Two of the best cups of coffee I’ve ever had in my life! The Cafe Rico was out of this world and the drip coffee was unreal. Special shoutout to Nicely for his hospitality, passion, and expertise. Cannot recommend enough, I will be back☕️
layla maree
The dude who made our coffees was rude to my partner for no reason. But, the coffee was good. The other gentleman who was on shift was very nice and brought us water while we sat down and enjoyed our coffee and the scenery but, when we went up to ask about something, the other dude was rude about it and made us feel dumb for no reason.
Atmosphere: 3
Service: 2
Aurora Vintilescu
Very inefficient service (only one very slow person both taking orders and doing drinks - while other employees were keeping themselves busy in the kitchen behind the cafe). Especially on a Sunday morning? Really hard to justify ever coming back, though I thought their matcha was above average.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Artem Lebedev
TASTY CUP, cool personal, loved the atmosphere and music. Thanks, looking forward to be back, I am definitely hooked.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bradley Slowinski
Great coffee, great service, cool spot. Cafe Rico was fantastic!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ian Schoen
Great coffee! They really know what they’re doing and put precision into every drink.
Max
I’ve been coming here for far too long, but I’m done. Nicely makes some of the best coffee in LA, but good luck actually enjoying it. Because his pretentious, joyless attitude poisons the entire experience. The man treats basic customer interaction like it’s beneath him. No smile. No thank you. Always snarky comments. Just this constant sense that you’re inconveniencing him by existing.
If dealing with customers is that intolerable, here’s a thought: hire someone who doesn’t resent human beings (apart from your select favorites in line who get comped drinks?) and stay in the back making coffee. Instead, he forces everyone to tiptoe around his moods, like we’re unwilling extras in some bleak social experiment for how poorly he can treat customers that he’s writing about for his Substack.
Examples? Plenty. Someone from our group took a short video to support the shop and he literally wagged his finger and said, “no videos,” only to repost other people’s exact same videos the very next day. And when we order four coffees — one per person, mind you — he huffs, “well, that’s a big order…” with a face that screams we’re doing HIM a favor by buying his own product.
He’s weirdly anti-dog too, despite having zero signage about it (and being in probably the most dog friendly area in LA), and somehow still thinks it’s appropriate to ask for “donations for a family trip.” The vibe is all wrong. Coffee culture should be about community and warmth... not power trips and passive-aggressive rules.
The tragic part is the coffee is phenomenal. But until someone else runs the front, it’s not worth the misery. Luckily, Gabe who used to work here opened Flo in Venice. Same stellar coffee. None of the attitude.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 1
M.F Thielbar
The most beautiful cortado I’ve even seen or tasted.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
C. Tanner Malone
Worst barista. Best coffee. Gabe was the best part of hooked and kept us going. Nicely is so rude to everyone in line that he doesn’t know. He has made some of the most insane comments to people just because they want to know more about his coffee. I get it, you’re an expert, but Nicley makes coffee unapproachable and unenjoyable. Someone in line asked for a drink he recently removed from the menu because it was her favorite (I’ve seen her there many times, and the menue just changed) and his response was “well if you can’t even pronounce the drinks name, you never should of been ordering it in the first place”. He comes at everyone with that attitude. My favorite part of it all is he acts better then everyone and then has been pushing the fact that he was just on chamberlain coffee teaching Emma about espresso. So he is a hipster sell out when he gets paid enough, but his customers don’t pay him enough to get any respect. I hope that Gabe has all the successes at Flo coffee. But Nicley has ruined Hooked for me and many more. It is a shame. It was the best coffee I ever had.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 1
Lauren Emerson
Amazing coffee! It was the best we had in LA all weekend! The atmosphere is unique, cool, and vibey. I also loved that there was a no laptop policy and so many people who were willing to wait in a line and enjoy the space.
I’m honestly very sad writing this review because I’ve loved this place for a long time. The drinks themselves and the guy with the glasses early morning and the amount of love he puts into every beverage is unparalleled.
