The Best Cafes And Coffee Shops In LA (2024 Edition)

When it comes to coffee culture, Australians have obviously set a pretty high bar. So much so, that for the past few years we’ve seen a growing community of entrepreneurs open up their own cafes in Los Angeles, bringing Australia’s characteristic coffee roasts and bountiful breakfast menus with them.

Here’s 6 of the best cafes and coffee shops in LA that will remind you of home.

Strings Of Life

609 N W Knoll Dr, West Hollywood

Image credit: Strings of Life | Instagram

Opening an 80-seat cafe during the pandemic seems like an ambitious project. But it didn’t stop the Aussie-founded Botanical Group (who also own popular LA nightspots E.P. & L.P. and Grandmaster Recorders) from kicking yet another goal with the launch of Strings of Life in West Hollywood. Open until 6pm, 7 days a week, the busy cafe serves all the beverages you’d need to get you through a typical day—from coffee to beer, wine, cider and cocktails. The food menu leans more towards the Californian palate, featuring croissants, burritos, salads and bagels—any of which would be a solid choice to complement your flat white.

Bluestone Lane

Seven Locations Across LA

Former AFL player Nick Stone first launched Bluestone Lane in New York just over a decade ago. He’s since become one of the most successful Australian hospitality leaders in the business, with 55 cafe locations throughout the United States (including several LA outposts). The Bluestone Lane chain is committed to “enlightening the American palate” with cleaner, sweeter coffee roasts and precise technique (not us being shy about the superiority of our coffee culture). It shows, because sipping one of their coffees triggers a wave of nostalgia or some might say relief as you’re reminded of a comforting Melbourne laneway brew. The food options are simple, colourful and healthy; there’s toasts topped with banana, avocado or smoked salmon; leafy and lean protein bowls; and teeny pots of granola available all day.

Ministry Of Coffee

1010 Glendon Ave, Los Angeles

Image credit: Ministry of Coffee | Instagram

Fans will recognise Ministry of Coffee (MOC) from its presence in Pyrmont, Sydney, where their Signature Series coffee blends are roasted. However, the brand is even better known in Los Angeles, where they have three cafe locations. Unlike the Australian counterpart,  MOC’s menu focuses on American cafe fare like eggs and bacon, pastries, burgers and fruit bowls . The kind of thing you might find at an iHop or Denny’s—but fresh and made from good quality ingredients.

Miss Melbourne Coffee 

1051 Havenhurst Dr, West Hollywood

Miss Melbourne is a small, community-centric cafe in West Hollywood that’s known for hosting annual Australia Day parties and for its rather outspoken owner, Simon Boctor, who has gone on the record to say that percolated American coffee is akin to toilet water. Nobody has argued his point–especially not after tasting his Australian-style brews. Ironically, the cafe uses Italian Lavazza beans, which seems like a missed opportunity (but historically, Australia’s coffee scene was inspired by Italian immigrants so this technically makes a lot of sense). You’ll find your fix of lamingtons, pasties, sausage rolls and Vegemite on toast on the menu, as well as a less uniquely Australian (but very appealing) bottomless mimosa special for $25.

Go Get Em Tiger 

Six Locations Across LA

Image credit: GGETLA| Instagram

While it’s not an Australian business, Go Get Em Tiger roasts its own coffee to a standard that even the most discerning coffee snob would line up for. They have 8 cafes in Los Angeles; the original location in Grand Central Market gets the most foot traffic, and serves an abbreviated menu that includes single origin filter, 24 hour cold brew, chai, and matcha lattes. But the other locations offer expanded sit-down food menus that feature everybody’s favourite—avocado toast—which Americans think that they created. Who’s going to tell them?

Bronzed Aussie

1437 S Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles

Founder Samantha Bryan has come all the way to LA from Sydney in an effort to bring pies to the people. Her store Bronzed Aussie lives inside the Kitchen 1437 virtual food court, where traditional Aussie sausage rolls and classic meat pies are baked to order. There’s no physical cafe to park yourself at, but order online for pickup or delivery—and grab a latte while you wait for the piping hot pastries to arrive.