The Talking Stick

The Talking Stick is closed at this location. Couldn’t pay the lease.

Went on a Sunday morning at 9:30AM to find it closed. Not sure if this is a permanent thing or something else has happened. Either way, call ahead before you go and beware that the hours listed on Unilocal and their website may not be accurate.

they sometimes have some cool entertainment.
they went all vegetarian last year. major bummer for a meat lover like me. the PIZZA’S ok but they should call it PITZA because it’s made on PITA BREAD. the bagel and cream cheese is ok. the pastries weren’t my fave.
WATCH YOUR STUFF CLOSELY. someone’s phone was stolen next to me when he left it charging and then went outside to socialize. granted, that wasn’t the smartest scene to lay down, but it’s pretty brazen to steal someone’s phone between two occupied tables.
they were 24 hours for a while but i guess that’s over. a surprise, since there were plenty of sleeping homeless customers last time i was there late. guess it didn’t «pan» out.
happy Unilocaling and here’s to tasting life! :)

Super cool place. Coffee was good and they offer healthy snacks.
What really made it for me was the service. The people that work here are awesome.
It serves as an open venue for artists to express. There is definitely a regular crowd that comes and it’s cool to see them do their thing. A lot of interesting folk.
Open mic M & W!

hi, friends.
–don’t come here if you’re in a hurry. you gonna be late!!!
reg drip coffee is pretty good. specialty drinks can be great, but you have to find the right barista that actually puts effort and heart in to what they’re making. cool spot to clear mind and just relax. been coming here for years now. appreciate the nostalgic décor … woulda def hung out here as teen.
oh, and there are a lot of hobos coming in and out. can be interesting at times.

This review is regarding the café service and not as a music venue. I’ve been several times and will probably go frequently only because it is the only coffee shop within walking distance from my apartment.
I was going to write this to point out the negatives, but there are a lot of positives here too that go beyond the coffee.
1. The people working, with the exception of one hipster barista type, are very friendly.
2. The mix of people who hang out are pretty diverse.
3. Some homeless seem to treat it like a bit of a refuge. Some stop in to chat with the owner. They are very respectful and friendly. If all you knew of homeless people were who came into Talking Stick, you wouldn’t be able to have a bad opinion of them.
Although the people are always friendly, the coffee leaves a lot to be desired. Several problems:
1. Consistency — I don’t need it fast food consistent — here is what I can recall of what I have gotten:
Order is always the same — Large Iced Mocha
–Blended mocha — twice
–Ice, cold milk and mocha in cup, espresso poured over
–Steamed milk, mixed with espresso and mocha, poured over ice (I’m not a barista, but I think this is correct)
–Shots of espresso have ranged anywhere from 1 – 4. When I ask I get different answers from the different people working.
2. Cleanliness — The bean grinder is disgusting. There are so much grinds on the sides, you can’t even see the coffee flowing from the grinder into the «holding tank» (I don’t know what its called). The back area in its entirety needs to be cleaned. I’m not a clean freak by any stretch, but its gross.
I think if this place hired someone with background experience to come in for a month and basically do a «Kitchen Nightmares» type thing with them. Train them for cleanliness, how to make everything on the menu and make it all consistently, I think it would be a huge service. They have such an awesome space and great community support. I think they are missing a great opportunity here to take the coffee shop up a level to get them in. Come in for the coffee, stay for the awesome, local music and the local and rotating art gallery.
I have developed a real soft spot for this place in the 4 months I’ve been living here. I think with just a little of the right help and focus, they can be doing so much more on the business side which would allow them to do even more for the community.

Not a bad place to do a music performance.
I went to see my cousin’s band perform and there’s a great open stage. Not really feeling the hobos coming in and out of the shop though.
When I came in, they had good customer service but they have the WORST food ever. My brother ordered chicken nachos and it tasted like cardboard with ketchup, and sprinkled with extra cardboard. I ordered a blended coffee drink and it took half a dozen sugar packets to taste something.
Good place to perform/​watch gigs, but I’d recommend eating at the fast food restaurants around the place. I probably would not return to this place.

This is one of the best coffee shops in the entire planet. I wish I could leave it six stars.
The art of ‘open-​mic’ is dying. I’m grateful to Starbucks for re-​popularizing the coffee shop as a place of community and congregation, but the ‘mom-​and-​pop’ coffee shop, where a stage, with mics and musical equipment, is quickly going extinct. Enter the Talking Stick.
The Talking Stick boasts a stage, with audio equipment. On most nights, you’re treated to a musical performance at night, or an open-​mic, where everything from Stand Up Comedy to poetry readings take place. It could be argued that the sole of Venice lives at the Talking Stick, because no other institution celebrates performance art as much as this place does. I also think its, sadly, unique to find a coffee shop like this within all of Los Angeles proper.
Of note, the service is excellent. There’s a loyal crowd of people who frequent this place, creating a family environment (and we always welcome new people to join us). The coffee and food is solid, and the muffins are excellent.
Lastly, the Grassroots Acoustica program is outstanding! Check their schedule on google — you will literally see Grammy winners performing acoustically at this place.
With love and peace all — ALI
PS — Forgot to mention that this place is open 24 HOURS!!! You won’t find many coffee shops in LA that are open ²⁴⁄₇! LONG LIVE THE TALKING STICK!!!

This coffee shop is also a bookstore, or somehow it’s connected to a library or bookstore — I’m not exactly sure how. There’s lotsa books in there!
Good coffee, nice people and ample seating for lots of people. On Monday and Wednesday nights, they have open-​mic. It’s only a few dollars — I think on Wednesday nights, it’s free if you buy a drink at the counter. I went a few weeks ago, and there was a crowd and lots of performers. Some sang, some read aloud and others made us laugh. Some told a story and some made us think, while others made fun of themselves and also other people. I left feeling great. :)
This is also the ONLY ²⁴⁄₇ coffee shop in all of LA, as far as I know. See you here next time.

