CAFE UPPER — Restaurant in Los Angeles

This interesting cafe showed up on my fyp on instagram recently and it instantly caught my attention. I had been extremely excited to finally be able to make the drive to try it out for myself. On their Bio plus Instagram reels they advertise for being the only café open really late. Obviously the concept charged me up with anticipation. Unfortunately due to a recent family loss I didn’t have the energy to even get up from bed. I finally gained the courage after being locked away in my room for a whole week. We left my house thrilled only to be met with extreme disappointed upon arrival. We made it exactly at 1:29 on the dot, a young employee approached me saying they were closed already. Mind you on Instagram they advertise being open until 02:00 am. I voiced out my disappointment saying "you guys should advertise that you close early on Instagram or change your hours there’s still 30 minutes left". As I’m saying this to the employee the hours were clearly displayed on the wall stating again that they close at 02:00 am. The employee very flatly said "yeah..yeah that’s a great idea we should definitely do that". Of course I got a bit upset after driving close to forty minutes just to be responded by such an uncaring response. I then explained “honestly that’s not right we drove from really far Can we get a treat or baked good" which she in an uncaring tone simply said "the register is closed already yeah too bad you should umm come back tomorrow". At this point I decided to no longer speak and instead saved my words and looked up for another coffee spot. We drove to a place called California Donuts and the employee who placed our order was...

Cafe Upper isn't just another coffee shop; it's a meticulously crafted experience for the discerning patron. Upon entering, one is immediately struck by the sophisticated, minimalist interior. The cool, concrete-toned walls and block-style seating create an understated yet impactful brutalist-chic aesthetic, softened by strategic ambient blue lighting that hints at a serene, almost futuristic calm. Natural light floods in from expansive windows, illuminating the thoughtful design and creating an inviting, airy space that feels both cutting-edge and comfortable. This is a venue designed for both contemplation and conversation, a stark departure from the typical cluttered cafe.

While the ambiance sets a high bar, the true revelation comes with the beverages. My orange espresso tonic was nothing short of brilliant. This is a masterclass in balance: the bright, zesty effervescence of the tonic and the vibrant citrus notes of the orange cut through the rich, robust depth of the espresso with remarkable precision. It's an invigorating, complex, and utterly refreshing concoction that challenges and delights the palate. This isn't merely a drink; it's a well-executed composition that speaks volumes about the quality of ingredients and the skill of the baristas.

Cafe Upper successfully marries innovative beverage artistry with a compelling design narrative. It stands as a testament to the fact that a coffee establishment can be both a sanctuary of style and a purveyor of exceptional taste. A definitive five-star experience that warrants...

Probably a bit late to the camp, but well better late than never, so there I was finally making my way to Cafe Upper. Nothing much special about the venue's design, but absolutely a plus point knowing they opened until very late so great spot to visit when you're down for late night sweet craving (not even at night but almost the morning). Other bonus point, dedicated parking spot! Additionally, you would get a token post placing order so you could just sit nicely waiting for it to ring when your order's ready on the pickup counter.

Plenty of seats were available and handful selections of sweets from pastries, cakes, bagel, and even freshly made croffles. As you would expect from a typical K-town cafe, lots of drink options as well. Not so much for the drink, this time I was more intrigued by their croffle and I went for Injeolmi one, cause hey why would I go for some common toppings I could easily found elsewhere.

The size was much bigger than my expectation, which was probably the reason why it's price tag was more on the higher end. Served with 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream, I would say it's perfect for sharing for two. I loved how a party of texture was featured on this plate with chewy injeolmi, flaky and crunchy croffle, light sweet cream on top, and extra happiness from the ice cream and soybean powder. Sweet and slightly salty flavor mix made it just turned out YUM!

Next visit would be for...