Came upon this place during a morning walk and so glad we did. Little Bean has a cozy interior with…read morea photo wall and board games. Perfect place to have a seat and enjoy a morning coffee. The French toast latte with oat milk was the highlight for me. You can really taste the maple syrup and it's sweet without being overwhelming. My girlfriend got the Midnight Mocha with almond milk and they swapped the dark roast for their medium blend no problem. She loved it. The warmed butter croissant was a simple but solid addition. Staff was genuinely friendly too. Apparently the owners had a coffee shop in New York before the pandemic and brought that energy out here to Santa Monica. It shows. Worth a stop if you're in the area.

We were staying up the street at the Hyatt Centric and wanted to find a local coffee shop instead…read moreof Sbux. This was a gem of a place to stumble into. The coffee is delicious, they have three roasts to choose from no matter what drink you get. My husband got a cold brew and I got an iced latte, both with the "Red" beans. It was perfect. They also bring in pastries from a local bakery and the chocolate chip banana bread is not to be missed. Highly recommend!

Cute coffee place with great service. Josh and Michelle are super friendly and run a solid…read moreestablishment. I ordered online (Grubhub sucks, lesson learnt) - a pour over and a chai latte. When I arrived, it took a while to find the place. I asked about the pour over only to realize that the PO wasn't my favorite. Not a big deal, it had a good nose. Josh immediately offered to re-do with his favorite, a Costa Rican blend at no charge. It was a good decision to let him swap. The pour over was perfect with a great nose and rich, developed flavors, and a slightly sour aftertaste that I like from anaerobic coffee beans. They use v60 for their pour overs and don't rush the process. The coffee selection rotates and you can tell they curate well. They typically buy blends from Lightwave coffee, a specialty local LA roaster. Would love it if they could source some single origins. The chai latte on the other hand wasn't our favorite. It lacked a punch and was a little sweet (probably the non-dairy milk since the brew is technically supposed to be unsweetened). We also picked up a protein salad that looked fresh. Location: This shop can be hard to find, it's at the back of a commercial office building, and requires a short walk to locate the garden area. Parking on street is metered. Tip: Park in the garage, and get 3 hours free validation.

Its a nice cafe with friendly staff! I got an iced pumpkin spice latte with pistachio milk - their…read morecoffee has a milder flavor, and overall it wasnt too sweet! Remember to park at the colorado center parking garage- they validate you for 3 hours. I can see myself hanging out with friends and getting some work done, the surrounding park/patio area is quite nice too.

Legit spot. Definitely check it out if you want some coffee…read more More of a grab and go spot. They have no indoor seats.

Solid spot for good coffee and awesome pastries. Nestled on the corner of Federal and Pico, in…read morebetween a number of businesses and residences, Federal Coffee has been around since 2021. Step up to the Order window and try not to get too distracted by the glorious pastries from Chaumont (of BH). There's patio seating, kitschy and charming in pink and green. Happy to have Federal recommended to me by a nearby business. Nice little piece of solace in the busy, hurried city.

AMAZING coffee and service. We came on a Thursday, and I think they do a "pay what you want"…read moreservice on Thursdays, but it felt like a disservice to give them anything but the average of most coffee in LA. I got the tiramisu latte, and it was phenomenal. They have a really good menu, so I'm sure I'd try something new the next time I visit. This is quintessential LA, and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to visit!

Was eating at Cafe Gratitude down the block and they recommended this place…read more It's a trailer parked on the street, there's a bench you can sit and sip your coffee or walk around Got the flat white and it was a nice strong espresso (but not bitter) and so smooth. Barista was super nice and patient. If I lived nearby I'd be by way too often. Highly recommended. Great flat white and seems like they have lots of fun specialties. Parking is going to be street parking, meters or in the residential neighborhood.

