15 Best Cafes in Santa Monica with Charm (2024)
With its laid-back beach vibes and a restaurant scene, Santa Monica has no shortage of amazing cafes to explore.
While the Santa Monica pier is the highlight of the area for visitors, this beautiful city offers more than the pier with activities like surfing and hiking.
It’s also easy to find yourself strolling down Third Street Promenade, the hub of high-end boutiques.
Just like the city’s galleries and theatres, Santa Monica’s cafes are more than meets the eye, with many of them offering more than just a nice coffee to start the day. Cafes like Cora’s Coffee Shoppe feels like you’re sitting in nature with their secluded patio.
You definitely won’t have any trouble coming across a cafe in Santa Monica that elicits a certain charm that will make you spend hours there without even realizing it.
Here are the best cafes in Santa Monica to catch up with friends and work on creative projects.
Best Cafes in Santa Monica That are Truly Unique
1. Urth Caffe Santa Monica
Specializing in organic coffee and fine tea, Urth Caffe is a getaway to Europe, with their grand shop entrance and outdoor seating.
This is one of those cases where it may be hard to choose between sitting under an umbrella outside or sitting inside with their wooden beam ceiling and vibrant atmosphere.
Urth Caffe provides lunch and breakfast with many menu items you won’t see in any other coffee shop. But if you want a taste of what makes Urth Caffe special, try the original Urth breakfast and Urth fruit tarts with an Italian cappuccino.
2327 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405
2. Kafe K
The one thing can be difficult to find is a cafe that can accommodate working on a laptop and Kafe K is one of them with free Wifi and charging outlets.
The interior seating area is as colorful as the healthy food options and makes it easy to access your food and drinks if you are in a hurry.
But don’t limit yourself to enjoying your coffee and breakfast inside as there is a small seating area right outside the coffee shop.
Get a taste of Kafe K with their peanut butter toast, chai latte, and poached eggs.
2209 Main St b, Santa Monica, CA 90405
3. Dogtown Coffee
Experience the true essence of Santa Monica with Dogtown Coffee. Located on Main Street, this hip cafe is hard to miss.
If you’re wanting to find a cafe that doesn’t typically follow the trends of social media and instead stays loyal to the surfer and skater vibes of this California city, don’t skip on Dogtown Coffee.
Just like its name, expect to see a few dogs when stopping by this cafe.
Enjoy their breakfast burrito, cold brew iced coffee, or a granola bowl amongst the lively atmosphere.
This cafe is also vegan and gluten-friendly!
2003 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405
4. La La Land Kind Cafe
Not just great coffee but good tea selections reside at La La Land Kind Cafe. This up-beat cafe is set among a contemporary backdrop that oozes luxury but without the outrageous prices.
This is yet another place where you can easily spend all day, whether you decide to stay inside the cafe in the glowing and warm atmosphere or hang out outside with the comfy sofas and plants.
Tip: If you are looking for milk alternatives for your coffee, you may have to find a different place.
Try La La Land Kind Cafe’s creations like their butterfly matcha latte, the queen avocado toast, or the lavender bloom latte.
1426 Montana Ave #1, Santa Monica, CA 90403
5. Cora’s Coffee Shoppe
Cora’s is one of the best hidden gems in Santa Monica when it comes to cafe culture. The industrial exterior and retro interior with bar stools are already quite unique but their secluded patio surrounded by greenery takes the cake.
This cafe is a little bit more expensive than the others on this list, but the delicious food and atmosphere makes up for it.
Some of their tasty dishes include blueberry pancakes, huevos rancheros, and bruschetta poached eggs.
1802 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401
6. Huckleberry Bakery & Cafe
This women-owned cafe dives deep into the pastry world with a mouthwatering display of pastries from bagels to scones. Huckleberry also has a selection of whole cakes for catering.
The warm glow of this rustic cafe provides open arms for not only sweet lovers but breakfast lovers with their country breakfast platter and fried egg sandwich.
I also wouldn’t miss out on their freshly squeezed orange juice to pair with your meal.
1014 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
7. Love Coffee Bar
Mostly coffee with a few snacks, Love Coffee Bar is a great place to go if you have as much passion for coffee as they do.
While you can expect to find drip coffee, espresso, and latte to name a few all year round, this coffee bar also has seasonal beverages like honey lavender latte and Mexican mocha.
Sip on your coffee and bite into a warm croissant in this cozy and dog-friendly cafe in Santa Monica!
