Best of the Best of the Best

If it's mid-summer, it's time for the deluge of local pubs and their annual "Best of L.A." roundups. L.A. Alternative Press already produced theirs a few weeks ago, while the L.A. Weekly and LA CityBeat/ValleyBeat have more takes in the coming weeks (unless Los Angeles owner Emmis gets to them first).

Speaking of Los Angeles, the granddaddy of them all -- the city mag's own, trademarked "Best of LA" issue -- just hit newsstands.

Again, it goes with a list of 101 local faves, ranked in no particular order. Included on the survey are entries like "Best Latte," which goes to the newly renamed Sabor Cultura Cafe. Formerly known as Espresso Mi Cultura, the Hollywood joint serves as a gathering place for artists and writers, particularly with a Latin bent. The adjoining bookstore/gift shop sells alt literature and radical works, while entertainment ranges from spoken word to poetry to DJs. We like the Mexican Mocha, an original concoction of chocolate Mexicano with a shot of espresso.

Back to the LA mag: Perhaps as a slap to all the other "Best of LA" pubs around town, the issue's cover includes a graphic promising the best "Best of LA" issue ever. That's right. The "Best of LA" list makes it onto the list of the best of LA.