MATCHA: When in LA , be kind to yourself and get a Blueberry matcha from Cafe Dulce ! Got there…read moreearly after my morning walk and there was a bit of a line but nothing compared to prior days . I was tempted by the amazing selection of pastries but am staying away for Lent! I ended up just getting the Blueberry matcha and it is delicious !! 10/10 and highlight recommended! Lots of parking in the USC village garage ! Come here early because the line is always long !

Coffee O' clock in the evening hours? Yes please! A female must have while being productive. It's…read morean urge, an eagerness and a joy. I was pleased to get some Cafe Dulce nearby while I shopped at Trader Joe's and Target in the USC village. This cafe does have a top of the range Vietnamese coffee...a joyous cup that does no harm. I ordered a limited time drink they were promoting. A salted caramel latte. Now I know myself too well...that I should always stay loyal to my coffee choices and stick with the minimum sugar intake. The coffee was good but I wasn't thriving with the amount of sugar it had. I will continue to stick with the Vietnamese choice or a sugar free vanilla latte with almond milk. Those are always on my inviting side for Cafe Dulce. Their Little Tokyo location is also a great visit experience. They have some tasty breakfast burritos there. Other than that, a great cafe to check out with plenty of college students here minding their business.

I came in on a Thursday morning to grab a drink and cowork with my friend, and was pleasantly…read moresurprised. There was parking outside for the coffee shop and the business next-door. I loved the decor inside and the fact that theres a seating area on the second floor. I ordered a matcha latte ($7+ tax). They made it super quickly and I went upstairs to find a seat. Even though it was a Thursday, almost all the tables were taken so I went to the outside tables for a little bit. Someone ended up leaving and I snagged their table. One thing to note is that the parking lot outside does say 2 HR visitor parking.

Friendly staff, lots of space to work (indoor and outdoor), and drinks are yummy…read more They also have free parking which is very nice in a city where anywhere you go it's a hassle to find parking and then you find out you gotta pay and also have a 1-2 hour limit. Definitely going to keep going for work days!

The owner personally reached out and apologized and provided some assurances about the employee.read more

This location is no good!! Website promotes "parking validation" NOPE! $20 flat fee. Customer…read moreservice needs improvement, took the baristas 2 minutes to acknowledge my presence and greet me, they were talking amongst each other and made me feel unwelcome. This location does not have the Salmon bagel! I repeat no salmon bagel. I ordered large Iced latte and 2 empanadas, coffee had more milk than espresso and the empanadas were warm but the filling was cold which was weird to me. After waiting 10 minutes for my order in a also empty coffee shop, my friend and I go outside to eat our food and enjoy our $20 meal w/tip, we get asked to leave because they're closing... website states 7:00am- 5:00pm, it was barely 4:20pm!!!. That is why this location is being rated a 1 star, overall bad experience. Look at my pictures... I placed my order at 4:04pm, they took about 10 minutes or 13 to give me my order, we got asked to leave at 4:20pm and when I asked the cashier if he could validate my parking he said " we don't validate here, but you can ask the guy with the vest!." So I did and he told me the same thing "we don't validate" after being asked to leave we paid a $20 fee at 4:37pm. No hate, do better Check out their south LA location on Manchester and Vermont, great customer service and they validate parking.

Memory look never misses. We come here when we want reliable, wonderful matcha. I consistently…read morerecommend this coffee shop as they always have great drinks day in and out. Please bring back the strawberry matcha because I already miss it ever so. See you soon!

This cafe has a nice ambiance and free parking! Something that you don't really see in ktown…read more I visited during the weekday so it wasn't packed. Their photo booth is really cute and easy to use, but you do have to pay $10 which is not bad at all. They have their pastries facing the street entrance to the cafe (not the entrance from the parking lot). I didn't know that they had pastries on display until after I had payed for drinks and had to make line again. Can't imagine how frustrating it can be when it's a bit busy and having to make line again. I ordered a regular matcha latte with oat milk, the color was promising but once I took a sip of it I was disappointed. If you're a person that likes sweet matcha then this is for you. I personally I didn't like it just because it was sweet and grainy. I could see matcha but could not taste it. My sister got an iced vanilla latte and said it was really good! Not too sweet and not bitter either. I would have to go for an iced latte if I ever come back to visit!

quality is TEAAA (literally..)…read more There are so many cafes that serve matcha lattes, but as someone who is VERY picky about their matcha blend, I can tell when the cafe uses ceremonial grade matcha. DAMO 100% uses ceremonial grade quality and probably 5-6g of matcha per serving!! I prefer my matcha unsweetened (occasionally having some sweetness added from the syrup/puree/cloud foam a cafe uses) and whatever blend DAMO uses..chef's kiss!! I've been here 4 times, and the quality is consistent each time! Service: quick Parking: lowkey horrible (but that's all of k-town...) Shop design: aesthetic--very minimalistic and pretty. They also have a restroom and free WiFi! Limited seats when busy :c Drinks: BOMB.com will always come back :)

I don't often get matcha, but when I do... I make sure that it's somewhere good. DAMO had really…read moregood reviews, so here I am! Parking here may be difficult to find on the street, but they do have valet, too. On a Saturday afternoon, this spot is packed and quite hard to find a place to sit. Wi-Fi is available, though note that plugs and seating may be another issue. Not every spot comes with a plug, and it's going to be full, so you may need to wait 15-20 minutes. It is indeed a small spot, so if you're looking for a quiet spot to work, this might not be it. The interior decor, though, is quite clean aesthetically and is relaxing to work in. The Matcha Latte, though, let me say if you're in need of an afternoon pick-me-up, this will keep you energized, even without the sugar! A few sips in and a half cup later, I had so much energy I could probably run a marathon if I had the right shoes (and I don't even like running).

