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    Aquarela Coffee

    4.8 (164 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Aquarela Coffee Photos

    Business Info

    AQUARELA COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Aquarela Coffee

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    Next door space
    Melissa M.

    Perfection. I got the dirty chai latte. This has an additional spice that made it taste different than other chai, but in the most amazing way! It pepped me up! It is a walk up cafe with a space next door to sit! There was parking right in front. I will come back here if I come back to LA.

    Kristine H.

    Brazilian coffee, crafted and served to satisfy your caffeine cravings yes, please. Not every coffee shop offers condensed milk, so when I see it on the menu, it's an instant must-order. My latte came perfectly balanced with condensed milk and a light sprinkle of cinnamon, and I enjoyed every single sip. Located in the heart of DTLA, parking is best handled in the nearby structures, as expected.

    Front of coffee shop
    Brian L.

    It's hard finding places opened on holidays, but this little coffee shop had big unique flavors of drinks that was opened for memorial day. Aquarela sits on N Figueroa St just around the corner from Alpine street. Street parking is the only form of parking available. My bf and I parked along Alpine and walked about 5 mins to get to the shop. Staff is set up outside, with the menu on the window as well as specialty drinks on laminated menues ont he table in front. There is seating outside The staff that helped us was super friendly and gave suggestions as it was our first time. Aquarela specializes in Brazilian coffees, with beans that come from farms in San Paolo that they work directly with. They have white chairs and tables out front as well as a small indoor seating area with white painted walls and, what I think are, wickered arm chairs with different colored cushions. The back wall had bags of coffee beans, there was a small order window to grab drinks from too. They also had one restroom available. The drinks we chose were the Batida and Sabotage. Now I'm not a huge banana flavor person, but the Batida was such a unique flavor experience that it worked so well. This is a riff on the Brazilian bar drink (made with alcohol, virgin in this case as indicated on the menu). Lovely coffee flavor and their unique inclusion of banana flavor throughout the drink. Blended like the cocktail it was refreshing, creamy and the caffeine fix I needed. My bf's Sabotage was delicious as well, most similar to a mocha. His was iced and was delightful. Very choclatey, I didn't get too much of the spices probably because I had my drink prior, but was still refreshing. We also purchased a cheese Danish that they warmed up for us. It was flakey lightly glazed sweet, with the creamy and tangy cheese filling in the center. Glad they were opened on a holiday, give this place a try for some unique coffee drinks, great staff and a chill environment to enjoy them in

    Kimberly H.

    First time here, parking was ok. Free and metered street parking. Always see people outside, the service was very slow. That was probably the only thing that would detour me from detouring. A coffee and croissant was $14. Good flavor but pricey. Couple tables to sit outside and an area to sit and work inside that was really nice. Would recommend. Worth the try. Not sure if I will return.

    Iced Latte
    Luis P.

    Nice small coffee shop! Better than most big chain coffee shops thats for sure! Very attentive employees!

    Matcha Latte w Oatmilk
    Tyler S.

    Aquarela Coffee is a hidden gem with a hip, artsy vibe that feels effortlessly cool. Their Matcha Latte is prepped fresh and crafted to perfection--smooth, balanced, and full of flavor. Whether you're looking to disconnect with a book or connect over a quick coffee break, this spot hits the mark for both coffee and matcha lovers. Fast and baristas bring in warm hospitality.

    Menu
    Brian V.

    Small, fun coffee spot located in what feels like the edge of Chinatown in DTLA. This place came up on my radar because I was looking up for a pick me up and a place to post up to do a little work. The person I ordered from was very friendly and helpful in figuring out what I wanted. This place also has a room that is bright and very calming relaxing to be in! I really liked enjoying my beverage here. I ended up getting the Sabotage which was basically a latte. Very tasty and beautifully presented. Definitely a great spot for coffee and a great spot to be at. Parking felt pretty easy to find. But also just know I was there in the middle of the day.

    Carlie C.

    I came back and it was as wonderful as the first time! The baristas were so sweet and helpful. I tried the Caju smoothie, which I've never had or heard of and it was great! Nutty and refreshing. The matcha was heavenly, the saude latte was refreshing with the lightest, loveliest hint of orange , and I could get some work done in their beautiful space! It was clean and welcoming for work or hanging out. Happy to see more people here this time too. Only thing this time is I had to circle around for parking but SO so worth it.

    Counter
    Dan G.

    The coffee here was amazing! Loved it. The place was so quaint. The POS is right in front on the sidewalk. Last was so nice. There were a good bit of parking spots right in front. The coffee came out pretty quick. If you wanna hang out the do have an inside area which was super cool. We just did a grab and go but I definitely recommend this place!

