If you love coffee, you'll like Hooked. If you are learning about coffee, you'll like Hooked. If you're just looking for a caffeine fix, you might like Hooked. 'Nicely' and his team, really take the time to create your cup of coffee. They are helpful, thoughtful, and have a such a positive attitude. The standard coffee and espressos are offered as well as some signature drinks and the occasional specials. The later of the two is priced a little more then usual but it's Venice and it's nicer specialty beans/coffee. If you're in a rush I wouldn't recommend Hooked because of the time and care put into each drink, that takes a little more time, as well as the crappy parking in the area. But if you have a relaxing morning or are catching up with friends, there's decent space in the Dudley Market space to hang while some sweet tracks are playing in the background. read more

Hooked Venice - One & One - Single origin shot, breve cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

(Four stars for now only because I've only been here once for coffee... but I have a strong feeling that rating is going up.) It was the "no wifi / no laptops" sign that got me. It was so unexpected and unapologetically different that I felt like I'd stepped back into the 80s, when people actually engaged in analog life. Handwritten notes, journaling, people-watching, real conversations... and just being present. I kept it simple and ordered the coffee of the day from Ecuador, and it completely delivered. I've never described coffee this way before, but it was smooth, balanced, and completely unoffensive in the best possible sense- no bitterness, no harsh acidity, just easy and enjoyable from start to finish. The vibe leans almost speakeasy. Intentionally undigital, very human, with music spinning from a record player in the corner. It's the kind of place that quietly forces you to slow down without telling you to. Safe to say, I'll be back. I can easily see this becoming a regular spot for me. read more

See all

I visited late morning and the barista was engaged in a fun conversation with guests sitting at the bar. When I walked up to the bar, he offered recommendations and served me immediately. I ordered the mocha and it was the best cup of coffee I've ever had. It was well balanced espresso, rich and delicious chocolate, with the perfect touch of sea salt! Love how cute it was served. He made a cute latte art heart and then topped it with chocolate shavings and salt in front of me. 10/10 presentation and 11/10 taste! To top it off, I enjoyed brief conversation with the barista while I sipped my mocha. He was so welcoming and friendly with everyone in the place. It felt very communal -- the no WiFi, no laptop policy made perfect sense when you witness how dope the vibe is in there. read more

Hooked Venice - Mocha with one sip taken! So good!!!!! Instantly knew this place needed a picture and review! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Nicely is the best in the business. What's he's doing is nothing short of spectacular. Just crazy to have this level of coffee in Venice. I tried a mocha - I never order a mocha - it's a top hot slightly sweet beverage experience in my life. read more

Vibez 1,000,000! One of the best coffee shops I have been to in some time. Literal ocean views from the window and the staff plays an eclectic selection of records which only adds to the atmosphere! Cool staff and great espresso, make your way over to this gem. Pro Tip: also a seafood restaurant with huge natural wine selection for later in the day! read more

See all

Hooked is my favorite shop to visit, especially to pause and reflect on all of life's goodness... The subtle smell of ocean breeze as you walk up, and then you step into the shop and are immediately welcomed by the scent of perfectly dialed-in coffees... the music, the vibes, and the anticipation of taking that first sip. The owner, Nicely, is such a gem and a giant in the coffee industry. His passion for the craft shows in every detail--so much so that if "meticulous" had a picture in the dictionary, it would be one of his drinks. Perfection every time. My favorites to savor at the moment are the Rico and the mocha: both delicious, especially during this winter season. read more

Hooked Venice - Mocha! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

These baristas are so professional. The drink is perfectly and carefully crafted. This is a place to trust the baristas and just go with the menu. I loved my mocha! Not too sweet, rich, and the touch of maldon salt on top really enhanced the flavor. It's petite but we savored every sip! I love the peaceful vibes. Parking can be tough, it's Venice Beach. read more

Hooked Venice - Mocha & Cafe Rico - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

TLDR: Good coffee, a little pricey. Worth a visit on your Venice beach outing. I had very high hopes since this place came recommended. However parking is mess so it's not a convenient spot to get by. Also be prepared to wait for as much as 15 minutes, even if 2 people are ahead in the line. The staff takes their coffee seriously and does not take shortcuts. Their espresso is stellar. Cappuccino is better than average (for the price). Latte is better than average too (for the price). 3 drinks for $30 with tip places this shop at the premium end of the spectrum. Would I go back? Definitely for the espresso and other drinks that I have not tried, but more likely when I am already in the neighborhood. Service is friendly and nice. There are signs that discourage you to bring your laptop and prefer that you do not work there. It's meant to spark conversation. I felt welcome and not rushed, even though it was a chaotic visit, 10 minutes before closing. read more

We were so looking forward to trying the coffee here. The barista was so arrogant and misogynistic. I regret ordering anything. When we asked some questions about how sweet the drinks were or if we could get less pumps/ounces of vanilla, he refused to tell us how sweet it was and he was rude and condescending. We are baristas ourselves, and we were just asking respectfully. He just kept telling us that this was how he made his coffee and he wouldn't do any adjustments. It was also the most expensive coffee I've ever had in Los Angeles. Horrible experience. He totally took the joy out of it. Go somewhere else. Think Seinfeld s "Soup Nazi" but not in a fun way read more

