Though women of immense strength, we moms know that all those superpowers don’t come naturally. We need a little help. We need coffee (through an IV, if possible).
Babble Editors decided to test popular coffee shops in Los Angeles on the merits of mom-friendliness. This highly scientific process (read: coffee dates under the premise of “work”) graded the shops, on a scale of 1 to 5, using three main criteria: accessibility (parking, line time, etc.), kid-friendliness (stroller room, changing tables, families present, kid playing area), and menu (food options, was the coffee actually good?).
Below are the findings. Read with care. And with coffee.
Alfred Coffee + Kitchen
Accessibility: 3Kid-Friendly: 3.5
Menu: 4.5
Rating: 3.7
With the coffee bar positioned in the back of the shop, down a considerable flight of stairs, Alfred lost much of its appeal (and its points) to the impractical nature of the layout, as far as families are concerned. Some patrons did elect to leave their strollers at the door, probably incentivized by the wide range of health-conscious foods and juices in addition to the notoriously good coffee. This spot is best for kids 5+, but if you get the chance to stop in with an older child or by yourself, it’s not to be passed up.
Address: 8428 Melrose Place, Los Angeles (West Hollywood)
Hours: Monday to Sunday — 7 AM – 7 PM
Broome Street General Store
Accessibility: 4Kid-Friendly: 4
Menu: 4.5
Rating: 4.2
An oasis in the off streets of Silverlake, Broome Street is a great find … if you can actually find it. Tucked away behind some privacy-providing greenery and a spacious outdoor seating (and dare we say play) area, Broome Street itself is a shop on the tiny side that offers artisanal jams and men’s shaving gear with the same availability as its barista-crafted drinks. A great bonus is the especially adorable children’s section in the back of the store. Leave the strollers outside though, space is tight in between all the purchasable wonders.
Address: 2912 Rowena Ave., Los Angeles (Silverlake)
Hours: Monday to Saturday — 8 AM – 7 PM; Sunday — 9 AM – 5 PM
Café De Leche
Accessibility: 4
Kid-Friendly: 5
Menu: 4
Rating: 4.3
Café De Leche was a very popular spot when we visited, bustling with families and professionals alike. Not the roomiest space on the list, though there was definitely still room for strollers, and a counter that could suffice for diaper-changing in the bathroom. Best of all – Café De Leche utilized their uniquely-shaped space to create a play area for kids with blocks and toys. Lest we forget that you’re coming here for actual coffee, the menu was certainly satisfying, though lost points in their limited food options, past pastries.
Address: 5000 York Blvd., Los Angeles (Highland Park)
Hours: Sunday to Thursday — 7 AM – 6PM; Friday to Saturday — 7 AM – 7 PM
Dogtown Coffee
Accessibility: 4
Kid-Friendly: 3.5
Menu: 5
Rating: 4.2
Stationed a short walk from Santa Monica’s main attraction, the beach, Dogtown attracts a thus predictable crowd. Tables inside and a nice seating area outside offer more incentive to bring your kids than the crowded line might first present. Parking is … well, parking by the beach in Santa Monica. It’s an odds game, though for the record, we had no difficulty on a Sunday morning. The best aspect of Dogtown was certainly its widely developed menu, which offered sandwiches and salads in addition to a creative take on the traditional coffee lineup.
Address: 2003 Main St, Santa Monica
Hours: Monday to Friday — 5:30 AM – 5 PM; Saturday to Sunday — 7 AM – 5 PM
Go Get Em Tiger
Accessibility: 3Kid-Friendly: 3.5
Menu: 4.5
Rating: 3.7
Long and narrow, GGET employs a bar-like approach to its service. There’s technically no line, but that doesn’t mean there’s no wait. Handcrafted in every sense of the word, their strongly brewed (and highly delicious) drinks are an experience (which is a nice way of saying that they take time). Waffles and other toast options on the menu will probably entice little eyes and bellies, but unless you’re heading there in the middle of a weekday, the oddly situated seating and longer wait time could present an issue.
Address: 230 N Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles (Larchmont Village)
Hours: Monday to Sunday — 6:30 AM – 8 PM
Groundwork Coffee Co.
Accessibility: 4.5Kid-Friendly: 3.5
Menu: 4
Rating: 4
Groundwork’s newest location is in the heart of Larchmont village, where families in search of good food and fresh air flock on the weekend. But despite its great neighborhood, considerable menu, and short wait time, Groundwork still was on the lower end of our scale. Why? The seating, composed of benches and abstract blocks (versus, say, chairs) looked more like an adult playground than a family-friendly dining area. If you’re interested in what Groundwork is all about, we’d recommend the Hollywood location, which has much more in the way of tables and chairs.
Address: 139 1/2 N Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles (Larchmont Village)
Hours: Monday to Sunday — 5 AM – 10 PM
H Coffee House
Accessibility: 4Kid-Friendly: 4
Menu: 5
Rating: 4.3
The sister shop to popular Los Feliz eatery Home (they share the same building), H Coffee House doesn’t do the restaurant’s name a disservice. Welcoming, cozy, and outlet-free, this is the type of place to take a family looking to spend a little time screen-free. Stairs out front make strollers a little tricky, but a ramp on the side and the allure of what’s being offered are enough to make many moms and dads bring their little ones along for the trip anyways. The drink menu is broad without being indulgently expansive, and the pastry and food selection leave nothing to be desired.
Address: 1750 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles (Los Feliz)
Hours: Monday to Friday — 7 AM – 7 PM; Saturday to Sunday — 8 AM – 7 PM
Philz Coffee
Accessibility: 4.5Kid-Friendly: 4
Menu: 4.5
Rating: 4.3
A NorCal native, Philz’ location in Santa Monica is quite the feat for fans of the chain. And fans, there are. The shop is best known for its one-on-one barista service and Mojito coffee (the cup is filled with actual mint leaves). As it features a wide ramp and spacious floor and seating area, strollers wouldn’t cause too much of a fuss here. We didn’t spot anyone under the age of 21 on our trip, but that doesn’t mean at other times it’s not mommy central.
Address: 525 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica
Hours: Monday to Sunday — 5:30 AM – 9 PM
Stamp Proper Foods
Accessibility: 4.5Kid-Friendly: 4.5
Menu: 5
Rating: 4.7
Stamp Proper Foods is oh so LA — with locally-sourced ingredients and a plethora of vegan and gluten-free options. Whatever your dietary restrictions or preferences, you are sure to find a yummy menu option, along with an open and welcoming space, other families, delicious drinks (we recommend an almond milk latte or PB&J smoothie), and (gasp) a changing table! Parking is hit or miss but you can usually find a spot a block or two away on Los Feliz Blvd.
Address: 4500 Los Feliz Blvd. (entrance is on Hillhurst), Los Angeles (Los Feliz)
Hours: Monday to Sunday — 8 AM – 8 PM
Swork
Accessibility: 5
Kid-Friendly: 5
Menu: 4.5
Rating: 4.8
Easily the most kid-friendly locale on our #CoffeeCrawl2015 (and one of two spots with an actual changing table), Swork also has functional appeal with outlet-adorned laptop bars and a dedicated play area for kids. So your kids can distract themselves with toys and books while you get to catch up on six months of emails while sipping on some damn good coffee? Sounds like an all around win.
Address: 2160 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles (Eagle Rock)
Hours: Monday to Friday — 6 AM – 9 PM; Saturday to Sunday — 7 AM – 9 PM
Source: Babble.com
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