The best cafes + coffee shops, everywhere
As shared by my hot, local, and well-traveled friends
We’re back with another ~special edish~ of Hot Tip, just in time for any upcoming December travels! This week I asked my hot and interesting friends to tell me about their favorite hometown coffee shop/pastry destination/tea house—or, the spot they visited on vacation that they can’t stop thinking about. So get out of bed, support a local biz, and get caffeinated, babes, because coffee and croissants are two of life’s great joys—and also it would be really embarrassing to repeatedly fall asleep at work, or just generally out in public. Shameful, really. One should probably resign in disgrace and then go away forever if that were to happen.
(Hot tip: If this guide gets cut off in your inbox, you can read the full list here. And please, drop your favorite spot in the comments, too!!)
CALIFORNIA
Companion, Venice, LA. I’m biased because I work there, but it truly is one of my favorite places in the neighborhood. Delicious coffee (same owners as Gnarwhal Coffee), pastries from the iconic Echo Park spot Cafe Tropical, and immaculate vibes that feel like walking into a cozy home. — Laurén, Marketing + Events Freelancer
Los Coffeeholics, Santa Clarita. Woman-owned + she always goes the extra mile to make it special! Cute coffee designs, mini floral bouquets with random orders, handwritten messages on the cups, scrapbook Sundays. Her sister makes the cookies and they’re perfect, too! — Madison, Actor
Lamill, Silverlake, LA. Great people watching, lots of seating indoors and outdoors, really delicious homemade pastries, classic Silverlake/Los Angeles creative environment. Hot tip: You can skip the line and order if you find a table to sit at with the barcode sticker. — Catherine, Editor
Moniker, San Diego. We moved here about 18 months ago, and this spot inside Liberty Station has saved my sanity as a Very Lonely and Bored person who works from home full-time. The aesthetic is stellar, there’s plenty of indoor and outdoor seating (with wifi), they actually have skim milk (important to me, which I realize is a controversial take), the acai bowl is huge, and the baristas are attentive, warm, and organized. On the occasion I space out when ordering, they know my favorites well enough to double-check while making the drink to confirm I hadn’t misspoken (I had) and make the latte the way they know I like it. AND they make recommendations based on my existing favorites. Truly, I am loyal to them in my bones. — Julie, Associate Editorial Director of Events
Bake Sum, Oakland. It’s a French-Asian fusion bakery, and it’s incredible. I never wondered how an okonomiyaki danish or a gochujang pull apart would turn out, but now I’m obsessed with both! Also, if you happen to go to the bakery on a Saturday morning, there’s an amazing farmers market around the corner. — Aaron, Energy Markets Manager
bakesum.com Coffee Cartel, Palos Verdes. Possibly the coolest place in a notoriously uncool Los Angeles suburb. A gathering spot for beach bums, suburban hipsters on the job hunt, and those in search of culture far from the heart of LA. It’s got books, couches, and an absence of matcha lattes. — Larry, Restaurant Operator
COLORADO
Steam, Platt Park, Denver. It has equal indoor and outdoor space with an outdoor order window for people with strollers/kids or dogs, which is so thoughtful. The outdoor area is beautiful with lots of different seating areas and a little yard; the inside is cozy and has a great espresso bar with a few stools to sit at in addition to their table seating. They have amazing green juice and croissants as well as good coffee! — Carly, Illustrator
FLORIDA
Mane Coffee, Boca Raton. It’s one of the best coffee shops in America according to Food & Wine, and it truly has something for everyone. Menu highlights include an iced banana latte (the Pandana Banana), an iced blueberry cappuccino (Sky’s Pancakes), and eight specialty roasters ranging from Norway, to the Netherlands, to South Carolina. Pastries are made fresh daily and my recommendation is the vanilla custard cruffin. Plenty of seating, whether you want to be outside or inside, are there to co-work, or catch up with a friend. — Elana, Writer
GEORGIA
