Andante is the classic tale of a neighborhood coffee shop that has slowly but surely grown a loyal community consumer base as it opens up in different parts of town. What started as a corner coffee shop on Beverly (prime real estate right opposite Erewhon, though they pre-dated Erewhon) now has well-trafficked outposts in Echo Park (yes, nestled among many other coffee shops on Sunset) and DTLA as well.

Andante is like many other third wave coffee shops in town. Solid selection of espresso based drinks. High quality roasts. A decent selection of pastries to accompany. But the vibe is, comparatively, understated (ahem, Alfred, Verve, Intelligentsia looking at you). It feels a little more mellow, a little more casual and inviting. The cafes aren’t big, but they lend themselves to a working session, you can comfortably settle in for an afternoon. It’s certainly well-loved local business, but even with a lot of people trickling in and out, it never feels claustrophobic. Maybe it’s the white walls and high ceilings. Or maybe they have just somehow managed to crack the code on how to be LA cool without being scene-y. Let’s keep it this way.