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Cafe MUSE

4 star rating
based on 49 reviews

Categories: Vegetarian, Coffee & Tea

Neighborhood: Hollywood
6547 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 464-6873
Hours:

Mon-Thu. 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Fri-Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Attire:
Casual
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Price Range:
$
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
Yes
Takes Reservations:
No
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
No
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Wi-Fi:
Free
Good for:
Lunch
Alcohol:
None

49 reviews for Cafe MUSE

Review Highlights   

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"The dressing was great and the sweet potato fries were awesome." (in 23 reviews)
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"My friend ordered the soy chicken pesto sandwich." (in 8 reviews)
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"lots of veggie and vegan options at this little cafe." (in 15 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Catherine C.

 

14

99

Catherine C.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
11/18/2009

WOOT!!! Reasonably priced, YUMMY, VEGETARIAN food AND free entertainment and Wi-Fi?  How does it get any better?

FOOD:  SWEET POTATO FRIES.  Get them.  They come with any sandwich/wrap you order (or you could be lame and order salad instead) and they are seriously, no bullsh*t, the best sweet potato fries I've EVER had.  Gimme that and a vegan buffalo chicken wrap and I'd be happy as sh*t for the rest of the week.  Drinks are also lovely here - their vegan chai latte is near orgasmic.

AMBIENCE: I always feel like I'm in college again when I'm here - in a really good way.  There's usually either live music or comedy on any given night (I think Weds are comedy nights).  There's a baby piano at one corner of the cafe.  There's literally a theatre behind the cafe in the same building. There's also tons of flyers advertising local theatre productions - I love it.  It's the few places in LA where you really get a sense of community and art come together. Service is always very friendly and the food always comes out right on time,

PRICES:  Fairly reasonable.  I'd say budget $8-$10 for your meal but it will keep you full for the rest of the day (or at least give you some leftovers for your next meal).

PARKING: Ok this admittedly is a HUGE pain in the ass.  Parking on Hudson can be hard to come by, so try parking on the surrounding streets and make sure you read the signs so you don't end up with a parking ticket like I did.  Normally I take off at least one star if parking is not good, but I like this little spot so much that I'm willing to put up with the annoying parking situation just to dine...and enjoy the show here.

We need more places like Cafe Muse!

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Photo of Dee Dee X.

 

29

37

Dee Dee X.

Palos Verdes Estates, CA

4 star rating
10/25/2009

Good quiet place to grab some tea/coffee and get some work done.  Stayed here for a few hours and it was pretty quiet the entire afternoon.  Very happy that they had free Wi-Fi since I needed to look up some information on the internet.  

It's attached to some theater in the back which I discovered in search of the restroom.  Interesting....

Around 5pm, a guy with a guitar came in to sing.  I totally thought he was going to bust out Phoebe style and start singing something resembling "Smelly Cat", but his music was actually quite enjoyable.

Low key place with most people there studying / working on their Macs. :)

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Photo of Nate G.

 

5

14

Nate G.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
9/14/2009

I came here to get a sandwich and some free Wi-Fi while I did some work on the web. It just so happened that it was open mic night, and right after I got my sandwich I was treated to some free live music. For the most part it was folksy acoustic guitar fare with the odd piano-playing siren, which isn't bad working background music.

Pros:
- The ambiance is warm, low-key and friendly.
- The food is affordable, healthy and vegetarian.
- The modest interior of the cafe is good for escaping the pretentiousness of the Hollywood surroundings.

Cons:
- The food is not filling at all. I was still hungry after my soy Turkey Reuben and Sweet Potato Fries. They tasted good but they did not satisfy the needs of my belly.
- The lighting is a little too low in the evening if you are working on a laptop or doing some reading.

With that said it is definitely a pleasant and welcoming environment. I'll come back in the morning to try the coffee. I wouldn't come here to work in the evening, and I wouldn't expect a nice satisfying meal if I was extra hungry, but it seems like a good place to relax with a cup of coffee and listen to some guy riff on his guitar about his latest breakup.

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Photo of Evita C.

 

1

5

Evita C.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
11/6/2009

I love this place. I first discovered it when I was in a play in that area and I would go there before rehearsal. It was a great place to just relax, eat, study, write and observe people. The food is fantastic, I love the Turkey Ruben and the sweet potato fries. I can sit there for hours writing and sometimes I just meet friends there - it's great!