Little Tart, Grant Park, Atlanta. I moved away several years ago but whenever I visit, this is always the best coffee shop for yapping for hours with friends, downing some fancy latte, and sharing whatever insane thousand-layer baked good they made fresh that morning. The atmosphere is undoubtedly cute vibes, especially thanks to the gorgeous sunlit windows with tiny obscure messages that don’t really make sense but are, again, cute vibes. Plus, it’s right across the street from a beloved cemetery, so you can take a nice walk with your to-go coffee. — Anca, Writer
Flora and Fauna, Savannah. It’s our go to spot on a lazy, late Saturday morning. It has a great selection of pastries and breads and delicious coffee drinks. We especially love their cappuccino. Definitely a must-visit when in Savannah! — Steffi, Lawyer, and Ericka, Prosthodontist
ILLINOIS
Hexe Coffee, West Lakeview, Chicago. Their lattes are excellent along with all of their food. They also have one of the best patios in the city! Personally, it is exactly one mile from my house, so it’s the perfect stroll on a nice day. — Julia, Consultant
Soloway Coffee, Lincoln Park, Chicago. Ukrainian-owned, and it’s their first coffee location outside of Ukraine. Personally one of the few places I feel like does a ~proper~ latte. Tree-lined Lincoln Park patio close to parks and lakes, can’t beat it! — Anna, Finance Manager
Lost Larson, Andersonville, Chicago. There is no better place to enjoy a coffee and a pastry before doing some holiday shopping in the cutest neighborhood. LL is cozy, the food is delicious, and everyone who works there is really lovely too (or maybe I’m just from LA and am used to assholes). — Lily, Senior Commerce Editor
MICHIGAN
TeaHaus, Ann Arbor. My college staple nestled in the heart of Kerrytown. There are endless flavors of teas, delicious pastries, and some of the best French macarons I’ve ever had (with unique flavors that rotate every month!) Even better, this cozy off-campus favorite has now expanded to also include a bar, so you can help yourself to a plethora of tea-inspired cocktails. Not located in Michigan? Have no fear, you can order teas for delivery off their website, and even join a tea of the month club. — Brenna, Performer
NEW JERSEY
The Artist Baker, Morristown. It’s a cozy, grandma-chic spot to have a gabfest with a friend and feel like everything is gonna be okay. — Mary, Writer
NEW MEXICO
Humble Coffee Company, Albuquerque. A high-quality product and ardent focus on local artisans sets Humble coffee apart from the competition in Albuquerque. — August, IT Network Admin
NEW YORK
L’Appartement 4F, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn. It’s the best! So cozy and perfectly designed in a way that’s simple, yet so homey. It’s my go-to spot, and the pastries are insane. The people who own it are really wonderful, too. — Alexis, Writer (+ check out her newsletter Extra Credit)
Ciao, Gloria, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. I lived in Prospect Heights for many years before it was considered a “cool neighborhood,” so you have to listen to me! When I’m back in Brooklyn, I go to Ciao, Gloria to work almost every day. And I always get so much done! Something in the air I guess. They have amazing pastries and great food, but my favorite thing to order is their coffee granita. Only available during the summer, it’s basically a coffee slushie that is 75 parts pure caffeine and 75 parts sugar (somehow it has over 100 parts). Don’t judge, it’s good. You just have to accept the post-granita jitters. They do have laptop rules, but there are certain seats where you can be on your laptop at any time. — Megan, Author (+ check out her new Substack, weird pasta by Megan Gilbert)
Rough Draft Bar & Books, Kingston. It’s one of the reasons we fell in love with our new city. It’s in a historic stone building built in 1774 and is a cozy gathering space for folks to read books, drink a seasonal coffee concoction, grab a beer, or hear from a local author. — Sarah, Interior Designer, and Korey, Environmental Lawyer
Lagusta’s Luscious, New Paltz. My favorite cafe/confectionary. If you’re headed upstate, make a stop at this delicious, always aesthetically and politically on-point queer-run spot. They make drinks based on their home-made chocolates (Tahini Meltaways, anyone??) plus flavorful sandwiches and burritos that will fill you up for your country walk/drive/ski trip/fire-gazing/protest/revolution. Also: it’s fully vegan (but you wouldn’t notice if nobody told you)! — Lex, Writer
