Breakfast or coffee near Omni downtown w/question about terrain

[katydid13]

I have friends staying at the Omni Hotel downtown this Sat. & Sun. who would like to meet up there for breakfast/brunch or even just coffee. They would prefer something w/in a comfortable walking distance from the hotel. I'm not familiar with the Omni, but website says it's located on former Bunker Hill, so am I correct in thinking everything nearby (Grand Central Market, etc.) will involve a big walk downhill? (Or am I an idiot....?) Any suggestions would be welcome. I would try to talk them onto the subway to expand our options, but I doubt they'll be up for that.

[andytseng]

Where are your friends coming from? Or what do they consider a comfortable walk?

If they wouldn't be opposed to a mile, that expands your options quite a bit. Cafe Demitasse in Little Tokyo for coffee, Semi-Sweet Bakery for pastries, Baco Mercat for lunch if you go late enough.

[J.L.]

I was gonna recommend Demitasse, but it's quite a walk from the Omni. Intelligentsia maybe a bit closer.

[ipsedixit]

Too bad many of the DASH lines don't run on the weekends.

[katydid13]

Indiana. Its not that they're lazy, it's that they arrive late tonight & have wedding stuff to attend Sat. Night, so I'm figuring their energy will be low.

[TonyC]

Pete's inedible slop.

For coffee, Spring Street Coffee, but it's a far walk.

For breakfast, I'd recommend Local Express right down the hill, but it's not very tasty. I would recommend MF Gourmet, but that lovely concept/pastry shop/bakery already closed. Skip Grand Central all together for reasons which shall be discussed by next Tuesday.

Nickel Diner is also a far walk so... and I hate to do this: Bottega Louie for bottomless coffee & some decent pastries, and then LEAVE before the crowd comes. I mean, like. LEAVE.

[ipsedixit]

For coffee, Spring Street Coffee, but it's a far walk.
_____________________

You mean, "Spring for Coffee" right? http://springforcoffee.com/

[TonyC]

What he said.

It's on Spring St. It's a coffee shop, which is not the same as CoffeeBar.

[avar]

Angel's Flight goes down also. Much easier than walking down slope on 4th. Suggest you check out the Nickle Diner for breakfast. Check to see if Pete's serves breakfast or just brunch.

[J.L.]

I was thinking of ways to maximize scenery so they would not have to double back... Pete's opens at 9AM weekends, I believe.

[ipsedixit]

If you ask nicely, Pete's will make you their blue cheese fries for brunch on the weekends ...

[J.L.]

Go to Pete's Cafe & Bar for a great breakfast. It's on 4th & Main, a mere 5 minutes' mostly downhill walk. Your friends will probably be going downhills on 4th Street.

On your way back to the Omni, I'd highly advise you (as a tourist must-see) to use the legendary "Angel's Flight" tramway, a tourist attraction in itself, located just across the street from the entrance of the Grand Central Market (btw. 3rd & 4th on Olive), which will ferry you back up the hill to the Omni.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&...

[katydid13]

Thanks, J.L.!