Insomnia Cafe

No, it’s not for everyone, but if you’re not essentially a squatter, and if you like that she tells cell-​phone conversers to take it outside, and if you’re okay with *not* expecting a business to pay Bank of America for the privilege of selling you a cup of tea, then it’s a fine quiet coffee house.

Horrible customer service. When we got there we found out that in order to stay there and get the wifi password everyone from your party has to order something. I was rudely approached by a lady working there saying that I had to leave since I didn’t order anything. I understand that this is part of their policy but the way I was approached was disrespectful. Lets just say that my friends and I will not be coming here again.

For the last two times I’ve been there, I have gotten bitten by bugs on my hands and back and got a horrible rash that needed to be treated. It could possibly be scabies versus termites versus other bugs that can reside in wood and furniture. The couches are filthy, and I bet that they are infestation of bugs that cannot be seen by the naked eye. That place is very cute and quiet, you can get a lot of work done there, but it’s very unhygienic, the furniture is very dusty and old, and if you have allergies, the dust is a major trigger. I don’t mind the fact that it’s a cash only register, I also don’t mind the fact that The owners not too friendly and the food and the coffee is very bland, because I honestly go there to get work done. However when it comes to getting an itchy rash every time I go there, I definitely mind that! Unless they change their furniture and invest in new couches, I won’t be going back there.

— I walk in, hoping to buy a tea and work (on my computer).
— At the counter, I see the «cash only» sign. I have $ 1.
— I walk to the ATM. The fee is $ 1.85.
— I walk back to the counter. I proceed to inquire the price of every smaller item on the counter, one-​by-​one, including: a package of crackers that normally cost 25 cents, a day-​old cookie, and a banana. One-​by-​one, each item was $ 1.09.
— I then have the following exchange with the employee (presumably the owner). Keep in mind that, the entire time, I’m very polite, with a friendly smile on my face:
Me: «How much is a cup of water?»
Her: «You mean a bottled water?»
Me: «No, just a cup of water. I just want to buy something so I can sit down.»
Her: «No, minimum purchase for WiFi is $ 5.» (She points to a sign.)
Me: «Oh, no, I don’t need the WiFi. I’m just hoping to pay for a cup of water to sit down and read a little.»
Her: «No. This is not a library, it’s a commercial establishment.»
Me: «Ah, ok.» (At this point, with an polite nod and still a friendly smile, I leave.)
I understand her viewpoint, and I understand why some cafes set these rules. Honestly, I normally wouldn’t have cared at all and would’ve just left, with not so much as a second thought. But her impolite remark – wow. Not necessary. Unfortunately, I’m compelled to write this negative review, based on this personal experience.

Everyone is mostly here to use wifi at a late hour. Didn’t know that was the only reason until after I took a sip of my drink — a botched mocha. It costs at least $ 5 to get the wifi password from the infamously unfriendly owner, sit on the mangled furniture and stay up past the time most other coffee shops close.
The place looks darker and dingier than I expected. I almost walked right by it, after parking many many blocks away. Street parking can be a hassle. I ordered instantly and found a seat on the worn out couch, because all of the chairs had been taken by people who looked like they were into their fifth, sixth, twentieth hour of studying. Not that the owner lets this affect her business. I watched her bluntly suggest people to purchase more drinks. I would have respected the bold attitude and complied happily at any other coffee shop… that knows what coffee is supposed to taste like.
My mocha was both watered down and bitter. My boyfriend’s black coffee was also nasty. It rivaled the kind of coffee you find at cheap gas stations or broken down diners on the side of the road. I didn’t have the stomach to finish mine and ended up staying only for an hour or so to get through a handful of scripts I needed to read, although it was hard to concentrate when the owner’s eyes kept staring me and the other customers down. I think I’ll just stay home next time…

So it’s a great place to study because there are lots of tables usually available with plugs and it’s quiet. Prices are cheap too but the lady at the counter isn’t super friendly and makes you feel Unwelcomed sometimes. You have to spend at least 5 dollars to get the wifi password, «there is a sign on the bottom of the counter.» Also cash only. Not very many people carry cash these days.

Are you kidding me? Update your hours on Unilocal please. Walked a mile here just to get disappointed.
This place closes at 6PM on Fridays. Don’t make the same mistake I did.

Coffee shop décor is amazing, quiet, comfy seats, pretty affordable, okay drinks/​food. I’d give it a higher rating but the customer service was pretty bad. The older woman in the front of the store did not even look at me once while she was taking my order. She had an upset facial expression and talked in sharp angry tone. She seemed upset while answering my questions. Maybe its just her personality but it honestly affected my mood. Lots of other places with better customer service… don’t see myself coming back.

Wanted a change of scenery last night, while trying to get ahead on a few different projects. After a quick search on Unilocal for café’s in the midcity area with wifi + open at late hours – I decided to come here.
The vibe was very laid back, vintage furniture and 80s music playing quiet enough to hear, but not loud enough to interrupt. I found a spot near a power strip on an old couch with a coffee table. After I sat down, I didn’t move for three hours.
I didn’t see a menu for any food, but I could have been overlooking it. I had a Thai Iced Tea which was OK, and had to spend another $ 3 on a banana bread muffin as the minimum to get the wifi code is $ 5.
The hostess of the night seemed nice but I was put off a bit when she decided to close at 12a instead of the advertised 1a close time. Other than that, this place is pretty solid. I’ll be back!

