The best coffee shops in Silver Lake

Part neighborhood hangout, part subscription service, Dayglow is a haven for serious coffee drinkers and dabblers alike. Owner Tohm Ifergan sources specialty beans from an ever-expanding array of roasters, which translates into a diverse selection of pour-overs with listed tasting notes. The standards here are all well done, but the most unique, standout part of the menu remains the slightly pricey house signature drinks, which take a craft cocktail approach to dispensing caffeine. Drinks made with distilled coffee and cascara (a.k.a. coffee cherries) offer something for those with a lower caffeine tolerance, while a top-shelf “signature series” even makes use of stemware for added flourish. There’s also a decent tea selection, caffeine-free options like shrub soda and free Wi-Fi—though the limited seating and lack of outlets means it’s not the best place to park yourself and your laptop for hours on end.

The daytime counterpart of Tenants of the Trees, Cafe Nido is the perfect place to catch up with a friend or pass the time on a weekday afternoon. (We can’t speak for the weekends, when the place gets extremely crowded.) The impeccably designed interiors feature interesting artwork and varied seating arrangements, but the major draw is the charming patio, where patrons can pick from a trailer full of used books—available to read, rent or buy—while enjoying coffee, pastries and sandwiches. You’ll find plenty of locals studying scripts and typing away at various creative projects, though Nido’s atmosphere is also more than conducive to conversation. The drinks aren’t the best you’ll ever have, but you won’t find a better coffee shop in Silver Lake in terms of ambience.

Have you ever walked into a coffee shop and thought, “Oh look, plenty of space to sit and enough outlets to go around?” Yeah, we thought so. But somehow, Dinosaur Coffee has managed to create a near-perfect space that caters to the life of a freelancer without an office. Plenty of seating, outlets galore and did we mention the coffee (from Echo Park’s Woodcat Coffee) is solid? It’s on the slightly pricier side, sure, but it more than pays its way in the unlimited hours you are allowed to use Dinosaur’s Wi-Fi (or the free Wi-Fi that comes from the adjacent McDonald’s). A smattering of baked goods are available for purchase as well—the caramel brownie is a highlight—and the shop’s modern, Jurassic Park-esque design reminds you that coffee doesn’t always have to be serious.

No longer the coolest kid on the block, this specialty coffee giant has become a neighborhood staple thanks to unflaggingly excellent beans, a strong Wi-Fi connection and that gorgeous tiled patio, where locals and their adorable pups (“He’s a rescue”) congregate on the weekends. For sustenance, look to the the shop’s small but tasty selection of pastries, or venture to Pharmacie du Vin next door for freshly made sandwiches. Then settle in with your cuppa to see and be seen.

For a cozier, less scene-y atmosphere than Cafe Nido, look to this neighborhood coffee shop run by Howie Goldklang, the cofounder of Silver Lake Track Club, and hairstylist Carly Flynn, who also runs the Establishment next door. The drinks here run standard, but the sweets-inclined will appreciate the Nutella and peanut butter latte options. In addition to a small food menu that includes burritos, breakfast sandwiches, pretzels and bagels, Makisupa also sells energy bars and other running-related paraphernalia. The adjoining atrium offers small tables and a few outlets for charging laptops, and there’s even a few parking spots behind the building for customers.

This French-Japanese streetwear brand’s eponymous cafe is one of the newer additions to Silver Lake’s coffee shop scene—and what it lacks in square footage, it makes up for in style. No laptops or tablets are allowed, but patrons still fill the space at all hours for matcha lattes and coffee standards served in branded cups and glasses, plus the chance to snap a photo of the space or their drink. Avoid the namesake drink on the menu; it’s an expensive, chalky-tasting mix of turmeric, ginger and orange juice that makes a mockery of Los Angeles tastebuds.