Perfect wifi junkie place. Lots of tables, good amt available of plugs, love their music playlist, clean bathroom.
Looking for a place to study or get some work done, this is your spot!
Wifi is somewhat slow but works.
As of end of May, this place is open 247!
Parking: Small lot or street.
Next too Subway sandwiches.

Try this on a late night musical act night: Pooh Bear Latte & Honey. That might spike up the cool level. Hey it’s a little like Greenwich Village people hanging out here. Too bad past police incidents have taken place at the corner, next to the El Pollo Loco where «Talking Stick» shares as a neighbor. #usefulfunnycool

Well. They did it. they turned a rad coffee shop for locals in to another shitty vegetarian targeted douche bag spot.
Hope you crash and burn.
I take back every positive thing I once said about this place seeing how the new management changed every single thing about it.
(update as of 09/​07/​2014)
This place is floundering like a dead goldfish… all te refurbishments and all the «organic tofu/chai/vegan“menu overhaul plus the complete alienation of regulars has made this spot in to a dead zone. I stopped by to see the reconstruction and they completely fucked up and added a whole bunch of shit they did not need to. They separated the ordering counter from the performance area with a very out of place wall. I assume so as not to disturb any performances, but no one wants to play there any more… I walked by on a saturday night… locked tight, and checked the next afternoon… no one.
This place screwed itself over with it’s disillusion of Abbot Kinney based grandeur… which also sucks donkey dick for quarters.
Fuck this place, the new owners got what they deserved for trying to fix something that wasn’t broken.

I adore the Talking Stick! Great vibe, music, wifi, & open mics. Every night of the week they have something different going on. I love how I can just go on a random day with my laptop & find myself in an open mic comedy show.
Be aware that if you go at night, being productive can get a little difficult because there’s a lot of (great) distractions around. During the day it’s pretty quiet & perfect to get some work done!
If you like a spicy chai, get their pirates chai, you’ll never be the same again!
My personal go-​to is the Pooh Bear Latte. Sooooo delicious & cinnamon-​y. I usually drink my coffee black, but if I’m feeling something sweet, I go straight for this drink.
They have food as well if you find yourself needing a nom-​break. The owners and staff are really nice and down to earth. Overall, I’d drive an extra mile or two to escape the mundane & typical taste of a Starbucks coffee in order to grab this classic «hole-​in-​the-​wall» experience.

Good coffee house. Big room, good coffee, food, friendly staff, and sometimes some live music. The owners hold benefits here sometimes which is very cool of them.
There is a parking lot behind this strip mall.
Try the Pirate Chai Latte– awesome!

This place is great. The Sunrise is great in the AM and the Totally Tuna is usually really good for lunch.
An A+++++ place to get coffee or a sandwich

Yes, it’s a «real» coffee shop. One of the few that survived the mass extinction due to soul suckers like Starbucks and Coffee Bean. Yes, there is plenty of seating and free wireless. Yes, their chai latte is deliciously thick and creamy. Yes, they have a couch-​type thing. But most of the tables have straight-​back wooden chairs which aren’t that comfortable. Yes, you could probably sit there for hours and no one would bother you about it. No, it’s not a quiet place to read or study. No, they don’t have bitchy counter help like some others have remarked. Don’t know about the food (didn’t try it), but I did notice plenty of plates coming out of the kitchen so someone else thought it was good enough to keep ordering.
Bottom line: if you’re not picky, and a real coffee shop environment is your top priority, this is your place.
Hidden bonus: AA meetings upstairs; check local schedule for times.

I came across The Talking Stick after a long night with a friend eating at Venice’s First Friday. We got there mid evening, and upon entering saw a packed crowd with a band performing some great music.
Making my way to the counter, I ordered their Pooh Bear Latte. I asked the guy about my order, and he told me it was a latte with added honey and cinnamon. After my first sip, this was definitely made clear! A strong/​smooth mix honey and cinnamon, this latte was amazing! The honey made the drink pretty sweet… but that didn’t deter me from guzzling the whole thing within a short time.
I am amazed there aren’t many reviews on this latte, but if you find yourself at The Talking Stick… try it. It’s a good order if you want something different, but not eclectic that it just tastes funky.
This place was great. The person at the counter was really friendly, and having a band performing (apparently they have one everyday) made this coffeehouse a great place to hang out and relax after a long day’s work!

This place is pretty decent. I’m not much of a coffee drinker. but I shop at the Ross across the street often and shopping always works up my appetite… and where better to get a snack than someplace literally feet away?
I love the BLT and the the California bagel. it’s delicious. with egg, cheese, and avocado. yum! The people working here are pretty friendly and don’t hassle me when I ask for egg whites on my bagel.
I’ve also come here a few times to watch friends play. They have a nice little stage and it’s pretty intimate. I like that in a venue.

I love the Californian Bagel.
Your choice of bagel (I like the poppyseed and onion) egg, tomato, avocado (I skip the cheese)

4 stars for ambiance, and 2 stars for the food.
Went here for open mic last night (Wednesday nights only), and the crowd is friendly and talented. Good show last night. They have lots of in-​house instruments including a piano. You’ll see a lot of musicians lugging around their guitar.
Service is friendly.
Food is nothing outrageously good. Quality is about below-​average to average. The Peter Rabbit wrap was the perfect hippie kind of meal with a hippie kind of musical crowd.
Their carrot cake cupcake was sad. Hot chocolate is just sweet heated water with a little bit of milk. Not ordering this again.