As a sucker for speakeasies, Kissaten Corazon checks off everything on my list of expectations:…read moregreat coffee, great vibes, and immaculate decor. Parking sucks. It's Los Angeles. There's plenty of parking along a hiking trail across the street of Kissaten Corazon. You'd have to use the crosswalk to access the cafe. As a speakeasy is, you have to look for this place. You don't have to look that hard since there's a small sign outside, leading into the cafe. Once you cross the first part, you'll see two bathrooms and outdoor seating. Once you come inside, you'll notice a tiny window with menus to the side. You order with the kind baristas, before taking a seat inside, at the bar, or outside. The inside is beautiful. There's a bar area for you to drink your coffee. You can also sit along the perimeter, near the piano, or near some bookshelves. There are numerous areas to sit and admire the inside. They have random vintage decor and shelving. As for drinks, I had ordered their strawberry sesame latte and their egg sando. Their egg sando comes with three baby dill pickles and some ground pepper sprinkled on top. It was delicious and truly hit the spot. Their latte was also delicious with a balance of coffee and fruit. The sesame isn't overpowering, so I wouldn't worry about that when ordering. After eating, we bussed our own plates and cups by putting them in a basket near their water dispenser. They seem to offer other beverages that weren't coffee, as well. I think I'll have to come back again soon! Again, it was the perfect experience.

I loved the retro Victorian style ambiance. It's a great place to catch up with some friends…read more I got the strawberry sesame latte and I couldn't taste the sesame at all. It was also very watered down with a very sweet syrup flavor. It probably wasn't my preferred way to have a latte but I still enjoyed the atmosphere and got some work done. I would come here again but I don't recommend getting the strawberry sesame latte. From what I saw at the bar I would get a drip coffee or just plain.

Came here on a Monday morning so I could get some work done while my husband studied, and it was…read moresuch a great experience. The café is located within an apartment complex and offers underground parking, which the coffee shop validates the first hour is only $3. Street parking is also available. You follow the café signs to an elevator, and once you arrive, you're welcomed into a moody, beautiful space. DOGS ARE ALLOWED which is awesome. There's plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors. The outdoor area feels like a balcony terrace combo with a small but lovely view of the LA skyline. We sat here and our doggo enjoyed a nap in the sun. It's a great spot to work, study, or catch up with friends without feeling cramped or rushed. The staff was incredibly kind, welcoming, and friendly. They offer a nice variety of drinks, and we ordered an iced matcha latte and a hot Madagascar vanilla latte. For pastries, we chose a guava madeleine and a cookie butter madeleine. Everything is made fresh, and they actually whisk the matcha for each drink, which really shows in the quality. Our drinks came out quickly and were delicious. I loved my matcha, and my husband really enjoyed his latte. The pastries were also great, especially the cookie butter madeleine. This café is dog-friendly, which is a nice bonus. Overall, it was such a pleasant experience, and we'll definitely be back.

Archives of Us reminds me of some of the restaurants and cafes you find inside the city areas of…read moreTokyo. Integrated within the city itself, but designed and curated to still be apart from it, Archives of Us feels like a space perfect for studying, working, and just vibing if you have the time and you're a local while as a tourist or passerby it's a neat stop by as you continue on your itinerary. Design - Private but Open Located just on the boundary of Chinatown and inside the new shopping plaza under new apartments, Archives of Us has its own separate entrance utilizing an elevator to get you to the second floor. This simple detachment allows Archives of Us to have a private space in such a public location. The interior has exposed concrete, ventilation ducts, and wiring to give the industrial design that's currently popular whilst integrating soft tones of wood, stones, and simple plants in the same space. It makes the interior feel less brutalist by incorporating nature where it can. In juxtaposition, the exterior is a large balcony space with planters of leafy plants on the perimeter to provide semi-private screening as you look out into the city. Though you're close enough to people's apartments where you can snoop on what they have on their balconies it provides enough privacy where they can't look at the TikTok's you're watching. Drinks - Matcha & Espresso Archives of Us has a reputation for its matcha. Like so many places these days they proudly utilize ceremonial matcha for their drinks (although ceremonial grade doesn't mean it's good for lattes but that's a whole different story for a different time). They also do Einspänners, cream lattes, and more traditional drinks like flat whites. All these come in one size, ensuring a consistent taste for each drink. Although I did enjoy the banana tiramisu cream latte I had I don't know if paying an average of $7.50-$9.00 is worth the price. The quality of the ingredients can be tasted so it's up to you to decide if that price is worth paying. Food - High Quality for Simple Design Following the same rhetoric as the drinks, the food they serve here aren't complicated but they do have a high standard to their ingredients. The Wagyu Egg Sliders is executed well with toasted Hawaiian rolls, perfectly cooked Wagyu beef patties, and a hand chopped egg salad between them all. The egg salad part especially feels like the same type of flavor you would get if you got an egg sando in Japan. The ingredients taste great and as a simple recipe it is executed well. However, for the price of $17 you might be looking for more than "simple done perfectly". If you're looking for a kick or accent to their food you'll have to look for outside sources. I recommend asking them for condiments like their salsa they use for their breakfast burritos. Their breakfast burrito also falls under the same umbrella of well executed with simple ingredients. I especially loved how fluffy the eggs were and the ratio of potato to all the ingredients was fantastic. Final Thought Archives of Us can be seen as a hip location you have to try because of all the buzz and hype you've heard of or it can be seen as a place to make your own if you're a local of the area. It can be considered both overly hyped and a well loved secret. Whatever perspective you see it as what is unarguable is Archives of Us is quintessentially LA and you can love it or hate it for it. Try it for yourself to see where you stand.

