Endless Noise Coffee whips up a damn good Turkish coffee. The bold flavor reminds me a bit of…read moreVietnamese phin coffee, but the flavor profile is a bit smoother to my taste. It's brewed in a copper cup and heated by using scalding hot sand. Seriously. They have an electric sandbox machine used to boil the coffee, replicating the traditional Turkish method of brewing coffee from hundreds of years ago. I like the original Turkish Coffee and taking it black. The coffee is so smooth that you don't need milk, and in my opinion you really should experience the full aromatic flavors of the Turkish coffee without the milk covering it up. You get a little butterscotch on the side too. More than just a coffee shop, Endless Noise is a testament to human ingenuity and the creative spirit. Tucked away in what I (for lack of better words) call Santa Monica's "warehouse district," Endless Noise began as strictly a recording studio- and a damn good one too. The owner used to serve Turkish coffee to his clients. One day, he decided to start selling vinyl records to the community. Then, he started offering his Turkish coffee as well. Why not? I've been trying to grab a coffee here for two years, but I always made the mistake of coming on the weekends when they were closed. I don't know why I decided to try again today of all days, on a Monday afternoon. But as I approached the store and saw their door open for the first time, I felt like I was stepping into a dream and taking a break from reality for a bit. Shout out to Aiden, the incredible barista running this joint. What can I say? Endless Noise is good people through and through.

One of my new favorite small coffee shops in Santa Monica, good coffee, great vibes and friendly…read morestaff! My go to is the classic vanilla latte. Aden treats every customer with attentiveness and enthusiasm. Stopping by here on my lunch breaks is a highlight of my week. The atmosphere always makes my tough days a little lighter. If you need a pick me up, definitely recommend.

A really great used book and record store where you can find a little bit of everything for a…read moredecent price. The inside is literally filled floor to wall with books and records which is a literal dream for a bookstore lover. The owner is also the nicest guy and plays some great tunes while you shop around. Also always available to help you find exactly what you are looking for, and knowledgeable in what he has for sale. We have been 2-3 times now and plan to make this a regular stop in the future!

Total gem on Main Street. It's part bookstore, part record store, part time machine. Smells like…read moreold paper, good vinyl, and pure nostalgia. Rocco, is super helpful and easy to talk to. If you don't see what you're looking for, he'll usually help track it down.

Wow, they have the most obscure films! I'm a monthly member, I get to rent 4 movies at any one time…read morefor $30 a month. It's $5 per movie for non-members. They also put on weekly movie nights and sometimes host events with filmmakers! Going to Cinefile and picking out a few movies to watch brings me back the excitement I used to feel as a kid when I would go to the video store. They have SO MANY genres I hadn't even heard of and the people who work there are so passionate and knowledgeable. Definitely worth giving them my $30 as opposed to a streaming service that can remove my favorite content at anytime for prices that only keep going up.

I've been a member of Cinefile for almost three years and there has been nothing on earth that…read morebrings me more joy than going in that store, talking with the helpful clerks who work there about whatever films are divisive these days. My wife was telling me about a 1970s made for TV move she saw as a child, "The Legend of Lizzie Borden". She didn't know where she could find it today. "I bet they'll have it at Cinefile," I told her. And they did!

Nice local vinyl shop. Decent selection and average LA based prices. Worth checking out!read more

Nivessa is a vinyl shop on Pico with a solid curation of records. To get here, street parking will…read morebe your best bet and there is a good amount of it around the area. Inside, they have decent sized setup with fairly priced vinyls organized by artists and genres. All of the staff here are friendly and welcoming. Wifey and I found some pretty cool gems and ended up leaving with a Faye Webster vinyl we had been searching for. Definitely stop by for some crate digging and see what gems you can find!

Scott is such a cool guy who clearly, forgive the language, knows his sh- stuff! :) about music…read more Beyond that, he cares deeply about the people who visit the shop and is always willing to order you a record, or in my case, give you helpful pointers about your first record player that isn't also a suitcase. If you're in the area (even if you're NOT, make time to be!), this is a worthwhile stop for anyone who loves music, loves crate digging and loves supporting local businesses run by good people who also love music.

