Sip Your Way Through LA: Top Spots for Coffee, Tea, Wine, Sake and Mezcal
Sip Your Way Through LA: Top Spots for Coffee, Tea, Wine, Sake and Mezcal - The Rise of Third Wave Coffee in LA
Los Angeles has become a hotspot for Third Wave coffee shops over the last decade. The Third Wave coffee movement focuses on high-quality beans and an artisanal approach to brewing. LA's abundant sunshine and year-round patio weather make it the perfect place to sip and savor your morning brew.
Many credit Intelligentsia Coffee as one of the pioneers of Third Wave coffee in LA. They opened their first shop on Sunset Boulevard in Silverlake back in 2002. Intelligentsia sources their beans directly from growers around the world and takes extraordinary measures to ensure quality. Their baristas undergo extensive training to learn the intricacies of pour over, cold brew, espresso and more. The results are complex, flavorful cups of java.
Other LA coffee companies like Verve, Blue Bottle and Stumptown have also helped drive the Third Wave scene. They each offer their own unique take but with the same emphasis on ethical sourcing and meticulous preparation. Going to one of their shops is like visiting a high-end wine bar. You can nerd out over tasting notes, origins and brewing techniques.
The explosion of Third Wave shops has also cultivated a vibrant coffee culture across LA. Instead of quickly grabbing a latte to go, Angelenos now linger for hours people watching from a shady cafe patio. Events like LA Coffee Festival bring together roasters and baristas to celebrate their passion. Latte art throwdowns and home brewing classes attract new devotees.
Third Wave coffee appeals to LA's creative, discerning residents. They appreciate how each cup represents the culmination of an artisanal process. From seed to cup, Third Wavers obsess over achieving coffee's maximum potential. They respect the farmers who supply the beans and baristas who prepare the beverages. And they enjoy learning about and savoring the end product.
What else is in this post?
- Sip Your Way Through LA: Top Spots for Coffee, Tea, Wine, Sake and Mezcal - The Rise of Third Wave Coffee in LA
- Sip Your Way Through LA: Top Spots for Coffee, Tea, Wine, Sake and Mezcal - Sampling Teas From Around the World
- Sip Your Way Through LA: Top Spots for Coffee, Tea, Wine, Sake and Mezcal - Drinking Your Way Through LA's Wine Country
- Sip Your Way Through LA: Top Spots for Coffee, Tea, Wine, Sake and Mezcal - Sake and Soju: A Taste of Korea in K-Town
- Sip Your Way Through LA: Top Spots for Coffee, Tea, Wine, Sake and Mezcal - Experiencing Mezcal South of the Border
- Sip Your Way Through LA: Top Spots for Coffee, Tea, Wine, Sake and Mezcal - Cafes for People Watching on Melrose Avenue
- Sip Your Way Through LA: Top Spots for Coffee, Tea, Wine, Sake and Mezcal - Beachside Cafes for Sun, Surf and Cappuccinos
- Sip Your Way Through LA: Top Spots for Coffee, Tea, Wine, Sake and Mezcal - Rooftop Bars Offer City Views with Your Cocktails
Sip Your Way Through LA: Top Spots for Coffee, Tea, Wine, Sake and Mezcal - Sampling Teas From Around the World
Tea may strike some as an unexciting beverage, but for others it offers a multifaceted world of flavors to explore. LA teahouses provide the perfect portal for sampling brews from across the globe without ever leaving the city. Just as Third Wave coffee shops meticulously source premium beans, many teahouses direct import single-estate teas cultivated by master growers. These small-batch harvests showcase how teas take on the unique characteristics of their origin.
At Teatrium in Little Ethiopia, patrons can experience traditional Ethiopian tea ceremonies. These rituals represent hospitality and community. The tea is brewed from sun-dried leaves and has floral, earthy notes unlike any other. Visitors gather on stools around a low table to share three rounds of tea. With each serving, the caffeination gets stronger as the leaves are re-steeped. Teatrium provides a welcoming cultural immersion accompanied by traditional snacks like injera flatbread.
Just blocks away, Demitasse offers afternoon tea service with over 100 varieties to sample. The teas span China, India, Taiwan, Japan and beyond. Brewing methods range from glass kyusu pots to cast iron tetsubin. Trying different combinations of teas, preparations and accessories allows drinkers to home in on their perfect cup. A tea sourced from Nepal's first flush harvest and prepared in a Yixing clay pot yields an entirely different experience than a Taiwanese oolong steeped in a glass mug.
For those seeking healthy elixirs, Dialogue Tea Lounge has an extensive menu of herbal infusions. Patrons can order medicinal blends like turmeric-ginger to reduce inflammation or chamomile-lavender to ease anxiety. The ingredients come straight from the on-site herb wall modeled after an apothecary. Customers can even create their own wellness formulas tailored to their needs. Dialogue's zen atmosphere encourages slowing down to mindfully savor the ritual of steeping and drinking tea.
