As the name implies, experimentation is key at Mad Lab where baristas serve a great pour-over. The Dreamsicle with espresso, orange, and vanilla is also noteworthy. Find additional locations in Hollywood, Culver City, and Mid-City.

Laidrey prepares some of the San Fernando Valley’s best coffee brewed with ethically sourced and house-roasted beans. Owner Gacia Tachejian’s signature drinks include the red velvet latte and strawberry cappuccino. Find a second location in Encino.

It’s an adventure heading into Mandarin Coffee Stand on South Lake Avenue. Nestled in a glass-covered courtyard, this small but mighty shop serves outstanding espresso drinks and plays host to occasional collaborations and pop-ups. Never take anything to go because the seating area is as delightful as the drinks.

This Black- and Filipino-owned Thai Town coffee shop serves up a healthy shot of good vibrations in its airy, 1970s-esque space on Hollywood Boulevard, memorable for its exposed brick walls, retro stripe paint accents, and high ceilings. The coffee itself takes influences from the surrounding neighborhood and Filipino flavors, like the Filipino iced coffee with ube oat milk and the Thai Town latte with sweetened oat milk, cha yen (typically a black and rooibos tea blend), star anise, vanilla, and sweet tamarind. Blonde wood shelving on the side of the counter includes products from BIPOC businesses and creators. Kids can get down on mellow concoctions like chocolate milk (hot or chilled with cacao nibs) and hot or iced ube milk.

One of the reasons that Bloom & Plume is one of LA’s most stylish coffee bars is thanks to co-owner Maurice Harris’s skill as an artist and floral designer. While visiting this Historic Filipinotown cafe, order the honey lavender or peppermint latte and enjoy the room or outdoor seating.

Weekday visits to the Alchemist Coffee Project can be quite the scene given its location in the middle of the busy neighborhood. People stop by for caffeine or an outstanding breakfast sandwich. The cafe serves Onyx Coffee from Arkansas, and baristas always make sure the latte art is top-notch.

Endorffeine’s magic is in the Southeast Asian-influenced coffee drinks. It doesn’t hurt that co-owner Jack Benchakul is a former biochemist. Go straight to Chinatown’s Far East Plaza, walk past Howlin’ Ray’s, and ask for a recommendation that’s sure to please.

The coffee at Koreatown’s Memorylook is as excellent as the matcha lattes and giant matcha brulee or tiramisu doughnuts. Memorylook is an ideal cafe to work from with indoor and outdoor seating.

Jurassic Magic’s interior brings oasis vibes to Mid-City. This is the place to stay put for a while, even though there’s no Wi-Fi. Check out the shop’s book display after ordering the signature Magic Latte made with condensed oat milk and a spice blend that includes clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger.

Culver City's modernist Cognoscenti Coffee is staffed by friendly baristas who have just about every type of bean flavor profile. The respected cafe also has locations in the Fashion District and Downtown LA.

You can’t miss Goodboybob when entering Citizen Public Market. It’s stationed right at the entrance with house-roasted beans and crave-worthy chapatis. If not in the area, try the outlets in Manhattan Beach or Santa Monica.

Sip & Sonder is all about community and quality coffee. With additional locations in Sherman Oaks and Downtown, this Black-owned shop offers caffeine and bites for those in need of a daytime workspace. The cozy gathering space on Inglewood’s historic Market Street often hosts art shows, live performances, fireside chats, and more.

A true community gathering spot, Patria Coffee Roasters sources incredible coffees from around the globe and roasts them at a site near the cafe. Order the cafe de olla and a slice of the LAUSD-esque coffee cake.

Located in the heart of Orange County’s Little Saigon, the store serves phin- (coffee made with a Vietnamese filter) and espresso-based coffee drinks using 100-percent Vietnamese-grown Robusta and Arabica beans from Buôn Ma Thuột. This means high-quality espresso-based drinks along with Vietnamese specialties like cà phê trứng (Vietnamese egg coffee). As a bonus, Trung Nguyên’s dine-in coffee service is presented on ornate wooden trays.