TENNESSEE
Frothy Monkey, Nashville. A cute coffee shop with fun flavorful coffee and some of the best honey I’ve ever had!!! — Carrie, Broadway Company Manager
TEXAS
Epoch Coffee, Austin. My favorite spot is perhaps colored by college nostalgia, but Epoch Coffee in Austin is always the first place that comes to mind when I think of a quintessential coffee shop. The North Loop location is open 24/7 and has outlets aplenty. The seating options are varied and comfortably communal. Mugs are big to accommodate generous pours and tea can be ordered by the pot. Local art adorns the walls and it’s lit with warm bulbs ONLY. The whole vibe is basically a COEXIST bumper sticker come to life (compliment). If you’re looking for a coffee shop to hunker down or have a heart to heart, Epoch won’t let you down. — Emily, Producer
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Peregrine Espresso. Wrote tons and tons of my novel at there. Love it. Cool people, great coffee, unfussy vibe. I once traded an extra bottle of kewpie mayo for a cortado with one of the baristas. Perfect neighborhood cafe. — Emily, Writer
Tatte. An upscale cafe chain that makes you feel like you’re in a Parisian bistro, the wide selection of pastries make it easy to rack up a $35 dollar breakfast bill without blinking an eye. I live in Downtown DC, about a stone’s throw from the White House and all the lobbyists on K street who also don’t mind an overpriced matcha latte. But when I roll up to Tatte in sweatpants and sneakers, surrounded by suited and booted policymakers, I’m reminded what being a DC local really looks like. — Matt, Senior Policy Manager
INTERNATIONAL
Panadería Rosetta, Mexico City. Tourist trap or not, this is easily the most beautiful cafe with the most beautiful pastries I’ve ever seen. The line can be long but it moves fast, especially if you’re taking a coffee and canela to go. It was so good I went two mornings in a row, the second time for a full breakfast, coffee, and a blueberry focaccia the size of my face, and it all cost less than $20. I flew home with two extra conchas—just don’t tell TSA. — Alex, Your Dear Hot Tip Curator
Rosendals Trädgård, Stockholm. My version of the happiest place on earth. You can walk around the grounds, grab coffee from a cozy greenhouse with some fresh baked goodies or lunch, sit outside, and just be. Nowhere to rush, enjoying company, nature, and amazing food. It’s a whole experience, and I think about it almost daily from the other side of the world. — Halle, Ceramicist
Ruine Coffee, Paris. It’s a small hole in the wall with art-covered walls, and you’re greeted with pads of paper, markers, and colored pencils on the tables so you can doodle while you sip. The entire staff is unbelievably friendly, the banana bread and pastries are all homemade, and the coffee is some of the best I’ve ever had... if you’ve been to Paris, you know good coffee can be hard to find! — Bella, writer of the Mindholiday travel newsletter
Mother Canteen, Gospel Oak, London. Very hidden (in a council estate), super cute and cosy inside with plants and mismatched furniture. Very community-orientated and the menu changes every day. The cuisine is “global,” which means “not British,” so you don’t have to worry about lumpy gravy. They also have great coffee and a basket of dinosaur toys. I don’t know what else you could ask for really. — Amy, Writer + comedian (+ check out her Substack/Podcast What's Left?)
Irma, Rome. I love Irma for a few reasons. First, it’s right by my place in Rome. And second, it’s in the heart of one of my favorite neighborhoods: Prati. Prati is a historic Roman district but—luckily—it’s still off the main tourist routes. It’s full of beautiful old buildings and great restaurants and cafés, partly because many media and production companies are based here, along with the headquarters of Italy’s public broadcaster, RAI. Irma has a relaxed vibe: you can sit outside, and the interior is simple but thoughtfully designed. It’s perfect for breakfast, a healthy lunch, an early evening aperitivo or a post dinner amaro. — Gregorio, Journalist
Previously on Hot Tip:
Respectfully… no Seattle coffee shops?? THE coffee city? I can provide the best spots! :)
Fun!! I’ll start with Irma in Rome!!