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South LA Cafe

4.7 (443 reviews)
Closed • 7:00 am - 2:00 pm

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SOUTH LA CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Dogs allowed
Good for working
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - South LA Cafe

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Western ice coffee and chocolate croissant

Me and my partner were on the way to the Lucas Museum when we saw this coffee shop. The inside is simple but great. We got the western coffee which is a sweet drink but delicious. We also shared a chocolate croissant it was $6 but for the price and size It was pretty good. Employees were nice. Will come back to try other drinks!

Chocolate chip scone
Danielle K.

Just stopped by on our way to the museum. I got the choco chip scone (very good, wish there had been butter) and my husband got the western. He liked it but unfortunately he wasnt able to finish it so i cant say if it was good past the first few sips. The barista who helped us was nice but seemed new since he wasnt very knowledgeable; however, he did get the answers for us when we asked a couple questions. I got my scone cold by choice but when they called the coffee the scone wasnt ready yet for some reason and of course i had to go back and ask them for it since they never called our name. Its a small place next to the NHM so even tho there is seating its limited. They sell merch too. I would not recommend coming here ONLY for the cafe, because there is no parking unless youre going to the museums.

Miranda D.

Visited this spot two times during my four day trip to LA -- let that be your sign to come visit South LA Cafe! This cafe is black-owned and women-owned so you know I had to show my support. Upon walking in, you're greeted with a beautiful Nipsey Hussle mural as well as other social activist paintings created by small business artists. This place creates such a safe space for all which is super important especially during these trying times. On top of the ambiance, the service was amazing. You're greeted by individuals who appear to love what they do and genuinely appreciate your business. The food itself was yummy! During the two times we visited, we ordered some iced mochas, iced refreshers, croissants, bagels, empanadas, etc. All of them were solid! I will definitely recommend this spot to others and will encourage those reading this to also give it a try :)

The Western, The Crenshaw, hot chocolate
Karen K.

I honestly wasn't expecting reasonablly priced, decently tasty coffee with good service at a museum like the Natural History Museum. I was expecting over priced, watered down, meh coffee. I'm happy to see South LA take their product seriously. The Western was a horchata and espresso coffee. I got it iced. It is pretty sweet, but tasty. The Crenshaw is a cold brew with cinnamon and whipped cream. I liked that it didn't taste too sweet. I should have gotten a larger hot chocolate, because I had my kids share, and they devoured it and were arguing over the drops remaining in the cup. The vibe is cool, pretty modern, sinple, and relaxed. It is next to the cafe with access from the outside of the museum. 10% off for teachers!

Mural inside of South LA Cafe

Stopped by for a iced coffee sooo good, better than Starbucks :) courteous staff AND they have free food giveaways for the community on Wednesdays

Iced Vanilla Latte
Karina R.

I've always wanted to try this spot, and with a new location opening near me soon, I took the opportunity to visit the Western Ave location. The space is beautifully clean, spacious, and has such a warm and welcoming atmosphere. You can really feel the heart of South LA reflected in the decor and vibe. It's a lovely tribute to the community's rich history. The staff were incredibly friendly. While the menu includes many familiar coffee shop staples, they also offer some standout signature drinks and tasty empanadas. The real star for me, though, was the coffee cake, definitely worth trying! Portions are generous, and everything I had felt made with care. I highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area or near one of their other locations.

Cheese danish
Spring G.

Cute community coffee shop !! They have lavender YUMMY ! Huge pastries ! My daughter said her matcha was too sweet . Very cool vibes loved the Nipsey and Martin paintings ! Cool spots for picture taking and there's parking ! My coffee was crafted how I wanted and put in a cute short hot cup with ice ;))

Edwin C.

What happen to the prices here Stop coming here for 6 months and prices are way to much One bottle of water 8 dollars. lol come on I don't mind but for those who really can't afford this is too much.

Seating
Tracy Z.

Went here for our monthly BIPOC Fiber Friends meetup. It was my first time at the cafe and I loved it! I ordered a decaf oat latte and avocado toast - the avocado toast was more flavorful than the usual I have, which was a nice surprise. Our group took up a sizable number of tables, so Carmen came over and offered to let us use the back area the next time we come if we give her a heads up. The food and drinks were on point, the staff were friendly, and we felt so welcomed! Will definitely be back to support this community cafe.

