Kiff Kafe: A Piece of Europe on Pico Blvd.

Among the car repair shops on Pico Blvd, and just a block away from the 10, lies Kiff Kafe. I’m so excited to write about this charming place. This is one of the things I love the most about LA: you can find the most beautiful coffee shop in the most random and inconspicuous places of the city. 

It was a gloomy morning in LA. The day before I went to my dentist appointment on Pico Blvd, I saw this mouth-watering Instagram post from @the_petite_palate. Since I was on the same street, I decided to head over there and check it out. 

I DMed Eric, owner and chef, who’s also French! He gave me the full breakdown of the cafe, as well as his favorite places in the city.

“The story behind Kiff Kafe started six years ago. The 12229 Pico Blvd building was purchased by a friend. He offered me to lease the place and renovate it to make a coffee shop. I always wanted to open a place where everyone would feel comfortable, serving quality in a very casual environment.

So I came up with Kiff Kafe concept, a counter-served food place open mornings for barista coffee, continuing with afternoon lunch serving wine and beer and evening mesquite grilling.”

Although Kiff Kafe offers parking, I parked my car on one of the side streets. When I made my way to the cafe, I could see a huge gorilla mural, which I thought was very creative and made it easier to find.

The entrance is very alluring and charming, almost like you’re stepping into another place and leaving behind the chaos and traffic of Pico. The design is very modern, but I immediately felt the European vibes thanks to the wine shelf and the European books on display. Kiff Kafe also operates as a wine store. 

The person that took my order couldn’t have been any nicer. I showed her a picture of @the_petite_palate post and she immediately mentioned the item name. That’s the Mediterranean White Beans and Farmers Market Heirloom Tomato. It’s really really good, she said. To complement my order, I also got a cold brew with almond milk.

Since I’m also currently in the process of writing a post about the best croissants in LA, I inquired about the croissants in the display case. The girl said they were from Gjusta, one of the most popular brunch places in LA. 

“For first timers at Kiff I would recommend the salads, the Garbanzos bean salad with smoked salmon, for example, is loaded with fresh ingredients I buy from the Farmers Market twice a week.”

I thought the seating area was just the little alley I saw in the beginning, but I was surprised to see the ample patio they had in the back. I’m European myself and I was mesmerized by the Mediterranean influences on the patio: lush plants and vines that were dispersed throughout the space and made for a very laid-back and relaxing atmosphere. Eric really hit the nail on the head. The cherry on top was the soft French music playing in the background. One would think we were in the South of France or the Balearic Islands. It was a calm oasis in the middle of the city. 

“I want people to experience a peaceful moment on our small patio. French details into the cafe came naturally. It is part of my DNA.”

The bread is from Gjusta and it was so good. The creaminess of crushed white beans combined with the freshness of the heirloom tomatoes and the drizzle of flavorful olive oil was such a delectable experience.

The olive oil Eric uses is an imported Greek brand called Philippo’s. My jaw dropped to the floor when I saw how much they charged for a bottle. This just goes to show you how much detail and attention goes into every ingredient. 

The best thing was that there were not that many people there, which made my experience even better. My cold brew was strong and very tasty. 

I also asked Eric what his favorite places in LA were. He said:

Santa Monica Farmer’s Market

Gjusta/Gjelina

Charcoal restaurant

Riding my motorcycle in the Santa Monica mountains

Getty museum

On why Eric chose this particular logo for the cafe: 

In Mediterranean society, the eye represents a protective talisman but also has a power of attraction. And also for fun and because we are a coffee place, I replace the iris of the eye with a coffee bean.

Website

Instagram

The address is 12229 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064.

Besides their morning hours, Kiff Kafe opens four evenings from 5PM to 10PM (Thursday-Sunday). On those days, you will find @LeGreatOutdoor, a farm-to-table BBQ pop-up serving up delicious food. Perfect for those al-fresco dinner nights!