Coffee Cartel

I have a problem with coffee; I have to have an iced latte everytime I step out of the house. The atmosphere is great. I chose it for the vibes and I was hoping the coffee would be good too- It was. I got probably one of the best tasting iced mochas I’ve ever had. The flavor was on point. The oat milk was neutral, not oat-y and the mocha didn’t taste synthetic or familiar. It was really good, perfectly mixed. I loved the barista as well. I love people who are funny and witty and they totally were.

Very comfortable place to have a drink with bookshelves fiction/non fiction/references and nice couches.

The best coffee spot in Rivera Village

Awesome service. Great drinks.

+1

We enjoyed the ambience of the inside coffee shop. The pastry was OK but the coffee was delicious.

The kind of neighborhood coffee house that actually feels like it's part of a neighborhood. Community bulletin boards, bookshelves, sometimes local art. And a little bit of everything: coffee, tea, pastries, smoothies, etc. Offbeat and home-y despite its spot at the end of a row of trendy restaurants. (And it's been here longer than most of those!) Decent amounts of both indoor and outdoor seating. The kind of atmosphere that makes you *want* to hang out there.

Stopped in after arriving from Utah to get a cup of coffee. Great atmosphere with a few customers relaxing on the comfortable chairs, using their laptops or reading a book. Coffee is fresh ground and the cup of regular coffee (no additives) is the best I've had in years. The service was friendly and the prices very reasonable. I'll be back around in 5 months and will make it a point to visit the Coffee Cartel again.

The coffee cartel is a favorite "haunt" of mine. The staff is friendly, the decorations are quirky, and the vibe is absolutely perfect for chilling and making new friends. The seating is inviting, and the outlets are plentiful if work is your goal. To top it off, the coffee is excellent.

Something about the vibe here is conducive to good work or good reading. It's got a nice, open feel. Lots of comfortable chairs. It's got a bit of a basement / rec room / hipster feel which you may or may not like, buy I do. Good coffee and service in a great location close to the water.

Nice urban vibes and good coffee! Good place to vibe out and study. Nice ambiance located at the beach nestled between cute shops and restaurants. Spacious with lounge chairs, desks and tables. Highly recommended.

Favorite coffee shop! Great coffee options, simple treats, cool folks working behind the counter. Eclectic place that has live music occasionally, tons of books available to read, and board games! Bring cash if you're only getting a coffee - there's an extra charge for <$5. Also have to pay for parking most of the time (coins or card)

Perfect place to study/work/social gather... Good coffee and you can hang out inside or out... Great wifi! They usually play fun music in the background. If you are in the area great place to hang!

Awesome coffee, awesome vibes. So good. Great little spot, good wifi, not to loud, lots of places to sit. Parking is a bit hairy - lot is small, and everywhere else nearby is metered. But such a neat place. I bought a Moroccan spiced latte (spicy!) and a couple books too 😂 Such. A. Vibe.

no minimum charge or limited time! nice place to chill alone, hang out with friends, and so on :) recommended!

I got the lavender matcha coffee it’s so good the cashier was super friendly and nice! I live near by and love coming here I would recommend on coming on I came on a Sunday late afternoon wasn’t to crowded and available chairs to sit

Enjoyed a delicious cup of Mocha at the Cartel, one of our favorite coffee spots in the Riviera. The service was prompt and friendly. Lots of people inside reading or on their computer. We like sitting outdoors on this pleasant day.

Hands down one of my favorite coffee places in Southern California. Me and my partner always go here for their coffee and other drinks (they have a lot) and also to play chess! They have books and other games available too. Not to mention their prices are cheaper than most coffee shops. Love this place!

Spacious. Comfortable seating. Good coffee - reasonably priced. Funky atmosphere. Plenty of reading material.

RJ

Perfect place to study/work/social gather... Good coffee and you can hang out inside or out... Great wifi! They usually play fun music in the background. If you are in the area great place to hang!

Ed Oyama

Awesome coffee, awesome vibes. So good. Great little spot, good wifi, not to loud, lots of places to sit. Parking is a bit hairy - lot is small, and everywhere else nearby is metered. But such a neat place. I bought a Moroccan spiced latte (spicy!) and a couple books too 😂 Such. A. Vibe.

劉函數

no minimum charge or limited time! nice place to chill alone, hang out with friends, and so on :) recommended!

Marleen

I got the lavender matcha coffee it’s so good the cashier was super friendly and nice! I live near by and love coming here I would recommend on coming on I came on a Sunday late afternoon wasn’t to crowded and available chairs to sit

Tony Fu

Enjoyed a delicious cup of Mocha at the Cartel, one of our favorite coffee spots in the Riviera. The service was prompt and friendly. Lots of people inside reading or on their computer. We like sitting outdoors on this pleasant day.

Cute coffee shop with eclectic decoration and tranquil ambience. The menu has lots of options. I tried a few of their drinks and I must say everything was good! There's indoor seating too relax and enjoy your drink.