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Photo of Judd T.

 

15

90

Judd T.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
10/21/2009

I was starving last night after work, so I came here for a bowl of their vegetarian chili.  They are within walking distance of my apt.  Oooh, was it good.  It comes with sweet potato fries (or a few other choices) and those are to die for.  I've had the chili cheese fries before, but I like it this way if I'm ultra hungry.  You can still dip the fries in the chili and make it chili cheese fries, but this way, you get more chili.  Yummy, yummy in my tummy.

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Photo of David M.

 

6

58

David M.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
9/7/2009

We went here last night after looking it up on Yelp. We wanted something new and we thought we would give it a shot.

The food was pretty good, actually it was great. We got some sweet potato fries (yum) and two sandwiches. The BBQ and the Pesto Chicken. Both were tasty and the lady working was very friendly. We came with 30 min left before they closed and she was very nice about taking our order and letting us eat even though they closed soon.

I am fan of this place. I will def be back.

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Photo of Nicole K.

 

44

47

Nicole K.

Agoura Hills, CA

5 star rating
7/12/2009

Super solid vegan/vegetarian food in the theater/studio district!

I love their buffalo "chicken" tofu. Its amazing. Their salads are awesome!

I feel the only thing is their iced chais are a little on the small side. I wish they were bigger for the price of three bucks!

Others pluses--

Free wifi
open, bright, air conditioned space
super friendly staff
Open 7 days a week, later hours!

What are you waiting for! Get off your butt! The vege and the non-vege will all find something to love about Muse!

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Photo of Lindsay R.

 

1

3

Lindsay R.

Los Angeles, CA

2 star rating
9/12/2009

This place annoyed the crap out of me. Let me say first, that I am not a vegetarian, but the two stars are actually not really about the food. My sandwich was fine, just what you'd expect, fake turkey, cheese, sauerkraut, whatever.

It was the ambiance that really rubbed me the wrong way. It took so long to get the food and the decor of the place is kind of institutional. Personally I feel like this place seriously benefits from the fact that there is not much else on this strip of Santa Monica.

Namaste.

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Photo of Michael K.

Elite '09

43

170

Michael K.

Rosemead, CA

3 star rating
8/3/2009

If I was a vegan/vegetarian I probably would love this place.  But I'm not, so it was ok.

Service: Ok
-The person was happy ish, but often disappears so it's hard to order or get questions answered.

Food: Ok
I got Chicken Pesto with sweet potato fries,  they were pretty good, but nothing I'd really be craving, I'd say if your in the area it's decent.

Parking:  Ok
It's pretty bad cause your hunting for street parking but on SUNDAY it's free to park on the street next to the place, so don't have to constantly feed the meter.

Interesting things:
-They have a small art gallery in the hall way (watch the lights, they have them on the floor)
-Singers, looks like they book different singers for time slots.  When we got in there was some guy playing and a little while later a girl was playing: Jes Hudak.  She was pretty good. (But the acoustics are pretty bad in that place and it's really loud, so you can't really talk well when a person is singing).
-Bathroom is shared by other businesses/theater in the hall way in the back.

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Photo of Daniel T.

 

12

1

Daniel T.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
8/18/2009

I went for the purpose of watching the open mic of stand-up comedy and music.

For the stand-up comedy portion you get a short time (about 5 minutes) to show your stuff. An employee will keep track of time and signal to you when you have one minute left.

The music setup was simple but it works. Some places will have a person working the soundboard for you, but at this one you'll get help plugging in and setting up the mic then you're off on your own. The café is cozy and the sound is active, so artists can perform without any amplification and still be heard. You get to perform two songs (or a total of 10 minutes) and all musical styles are welcome! There were plenty of acoustic singers playing their original works, some performed covers, there were harmonicas, and small ensembles. The café has an upright Yamaha piano, so you Classical pianists can feel welcome and have a decent instrument to perform on. Or pull up a mic and accompany yourself while you sing a nice ballade or Elton John cover.

Overall, this open mic attracts some very talented musical artists. It's hard to believe that you can watch them for free. I would have paid money just to see this bunch perform, but buy a sandwich along with some coffee and we'll call it a deal. Very inspiring and the best open mic in town!