RNY is my go-to coffee shop. I visit several times a week to say hi to my favorite baristas (Hi…read moreMichael, Wonki, and team!) and order a potent pick me up. The baristas are passionate about their craft and so knowledgeable about coffee beans and are expert latte artists. I love that their cold brew is made using the cool science-y looking contraption. My little one gets the strawberry or chocolate milk; they use real strawberries puree and none of that powder crap. I love their iced vanilla bean latte, cold brew, strawberry matcha, iced matcha latte, iced americano. Everything is so balanced, delicious, and perfect! I've had their pour overs with single origin beans. Yummy! Whether you need a quick pick me up, study or work space, or social coffee time with friends, I 100% recommend stopping by RNY!

Popped in to this cafe. I ordered their Ryn Dirty Matcha. The baristas take their time with…read morepreparing your drinks so you know the quality and flavor is there. So just take a seat and chill until they call your order up. The matcha had a deep, rich flavor. It was topped over espresso so you're getting double the caffeine. I slow sipped this one and took my time to be intentional during the day.

Drinks: - Matcha einspanner has a good balance of sweet and…read moreearthy flavors - Tiramisu latte is alright, too sweet Parking: - If you come before lunchtime, you can park in the lot for free! - If you come after/during lunchtime, good luck finding street parking or you can pay valet Seating: - Plenty of seating all throughout the store - Many outlets! Of all the alchemist locations, this one is superior because of the abundance of parking and seating

While the coffee was undeniably delicious, it's the experience--and how it made me feel--that will…read morelinger... I ordered a pour-over to enjoy in-house. When I went to pick it up, I grabbed a saucer to avoid spilling on my way back to my seat. Before I could even walk away, one of the baristas snatched it from my hand and said, "You're not allowed to use that. The saucers go with the latte mugs!" I paused, glanced at the empty café behind me, and replied, "There are plenty available--surely I can use one." He continued, in a dismissive tone, speaking to me in a way that felt unnecessarily disrespectful. I chose to walk away and still enjoy my pour-over. But it's not just about serving good coffee. As Maya Angelou reminds us, people will always remember how you made them feel. And in this space, I felt unwelcome. As a paying customer--one who tipped in advance--that behavior felt undeserved and unwarranted. For that reason, there's no need to return.

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.

Came here for a late night dessert run and to get some work done. I got the injeolmi shaved ice…read morewith condensed milk on the side and absolutely loved it. I really liked how they included fruits inside the shaved ice as well since it added a refreshing flavor that balanced out the sweet milky ice. It's definitely really heavy though and something I'd recommend sharing with about 3-4 people. I also loved the ambience, with plenty of seating and the service was really attentive and nice. The only downside is the parking since they don't offer free parking and it's valet only. If you're lucky though, you can usually find metered or residential parking about a block away. I'd say that the stuff here is on the pricier side, but for the portion and quality, it balances out. I also love that this place closes so late.

When I arrived on a Sunday at 10am they just opened and the shared parking lot was empty and free!…read more I basically had dessert for breakfast enjoying the Oreo matcha einspanner latte and mega sized Dubai chocolate strawberry! So delicious!

I was headed to dinner at the fabulous Holbox, but driving there from Hollywood at rush hour is…read morenever a good idea. So I looked for a coffee spot closer to the restaurant at which I could do some work. Alibi Coffee is only 10-15 minutes from the restaurant, which made it a good candidate--and off I went. It sits on the corner of Washington and Raymond Avenue. While there's one-hour parking on Washington, Raymond seems to offer unlimited parking (other than street cleaning days)--the friendly, helpful barista directed me over there. Inside, it's a tranquil, clean and comfortable environment that mixes contemporary touches with brick industrial vibes. I'm in my cream top era, so I decided to get their Trademark Cream Top Latte, which uses cold brew and house made cream with a hint of brown sugar. The drink was smooth and not too sweet and, all in all, extremely enjoyable. Next time, I might try the Salted Caramel Cream Top Latte. I was warned it was a bit sweeter, but I'd like to see for myself. Wi-Fi seems solid, and there are plenty of outlets (yay!), so this was a great work spot. I'd definitely return anytime I needed to be in this area.

D E L I C I O U S!!! Silky smooth cream and coffee with no acidic aftertaste. I don't like my…read morecoffee sweet and this is the perfect balance. Espresso with cream to counter the bitterness simply divine. This cup of coffee brought me so much joy! If you're in the area give them a try! This might be my new favorite shop!