Flying Saucers Caffeine and Art, Santa Monica CA

Drive up to this cute coffee shop on Pico Blvd in Santa Monica, and you will instantly want to go in. The unassuming front of the shop is brick (love), and there is parking in the back. Flying Saucers is pretty serious about their coffee and food. With homemade bagels, clear glass coffee mugs and free wifi, you are destined to leave happy.

This coffee shop was our first stop for our free-day friday. We walked in and it was a bit odd. Silence filled the place, and I felt a bit awkward. However, I was completely in love with the atmosphere - the little clear tables and futuristic chairs, the giant brick wall and funky lighting, and the delicious pastry selection with giant dome covers. The floor was giant slabs of concrete which gave the whole place an industrial feel; but paired with a cozy couch and some music, the atmosphere softened. The front door and entire front wall was floor to celling glass, allowing for lots of light.

I ordered a straight up cup of coffee with a sesame bagel. When asked if I wanted milk, I asked for 1/2 & 1/2, thinking it was odd that they didn't have it sitting on the counter. I was pleasantly surprised, however, when my giant clear mug of coffee came out with a mini pitcher of steamed cream. Now that is a nice touch that I could get used to. The bagel came perfectly toasted with the cream cheese already applied - no skimping here! Marielle and I sat here for some time sipping and eating. The coffee was very strong (sooo good), and once the music came on, we felt that we could sit and chat for hours. There was plenty of artwork on the walls to look at and purchase.

After our coffee adventure, it was time to hit the beach. It was a beautiful day to walk around the beach and just hang out. I collected some shells, and some ladybugs! These guys were way to close to the water, so I saved them.

After I set the ladybugs free, the beach repaid my good deed by allowing me to step in a glob of tar... twice! Then I got so distracted trying to rub my feet clean, and having Marielle try to scape it off with my shells, that I lost my shoes. I had to go hunting for them, and got them before the ocean could steal them! This was all very stressful, so we headed for the swings. After laughing the stress away, I decided to drink it away as well. Thankfully, Santa Monica has a Cabo Cantina with 2 for 1 margaritas! The day started off and ended on an excellent note, and I can't wait to go back.

15 Things Worth Knowing about Coffee

This link in courtesy of my friend Marielle. It comes from a site called The Oatmeal, which I quite enjoy! So, take a look, and remember the facts! There will be a quiz later.. actually not.

Le Pain Quotidien, Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica

I was headed to Santa Monica today to meet a friend. Obviously, I planned to get coffee with her, and immediately googled "Coffee Shops in Santa Monica." Ha, have you tried this? There are so many and all so close together - spanning from serious espresso shops to organic cafes, the options are nearly limitless. So, instead of fretting over which place was best, I did what I usually do - walked around until I found something that looks good. I walked down Santa Monica Blvd to 3rd street and stumbled upon 316 Santa Monica Blvd - Le Pain Quotidien.

Now, don't feel bad if you can't pronounce it, I couldn't either. Although, I tend to have trouble pronouncing things... so maybe this is easy for you. BUT, in case it isn't, and you want to sound smart next time you talk about it with a friend, so here is the break-down:

So there you have it. Now you can suggest going to luh paN koh-ti-dyaN to your friends (it's Belgian) - they may think you are a weirdo, but I'll know you are cool. The thing is, this place is in 6 different states, and has international locations! It is actually more of a cafe than a coffee shop, open from 8am to 7pm every day, and offering beer and wine (score!). The whole philosophy revolves around organic, homemade items with whole, local foods.

This place also has a "community table" concept with one large table in the center of the room - made from reclaimed wood. I think the first place I ever went with a community table was with my brother in Portland, OR. I tried to find it via Google, and suspect it is a place called Le Bistro Montage. It was packed and everyone sat next to each other, regardless of who came with whom. It was an exciting experience. Anyway, Le Pain has one, and all of the furniture and shelving is made of reclaimed wood which looks beautiful in the Santa Monica space.

After taking a seat, I had to decide what to order. It was a lovely day, so I chose to order an iced americano and a yummy mini sponge cake, called a madeleine cake. Most of the items that served here are made in-house, and can be purchased at the shop! I actually bought some cold-pressed olive oil!

At the end of the day, Le Pain Quotidien is just a great place to go to meet friends for a good meal. There is no free wifi, so it's more of a place to go to socialize. However, credit cards are accepted, and there is a nice staff that adds a touch of formality to the service. This would be a wonderful place to go for a bowl of homemade soup, fresh bread, and a hot mocha on a rainy beach day. Ohh, I'm getting excited just imagining the scenario! I'll leave you with a cute shot of the specials chalkboard, brick wall, and box shelving. Enjoy!

M Street Coffee & Gallery, Sherman Oaks

Mmmmmm, M Street Coffee. This place is in Sherman Oaks, also known as the Valley. Right off of Ventura and Moorpark. Looking around this area, you wouldn't think the coffee shop would be so adorable. I walked in to see clean lines, a lot of sitting space, and bright colors on the walls. It truly is a beautiful space. The beauty is even more striking seeing that it doubles as an art gallery for local artists. So here you have an adorable local coffee shop with local art - what more could you ask for?

How about some coffee! The coffee I had was delicious, organic, and fresh. They use vapor-distilled water which helps the pure coffee flavor stand out amongst LA's awful water. I only had a regular cup 'o jo but when I go back, I'll have to explore the latte. M Street has a wide variety of baked goods that all look yummy and can all be purchased with a credit card (thank goodness!). My guess is to get there early so you can have your pick of yumminess. You should also get there early to secure yourself a seat by one of the large windows or in a comfy chair. There is a lot of space here, but with free wifi and few other coffee shops around (besides starbucks), this place is always happening.

I went there to meet a friend for coffee, and I found it odd that there was no music playing. Perhaps it was because of the Saturday morning hustle, but I didn't like it. We were having a long conversation and were seated near the middle of the room. At some points other people were talking and everything was fine, then it would suddenly be very quite and we felt like we needed to whisper. That said, I think the whole situation could easily be solved with some nice coffee shop music. Really, anything from Miles Davis, to Bob Marley, to the Killers would be fine. Regardless, if you are stuck in the Sherman Oaks area, this place is definitely worth hitting up. Even if you are just grabbing a coffee for the road, you won't be disappointed with M Street Cafe. See you there!