1732 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
8. Espresso Cielo
Located in Downtown Santa Monica, Espresso Cielo is a bright and airy place to try a range of coffee with locally made breakfast items. Their wide windows bring in plenty of natural light, blending well with the white countertops, blue chairs, and Bohemian-style light fixtures.
Take advantage of the nice weather by sitting outside in their small yet cute seating area right outside the entrance.
Espresso Cielo has their atmosphere down to science with the right music playing in the background for working and studying.
Their most well-known menu items are espresso, cappuccino, matcha latte, and the Spanish latte.
1431 2nd St, Santa Monica, CA 90401
9. Lo/Cal Coffee & Market
When you think of California, this cafe may be the first thing you think of. It’s hard to miss Lo/Cal Coffee & Market with their red brick exterior and floor to ceiling glass windows.
However, the best part of this cafe is the private patio area with wooden tables and chairs. It’s like you almost have the place to yourself.
Before heading outside to enjoy the patio space, stop by to capture the California Republic artwork on the brick wall.
Here are some Lo/Cal Coffee’s most popular menu items: great coffee, espresso, avocado toast, and empanadas.
2214 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
10. Blueys Santa Monica
Even before entering inside Blueys, you know it’s going to be a paradise with their carefully designed entrance and seating areas that ooze coastal bliss. This trendy, women-owned cafe is truly a gem with access to the beach.
However, Blueys does become crowded, so keep that in mind if you want to eat breakfast here. Also, if you drive to Blueys, there may be limited parking spaces.
Some of their most delicious dishes are the sweet squash pancakes and the breakfast burrito.
1814 Berkeley St, Santa Monica, CA 90404
11. LOKL HAUS
Santa Monica is one of those cities that prides themselves on being a place for artists and Lokl Haus showcases this theme quite well.
With beautiful murals on the outside of the building as well as artwork on the walls inside, it’s a cafe that encourages inspiration and creativity.
With their great coffee, the decor and atmosphere are just a bonus for Lokl Haus. You can find Asian and European-style coffee and dishes.
Their most popular menu items are the Turkish coffee, cilbir Turkish eggs, and the Mediterranean salad.
2627 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404
12. Goodboybob Coffee Roasters
Located in Broadway Place, this coffee roasting shop is an eccentric place to try modern espresso flavors with sandwiches and pastries.
While the coffee and the healthy food stands out, the stunning seating areas and decor enhances what might have been a typical coffee shop without these elements.
The cozy space inside Goodboybob is like a studio apartment with personality, colorful sofas, accent walls, and artwork.
Enjoy your chosen coffee in a unique mug with a well-crafted sandwich. Their most popular items include the avocado toast, dirty chai latte, and the breakfast burrito.
2058 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90404
13. Go Get Em Tiger
Wanting to find the perfect brunch place in Santa Monica? Go Get Em Tiger is a trendy cafe that is popular among tourists.
Just like other Santa Monica cafes, this one also has a beautiful mural and caters to a minimalist approach for interior design.
You can find Wi-Fi here if you decide to spend a few hours working.
They have pastries and breakfast dishes like burritos and chilaquiles, as well as iced coffee and lattes.
930 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403
14. Demitasse
What makes this coffee shop unique is their delicious dessert options and in-house roasting beans that truly brings one-of-kind flavors into the spotlight. Demitasse has every flaky and soft pastry imaginable.
Whether you decide to sit outside in the warm sun or inside with an inviting atmosphere, Demitasse may become your favorite coffee shop.
Try their classic Demitasse chai, cold brew, and their lavender hot chocolate.
1149 3rd St, Santa Monica, CA 90402
15. UnUrban Coffee House
It’s time to amp up the funk at the UnUrban Coffee House. With live comedy and music, this women-owned cafe is a colorful place to spend the morning or evening.
Every square foot of this coffee house is decked out in colors, artwork, and vintage trinkets that really brings the creative aura to life.
The good vibes of UnUrban Coffee House are actually addicting, with very few cafes matching with their free-spirited theme.
Make sure to try their americano, banana bread, and tuna sandwich.
3301 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Final Thoughts: Cafes in Santa Monica with Good Vibes
I don’t know about you, but the atmosphere of a cafe is just as important as the taste of their coffee and food.
It’s a star in my book if some of the cafes manage to capture the overall vibe of a city through decor.
If you ever want to start cafe-hopping, Santa Monica is the city to do it in with so many different cafes with endless food and drink options.
Which cafe from this list resonated with you?
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