Oatmilk Latte
Carlie C.

Love South LA Cafe Coffee is always on point, pastries from Homeboy Industries are always amazing, and the service is the best part! It is a true community spot where people are working, conversing, and the cafe seems to always be doing things for the community like food drives. I always love the coffee but tried an empanada on my last visit and it was delicious too! Parking is easy and inside is always clean, welcoming, and plenty of outlets for when you need to work.

Maria G.

This is my first time trying this coffee place and it was so delicious. I love the coffee that I chose, it was "The Western" ice coffee. It had a great flavor and you have option to get it cold, hot or blended. I also decided to try the chicken empanada which was delicious. Definitely one of my favorite places to get coffee in South LA. I also saw that they have different locations all around South Los Angeles and they have a loyalty program that let you earn points on every visit and after 10 points you get $5 dollars off. The service was amazing. The two persons behind the counter were friendly and welcoming. Since it was my first time there the person who took my order, took his time to explain the menu to me. The ambience is very calm definitely a great place to come and relax while enjoying a cup of coffee.

The Ali
Kelly K.

Great coffee, delicious pastries and the sweetest staff! Make sure to stop in if you're in the area!

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1 month ago

The king caramel macchiato was great. I will be returning. The staff was great as well.

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2 months ago

The one at the Country Museum just served me the weakest americano I've ever had. Pricey too.

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2 months ago

Some of the best coffee I've ever had. Ordered two hot lattes. Had to wait a little longer than would at Starbucks but well worth the wait!

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4 months ago

The staff was friendly, the cafe was clean and welcoming and the food was great! I recommend this cafe.

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3 months ago

Arrived at 3 already closed and the hours online says they closed at 4. I came for no reason. What a waste of time.

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Ask the Community - South LA Cafe

Are customers allowed to sit and get some work/studying done here?

Yes, there's outdoor seating along the side of the cafe. I haven't seen any tables/chairs set up inside yet.

What type of oatmilk do you use?

Generally Califia but sometimes we use Oatly. You can always ask what we have in stock when you arrive and we will accommodate you based on what we have.

Can you stay open until 7 on Tuesday? My friend and I want to come by.

Hey Stephanie! We’d love to have you! Our soft launch hours are weekdays 7-4 and weekends 8-1. Hopefully you can make it in then! In the future we may have events and other occasions when we stay open later. If you haven’t already become a free… 

Could you post photos of your menu? I have food allergies and would love to see what options I have. Thanks!

You got it! Are you on IG? If so follow us @southlacafe and then send us a dm and we can share the menu. We will also post on Yelp now hoping it will update immediately!

Do you have an oat milk option :)?

Yes, they do have oat milk!

View All 8 Questions

Review Highlights - South LA Cafe

“Love what they stand for, love what they do for the community and love how passionate the owners are about helping people.”

Mentioned in 115 reviews

Read more highlights

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3.9(35 reviews)
12.1 mi

The Torrance Cultural Arts Center is so great. The seats are comfortable. The prices are great…read more It is sort of hard to see what is playing, but go to their website and just start to search. They already have some great shows lined up for 2027. The place is big, with a few art centers. The main building is small enough that there is not a bad seat in the house. Parking is so easy and it is free. The staff are all volunteers and they are just great. Make sure you print out your tickets or have them held at will call. They have some nice snacks, but not overloaded. We have seen so many shows there, from the ballet to rock and tribute bands, that are great. We saw the Laurel Canyon Sound there and there were a few bands and they were amazing. You will love this place.

