Los Angeles is one of the biggest and most diverse cities in the world, and it’s never lacked cafés! Whether they’re located on the serene beaches or in the alleys of downtown LA, there has always been countless places to choose from. In recent years there has been an even bigger push toward a focus on quality. Similar to the city’s progress in the food scene, LA has also slowly evolved into one of the best cities in the world for specialty coffee. Take a look at this list of LA’s specialty coffee shops.
Common Room Roasters
- IG: @commonroomroasters
- Location: 882 Production Pl, Newport Beach, CA 92663
- Why we love them: Melbourne-style cafe and roastery featuring award-winning coffee and a beautiful fitout.
- Main features/must try: House made and bottled cold brew coffee and Prana Chai.
Raised in Melbourne. Roasted in California. Common Room Roasters is an architect-designed, purpose-built, open plan roastery. With dedicated espresso and filter tasting bars, barista training academy, open air atrium seating and great music, its a slice of Melbourne's coffee scene right here in Orange County. Established in 2016.
The Butcher's Daughter
- IG: @thebutchersdaughter_official
- Location: 1205 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
- Why we love them: a beautifully-designed high ceiling, industrial decor and eco-friendly vegetarian cafe.
- Main features/must try: Extensive and healthy brunch menu and the Wellness Chai Latte.
The team opened the first restaurant in New York in 2010. The idea was to establish a simple juice bar. They then launched their LA location (the third in the US!) to further grow the community and culture that had sprung up around The Butcher's Daughter. Healthy vegetarian cuisine with a unique concept: the vegetable slaughterhouse!
Established in 2015.
Bardonna
- IG: @bardonnala
- Location: 1601 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403
- Why we love them: Great food and beautiful cafes in multiple locations.
- Main features/must try: Specialty seasonal superfood drinks.
First of all, the coffee here is amazing. Try their specialty drinks like the Sea Salt Cold Brew or the Honey Vanilla Latte. They offer milk alternatives ranging from cashew to oat milk that are amazing with Prana Chai. Everything on the menu is served all day long.
Gjusta
- IG: @gjustabakery
- Location: 320 Sunset Ave, Venice, CA 90291
- Why we love them: Full bakery and cafe with great food and back patio.
- Main features/must try: Any of their sandwiches on fresh-baked bread.
Gjusta opened in the late Fall of 2014 as a commissary kitchen providing bread and other products for Gjelina Group’s other restaurants, Gjelina and GTA, but quickly grew to be much more. Gjusta is a California deli, bakery, café, and market, influenced by traditional East Coast delicatessens, European markets, and Parisian bakeries.
Gjusta sources nearly all of its fresh produce directly from SoCal farmers, and most of the meat and seafood from local ranchers, fishermen, and co-ops. The team at Gjusta shop at five different farmers’ markets throughout the week and receive deliveries daily, ensuring they always have fresh produce. Their relationships with vendors are paramount, as they are not only mutually beneficial, but work to enact positive change in our communal contemporary food-sourcing methods.
Wide Eyes Open Palms
- IG: @wideeyesopenpalms
- Location: 416 Cherry Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802
- Why we love them: Long time Prana Chai supporters, great people and great food.
- Check the menu here
Wide Eyes Open Palms, aka WEOP, is a specialty coffee shop and cafe with a focus on seasonality. All pastries are baked in house each morning. The driving force behind this vision is Kat Laukat-McIver and Angie Evans. Both owners have over a decade of experience in the service industry and always knew that they wanted to create a coffee shop of their own to share their unique visions and gifts with the Long Beach community.
Sourcing produce from farmers they know, that is grown as locally as possible, and using the highest quality and organic ingredients is paramount for them!
Bread is sourced locally and made daily. All pastries are made in-house and use organic ingredients. They use Clover Organic Milk and housemade Almond Milk for milk-based drinks. All packaging is compostable, and they also compost coffee, tea and food waste at local farms. WEOP always strive to source the highest quality organic and local ingredients. Why? Knowing where the food comes from and preparing it with love is important to them.
Established in 2013.
