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    Café Synapse

    3.3 (61 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    Mushroom Panini
    Allison P.

    I really wanted to like Cafe Synapse - it would have been convenient with solid food options located close to the UCLA campus and the hospital - but unfortunately my experiences there make it impossible for me to recommend this place. One of the best chefs recently quit, and without her, the workers are poorly trained and highly inefficient. The food is very inconsistent in terms of pricing, preparation, and even what's included in an order. I've ordered many options multiple times, and they're always made differently, with different sides or none at all. Overall, the cafe seems very disorganized with long wait times even without many customers -- I've waited half an hour just to finally be told they were out of my drink. I honestly think that with some more training and consistency, Cafe Synapse could be a good spot to grab a quick bite -- the food is not bad (especially the paninis), but the combination of factors just makes it an extremely frustrating experience.

    Latest menu (8/19/22). No more pastas or pizzas.

    2 words: PEET'S COFFEE. Tucked away at the top of the stairs in the Gonda Neuroscience Bldg, best place to grab a coffee, study, or take time for a break. Reviewing to add updated menu pics.

    Small Cold Brew ($3)
    Christopher L.

    Café Synapse - A small venue located across the street from UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, is simple, but gets the job done. For students, it offers a quiet, secluded place to study. For nurses, doctors, professors, etc., Cafe Synapse is a caffeinated (or decaf) break from work's hustle and bustle. This cafe's biggest selling point is probably Peet's Coffee. Its reputation precedes it and draws in those who trust the brand and the jitters you are promised. What I Get: Cold Brew Worth Your Money? A small cold brew cost me around $3. Could it be cheaper considering the amount? Probably, most definitely. It's worth it if you don't want to walk too far. It's worth it if you're tired of hospital coffee. But it's also worth it if you want a quiet place to relax and drink coffee. This one's a hard one, but yes, Cafe Synapse is worth it for me. If you're a student, make sure to show your UCLA Bruin Card--you'll receive a discount (~10% off). Although I have not tried the breakfast/lunch offerings, I can share that the coffee is always fresh and brewed perfectly. Score (Out of 10): 7.5

    Free iced tea for staff appreciation!
    Christina S.

    Points for serving Peet's coffee! It is always a trudge to walk all the way to Wilshire Blvd for Peet's, so this is definitely a plus. And I will say the donut case this morning looked fresh and not just your run-of-the-mill generic donuts. These looked like they were from a proper donut place (although I didn't ask who the supplier was). Lunches tend to be a bit pricey so I will usually bring my lunch and sit outside on their patio. They have a very relaxing area to just sit.

    Half pizza & salad
    Peter C.

    Cafe Synapse gets 3 stars for trying hard, but the food is nothing to get excited about. Lunch specials do come with a drink, which is a pretty reasonable $8 or so. The salad of the pizza & salad combo is good, but it's hard to mess up salad. My bigger complaint is with the pizza. It's very industrial tasting, not crispy at all, and barely has any taste I'd take Costco's pizza over Cafe Synapse's pizza any day! However, my pizza did have fresh tomatoes & green onion sprinkled on top, so they have some fresh ingredients & try to add a little personal touch. Cafe Synapse is probably my second-to-last choice in the lunch rotation, but at least it's close.

    Where great minds meet...to eat!
    Ian B.

    This place has some decent pastries and soups; I can't say I've tried anything else as my being Muslim limits what I can eat here. Ample indoor and outdoor (weather permitting) seating with large lines of the medical/bio crowd. Some of the regulars look a quite depressed and over-worked! Also come by for such surprising celebrity-sightings as Anjelica Houston and Patrick Swayze...that is, if you are into that whole L.A. thing.

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    Love this Cafe! The staff here are so warm and friendly! Always smiling and always greet you as you come in, thank you for your service!

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Café Synapse

    Review Highlights - Café Synapse

    It is always a trudge to walk all the way to Wilshire Blvd for Peet's, so this is definitely a plus.

