At the advent of Spring Break, a time of respite arrives to relieve students of school and provide a well-deserved break before AP exams, state testing, and finals. SoCal has no shortage of places to rest and enjoy this week off. Truly, there is no better way to accompany the time off than with a beverage and a snack.
Cafes are the perfect place to spend your spring break, whether looking for a social hub to catch up with friends or a quieter place to begin studying for impending tests. From quaint to bustling, local to remote, SoCal also has no shortage of cafes to visit over the week. So, here are a variety of Mustang recommendations on where and what to drink at SoCal’s cafes!
Bodhi Leaf Coffee Traders
A closer location to Yorba Linda High, Bodhi Leaf Coffee Traders can be found a short drive or walk from the Yorba Linda Public Library, which many students frequent. As someone who spends her time both studying and spending time with friends, Demi Kim (11) recommends “their loaded avocado toast and matcha latte.” Even outside of spring break, when trying to escape the bustle of the library, it is a possible alternative, allowing food and drinks.
Bag of Cakes
A fairly recent establishment in Fullerton, Bag of Cakes is noted for their Korean-style drinks and pastries. With many pastries, the main recommendations are the salt breads, slices of cake, and cruffins. For drinks, Eunice Kim (12) expresses that, “Bag of Cakes is one of my favorites because of their -ades, especially the yuzu-ade; they remind me of the ones I drank in Korea.“ As a novel cafe, the area is often quite crowded, but when the crowds die down slightly, there is a perfect place to socialize.
The Night Owl
The Night Owl in Downtown Fullerton is one of many cafes that line the area, but Eric Gao (11) favors it as “When studying in downtown Fullerton, I really enjoy The Night Owl for their vibes. They have a band playing every night, and sometimes have an open mic session.” Their attempt to make a “third space” area is perfect for this case, as spring break serves as relief from the constant first and second spaces – home and school. To get the best from this cafe, Eric recommends the cold brew or double espresso to create a perfect night out.
Urth Caffe
A staple of Orange Circle, Urth Caffe is a large space offering many baked goods and a wide variety of drinks. For the desserts, Gabby Wong (11) shares that, “I love visiting Urth Caffe and getting matcha tiramisu for dessert.” More recommendations include the classic and pistachio tiramisu, alongside the pecan sticky buns. Drink-wise, the warm divine spice chai latte is a great accompaniment to these sweets. Emma Wang (11) also conveys, “I love Spanish lattes, especially Urth Caffe’s is good. Also, their sizes are quite generous; I had enough to take to-go as well.” As the large space allows for both a loud and quiet environment, depending on location, this is a perfect place to spend extensive time with drinks that last. The many thrift stores in the area are also common stops after getting a drink.
ViLand Coffee & Beignets
A further-out recommendation that is personally worth it: ViLand Coffee is located in Westminster’s Little Saigon. Specializing in beignets alongside Vietnamese-style drinks, the cafe also provides a medium-sized sitting area. Order recommendations include the pandan coffee latte and matcha einspanner, of course, with a side of beignets and an almond croissant. For those with lactose intolerance, the cafe provides oat milk for all matcha drinks. Overall, the cafe provides a comfortable space for studying in the morning, but it may get crowded in the evening.
In closing, the period during spring break is often an odd time between stress and relaxation, with many students still spending this break on academic matters. Either way, cafes are a haven to escape the routine of staying at home while also rewarding oneself for their hard work as they enter into the last stretch of the year. Mustangs, make sure to prioritize relaxation over this break and enjoy it before APs and finals – going to a cafe or two certainly won’t hurt that cause!
