VIBE

Gothic coffeehouse-cum-dungeon popular with the laptop-toting creative set. The front space goes classic edgy with concrete floors, neon blue walls, grungy overstuffed chairs, and an odd-ball chandelier, while in the back the "Forest Room" comes complete with foam trees, dim green lighting, and creepy magic forest vibes. We were almost intimidated to hang out here (everyone seems to know each other and seems in on the behind-the-scenes movie industry), but it has a very distinct and unusual charm that really hooked us.

CROWD

A mix of rumpled creative types and too-cool hipsters.

WHAT WE WOULD WEAR

Anything goes. We’d wear jeans and an ironic t-shirt, or a casual dress and flip flops. Just don’t go preppy–this is a spot that loves its edginess and dark colors.

GO HERE WITH

Friends; yourself; a pet

WHY WE LIKE IT

The coffee here is startlingly potent, the Wi-Fi free, and the hipster vibes the real deal.

WHAT WE WOULD CHANGE

The surly, slow service, the too-dim-to-work lighting, the impossible parking situation, and the creepy bathrooms.

GOOD TO KNOW

It’s cash only, so make sure you’ve got enough dough. If you’re looking to splash out, the artwork on the walls is all for sale (it’s a rotating exhibit by local artists). For those traveling with pets, good news is that they allow dogs inside, though they have to be kept on a leash.

OTHER LOCATIONS

None

Click here for our full-form mobile travel guide, The Purple Passport to Los Angeles