The 25 best coffee shops in Los Angeles

Go Get Em Tiger is the growing coffee empire by Kyle Glanville and Charles Babinski, a duo whose original G&B Coffee stall just so happens to be its own staple at Grand Central Market. With eight locations currently running throughout the city, Go Get Em Tiger has fast become a hometown chain with consistency, but with enough charm and nuance at each outpost to keep things fresh. Customers can choose from to-go goods and grab-and-go bottles of house-made cold brew, or take a patio seat to take in the funky, fun spaces with pastries, brunchy bites and retail items. Our pick? Try the almond and macadamia milk cappuccino.

Santa Cruz's Verve expanded to L.A. in a big way—especially in its new-ish Arts District location, a 7,000-square-foot, two-story café and coffee roastery that's now the L.A. flagship. The all-day menu here features a flexible kind of global cuisine, not to mention a handful of truly good coffee-based mocktails exclusive to that space. (Cascara negronis, anyone?) Of course no matter the location—Manhattan Beach, Melrose, West Third and Downtown, too—you'll find the signature Verve menu of espresso classics, nitro cold brews, by-the-cup varieties and a few comforting snacks, plus beans available for purchase, along with other home coffee staples like filters and pour-over systems, not to mention an entire system based on farmer support and sustainability. All L.A. locations are available for takeout and online pre-order.

Menotti’s Coffee Stop—emphasis on the "stop"—feels like a friendly refuge from its locations' touristy bustles: the neighboring Venice Boardwalk and a trendy enclave in Culver City. The interiors are all welcoming but spartan, with most of the attention focused on the bean selection. You won’t find much seating, but you will find records spinning on vinyl and plenty of fun and on-trend house creations. So consider your brief "stop" and that espresso tonic to-go a dose of tranquility to tote along the Boardwalk.

After popping up at Smorgasburg, this novice-friendly specialty coffee brand has gone brick-and-mortar on Melrose Avenue, where patrons can enjoy Be Bright's ultra-refreshing, slightly sweet signature drinks, like the Vivid Cream Latte, without braving the open-air food event's notoriously long lines. Though owners Frank and Michelle La can still be found at ROW DTLA every week on Sundays, those who visit the tiny Melrose café will find their beverage experience pleasantly upgraded with real glasses (for those dining in), access to Wi-Fi and free parking in the adjacent lot shared with Ronan. As of 2024, Frank La is also the number one barista in America. For coffee aficionados who turn up their noses at dessert-esque beverages, fear not: Unlike Starbucks, you can actually taste the java in Be Bright's sweeter drinks, and the standard drinks are actually good.

Housed in a former dry cleaners, How’s It Going to End? is the latest specialty coffee shop by Michelle and Ben Hantoot, the founders of Silver Lake’s Dinosaur Coffee. The stylish, destination-worthy café seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor space and offers a small parking lot, plus plenty of street parking. Unlike most new coffee shops, HIGTE (as it’s often abbreviated as) forgoes trendy, complicated drinks in favor of well-executed standards. Quiche and pastries from Friends & Family and Gooey Center Bakery round out HIGTE’s food and drink offerings. Be sure to make a trip to the restroom: The couple have turned the space’s old industrial-sized laundry vent in the ceiling into an art installation that glows bright red.

Stradling Historic Filipinotown and Echo Park, Bloom & Plume is a gathering space for both neighborhoods—and communities beyond. The Black-owned, Black-uplifting café celebrates diversity, Blackness and community through its art, its collaborations and its entire purpose: Conveying—and proving—the South African belief of ubuntu, or "I am, because you are," meaning that everyone and everything is connected in community. It also happens to serve consistent and colorful espresso, matcha and chai creations, not to mention vibrant toasts, lemonades and floral arrangements to brighten your day.

