Cacao Coffee House

Parking: Street
People Watching Laid Back Casual, Themed Decor Moderately noisy

In a space narrower than a '50s Arkansas governor's mind-set, and barely longer than a condor's wingspan, stands Cacao -- West L.A.'s premier Tiki-lounge/alien-themed coffee bar. Open until 3 a.m. every night, this place is probably the neighborhood's hippest after-hours spot: All the tables have handpainted designs; there's always good, cheap art on the walls; and Polynesian kitsch and faux Polynesian kitsch dominate the decor. Cookies are two for $1, brownies are $2, coffee drinks range from 1.75 to 3.95 and the house specialty's the mocha frappe. That goes for $4.65 -- still cheaper than Starbucks. There's more to Cacao than what's on the menu though. The regular patrons here are as thick as thieves and always ready for a good game of chess or a deep philosophical discussion.

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