While the east side of LA is a mecca for well-designed, up to snuff coffee shops, for a long time the deep west side was dominated by chains. With the the growing presence of media and tech industries on the west side comes more coffee shop gems to serve those looking for caffeine that isn’t from a chain store in Playa. In recent years more and more independent shops have been popping up, as well as well-loved local chains setting post west of the 405 (and even—gasp— south of the 10). Sachi LA opened up in 2018 on a sleepy block of Centinela and has quickly become a neighborhood favorite.

Part coffee shop, part plant and lifestyle shop, Sachi emulates the Japanese heritage of the sister owners Sachi and Chiyo. The space cultivates a welcoming atmosphere for enjoying coffee and tea drinks on one side, while Nextdoor is the perfect place to peruse a curated selection of local artisan products and plants. Visiting Sachi feels like you’re visiting a friend’s home, in a way that is 100% worth driving out to Del Rey.