This spacious and stylish coffee destination is busy no matter the time of day—no surprise, seeing as it’s one of Highland Park’s top shops to grab a cup and a croissant, now with locations in Downtown L.A and Studio CIty. The original outpost's tall ceilings, tiled floors and diverse seating options spread between tables, couches and a patio out back make for a fashionable setting, while the toasts, breakfast burritos, and Sugarbloom Bakery pastries make for a solid meal. The espresso blend rotates frequently, but teas and specialty coffee drinks remain more or less the same. We love the Figueroa, made with sweetened condensed milk, espresso, milk and cinnamon, topped with a Maria Cookie. 

This charming Historic Filipinotown café offers all-day fare that's worth lingering over—already an easy feat, given the free Wi-Fi and creative coffee there, too. Small-batch, seasonal pastries like passion fruit pie with graham cracker crust; pecan and caramel coffee cake; and blackberry rhubarb galettes are so good you won't want to share, and go great with pour-over coffee and specials like vanilla-and-orange cappuccinos. Looking for something more substantial? A casual menu of rice bowls, breakfast sandwiches and toasts should do the trick, and if you want to bring the magic home, Doubting Thomas has its own blend of beans—as well as house-made concentrates for matcha, chai and beyond—which you can buy on-site.

With an emphasis on freshly roasted Colombian specialty coffee, Andres Piñeros's mini-chain of coffee shops has brought its delicious, freshly prepared coffee and plant-filled, minimalist cafés to Redondo Beach, Culver City, Westchester and Pasadena—with another outpost soon to open in Sherman Oaks. No matter which location you visit, the beans at Boy & the Bear get roasted three times a week, which makes a major difference in the quality of each cup. All four cafés also have Wi-Fi, charging outlets and at least a few couches, and the Redondo Beach flagship has the most space and outdoor seating.

Named after a competitive French cycling term, this small bike-friendly coffee shop in Culver City offers excellent breakfast burritos, market-priced single-origin matcha and a deep commitment to the surrounding community. Super Domestic's larger Washington Boulevard sister spot, Mañana Coffee, also sells a bevy of plants and other assorted artisan goods. Both coffee shops roast their own beans and make all alternative milks and syrups in-house, for quality you can taste in every sip. 

In 2018, Yonnie Hagos and Ajay Relan first opened in the historically Black neighborhood of View Park-Windsor Hills, hoping to help locals connect, caffeinate and continue the climb towards success. Since then, after being featured on HBO's Insecure, the coffee shop is now backed by showrunner Issa Rae, who's helped Hilltop expand to Inglewood, Eagle Rock and Downtown. The extensive coffee and tea selection, including a delicious lavender latte, make Hilltop one of the best places to grab an espresso-based drink in the city, while the simple all-day menu of grain bowls, sandwiches and “droptops” (fully loaded toasts) provide sustenance for those hoping to stick around and get some work done. The South L.A. and Eagle Rock locations have plenty of tables and a few charging outlets apiece, while the Inglewood shop’s lofted couch seating is more conducive to casual morning or afternoon hangs. 

What's in a name? Well for Mad Lab, one of L.A.’s top roasters, the name says it all. From locations in Culver City, Hollywood and Mid-City, the team loves experimenting with seasonal, creative ingredients that morph their naturally fruity and sweet coffee beans into wild "fizzy lifters"—seriously good and bubbly caffeinated concoctions—and specialty drinks such as the amazingly balanced dreamsicle cappucino. At the Hollywood window, simply stroll up and order from the menu or let whoever's behind the counter whip something up special for you while you nosh on fresh Clark Street pastries.

Formerly a private home, Aroma Coffee & Tea Company transformed itself into a darling café where you can grab a coffee, slice of cake or full-on meal. The expansive coffee and tea menu caters to everyone, from the espresso lover to the chai-latte enthusiast. Inside the cafe, a library-like atmosphere—complete with fireplace—makes it feel like you’re chilling at home, while outside is more casual with a back patio and some tables on the front sidewalk. Our favorite time to visit? Brunch, when omelettes and French toast galore get shuttled out of the kitchen to chic Valley dwellers.