You might think of Brentwood as that little nook of West LA where Lululemon-clad moms sashay down San Vicente Blvd doublefisting Lexus keys and Venti Starbucks cups, but that’s an unfair stereotype. Take it from your local barista AmyLee Delavin, a Brentwood local who started her coffee career as a corporate drone for Starbucks, until she finally escaped and found solace at Alfred Coffee.
“Once a really sleepy part of town, Brentwood is really coming to life and embracing the younger residents of its community … Trendier shops, cafes and restaurants are slowly popping up on San Vicente and there’s no signs of that slowing down,” says AmyLee.
With UCLA so nearby and affordable apartments off of Barrington, Brentwood (and West LA as a whole) has much more going for it than the OJ Simpson crime scene. While you might know Alfred Coffee + Kitchen for its very happening location on Melrose Place, its Brentwood counterpart is just as design-focused and attracts plenty of starpower (We see you sipping cold brew, Eddie Redmayne).
So we asked AmyLee, Alfred Coffee cafe manager by day and aspiring novelist by night, to take us around Brentwood and West LA. Join your neighborhood barista for a Tour de Brentwood and beyond. We’ll start at Alfred so you can get your buzz on:
Take us through your ideal day in Brentwood
AmyLee Delavin: My first stop of the day, even on my days off, is always Alfred Coffee. It’s my one-stop shop to pick up my breakfast essentials: a Greens 1.5, Chia Seed pudding bowl from M Cafe and small Alfred Blend with just a touch of half and half. Depending on the day, my next stop usually is a SoulCycle class down the street at the Town and Country Plaza and then a quick lunch of the Trust Me plate next door at Sugarfish. Or, head to the most underrated restaurant in town, Tacos Punta Cabras, for the best fish tacos in town. On Sundays, my favorite place to be is the Brentwood Farmers Market to pick up some fresh flowers and avocado toast or the Honey Sriracha Fried Chicken Biscuit from the Free Range food truck!
Any tips for first-time visitors to Alfred Brentwood?
AD: I would start by parking at the end of San Vicente near Coral Tree Cafe and then walking all the way down to our shop. There’s plenty of street parking and unlike other parts of town, most valet lots are free for the first 30-90 minutes with validation. Order an iced latte with our Califia almond milk—it actually tastes like liquid candy without being overwhelmingly sweet and has the perfect amount of caffeine to get you through the day.
Image courtesy of Alfred Coffee
Image courtesy of Alfred Coffee
Best of West LA, according to barista AmyLee:
Sweet Rose Creamery
Brentwood, $$
AD: The ice cream shop in the Brentwood Country Mart is so visually appealing and they have both vanilla and chocolate homemade waffle cones!
Image courtesy of @brunchonly
Image courtesy of @girls_who_grub
Farmshop
Brentwood, $$$
AD: Also in the Brentwood Country Mart, the Farmshop has the best fresh baked pastries and the best gluten free blueberry muffin I’ve ever had in my entire life. If you’re going for lunch, be sure to try their poached chicken salad. Delicious would be an understatement.
Image courtesy of @naomiyamada
Image courtesy of @farmshopca
BlackMarket
Sawtelle Japantown, $$
AD: BlackMarket on Sawtelle is my favorite novelty shop and the one place in West LA that sells Quay sunglasses from Australia.
Image courtesy of @yams
Image courtesy of @tarajeanpopowich
ROC Kitchen
Sawtelle Japantown, $$
AD: Two words: SOUP DUMPLINGS.
Image courtesy of @whatcouldbebutter
Image courtesy of @infatuation_la
Mom's
West LA, $$
AD: Not only is this the best local neighborhood bar, but they have cheap drinks, ping pong on Tuesdays, karaoke nights on Wednesdays and the best tunes spinning all night long.
Image courtesy of @bort_a_reekoh
Image courtesy of @kthill
Cafe Habana
Malibu, $$
AD: Though it’s not exactly in West LA, I’d like to give an honorable mention to Cafe Habana in Malibu for having the most delicious Cubano Sandwich I’ve ever had.
Image courtesy of @micahthedawk
Image courtesy of @mel_jadore
AmyLee Delavin thrives off of live music and a great cup of coffee. Born in the Philippines and raised in San Diego, AmyLee got a double bachelor's degree in Literary Journalism and Literature at San Diego State University. In her free time, she loves to write for her blog and explore LA. Her dream is write a novel that will outlive her. Follow her chasing her dreams on Instagram @amyleedelavin and Twitter @helloalee.
Header image courtesy of Alfred Coffee + Kitchen