Growing up in the South Bay, Torrance Cultural Arts Center became near and dear to my heart. When I…read morewas younger I took different classes dance classes here. I remember taking ballet as kid and modern dance as a teen. I also took a workout class when I was in college. I always appreciated the large and spacious dance studios where the classes were held. Now that I'm older I've also come to appreciate Torrance Cultural Arts Center as a venue. I've been to several different festivals here such as the Japanese Matsuri Festival and Lunar New Year festival. This spot is perfect for the community to get together and like how each festival is able to have many different booths. I also love how there is a stage area both outside and inside. I've also attended the Torrance Firefighters' Annual Spaghetti Dinner here. This is another great event at this spacious venue. Despite it being quite a popular dinner, there''s plenty of room for all to enjoy an evening out. Torrance Cultural Arts Center is great! Whether it be for classes or community events or festivals, this spot is perfect for small or large gatherings.

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Spooky Swap Meet

Spooky Swap Meet

4.8(4 reviews)
7.5 mi•Montecito Heights

This was my first time visiting The Spooky Swap Meet at Heritage Square Museum. It was pretty…read moreamazing! My only regret was that I wish I didn't have enough money. The Victorian houses are beautiful and all the venders, scare actors and staff were friendly and accommodating. I was surprised to see Nikk Alcaraz giving out candy and signing his book, Peculiar Baking! I'm a big fan of his so I had to buy a copy of his cook book for my girlfriend. There were many photo ops, food vendors, atmospheric music, trick or treating and a few haunted mazes. The only thing lacking was parking. I recommend using a Ride Share company rather than struggling to park in their tiny parking lot or getting VIP parking. Today (Sunday, 4/26) is the last day until next year. If you're a fan of Halloween (the holiday and the movies) I highly recommend attending this swap meet.

If you're the kind of person who loves Halloween and looks forward to Halloween season, Spooky Swap…read moreMeet will help tide you over. SSM is the event that marks the halfway point to Halloween. It takes place at the Heritage Square Museum and the proceeds benefit the museum. Things you'll find at Spooky Swap Meet: * Vendors selling Halloween-inspired merchandise, including clothing, shoes, jewelry, purses, bags, stickers, pins, dolls, horror movie DVDs, artwork, and even some vintage Halloween items. Some items were handmade. Prices weren't bad...saw some good deals even. Cheaper than Halloween Town! * Seven historic homes decorated for Halloween. You could enter some of them. The Octagon House had an actual scary maze! Also, each home had scare actors who greeted you and gave you candy (no chocolate bars). Adult trick-or-treaters welcome. * Scare actors in costumes * Complimentary treat or treat bags to hold your candy * Spooky displays * Ghost hunting * Tarot card reader * Snacks: esquites, Mexican food, hot dogs, coffee, lemonade, cupcakes * Fellow Halloween fans in costume or Halloween clothing Some items sold out, so there is some benefit to going early, but the homes look much better at night. Tickets were $19 + $2 fee. The tickets are timed. They sold out this year. The event took place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, April 26 - 28. You can pay for parking or park in the neighborhood. It wasn't overly crowded. Expect to spend about an hour - 90 minutes at the event. The bad: Porta potties...but they do call them Creepy Crappers. Suggestions: The whole event should be at night. Provide better candy and bigger treat bags. Offer spooky carnival rides and more mazes.

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Spooky Swap Meet
Spooky Swap Meet
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Museum of Make Believe - IG: happyfoodietown

Museum of Make Believe

4.7(85 reviews)
45.3 mi

This museum is a very neat experience! It is intended for adults, but our little ones had a great…read moretime here too! The whole place is decorated with art and it is very immersive! It's a bit difficult to find parking, but after that's settled, knock 3 times on the door and upon entry, you are greeted and signed in. We were greeted by Sabrina and Alyssa. They were friendly and welcoming and made sure that all of our questions were answered. The whole experience is neat because in such a small area, there are so many things to see, smell, and read! They have their own section of a gift shop as well. I can't wait until they expand their location and I'm so glad they our family had the opportunity to experience the Museum of Make Believe.