Thank You Coffee in Chinatown Los Angeles is a great little spot. It's located in a small, cute…read moreshopping plaza with street parking. The inside is fairly small, but what really caught my attention was the line outside the door, which is always a good sign. Even with the line, the service was quick and efficient. We waited no longer than five minutes, and our drinks came out fast. I ordered the hojicha latte and it was amazing. It was so good it was gone in minutes. The flavor was smooth, rich, and perfectly balanced. Great coffee, fast service, and a cozy neighborhood vibe. Definitely worth stopping by if you are in Chinatown.

the strawberry matcha and hojicha latte are my favorites here. drinks come relatively quick and…read morestaff is nice. my order for a 'hojicha latte' was misheard as 'matcha latte' once - but both drinks taste great, so i wasn't miffed. the store is pretty small so a line can make it crowded - but has a nice selection of artisan goods and is connected to my favorite stationary store in LA. keep in mind there's not always someone manning the home goods register on the other half of the store. go when it's not busy and there'll probably be seating and street parking outside.

Good place to grab a quick coffee but milk/foam ratios for hot drinks like macchiatos, lattes, and…read morecortados are off when I go and the espresso doesn't feel dialed in. Just my opinion.

Yum! Parking was plenty!…read more I walked inside and was amazed how comfortable the atmosphere was. The service was kind and welcoming. I ordered the Bangkok Iced Coffee. It had a nice chicory flavor to it and that is what I wanted. I got it to go, but the free wifi and ample seating was very inviting. When I have more time, I'll stop in again and have some of the pastries they offered!

Came back to this place after a yelp event. I didn't purchase any food. There are many…read moreinteresting drink choices. The price is not that bad. The service was good. The ambiance is fine. Several places to sit. Parking is in a shared lot and it's free. By the way, that laxative drink that they offer doesn't work right away. Expect results the next day.

I enjoyed my drink just fine, however the overall experience was a little lackluster. To start,…read morethere was no employee at the counter to ask any questions or help with ordering. They have a screen to place your order but there was a line and it took a REALLY long time for each party to order. It would be helpful if they had another screen for ordering or someone stationed at the front to also take orders. My friend who is vegan wanted to ask some questions about their drinks and someone finally came over who was not very friendly or helpful. It is nice they have a vegan menu! No food at all. I know other boba shops usually have baked goods or other cooked food, but nothing like that here. I got the lemon green tea with boba. It was super refreshing. It tasted just like the canned Arizona green tea. The boba was softer than I prefer, I like it a little more chewy. Overall, I've had better boba. It is nice that they have a lot of seating inside.

My husband has his forever favorite -- the Einspänner -- and of course he ordered it again at Damo…read more It's still his number‑one coffee anywhere, and today was no exception. I decided to try something new and went for the Chocolate Forest Matcha... absolutely divine. Rich, earthy, slightly sweet, and so beautifully balanced. What surprised me most is how different the inside feels compared to the outside. From the street, it looks a little gahtto and unassuming, but the moment you step in, it's a completely different world -- cozy, bright, warm, and welcoming. It's the kind of space that makes you want to stay longer than you planned. Damo continues to be one of those rare spots where the drinks are memorable and the atmosphere feels like a little hidden gem.

5/5 I've tried all their matcha drinks and all are pretty good…read more 4/5 I've visited the arts district location and I always see them a bit understaffed (usually just 2) and they can get swarmed if a group of 4-6 customers all arrived at the same time. They seem to always deliver with precision and with warmth and smile even when busy. 6/5 on the ambience. The place is huge and so vibey. They also have an outdoor area in the back (you have to walk to the street / alley way ) which is about a 3 minute walk from the front door.

