‘Diverse & lively suburban living, with easy access to LA’s gems’: Los Angeles city guide with Ian Varady from Stereoscope Coffee

*Ian Vanady leads education and quality control at Stereoscope Coffee in Los Angeles. Photos courtesy of Stereoscope Coffee*

As a third-generation Angeleno, Ian Varady knows the ins and outs of Los Angeles. Ian’s Filter city guide highlights his favorite spots for live music, food, hiking, and everything in between. Keep reading to discover LA’s hidden gems with Ian from Stereoscope Coffee.

What do you do for fun around LA?

I’ve always felt blessed to live in a city where there is access to nearly every activity known to modern civilization. However, one thing that will always be near and dear to my heart is live music, which I return to time and time again. Seriously, I’ll be checking the schedules and calendars for my favorite venues weekly, just to see who and what’s playing around town. Even if I can’t go, I just want to know what’s happening!

All that being said, the number of great music venues in Los Angeles is overwhelming—despite the city losing some of its greatest spots during the pandemic—so I’ll focus on two smaller venues that usually boast killer lineups: Sam First and the Lodge Room. The former, located near LAX, is, in my earnest opinion, one of the last great jazz bars in the city. A great bar in its own right, what really elevates this place is its rotation of phenomenal musicians. I mean, Gerald Clayton and Justin Brown often curate weekly performances and jam sessions here…need I say more?!?!

The Lodge Room is a larger and more formal venue on the opposite side of the city, in the Highland Park neighborhood. And, whoever does the booking for that place needs to be recognized by the LA city council! The monthly lineups are often an eclectic yet tasteful mix of various genres and artists, making it the go-to for any indie-folk-shoegaze-midwest-emo-jazz-funk-ophiles.

If a good friend came to visit, where would you be sure to take them?

My favorite thing to share with visiting friends is food, and Canter’s Deli in West Hollywood is not only a childhood haunt of mine but also an LA eating institution. Before I changed my diet to reflect a humble asceticism (vegetarian), I was a super fan of the corned beef Reuben. A Reuben, mind you, that I hold in such high regard, I believe it rivals the esteemed corned beefs of Langer’s or even Katz’s! Thankfully, Canter’s is invested in the cutting edge of corned beef technologies and offers a fully 'vegan corned beef Reuben'… this is truly a fair and balanced universe we live in.

Upon exiting the restaurant, one immediately finds themselves on the hip and fashionable Fairfax Boulevard—where hipster and hype beast co-exist upon a stretch of road littered with sneaker shops, fine clothiers, and curated thrift stores. This is an excellent place to shop (window or otherwise) and people watch.

What do you like to do to escape the city?

My ideal getaway is to go camping for a couple days, and thankfully, there’s incredible nature to experience within just a few hours’ drive of the city. My favorite, by far, is exploring the Sequoia National Forest—specifically Kings Canyon National Park. After about a four to five-hour drive north of Los Angeles, you’re transported to an almost otherworldly environment, filled with Giant Sequoia trees (the world’s largest trees, by the way). The scenic views, diverse animal life, and dense forest make this trip not only worthwhile but also humbling and refreshing.

What touristy things around LA are worth the hype?

As far as 'touristy' spots go, I always suggest visiting the Griffith Observatory. On a clear day, you can see the LA skyline, the Pacific Ocean, and take in views of the famous Hollywood Hills and Hollywood sign! The observatory and its grounds have been the backdrop for countless iconic scenes in movies and other media. Plus, the observatory itself houses a great little museum and occasionally hosts viewings of the cosmos through its still-functioning telescopes!

Sticking to the Hollywood scene, my touristy suggestion for any musically inclined visitor is, without question, Amoeba Records. It’s so easy to get lost among the many aisles lined with vinyl, CD’s, and merchandise. With such a vast selection of media in a not-quite-so-large space, it’s also not uncommon to get into conversations with those around you about your favorite artists and albums. Warning: this place might be a problem for those struggling with a vinyl buying addiction!

Where are your favorite hidden gems there?

