Forget Starbucks & Ugg Boots. These LA coffee stops will take your Instagram to the next level. And whether you like coffee or not, it's always worth it for the 'gram. Here are sixteen of LA's most Insta-worthy places by neighborhood:
Venice
1. TOM's Flagship Store
Yes, you did read that right. TOM's as in the famous charitable shoe brand, also has a coffee shop. TOM's is the place to go for good coffee, good vibes, good Instagrams and good feelings. At their flagship store in Venice, their shoes are not the only way they give back. Their amazing coffee helps to support water systems in seven countries, the regions in which they purchase their coffee beans from. How sweet.
Drink to try: Lavender Vanilla Latté (pair it with one of their FarmHouse pastries)
Vibe: Creative Venice locals collaborating on cool sh*t
Cody Simpson and squad are known to hang out here
Location: 1344 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
2. Intelligentsia Coffee
Located on Abbot Kinney, across the street from TOM's, lies another crowd favorite.
Intelligentsia has several locations, my personal preference being the one on Abbot Kinney. It may be more or less because it's the shortest Uber ride from my school. Gotta save money when you're buying so much coffee.
Drink to try: The Angeleno
Vibe: Bar meets coffee shop, with professional-looking people on laptops clicking like mad
Location: 1331 Abbot Kinney Blvd. Venice, California 90291
3. Deus Ex-Machina
deus ex machina noun
- an unexpected power or event saving a seemingly hopeless situation.
Saving our hopeless grades one caffeinated beverage at a time.
Drink to try: Venice almond milk cold brew (bottled)
Vibe: Doubles as a motorcycle shop, hit it up if you want to find your very own man-bun wearing bae
Location: 1001 Venice Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
4. Menotti's Coffee Stop
Quick old-school outpost to grab a roast while exploring the Venice Boardwalk. World-class latté art.
Drink to try: Spanish Latté
Vibe: Classic, light, and clean with friendly locals serving friends and visitors alike.
Location: 56 Windward Ave, Venice, CA 90291
5. Superba Food & Bread
Amazing eats, impressive home-made pastries, and addicting lattés.
I also met the cast of the "Divergent" Series here...I'll have the Avocado Toast with a side of Theo James, please.
Drink to try: ICED Chai Tea Latté
Vibe: Trendy and industrial, with classic California flare
Location: 1900 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Santa Monica
6. Urth Caffé
"up at Urth Caffe like Vinny Chase"
Urth is known as a tourist-must, celebrity hotspot, with delicious sandwiches. But what people may not realize, is it's roots are actually as a coffee and tea spot.
Drink to try: Iced Green Tea Latté (add boba)
Vibe: Bustling with trendy people and also those desperately trying to spot a celeb, good for brunch
Location: several locations, this one is located at
2327 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405
7. Espresso Cielo
Low-key corner spot on Santa Monica's busy Main Street. Usually passed by without notice, but it's worth checking out. Also serves pastries from HotCakes Bakes.
Drink to try: This time is isn't a drink, but they have Espresso infused granola parfaits. Food with a buzz.
Vibe: Sort of whimsical, sporting blue ceramic mugs, granite tables and a giant old-fashioned clock
Location: 3101 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405
8. Groundworks Coffee
Usually not a fan of chains, but this one is local, and it’s too Insta-worthy not to include.
Drink to try: Iced Chai
Vibe: “Hipster, but not annoying. More like Portland, but less granola. Ya feel?” -@so_goldd
Location: 1601 Montana Ave. (at Sunset), Santa Monica, CA 90403
DTLA
9. Verve Coffee Roasters
Their website promises, “Coffee is our craft, our ritual, our passion. It drives us and inspires us.” Coffee inspires me too…to get out of bed and go to class every morning.
Drink to try: Cold-brewed Nitro Coffee. Served in a beer glass, classy.
Vibe: Natural lighting, greenery, wooden-panels, and brass countertops make your jaw drop at first…then you’ll feel 10x more cool.
Location: 833 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
10. Graffiti Sublime Coffee
Get a tattoo, buy porn, vote, buy a lottery ticket…
And go to Graffiti. All things you can do when you turn 18.
Drink to try: You’ll probably be too distracted by the décor to remember to order coffee.
Vibe: Striking, monochromatic space with high ceilings and jazz instrumentals. Feels like an art gallery. Only possible by their 18+ policy. Why didn’t anyone think of this earlier? G’bless.
Location: 180 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
West Hollywood
11. Philz Coffee
A San-Francisco based chain, that only made the list because of it’s specialty drinks.
Drink to try: Iced Mint-Mojito Latté. Say whaaa?
Vibe: A step-down from Starbucks. But brownie-points for the creative drinks. Seriously there’s mint leaves atop the Mint-Mojito Latté. It’s worth it.
Location: 801 S Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90017
12. Alfred Coffee {Melrose}
Instagrammable from any angle, Alfred's is an LA-staple. Famous not only for its amazing art and decor, but for its enviable clientele. They also have a shop dedicated to TEA coming in May 2016, and I personally cannot wait.
Drink to try: You can order espresso shots in chocolate-coated mini cones, as well as fresh coconuts with the Alfred's logo on them.
Vibe: Do you think she's famous? Do you think he's famous? Who is that? You'll be asking yourself these questions several times while at Alfred's.
Location: 8428 Melrose Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90069
Larchmont
13. Go Get Em Tiger
Find a friend with a car, and get your caffeine-addicted booty over to Larchmont. It has some of the trendiest coffee shops and most delicious restaurants, and the Insta is worth the traffic you'll undoubtedly get stuck in.
Drink to try: the "Business and Pleasure"
Vibe: Fast-paced and minimal-chic with a communal feel, and pastries worth salivating over.
Location: 230 N Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004
14. Coffee + Food
Another Larchmont favorite. When you start to feel the jitters from so much caffeine, and it's time to grab a more substantial bite to eat, Coffee + Food is where to stuff your face. It's also an Australian café, don't really know what that means, but it makes it sound cooler.
Drink to try: Any latté will do you well, but make sure to try "Nana's Banana Bread"
Vibe: Chill with exposed-brick, lots of people gettin' sh*t done
Location: 5630 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004
15. Bricks & Scones
Free wifi. Creative name. When do we leave?
Drink to try: Caffeinated FOOD, yes please. Get the Green Tea Scone, and forget your woes.
Vibe: Homey-feel with homemade pastries. Like Grandma's house, but better.
Location: 403 N Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004
16. Bourgeois Pig
This place is actually a Bohemian-themed late-night coffee shop, with a jungle-themed room. Ever heard of "don't judge a book by its cover?"
Drink to try: Green Tea Pirate's Chai
Vibe: Dark, brooding, and great for a first-date.
Location: 5931 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028
If you're still reading by now, you're pretty desperate for that good 'gram. But hey, no judgement.
Seriously though, thanks for reading and check back next week for another "the Instagrammer's Guide to."
Happy posting!
XO,
@g0ingmad
