The “run, don’t walk!” battle cry of foodie influencers has hit its next target—coffee and the iconic “Polo Bear,” now sporting an apron. On Jan. 20, luxury lifestyle brand Ralph Lauren opened a branch of its concept cafe, Ralph’s Coffee, on Fashion Island—their first West Coast location.
Replacing the RH furniture store, the cafe is situated next to the koi pond by Fashion Island’s indoor atrium. Weeks after its grand opening, influencers, Southern California residents and students can still be found waiting eagerly for a glimpse of the vibrant coffee cup display and a photo with a model of the Polo Bear himself.
The interior of the store matches the vibes of American luxury perfectly, with black-and-white tiles lining the walls and a small, gold-accented dining area with an aesthetic green-and-white cupboard. Merchandise such as mugs, caps and even umbrellas priced in triple digits hang everywhere.
Coffee-wise, the cafe offers its signature Ralph’s Roast, Espresso and Decaf, which all use beans from La Colombe Coffee Roasters. After waiting nearly four hours and watching the picturesque, summery landscape morph into a dim, breezy dusk, I opted for a hot Ralph’s Decaf, less sweet.
The dark roast coffee had a balanced bitterness with just enough sweetness. Simply put, the drink is solid, but not unforgettable.
The cafe also offers traditional bakery treats: croissants (plain or chocolate), cookies (oatmeal or chocolate), brownies, blueberry muffins and more. Customers can request to have their pastries heated, so I asked to have my blueberry muffin and butter croissant heated. Like the coffee, both were good but not worth a four-hour wait. Their most popular items are their desserts, namely affogato and soft-serve options of vanilla, coffee or a swirl of both.
The end of the cafe is connected to its retail counterpart, selling flagship brands of Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL, the Women’s Collection and the men’s Purple Label.
For students eager to visit, I’d highly recommend waiting until the hype dies down (give or take a few weeks) or visiting on a weekday. Unfortunately, the Instagram-worthy interior and atmosphere don’t make the mediocre food and drinks taste better.