I love this spot! Great little boutique shop in the Palms neighborhood with a well curated…read moreselection of both old and new hit albums. Walked out with a Rachmaninov piano concerto and a Massive Attack album. Will definitely be back!

My fiancee and I love this little gallery. It's a sawtelle staple and it's always really fun to…read morepop inside and see their current show on display. They have a nice selection of prints, original art, toys, and books. It's a super small space, but they've made every corner count. Also, if a book or toy is sold out, I believe they sometimes have waitlists or at least an email list for when something comes back in stock. Being small, they do get kind of crowded on the weekends, and it makes the store kind of hard to maneuver. They were doing this thing for a while where they only allowed a certain number of people to look around at a time, then blocked the door with a table and in order to come in, you had to wait for someone who was already inside to leave. That kind of sucked, because you were basically just waiting for someone to feel like leaving and it usually took forever, leading to a long line outside. But it seems like they ditched that. We went recently and we were able to go in with others and there was no sign or table blocking the door. No lot parking; it's on sawtelle so it's just metered street parking. There are tons of good restaurants and coffee less than 20 feet in any direction, very good location.

Giant Robot Store is considered as the first and longest-standing Asian & Asian American pop…read moreculture shop in Los Angeles (opened in 2001). Giant Robot formerly published a bimonthly magazine from 1994 to 2011. There is also an extension store called GR2 Gallery (2062 Sawtelle Blvd) located less than a block away from the main store and GR2 mainly focuses on art exhibits while also selling a limited selection of gift items like Japantown/Sawtelle mugs. [Parking]: Parking is always difficult to find in Sawtelle. Visitors can circle around the neighborhood for street parking (I got lucky and found a spot on Beloit Ave just a block away) or try validated parking at Marshalls or Nijiya Market Sawtelle Store. [What to see here]: The shop offers fun housewares, gifts (e.g. Rolife 3D Puzzles), stationery items (a very small selection), T-shirts, varsity jackets, hats, art books, art prints, plushies (e.g. Miffy and Snoopy), and toy figures (e.g. Smiski blind boxes). What really stood out to me were pins, some of the unique jackets, and the Japantown/Sawtelle mugs. Please note that the store limits entry to 8 guests at a time. [Conclusion]: While I can't say the store sells gifts that fit everyone's taste, the shop has cultural significance and deep roots in Asian American pop culture. It is worth a stop for anyone visiting Sawtelle. P.S. - This is also where Uglydolls originally started.

Headline Records in Hollywood is easily one of my favorite record shops to visit. The store has an…read moreincredible selection, especially if you are into punk, hardcore, and rare imports. I always appreciate how curated their inventory feels compared to larger chain stores. Whether you are looking for a specific pressing or just want to browse, the staff is knowledgeable and keeps the shop feeling authentic. It is a true staple of the music scene and a must-visit destination for any collector. I make it a point to stop by whenever I am in the area.

This is the best record store in LA. A great selection of cds, records, and band tees (as well as…read moreother merch). Prices are definitely affordable and Fair. The shop owner John is super fucking cool and helpful. I 100% recommend this place to anyone in LA. Ordering is just as easy, fast and cool too! Thanks again!

You have a security guard at the door which is understandable because of the neighborhood you are…read morein. Do not make the security guard, ask people to check their purses, move their cars and whatever else is needed within the first 2 minutes of their arrival, it's very off putting. The employees can do this. The security guard shouldn't be forced to do the job of the entire crew. I have been shopping there for years, I will no longer shop here. I prefer to be greeted with a 'hello! welcome to our store' before being given multiple instructions by a guard.

In April EVERYTHING is 25% off! In May EVERYTHING is 50%…read moreoff! Friendly workers and I shop there for houseware and trinkets, especially tea cups, for good prices. Good selection of children's toys and lots of women's clothes, too.