The best coffee shops in Silver Lake

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. Yet 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 San Francisco's Fourbarrel 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.

Tourists and Westsiders may wait in 20-minute lines at Intelligentsia up the street, but locals prefer Cafecito, the quieter shop on Hoover. Here you’ll find less pretension and more privacy—as well as the addictive Espresso Clandestino blend ($2.50 per cup, $12 per bag). The shop is small with only a bit of counter space inside, but a spacious covered (and pet-friendly) patio makes for a good place to get work done, catch up with friends or make eyes at your neighbor. Street parking isn't tough to find, and bike racks abound for two-wheeled commuters.

Intelligentsia's gorgeous tiled patio is always full of beautiful people having very important discussions. The coffee here is expensive, but you need only buy one drink to sit for hours. On hot days, the overhead misters keep everyone cool, including your pups, whom are welcome outside. You can sustain yourself with the shop's small but tasty selection of pastries (may we recommend the pistachio tea cake), or venture to the Cheesestore next door for freshly-made sandwiches. Then settle in with your cuppa to see and be seen at one of the hood's most regular scenes.

Peter Graham and Sophie Esteban bring their New York style (both are NYC expats who named their store after their former East Coast address) to Silver Lake with a bungalow storefront selling home goods, gourmet kitchen items and cafe eats from pastries to sandwiches. Peruse items like Laguiole and Oriole knives to Pendleton and Stanely mugs or laze on the outdoor patio with a cup of joe. Unsurprisingly, the brew on offer is NY's Gimme! coffee, which is brewed to perfection while you browse around. It's a lovely spot for a coffee date—just don't be surprised if you leave having purchased more than a drink.

At the only spot in the city with a coffee sommelier, you can choose between 30 beans and roasts prepared in four different ways; or try the same bean in drip, vacuum, filter and espresso styles to discover how preparation changes the java's flavor. Five-star food is rare in coffeehouses, but it's present here—you'll just have to pay a high price for it. The high-design (some say overly-designed) shop is a tad pretentious, but locals love the coffee, and celebrity sightings are frequent if you want to have a drink with (near) the stars.