For a little tucked-away hike in the city, I head to Fryman Canyon in Studio City. It offers some great ascents, so those who like to be huffin’ and puffin’ on their hike won’t be disappointed. For those willing to take one of the many side trails up the mountain, there’s a good chance of encountering some fun local wildlife… but be careful—I almost stepped on a rattlesnake last time I was there!

Another spot I can’t recommend enough is the Huntington Garden in Pasadena! While the grounds are technically large, organized gardens arranged by theme and biome, the entire location offers a beautiful walking experience through immaculately curated foliage.

What's another coffee shop around there that you really admire, and what about them stands out to you?

Ondo Coffee is a multi-roaster shop in East Hollywood run by an industry veteran, offering an ever-changing and always exciting array of coffees. When it comes to espresso—for me—proper extraction is king. If a shop offers fun varietals and processes but can’t stick the landing, I lose interest fast. However, at Ondo, I can happily say I’ve never had any concerns with quality or consistency. Their presentation is spot on, their vibe is not pretentious, and to top it all off, the whole experience is set to a killer soundtrack. Great taste all around!

What makes LA feel like home to you?

Frankly, I’ve accepted that I’m a 'city boy' through and through. I feel most at home when I’m surrounded by a wide array of cultures in a diverse urban environment. The interactions are always more interesting, and the opportunities to be challenged, to learn, and to grow are far more abundant.

Where are you from originally, and how did you end up in the LA coffee scene?

I’m a third-generation Angeleno, born in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley—and still live there to this day.

For the longest time, I put little to no effort into understanding coffee beyond its role as a late-night stimulant for studying or as a complimentary side to my Denny’s Grand Slam. But sometime around 2012, a good friend introduced me to specialty coffee. After that experience—and after an intense caffeine hangover—I became more interested and decided to conduct my own investigations into this 'new' coffee culture. From there, like many, I started working at Starbucks and eventually found my way into the third-wave scene—always determined to learn more and to immerse myself deeper into the specialty coffee apparatus.

Can you share about your role at Stereoscope?

At Stereoscope my two main roles are lead educator & quality control:

As an educator, I feel truly blessed to equip future baristas with the tools they’ll need for a successful coffee career. I originally chose to work at Stereoscope because I heard they had a robust training program and a strong focus on coffee education—thankfully, that was true, and I’m honored to carry on and innovate upon this mission.

Quality control is the other side of the education coin, where I’m now tasked with ensuring that employees uphold our company’s standards and values on a day-to-day basis. It’s great to be able to observe and problem-solve in real-time, and each of our locations present new challenges, along with ample opportunities to refine my own approach to teaching and communication."

If you could move to any place in the world just for the coffee scene, where would you move, and what shop would be the biggest reason?

Ironically, I would want to move to Italy to escape the contemporary specialty coffee scene altogether and reconnect with a more classic (perhaps romantic) coffee-drinking lifestyle. It would probably take some getting used to, but I’m determined to immerse myself in the more traditional avenues of coffee consumption and sit in the cafés of yesterday—pondering, savoring, and cherishing life from a whole new perspective.

Anything you’d like to add?

All these questions got me thinking, and I realized there’s a strong connection between my own preferences and Stereoscope’s fundamental mission in coffee: a deep appreciation for the blend of tradition and innovation. Whether it’s finding a balance between the old-world charm of Italian coffee culture and the cutting-edge trends in specialty coffee, or enjoying live music in a venue that respects both history and modernity, the most rewarding experiences are those that honor the past while embracing the new. It’s this mix of reverence and curiosity that drives me, whether I’m exploring a jazz bar in LA, making a cortado for a customer, or wandering through the giant sequoias. There’s something profoundly fulfilling about connecting with both the roots and the evolving branches of the things that bring me joy.

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Stereoscope operates a roastery and 5 locations across Los Angeles.

Stereoscope - Echo Park
Stereoscope - Buena Park

Stereoscope - Hollywood

Stereoscope - Newport Beach

Stereoscope - Long Beach

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