Tired of the burnt almond milk capps and soggy spinach-feta-egg wraps from the known-on-every-street corner coffee shop? We are too. That’s why SBP is here to spill the beans (sorry, we couldn't resist) on some of our personal favorite coffee shops with food pairings worth getting in your car for throughout LA. From flawless cappuccinos to freshly baked, oh-so-flaky croissants and some of the best brekky in town, SBP's guide unlocks the hidden gems. So get ready to ditch the corporate coffee chain and head out to support local LA biz. Dig in and thank us later.
Neighborhood Coffee
Drink: La Brea Latte
Eat: Good Witch Cinnamon Roll
SBP client-owned and team fave, Neighborhood is a specialty coffee shop and market on La Brea, featuring a chic, minimalist aesthetic paired with killer coffee and bites. If you pop in, be sure to order their specialty La Brea Latte made with organic ginger molasses and pair it with a vegan, wild-fermented cinnamon roll baked fresh by Good Witch…HINT: they only carry them on the weekends, so be quick on your feet.
Go Get ‘Em Tiger
Drink: Iced Almond Macadamia Latte
Eat: Greens, Egg, No Ham
With eight locations in LA, Go Get ‘Em Tiger is an innovative bar-style coffee shop serving up creative brews and delicious food. Everything is epic, but if we had to choose, we’d go for the Iced Almond Macadamia Latte, poured with housemade almond macadamia milk for a frothy, nutty flavor, and the Greens, Egg, No Ham sandwich. Fried egg, kewpie mayo, tomato, and greens dressed in a bright cilantro sauce on sourdough. Boom.
Photos: Veg Out & Eater LA
Lodge Bread
Drink: Cortado
Eat: Shakshuka
If you're the type who doesn't think it's breakfast without eggs, Lodge Bread's got you covered. Their shakshuka with poached eggs is the perfect level of spicy and sweet, and if you pair it with their smooth cortado, you’ve got a brunch combo that 100% satisfies. The creamy espresso cuts through the richness of the sauce for a tasty and filling start to your day.
Photo on right: Brunchographers
Sightglass
Drink: Vanilla Bean Paste Latte
Eat: Sourdough Bagel
Sightglass in Hollywood serves up a next-level vanilla latte using premium vanilla paste from Madagascar that's known for its rich, floral flavor. Paired with their Owl's Howl espresso, it's indulgent but not too sweet. And the locally sourced Jersey milk brings that ultra creamy latte texture we dream about. Pair it with a freshly baked sourdough bagel schmeared with whipped cream cheese and you have an out-of-this-world breakfast pairing.
Photos: Sightglass
Goodboybob
Drink: Short Stack
Eat: 'The Six’ Chapati
With spots in Culver City, Santa Monica, and sunny Manhattan Beach, Goodboybob serves up epic coffee and delicious eats to go with it. But if you really want to nail down the perfect combo, you gotta order the Short Stack — a flash-chilled iced coffee with rich maple, maldon sea salt and cold foam — and ‘The Six’ chapati, also known as roti. Think of it as an elevated burrito loaded with eggs, bacon, maple sausage, cheddar, potato, maple cream and scallions. Need we say more?
The Butcher, The Baker, The Cappuccino Maker
Drink: Americano
Eat: Skillet-Baked Mushroom Omelet
Set along Sunset Boulevard, this WeHo hotspot is the go-to for seasonal modern eats and killer coffee. Speaking of, their lattes are true works of art, but we tend to keep it classic with a bold, smooth Americano — the perfect complement to the skillet-baked mushroom omelet with sweet onion jam, parm, potato, and kale chips. May just be the perfect breakfast.
Photo on left: Medium
Menotti’s
Drink: ‘Way to Bee’ Latte
Eat: Banana Walnut Bread
Tucked away in Venice, Menotti’s is an under-the-radar spot for top-notch coffee and pastries courtesy of its acclaimed neighbors. They have plenty of unique, tasty creations, but none beat the ‘Way to Bee’ — a smooth oat milk latte infused with Pilot Farm CBD and organic honey. Wash it down with a slice of banana walnut bread from Michelin-rated Hatchet Hall (if they have it!), offering a nutty, crunchy, sweet counterpart to your honey latte.
Photos: Brunchographers & Menotti’s Facebook
Intelligentsia
Drink: Matcha Latte
Eat: Cinnamon Brioche Donut
If you’re looking for Los Angeles’ best matcha, head on over to the ever-trendy Intelligentsia on Abbot Kinney. Featuring high-quality matcha powder blended smoothly with steamed milk, their matcha latte strikes the perfect balance between earthy and umami. But don’t forget to pair it with their legendary cinnamon brioche donut. Its not-too-sweet cinnamon sugar exterior gives way to a tender, rich interior that’s perfect for dunking, making it the perfect counterpart to an herbal drink.
Photos: Pinterest & Nom Nom Boris
Groundwork
Drink: Nitro Cold Brew
Eat: Burrito Bite
If you find yourself rushing around LA's Westside in need of just-the-right pick-me-up, Groundwork has the ultimate pairing to charge the rest of your day. Their notorious nitro cold brew provides a creamy, robust caffeine kick thanks to nitrogen infusion (aka jet fuel in a cup) while their breakfast burrito bites offer a savory, satisfying boost in handheld form. Scrambled eggs, avocado, sharp cheddar, pico de gallo, and chipotle aioli — all you need on the go.
Photos: Toast
Caffe Luxxe
Drink: Cappuccino
Eat: Almond Croissant
We at SBP were early adopters of Caffe Luxxe in Brentwood. In fact, F. Ron & David even interviewed owner Gary Chau right here on Tacos & Tequila a few years back (check it out here). Now with multiple locations, their small-batch roasting lends itself to one of the best cappuccinos you’ll find in LA, featuring just the right ratio of smooth, concentrated coffee capped with steamed, foamy milk. Pair it with the perfect buttery almond croissant and you’ve got a match made in heaven.
Bean There, Done That? There's More...
Aharon Coffee & Roasting Co. | Beverly Hills
SBP Go-To: Hot Hazelnut Latte x Banana Chocolate Teacake
La La Land | Santa Monica
SBP Go-To: Lavender Bloom Matcha Latte x Queen Avocado Toast
Coffee Commissary | Santa Monica
SBP Go-To: Iced Vanilla Latte x Morning Bun
Espresso Profeta | Westwood
SBP Go-To: Flat White x Ham & Cheese Croissant
If you try any of these combos, be sure to tag us in your stories @smithandberg so we can repost!