Best Coffee Shops to Put in the Work in LA: A Guide for Each Neighborhood
LA isn’t short of coffee shops—but ones that you can actually get some work done? That’s where it gets tricky. Your work session requires fast WiFi, seating options, and, preferably, outlets to get you through a long stint of staring at the screen. Oh, and of course, you’ll need great coffee to power you through.
We’ve put together a list of LA’s best coffee shops to work in, categorized by neighborhood, and we added our baristas’ favorite drink orders at each spot to make it easy for your first visit. Let’s get into it so you can plan your next work session!
The Valley
Inicio Coffee Company – Pacoima
Inicio Coffee Company is a “hidden gem in the Valley,” as locals call it. Located down the street from Hansen Dam and the Discovery Cube, our purpose-driven coffee shop supports anti-trafficking causes and is one of the best places to work in Los Angeles.
With free WiFi, pastries (including gluten-free and vegan options) from a local bakery, loose-leaf tea, premium matcha, and house-made syrup, you’re set up for a successful work day at Inicio Coffee. We have plenty of seating options, including tables and chairs, comfy chairs towards the back of our space, and bar seats overlooking the San Gabriel Mountains for a view that keeps you inspired as you grind it out. Not to mention, our baristas do their best to really get to know you when you visit, so your studying or work session feels a lot easier with them around.
Arrive early for easy parking and to secure your spot before the rush, or order ahead to skip the line before hunkering down for work.
Our Barista’s Go-To Order: Half-Sweet Cappuccino With Almond Milk
Black Heart – Sherman Oaks
With food that’s just as good as their coffee, Black Heart is a must-stop on the list of best coffee shops to get work done in LA. Located in Lake Balboa, Black Heart’s menu features artisan breakfast items, craft sandwiches, baked goods, and espresso-based drinks to power you through tough work sessions.
Black Heart has lots of indoor seating, as well as an outdoor patio to get some sun while you work. It’s a cozy indoor space, with greenery and original artwork—plenty to keep you inspired while you write those work emails.
Our Barista’s Go-To Order: Drip Coffee
Cara Vana – North Hollywood
Cara Vana is a cute coffee shop hidden away in North Hollywood. Their menu features sandwiches for quick lunches, all-day breakfast options, coffee-based drinks to stay caffeinated, and signature horchata lattes.
The best part about Cara Vana is their pet-friendly outdoor patio located at the back of their space. It’s shaded, has access to their free Wifi, and has plenty of seating to set up and put your head down for a few hours. The cafe also hosts many parties and events outside its regular shop hours, so if you’re looking for something to do after work, make the trip out to Cara Vana, and you may just meet your new best friend.
Our Barista’s Go-To Order: Earl Grey Lavender Cream Latte
Valley Grounds Coffee – Sherman Oaks
Valley Grounds Coffee is a space that screams girl boss energy. Pink neon lights, hot pink merch, plush rose seating, and an LED sign reading “Coffee Yes, You No” is the energy you need to be bringing into any workday—so what better place to set up for a work session than here?
With comfortable indoor seating and a few outdoor chairs, Valley Grounds is a solid spot for studying or working remotely. Their fun, original drinks, like the Hot Mess Express, Dad Fuel, and Cooler Than You Cold Brew, make you want to order them just to know how they’ve earned their names. If you’re in need of a little women’s empowerment, don’t miss Valley Grounds Coffee and its inspiring atmosphere. Keep in mind their hours are a bit out of the ordinary, so make sure they’re open before heading over.
Our Barista’s Go-To Order: Honey, Have A Good Day Latte
San Gabriel Valley
Highlight Coffee – Altadena
An Asian-owned cafe with a neighborhood coffeehouse vibe? Say less. Light-filled space, a menu that flaunts drinks using beans from Nordic roasters, and pastries from Sugarbloom Bakery (like the fan-favorite kimchi-Spam croissant)—Highlight Coffee in Altadena had to be on our list of the best coffee shops to work at in Los Angeles.
