Coffee dates have become a huge part of our weekend routine. In our early days of dating when we were commuting between Orange County and Los Angeles, I would always relish in our first outing to get coffee because for me, it would be the beginning of an amazing weekend together. I would always look forward to going to a cute coffee shop together early in the morning to catch up on the week and people watch.
Now that we’re both in LA, coffee dates are still my favorite and we’ve collected a few favorite spots that we like to frequent while we’re out and about exploring. Here’s our five favorite coffee shops east of the LA River–that have great coffee AND are the most instagrammable!
– CAFE DE LECHE –
2477 N. Lake Ave. Altadena, CA 91001
That geometric tiled wall and floor just get us every time! The coffee though…is even better. We don’t have to go all the way to Portland to get some Stumptown coffee, because it’s served right here in Altadena (and in Highland Park).
– CIVIL COFFEE –
5628 N. Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90012
Even though Civil Coffee doesn’t have WiFi, it’s still an amazing place to hang out and catch up with friends. Their lavender latte is boasted to be the best, and in our opinion, it truly does live up to its name! We love their tiled floors and great space with large tables. This is also right next door to one of our favorite restaurants, Cafe Birdie.
– INTELLIGENTSIA –
3922 W. Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028 // 55 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91103
You can never go wrong with the original–Intelligentsia. This is Brandon’s favorite coffee. The one in Silverlake is a must-stop if we’re in the area. The space of both the Silverlake and Pasadena locations are spacious and are great for getting some work done or meeting up with friends.
– ALFRED COFFEE –
3337 1/2 W. Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026
The origin of the “But first coffee” phrase, Alfred Coffee is never a disappointment. We love that there’s one in Silverlake now so we don’t have to trek all the way to Melrose to get some great tasting Stumptown. And with these walls and amazing neon sign, who could resist?
– LAVENDER & HONEY –
1383 E. Washington Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91104
This special place is right down the street from our apartment so it is one of our most frequented haunts. We go here if we’re craving flavored coffee (our usual drink of choice is an iced americano (Jasmine) and an iced latte (Brandon). Here you’ll find a really great Honey Bee Latte and a delicious Lavender Breve. This cozy space has become a great hub to meet up friends to catch up. They also have really yummy sandwiches and toasts!
We’ve also made a Youtube Video showcasing these amazing spaces. Have a look to see what these places look inside:
THE PLEB LIFE 