We love Coffee Cartel. We stop in or spend time, depending on the day It's cozy, like visiting a friend in their cozy living room. I've never had a bad drink or food from there. The service always leaves me with a smile. The short walk to the beautiful views at Esplanade with coffee are also great.

One of the best coffee shops to work remotely from in the Beach Cities area. Keep an eye out for Dolby’s sock!

poetry nights are the best! expect a variety of acts (not just poetry) with talented locals keeping things refreshing and interesting! great sense of community and feels unique for the area, providing a safe space for all ages to be expressive

bri

poetry nights are the best! expect a variety of acts (not just poetry) with talented locals keeping things refreshing and interesting! great sense of community and feels unique for the area, providing a safe space for all ages to be expressive

Owen Johnson

One of the best coffee shops to work remotely from in the Beach Cities area. Keep an eye out for Dolby’s sock!

Sam Hosein

Cute coffee shop with eclectic decoration and tranquil ambience. The menu has lots of options. I tried a few of their drinks and I must say everything was good! There's indoor seating too relax and enjoy your drink.

Jocelyne K

We love Coffee Cartel. We stop in or spend time, depending on the day It's cozy, like visiting a friend in their cozy living room. I've never had a bad drink or food from there. The service always leaves me with a smile. The short walk to the beautiful views at Esplanade with coffee are also great.

Super cute coffee spot. I enjoyed my time there, only gave a 4 star because my chocolate croissant was super dry and not enjoyable. It's a great place to sit and read, or do some work. I love the quirky set up and relaxed vibe. Highly recommend this place to study, just make sure you get there early for a good spot.

I love the Coffee Cartel because of it's coziness. But I've stopped going as much because the music is overwhelming in the morning. A lot of cursing, and sexually suggestive, depressing, and loud. Might be good for later in the day or not at all. When people have children in there or older people it can be offensive. And if your reading annoying.

Best thing about this place is how late it's open! Great for a late night chat or work spot on the quiet streets of Riviera Village. The coffee is decent, the pastries look scary. The crowd is mixed. They have cool things like open mic nights. My chai latte was surprisingly good.

Coffee is somewhat expensive but pretty good and they usually have different flavors to choose from (plus they're open late). Staff is pretty relaxed and easy-going. Typical L.A. coffee-house atmosphere here. Tip: Bottled water here is insanely expensive!

Good local south redondo spot for coffee and working on laptop. Has an old school coffee house vibe like it’s from the 90’s, which is pretty sweet. Also, thy have open mic nights which are a throwback and are fun to see.

Stopped into Coffee Cartel for a little content + caffeine moment and let me just say—that cherry rose tea latte with oat milk was giving. Floral, creamy, and just the right amount of indulgent. My friend had a matcha latte (don’t ask me what kind—something green and gorgeous) and we both were genuinely impressed. We asked for our drinks “for here” hoping for some of those cute cups for photo ops (because, obviously)… but were handed disposables instead. Womp. Also, I had to ask twice for water and finally just handed him the pitcher—he was sweet about it, but still. That said, the vibe is classic Redondo—laid-back, surfer-adjacent, and the drinks really were that good. I’ll absolutely be back. Just give a girl a proper cup next time.

This place is located right at the beginning of the street and has a nice ambiance. The coffee is great and we enjoyed the Aussie Flat While there. The best part is that they allowed food from the neighboring Little French Bakery to be brought in and enjoyed with the coffee there. Full marks for that as they both places compliment each other. The service is good and I would definitely recommend it.

Melissa K. Dagodag

Good local south redondo spot for coffee and working on laptop. Has an old school coffee house vibe like it’s from the 90’s, which is pretty sweet. Also, thy have open mic nights which are a throwback and are fun to see.

Rose

Stopped into Coffee Cartel for a little content + caffeine moment and let me just say—that cherry rose tea latte with oat milk was giving. Floral, creamy, and just the right amount of indulgent. My friend had a matcha latte (don’t ask me what kind—something green and gorgeous) and we both were genuinely impressed. We asked for our drinks “for here” hoping for some of those cute cups for photo ops (because, obviously)… but were handed disposables instead. Womp. Also, I had to ask twice for water and finally just handed him the pitcher—he was sweet about it, but still. That said, the vibe is classic Redondo—laid-back, surfer-adjacent, and the drinks really were that good. I’ll absolutely be back. Just give a girl a proper cup next time.

Oofrish V Contractor

This place is located right at the beginning of the street and has a nice ambiance. The coffee is great and we enjoyed the Aussie Flat While there. The best part is that they allowed food from the neighboring Little French Bakery to be brought in and enjoyed with the coffee there. Full marks for that as they both places compliment each other. The service is good and I would definitely recommend it.

