Café Dear Leon

This top coffee and pastry spot named after co-owner Min Kim’s son opened on a square known more for its night owls than early birds. All of the items are made from scratch daily, including drool-worthy ham and cheese croissants, glistening egg tarts, and fluffy and decadent banana pudding. The minimalist shop also features Ceremony Coffee bags for sale and a full coffee and tea menu. Just be sure to get to the shop early as a lot of the popular items, including its famed traditional Japanese egg sandwich, tend to sell out.

Super duper hot from day one, Cafe Dear Leon is a place where you can get incredible housemade pastries (Basque cheesecake is a fave) and creative sandwiches, as well as the espresso drinks you crave. When the shop’s Japanese-style tamago sandwich broke the internet in the middle of the pandemic, lines were around the block. Luckily, Cafe Dear Leon remains worthy of the hype and the team there is always friendly and welcoming. Check out their very handy baking schedule so you can see what will be fresh from the oven at various points throughout the morning––muffins, scones, quiche, focaccia and tons more.