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The Echo Park neighborhood boasts great parks, thrifty vintage stores, and great dining locations. Thankfully for those looking for a caffeine fix, the coffee is even better! Whether you’re looking for a morning pick-me-up, looking for a location to enjoy the latest best-selling novel, or a moody scene to have a cerebral conversation, Echo Park has you covered.

Photo Credit: Woodcat Coffee

Check out the Woodcat Coffee Bar at the center of Echo Park. Named after the old Scottish nickname for a hare, the Woodcat offers a wide variety of classic coffee beverages. Woodcat also takes pride in serving Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters’ beans, ensuring that all the drinks are not only locally-sourced, but also extremely delicious.

The Open Space is a combination coffee shop and theater that caters to a wide variety of crowds. The traditional theater crowd is sure to be pleased by a constantly rotating schedule of plays, from classical theater to the most cutting edge avant-garde. The Open Space also hosts business meetings, parties of all varieties, and acts as a local comedy club. If you’re looking for theater or a show, be sure to get caffeinated while you enjoy the gig at The Open Space.

Tierra Mia Coffee is a no-nonsense coffee house that emphasizes the experience of a perfect cup of coffee. Aiming to provide the “freshest and best coffee, beverages, and pastries” Tierra Mia roasts all of their coffee beans in-house on a 1957 Probat roaster! Many of their drinks blend traditional American coffee culture with Latin American tastes, offering drinks like the Cubano con Leche, the Mocha Mexicano, or the Coco Loco Latte. Tierra Mia also aims for creative latte art with each drink, ensuring their drinks are as great to look at as they are to drink.

Photo Credit: The Blue Bottle Facebook

Visit The Blue Bottle for a taste of history in each cup of coffee. The Blue Bottle is named for the original coffee house in Central Europe opened by one Franz George Kolshisky, famed for his daring escapades during the period of Ottoman Empire expansionism. The Blue Bottle aims for the ultimate coffee experience, promising that no coffee beans older than 48 hours are sold to customers, ensuring each cup is at the perfect level of flavor. The Blue Bottle also offers delivery and carry-out service, so that you can enjoy your favorite coffee blends at home.

FIX is a full-kitchen cafe, offering a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu. They offer a wide variety of classic coffee drinks, and also serve wine, beer, and a number of other beverages. FIX maintains the hipster acethetic, but the friendly staff ensures that all visitors will feel welcome. Try their breakfast sandwich, featuring a brioche bun, fried egg, bacon, and arugula. For those on a budget, swing by and grab a two dollar bagel, or splurge and pick up a jalapeno cheddar bagel with cured lox, tomato cucumber, and cream cheese.

Take some time this summer to track down the best coffee houses in Echo Park!

Real Estate Unlimited has been serving Echo Park and the L.A. since 1980. Contact us if you have any questions about Echo Park, real estate needs, or the best coffee houses on the block.

Echo Park is known for food, theater, and great parks. But for those willing to dig, the neighborhood also offers a plethora of vintage stores bursting with clothes, furniture, and music for the thrifty shopper. If you’re looking for a great deal, or hoping to update your closet with a little vintage flair, swing by Echo Park for a vintage extravaganza! 

Photo Credit: TAVIN Boutique

A great example of the vintage offerings in Echo Park is TAVIN Boutique. Opened in 2009, Tavin specializes in vintage bohemian and Gypset lifestyle clothing. The boutique also carries a number of designer brands, like Sonia Rykiel, APC, Christian Dior, and Comme Des Garcons. TAVIN also imports Baluch dresses from Afghanistan and stocks Vietnamese indigo style pants, dresses, and jackets. Not interested in clothing? Try TAVIN’s large selection of handpicked jewelry, shoes, boots, and belts. Named for for the owner, Erin Tavin, TAVIN Boutqiue aims to reproduce the feeling of wandering the streets of New York or Paris in Echo Park.

Lemon Frog Shop plays it much more casual. Styling itself as a vintage bazaar, Lemon Frog advertises its ability to find rare, one-of-a-kind, clothing and accessories for every budget. The bazaar brings in fresh stock each day to lure in the dedicated shoppers. The store offers a variety of styles, including hippie, disco, punk, glam, mod, and bohemian. Boasting an extensive collection of shoes, high heels, platforms, and boots, Lemon Frog also carries a wide selection of jewelry and accessories. While Lemon Frog aims to stock mostly high-end clothing, the bazaar also has a $10 or less selection to tempt even the slimmest of wallets.

Photo Credit: Lemon Frog Shop

XL3 Vintage Clothing boasts an enormous selection of pre-owned sports wear. Opened in 1994, XL3 treats their reputation and customer service very seriously and offer jackets, shirts, shoes, and jerseys from every sport imaginable. Looking for a Kobe Bryant Lakers jersey? How about a Denver Broncos John Elway NFL Champion jersey? Then XL3 has you covered!

