Where to Go for Taste of Mocha and Music

Nearly every neighborhood coffeehouse comes with a stool, a mike and a set of crooners. We asked local musicians to pick the best performance-oriented spaces.

Anastasia’s Asylum, 1028 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 394-7113. This popular Westside cafe and eatery books entertainment nightly.

Cobalt Cafe, 22047 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, (818) 348-3789. Where Valley kids go for their nightly hip injections. The Cobalt has youthful musical diversity in a friendly setting.

Exile Books & Music, 14925 Magnolia Blvd., Sherman Oaks, (818) 986-6409. Many area artists are thankful that Exile owner Tom Ianiello (who used to run NoHo’s boho Iguana) is back in business. Expect gigs, gigs and more gigs (although no cappuccino machine; the coffee comes out of a pot).

Highland Grounds, 742 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, (323) 466-1507. Owner Richard Brenner, who has run blues clubs in Chicago, got back in the booking biz, and Highland leads the talent pool once again (its big raised stage and outdoor patio are additional assets).

Hot House Cafe, 12123 Riverside Drive, North Hollywood, (818) 506-7058. This comfortable and eclectic eatery features Chuck E. Weiss on Fridays and an open mike on Sundays.

Lulu’s Beehive, 13203 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, (818) 986-2233. The cheery coffeehouse, owned by Lulu Flippin and Fiona Sanderson, brightened up the neighborhood with art exhibits (the talent is impressive), music, happy hour ($1.60 for a real ice blended mocha, 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday) and scrumptious food served till 3 a.m.

Moondog Cafe, 7160 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, (323) 936-4604. The new kid on the Melrose block, this 10-month-old venue offers wide-ranging live music, poetry and comedy.

Sacred Grounds, 399 W. 6th St., San Pedro, (310) 514-0800. One of the most musically diverse venues around, Sacred Grounds should get money from the National Endowment for the Arts for its longtime support of area musicians.