Sip Your Way Through LA: Top Spots for Coffee, Tea, Wine, Sake and Mezcal - Drinking Your Way Through LA's Wine Country
LA is perhaps best known for Hollywood glitz and glamour, but just outside the city lie rolling vineyards and tasting rooms waiting to be explored. Contrary to popular belief, LA has a booming local wine scene that beckons visitors to sip and savor. With a diversity of microclimates ideal for grape-growing, the region produces an array of varietals that wine enthusiasts relish.
Meandering amongst the vines of Malibu Wines provides a picturesque escape into nature while sampling vintages grown right on site. Their Syrah possesses flavors of blackberry and chocolate with a hint of peppery spice. It pairs perfectly with the panoramic Pacific views. Saddlerock Ranch in the Malibu hills sources grapes from their 30 acres of vines to create Cabernet Sauvignons full of currant and tobacco. Enjoy a glass on their vineyard-facing patio along with wood-fired pizzas baked in an outdoor brick oven.
For an urban wine experience, Angelenos flock to the San Antonio Winery in downtown LA. First opened in 1917, it survived prohibition by selling sacramental wines and is now the last remaining winery in the city. Their signature Masi Rosé captivates with aromas of strawberry and peach undertones. The winery also offers behind-the-scenes production tours and tastings in a chic downtown setting.
Just outside LA in Ventura County, sculpted sandstone caves make for an atmospheric tasting location at Malibu Family Wines. Sample their port-style Vintner's Reserve alongside meat and cheese boards within the cavernous mountain hollows. Nearby Sierra Pelona Valley beckons visitors to Reyes Winery, where estate-grown grapes flourish in the Agua Dulce hills.
An hour outside LA in Temecula, Thornton Winery transports guests to the rolling hills of Italy. Their expansive property includes wine caves, villas, restaurants and live music venues. Sipping their 2008 Estate Syrah on the terrace at sunset makes you forget you're just a short drive from the city. Temecula has exploded into a full-fledged wine destination, with over 40 wineries now spread across the valley.
Wilson Creek Winery charms with vine-covered buildings and lush gardens perfect for picnicking. Their Almond Champagne hits the spot on a warm day. South Coast Winery Resort & Spa takes things up a notch with luxe villas, a spa and vineyard views alongside robust Cabernet Sauvignons. Hot air balloon rides above the vineyards provide a unique aerial perspective on the burgeoning wine region.
The boutique Granacha Wine at Rancho California Road offers an intimate experience with just a handful of tables situated right inside the wine production facility. Their Spanish-inspired tempranillos pack juicy cherry flavors from grapes grown just steps away. Ponte Winery is one of the pioneers of the Temecula wine scene. They helped put the region on the map back in the 1970s.
Sip Your Way Through LA: Top Spots for Coffee, Tea, Wine, Sake and Mezcal - Sake and Soju: A Taste of Korea in K-Town
The bustling Koreatown neighborhood of LA transports visitors to Seoul without ever leaving the city. Neon signs advertising 24-hour Korean BBQ joints light up the streets. Spas offer luxurious scrub treatments and sauna sessions. Red chili paste and seaweed line the shelves of mega-markets like H Mart. But one truly authentic Korean experience comes in liquid form. Tucked amongst the karaoke bars and furniture stores, sake and soju venues provide a tasty cultural immersion.
Sake Dojo functions as ground zero for premium cold sake in LA. Their extensive selection showcases styles from across Japan like floral daiginjo and full-bodied junmai. Flavor profiles range from melon to cocoa to coconut depending on the unique milling and fermentation process. Sipping them alongside fresh sushi and small plates reveals the diverse expressions sake can take. Beyond the drinks, Sake Dojo's modern interior featuring communal tables fosters socializing. Monthly educational events include guided tastings, pairing dinners and discussions demystifying sake production.
For a more traditional experience, Kang Hodong Baekjeong lures patrons with Korean barbecue grilled right at the table. Meats like marinated short ribs and thick cuts of pork belly arrive sizzling atop the built-in grill. The sweet and savory aromas mingle with conversation and laughter in the convivial space. Customers often order bottles of chilled soju to complement the meal. Though lower in alcohol, the soft flavor lets the food shine rather than overpowering the palate. Plus, it's customary in Korea to enjoy soju and casual bites with friends.
Newcomers to soju may picture low-quality green bottles housed on dusty bottom shelves. But LA venues like Here's Looking at You are elevating soju to craft cocktail status. Their imaginative concoctions like the Citrus Soju Smash blend premium soju with fresh orange, lemon and herbs. Soju's light effervescence allows the bright citrus notes to sparkle. Far Bar takes a boozier route by blending soju with amaretto liqueur, pineapple and lime juice for a tropical twist. Soju cocktails retain the drink's crisp, smooth nature while elevating the flavor complexity.
