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Many have argued that Los Angeles is a morning city, full of cafés and smoothie shops, rather than a thrumming hub of nightlife. But increasingly, new proprietors don’t think people should have to choose. Various coffee shops and tea houses around L.A. are mastering a day-to-night hat trick that keeps guests buzzing on caffeine and often something a little stronger.
Some of these shapeshifting locales get quite raucous at night, some encourage a bit of day drinking, while others still keep the vibes lifted and the drinks spirit-free. Determining which spots to include involved threading a needle, shying away from all-day restaurants or bars that open a little early. This trek unearthed third spaces that transform, inviting community from near and far to gather around great drinks, music, and each other.
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The earliest example of this trend was Steep LA, which launched its Steep After Dark program as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the years, their bar program has expanded and become increasingly intertwined with their tea service. “Till this day, we are still one of the very few tea-focused cocktail bars in the United States,” says Samuel Wang, who co-owns the Chinatown tea house with Lydia Lin.
Now with a wide range of intriguing tea-based craft cocktails, Steep has given itself a bit of a breather in between services to adjust to the pace: “The day is much more relaxing, like a cafe, with tea ceremonies happening throughout the day and customers taking a very slow stroll in their day,” says Wang. “Whereas at night, the experience is a bit more vibrant and exciting. People are talking a bit louder, the music is a bit louder… There is literally a bit more buzz in the room.”
On the Westside, Latin tapas and coffee shop ¡Salud! has a similar break in service, but the energy has a more consistent electricity, no matter what time you’re there. The day draws in remote workers ready to sip lattes from stemware, while evenings see a surge of friend groups and dates, boosted by rotating DJs on weekends.
“Closing between services gives our team the opportunity to fully reset and intentionally transition the space from a daytime café into an evening cocktail destination,” says Celia Sanchez Lara, who co-founded the concept with her husband Richard. “At the same time, our long-term goal is to continue closing the gap between services.”
The other entries on this list keep the good vibes rolling—though some don’t stay open as late—serving as neighborhood haunts that can turn a Wednesday into an experience and make you want to become a regular. If you’re looking for a café that starts getting a little wild after 5pm, look no further than these eclectic hangout spots.
Bar Betsy
During the day: The low-frills espresso menu pairs with a well-curated selection of pastries, breakfast dishes, and sandwiches, but it’s never too early for a glass of bubbles. Some manage to get work done, while most catch up with friends over that week’s salad.
Evening shift: Glasses clink and chatter fills the space as guests make their way through menus of meat, cheese, and light bites. You can get some privacy, but be prepared to become best friends with your neighbor.
Time Out tip: You will see no fewer than a dozen burgers flying out, so save yourself some time and just order it from the jump.
Opening hours: Daily 8am–10pm
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Steep LA
During the day: Slow down with a full tea ceremony in an atmosphere somewhere between a library and a zen garden. This is more a place to get meditative with a book or your journal than pore over those Q2 numbers.
Evening shift: The energy gets a lift from tea cocktails like the Shouguo Negroni, which brings depth to a White Negroni with its Shoumei white tea. The space is buzzy but not overwhelming, making it a great first stop on a night out in Chinatown.
Time Out tip: Snag a reservation on weekends to ensure you have enough time to explore their evening menu, but walk-ins are often available with a manageable wait.
Opening hours: Tue 11am–4pm; Wed–Sun 11am–4pm, 5pm–11pm
Café Tondo
During the day: Café Tondo serves up breakfast burritos and lighter bites, including a suite of Mexican sweet pastries. Most of the seating is better suited to catching up with a friend over an espresso tonic, with an energy so gentle it peaks during Saturday’s midday chess games.
Evening shift: Chinatown’s nightlife buzz has more or less belonged to this wine bar since it opened, with people spilling out into the parking lot, eating and drinking on stacked crates on weeknights and dancing the night away on weekends.