The staff is chill and friendly to boot. Food was great, too. The menu has all your favorite café comestibles and everything is brought to your table after you order it. I enjoyed the "Ham Sammich" with sweet potato fries, which were as good as everyone says they are! You can get a refill on some drinks (like lemonade) so definitely take advantaged of that.

I intend to go back again and again!

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Photo of Xuan T.

Elite '09

82

166

Xuan T.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
6/19/2009 2 photos

I really dig this place.  It's conveniently located within walking distance from where I live.  

In the morning, I like to order the fried egg sandwich with jack & chedder cheese on a croissant with sweet potato hash browns on the side.  I pair this with a pot of raspberry herbal tea (I like to pair savory things with sweet things).  The portions are large and fulfilling.  Not too salty.  Not too greasy.  Perhaps you could consider it juuuuuuuuuust right.  The sweet potato hashbrowns are a nice alternative to the traditional hash browns.  Me likey lots.

In the afternoon/evening, I tend to order the chili cheese fries, because frankly, anything with chili and cheese on top is fan-freaking-tastic.  The twist to this is the same with the hashbrowns: the use of sweet potatoes.  Since the fries are cut super thin, they come out super crunchy and never mushy.  They're not shy with the chili or the cheese either.  Every fry is smothered with chili-cheesy-goodness.  *drool*  I usually have that with another pot of tea.  Either raspberry or oolong.

For snacking/dessert purposes, there are a few options available:

1. Guilt-free route: bran muffin.  It's sweet, so you can treat it as a hearty dessert of some sort.  They warm it up for you and serve it with a pad of butter.  Quite satisfying!

2. "healthier" version of a traditional naughtiness route: the donut.  I've only had the kind with frosting and colorful sprinkles on top.  It's considered "healthier" because it's a vegan donut.  It's definitely more dense than the good ol' school American donut.  But hey, it's serviceable.

3. Screw that healthy nonsense route: The cupcake.  I've had the red velvet and the chocolate cupcake which is topped with cream cheese frosting.  Seriously, if you want to have dessert, just go with that.

Another great thing about this place is the fact that it's located near a lot of playhouses.  So, you can make a full night with a play and then Cafe Muse afterwards, complete with good grub and live music.

The only reason why I give this place 4 stars as opposed to a full on 5 is because of seating.  The place has great free wi-fi access for those who wish to hang out and study/work.  Unfortunately, some of the seating can be a lil uncomfortable, so it prevents me from staying more than an hour or so.  The tables are also pretty small, so it prevents me from having my laptop and my giant textbooks out at the same time.

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Photo of Julia C.

 

7

14

Julia C.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
9/21/2009

Totally solid.  I'd been here once before just for coffee, but recently returned for a Sunday brunch/meeting with a friend.

I ordered a make-your-own-breakfast-burrito with scrambled tofu, black beans, sun-dried tomato, and guacamole on a spinach tortilla.  It was really delicious.  The sweet potato hash browns, however, failed to live up to their promise--rather soggy and tasteless.  I suppose it's harder to fry a sweet potato than a regular one, but other LA places have done so with greater success (Native Foods, for example).

The mood here was just right--relaxed, quiet, and happy.  For prime Sunday brunch time, the place was almost empty (please stay in business!!).  Service was courteous, and the music (retro, jazzy) was unobtrusive while adding to the ambiance.

I will definitely be back here, in part because it's such a versatile place.  There are SO MANY vegan options, both breakfasty and dinnery, and the prices are reasonable.  You can come for a meal, or just for a coffee or a snack.  You can come for a meeting, or to hear live music in the evening.

I'm not sure what's keeping this place from earning a fifth star.  A unique menu item?  More comfy seating for those who want to come study or hang out over coffee?  Or maybe a liquor license?

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Photo of David B.

 

2

5

David B.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
9/29/2009

I'm not a vegetarian but I really like this place. The barristas are always friendly and attentive and the food is really good. I love the sweet potato fries, the lemonade, and the rueben sandwich tastes as good as the real thing but is a lot lighter and healthier. I've also had the buffalo wrap which is delicious. The biggest thing keeping me from coming here more often are the prices. If you're ordering a sandwich and a drink, expect to pay around $15.

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Photo of Eric S.

 

3

18

Eric S.

Burbank, CA

4 star rating
7/6/2009

Now this is what I'm talkin' about. Take your standard cafe fare and swap out the meat for vegetarian substitutes while keeping the food tasty. Brilliant!