This is such a charming little spot to get some work done. There’s a fair amount of seating, though all the best nooks are usually claimed by the early birds. My favorite hideouts are the single tables tucked between the bookshelves—perfect for a bit of quiet productivity and light literary ambience. Their coffee is solid, though the lavender latte isn’t really my cup of tea—literally. Not bad, just not for me. I’m more of a tea person anyway, and luckily, they have a surprisingly thoughtful selection. The atmosphere is cozy and calm, ideal for focused work… with a bit of casual people-watching on the side (guilty). I’ll definitely be coming back for the tea, the vibes, and the occasional mental break disguised as “observation.”

Great low-key cafe in Redondo Beach! Great coffee! Super chill with a much needed older school vibe.

John Ghiz

Great low-key cafe in Redondo Beach! Great coffee! Super chill with a much needed older school vibe.

Rosana S

This is such a charming little spot to get some work done. There’s a fair amount of seating, though all the best nooks are usually claimed by the early birds. My favorite hideouts are the single tables tucked between the bookshelves—perfect for a bit of quiet productivity and light literary ambience. Their coffee is solid, though the lavender latte isn’t really my cup of tea—literally. Not bad, just not for me. I’m more of a tea person anyway, and luckily, they have a surprisingly thoughtful selection. The atmosphere is cozy and calm, ideal for focused work… with a bit of casual people-watching on the side (guilty). I’ll definitely be coming back for the tea, the vibes, and the occasional mental break disguised as “observation.”

There are small mice running around near the tables, they might be carriers of diseases

Cool place to hang out but the coffee was mid

The great: Cute shop, available tables to sit, reasonable prices for area. Filled up community board with local services info. The bad: "hot" drink was luke warm at best picking up from counter. Two employees were joking around with each other and sweared several times. Sat down drinks on counter without calling them out --> then didn't know what they were when people asked to find theres.

Amber V

The great: Cute shop, available tables to sit, reasonable prices for area. Filled up community board with local services info. The bad: "hot" drink was luke warm at best picking up from counter. Two employees were joking around with each other and sweared several times. Sat down drinks on counter without calling them out --> then didn't know what they were when people asked to find theres.

I came to this coffee spot based on the great reviews. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the staff was friendly and attentive — definitely a pleasant place to hang out. That said, the coffee didn’t live up to the hype. I ordered a cappuccino, and unfortunately, it tasted burnt and a bit harsh. Coming from an island like Puerto Rico, where quality coffee is the norm, this one fell short.

Adrian Marchena

I came to this coffee spot based on the great reviews. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the staff was friendly and attentive — definitely a pleasant place to hang out. That said, the coffee didn’t live up to the hype. I ordered a cappuccino, and unfortunately, it tasted burnt and a bit harsh. Coming from an island like Puerto Rico, where quality coffee is the norm, this one fell short.

Yes there is wifi. Yes there are a lot of comfy places to sit. Yes it's eclectic. But it needs a good cleaning and the sarcastic staff selling day old pastries at full price and just ok coffee make it a pass in my book.

Ehh, I just wasn't feeling this place, to be honest. Nothing glaringly "wrong" with it, it does have a nice homey feel to it with ample seating and it appeared free WiFi, so might be a good place to kill some time and catch up on some e-mails. The prices were also fair. The coffee was just average, however, and everything was served in plain paper cups even if you were dining in.

Mack H

Yes there is wifi. Yes there are a lot of comfy places to sit. Yes it's eclectic. But it needs a good cleaning and the sarcastic staff selling day old pastries at full price and just ok coffee make it a pass in my book.

Some staff is nicer than others. The times they have posted on their windows and online are not correct. I’m surprised an establishment that’s been operating for years can’t keep a regular schedule.

Today I’m visiting from Santa Monica and I’m sitting outside after ordering and am sitting outside away from people and one of the guys working came outside to tell me and a friend not to smoke although we were completely by ourselves and not bothering anyone once again outside. Ridiculously rude and will not be coming back after this. There’s a sign that says smoking area and we were inconvenienced by having to get up and move our things for no reason because an employee either doesn’t know the rules or the sign is incorrectly used.

Officer Kitten

Burnt my bagel. Took way too long, the parking is straight up abysmal. Went from a nice cafe to a freaking social spot. Can't get any work done

Timothy James

Today I’m visiting from Santa Monica and I’m sitting outside after ordering and am sitting outside away from people and one of the guys working came outside to tell me and a friend not to smoke although we were completely by ourselves and not bothering anyone once again outside. Ridiculously rude and will not be coming back after this. There’s a sign that says smoking area and we were inconvenienced by having to get up and move our things for no reason because an employee either doesn’t know the rules or the sign is incorrectly used.

Tried to get coffee here, however I was told they were closed. Shows on Google that they close at 6:00pm. They had all the chairs stacked at 5:50pm and we were turned away. They should not turn away customers, especially since it doesn’t take long to make a drink.

Courtney May

Tried to get coffee here, however I was told they were closed. Shows on Google that they close at 6:00pm. They had all the chairs stacked at 5:50pm and we were turned away. They should not turn away customers, especially since it doesn’t take long to make a drink.