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    South LA Cafe

    4.7 (441 reviews)
    Open • 7:00 am - 2:00 pm

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    SOUTH LA CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - South LA Cafe

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    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!

    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.

    The Ali
    Kelly K.

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

    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.

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    18 days ago

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

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    10 months ago

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    2 days ago

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

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    29 days 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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    5 months ago

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    2 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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    9 months ago

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    2 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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    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 114 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    4.5(119 reviews)
    1.4 mi•Leimert Park
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    This is a perfect cafe spot. You come in and you can immediately get a sense of the community. The…read moremood was vibrant and exuberant, making a perfect place where you could find comfort being surrounded by a user group that feels like they know one another. I was waiting in line and another customer next to me had no issues roping me into a conversation he was having with another person. He made a funny joke which I found very endearing! The interior was beautiful and I loved the variety of seating for different sized groups. There were even comfy reading/study seating for solo customers. All around the decor was very tasteful, I appreciated the contrast that the contemporary interior had with the exposed wood ceiling along with conservative lighting that was warm and cozy. I didn't really get to try most of the food since I wasn't really all that hungry but the dish names were creative and there were a lot of menu options if you had dietary restrictions so it was all inclusive. Unfortunately they ran out of mango by the time I got to order but I still was able to get a peach ginger tea, and for what I thought was going to be rather bitter actually ended up being pretty balanced with a good amount of sweetness to be refreshing.

    I was in the area visiting my nephew and decided to explore the Lemert Park community. That's how I…read morediscovered Ora- which is situated on a Main Street near the Leimert Park train station. This place is reminds me of a cafe in Brooklyn- chill vibe, real community connection and frat food and drinks to boot. I met a business contact there for drinks later that day and really enjoyed my ginger lemonade. My business associate ordered the bagel sandwich and the strawberry smoothie. She was equally impressed with the quality of the meal. This is definitely a neighborhood spt To check out if you live in the area!

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    LA Prime Caffe - Horchata Matcha

    LA Prime Caffe

    4.8(283 reviews)
    2.3 mi•West Adams
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    Vegetarian friendly
    Catering service

    Found this little place for breakfast and it was terrific, cozy and clean! Parking was a little…read moretight because of the small lot but it all worked out. They were out of the Breakfast Croissant so we ordered 2 Breakfast Burritos. No complaints here! The burrito was delicious. I couldn't finish mine because of the generous size. The service was awesome - you genuinely felt like they were happy to serve you! The highlight, though, were the coffees!! We ordered a latte and a mocha. I have never seen such amazing Barista artwork anywhere else! And the art stayed in tact until I finished my coffee! How's that?!

    Knowing LA Prime first from Sawtelle and I remember I was quite impressed by the acai bowl that…read morecame with pretty generous portion. So knowing they're also here in West Adams with a plus point that sit down space was provided, so obviously I was giving it a go. They did have shared free parking lot with some other tenants within the complex, giving it another bonus point. Price was pretty affordable for the portion. I got their Dolce Latte and I was pleased that temperature was pretty hot just like how I fancied my hot coffee. Typically I was disappointed by the lukewarm one that I mostly had to request my drink being extra hot. This one served it just right despite I forgot to mention it when ordering. The coffee was sweetened with condensed milk and I thought it's a decent cup for being less than $7

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    Halfday Coffee - Yuanyang Latte

    Halfday Coffee

    4.7(40 reviews)
    1.6 mi•Jefferson Park

    Cute little coffee shop- with fresh flavors. Tip don't park inside if the gate is open, that's just…read morefor the employees. Plenty of street parking. Right now they have a summer menu! I tried the rainforest: matcha cream Foam with cane sugar syrup and coconut water. Refreshing :) That drink was $8. I come here often before my pottery classes at Pot gardens next door. Give it a try! Everyone is so nice!

    I visited this café today with high hopes, and I left feeling deeply disappointed…read more I'll start with the positive: the seasonal drink I ordered was genuinely exceptional. It was creative, unique, and unlike anything I've had at a typical coffee shop. Unfortunately, the quality of the drink was overshadowed by the way I was treated, and because of that, I won't be returning. From the moment I walked in, I felt invisible. I entered the café and was not greeted by either employee. While I initially brushed it off, I couldn't help but notice that a white customer who entered shortly after me was immediately welcomed by both staff members. As I waited for my drink, I observed a man who appeared to be the owner or manager interacting with customers. He offered a white customer a sample to try, engaged him in conversation, and also spoke with another white customer who had entered separately. Throughout my entire visit, despite standing only a few feet away, he never acknowledged my presence; not with a greeting, a question, or even simple eye contact. The moment that solidified my discomfort came after I received my drink. Wanting to compliment it, I spoke loudly enough for both the employee who made it and the man assisting customers to hear. I said, "Wow, this drink is unbelievable, unlike anything I've had." Both of them looked directly at me and said nothing. There was no "thank you," no smile, no acknowledgment whatsoever. They simply looked at me and returned to what they were doing. I've replayed that interaction in my mind all day because it was blatant racism from the owner/manager who is an Asian man. As a black person, I left feeling unwelcome and excluded after watching other customers receive warmth and engagement that I did not. For that reason, I cannot recommend this business based on my experience.

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    4.4(56 reviews)
    2.1 mi•West Adams
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    I discovered RLA Cafe on maps, and I have to admit some of the reviews were a little misleading. I…read morevisited on a Sunday morning, and parking was fairly difficult... actually the large parking lot was closed from the main street. Entrance was only from the residential street and looked to be valet / directed only - fairly packed. I found parking at the block nearby, a 3 minute walk. Walking to find RLA Cafe was a tad difficult, too. It's easy to miss since there's no obvious sign from the street side. Going through the parking lot was confusing as well. Once you make your way in, you'll find that it's very well designed, relaxing, and uplifting. However, a few spots make this less appealing to work at other than parking: * Wi-Fi requires a $10 minimum. Code is on receipt, but getting it was a hassle. The Wi-Fi is additionally on the slower end, and somehow I got cut off, or it stopped working after an hour. * Iced latte was mostly milk; there was barely a hint of espresoo. I got a large to "try" to hit $10 but it's really hard. Not having much ice could be seen as a plus, but this was probably the worst latte I've ever had. Felt like I was drinking milky water. * Need a $10 minimum? Good luck, there are menu items but no prices! Overall, for an $8 iced latte, it left much to be desired outside of the ambiance / environment.

    First off, there is a parking lot so yay for easy parking. It was pretty calm on a Friday…read moreafternoon. I got a lavender matcha with oat milk. It was delicious and very vibrant green which I appreciated. I also got a sausage croissant with hash browns. Everything was good. I like my hash browns a bit crispier. The sausage was delicious though. I'd definitely come back and try the breakfast burritos too and other drinks. I think the owner served me. He was super nice. Would be a great place to do work or meet with friends.

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    South LA Cafe - coffee - Updated September 2026

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