My g/f and I shared a chick'n pesto sandwhich and a grilled tofu wrap, both of which were delicious. The pesto was flavorful without being overwhelming and the fake bird that filled the sandwich had amazing texture. The latter entree was stuffed with firm, savory tofu and fresh vegetables that came together to make something that was both light and satisfying. And the sweet-potato fries that chased the sandwich were phenomenal.

A dozen other items on the menu piqued my interest, and after enjoying lunch so much I'm really curious to give their breakfast and coffee a go.

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Photo of Jessica L.

Elite '09

158

150

Jessica L.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
4/4/2009

I'll break in down into simple veggie terms:

1. Sweet Potato Fries, with Tangy BBQ Sauce

2. Vegan Ranch Dressing

3. Grilled Balsamic Soy Chicken

I'm sure their sandwiches and soups and stuff are all great, but I always 'make my own salad' here with the soy chicken and the vegan ranch. Sooo good.

I've been coming here for a while now and the owners are always super nice, they have fun comedy nights, and they even have an open mic night. This is one of those true "coffeehouses" where you can sit around play a game of cards, hang out, eat and be entertained all in one place.

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Photo of Josh L.

Elite '09

28

148

Josh L.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
5/22/2009

Had the veggie chili fries (sweet potato - AWESOME) with vegan cheese and a standard salad with veggies.  Really good.

Great little place with a really nice positive atmosphere.  The staff was really nice and the other customers seemed to be really happy being there.

There's enough stuff on the menu to bring me back for more sampling.  I've heard the pizza's are really kick ass so that's what I'm looking at next!

Free wifi, that's always a plus in my book!  I'm not veggie, but Miss M is vegan and she gave it a thumbs up!  Listen to her!!!

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Photo of Cat B.

Elite '09

50

119

Cat B.

Duarte, CA

2 star rating
3/19/2009

This was my experience:

My friends and I walked in one night, (since we've heard so many good things)...and the place was dead silent except for a man in the corner playing acoustic guitar and whining off-key. Everyone immediately stared at us, judgmentally at our non-hippie garb (how could they tell we eat meat?!) We got creeped out, and left.

The end.

Apparently this place is decent during the day time, and I wont hesitate to try it then if i happen to be in the area.
But its scary, clique-y, and gives off a cult-aura at night.

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Photo of Farra B.

 

45

23

Farra B.

Glendale, CA

4 star rating
4/6/2009

My friend suggested that we grab lunch at this cafe that she's been dying to try out. Reading the previous reviews on yelp and scrolling through the pictures, I thought it would be perfect.

I head on over around 11:40 am and reach the cafe at around noon. Lo and behold, out of the ENTIRE day of the week, we decide to head over on a monday, which, coincidentally is the one day they have street cleaning. So my friend and I spend nearly half an hour looking for parking. We ended up parking across the street near a meter. Unfortuantely, the nearest crosswalk is about a block away unless you want to be brazenly bold and attempt to jaywalk (which i would not recommend).

Aside from the lack of parking... it was great. The cafe was smaller than I expected but that didn't bother me. It felt cozy. Plus, we came around noon ish and there weren't many people there. Most of the people were sitting alone click clacking away on the laptops (probably because there was free wi-fi... sweet).

I ordered a BBQ chicken wrap (with spinach tortilla) with a side of sweet potato. My friend ordered the soy chicken pesto sandwich. Both the entrees weren't bad but i could say I've had better. However, people weren't overexaggerating about the sweet potatoe fries.. and my gawd, the BBQ sauce you dipped in it was orgasmic!

I wouldn't necessarily go back for the food but i LOVE the atmosphere. it was the perfect place to grab a bite, relax and simple just talk with a friend.

I'm definitely coming back again but definitely not on a monday. Next time, I'll probably try out vege chili.  =)

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Photo of Clement H.

Elite '09

72

201

Clement H.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
5/3/2009

This place is a marvelous restaurant, I guess its where most actors, writers go to for their inspiration.

I like the interior and the structure of it.The fact they also have Wifi does bring people in.
They have a nice and great selections of foods, and if you're vegetarian, they have great selection too!!

I think they deserve a full five star...

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Photo of Veggie B.