Coffee by the day and bar by the night; this space was so gorgeous and located right at one of my…read moremost favorite spots for chilling over great meals in town! All people working here were also super amiable, making it felt like you're just a regular visitor despite it's our first being there. We arrived just slightly before 1pm, which was actually the closing time for their cafe but fortunately we made it just in time to try their coffees. I initially wanna go for their Hojicha Matcha but they're unfortunately out. I then ended up with my second option, the Activated Charcoal latte. The default came unsweetened with whole milk. There were alternative milk with extra $1 charge. The coffee was great and would even be better if it could be tad less milky IMHO. The Okasan was the highlight, which did surprise me as I typically didn't like any drink with zesty twist while this one had Kumquat. I guessed their innovative idea mixing it with chocolate did turn out stellar, delivering the right balance between sweet and refreshing taste, while still let the coffee taste getting the spotlight!

This may be my new favorite shop for caffeination on the way to Venice Beach on the weekends! Sushi…read morerestaurant by night, Kohi by Owa serves up some delicious drinks from 8am-1 or 2pm Wednesday to Sunday. It's a pretty space bringing all the good vibes, set first by the cute signage telling you so outside! It was just one fella making the drinks on Saturday morning, but he was working his booty off with a smile the entire time! It truly was good vibes here. They had a surprisingly lot of options, considering they're doing it all from a window in the restaurant! My friend had the Okasan drink with espresso, coconut milk, chocolate syrup and an orange twist ~ it was very orangey but had a unique taste to it. I had the Activated Charcoal Matcha which I loveeeedddd! I was shocked at the pop of flavor hitting my tastebuds and just melted into it. I I hardly ever crave drinks and this is definitely making my brain go into addiction mode. The Activated Charcoal Matcha is a MUST get! Both House Special drinks were $7.50. They have oat, almond and coconut milk supplements OR you can go fancy and add Kotaji Rice Fermented Oak Milk for an extra dolla ~ so cool! No snacks but head down a few steps to Levain Bakery for an amazing cookie or cinnamon roll to go with your morning brews. Absolutely loved Kohi by Owa and will be back soon!

I'm back! Looking for a cute little coffee shop in Santa Monica where you can celebrate friendship,…read moreenjoy delicious food, and sip coffee that will make your taste buds question their very existence? Well, Intelligentsia is calling your name! Recently, about 15 of us gathered at this charming outdoor coffee spot to celebrate a dear friend's birthday. We all trickled in, one by one, ready for good food, great coffee, and even better company! Everyone placed their orders, and within what felt like seconds, the food and drinks started coming out of the service window! Talk about efficiency! The lovely gentleman who took my order was incredibly kind and accommodating, especially because, of course, this girl always has a special request or two! Being vegan, I ordered their delicious vegan burrito, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint! And here's where the day got even sweeter! My birthday happens to fall on Halloween, and I was treated to a special vegan coffee as an early birthday gift. What a delightful surprise! It was absolutely delicious, and such a thoughtful gesture made me feel extra special. Meanwhile, our friends enjoyed an assortment of sandwiches, coffee, and other goodies, and everyone seemed delighted with their choices. Once we had our food, we settled into the outdoor seating area, enjoyed each other's company, and couldn't stop talking about how adorable this little coffee shop was. There's something so lovely about sipping a delicious cup of coffee outdoors, sharing stories, laughing, and celebrating life's special moments with friends. By the end of our visit, we were already saying we'd definitely be back! And here's a little bonus for those planning a visit! There's convenient street and metered parking nearby, making it easy to stop in. If you're in a hurry, they also have a convenient drive-through, so you can grab your favorite coffee or a delicious bite without missing a beat! There's something so special about finding a place where the food is delicious, the coffee is exceptional, and the staff makes you feel genuinely welcome. Add a wonderful group of friends, a birthday celebration, and a little unexpected kindness, and you've got the perfect recipe for a memorable afternoon. So, whether you're looking for a charming outdoor spot to catch up with friends, celebrate someone special, or simply grab a fabulous cup of coffee on the go, here's my advice: Make the intelligent choice and visit Intelligentsia!

