6 Cafés Worth Visiting in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley

Join us for a tour around L.A.’s San Fernando Valley, including quaint cafés like House Roots Coffee, a bakery & coffeehouse nestled in the Granada Hills neighborhood.

BY EMILY JOY MENESES
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE

Known for appearing in generation-defining films like Clueless and Mulholland Drive, the San Fernando Valley—fondly known as “the Valley”—is an integral aspect of Los Angeles culture, not to be forgotten alongside more frequently mentioned areas like Hollywood or Downtown. Join us as we tour the San Fernando Valley’s specialty-coffee scene, which is speckled with both longtime shops and newcomers to the coffee world.

House Roots is a beloved café chain that’s been serving the San Fernando Valley for almost a decade. Photo courtesy of House Roots Coffee.

House Roots Coffee

House Roots, which has locations in Granada Hills and Chatsworth, recently celebrated its eight-year anniversary. The shop, which notably offers memorable bakery items like black sesame loaves and white chocolate matcha cookies, has an impressive array of beverage choices, including Korean banana milk lattes and what they called the “Hojicha Dream,” a hojicha latte made with Rocky’s Matcha and topped with a salted vanilla cream foam.

An iced matcha latte, oat cappuccino, and white chocolate matcha cookie at Granada Hills’ House Roots Coffee. Photo by Emily Joy Meneses.
Avocado toast and an iced blue jasmine matcha at Ideology Coffee. Photo courtesy of Ideology Coffee.

Ideology Coffee

Bright and airy, Sherman Oaks’ Ideology Coffee is the perfect place to grab a quick cup while soaking up some sun in the ample outdoor seating, or chilling inside. While the menu features all of the standard espresso-based drinks, the shop also gets creative with offerings like the Blue Jasmine Matcha, ceremonial matcha atop almond milk steeped with butterfly pea flower and jasmine green tea for 12 hours.

Einspanners at Northridge’s Re:Coffee. Photo courtesy of Re:Coffee.

Re:Coffee

Northridge’s Re:Coffee opened at the start of 2024, and the shop brings their own unique spin on trending coffee drinks like Einspanners—cue their seasonal special, a Pumpkin Spice Einspanner featuring pumpkin purée and a housemade cream.

“Our mission is to deliver exceptional coffee experiences through meticulous attention to detail and ingredient quality,” the Re:Coffee team shares. “We carefully measure every component to ensure consistency in taste, using only the finest ingredients to enhance the richness and flavor of every cup.“

An iced lavender rose mocha and pomegranate green tea at Cara Vana Coffee. Photo by Emily Joy Meneses.

Cara Vana Coffee

Located on North Hollywood’s Lankershim Boulevard, Cara Vana Coffee offers an array of tempting specialty-coffee drinks, brewed with Sightglass Coffee. The shop is well-known for drinks like their Tamarindo Cold Brew and lavender rose latte, featuring a house-made lavender rose syrup. At Cara Vana, you’ll also find an expansive food menu, including smoothie bowls and croissant sandwiches.

Breezy interiors at Simi Valley’s The Baker’s Daughters. Photo courtesy of The Baker’s Daughters.

The Baker’s Daughters

Head up to Simi Valley and you’ll find The Baker’s Daughters, a coffee shop and bakery known for their impressive breakfast spreads and coffee menu. Standout drinks include the Rosemary Latte, made with house-made rosemary syrup, and an Olive Oil Vanilla Latte. The shop uses dark-roast Brazilian espresso, a nod to owner Yasmin Almeida’s Brazilian background. Almeida explains how her father was “the first person to bring sourdough to Brazil” and ran four bakeries in Rio de Janeiro—a legacy she continues today with her shop.

We’re loving Coffee and Plants’ fruit-filled menu. Pictured here: blueberry matcha. Photo courtesy of Coffee and Plants.

Coffee and Plants

Located in Studio City, Coffee and Plants boasts the title of Los Angeles’ first 100% plant-based coffee shop. The shop’s drink menu is as colorful as its plant-filled interior—alongside your typical espresso menu, you’ll find drinks like Zion’s Cold Brew—cold brew infused with orange and topped with a fluffy coconut foam—or their Pink Matcha, infused with a house-made rose and hibiscus syrup.

This list of cafés offers just a glimpse of the myriad gems nestled within the San Fernando Valley. Whether you’re a Los Angeles local or a visitor looking to get a taste of lesser-traveled areas of the city, these coffee shops are a great place to start.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emily Joy Meneses (she/they) is a writer and musician based in Los Angeles. Her hobbies include foraging, cortados, vintage synths, and connecting with her Filipino roots through music, art, food, and beverage.

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