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    Malou Coffee

    Malou Coffee

    4.2
    (144 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    i had the yummiest jasmine matcha at malou!! the matcha quality is great, and drinks do not come…read moretoo sweet :) the foam was creamy and light with some matcha powder sprinkled on top. i also enjoyed the brioche sandwich, i did not realize it came with a side salad so that was a nice surprise. the avocado, egg, and chipotle sauce were just perfect for me! wifi available and some spots to sit, but it didn't seem like staff cleaned the tables, so i ended up clearing one off. parking is available on some side streets, and the line moves pretty quick. i'll be back for the matcha!

    I decided to try Malou because it was within walking distance of my friend's apartment and appeared…read moreto have enough seating for me to get some work done. Ordering was quick, and I didn't have to wait. I ordered a drip coffee and a pastry (I can't remember the name). Unfortunately, the coffee wasn't to my taste. It had a noticeably sour flavor, whereas I prefer coffee with a richer, roasted bean aroma and taste. The pastry, however, was excellent--fresh, flaky, and definitely the highlight of my visit. I initially found a table on the sidewalk, but the Wi-Fi signal was very weak there. I then moved inside and found a table with bench seating. While the space looked inviting, the seating wasn't very comfortable for working on a laptop for an extended period. Overall, the pastry was enjoyable, but the coffee and workspace setup didn't quite meet my expectations.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Malou Coffee
    Okinawa matcha

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    Okinawa matcha
    Bluestone Lane Westwood Coffee Shop

    Bluestone Lane Westwood Coffee Shop

    3.9
    (172 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$
    Gluten-free friendly
    Healthy dining

    I stopped by on a Tuesday morning around 9am and almost every table inside was taken with people…read moreworking on their laptops. It seems like a great spot to get work done. I ordered an iced matcha latte with honey, and it was good! They also sell pastries and breakfast items. They have an outdoor area with a few tables and umbrellas. The cashier was kind and gave me a complimentary Tim Tam!

    The morning employee, Angel, was very kind and professional, and I appreciated his service…read more Unfortunately, my interaction with the "owner," Carol, was extremely disappointing. I arrived around 6:13 AM, 17 minutes before opening, after dropping a friend off nearby for her work at Trader Joe's in Westwood who starts @6am. Usually when I have an early work call, I go to Bluestone Café because of the ambiance I've experienced before as a former UCLA Student, who is now Recently Graduated Btw. I asked Angel if it was okay to sit and get set up while HE finished opening, I also offered to help if needed, and he was friendly and understanding, and I only set up 1 table because it was out of the kindest of my heart AND he was awesome. Not even 6 minutes passed by but, I could tell he's a solid, smile oriented customer service worker with a big heart. A few minutes later, at 6:22am Carol approached me and told me to leave, after I had just ordered because Angel was treating me with 5 star hospitality! The restaurant was not open yet, AND I completely understand that a business has opening hours, and I would have had no problem waiting outside if that had been communicated respectfully by the "owner." The issue was the way the owner of Bluestone Café, Carol, spoke to me as her claiming she's "the owner" because she knows people in the district? Ok carol. She raised her voice, treated me like I was a problem, and made me feel extremely unwelcome. I left upset because the situation did not need to be handled that way. Angel, however, remained kind and professional, and I want to make clear that this review is not about him. Angel provided excellent customer service. "I was a disturbance," allegedly though to Carol when I asked why she raised her voice at me like that. No where near was I about to counter her asking me to leave originally, just wanted breakfast before my call and I was willing to wait, Angel knows it... but Carol? Man, she's lucky I didn't give a WORSE review than this one. By the way, this is my 3rd yelp review in the last 5 years, so when I gave the option for her not to act so disrespectful, she turned it up 10x. Completely unacceptable to treat anyone that way, and trust me I know the homeless problem in LA is bad. Hello I was in burberrys and a UCLA sweatshirt with my Tumi Backpack labeled "CB" (my initials), and in my 1300 european shoes I bought also known as burberrys... anyways I confusingly and surprisingly stated "I mean should I leave a 1star review?" Because I was astonished that the owner was continually being so disrespectful, but Carol responded by saying "I'm just going to counter it don't worry, we'll handle it"... who's we Carol? Overall, I was very disappointed by how the owner handled the situation. A simple, respectful explanation would have been enough. Instead, I felt disrespected and embarrassed, and I will not be returning to this location because of CAROL. :) However, Angel, and your coworkers, YOU guys are AWESOME for real. Food is good as always.

