Croft Alley is one of my favorite dining spots in Los Angeles due to their delicious food and simplistic atmosphere. Since 2014, Croft Alley was a relatively unknown restaurant located in an actual alley on Melrose Place. However, this hidden gem recently expanded to the busy streets of Beverly Hills this past Spring, and has since then become “the spot” for Instagram bloggers and influencers alike. Despite its newfound ambiance, this restaurant still encompasses the main values listed on their website. “We invite our guests into a place that feels like home, where they are treated like family.”

Croft Alley claims to be “rooted in simplicity & balance” which is a very true statement about the atmosphere of the restaurant. With indoor-outdoor seating, neutral tones and an intimate environment, the rustic chic atmosphere of this cafe makes for a serene dining experience. I ate at this restaurant on a busy Saturday and had to wait 30 minutes for a table, as this restaurant does not have a lot of seating. But trust me, it will be worth the wait.

Once seated, the extensive coffee and beverage menu caught my eye. I ordered the iced matcha latte and my friend ordered the iced vanilla latte, both were delicious. These drinks come beautifully presented in a mason jar, but being a restaurant based in Los Angeles and based on the young and environmentally active demographic of people that are drawn to this restaurant, I am shocked that they have not gone plastic-free. Hopefully, this cafe will eliminate the use of plastic in the near future.

While looking at the beverage menu, I also noticed a few unfamiliar drinks including turmeric lemonade, a shakerto which is a kind of coffee beverage, and even $6 dollar chlorophyll water which is green water that is claimed to have health benefits. I did not try these interesting drinks, but when I return I will make sure to do so.

From the lunch menu, I ordered the spicy tuna bowl which is crispy rice topped with spicy tuna, cucumber, and avocado. I thought that having crispy rice as a base of this bowl is a unique take that I have not seen before because poke bowls are usually just made with just normal rice. I was pleasantly surprised by this modification, and this is the first restaurant I’ve seen to do this. The spicy tuna bowl is one of my favorite dishes, but I also suggest cauliflower grilled cheese or the burrata salad. You honestly can’t go wrong with anything on this menu.

My only critique is that the food takes a very long time to make. When I was dining at Croft, it took them over 45 minutes to bring out our food, but they gave us a few of their delicious sea salt chocolate cookies on the house.

My initial visit was for lunch, but since then I have been to this restaurant numerous times. I have ordered a different dish every time because there are so many great options. My personal favorites from the breakfast menu are the waffles topped with fresh berries, the amazing avocado toast, and, of course, the truffles & eggs.

Whether you’re an aspiring influencer, or just someone looking for good food, I highly recommend that you visit this restaurant for an overall amazing dining experience. Croft Alley says it best, “Boasting both an open kitchen & intimate seating, with staff that interact warmly with everyone who comes in, it’s unlike any other experience in Los Angeles.”