    Brazillian latte

    Thanks gals, Great customer service and cute ambiance to pull up a chair inside and relax!!

    Pink cute bathroom
    belinda n.

    Street parking so parking blows in other words. Clean spacious bright inviting interior. Lots of seating. Cool bathroom. Super professional hospitality staff. Yummy coffee. Strong but flavorful. Don't know price as I didn't pay. Will return fo sho & will recommend !

    Awesome Brazilian speciality coffee: Saúde Latte and Iced Sabotage. Delicious blueberry scone
    Lynn O.

    Best Brazilian coffee shop in town! I wouldn't call myself a coffee connoisseur, but I do like my coffee strong, rich, and not too sweet. Their specialty coffees are made with two shots of espresso and light on sweeteners, so you can still taste the flavors of the beans. I got the Saúde Latte (hot) and absolutely loved it! With a subtle hint of orange and cinnamon, everything blended together so smoothly. My friends got the Sabotage (iced), and that was more like a mocha, but also not too sweet. That's their fave. They ran out of the pão de queijo (Brazilian cheese bread), so I got the blueberry scone. I usually eat half a pastry and save the half for later, but this scone was so soft and buttery, I couldn't resist devouring it all at once! I forget the name of the French bakery they get them from down the street. While waiting for the coffee, we sat inside and reveled in the adorably furnished room with colorful pillows and plants. Even the bathroom is cute and pink! The baristas were incredibly nice and made great recommendations! I will be back when I'm in the area!!

    Like why
    Gabriel A.

    Love the coffee but why did they leave my cup (paid $5+ for) a third empty? That's crazy work

    Cheese balls with jam.

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    26 days ago

    Coffee was great it was a little confusing to order but otherwise ok. It has beautiful views.

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    2 months ago

    This place has become one of my favorite coffee spots. Great coffee, friendly staff, and the atmosphere is always really nice

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    Page 1 of 5

    Aquarela Coffee Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Aquarela Coffee

    Alternative milk options?

    Oat and Almond.

    Is there indoor or outdoor seating at SPLA?

    Yes!!!!!

    View All 3 Questions

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    Endorffeine

    Endorffeine

    4.0
    (345 reviews)
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    I stopped by Endorffeine after hearing about it for a while and was looking forward to finally…read moretrying a cortado. The drink was well executed overall, with a nice texture, good balance, and clean presentation. What stood out most was how clearly the coffee itself came through. Once the drink cooled just slightly, I was really able to pick up the characteristics of the coffee, and those flavors became even more apparent toward the end of the cup. If I had one small technical critique, it would be that the drink was served just a hair hotter than my personal preference for a cortado. Not by much, but enough that I felt the sweetness and nuance opened up a bit more as the temperature dropped. Beyond that, the milk integration was solid, the body held together well throughout the drink, and it was an enjoyable from start to finish. One thing I really appreciated was getting to watch Jack work. You can immediately see the passion and attention to detail he brings to his craft. It's rare to see someone so committed to quality that they're willing to remake a drink as many times as necessary until they're completely satisfied with it. That level of care and consistency is something any coffee enthusiast can respect.

    Delicious Pour Over and Jack and the Staff are highly dedicated to their craft…read more Jack made me a washed Colombian from Sey and it was fantastic. They have limited options but source good coffees and care about the customer experience. Jack was busy talking to another cafe member and I was crunched for time but it seems Jack is always up for a chat and if I ever stop by I'd love to talk about coffee and whatever comes up. This is a small shop with only about 6 or 7 bar chairs, it's very nice and relaxing inside and if I'm in LA again I will happily return.

    Photos
    Single origin coffee from Honduras. Cold brew.
    Single origin coffee from Honduras. Cold brew.
    Interior
    Interior
    Endorffeine

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    Stereoscope Coffee

    Stereoscope Coffee

    4.4
    (373 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    Love this coffee spot! Staff is always super friendly and it's my top 3 matcha places. There is…read morealso lots of street parking and a nearby 7/11 you can also park at which makes this convenient since west la parking usually sucks! I always get the matcha with extra cream top:) Definitely should be on everyone's matcha spots to try!

    Stopped by Stereoscope for a cortado and had a really enjoyable experience. One thing that…read moreimmediately stood out was the barista's knowledge. She was genuinely engaged in talking about coffee, understood the beans she was serving, and was able to answer questions without hesitation. That's becoming harder to find these days, and it definitely added to the overall experience. The cortado itself was well executed. The temperature was right where it should be, allowing the flavors to come through immediately without having to wait for the drink to cool down. I was able to clearly taste the notes in the coffee, and the balance between the espresso and milk was excellent. The body held together nicely throughout the drink and never felt thin or watered down. My only critique would be that the crema and microfoam leaned a little more matte and foamy than glossy. It wasn't enough to take away from the drink, but a slightly silkier, shinier texture would have elevated it even further. That said, this was an Ethiopian natural, which can be a bit trickier to dial in and pair with milk while still preserving the character of the coffee, so it's a fairly minor criticism. Overall, a very good cortado from a shop that clearly cares about coffee. Good execution, proper temperature, clear flavor separation, and knowledgeable staff always make for a better coffee experience.