Sip Your Way Through LA: Top Spots for Coffee, Tea, Wine, Sake and Mezcal - Experiencing Mezcal South of the Border
While tequila has carved out a niche in the American drinking scene, its smoky cousin mezcal remains more mysterious. Yet this ancient elixir crafted in rural Mexico offers an even richer journey for the adventurous imbiber. Mezcal emerges not from sprawling corporate distilleries, but from small village palenques run by maestro mezcaleros using artisanal methods passed down through generations.
Tracking down these remote cantinas and tasting rooms allows visitors to experience mezcal in its raw, authentic form. A far cry from pre-packaged store-bought bottles, sipping mezcal at an open-air Oaxacan palenque connects you to centuries of tradition. Here you meet the producers themselves and hear first-hand how they roast agave hearts in underground stone pits, then ferment and distill the sweet juices in wood-fired copper stills. Sampling those smoky, complex small-batch mezcals straight from the source showcases the incredible diversity of flavors that emerge from this painstaking process when left untouched by mass production.
Beyond Oaxaca, Tulum attracts travelers thirsty for a different kind of south-of-the-border mezcal immersion. At laid-back jungle bars like Mamasan and Gitano, patrons bask in tropical vibes while discovering mezcal's range of flavors, from fruity notes to savory spices. Pairing creative mezcal cocktails with fresh ceviche as dance music thumps in the background makes for an intoxicating sensory experience unmatched by your local liquor store.
Seeking a more upscale vibe? L.A. hotspots like Gracias Madre and Puesto bring Oaxacan cuisine and finely curated mezcal lists north of the border. Their menus highlight small-production mezcals rarely exported from Mexico's remote pueblos. Mezcal flights with tasting notes and pairing suggestions make navigating the category approachable for novice drinkers. Knowledgeable staff eagerly guide patrons on their mezcal travels, helping discover new agave varietals and subspecies one sip at a time.
Sip Your Way Through LA: Top Spots for Coffee, Tea, Wine, Sake and Mezcal - Cafes for People Watching on Melrose Avenue
Melrose Avenue has emerged as one of LA's hippest strips, drawing crowds of designers, artists, models and influencers. Lined with boutiques, galleries and eateries, it provides prime territory for people watching. Snag a patio table at one of Melrose's sidewalk cafes to observe the parade of eclectic characters that define LA's style scene.
Alfred Coffee is tucked right off Melrose on Larchmont Blvd, attracting locals and visitors alike with its minimalist digs and expertly pulled espresso drinks. Grab an iced vanilla latte, take a seat at their outdoor communal table and scout for celebrities hiding behind oversized sunglasses. There’s no better spot for spotting paparazzi hoping to snap the next candid shot.
Just down the block, Blu Jam has been an area staple since 1996. Their enclosed patio lets you discreetly peer at passersby over the foliage. Order Aussie-inspired brunch dishes like avocado toast and watch Melrose's beautiful people fuel up for a day of shopping and social media influencing. The people watching possibilities are endless thanks to the constant stream of shoppers and dog walkers traversing Larchmont.
For prime views of the bustling strip itself, head to Urth Caffe. Their sprawling patio, shaded by umbrellas, allows for unobstructed observing behind the comfort of a frothy cappuccino. Watch for eccentric street performers hoping to earn tips from sidewalk spectators. Marvel at Melrose's only palm tree miraculously sprouting through the cement, a vestige of old LA. Listen for booming bass emanating from low riders cruising by.
Kitson, purveyor of luxury apparel and accessories, acts like a magnet for Melrose's most fashion-forward. Post up near their entrance, ice blended mocha in hand, to witness shoppers overflowing with glossy bags. Catch snippets of gossip about which celebs dropped thousands on their latest haul. Eavesdrop on influencers planning Instagram shoots out front of the iconic store.
Down the block, trendy eatery Catch LA sees scenesters flocking to its rooftop lounge for sunset cocktails and sparkling city views. Watch for reality stars angling for a shot of the Hollywood sign as they snap selfies. As the DJ picks up and the drinks flow freely, see marketing managers letting loose away from the office. When the tempo accelerates, witness wannabe models attempting Go-Go dance moves hoping to get noticed.
Even plain old Starbucks offers prime facetime on Melrose; their sprawling patio invites gawking at the edgy fashion. Look for YouTube personalities exaggerating emotions for content while sipping decaf lattes. Listen for photographers arranging amateur model shoots utilizing the urban backdrop.
Sip Your Way Through LA: Top Spots for Coffee, Tea, Wine, Sake and Mezcal - Beachside Cafes for Sun, Surf and Cappuccinos
Nothing epitomizes the laidback Los Angeles lifestyle quite like sipping coffee at a beachside cafe. Feel the ocean breeze and listen to the waves crash while fueling up on caffeine by the sand. LA offers prime spots to soak up the seaside atmosphere over a frothy cappuccino or cold brew.
