You can’t avoid pumpkin spice lattes in Fall, they’re everywhere you look as soon as Labor Day ends. And when a beverage is so inundated in the culture, you can be sure there’s some duds out there as well as some magical-tasty-spiced-just-right pumpkin lattes. Don’t waste your time sipping your run-of-the-mill PSL, seek out the best! Bring on the sweaters and the crispy leaves with a pumpkin spiced latte in hand: here’s our favorite PSLs in Downtown Los Angeles.
Don Francisco’s Coffee Cubana
Go for the pumpkin spiced latte, stay for the ambiance. Don Francisco’s will wrap you in warm Cuban culture and the history of downtown LA as soon as you pass through the doors of the Spring Arcade building. The banana leaves and airy black-and-white elevated Caribbean decor will have you feeling like you’re on a serious daycation. The PSL here is truly something else, made with two shots of espresso, pumpkin pie sauce, whole milk (or alternative milk of your choice)! And if that combo isn’t impressive enough, they can also make you a mocha pumpkin spiced latte with real chocolate sauce. Ay carumba!
Starbucks
Sure, kind of obvious, but we’ve gotta give credit where credit is due. We’re not sure if Starbucks invented the PSL or just had great marketing, but credit to Starbucks has to be the most popular pumpkin spice latte purveyor around. Starbucks creates an entire season around the PSL, and we can’t pretend it doesn’t give us the warm fuzzies when it pops back onto the menu. Starbucks is probably the sweetest of the bunch, but it is the original and there’s something special about it no doubt. If you have a sweet tooth, look no further. And if you love the original Starbucks flavor but not the saccharine sweet vibe, ask for half the syrup! You can’t go wrong with the OG PSL!
Philz
Okay, so we must admit this one isn’t quite a pumpkin spiced latte, but it’s pretty dang good and oh-so-fall. Philz Gingersnap coffee is flavored with cinnamon and spices that will surely warm you up on a crisp fall day.
The Pie Hole
The Pie Hole is an awesome bakery that makes everything from scratch with the highest quality ingredients. Pie Hole uses only seasonal ingredients, so you can bet that when Fall rolls around they use their best stuff to craft a tasty pumpkin spiced latte. We recommend leaving with a slice of pie in hand to go with your PSL, what could be better?
G&B Coffee
Not necessarily ‘pumpkin’ spiced, but we would call this a shining example of Fall flavors: G&B Coffee’s Tumi Latte. Tumeric, ginger, honey, and black pepper, and milk make this creamy delight an interesting departure from the classic pumpkin spiced latte. The flavors come together to create something truly heavenly! G&B is on the back side of Grand Central Market and makes for the perfect coffee stop while you peruse the copious food options within the famous Grand Central Market (aka foodie paradise).