The place closes at 1pm. I had a really tough morning, and decided to get my favorite matcha to perk me up- I ran to Hooked before closing and made it in at 12:55pm. I waited in line for a couple minutes (and was the last person in there), after which the two guys behind the counter said “sorry, this guy in front of you is our last customer.” “Really?” I said. “Yes, really.” “What if I told you that I ran here to make it in time and wanted this for my mental health?” “Well you didn’t run fast enough.”
My husband was so furious with how they treated me that he ran out. He grew up with a family restaurant that always had a principle, “never slam the door on a customer.” I also arrived 5 minutes before it actually closed. It’s so easy to make a customer happy- and it’s even easier to at least just treat people with kindness.
It’s unfortunate, because we love Hooked and Dudley market, and this interaction will forever taint our impression of this place.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 1
M Villa
Five stars for the delicious Scarlet latte, one star for how insanely slow it was to get our drinks, one star for the pricing, which was absolutely outrageously expensive for a tiny 8 oz drink, and three stars for the space, which is cute, but gets crazy loud when they get busy. No outdoor seating.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3
Tori Gonzales
We came here for a coffee run, and we were so delighted with everything we experienced at Hook’d. The baristas were amazing and so kind. The espresso was deliciously dialed in! Highly recommend this place for your morning coffee stop if you are in the area. The building is beautiful, the music is a vibe and the coffee is amazing! 10/10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jessie W
Mocha is so good! Competition flat white is so smooth and rich.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sam Khandelwal
TLDR: Good coffee, a little pricey. Worth a visit on your Venice beach outing.
I had very high hopes since this place came recommended. However parking is mess so it's not a convenient spot to get by. Also be prepared to wait for as much as 15 minutes, even if 2 people are ahead in the line. The staff takes their coffee seriously and does not take shortcuts.
Their espresso is stellar. Cappuccino is better than average (for the price). Latte is better than average too (for the price). 3 drinks for $30 with tip places this shop at the premium end of the spectrum.
Would I go back? Definitely for the espresso and other drinks that I have not tried, but more likely when I am already in the neighborhood.
Service is friendly and nice. There are signs that discourage you to bring your laptop and prefer that you do not work there. It's meant to spark conversation. I felt welcome and not rushed, even though it was a chaotic visit, 10 minutes before closing.
Two of the best cups of coffee I’ve ever had in my life! The Cafe Rico was out of this world and the drip coffee was unreal. Special shoutout to Nicely for his hospitality, passion, and expertise. Cannot recommend enough, I will be back☕️
The dude who made our coffees was rude to my partner for no reason. But, the coffee was good. The other gentleman who was on shift was very nice and brought us water while we sat down and enjoyed our coffee and the scenery but, when we went up to ask about something, the other dude was rude about it and made us feel dumb for no reason.
Atmosphere: 3
Service: 2
Very inefficient service (only one very slow person both taking orders and doing drinks - while other employees were keeping themselves busy in the kitchen behind the cafe). Especially on a Sunday morning? Really hard to justify ever coming back, though I thought their matcha was above average.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
TASTY CUP, cool personal, loved the atmosphere and music. Thanks, looking forward to be back, I am definitely hooked.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great coffee, great service, cool spot. Cafe Rico was fantastic!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great coffee! They really know what they’re doing and put precision into every drink.
I’ve been coming here for far too long, but I’m done. Nicely makes some of the best coffee in LA, but good luck actually enjoying it. Because his pretentious, joyless attitude poisons the entire experience. The man treats basic customer interaction like it’s beneath him. No smile. No thank you. Always snarky comments. Just this constant sense that you’re inconveniencing him by existing.
If dealing with customers is that intolerable, here’s a thought: hire someone who doesn’t resent human beings (apart from your select favorites in line who get comped drinks?) and stay in the back making coffee. Instead, he forces everyone to tiptoe around his moods, like we’re unwilling extras in some bleak social experiment for how poorly he can treat customers that he’s writing about for his Substack.
Examples? Plenty. Someone from our group took a short video to support the shop and he literally wagged his finger and said, “no videos,” only to repost other people’s exact same videos the very next day. And when we order four coffees — one per person, mind you — he huffs, “well, that’s a big order…” with a face that screams we’re doing HIM a favor by buying his own product.
