Downbeat Cafe
(213) 483-3955
1202 N Alvarado St
Los Angeles,
CA
90026
34.0782
-118.263
Neighborhoods: East LA, Echo Park
What People Are Saying About Downbeat Cafe
The Editor
Katie Heffernan
Citysearch
In Short
This low-key Eastside eatery doubles as an amateur jazz venue, its musical theme extending from Billie Holiday background ballads to violet-and-black walls covered with genre posters. Seated on vintage couches and diner-style vinyl chairs, locals lunch on sandwiches while reading books from the next door library, or stop in for pastries after visiting the psychic downstairs. Evenings, the cafe swaps its daytime downtime atmosphere for a more dynamic vibe with live jazz performances by local talent.
User Reviews
snogger
July 06, 2008
place used to be amazing. now the coffee's bad and the baristas are glacial. like three-toed sloth slow. oh, they'll drop what they're doing to chat regulars up, but for god's sake don't ask them to do their job. that's not why they were hired. this is just their day gig, what they really wanna do is rock. and then talk about it endlessly while you wait for your bagel. how many people does it take to toast a bagel, anyway? why pay a 3 person staff when only 1/2 a person is working? get with it.
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Anonymous
March 14, 2008
I like The Downbeat Cafe. I always get some kind of tea or hot chocolate, the coffee is also good. The atmosphere is very laid back and there are special events going on some nights. Parking sucks though, if you can't find any metered parking you have to drive around looking for a spot.
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arutek
June 05, 2007
What you probably don't kow about the Downbeat Cafe, and I didn't really realize myself until a few days ago, is that they have amazing sandwiches and a tasty, healthy side salad. I always get the brie and avocado melt. It's sooooo good. I could eat it every day. Yes, their peanut butter sandwiches are yummy, BUT their bread pudding is top notch. Of all the east-side offerers of bread pudding (Alegria, Masa, and the now defunct Netty's), I'd say Downbeat has the best. The staff is casual and friendly, and there's always gread mood-creating jazz music. The downside of this place is that during the weekdays it gets overrun by people taking advantage of the free wireless Internet, and it gets all quiet, and there's like one person to every table for four. This is unfortunate when you want to, say, host a book club or chat with a friend there, as the vibe seems more geared toweard silent personal time. If you need to get away from all the aspiring screen-writers, you can grab a table outside and watch the interesting goings-on at the corner of Alvarado and Sunset (or you can take your food to go).
read full reviewThe Details on Downbeat Cafe
Parking:
Street parking is plentiful, but check signs on Alvarado for weekday restrictions.
When to Go:
Live jazz is featured every Wednesday from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. On weekends, an a la carte brunch menu is served from 11am to 3pm.
The Extras:
Patrons are welcome to bring their own wine, and servers will open bottles free of charge with food orders.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Local Favorite, Breakfast, Family-Friendly Dining, B.Y.O.B., Outdoor Dining, Hidden Find, People Watching, Lunch Spot, Live Music, Cheap Eats
