Commuters transferring from the Red Line to the Orange Line stop by to get a cup of coffee. Locals flood in to enjoy a pastry with their friends. Cafés are truly the best invention: they are a place solely for enjoying drinks and company, where one can watch the world go by. The Historic Train Depot on Chandler Boulevard has been remodeled into a modern café, Groundwork Coffee, complete with an expansive wood-paneled patio and handicap-accessible ramps. The outside of the old station has been “revitalized to its original luster with an authentic period paint scheme”, KPCC reports, while the furnishings of the interior take on a clean, contemporary look, meshing with the homely vibe from vintage chairs and benches in the seating area. Electric outlets line the walls for the convenience of laptop users, and catchy music flows out of the speakers. Students from North Hollywood High School no longer have to trudge over to buy the burnt-garbage coffee from Yum Yum Donuts, or make a cumbersome detour to the Starbucks on Lankershim. Groundwork is located right across from the North Hollywood Red Line Station, making for a convenient pre-travel coffee fix. It provides a recluse from the hustle and bustle of the subway commute and is simultaneously a welcoming atmosphere for a peaceful afternoon of sharing an almond croissant with a friend, or enjoying a Vietnamese Iced Coffee on a hot day. With its free wifi, lovely design, and delicious menu*, Groundwork Coffee is quickly making headway in the competition for the best café in North Hollywood (Aroma tops the list for Studio City, of course!). *Additional note: if you buy a drink, you can get a pastry for half the price!