 

10

25

Veggie B.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
3/6/2009

Man oh man do I love me a salad and sweet potato fries from this place. I like getting the mixed greens, sundried tomatoes, and adding the grilled soy chicken to it. Top it off with some delicious vegan ranch dressing and I'm in salad heaven!

Don't even get me started on those mind blowing sweet potato fries... It's like god brought down his hand from the sky, grabbed a bunch of sweet potatoes, cut them up into little strips, and tossed them into a deep fryer.  Holy shit they are good!

If that's not enough they have an assortment of entertainment that varies from night to night and free wi fi. We once stopped for a quick meal and ended spending 2 hours there watching some great ( and free) stand up comedy.

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Photo of Liz B.

 

4

7

Liz B.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
8/29/2009

The sweet potato fries are a must. I ordered the BBQ tofu wrap. Love the BBQ sauce and you don't even have to ask for extra on the side for dipping... It already comes with the meal!  A great place for vegetarians!

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Photo of mary f.

Elite '09

61

471

mary f.

Long Beach, CA

4 star rating
2/17/2009 2 photos

Like Jeffrey S., in the interest of full disclosure, my boyfriend is a comedian so I went to Cafe Muse so he could perform his comedy.

I was pleasantly surprised by the place.  It's so warm and inviting.  The workers are really friendly.

The grilled cheese with sun-dried tomatoes sandwich with the veggie chili was yummy.  The Italian 'chicken' sandwich was okay.  I like that they have real cheese because I'm not a big fan of soy cheese.  The sweet potato fries are definitely tasty.

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Photo of Daisy S.

 

5

9

Daisy S.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
5/19/2009

The food is generally good.  They are slightly high priced for what you get, but they, that doesn't stop me from going.

I love their vegan reubens ( I get it with vegan ham and cheese), their sweet potato fries with bbq sauce, and their grilled cheese (with melted vegan cheese (ask them to nuke the cheese so it melts).

Their chili is vegetarian and was just so-so to me.  The BBQ spicy wrap is okay. They finally have vegan cookies, but I was disappointed that they are the exact same ones I can buy prepackaged at Whole Foods for $1 less.

I love that their is free internet there.  I like having an option outside of my apartment to get some work done, while enjoying a good meal.  

Overall, this place is worth a shot.  There really isn't any other vegan place is the area.

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Photo of CASA W.

 

65

168

CASA W.

West Hollywood, CA

3 star rating
9/10/2009

it growing on me...

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Photo of Camron A.

 

1

9

Camron A.

Oakland, CA

4 star rating
3/11/2009

Great little place to have lunch, coffee, and maybe get some work done. Employees are super friendly, food was really good as was the coffee. Nice atmosphere too! I had a mixed salad, and while it was a bit on the expensive side it was delicious and hearty.

Recommended!

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Photo of Maria O.

Elite '09

38

120

Maria O.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
12/16/2008

I hate Red Velvet cake with a Passion. Their Red Velvet Cupcakes are epicurean heaven. Lindos y deliciosos! Yes folks, I broke out my spanish, I say Goddamn, GODAMN! These things are GOOD. Their cupcakes are movie cupcakes, professional cupcakes, beautiful and  F^#%$@ delicious!

Their sweet potato fries are the best I've had in 3 states ya'll!  they're not soggy, not greasy, and come with this BBQ ketchup that's a really great complement to 'em.

I usually order their Pesto "Chicken" sandwich, it's really good, just the right amount of cheese and Pesto, i like slathering some of their bbq-k on it. If you're a chili-cheese fan try their chili-cheese sweet potatoes.

Want a  perfect date - Go to the Lillian or Celebration theatre and jaunt on over here for a bite.

Some nights they have open mic with music and poetry or you can just read the paper or play checkers with friends. They keep some games lying around.

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Photo of Veronica R.

 

1263

242

Veronica R.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
5/1/2008

I work right around the corner from Cafe Muse, and I must say that within a month this place has become a staple for our office - vegetarian or not. It's so refreshing to have a healthy restaurant nearby with great prices and perfect portions.

First of all, the sweet potato fries are A-MA-ZING. And I don't even like sweet potatoes!

The soy chicken wrap is also delish, and they let me substitute homemade hummus for ranch which was even more delightful. My friend got the veggie chili - a huge portion with a side of fries for just $5.95 - and it was probably the best veggie chili i've had.