Our visit to the Museum of Make Believe was simply magical. The museum is tucked away in a small,…read morequaint location in Laguna Beach. We almost missed it--but once we stepped inside and entered this little land of make believe, we were swept into a truly enchanting world. Every part of the exhibit felt thoughtfully created. The artwork, the attention to detail, and the treasure hunt made the whole experience fun, touching, and wonderfully nostalgic. I wasn't sure what to expect when I saw the photos online, but I'm so glad I had the chance to visit. It had been on my bucket list, and it turned out to be the perfect outing for a cloudy, rainy Friday. We arrived right at opening, and it was lovely to explore without crowds. Amy and Geoff made us feel especially welcome. They didn't simply let us wander through; they talked with us, shared information, answered questions, and made the experience feel personal. I found the journal I was hoping to take home, and my niece left with an autographed copy of the book. We're both so happy we made time for this special adventure. It was well worth the drive and money. Thank you, Amy and Geoff, for creating such a memorable and magical place and making our visit exceptional.

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Museum of Make Believe - IG: happyfoodietown

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Museum of Make Believe - Much to look at all around

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Natural History Museum Of Los Angeles County - The Rotunda at NHM

Natural History Museum Of Los Angeles County

4.4(1.5k reviews)
1.2 mi•Exposition Park
Free WiFi
Wheelchair accessible

This museum really captures the jurassic time if you love dinosaurs! I grew up watching the…read morejurrasic parks so this was a treat for me. They have real fossils while incorporating models. There is a lot of neat history and fun facts that as a dinosaur enthusiasts you'd really enjoy! We spent 3 hours in there easily! Pro tip- if you're closeby and don't plan on spending hours there everyday starting at 4pm before 5pm closing their tickets are half off. Go to the window to get your ticket as their kiosks are not set up to automatically apply it, yet. They are working on it.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles is such a fun place to spend a few hours! There is so…read moremuch to see and explore, from the impressive dinosaur fossils to the beautiful exhibits featuring animals, gems, minerals, and the natural world. The dinosaur hall is definitely a highlight, and I love how the museum combines history, science, and hands-on learning in a way that's interesting for both kids and adults. The building itself is beautiful, too! You can easily spend several hours wandering through the exhibits, and there's always something new to discover. It's a great LA outing whether you're visiting with family or just looking for something different to do. Definitely worth adding to your Los Angeles bucket list!

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Natural History Museum Of Los Angeles County - Elephants roam the African Mammal Hall

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4.0(760 reviews)
5.0 mi•Palms

Before I visited The Museum of Jurassic Technology last week, I had almost no idea what to expect…read more Friends who had visited it said that it was quirky and hard to describe. They were right on both counts, but I'll try to do better for you. It's very dark inside, with small, maze-like rooms. In fact, it's so dark that some of the exhibit descriptions are hard to read. I wish I'd taken the guy at the front desk up on his offer to borrow a penlight. Some of the audio exhibits didn't work, but that didn't matter a lot, since most of the exhibits were meant to be read. Here are some of the exhibits that stood out to me: - I loved learning about the geometry of Islamic architecture. - The dioramas depicting trailers and RV's were pretty cool, as were the historical description. - Those poor but heroic Soviet space dogs! - Historical superstitions. Perhaps that's why I have a picture of my grandfather as a toddler in a dress! - The bell wheel. Wow. I told my husband we need to make one. - Too bad no photos are allowed in the museum. I would have loved to take some pics of the doves in the tea room so I could paint them at home. - Look through the microscopes and try to figure out how they did that! It's a unique place and I look forward to taking some of my nerdier relatives there sometime.

The Museum of Jurassic Technology is an interesting way to spend an hour in Culver City! I wish I…read morecould show you but respect their wishes of no photos/videos inside. It's one of those weird niche museums you just gotta walk through and experience. It's a little bit of history, a little bit of histrionics, some gorgeous displays to walk thru, interesting bits to read, and an interesting collection for sure. My favorite part was their little garden with a few special birds. Such a peaceful and cute area, with tea offered at special times! What a nice touch. It's only open Thursday to Sunday with a $15 entrance fee and reserving a time in advance is best, so plan accordingly. For me, it was an interesting place to pop into once but I don't see myself coming back again~ nor would I bring out of town guests. I like quirky and weird - i AM quirky and weird - but just felt confused when I left.

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The Museum of Jurassic Technology - Upstairs gazebo where tea is served

Upstairs gazebo where tea is served

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Dont miss the aviary on the roof !

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Inside entrance

South LA Cafe - coffee - Updated November 2026

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