The Left Bank is a family owned and operated shop in Echo Park. More than just clothing, Left Bank offers modern gifts, and have curated stocks of designer, vintage, and contemporary resale clothing and accessories. Operating like a true thrift store, The Left Bank also accepts donations, customer sales, and trades.

If the workin’-cowboy ascetic is more your thing, check out Raggedy Threads, located just southeast of Echo Park. Established in 2002, Raggedy Threads carries a wide selection of quality workwear and denim.

Want more info on great vintage finds in Echo Park? Contact Real Estate Unlimited for the best tips on shopping in the area or help for you real estate needs!

Named for the oldest park in Los Angeles, Elysian Park is a small historic neighborhood in Central Los Angeles. The park, which is popular for its scenic views and sunlit outdoor spaces, wraps around Elysian Park on the northern side.

Bordered by Los Angeles’ lively Chinatown and the hip, eclectic Echo Park neighborhood, Elysian Park is emerging as an attractive prospect for younger people looking to settle in the area. This mellow garden neighborhood also has a lot of delicious food to offer. Today we’ll explore some of the best eateries in and around Elysian Park!

Click here to read all about Elysian Park proper, the first public park established in Los Angeles.  

Kendall’s Brasserie

Carrying on the Parisian brasserie tradition in Southern California, Kendall’s specializes in comfort food like baked macaroni with sharp cheddar cheese, steak frites, and a short-rib hash with poached eggs. Kendall’s is also a popular bar for locals heading out to a show, and their cocktails include a “Hemingway Daiquiri” with house-made grapefruit cordial, and a “Oaxacan Old Fashioned” with chocolate-chili bitters.

Tokyo Doggie Style

Los Angeles is famous for its rich tradition of cultural diversity, and what better example than a Japanese-influenced hot dog truck? Parked daily in the Elysian Park neighborhood, Tokyo Doggie style serves up an impressive menu of Japanese treats and juicy hot dogs, including the popular “Bacon-Wrapped Hawaiian Terrier-ki Dog.” If you’d like to try a more traditional Japanese lunch, try a Ramen or Rice Bowl or a side of seaweed salad. Their lychee lemonade provides the perfect balance of sweet and tart for a hot summer afternoon, and they also offer a selection of refreshing boba teas.

Pho 87

If you’re in the mood for succulent pho and crispy golden egg rolls, Pho 87 has got you covered. Their pho – rice noodle soup with rare beef in a rich savory broth, served with a side of fresh greens and hot peppers – is a local fan favorite among Vietnamese cuisine aficionados. Vermicelli with marinated grilled pork is another popular menu option, and you can pair everything on the menu with an authentic Vietnamese Iced Coffee or a fizzy lemonade soda.

Eastside Market Italian Deli

The Eastside Market Italian Deli is one of the few remaining authentic Italian delis in Central Los Angeles. If you’re looking for a spicy salami sandwich or a creamy, pistachio-studded cannoli, stop into the Eastside Market. Since the Eastside is so close to Elysian Park, their antipasti menu should provide you with all the inspiration you need for a delicious picnic al fresco italiano.

Sage Organic Vegan Bistro

This popular vegan restaurant prides itself on a diverse array of tempting vegan dishes, including a delicious selection of vegan-friendly appetizers. Try their deep-fried artichoke hearts, “mozzarella sticks” made with salty hearts of palm in crispy breading, or spicy-hot buffalo wing-style cauliflower. Entrees at Sage are just as flavor-forward, including jackfruit nachos and quinoa corn cakes with avocado and spicy cabbage relish.

Elysian

The Elysian is an elegant brasserie with an airy garden patio and a rotating selection of fresh, inventive dishes with a Mediterranean flair. Their peach and arugula salad is perfect for a light lunch. For a heartier option, try a plate of tender ricotta gnocchi or a peppery roast pork collar with juicy watermelon. The buttermilk blackberry cake is a perfect finish to a creative locally-sourced meal.

Au Lac

Au Lac offers up refined vegan raw-food dishes with an Asian twist, like their roasted mushrooms with Thai basil. Their “Norrito,” a vegan taco on a bed of nori seaweed, is a flavorful light appetizer. Au Lac also offers a vegan twist on pho with anise and clove broth and soft bean curd. Savory noodle plates combine fresh, healthy ingredients with traditional stir-fry, including a garlic noodle dish with apple sage soy sauce.

Click here to read about dining options in nearby Echo Park.  

Whatever you’re looking for, you can find a delicious and unique meal in the Elysian Park neighborhood.  Make sure to plan a day trip to the heart of Los Angeles so that you can sample everything on offer!

Are you interested in learning more about Elysian Park and other emerging Los Angeles neighborhoods?  At Real Estate Unlimited, we take pride in our in-depth local knowledge, providing expert advice on an array of properties in and around Los Angeles. Contact our team for a consultation today!