Peet's Coffee & Tea - (310) 492-0490

The coffee butlers are friendly to almost to a fault (some may find this annoying, I find the energy level in the early AM inspiring). I am so over Starbucks with its watered down coffee and barista language. Peet's does it with style, flavor and panache. Plus the scones and muffins are so good. At this location, they bring in scones from La Brea Bakery... so good

The staff are friendly but the coffee itself is way too strong and will give you the shakes. The patrons and staff however will make it up -- they're friendly and the regulars can always be found with their dog hanging out outside. And the pastry shelf is top notch. Just avoid the coffee.

To say that the Peet's experience is "good" is akin to saying the invention of the wheel had little impact on human existence. Peet's is great. And its greatness comes not from its assortment of imported beans, sumptuous teas or delectable pastries. No, its greatness is attributed to the people who work there. Hegel said that nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion. He must have been served coffee at Peet's. These are a passionate people - an actress, a comedian, a human beatbox, a musician - who transform a storefront on Sunset to an otherworldly experience, where the air smells of the Kenyan foothils during harvest, smiles proliferate like streaks of light with the rising sun and Jason Schwartzman talks about karaoke. I've found, since discovery of Peet's, that there are, in fact, two forms of transcendental meditation. There is the formal convention of deep, rhythmic breaths coupled with the absence of thought. And then there's simply this: Find your way to Peet's, enter through the double doors and indulge in their smiles. Because they're ALWAYS smiling at Peet's. Oh, and if you're going to order something, place your order with Gilbert, that suave mother with the glasses.