They also have sugar free lemonade and hot chocolate that taste EXACTLY like the real thing.

The vibe is a very unpretentious coffehouse feel and the staff makes you feel like you just walked into their home (I guess in a way, you have, but they're great hosts!). Needless to say I'll come back here regularly and convert all my friends along the way!

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Photo of Heather J.

 

14

22

Heather J.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
5/19/2009

I usually go to cafes to get writing done, so ideally I look for the following: non-distracting music, low-key patrons and staff, and bitching food in case I'm pulling a marathon sesh. Cafe Muse has all of these things, and an artsy, but not intimidating vibe. Since it's in the theater district I guess you could say it's got kind of an upscale coolness? There's a piano there, and a pile of books on film, theater, and art. A hallway that doubles as an art gallery leads to the john, which I guess is technically located in the lobby of an adjoining theater where plays are put on. Awww. I LOVE THAT.
Most of the food is vegetarian and can be made vegan. It's a pretty extensive menu! I got the grilled tofu wrap, and it was fantastic. It came with a super-fresh side salad. Also, my $2 iced-tea came with free refills all day. Now that's how you hook a customer! I can't wait to try all the other vegan delights, as I'm vegan again (this week).
My favorite thing besides the food is how big, open, and sunny the space is. A bright and airy cafe makes me happy. I like it here so much I may turn into a lipstick...thespian.  (Ugh, why must I?!??!)

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Photo of melissa m.

 

13

15

melissa m.

Portland, OR

5 star rating
6/17/2008

I had the good fortune to eat here almost daily on a recent week-long visit to LA.  I found that Cafe Muse is two places: by day, it's a beyond-reasonably priced and relaxing place to order truly delicious coffee, baked goods, and homey vegan/vegetarian food to die for (the sweet potato fries are truly sublime, and don't miss the soy chicken sandwich and soy burger).  By night, it's still surprisingly cheap, but often transforms into a performance space filled with music, spoken word, or comedy.  In either case, the staff is friendly and warm, the vibe is arty yet unpretentious, and the whole place is clearly a labor of love: of food, arts, and people.

Keep in mind that this is a cafe where healthy food is made from scratch daily.  If you have limited time to eat, the staff is great about taking orders by phone and having your food ready to go in 10 or 15 minutes for pick-up, depending on how complex your order is.  

As a bonus, this is an independent business run by two women who are highly committed to the arts community and who are also committed to a philosophy of serving healthy, affordable food in an environmentally sensitive manner.  

Finally, if you go in the evenings, plan ahead.  Cafe Muse supports local artists by offering gallery and performance space, so if you are looking for a quiet place to talk, go elsewhere that particular evening.  Their website has a calendar (http://www.cafemusela....) so there is really no excuse to go during a performance and then undermine a great business by bitching about it here.  (I'm looking at you, ellyn g.  Also, there is this concept called a "to-go box" that you may want to look into.)

So, in sum, the positives:  

highly affordable
delicious food
great atmosphere
free Wifi
arts-loving
socially conscious
environmentally responsible

And the negatives:

on performance nights, parking can be tricky, so get there early
occasionally, dim and self-absorbed people stumble onto it and then try to ruin it for the rest of us

I hope you don't let them get away with it, LA.  I want to be able to visit Cafe Muse for years to come.

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0

34

Lysandra P.

Arlington, VA

4 star rating
10/14/2008 1 photo

What a cute little joint!  It's in a bit of strange neighborhood (at least, strange to me but I'm not from LA) but it's adorable!  Very sunny and decorated in a cute but simple way.  Plenty of tables, but a bit of an outlet shortage - kind of annoying a place with free wifi.  

To be honest, I could have made the buffalo chicken wrap myself at home with morningstar farms chick'n strips - but it was still yummy and nicely spicey.  The dressing was great and the sweet potato fries were awesome!!

Overall I'm very happy that I stopped by.  It's a great place to hang out and get some work done (remember the free wifi?) and have a great veggie friendly menu available.

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Gena M.