Asked for one of their speciality coffees. Barista responded "it's your first time trying this flavor? Today is not the day." It's okay to recommend us a different drink but why word it in a condenseding way? Judged us for how we were dressed and were unwelcoming and rude. read more

If you're an espresso addict like me, this is your place. A perfect cortado in every way - the espresso is beautifully balanced and not overly sour like many of the trendy places these days. Nicely has created a haven for true coffee devotees - and they are flocking here!! Nicely - you made me a believer. See you again soon!! read more

Hooked Venice - Cortado extraordinaire a la Nicely - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I ordered a chai and it was really tasty! I went to play cards with my friend so the low tech experience was appreciated. Everything from the decor to the music felt intentionally chosen. Some people might be deterred by the "no laptops and no wifi" rule but the owner who runs this place knows the type of customer base he wants and I respect it. I'll definitely be back! read more

There's no surprise that I'm already Hooked on this Venice Beach coffee shop. This coffee/wine combo spot serves up wine in the evening and espresso in the morning/afternoon. The space is super aesthetic, offers live music, comfy furniture, and quirky decor. They're on the newer side and have a pretty limited coffee menu. I kept things simple and ordered a vanilla latte and oak milk. It was 10/10. Sadly they dont offer food at the moment and I'd love to see them partner with a lock bakery to serve pastries in the mornings. read more

See all

I was hunting down a place that was near the beach and had top end single origin espresso. A challenging expedition but this spot delivered ... it's inside Dudley Market. read more

Hooked Venice - Cafe Rico - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My favorite coffee in Los AngelesI love Nicely and his recommendations are always amazing.

Hooked in Venice is a cozy and satisfying spot for Coffee and Chai. Curator Christopher "Nicely" Alameda is co-conspirator to the aficionado and knowledgeably guides the novice through an array of selected coffees, milks, and flavors for the ultimate sipping experience. His signature is evident in luscious Cafe Rico with orange peel and vanilla, specialty coffee fermented with strawberries, perfectly balanced creamy Mocha, and an elevated Chai in an oversized mug, redolent with cinnamon, vanilla, and your choice of milks. An array of vegan donuts (cookies and cream, peanut butter cup, horchata, blueberry) provide the perfect pairing. Hooked has plenty of space and is open 8am -1pm Sun - Thurs, located inside the Dudley Market, featuring turntables spinning eclectic music, just steps from Venice beach. read more

I usually review a place based on the food, but the score really went down due to the obnoxious owners here. One of the guys Christopher used to work at intelligentsia and was always very nice, but I guess ownership here has gotten to his head. The latte was nothing worth waiting in line for 30 minutes and then getting gaslighted for their drink order mistake. read more

The coffee here has been on my mind everyday since I've had it. Unfortunately, it is an hour away from where I live but if it was closer, I would become a regular. The vanilla latte is literally the best I've had. The barista, who may be the owner (wish I had asked,) was so passionate and put a lot of love into making each cup of coffee and you could just tell he loved every second of it. If you're in a rush, this isn't the spot to go to. It does take a bit longer to get your drink since the same person taking the orders was also checking you out at the register and making your drink. But if you have that extra time then I'd 10/10 recommend coming here. The vibe of the cafe is amazing, super clean and very kind staff. A gentleman individually brought out water for all the guests as soon as they were seated without even asking. Smiles all around. read more

See all

Came here Sunday with a group of folks to grab coffee. The place is cute with some nice records. Since there is technically one barista, it took a long time to get coffee. After waiting in line 30 minutes I ended up getting an Americano and a French toast donut. The Americano was decent. I believe their beans are from a place called Dune. The French Toast donut was excellent! I was really glad I got that because even though they said they added sweetener to my coffee, it wasn't sweet (they don't have sugar or sugar substitute). The total for my donut and coffee was about $13 which I think is too pricey. read more

Hooked Venice - Americano - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

Coffee is great. The price is way too high though. I think it was like $9.00. There's also limited parking. I give it 4.5! I would try it out first sure. They also have a nice water station for you to drink. They play good music and everyone there is like young families. So if you're a young family I think it's nice. read more

So good I had to order one for the road. This place sits on a quaint corner a few steps away from the beach and is a whole ass vibe. Genuine and delicious we ordered the mocha which was topped with shaved dark chocolate and sea salt which blended together beautifully. The salt and the shaved chocolate danced in my mouth as the expresso balanced the mood bringing a full body flavor in each sip. The service was 100/10 authentic and customer focused. Would recommend trying read more

Hooked Venice - Mocha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Coffee is good but the are so rude we will never go back. Owner is condescending and treats people like trash who support his local business. read more

This place is one of the only places I've been excited to try everything on the menu. I have not had the same thing twice. Each experience is a little more of an adventure because I'm curious how they can make every recipe that I've had from so many places, the best possible version of it. I do not like lines and waiting, and there is always a line and a wait, and it's obnoxiously worth it, I recommend this place to anyone who wants to experience near perfect craftsmanship. Dudley market is also a lovely place to sit and enjoy the space. The atmosphere is curated well to be enjoyable and easy with good tunes. I have and will drive an hour to go to this coffee shop. I was spoiled when I lived with in a bike ride distance. read more

