Croft Alley is one of the OG blogger spots. Back before Alfred became a household name. Back when it was still possible to find parking on Melrose Place. Back in the age of millennial Instagram girlies and YouTubers and when a hyped restaurant mostly just meant it had a lot of Yelp reviews. The good ole days. Back then, Croft Alley was a low key spot tucked away from the street, a little cafe in an alley that is notably quiet in its branding compared to most things in the neighborhood.

Today, Croft Alley has two locations, the original in Melrose Place, and a second one in Beverly Hills. The menu has evolved over the years, but remains authentically, obnoxiously Californian in the best all-day cafe way. Breakfast options, salads and bowls and sandwiches that draw inspiration from eastern and western cuisines and star seasonal produce. We’ll call it a cult classic, one that manages to still hide just beneath mainstream, safe from the Tiktok generation, but a reliable mainstay for the casual but pretty LA cafe food we love.