Pencilbox: June 2009

Thursday, June 11, 2009

COFFEE POT CAFE

Neighborhood: Silver Lake, Los Feliz

CAFE RATING: 3.7

Groups: 2-4

People Watching: 3.25

Food&Drink: 3.7

Music&Ambience: 4.2

Comfort&Hospitality: 3.8

Summary: Corner cafe with hip lounge interior, music, free wi-fi

JOURNAL EXCERPT :) "… driving along one day, we decided to search for a café to stop and draw for a bit. It was soon that I spotted a street corner decorated with small outdoor tables covered with red table cloths. The table cloths were slightly blowing in the wind as if waving me down to stop. And stop I did. Our search was over. We were instantly pulled in by the interior: deep brown furniture with red cushion accents, a window bar lined with cream leather bar stools and an international menu. The crepes here are the most authentic I've found thus far in LA, along side a delightful mediterranean mixed plate served with grape leaves, falafel, bean and herb salads. Their Specials board posted a Russian soup served with bread and fruit, and it changes regularly. The music was lounge, international eccentric, just perfect to go with the cafe's interior design chic lounge -- yet scaled down appropriately to just a coffeehouse with its pastry case near the register...plus they had free Wi-Fi! This quickly turned into a favorite spot for the next couple of weeks."

Address: 2201 W Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90026

(213) 483-3386

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

LEON CAFE

Neighborhood: international review, London

CAFE RATING: 4.2

Groups: large groups

People Watching: 4.5

Food&Drink: 3.75

Music&Ambience: 4.4

Comfort&Hospitality: 4.0

Summary: great European cafe near Tate Modern museum, full menu, lots of seating

JOURNAL EXCERPT :) "…the décor struck me as very original and very cozy. I felt like I was in a warm old fashioned home from the 40's with modern exposed industrial style celings. Tin canisters, wooden toys and old books lined against red painted walls. Some tabletops were decorated with old 50's Hawaii motifs while vintage illustrated cutouts accented throughout room. The furniture was a mixture of comfortable deep red leather booths plus coffeehouse standards of wooden tables and chairs alongside some more modern styled cafeteria metal chairs and tables. Artists and writers can tuck into this cafe and spend hours here. There is lots of table space to spread out and cozy corners with an open floor plan that allows you to see the street as half the walls are full length windows. The service was very warm and friendly, giving the feeling as though it was a family run business when I don't think it is. Even the music was great - a feeling of international spanish, tropical yet jazzy sounds that were uplifting and not your typical pop radio hits..."

Address: London, UK on Strand near the Tate Museum

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