Coffee- 5/5 excellent Space - 5/5 excellent (laptops not allowed though and not good for staying / talking) Music- 2/5 way too loud Service -3/5 owners are very talented in the coffee craft but can feel a bit obnoxious at times If you are around the area, worth grabbing a quick take out and walk to the beach. read more

Great service and amazing coffee. Love the records in rotation and the ambiance. I always look forward to coming here when I'm in the area. read more

Hooked Venice - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

I got there 20 min before closing time. There were 4 people in line. I got to the cashier to place my order 5 min before closing time. They refused to take my order because they were "about to close". Again, I got there 20 min before closing time. This is ridiculous. read more

There was a vinyl record DJ playing some R&B on a Sunday - small shop ran by the owner just doing what he loves! There's a mix of casual dates, business meetings and locals just getting their coffee fix here. Wish I remembered the owners name! Not only is he service-oriented, but he also puts love in every cup - including heart-shaped foam. Very mellow, down to earth vibes. I couldn't tell at first how I'd like it (Venice is a whole different world to me than San Diego), but I'd come back here for a mellow coffee/latte day. They had almond AND oat milk alternatives, good matcha, and the perfect sweetness with the vanilla (in both our drinks). P.S. there was tons of wine on the two walls not pictured - apparently it's a popular wine (/dinner?) spot by night, too! read more

See all

Good coffee but I have never met a more unpleasant barista in my life. Nicely is the sole reason I will never go back. Good luck

This coffee is pure art. Beautiful designs and even better tasting. We got a matcha, mocha, cafe Rico, and flat white and everyone was very impressed. The vibe of the place is so cute and they have records playing in the back. Highly recommend! read more

See all

Terrible service.... I ordered an iced cappuccino with almond milk and cinnamon and the guy at the register literally said "this isn't a Burger King we have a menu for a reason".... INCREDIBLY RUDE! Never coming back! He's right this isn't a Burger King because even they have better service!!! read more

They take their coffee way too seriously and it works. The baristas are professional. Very mindful as they make your latte. It's one thing to wait 15 minutes in line to be shuttled off like nobody, but they give their time and focus to each individual customer who has waited patiently. So I don't mind the wait. And the product is worth waiting for. Delicious, and the caffeine gives you a gentle sustained lift. I usually get two. One for me and a friend so they can share the magic, and if no friend, two for me! read more

Hooked Venice - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Best cafe/espresso bar we encountered on our tour of the US East and West coasts, including those in NYC, Brooklyn, Boston. Great beats on the stereo, too. read more

Great espresso for serious coffee drinkers. This coffee shop is not for everyone. Only espresso drinks, no breakfast burritos, no large pastry selection. Take your laptop, your dog and your toddlers to Starbucks. However, if you like good creative espresso drinks (and matcha too) made by baristas that know coffee, this is your place. I live 2 and half miles away and walk along the beach a few time a week for their coffee. I pass at least 10 other coffee shops, but these people know coffee read more

Dogs are not welcome here. My dog is a service animal and yesterday morning I was asked to leave immediately while outside the rain was unbearable. If you are an animal lover avoid this place. The owner is obnoxious and snobby. Not worth it! Parking is also extremely hard to find. read more

Great coffee. Best coffee in Los Angeles. Very cool location and vibe. No wifi and no laptops allowed. If you're Australian, don't compliment the barista cause you'll get a lecture on how Australians are snobs. Hopefully I don't get in trouble for complimenting how good the coffee is on here. read more

The best coffee shop in the city! Go visit Nicely and listen to play records, order something that involves steamed milk. You will be happy read more

See all

Words not needed. Get blessed by my man Nicely's hands. The mocha topped with dark chocolate shavings and salt is a kiss from heaven. Get the best coffee no question enjoy. Energy Steve easily taps in to the highest frequency inside this establishment read more

Hooked Venice - Mocha and ambiance - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Coffee doesn't get better when you're here. Nicely is an artist at making sure you get a delicious cup of coffee. Just tell him what you want and an enjoyable cup will be made. The flavor of the coffee is just great and the freshness is tasted instantly. I need to come back and try other delicious coffee selections. read more

I asked how many shots in the latte. The barista seemed to take it the wrong way. He told me he couldn't adjust the amount of coffee in each drink. They just came the way they make them. So I ordered a latte and a flat white with no alterations. When I paid I was charged an extra dollar for each drink with a line that said "special". I tipped $2 on top so my two coffees cost over $17!!! There are a couple dozen great coffee shops with warm and friendly service around here. So I plan not to come back. read more

As a foodie i would say this place is amazing and as a coffee guy i would say you have to try it. Nicely is the perfect barista and host. Tell him what you want and he will deliver. All the food items if you are lucky enough to try them are life changing. Think, layering of happiness! You will not be disappointed with anything from this place. Tell them the Tanakas sent ya!!! read more

Hooked Venice - Close your eyes and you will feel Happy Holidays! Try "The Hook" you will be hooked! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all