It’s been quite the Indian summer, but Los Angeles is finally starting to cool down.  An upcoming week of mid-60 degree highs?  Well then, it’s time to break out the scarves, and seek out the comfort of warm holiday libations.  Pumpkin spice lattes are a traditional fall favorite (and we dig them as much as the next), but we’re especially excited about new holiday twists such as maple spice lattes and red velvet cocoa.  Here are three places in the neighborhood where you can get festive with your seasonal beverage.  

M STREET COFFEE

M Street Coffee is just about everything you want in your local coffee shop.  Owned and run by Valley resident, Andrea McClain, the Sherman Oaks gem serves all organic coffee and espresso, with dairy alternatives such as almond, soy and rice milk.  This holiday season they’re offering four specialty drinks—a pumpkin pie latte, a maple spice latte, a gingerbread latte, and a peppermint mocha, adorned with candy cane pieces.  Part coffee shop, part art gallery, M Street Coffee also features artwork by local residents.  Now you can get your caffeine fix and get cultured, all at once.  

M Street Coffee, 13251 Moorpark St, Sherman Oaks.  (818) 907-1400.

THE COFFEE BEAN & TEA LEAF

Did you know that The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf was founded in Southern California?  The 50-year old company started with a single shop in Brentwood, and all of its production is still done locally, in SoCal.  The Coffee Bean is now serving their holiday drinks, including a peppermint mocha latte, a red velvet hot cocoa, their winter dream tea latte, and their toffee nut latte.  Their holiday selections are on tap until December 31st, so you might want to start stocking up on your winter dream blend now.  More good news?  Should we have another heat wave this fall, Coffee Bean’s toffee nut latte can be served cold, blended, and frothy.  They think of everything, don’t they?

Various locations. www.coffeebean.com

 

NESMON CAFE

It can be easy to miss, but tucked along Ventura Blvd is Parisian eatery and marketplace, Nesmon Café.  Owned by Sherman Oaks resident, Nily Yefet-Shalom, the café boasts a menu of crepes and tartines (open-faced sandwiches) alongside soups and salads.  Now that temperatures are starting to drop, Nesmon will be offering hot cider—the festive drink that too often goes under the radar during the holidays.  We imagine we’ll be pairing a cup of cider with one of their pumpkin tarts or a goat cheese and sundried tomato crepe.  Yes, the holidays have arrived. 

Nesmon Café, 13333 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks.  (818) 855-8818).