Time Out tip: Though the food generally swings between middling and good, the wine list is surprisingly strong for the price point, blending the smooth and familiar with funkier, natural wines. Whatever your personal taste, a glass of wine awaits anyone in a large group.
Opening hours: Sun–Thu 11am–11pm; Fri, Sat 11am–2am; Sun 11am–11pm
Reunion & Company
During the day: Curl up with some Kafka and a cappuccino or a sandwich and a sauvignon blanc at this Silver Lake gem serving up Reunion & Company’s own wines. More reminiscent of an Ojai café than anywhere else in Silver Lake, this wine bar is typically full of local regulars in the middle of the day.
Evening shift: As the hour gets later, the more stemware you’ll see and laughter you’ll hear — sometimes due to a comedy show. The dog-friendly alcove has several seating areas despite its small size, so there’s usually a perfect spot for your friends, a date, or just a corner to nestle into.
Time Out tip: Their take on a Kalimotxo marries bartending with the ever-present cold foam craze for a refreshingly new experience.
Opening hours: Sun–Tue 8am–3pm; Wed–Sat 8am–10pm
¡Salud!
During the day: The lively café draws a mix of regular remote workers and locals eager for one of its signature espresso drinks. Plug in your laptop, grab a breakfast burrito and Mazapan latte, and be prepared to be shocked when it’s already 2pm.
Evening shift: The lights dim and the energy peaks as craft cocktails like force carbonated Palomas and smoky, earthy martinis take over at the bar. You can keep it light with the tapas or make a full meal of it with heftier items like the Albondiga burger or their smoky hangar steak, complemented by a shisito chimichurri.
Time Out tip: The spinach and cheese empanadas are easily some of the best in the city, especially for a sit-down spot at this price point.
Opening hours: Tue–Fri 8am–2pm, 5pm–10pm; Fri, Sat 5pm–11pm; Sat, Sun 8am–3pm
Harun Coffee
During the day: You can pop into the vibrant coffee shop for a suite of espresso drinks and matcha combinations. Push open a bookshelf to plop down in the moodier speakeasy. You can get some work done, but it’s more likely to turn into a social call—even if you arrived alone.
Evening shift: The speakeasy hosts a variety of events, mostly capitalizing on its cozy listening-lounge aesthetic, such as live jazz or special screenings. While the energy feels more like a party, the drinks on offer remain non-alcoholic, like the chamomile-forward Mellow Mood, providing a sober-friendly evening out in Leimert Park.
Time Out tip: Though Harun officially closes at 7pm, it has a mix of mostly free and some ticketed events every week that can keep the shop open until 11pm.
Opening hours: Daily 7am–7pm
Kissaten Corazón
During the day: No matter where you plug away at your work, you feel like you’re in a rich grandmother’s sitting room, complete with tea cups and mismatched vintage furniture and rugs. Except for during the lunch rush, the space feels like a library lounge with few opting for headphones as the easy listening, often a Tokyo style jazz, drifts out of the speakers.
Evening shift: The largest glasses of wine you’ll see will make you unsure if the jazz is getting louder or which number of Chenin Blancs you’re on. Your neighbors get a little more social and the occasional food pop-up gives the coffeeshop an extra surge of energy.
Time Out tip: Drop in on a Friday night for live jazz and don’t sleep on the affogatos at any time of day.
Opening hours: Mon–Wed 8am–5pm; Thu–Sun 8am–10pm
Noun Coffee
During the day: A quiet, somewhat stark co-working space with signature espresso drinks like the salty-sweet Short Stack to help you meet your deadlines.
Evening shift: The "girl dinner" platters start flying out as guests trade lattes for Lambruscos. Tables get more communal and you’d struggle to hear a book drop, especially if there’s a food pop-up or wine takeover.
Time Out tip: Swing by for happy hour when you get a glass of wine and a light bite from their food menu for $20.
Opening hours: Sun–Thu 8am–7pm; Fri, Sat 8am–9pm
