidden gem cafe. It’s well-known and highly trafficked. But there’s always an open seat and plenty of pastries in the case. They make all their baked goods in-house and have a full breakfast and lunch options menu. The operation in the front is efficient and friendly. While I’m partial to sweets, I have also had some of the food from their kitchen. The bread is excellent, the eggs are well-cooked, and it feels wholesome. I return for the baked goods, though. The scones are one of my favorite morning treats in the city. The blue corn scone is one of a kind. But I’ve also sampled the croissants, muffins, and everything else during my many visits here. The coffee is lackluster. They definitely maintain quality, but it could improve just a bit. Overall, if I have a choice for a lazy morning after a hard workout, I’m going to F&F. It’s low-key and a little buzzy at the same time. 

Dayglow is magnificent. I have known about this legendary shop far before my first visit. With all of their clout, I fully expected an ego behind the service. But the experiences I’ve had there is the exact opposite of pretentious. Dayglow feels like home. Their menu is advanced for the average coffee drinker. But the employees are all happy to explain and enthusiastically walk you through the options. They want to share great coffee with people. Pastry selections at Dayglow include vegan donuts and a few odds and ends sourced from local bakers. But the star player here really is the coffee. You can order pour-overs of different pricing based on the beans used. They also offer various espresso and milk options and drip coffee. The drip coffee order comes with a refill, too, which is a massive rarity in shops around the city. I love everything about Dayglow. It’s never crazy packed, but there’s always a friendly little hip vibe. If you’re looking for one of the (if not THE) best quality cups of coffee, then I highly recommend a visit.

Canyon is mega hip. If you arrive here after 9am, good luck finding a seat. As a guy put off by anything with hype, please trust me…THIS ONE IS WORTH IT. The customer service is absolutely spectacular. Downright sweet individuals engage you in conversation while you order your beverage. I felt welcome the moment I walked in. They offer free refills with drip coffee too! But it’s also FANTASTIC coffee. The other highlight is their pastry selection. A wide variety of bread, scones, and cookies are made by Mitra Kim, who is insanely good at what she does. The scones, banana bread, and anything else is to die for. My advice? They open at 7am. Go then. Go on a Monday. Sit and soak in the beautiful atmosphere as the sun bathes and begins to creep through the massive windows. It’ll make your entire day.

Bricks and Scones

Sometimes you want to escape the chaos of this city. Everywhere is hype, and the crowds make you feel like you will explode. After my fortè into croissants, I gained an extreme affinity for scones. So my finding this place served to scratch both the itch of a need for a quiet dining room and a beautifully baked scone. Bricks and Scones Cafe is located a block from Larchmont Village. It’s a vast mansion-like building with many tables and lounge chairs. The atmosphere is more akin to a library than a cafe. But it’s always silent. You can sit in the ambient lighting enjoying a perfect cup of tea, coffee, or whatever else. Picking at a matcha scone or even indulging in an avocado toast or panini. The coffee is so-so. But the scones are fantastic. It’s not amazing by any means. But it is quiet, cute, reliable, and far from the norm. It’s a vacation.

Sycamore is right on La Brea and always has a crowd. But again…so worth the hype. The first time I visited was out of pure curiosity. But I returned the day after because the high from my experience was too good not to chase. I don’t think this is technically a cafe. It’s definitely an order-at-the-counter situation. They bake all of their own pastries and offer fantastic coffee. But they also have a menu of gourmet food options to satisfy your urge for an indulgent brunch. My vote for best overall pastries in LA at a cafe is probably going to Sycamore Kitchen. Their selection is vast and incredibly diverse. On my first visit, I ordered a blueberry oat crumble cake. It was about the size of a muffin and looked like a deep-dish cookie. Upon my first bite, I realized the culinary genius I was experiencing. It was like a perfect slice of blueberry pie. On my second visit, I ordered a scone (of course), and it was equally magnificent. Sycamore is quintessential. If you have Family in town or you’re visiting and want something hip but not overplayed, this is the one. 

Add Kitchen Mouse to the short list of shops that genuinely welcome you. Visiting this little Highland Park bakery is like having coffee and cookies in Disneyland without all the insanity. The room is so beautifully decorated and brightly colored. Inviting is the perfect adjective to describe this place from start to finish. The bakery and cafe location is relatively new. Still, the group has had a restaurant located on Figueroa for years. Everything on the menu is vegan. But even the biggest dessert or pastry snobs (points at self) will be pleased by their talent and baking prowess. The carrot cake is some of the best I’ve ever had. But the croissant was also so impressive. Nailing a vegan croissant is a challenging task. Nailing a regular croissant is a difficult task! So my being able to describe theirs as “buttery” is something I think deserves recognition. The coffee is excellent, and they also offer refills. This a perfect example of a place with a reputation that could be pretentious but goes out of its way to welcome guests. Delicious, beautiful, happy. I’d be there most mornings if it weren’t a little out of my way. This is a place for anyone and everyone. You’ll all be happy.

Bar Nine is mega fancy. For the upper-echelon coffee enthusiast, this is hands down the one I recommend. It’s located near the Culver City arts district in an ample industrial space. They roast their coffee and offer a unique take on your everyday coffee experience. All the flavors are unique, and it’s a “choose your own adventure” type of situation based on your desired flavor profile. 

The menu is like a curated chef’s blackboard. I ordered a filter coffee which gives a customer “two rounds” or small mugs full of brew. The brew was beautifully balanced and delicious. Some of the best I’ve had. It was also robust, so take it slow if you have a lower caffeine tolerance. Bar Nine offers bagels and various delicious house-made pastries. They also have another location called Bar Ten in Mar Vista. To scratch the fancier coffee itch, this is your stop. It’s just one of a kind.

I’m not a fan of takeaway-only establishments under normal circumstances. But Super Domestic is always a lovely experience. While I frequent the one in the Culver Arts district, they also have a branch in Culver City. This humble cafe has some of the best drip coffee I’ve had in LA. They offer a small menu of breakfast and brunch options like bagels and avocado toast. They also source pastries from a few local wholesale bakers and serve ice cream. It’s a great place. The employees are incredibly kind and enthusiastic. I’ve had great conversations with a few that felt genuine rather than forced. It’s just a great vibe. For a really fantastic cup of coffee that’s also accessible and fast, this is the one. 

Maybe I’m biased because they sold my cookies here…but the coffee is lovely. Morning Service is technically a showroom for high-end coffee equipment. It’s located off the bike path in Frog Town, which is impossible to find if you aren’t looking. But the place is unique and beautiful, with an inviting atmosphere and vibe. I wanted to work with them for a reason. You can sit outside the industrial space on a nice day, listening to their well-curated playlists. The sun shines as you sip a perfectly poured latte or filter coffee. It’s an accessible space that feels really cool and kind of secret. They also have some pastries by Bread Lounge and breakfast burritos. 

This is another mini-vacation spot. It has all of the trappings of a beautiful LA cafe without all the bullshit.