I’ve been here twice to study with a friend. The place has all the things I need in a late-​night café, but with caveats. Here are the pros and cons from my perspective:
PROs: Never too crowded, I’ve always been able to Find a spot to sit with access to an outlet. Also, there are a lot of drink options, and the place is open late.
CONs: The woman who works here is pretty standoffish. I’m not sure if it’s a cultural thing, but she literally never smiles. Plus, there is pretty obvious pressure to keep spending more and more money. You have to spend at least $ 5 for the wifi password, and even after that, she will come around to the tables and ask for you to order more things. I guess I just felt a weird vibe in here, like I wasn’t totally welcome. Also, the chairs and tables are awkward and weirdly uncomfortable.

Customer service — DEPLORABLE. Felt very uncomfortable as she keeps coming over to see when my friends will be back from dinner. I think I’ll just keep buying more shit to keep her from interrupting me while I’m studying. She’s gauche and it makes for a painful experience. If other coffee shops were open at this hour, I definitely wouldn’t be here.

I chose this spot because it looked like a good spot for a study session. Nothing special with the coffee and snacks– the place looks like its mostly to study although there could be better use of space. Everyone is here with their laptops and seem to only sit near the walls, leaving empty tables right in the middle. I gave it 2 stars because I came in on an 80+ degree weather and the AC was not turned on which was a bad first impression. I was here for an hour and saw a couple of usuals. Comfy place but again nothing special.
Pros:
fast wifi
comfy (they have couches with high backs for privacy.
Cons:
THIS IS A CASH ONLY PLACE with an ATM inside.
kinda hard to find parking 1 hour street parking

An okay place. Came here instead after originally planning for Milk, asi the line for Milk was, like, a week long. It did the job — kinda fun environment, looks like it would be good for late night studying. Quiet, and all the patrons seemed respectful; lots of outlets and seating. Cheesecake was super yummy and creamy. Red velvet cake was bland and dry, probably couldn’t have done worse. Coffee was… coffee, per my husband. All three of them were a little overpriced in my opinion, but then again it’s Hollywood. Bathroom was graffiti’ed up in a very hipster/​truck stop/​high schooler way but also made it look really dirty and grungy; didn’t fit with the feel of the place.

I really love the environment. It’s cozy, quiet and perfect for studying.
The downside: parking. I’m sure there’s another method since I’ve been the only one to leave every hour to check my meter.
Also, the old man is really nice and friendly. I don’t think I can say the same for his wife. I’m not sure if it’s due to the fact I’m the only girl here (it really shouldn’t matter) but every time I’ve ordered either coffee or say, a bagel. She waits until we make eye contact for me to pick it up at the counter. For every one else, she delivers whatever they need directly to their table.
Rudest lady, ever. But it seems like (according to the other reviews) I’m not the only one to think so.

I always had a feeling I should check this place out, but never got around to it till today! Super cool relaxed (quiet) vibe. There’s even a couple of couches and shelves next to them with blankets and pillows. Great selection of coffee and tea, great environment, and great service! You would think that the chairs, couches, cushions, etc would be dirty from lots of use, but every time someone got up from a couch it was cleaned, wiped down (if necessary) and straightened up.
Super cool place, try it!

Honestly, I can’t see myself going to any other coffee shop to get work done. The wifi speed is always reliable and fast, the coffee is strong and decent, the noise level is super quiet.
Boo hoo, so the Asian lady won’t have the best customer skills (get over it), but she is very loyal to her regular customers. I can say that after coming here for over 2 years, I’ve come to adore here.

It’s a great place to go to if you’re up late and want to relax while enjoying a cup of coffee. I think I arrive a little after 10pm and stayed until almost closing. The have dessert and other snack items while offering a nice selection of caffeinated drinks. I ordered the Thai iced coffee and had a cookie as well. Decent price for the 2 items.
There’s plenty of seating inside. From chairs and tables to couches. I was able to sit down on a couch and nearly fell asleep while reading. Actually was practically dozing off the entire time. Lol. There are also outlets for charging your phone or laptop. However, keep in mind that you’ll have to pay for wifi and no cell phone use signs are posted. It’s actually great for catching up on life; such as reading, studying, writing. They’re minimising the distractions for you.
I’m not too sure about the parking situation. It was fairly late so the street meter parking was free.
Check out this joint. It will change your life :-)

My favorite café in LA at the moment.
It’s utterly silent, except when people bring dates there (WHY ARE YOU BRINGING YOUR DATE HERE). People walk outside to take their calls. I forgot that was even a thing until I started coming here to study.
It’s very kitsch, with mismatched furniture and silverware, and the service is not great. Also having to pay over $ 5 for wifi makes some people mad.
However, Cable Wifi is within reach, so that’s covered. I love kitsch (bring it on). And I expect to pay $ 5 at a café for wifi anyway.
If you’re a writer or a student, come here.
If you’re someone’s date, tell them that a young woman will stare daggers into your soul if you come here, and then suggest a different spot.

Well, it’s not so much a café for insomniacs. When I was there, they closed their doors at midnight and promptly booted everyone out.
Overall, it’s an OK café. A lot of people were wearing headphones and getting work done. Nothing special about it that would bring me back here though.

You know, this place got bad reviews but I really liked it! Thanks for the heads up on the cash policy, Unilocal!
In any case, this is a well-​decorated café with some character. The furniture looks antique and the ceilings are high. There are little alcoves, couches, and small and larger tables. The food and coffee you get in the back.
My chai latte was really delicious! I stayed for a long time and so we went back and tried the cookies. Really great as well! Remember that you need to spend over $ 5 to get the internet password, which is not unreasonable.
My favorite thing about this place is the vibe. It’s not a chatty kind of place. You come here if you want to get shit done. Seriously. It’s silent except for the awesome classical music that was playing at the time. I mean, I’m sure it’s fine if you chat, but no one was doing it. It was a sea of Apple computers.
They’re also open until 1am. This may be my go-​to for work café in the future.