La Gran Via Bakery: “Monarca de los Cakes” ~ 4461 Lennox Blvd. ~ Inglewood, CA 90304~ (310)674-0654

Rise and shine, from Cuba to you, La Gran Via is Inglewood’s great crown champ of all things sweet and savory. Wake up and smell the croquetas de jamón, empanadas, bocaditos, papas rellenas and brazo gitano. If breakfast meats tickle your fancy, behold the choice offerings of lightly fried tasties in the counter top “easy bake”. Lose yourself in the kaleidoscopic array of fresh baked sweet breads and cookies. What are those cone shaped honeydripper treats? What smells so good? I’ll be damned- is that Ronald Reagan!
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2127 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, 90405 - (310) 314-3368

On a stretch on Lincoln that is slowly but surely opening up to more restaurants and cafés sits the Velocity. Not much to look at from outside, but inside you’ll find the city’s most relaxed wi-fi coffeeshop. Virtually every funky thrift-store chair and table will be occupied by a laptopper, drawn by the free internet, good drinks, and mellow vibe. This is the anti-Starbucks, a hideout for those who have to drive (some parking in the back, and meters on the streets) and the neighborhood hang for laid back and flexibly employed locals.

2835 Washington Blvd. (1/2 block east of Beethoven) ~ Culver City

Home to the best pretzels and arguably best espresso in Culver City, this latest offshoot of the Rockenwagner empire is clean, simple, and located conveniently on a part of Washington Blvd. with a lot of street parking. The espresso and pastries are Austrian, the sandwiches are panini, and while not exactly cheap, everything here is tasty and not overpriced. Limited seating.