He’s weirdly anti-dog too, despite having zero signage about it (and being in probably the most dog friendly area in LA), and somehow still thinks it’s appropriate to ask for “donations for a family trip.” The vibe is all wrong. Coffee culture should be about community and warmth... not power trips and passive-aggressive rules.
The tragic part is the coffee is phenomenal. But until someone else runs the front, it’s not worth the misery. Luckily, Gabe who used to work here opened Flo in Venice. Same stellar coffee. None of the attitude.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 1
The most beautiful cortado I’ve even seen or tasted.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Worst barista. Best coffee.
Gabe was the best part of hooked and kept us going. Nicely is so rude to everyone in line that he doesn’t know. He has made some of the most insane comments to people just because they want to know more about his coffee. I get it, you’re an expert, but Nicley makes coffee unapproachable and unenjoyable. Someone in line asked for a drink he recently removed from the menu because it was her favorite (I’ve seen her there many times, and the menue just changed) and his response was “well if you can’t even pronounce the drinks name, you never should of been ordering it in the first place”. He comes at everyone with that attitude. My favorite part of it all is he acts better then everyone and then has been pushing the fact that he was just on chamberlain coffee teaching Emma about espresso. So he is a hipster sell out when he gets paid enough, but his customers don’t pay him enough to get any respect.
I hope that Gabe has all the successes at Flo coffee. But Nicley has ruined Hooked for me and many more. It is a shame. It was the best coffee I ever had.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 1
Amazing coffee! It was the best we had in LA all weekend! The atmosphere is unique, cool, and vibey. I also loved that there was a no laptop policy and so many people who were willing to wait in a line and enjoy the space.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
I’m honestly very sad writing this review because I’ve loved this place for a long time. The drinks themselves and the guy with the glasses early morning and the amount of love he puts into every beverage is unparalleled.
The place closes at 1pm. I had a really tough morning, and decided to get my favorite matcha to perk me up- I ran to Hooked before closing and made it in at 12:55pm. I waited in line for a couple minutes (and was the last person in there), after which the two guys behind the counter said “sorry, this guy in front of you is our last customer.” “Really?” I said. “Yes, really.” “What if I told you that I ran here to make it in time and wanted this for my mental health?” “Well you didn’t run fast enough.”
My husband was so furious with how they treated me that he ran out. He grew up with a family restaurant that always had a principle, “never slam the door on a customer.” I also arrived 5 minutes before it actually closed. It’s so easy to make a customer happy- and it’s even easier to at least just treat people with kindness.
It’s unfortunate, because we love Hooked and Dudley market, and this interaction will forever taint our impression of this place.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 1
Five stars for the delicious Scarlet latte, one star for how insanely slow it was to get our drinks, one star for the pricing, which was absolutely outrageously expensive for a tiny 8 oz drink, and three stars for the space, which is cute, but gets crazy loud when they get busy. No outdoor seating.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3
We came here for a coffee run, and we were so delighted with everything we experienced at Hook’d. The baristas were amazing and so kind. The espresso was deliciously dialed in!
Highly recommend this place for your morning coffee stop if you are in the area.
The building is beautiful, the music is a vibe and the coffee is amazing! 10/10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mocha is so good! Competition flat white is so smooth and rich.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
TLDR: Good coffee, a little pricey. Worth a visit on your Venice beach outing.
I had very high hopes since this place came recommended. However parking is mess so it's not a convenient spot to get by. Also be prepared to wait for as much as 15 minutes, even if 2 people are ahead in the line. The staff takes their coffee seriously and does not take shortcuts.
Their espresso is stellar. Cappuccino is better than average (for the price). Latte is better than average too (for the price). 3 drinks for $30 with tip places this shop at the premium end of the spectrum.
Would I go back? Definitely for the espresso and other drinks that I have not tried, but more likely when I am already in the neighborhood.
Service is friendly and nice. There are signs that discourage you to bring your laptop and prefer that you do not work there. It's meant to spark conversation. I felt welcome and not rushed, even though it was a chaotic visit, 10 minutes before closing.
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