Bakery Cafe Near Me: Clementine Bakery in Century City

Clementine nestles quietly among the leafy residential trees at 1751 Ensley Ave in Los Angeles, standing as a beloved neighborhood institution for diners looking for a warm, comforting bakery cafe near me on the Westside. Opened in May 2000 by chef and owner Annie Miler, Clementine has spent over two decades delighting West Los Angeles with honest, scratch-made seasonal comfort food, wholesome breakfast biscuits, handcrafted pastries, and creative seasonal sandwiches. Housed in a charming cottage-like building with white-painted brick, yellow striped awnings, and an outdoor brick courtyard bordered by flowering hedges, the cafe provides a tranquil contrast to the glass skyscrapers of nearby Century City. Operating Monday through Friday from 7 am to 5 pm, and Saturday from 8 am to 4 pm while closing on Sunday, Clementine welcomes generations of local families, office professionals, and culinary enthusiasts.

Chef Annie Miler, whose culinary background includes prominent formative stints at legendary California culinary institutions such as Spago and Campanile, built Clementine on an unwavering commitment to authentic home-style baking. The kitchen utilizes pure sweet cream butter, fresh seasonal California fruits sourced regularly from local farmers markets, and classic American recipes executed with professional culinary finesse. The morning pastry case at the counter is a feast of color and aroma, displaying towering golden buttermilk biscuits, crumbly scones, fruit hand pies, rich brownies, and butter shortbread cookies shaped like flowers. Everything is prepared fresh each morning by bakers who begin work before dawn.

The undisputed morning centerpiece is the Clementine Breakfast Sandwich priced at $15.25, built upon a remarkably tall, flaky, homemade buttermilk biscuit layered with a gently poached farm egg, sharp cheddar cheese, and thinly shaved Tennessee country ham. The interplay between the rich, buttery biscuit layers and the salty country ham makes this sandwich a celebrated morning classic across West Los Angeles, offering exceptional flaky texture and comforting warmth that draws neighborhood regulars week after week.

Scone lovers can choose the Apricot-Ginger Scone at $5.25, featuring a crisp, sugar-crusted exterior and a tender crumb packed with sweet dried apricots and spicy crystallized ginger bits. For a portable, nutrient-rich morning treat, the Chewy Goodness Bar priced at $4.50 combines sweet dates, dried cherries, tart apricots, crunchy walnuts, and roasted cashews into a satisfying, wholesome baked bar.

For lunchtime dining, the Clementine Chicken Salad Sandwich priced at $19.25 has remained a customer favorite since opening day. It features tender roasted chicken breast tossed with crisp apples, flame grapes, celery root, scallions, mayonnaise, and fresh watercress served on house-baked pecan-raisin bread. Another staple is the Classic Smoked Turkey Sandwich at $19.75, layering smoked turkey, roasted tomato mayonnaise, ripe avocado, and super greens on rustic white levain bread.

The pastry team also bakes fresh seasonal fruit cobblers, rich chocolate brownies, and delicate citrus bars that rotate according to Southern California orchard harvests. During spring and summer, stone fruit crisps and strawberry tarts highlight local berry farms, while autumn menus feature spiced pumpkin loaf slices and warm cinnamon apple crisps that sell out by early afternoon.

Visiting Clementine feels like stepping into a friendly country kitchen tucked away from the surrounding bustling metropolis. Guests enter through the main glass doorway, take a moment to survey the daily chalkboard menu and prepared food case, and place their orders at the friendly register counter. In addition to made-to-order sandwiches and breakfast items, a refrigerated display case offers freshly tossed seasonal salads, homemade soups, and oven-ready take-home dinner entrees that draw neighborhood regulars every afternoon.

Once ordered, guests receive a wooden number stand and find a table either inside the warm, wood-accented dining room or outside on the sunlit brick patio under yellow canvas umbrellas. The atmosphere is unhurried and welcoming, filled with pleasant neighborhood chatter and the gentle clatter of ceramic teacups.

The counter display also highlights seasonal treats that change throughout the calendar year, including gingerbread men in winter, heart-shaped sugar cookies in February, and fresh berry cobblers during late spring. The staff exhibits genuine neighborhood warmth, greeting multi-generational families and neighborhood dogs with equal enthusiasm.

The garden patio on Ensley Avenue provides a wonderful retreat during morning and midday hours. Surrounded by mature ficus trees and manicured planters, the outdoor seating stays pleasant even during warm summer days. Diners enjoy sipping fresh lemonade, house-brewed iced tea, or rich espresso drinks while savoring warm buttermilk biscuits straight from the oven.

Before leaving, patrons frequently pick up packaged bakery treats from the counter display. Clear cellophane bags tied with ribbon hold Clementine's famous butter shortbread daisies, chocolate chip cookies, and jarred seasonal fruit preserves, making it easy to share the cafe's charm with colleagues or family members at home.

The bakery also features a popular frozen take-and-bake pastry section in the retail freezer, allowing home bakers to purchase unbaked buttermilk biscuits, scones, and cookie dough balls to bake in their own home ovens on weekend mornings, bringing the authentic aroma of Clementine into their private kitchens.

Clementine occupies an enviable location right on the border of Century City and the residential neighborhood of Westwood. The cafe is located less than a half-mile south of the open-air shopping, cinema, and dining plazas of Westfield Century City, making it a peaceful and character-rich breakfast stop before a day of shopping or business appointments. The campus of UCLA and the cultural exhibits of the Hammer Museum are located just two miles to the northwest.

Practical logistics for visiting Clementine: Located at 1751 Ensley Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024. Operating hours are Monday through Friday from 7 am to 5 pm, and Saturday from 8 am to 4 pm, with the shop closed on Sunday. Established menu prices include the Chewy Goodness Bar at $4.50, the Apricot-Ginger Scone at $5.25, the Clementine Breakfast Sandwich at $15.25, the Clementine Chicken Salad Sandwich at $19.25, and the Classic Smoked Turkey Sandwich at $19.75. Ample metered street parking and two-hour residential parking spaces are available along Ensley Avenue and nearby Santa Monica Boulevard, providing convenient access for dine-in visitors and quick takeaway orders.