    Photos
    Bluestone Lane Westwood store
    Bluestone Lane Westwood store
    Egg nog latte (hold the Aussie aka ice cream) = good for the soul and a Tim Tam to boot
    Egg nog latte (hold the Aussie aka ice cream) = good for the soul and a Tim Tam to boot
    Exterior shot of Bluestone Lane Westwood store

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    Exterior shot of Bluestone Lane Westwood store
    Ministry of Coffee

    Ministry of Coffee

    3.5
    (519 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    I got up very early this morning my first day back in Los Angeles due to the fact I was still on…read moreChicago time (+2 hours) and hit the pavement for my daily 3 mile walk. Being here in Westwood, I walked through every nook and cranny this area had to offer. On a side street, I felt like a Cafe Latte and a pastry. Lo and behold, there was the Minister of Coffee store right in front of me. Now, the prices here were a bit steep, but what the hell, Starbucks sucks and Dunkin Donuts was never my thing! Well, the of their menu as shocking as it was, was actually worth the price. My large Latte, all four sips were very, very good. My pastry, was the same. This went to show me that sometimes you get what you pay for and in this instance, I did!

    OK this is kind of wild. I asked for my bagel with cream cheese to be toasted. This is a routine…read morerequest everywhere I have ordered a bagel since my birth decades ago. Bagel comes out crushed flat from a panini press.. I inquire as to why and they said "Oh we don't have a toaster." Follow up visit: I ask is there any way you can heat up the bagel without panini pressing it. "Let me check with the kitchen." "No, only option is to grill it." Meanwhile this is a restaurant that has fresh bread, bagels, pastry, bacon. Charging $7.50 for a bagel with cream cheese is already at the upper upper end of the price range for such a simple item. Not having a toaster back there is crazy. As is not offering to replace the crushed paper thin bagel. As is not providing a warning when ordering your bagel toasted that it will be presented as a crushed bagel chip like bagel post press. As is not understanding this routine request. As is not having a toaster!

    Photos
    To go items
    To go items
    Salmon & Egg Croissant
    Salmon & Egg Croissant
    Shakshuka

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    Shakshuka
    Alfred Coffee

    Alfred Coffee

    3.5
    (179 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    This is my go-to spot for a cold brew with cloud cream on it. I'm there almost every morning and…read morealways greeted with a smile from the employees. They're super friendly and knowledgeable when it comes to any coffee related questions that you might have. The manager that I usually see, Mel, is absolutely awesome and a pleasure to chat with. The space itself is pretty large, so there is generally somewhere to sit. They do have an outdoor area as well, it's a lovely little deck with some tables and chairs that nicely arranged. If you're in Westwood, it definitely worth stopping by. They open at 7, but I often see people lining up before then!

    i should've spotted a corporate slop coffee chain from a mile away and ran :/…read more alfred's is like... OKAY. nothing to rave about. it's there when you wanna feel superior over ur friends getting starbucks across the street. the price? ALOT LMFAO. my tiny drink (smallest size btw) cost TEN DOLLARS. this gives me a love/hate relationship with LA and their coffee scene because that is ridiculous. all because i asked for an extra shot of matcha... a DOLLAR. i'm from the IE and no drink costs more than 8 bucks with adjustments, which is still a lot but at least they're small businesses. i heard from my friend other Alfred's have much greener matches, because even with my extra shot it wasn't as potent. nonetheless, the peach syrup was absolutely delicious and not artificial at all.... BUT THERE WASNT ENOUGH. i had to ask for extra syrup when my friend's same order was initially sweeter. the coconut foam was yummy too, but it's just the lack of consistency and attention to detail that cannot justify the really STEEP price of this place. any other small-business would weigh out the matcha, syrups, make sure the price is reasonable (i think), and so forth. i don't think i'll be back to alfred's westwood location, but if the desire for fruity milk and the slightest bit of matcha flavor hits me, maybe another location would do... ACTUALLY NAH IM IN LOS ANGELES. Ktown is RIGHT THERE LMAO. bye yall see u at ROK instead :PPP

    Photos
    Iced Vanilla Latte
    Iced Vanilla Latte
    Pastries
    Pastries
    Cloud Cream Lattes

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    Cloud Cream Lattes

    Café Synapse - coffee - Updated June 2026

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