Los Angeles, CA

3 star rating
8/20/2009

Free WIFI is really the reason I came here. Went up to the tiny counter, but only after looking around to make sure that's where I was actually supposed to go. There's no menu on the wall, just a few jars of tea packets. I asked the barista what her favorite drink was and ordered the iced vanilla latte- nice, but not very creative. The drink is decent, though I don't know if I'd necessarily call it a "Large" or price it at $4. They play the same weird 50's big band music that Starbucks does and the place was so quiet I honestly felt rude ordering my drink with my normal voice and not a whisper. While charming in appearance, I don't think I'll be returning to sit on the wood chairs and use the marble tables on the concrete floor.

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Christina L.

Costa Mesa, CA

4 star rating
2/5/2009

I did not eat here, nor did I have anything to drink, but this place gets 4 stars so far just because of the atmosphere and the friendly staff. I will go back to fully experience it!

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6

jane p.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
12/2/2008

This place is so cute.
I went there the other day.
They have the BEST SWEET POTATO FRIES.
Very good price for the food.
I really recommend this to ALL people, vegeterian or not.
I'm not a vegeterian, but the food was DELICIOUS.
It's in a strange neighborhood as most people may say.
GIVE IT A TRY!

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Mike D.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
3/2/2009

Love this place! Very friendly, good vibe, tasty food, music from time to time, what's not to like?

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5

3

Sandy Y.

Santa Monica, CA

4 star rating
5/6/2009

Eating here right now.  The decor is warm and clean and the music is mellow.  Most importantly, there's FREE WIFI FOR PAYING PATRONS!  I ordered Corned Beef Hash for about $8.  It seems healthy with tofu and green peppers and there's plenty of tasty cubes of sweet-potatoes.  I'd just like a little bigger serving --the Beef Hash barely covered the whole plate and I'm still hungry right now.

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Elite '09

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452

Jennifer L.

Berkeley, CA

5 star rating
11/30/2008

I was looking for a place to get out of the apartment and do some work on my laptop.  This place was perfect.  It was quiet, with low key music playing in the background and free WiFi to top it off.  It was plenty of tables, lots of light and great food.  I ordered the Asian Tofu Wrap with a side salad, and one of their huge cupcakes.  The tofu wrap was very simple, and with every bite I took I was even more surprised as to how good it was with so few ingredients.  The staff was great.

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Emily C.

Toluca Lake, CA

4 star rating
6/26/2008

I like this place a lot.  I like the atmosphere very New York.  If I lived closer it would totally be my hang out.  

I'm a recent vegetarian and have been on search for good soy chicken and I think I have found it.  I ordered a wrap togo and as I was eating it I had to do a double take cause I could have sworn that it was meat.  After further inspection it was soy.  I was very impressed perfect texture and taste.  Looking forward to trying other things on the menu.  
Only thing is I wish they had a more diverse menu.

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Elite '09

164

304

john w.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
5/18/2009

lots of veggie and vegan options at this little cafe. the Grilled Soy Chicken wrap (with balsamic vinegar, fresh tomatoes, mixed greens, and avocado) served in a spinach tortilla is de-lish. it's served with amazing sweet potato fries and a side of bbq sauce. cant wait to come back one evening for some free comedy or music.

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Matt X.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
4/7/2008

File this under 'Places you can go with non-vegetarians where they will be comfortable but you will still be able to eat good veg food'.
I'm surprised this place is west of Vermont and you would not even know it while you are there. I stumbled across it when I was in that Abyss known as 'Hollywood' and needed a place to meet some non-Angelenos who are not comfortable with any place that has 'vegetarian' in the name.
It was perfect. I ate (vegan chicken salad sandwich with excellent side salad), they ate (tuna sandwich with great fries) and we all drank pretty darn good coffee (organic, fair-trade, etc).
And they are open late-ish. Next time I am out that why I'll try more of their dishes.

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3

5

Indie M.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
3/11/2009

I have a mixed feeling about this place.
I love the foods. My favorite is always, Chicken Pesto. And the fries.... OMG.
I only ordered salad once in here. I like it. But, most of the food are vegan, so I'm not really worry about being health conscious in this place. I just wanna enjoy my food.
I'm not sure if she's the owner or partner of the place. But one of the lady who usually serve me, she can be really nice or a total .... unhappy person.
A lot of times it seems like she doesn't want to serve me. I thought it was just me, but my friend tried to order one time, and he also get annoyed by this lady. So, now days I just ordered to go. Even though I like to sit there and play guitar. Hehehe... I dunno if you suppose to. But I usually come in the morning and nobody is there. :D
I'm a fan.

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