We Asked ‘What’s Your Favorite Coffee Shop?’ You Told Us. Here’s Our List Of Locally Curated Sipping Joints

Whenever I move to a new place, finding a good coffee shop is almost compulsory.
Before leaving El Sereno, I practically lived off Tierra Mia Coffee because the atmosphere was perfect for studying and the horchata frappe filled me with nostalgia.
Frequenting a coffee shop can be like having a favorite bar: The barista will eventually memorize your name, and you’ll get that infamous question — “the regular?” — that lets you know this coffee shop is now your local digs.
If you’re looking for a new brew somewhere in this vast region, here’s where Angelenos say to check out, courtesy of our newsroom's public affairs show, AirTalk.
Nearby Downtown And The Eastside

Burrito Break: “It’s more of a breakfast spot, but they make an amazing Cafe de Olla. Whole milk and half and half pair great with it!” said Claudia from downtown.
- Address: 888 W. 7th Street Los Angeles, CA 90071
- Hours: Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Holy Grounds Coffee & Tea: “Holy Grounds is a local coffee shop in El Sereno with a welcoming staff and a serene garden space to enjoy your drink,” said Nate from Hollywood. “If you’re looking for extra caffeine, they’ve got a Ojo Rojo with a shot of espresso added to their house brew.” (There’s also a “not-so-secret secret menu.”)
- Address: 5371 Alhambra Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90032
- Hours: Weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Bloom & Plume Coffee: “Amazing coffee, chill vibes, beautiful cups! It’s a cool, Black-owned business. Had a latte there on the day of my first vaccine shot and it was so good I called on the drive home to tell ‘em it was the best latte of my life,” said David from Eagle Rock.
- Address: 1638 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026
- Hours: Everyday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Nice Coffee: “It is just a kiosk with a small counter, but Elliot, the owner, and Alissa, the long-time barista, are the best. We talk dogs, music, theatre, whatever,” said Ruth in Los Feliz.
- Address: 555 S. Flower Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071
- Hours: Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Northeast L.A.

The Village Bakery And Cafe: “During the pandemic they stayed open and were a rallying point in the neighborhood. They know my kids and my dog. I’m so appreciative of their welcoming atmosphere in my neighborhood,” said Emily in Atwater Village.
- Address: 3119 Los Feliz Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90039
- Hours: Everyday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The San Gabriel Valley

Café de Leche: “Café de Leche in Highland Park and Altadena are great Latino coffee shops. I usually get the cold brew, but the horchata is good too. They have other Latino specialties,” said Maria in Altadena.
- Address: 2477 N. Lake Avenue, Altadena, CA 91001
- Hours: Everyday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ground Up Coffee: “I go there for their wellness tea. It has turmeric, ginger and other things that just make you feel good,” said George from Montebello.
- Address: 871 N. Garfield Avenue, Montebello, CA 90640
- Hours: Everyday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Jones Coffee Roasters: “It's a wonderful hangout, and they grind their own coffee. It's delicious,” said Barbara in Pasadena. (Pro-tip: Many of the KPCC/LAist staff also recommend Jones, which is a five-minute walk from the building.)
- Address: 693 S. Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105
- Hours: Everyday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Lost Parrot Cafe: “[The cafe] is my favorite. It’s dog-friendly and has a great vibe to get you some avocado toast,” said Margo in South Pasadena.
- Address: 1929 Huntington Drive, South Pasadena, CA 91030
- Hours: Everyday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Rad Coffee: “[It’s a] really good punk rock atmosphere. The coffee is good quality. Very affordable,” said Olivia in Azusa.
- Address: 145 Citrus Avenue, Covina, CA 91723
- Hours: Everyday from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m.
West L.A.
Mavro Kafe: “I love the vegan matcha drinks, and the owner Nicos is wonderful,” said Michelle from Mar Vista.
- Address: 12224 Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90066
- Hours: Everyday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
MillCross: “They make their own cold brews and syrups. Everything is just so artisan. Small little place, but always making up new recipes,” said Grace in Culver City.
- Address: 11050 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90232
- Hours: Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The South Bay

The Boy & The Bear: “[It] has fantastic quality coffee. All Colombian, including the owner, which is pretty unusual and very cool. I’m a coffee nerd, and they might have the best espresso in the South Bay,.” said Matt in Long Beach.
- Address: 350 N. Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
- Hours: Everyday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Staff Picks From Around L.A. County
My colleagues are pretty plugged into L.A. We drive, commute, and savor L.A. everyday. So when listeners sounded-off about their favorites, we couldn’t help but share some of our own. Here are some of the places we love to sip at:
Aspara in San Marino: Chief Content Officer Kristen Muller says the shop has "amazing cinnamon rolls." According to its website, the shop uses organic, fair trade and sustainably farmed coffee, tea and spices, with a focus on women-owned farms.
- Address: 2461 Mission Street B, San Marino, CA 91108
- Hours: Monday to Saturday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Cos & Pi in South Pasadena: Senior Producer Michael Cosentino recommends this spot, a family-owned restaurant and cafe that bills itself as a neighborhood eatery.
- Address: 303 Pasadena Avenue, South Pasadena, CA 91030
- Hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen in Inglewood: Associate Editor Aaricka Washington suggests visiting here. The cafe and restaurant was created by Angelenos. According to their website, the name is inspired by “climbing our own Hilltops … just like everyone else.”
- Address: 170 North La Brea Avenue, Inglewood, CA 90301
- Hours: Everyday from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
KAFN in Glendale: Senior Education Reporter Kyle Stokes says it's a "great neighborhood spot well off the beaten path" with some "delicious maple lattes."
- Address: 1019 East Palmer Avenue, Glendale, CA 91205
- Hours: Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Miss Melbourne Coffee in West Hollywood: AirTalk news apprentice Nicolas Perez says: “It was the first coffee shop I tried out when I moved here ... The coffee is good, there’s a nice patio and they have these unique sausage rolls that are fantastic. I find myself going back every few weekends.”
- Address: 1051 Havenhurst Drive, West Hollywood, CA 90046
- Hours: Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Back Door Bakery & Cafe in Tujunga: Web Developer Melissa DeMund says it has the “biggest selection of savory and sweet pastries I've ever seen, and darn good coffee!”
- Address: 8349 Foothill Boulevard, Sunland, CA 91040
- Hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Coffee Roaster in Sherman Oaks: Audio Production Engineer Scott Kelly says this place is "the best." It's been in business since 1987.
- Address: 13567 Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
- Hours: Everyday from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.