There’s nothing like your favorite cup of coffee. And better yet, there’s nothing like finding a local coffee shop that pairs a great brew with the perfect ambience.
Whether you’re on the hunt for an aromatic roast that makes you slow down, sip, and smile or want to fuel up during an hours-long study session, Boyle Heights has no shortage of masterful baristas and cozy nooks to fill your needs.
As the coffee shop scene grows in the neighborhood — offering everything from foamy lattes, solid brunch bites and charming community spaces filled with books and art — we sipped our way through five spots to help you find the hidden gems.
Take the tour, share your favorites and tell us what we missed.
Picaresca Barra de Cafe
Popular drink: Café de Olla latte
Hidden gem: El Pino latte
It was probably not the best idea to open a cafe during the pandemic. But the owners of Picaresca Barra de Cafe went for it. After almost three years inside a mini-mall on Soto Street, the business relocated to a larger, more visible Boyle Heights location last November. The place is a popular location among locals and beyond. On any given day, friends meet up here for a cup of joe, a pastry or chilaquiles — one of a handful of hot food items on the menu.
Picaresca is known for its locally roasted coffee and homemade café de olla syrup. But what’s also noteworthy is how its signature menu is crafted and named after Eastside symbols.
Specialty-curated lattes include The Evergreen, named after the shop’s street location. Try the signature drink, El Pino, a blend of rosemary, chamomile and cinnamon among other spices, named after the iconic East L.A. landmark. For those looking for a traditional brew, you can’t go wrong with the customer favorite, the Café de Olla latte, prepared hot or iced.
Location: 2931 East 4th Street, Los Angeles, 90033
Hours: Monday - Saturday 7:00 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.
ÜLËW
Popular drink: Latte Del Barrio
Hidden gem: Ülëw latte
Operating inside the Soto Street mini mall that Picaresca once called home, ÜLËW Coffee and Juice serves up drinks just as unique as their name. Ülëw (oo – LAY- OH), which means earth in Maya K'iche', offers a coffee experience that stems from traditional Guatemalan ingredients with a twist on conventional coffee house staples.
Ülëw has something for everyone, crafting a menu for caffeine lovers and those looking for health-conscious ingredients. From customer favorites like the Latte del Barrio, a dark espresso base, oat milk, finished with cinnamon and condensed milk, or a hidden gem, the Ülëw latte, a bright yellow sip with ingredients like turmeric and ginger. Owners Jefri Lindo, Michaela Zholovnik and barista Elvis Gonzalez are serving quality across the menu as each item is fresh, balanced and full of flavor, whether you’re there for a quick bite or a caffeine fix.
Location: 1300 S. Soto St, Unit 9, Los Angeles 90023
Hours: Everyday except Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Acurrúcame Coffee Bar
Popular drink: Strawberry Matcha
Hidden gem: Tropical Tonic
After ending a 27-year stint selling pagers, Reyes and Esmeralda Perez wanted to launch a taqueria. Lucky for caffeine lovers, they landed in the coffee business instead and opened up Acurrúcame Coffee Bar.
What makes Accurúcame a community favorite is its seasonal secret menu, known only to loyal customers. The custom-made concoctions are advertised on social media and are only available for a limited time.
Reyes decided to add a strawberry matcha as a nod to his daughter and her favorite drink. The presentation is meant to show the blend of cultures: the bottom half of the drink is a nostalgic secret recipe resembling a strawberry licuado, topped with bright green matcha. Today, it’s a customer favorite.
The hidden gem of the shop, the Tropical Tonic, involves a blend of coffee, pineapple, orange and other secret ingredients to form an alternative to the classic cream and sugar. The tonic holds a special place on the menu as Reyes offered customers different versions of the drink before he found the perfect recipe.
Location: 2609 Cesar E Chavez Avenue, Los Angeles, 90033
Hours: Monday thru Saturday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed on Sundays.
Cafe Cafe Mobile Coffee
Popular drink: Brown Café
Hidden gem: Turmeric latte
Cafe Cafe Mobile Coffee began its journey as a pop-up concept, working within community spaces in multiple locations. Today, it’s housed in a co-op kitchen on Cesar Chavez Avenue with fellow partners Milpa Grille and Macheen. Baristas are known for their personable service, recognizing regulars and welcoming customers to its expansive menu.
Cafe Cafe’s coffee blends are carefully curated. The shop offers single-origin coffee and a different roast for each drink. Among the most popular is the Brown Café, made from their signature mix blend with raw honey, organic cinnamon and non-dairy cream. Non-caffeinated options include Jamaica refreshers and their hidden gem, the Turmeric latte, made with organic ground turmeric, cinnamon and sweetened with raw honey, offered hot or iced.
Location: 2633 E Cesar E Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, 90033
Hours: Monday - Saturday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Café Girasol
Popular drink: Café de Olla latte
Hidden gem: Beetroot Rose
Launched as a pandemic project, Café Girasol started when owner Patty Hernandez and her husband lost their jobs during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Their commercial at-home espresso machine became popular among their coffee-loving friends and after a successful run selling from their home, the couple found a brick-and-mortar location on Cesar Chavez Avenue.
More than just a coffee shop, the space has become a community-oriented venue, hosting open mic nights, acoustic sessions and comedy shows. The shop also carries merchandise from small businesses all over the Eastside.
If you’re there for a show or doing some shopping, pick up the popular Café de Olla latte made with homemade syrup consisting of piloncillo, canela, clavo, star anise, among other spices, and topped with a fluffy layer of vanilla cold foam and cinnamon.
If you’re looking for a pop of color, the Beetroot Rose drink stands out in bright pink, made with beetroot powder, cinnamon and ginger, sweetened with homemade rose syrup. Celebrating just two years since its opening, this new kid on the block has created a community space open for everyone.
Location: 2630 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, 90033
Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Monday closed