I don't trust any establishment that refuses to accept legal tender (aka cash) and honestly had…read morethat been shared before pulling up to the drive thru pick up window I would have never visited this establishment. However that's not the worst part of this place. No that would be the flavorless Americano that they gave me in exchange for my promise to pay my credit card company back for this. Absolutely horrible. At least the breakfast burrito was okay? Not good, just okay. Anyways I tried to visit this new spot to avoid getting a quick breakfast and Starbucks or McDonalds and instantly regretted it. The length of time it took (with one car ahead of me) was also unacceptable. The ambiance is ummmm I mean it sticks out haha At least the employee at the window was nice and hey as meh as this place is it is still better than Dutch Bros

Niche Cafe is a lowkey mobile cafe serving up some refreshing drinks. They are located on Abbot…read moreKinney where it is super easy to grab a drink and walk around at the different shops. I got the Mango Lemonade Smoothie and it was fire!

Love the owner, love the smoothies, but for the past year or so have had trouble with the current…read morebaristas since she's been gone. I've worked on the block for 4 years now and I'd always recommend it to people shopping, but it's changed since then. Talking to other workers on the block , a lot of us have similar experiences; She doesn't greet us or seem happy to be there, seems annoyed anyone is even ordering, etc. First instance happened when I went to order my usual, a matcha blended with oat milk, the barista (the one with the black hair), stated that they don't have that and she doesn't know how to make it. I was confused because a few of us workers on the block get that, but I happily just got a regular iced drink. As shes making it, I noticed that it said "Matcha milkshake," and said "oh wait there it is, it says matcha milkshake" (nicely). She then proceeded to say in an angry tone "That says milkshake, if you wanted a milkshake you should have said that, you said blended." I just shutup and got a little sad, my coworker with me was thrown off as well. She did apologize after handing me my drink, so I just kind of brushed it off and didn't let this experience deter me. Mind you, I haven't worked in a coffee shop in years but I believe a blended is just matcha, milk of choice and ice.. so a little different than a milkshake but whatever. Anyways I just chucked it up to a bad day. I then went back another day and got, I believe, the All is One smoothie. Before she started making it, I asked if I could actually add Acai because I forgot to ask initially (I had a free coffee stamp that day). There was another blonde coworker there at the time, not the owner, and she turned and said "She wants acai in it." They then were just like "Uh okay," she turned to me and said "Are you sure you want acai, it wont be very good" and nicely I said "yes im sure it's super good actually." THEY THEN PROCEEDED TO TURN TO EACH OTHER AND START LAUGHING. Like a genuine, bullying, mean girl laugh, like we were stupid. Turns out, It was actually super good. I just went back today for the first time since then. The attitude was still the same. She's short with her words and makes me feel so bad when ordering anything. There's also a bunch of little things that happen that genuinely just make me scared to order what I want, or order at all. For example, she gets visibly upset when I ask for almond butter instead of peanut butter. It sucks, Niche has such great options and I just want to see them thrive. I've loved loved loved going here, and would get so excited when they first started popping up on Abbot Kinney. I've always wanted to support in any way I can, but I just can't not say anything anymore. I don't want anyone to get in trouble, but just hopefully this helps shift attitude for the greater good of things. I just want to see them improve and not have anyone else experience this.

This review is only about the sandwich I had (did not try the coffee)…read more I was pressed for time and working nearby so I grabbed a pre-made sandwich from this cafe. The sandwich was $13 (actually shocking). It was ice cold to point of where the sandwich was hard, almost like it had been in the back of the fridge too long. The bread was dry and fell apart immediately upon first bite. It had turkey, cheese, tomato, iceberg lettuce - it says it had mayo and mustard but I didn't taste much of this. To say this was French bread is a stretch. If I wasn't so busy I actually should have requested a refund because I was only able to eat the turkey and cheese and threw away the rest. I would actually go so far as to suggest that this establishment stops serving sandwiches like this unless they are made fresh. Please stick to coffee.

WOOOOOW! So excited for this new coffee shop in the area. I rarely give 5 stars and everything…read moreabout this place is 5 stars. First off, the owner is probably the nicest person on this planet. She's so sweet. She recommended the coconut water coffee. At first I thought it was strange to put coconut water in a latte but wooow was it probably one of the best coffees I've had. So it's coconut water and she mixes in the espresso with the cold foam and pours it on top. It was all so delicious. And the rest of the menu was so unique as I saw saffron was even used. Will definitely be back. It's located inside the hospital office building on the corner. Street parking