Sari-Heifetz
Lists
Best Cafes for Writers
Attention L.A. writers: Spring is officially here! Come out of your dark caves and feel the sunshine on your pale skin! Experience the sights and sounds of real people! Whether you are an established novelist or a young scribe plugging away at your soon to be award winning screenplay, now is the time to leave the solitude of your home office (and your procrastination-friendly internet connection) and venture out into the city that surrounds. Let the creative energies of these writer-friendly cafés stir your juices.
A word of warning…writing in L.A. is not exactly a novel pastime. You are not alone. Keep yourself from glancing at the laptop screens around you, as this is likely to lead to sudden depression at the realization of the sheer number of people writing screenplays. If you do happen to catch a glance of a seemingly amazing script on the MacBook of that 21-year old next to you, use my steadfast trick. Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Then, say to yourself, “Thank god I’m not an actor.” You will instantly recover.
The popular Literati Café caters to writers of all kinds (even vegans) and sees that they’re well caffeinated and fed in this laptop friendly Brentwood cove.
Also on the Westside is the Novel Café, a Santa Monica mainstay that has seen many a novelist strain their brain on its couches and wobbly tables.
If focus is something that seems out of reach, reserve a private room at the Santa Monica Library.
If you find yourself in Beverly Hills (home to all agents, i.e. the anti-thesis of a creative environment), head to the fireside of the Urth Café on S. Beverly Drive. (Make sure the lit agent eating lunch at the next table notices the way you wield your mouse with confidence and precision.) You’ll know it’s time to leave when you start worrying about the viability of your screenwriting career.
When you hit your limit, head to the wonderfully charming and often inspiring Susina Bakery & Café on Beverly Blvd. to solve Act III and enjoy a decadent slice of cake.
...or to the gothic inspired Insomnia a few blocks away from there.
Starbucks and Coffee Bean are obvious choices, but somehow the Peet’s Coffee & Tea on Larchmont Blvd. feels better than every other chain spot in the city.
The energized atmosphere and world-class espresso of Sabor y Cultura Café makes this the ideal Hollywood writing spot.
Further east, you can spread out various drafts and notes on the large mosaic tables at the Coffee Table in Silverlake. Its extensive menu, outdoor seating area, and tolerance level for writers makes this a great all-day writing spot.
After all of your hard work, celebrate a printed draft by sitting back with a rich latte and reading your genius at the sidewalk café Figaro on Vermont Ave.
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