Just steps from the Venice boardwalk, Menotti’s Coffee Stop buzzes with surfers grabbing their daily cup before hitting the waves. Kick back at one of their picnic tables on the patio to watch wetsuit-clad riders toting boards down to the shorebreak. Inhale the invigorating salty air as you sip your macchiato, then wander down to the skate park to marvel at local shredders defying gravity.
Further south in artsy El Segundo, once you’ve browsed the galleries on Main Street, head to Brewco for beach-facing views. Choose from a menu of globally inspired coffee drinks as jets soar overhead on their final LAX approach. Watch the tide poolers exploring the exposed rocks while you savor Aussie-style avocado toast.
Make the winding drive up to Malibu’s Las Tunas Beach for a peaceful respite at Malibu Farm Café. Their garden-fresh menu offers smoothie bowls and kombucha on tap to pair with that stunning sweeping ocean panorama. Kick off your shoes and wiggle your toes in the sand while catching up on emails using their free Wi-Fi.
Nearby Paradise Cove charms visitors with its surf shack vibes. Sink into a cozy Adirondack chair on the outdoor deck with your cold brew and soak in the laidback atmosphere. When you’ve finished your drink, explore the wooden path down to the secluded beach cove.
Head south to Manhattan Beach for iconic California views on the Shade Hotel’s rooftop cafe. Cradle your vanilla latte as you gaze out at the bustling bike path, volleyball nets and rolling waves. Grab a seat at the communal Harvester Table to be social.
Neighboring Hermosa Beach exudes quirky charm at Martha’s 22nd Street Grill. Their patio lets you watch the neighborhood locals while munching on avocado, bacon and goat cheese omelets. Don't miss their coconut macaroons with coffee for the perfect midday treat.
Further south in artsy Long Beach, Berlin Bistro transports you to Europe while still retaining those soothing ocean sounds and sea salt aroma. Savor their Cafe au Lait alongside a fresh pastry as you admire the sailors navigating the harbor on pleasure crafts.
Sip Your Way Through LA: Top Spots for Coffee, Tea, Wine, Sake and Mezcal - Rooftop Bars Offer City Views with Your Cocktails
After a long day exploring the city, few things beat heading to a rooftop bar as the sun begins its descent over the LA skyline. Perched high above the hustle and bustle, these alfresco oases let you soak in sweeping urban vistas while sipping imaginative cocktails crafted from premium spirits. As the fiery colors of sunset give way to twinkling city lights, rooftop revelry takes over with dancing, mingling and stellar cityscape eye candy.
Mighty Travels readers rave about the panoramic views from Perch in downtown LA. Situated 17 stories up on the rooftop of the Pershing Square Building, their coveted open-air terrace offers unobstructed 360-degree sights from the San Gabriel Mountains to the Hollywood Sign. Sipping Perch's refreshing French 75 poolside as the sky dims makes you feel on top of the world.
Just across the skybridge spanning Pershing Square lies Broken Shaker. This Miami export brought their chill rooftop vibes to LA atop the Freehand Hotel. Lush greenery, fringed umbrellas and wicker seating infuse tropical flair into their urban oasis. Guests especially dig on Broken Shaker's creative takes on classics like their Mezcal Mule accented with blood orange and ginger ale.
For unrivaled views of the Downtown LA skyline itself, The Rooftop at the JW Marriott beckons. Sitting pretty in a premier locale near LA Live and Staples Center, their wraparound terrace lets you survey the glimmering highrises in virtually every direction. Settle into a cozy banquette with Mighty Travels Premium members' beloved Manila Mango Mojito and watch as enveloping dusk blankets the towering cityscape.
Westsiders flock to The Rooftop at The Peninsula Beverly Hills for panoramic vistas of Santa Monica and the Pacific Ocean shimmering in the distance. Lush gardens and comfortably chic furniture create an oasis atop the posh property. Savor a watermelon margarita as the purple-hued sunset reflects off the hills and cityscape. Stick around as the rooftop transforms into an open-air nightclub with DJs spinning energetic beats.
For unforgettable Hollywood views, Mama Shelter charms guests with its lively rooftop setting the perfect distance from the famous sign for that quintessential shot. Share tasty tapas alongside top-notch mojitos or order bottle service for your group. Mama Shelter's central Hollywood location means potential celeb sightings to complement the stellar scenery.
Nearby at The Hollywood Roosevelt's Tropicana Bar, historic charm meets modern energy. Slink into a leather booth beneath twinkling lights and the iconic David Hockney painting. Their creative mixology menu offers unique sippers like the Green Cardamom Margarita to enjoy as the sun disappears behind the hills.