    Photos
    Almond Croissant
    Almond Croissant
    Med-Dark "El Tambo" (1lb Retail Bag)
    Med-Dark "El Tambo" (1lb Retail Bag)
    Iced coffee

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    Iced coffee
    Kokoro No Coffee

    Kokoro No Coffee

    5.0
    (17 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    What an absolute treat in the Japan Town area! Not too far from the center, just a short walk away…read moreis Kokoro No Coffee- a pop-up coffee shop at Aloha Cafe. I stumbled across their Yelp page when I was visiting from out of town and checked the Instagram for their hours on a Saturday afternoon and was happy to see they were open! I am a sucker for pop-up coffee shop/cart concepts so I had to check it out. The pop-up is easy to find, it's outside facing into the parking lot, and they had a cute A-frame sign out by the street side. There was no line, and I ordered and sat down at one of the tables out front. The service was so warm, and I believe the shop is owned and operated by one man on his own! He was an absolute delight to meet, and he brought my matcha latte to me at the table when it was prepared. He suggested I get the cream top on it, and boy was that the perfect recommendation. I would say I'm a little bit of a matcha fiend... I think I got a matcha latte at 3 different places this day... and this one far surpassed the others. I think it was one of the best matcha lattes I have ever drank to-date. It was perfectly green, the matcha quality was phenomenal, both taste and look-wise. The texture was just right, perfectly creamy with barely any grittiness. The cream top only added to the drink, and didn't take away from the matcha flavor at all, which I feel like has happened at other places for me. I'm dreaming of this matcha latte days later, and need to go back to Kokoro No Coffee as soon as I am in town again. This was a spectacular find, and I hope this spot gets all the love it deserves! There is truly nothing like a great business ran by a great person and you can tell there's so much intention put into this concept. Highly, highly recommend and I could not sing praises more!

    Got there at 9am and ordered drinks. Friendly service and delicious coffee beans. Great pop up…read morespot to support located at Aloha Cafe in little Tokyo! I could see some outdoor sitting option to wait or enjoy coffee being helpful, yet currently it is only take out with paper and plastic cups available.

    Photos
    So good!!!!!!!
    So good!!!!!!!
    Bernie approves
    Bernie approves
    Kokoro No Coffee

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    Kissaten Corazon

    Kissaten Corazon

    4.4
    (112 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    This location I can't say I would normally atop at but it was our pick up spot for La Bakery walk…read moretoday and I'm glad we got to stop by. What a cute coffee shop!! It definitely has lots of charm! I got the strawberry sesame latte less sweet and it was a little on the sweeter side still but I really enjoyed it. I'm also got a lemon poppy seed muffin that they get from a bakery. It was good as well. I liked the tangy lemon frosting on top. Comfortable seats and it's pretty big for a coffee shop. I saw a few people order the egg salad sandwich. It looked good. If you live nearby, cute stop. Street parking or we parked across the street.

    The only place in the U.S. thus far that I've seen that serves decent melon soda floats! I had to…read morevisit this coffee shop since I was obsessed with them in Asia. Walking in, I loved the aesthetic design of the open air cafe. Loved the antique vibes. There was a variety of different seating to choose from such as bar seating and cushioned couches which was nice. Going down the list of menu items I had: - Cantaloupe Milk CT with Matcha: Creamy and sweet cantaloupe flavor. Matcha was solid, but wished there was more of it. - Egg Sando: Pretty good. Lots of egg filling, but wish it was more flavorful. Bread also didn't hold the egg filling well. - Melon Soda Float: Yummy dessert. Ice wasn't necessary since there was ice cream in the cup already. I did some work from here and my experience was relatively decent. There were ample outlets and the couch seating was comfortable. The music could get a bit loud though, but I didn't mind. Only downside was the wifi wasn't great so I had to use my hotspot. This would be better as a place to socialize. Definitely a cafe worth checking out in the Chinatown area!

    Photos
    Interior (May 2026)
    Interior (May 2026)
    Bacon breakfast burrito  Sunday 9 AM  Chill cafe.. great vibes
    Bacon breakfast burrito Sunday 9 AM Chill cafe.. great vibes
    Cantaloupe milk + matcha (May 2026)

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    Cantaloupe milk + matcha (May 2026)

    Aquarela Coffee - coffee - Updated July 2026

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