There’s plenty of indoor seating, fast Wifi, and friendly baristas to keep you going during your work session. Inside, it gives off Scandinavian, simplistic vibes with a few scattered pictures on the walls in an otherwise clean space.
Our Barista’s Go-To Order: Butterscotch Latte
Copa Vida – Glendale
If you’re looking for an extra-large working environment that gives off corporate vibes while still having the best coffee, hit up Copa Vida’s Glendale location. It’s a calm, spacious environment inside an office building that’s great for staying focused during an intense work or study session.
Keep in mind that there are a limited number of outlets, so either charge your laptop before heading out the door or arrive early to secure a spot. Their menu features classics like a latte or an americano, and they even offer small bites for breakfast or wraps to satisfy your cravings.
Our Barista’s Recommendation: Honey Latte
Rosebud Coffee – Pasadena
It’s surprisingly hard to find a coffee shop in Pasadena with seating and fast WiFi, but Rosebud Coffee fits the bill perfectly. It’s a spacious coffee shop off of Colorado Boulevard with counter seats and tables to choose from for your work session.
Perhaps the best part about Rosebud is the mission you support when you get coffee there—the shop employs unhoused and at-risk youth transitioning out of foster care. If you’re trying to study over a weekend, don’t bother since they only provide WiFi during the week.
Our Barista’s Recommendation:Rosebud Chai
Hollywood
Stories – Echo Park
We couldn’t leave out Stories on our list of the best coffee shops to work in LA. It’s a cozy half-bookstore, half-coffee shop, which couldn’t be a more perfect place to study or work remotely. You’ll probably find a lot of other remote workers or students putting in the hours—this is a popular hangout spot in Echo Park.
There’s even a quiet patio in the back of the space if you want to work outside. If you want a light snack while you’re on the clock, try one of their bagels, which are the best in the area. And if you get bored, go check out a book from their diverse collection to get inspired.
Our Barista’s Recommendation:Dirty Chai Latte
Sightglass – Hollywood
Sightglass is an open, airy coffee shop in Hollywood where you won’t struggle to find a seat or outlets for that project you’ve been putting off. They even have a patio if you prefer to work in the great outdoors, weather permitting. Sightglass roasts their coffee in-house, so you’ll most likely smell the fresh beans during your visit. Plus, their menu is packed with options to keep you full while you stay locked in.
At Sightglass, it’s not uncommon to see other remote workers or meetings over lunch, so you’ll fit right in if you decide to work in the space for a few hours.
Our Barista’s Recommendation:Any Rotating Seasonal Drink
Downtown LA
Archives of Us – Chinatown
Hidden away on the second floor of a nondescript building, Archives of Us has the look of a minimalistic design showroom that serves up some of the best coffee and matcha in DTLA. Since it’s a bit of a secret location, it’s usually not too busy, and the space provides lots of indoor and outdoor seating for you to get work done.
The quiet coffee shop serves cream-topped drinks with sourcing cards, and if you have a sweet tooth during your visit, don’t pass up their delicious canelés for extra motivation.
Our Barista’s Recommendation: Orange Mint Matcha
ilcaffè – DTLA
Il Caffè is a chic Scandinavian coffee shop and one of the best places to work in downtown Los Angeles. Located near the Ace Hotel, its stylish interior (and customers) will keep you inspired for hours on end.
There are plenty of outlets, coffee to keep you going, and a patio on the curb that overlooks DTLA’s hustle energy. They even offer Swedish treats like a to-die-for cinnamon bun. What else could you need for a productive work session?
Our Barista’s Recommendation:Cappuccino
Where to First on the List of Best Coffee Shops to Work in LA?
So, what’s your first stop? Perhaps you’ll go to Pasadena and stop by Rosebud to support a bigger mission, or go to Stories to fill your book-lover heart and get some work in. Each cafe offers something unique, so take a trip to each to find your favorite. If you find yourself in the Valley, visit us at Inicio to help stop human trafficking and enjoy specialty coffee while you put in the work.