LA near Larchmont

[crach]

I've got a car. Where are the cool nearby coffee shops, tea shops, and simple (but aethetic) places.

[MPC]

I think the pain au chocolat at La Maison du Pain on Pico between La Brea and Fairfax is very authentic.

[at4]

if you like strong greek coffee you can get a metriole at Petit Greek and sit in their sidewalk seating area. M Cafe has organic coffee but it's a "so hip it's not anymore" place. La Brea bakery used to have decent baked goods but now it sucks and the atmosphere (sidewalk) is lacking. i'd say for aesthetics, you've got to get in the car and drive.

[crach]

Where?

[at4]

Maison du Pain is good for the Pico neighborhood but like Chado Teahouse, it's not much on atmosphere. ditto Paris Bakery on Western which probably has the best, freshest pastries west of La Cienega.
Yours is a tougher request than it should be, considering we are in LA. Guess i'd say for atmosphere go to The Four Seasons in BevHills, Rose Tree Cottage or Huntington Gardens in pasadena (although the food ain't much to talk about), The Biltmore Hotel High Tea downtown. Come to think of it, there is a niche to be filled here by a budding restauranteer.

[Suebee]

Yum, totally agree with M Chaya. Truly delicious macrobiotic cafe and I've seen Jake Gyllenhaal twice! Favorites include the veggie burger and the kale with peanut sauce.

Suebee

[Hoover13]

I went to a small Italian restaurant named "Girasole" on Larchmont about a year ago. It was a total neighborhhod joint with great simple food. You can buy your wine next door at the wine shop and bring over with you - I don;t think there is even a corkage fee. Make reservations though!

[cata]

Susina on Beverly just west of La Brea is a great bakery with excellent coffee. It's a good place to hang out and there are always people there reading or working on laptops.