Colossus

If you're a California local with a genuine appreciation for artisan baking, a trip to Colossus in San Pedro is an absolute must. More than just a local coffee shop, Colossus is a celebrated, woman-owned and operated bakery that has become a cornerstone of the Los Angeles food scene. It’s a place dedicated to the craft of bread making and pastry artistry, focusing on time-honored techniques, whole-grain flours, and the best seasonal produce Southern California has to offer.

Colossus specializes in two primary areas: naturally leavened, long-fermented sourdough breads and delicate, seasonally inspired laminated croissant pastries. Their philosophy centers around quality, nutrition, and flavor, using stone-milled whole grain flours—sometimes even milling grain in-house—to create loaves that are not only delicious but also more easily digestible and packed with nutrients. This dedication to craft has earned the bakery a stellar reputation, with both residents and food critics touting its goods among the best in the greater Los Angeles area. From their signature Country Levain to their flaky, buttery Kouign Amann, Colossus offers a deeply satisfying experience for anyone who loves exceptional baked goods.

Location and Accessibility

The original Colossus location, which serves as a beloved neighborhood hub, is nestled right in the heart of San Pedro. The address for this bakery and café is 2311 S Alma St, San Pedro, CA 90731, USA. This charming spot offers a cozy atmosphere for locals to grab their morning coffee and pastry, or pick up a fresh loaf of sourdough. While the original Alma Street location is known for its focused, artisanal selection, the broader presence in the San Pedro community includes a newer, larger outpost on Harbor Boulevard (known as Colossus Harbor), which expands on the menu to include full-service dining like sourdough pizza in the evenings, though the Alma Street spot maintains its identity as the quintessential neighborhood bakery.

The Alma Street location, with its quaint neighborhood feel, is a great stop for quick grab-and-go items, making it easily accessible for a morning or afternoon treat. It features outdoor seating, perfect for enjoying California's beautiful weather while savoring a coffee and a scone. The neighborhood setting means parking can sometimes be street-dependent, but the local vibe and proximity to coastal views make the short trip well worth the effort for a world-class bakery experience right here in Southern California.

Services Offered

Colossus offers a comprehensive range of artisan goods and café services, designed to cater to both a quick morning stop and a planned weekend treat. Their menu is built on a foundation of scratch-made, high-quality ingredients, often locally and sustainably sourced. The core offerings are centered around their specialties, but also include delicious prepared foods and a complete coffee program.

• Artisan Sourdough Breads: Featuring long-fermented, naturally leavened sourdough loaves, including the popular Country Levain, Whole Wheat Pan Loaf, and specialty varieties like Olive & Cumin Levain and Sesame Levain. These loaves are made with a blend of organic whole grain wheat, spelt, and sifted wheat flours.
• Handmade Laminated Pastries: A large selection of sweet and savory pastries made with imported Isigny French butter. Daily classics include the Traditional Croissant, Pain Au Chocolat, and Almond Croissant.
• Seasonal Danishes and Croissant-Based Treats: Offerings that rotate based on local and seasonal produce, such as the Apricot Sesame Crunch Danish with Labneh Pastry Cream, or savory options like the Ham & Cheese Croissant, and Spanakopita Puff.
• Signature Baked Goods: Must-try items like the Kouign Amann (a caramelized, buttery 'butter cake'), Pecan Sticky Buns (made with croissant dough), OG Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Almond Buckwheat Financiers (a naturally gluten-free tea cake).
• Full Coffee and Espresso Program: Featuring drip coffee and espresso-based beverages using their sister roaster, Penny Coffee Roasters. Specialty drinks include housemade syrups like caramel lavender and housemade Chai Lattes.
• Grab-and-Go Food: For those seeking a quick, prepared meal, the Alma Street location offers a small, curated selection of items like breakfast sandwiches, smoked salmon smørrebrød (open-faced sandwich), seasonal grain bowls, and granola yogurt bowls.

Features / Highlights

Colossus stands out from the typical neighborhood bakery due to its commitment to quality ingredients, traditional processes, and community-focused ethos. These highlights are what make it a destination for those seeking the best in Southern California baking:

• Sourdough and Whole-Grain Specialization: A deep passion for high hydration, long-fermentation sourdough and stone-milled whole grain flours, which translates to breads with maximum flavor, better texture, and higher nutritional value.
• The Kouign Amann: Often cited as the bakery’s most popular pastry, it is a signature item that features a caramelized crust and a gooey, buttery center, earning a reputation as one of the best in Los Angeles.
• Seasonal and Local Focus: The pastry and bread menu constantly changes to showcase ingredients from local Southern California farmers, ensuring the freshest, most vibrant flavors possible in their Danishes and scones.
• Authentic Croissant Craftsmanship: The bakery prides itself on making all its croissants entirely from scratch—a multi-day, laborious process that uses premium French butter and whole grain flour to achieve exceptional lamination and flakiness.
• Woman-Owned and Operated: Founded by Kristin Colazas Rodriguez, a highly experienced baker with a background in celebrated fine dining kitchens in both Los Angeles and San Francisco, who brought a passion for European and traditional techniques back to her hometown area.
• Highly-Praised Scones: Customer reviews frequently highlight the scones, with mentions of their "melt in your mouth happiness" and rotating seasonal flavors, proving they are a strong counterpoint to the more classic laminated pastries.

Contact Information

For local users in California looking to visit or inquire about an order at the Alma Street location in San Pedro, here is the necessary contact information:

Address: 2311 S Alma St, San Pedro, CA 90731, USA

Phone: (213) 444-0077

What is Worth Choosing

When planning your visit to Colossus, what should you make sure to choose? The essence of this artisan bakery is captured in its dual focus on bread and pastry, making both categories essential to the experience. For bread enthusiasts in California seeking a hearty, flavorful, and nutritious loaf, the Country Levain is the best-selling, classic choice, praised for its blend of whole grains and deep, complex sourdough flavor. The Olive & Cumin Levain is another standout, offering a savory twist that is fantastic when toasted.

On the pastry side, the famous Kouign Amann is a non-negotiable choice—a buttery, caramelized treat that represents the pinnacle of their laminated pastry work. Beyond the classics, however, you should always look for the Seasonal Scone and Seasonal Danish. As one satisfied customer noted, the scones are exceptional, and because the menu changes based on seasonal and local farm availability, choosing one of the rotating seasonal items ensures you are experiencing the bakery’s commitment to California produce. Whether it's a savory squash danish or a sweet strawberry scone with passionfruit glaze, these items are a living reflection of the local agricultural landscape. Finally, don't miss out on their specialty coffee offerings, particularly those featuring housemade syrups, which perfectly complement the baked goods for a truly memorable San Pedro morning.

Colossus

2311 S Alma St, San Pedro, CA 90731, USA