Cafe Muse

Cafe Muse

6547 Santa Monica Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 464-MUSE


Wi-Fi:  Free
Parking:  Neighborhood
Cost: $$

Review Contributed By:  Anna Siri

Pretty good, right in the heart of Hollywood Theater Row.  Yummy food - ham sandwich with Havarti and Dijon on a pretzel roll.  Quiet until the lunch crowd rolls in.  Good wi-fi, but the tables are small, chairs a little uncomfortable.  Overall, solid.

Bricks & Scones

403 N. Larchmont Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90004
(323) 463-0811


Wi-Fi:  Free
Parking:  Neighborhood - Meters and 2-hour
Cost: $$

Review Contributed By:  Anna Siri

Oh, I love this place, but if you're on a diet, avoid the scrumptiously delicious warm scones, served with jam, lemon curd, and clotted cream.  Couches, desks, tables, and plenty of nooks to curl up with your laptop in this quiet little gem.  The patio was crowded when I got there, but great atmosphere and yummy treats.  Watch out for parking - Larchmont can be a pain.  Park a few blocks away and don't worry about it.

Panera Bread

12131 Ventura Blvd
Studio City, CA 91604-2515
(818) 762-3131


Wi-Fi:  Free
Parking:  Parking Lot - Free
Cost: $$

Review Contributed By:  Anna Siri


While you'll notice that most of the entries on this site are indie coffee houses and such, there are a few chain entries that have become part of my writing place routine.  Panera Bread in Studio City is one of those.  Good food, fairly inexpensive, free wi-fi and parking, and I have often sat all afternoon without anyone kicking me out.  The only drawback is that if you arrive at lunchtime, you might have trouble finding a table.  Show up mid-morning or mid-afternoon and you're golden.

Chango Coffee

1559 Echo Park Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 977-9161


Wi-Fi:  Free
Parking:  Street
Cost: $$

Review Contributed By:  Ruchika Mandhyan

OMG I am in a great place right now! Wi-Fi.  Coffee with unlimited refills.  Street parking ample.

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Insomnia Cafe

7286 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036-2545 
(323) 931-4943

Wi-Fi:  Pricey
Parking:  Street
Cost: $$

Review Contributed By:  Anna S. ‎

Oh, this place falls under my "Could Be Awesome" heading.  It's a carbon copy of my favorite Evanston coffee shop from my college days, Kaffein, down to the couches, the layout, and the artsy decor.  Good coffee and snacks, too!  Unfortunately, there are three drawbacks.  First, no free wi-fi, which I consider almost criminal in a writer's hangout - most of us desperately need the Internet as part of our regular writing routine.  Secondly, parking on Melrose is never good.  Ever.  And lastly, the place has far too many other writers vying for space.  It's competitive, and you feel compelled to wonder what the guy or gal at the next table is working on.  This also means there are very few empty tables unless you show up early.  So I'll say this is a great place to write under certain circumstances - arrive early, find a neighborhood non-metered spot to park, stake out a couch, and don't require web access - then enjoy the coffee and in my case, nostalgia to your heart's content.

Cafe Aroma

7801 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 653-2459

Wi-Fi:  Free
Parking:  Street
Cost: $$

Review Contributed By:  Anonymous

Because I'm usually away from my apartment most of the time, I really enjoy writing at my place on the weekends (especially now that I live alone -- YAY!).  That said, I used to go to a place on Melrose, just a few blocks east of Fairfax, called Cafe Aroma.  It's usually pretty quiet in there.  It's small but they do have several couches, counter tops and tables to write at.  Management is cool, i.e. they don't mind you hanging there for a long time.  Prices are reasonable as well.  Street parking is so-so.  And I believe they do have a Wi Fi connection.

The Office

256 26th Street, Suite 101
Santa Monica, CA
90402-2524
310-917-4455
www.theofficeonline.com

Wi-Fi: 
Parking: 
Cost: $4.99/hr or monthly membership

Review Contributed By:  Anna S.

I've been very curious about this place - advertises as a writer's workspace.  The month membership fee is a bit steep for the average struggling writer (the hourly fee isn't much better), but if anyone has given this a try, let me know!