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I have an occasional habit of going to get coffee with a friend on weeknights at the 101 Cafe (6145 Franklin Ave, right across from The Hollywood Tower). It's just so darn comfortable. And of course, it's open till around 3am, so it's a perfect Late Night Eats spot. Attached to a mighty fancier than normal, even kind of hip, Best Western hotel, the 101 Cafe has a true retro feel, complete with a Brady Bunch-esque rock wall and wood-grain formica surfaces, but it's all done in a relaxed kind of way that doesn't seem cheesy. There are no bright colors like at Ruby's or Johnny Rocket's, and the waitresses aren't dressed up or singing at tables for peoples' birthdays. There's also an excellent jukebox with oldies and indie rock, and currently there are some Jack-O-Lanterns hanging around, adding to the ambiance.
I went around midnight this past Friday night, (in the rain), after early drinks at 4100 Bar, to snap some nighttime photos and enjoy the Mikey Fitz, which is a breakfast order of two eggs, either sausage or bacon, and silver dollar pancakes. It's enough to split between two folks if you're just snack-ish and not ravenous:
The best thing about the 101 Cafe is that the food, although it's basically just diner food, (as it appears above), is actually better than your typical diner food. The ingredients must just be better, or maybe it's the recipes, because the breakfast food especially is not the average Denny's fare. Both the regular coffee and cappuccinos are good, which is unusual for a diner, in my opinion, and I'm basically a cappuccino snob. The egg creams are excellent too, just stir them up a little. (Remember Harriet The Spy used to drink those?) The BLT's are awesome and the cheeseburger is quite good as well.
Parking can be tough sometimes, (especially if you go for lunch on a Saturday!), but the cafe actually has a decent-sized parking lot of its own and when it was full, I have snagged spots a couple times around the corner on Vista Del Mar Ave. I'd also like to add that I've had random musician sightings at the 101, including Serge Tankian of System of a Down and the entire Motion City Soundtrack altogether at a table. (...Dispelling the myth that it's a hipster cafe?)
So the next time you're out late and you want to grab something somewhere cozy, the 101 Cafe is definitely the spot. Maybe I'll see you there.
101 Cafe
6145 Franklin Ave
Phone: (323) 467-1175
Open till 3am
Cash or charge, takeout available.
All photos by Jiwon Hong for LAist
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It's good if uneven. I think breakfast is their best meal. I like the sweet potato fries. The wine sucks. The waitresses are friendly. It's been remodeled slightly and changed ownership since "Swingers" was filmed there when it was called Hollywood Hills Cafe. The part over by the juke box used to be a sort of mini comedy club one or two nites a week before the change. The food at Victor's a couple blocks away is better but lots pricier and you don't get the juke box and the edgier patrons. I've seen Minnie Driver, William H. Macy and Felicity Huffman at 101.
I love this place. It is always a nice place to go after a show at the Fonda. How I miss thee...
i really, really, really wanted to like this place, but after three tries... meh.
Mediocre to bad service, so-so food, burnt/old coffee.
Sorry, but I'm not feeling it on this one.
Nice job getting the ambiance, Simone! I like their eggs benedict.
Its all about the sweet potato fries. their cappuccinos do rock, indeed
this place is pretty relaxed. the time i had the opportunity to dine here, i saw karen o from the yeah yeah yeahs and comedian david cross hanging out.
I love the 101, and the wife and I usually hit it up from an early dinner on Fridays before heading out...
They have seriously some of the best pancakes around.