Coffee Shops

ORANGE COUNTY

Milk and Honey

2981 Bristol St. #B6

Costa Mesa, CA

(714) 708-0092

Milk and Honey is a quaint little coffee shop, just across from The Lab shops. Although it only holds a few customers, it has both an inside and outside seating area with creative coffees, teas, and sandwiches. Some of their specialties include their acai bowl and peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Outside you can hear the soothing sound of a fountain running and have shade from the OC sun.

The Gypsy Den

125 N. Broadway Ave.

Santa Ana, CA 92701

(714) 835-8840

www.gypsyden.com

The Gypsy Den calls itself "more than a just a coffee shop...part cafe, part venue, and all community." With plenty of room and artistic inspiration to study and think philosophically, this shop is also a great place to have a good time and enjoy some local music. They offer scrumptious breakfast options, like French Toast with berries and granola, or oatmeal creme brulee. For lunch or dinner, pick the Mediterranean Pasta and for dessert there's always the Coconut Layer Cake or Bread Pudding.

LONG BEACH

Portfolio Coffee House

2300 East 4th Street

Long Beach, CA 90814

(562) 434-2486

After twenty years, Portfolio Coffee House offers more than just freshly brewed coffee, with many knitting classes and swingin' jazz nights throughout each month. Local art hangs on their walls and this coffee shop was the first to hold poetry readings in Long Beach. This coffee house is larger than most with two big rooms and a spacious outside patio. 

Passport Coffee House

449 E. Broadway

Long Beach, CA 90802

(562) 495-4907

Passport Coffee Shop sits quite comfy on a corner in East Village of Long Beach. They serve gourmet coffees and it's common to find people sitting outside playing music and just strumming on their guitars. The employees are friendly and make their customers feel comfortable. Although Long Beach doesn't offer as many unique coffee shops as Los Angeles or Orange County, this one is a great pick if you want to feel at home. 

LOS ANGELES

Sunset Junction

4019 Sunset Blvd. 

Los Angeles, CA 90029

(323) 661-7771

With eclectic taste and crucifxes, masks, and statues hanging all around the store, Sunset Junction is set in the heart of Los Angeles and is a part of The Sunset Junction Neighborhood Alliance, which is a non-profit organization that looks to provide the community with counseling, have farmers' markets, and have annual street fairs. This coffee shop sells coffee from around the world and even has "Open Mike Wednesdays." Besides just selling coffee, there's also jewelry (and even bed sheets) for sale. 

Lost Souls Cafe

124 W. 4th Street 

Los Angeles, CA 90013

(213) 617-7006

Lost Souls Cafe is roomy with plenty of seats available-- sometimes it's quiet and solemn, other times busy and bustling. They offer live music throughout the week and provide free wireless Internet. They have Spoken Word shows on Friday nights and offer savory crepes and sun bread. To relax, meet new people, or just to sit quietly with a good latte and book, visit Lost Souls Cafe. 

Katie Cervantes

Live OC Magazine

www.LIVEOCMAG.com