I love Minon cake for their custom cakes. This place is my go to when I need a cake for an event…read more I just ordered a custom cake for my sister-in-law's wedding. My SIL wanted a simple cake and it came out exactly how we requested. For flavors, we requested matcha on the top layer and strawberry on the bottom. Everyone loved the cake!! They especially loved that the cake wasn't too sweet and tasted very fresh. Definitely give this place a try if you're in need of a custom cake! Their prices are pretty reasonable too!

When looking for an excellent cake that's artfully crafted and delicious in flavor/texture plus…read moreingredients-- look no further than to Minon. And, as an added bonus, the drinks here from iced teas (the whole range : green, black, matcha, etc., etc ... ) plus great espresso -- whoa, Minon gets it right again. And, if you're on your cheat day, treat yourself to a pastry -- your taste buds will bring you much joy!

Customer service was genuine from the Asian cashier to the girl baristas. There was no entitlement…read morebarista vibes here as you feel in LA coffee shops, which was such a comfort. I felt like o had gone back in time to when people were humanly nice. There almond latte was executed perfectly. The beans were a little light for my taste, but everything was perfect.

The service amazing! They are super friendly! (Friendlier then their sister store Komquat)…read more The coffee delicious!!!! (My favorite is their seasonal Matcha something with pistachio in it YUMMM!!!! I DREAM about it!!) The ambiance is very chill, people working, dogs chilling, and the music is always on point. Their merch is also really cute! Parking sucks but worth it!! (don't be like me and not read the signs and park there anyway haha)

Loved my coffee here! The coconut cream top was fun and nicely balanced. It's a small space, but…read morethe baristas keep things moving smoothly. It does seem like this place gets aggro customers for whatever reason. I can't picture it actually being about poor service, because the staff is nice, prices are more or less consistent with everywhere else of a similar quality. So, take some of these lame 1-star reviews with a grain of salt!

By my third visit to Heavy Water Coffee, I realized this is officially becoming one of my spots…read more I've had the Cold Brew Cream Top, The Blue Heaven, and today just a regular drip coffee. All were excellent. Obviously...I came back. But honestly, the first thing I noticed on my very first visit was how comfortable it felt. I'm originally from more mid-sized cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, so having a coffee shop where you can walk in and just shoot the shit matters to me. I'm a yapper. I love community. I like trying new places, but I also really value establishing my "spots" when I'm settling into a neighborhood. The specialty drinks here are exactly that: special. The menu feels unique and carefully crafted. But at the end of the day, I'm also just a genuine coffee lover, and the drip coffee is EXCELLENT. I also love that they micro-roast locally here in LA. I really value supporting local businesses, especially ones that clearly care about sourcing, craft, and community. While I'll absolutely be returning to shoot the shit, I'll also definitely be grabbing a bag of beans soon because I love the ritual of making coffee at home too. I also want to say this because I noticed some of the harsher reviews before visiting: this is a small neighborhood coffee shop, not a massive corporate chain built around speed and volume. Sometimes there's one person working. Sometimes service is slower because drinks are being made carefully and intentionally. Personally, I'd rather wait a few extra minutes for a thoughtfully made drink from a local business than get rushed through another soulless assembly line coffee experience. And yes, quality coffee costs money, especially in LA. Responsibly sourced beans, local roasting, quality ingredients, rent, and paying workers fairly all cost money. If someone wants the absolute cheapest possible coffee experience, there are plenty of giant chains built for that. But places like this are important because they create actual neighborhood culture and community. The staff have always been incredibly kind to me, and you can tell the owner cares as much about people as coffee. Will absolutely continue supporting. PLEASE SHOP LOCAL!!!

I don't typically stray from my usual drip or pour over, but I happened to be in the area and…read moredecided to give Tilt Coffee a shot -- and I'm so glad I did. I went with their Iced Cloud Cinnamon Foam latte, and it did not disappoint. The latte is infused with maple-flavored milk and finished with cinnamon, and the combination is absolutely delightful -- ice cold and bursting with flavor from the first sip to the very last. What really sets Tilt apart, though, is the staff. They go above and beyond for every customer, and you can genuinely feel the care they pour into their craft and their service. Whether you're a coffee purist or just looking to try something new, Tilt Coffee is absolutely worth a visit. They just earned a new fan!

I walked in feeling blue, and found this hidden spot. These peeps worked some type of magic and…read morefixed the funk. They were so upbeat, quick, and ready to take on the day. I had a hazelnut iced latte, and it was delicious. The fact it was $6 really is a steal! This was so good. I loved the fact you can get baked goods and sit outside. They have a little patio to enjoy the day. I'm a fan. You have to give this a try! Say hi to the baristas, tip them, and watch the magic hit your hands!