50 Best Cafes near Laguna Woods

“My fiance and I were in the area for my nephew's wedding. On Sunday morning, we looked for a breakfast location. We prefer the small local restaurants as opposed to the chains. Up popped this Laguna Cafe, close by where we were staying. From the time we entered the door, it was obvious we picked the right spot! it was cozy, homey, friendly and downright delicious. The clientele were all laughing, enjoying the morning and the atmosphere. We got served by Monja, the proprietor, who wore a shirt with our favorite scripture, John 3:16. As we bowed our heads to pray, she gently joined us in prayer. What a blessing. Needless to say, we will go back when in the area. Highly recommend the food too! And say Hi to Monja from Mark and Dianne from Arizona!“

“My husband and I stopped in for breakfast got a flat white, a breakfast sandwich, and the fried rice and everything was absolutely incredible.

Tim was so friendly and hospitable, which made the experience even better. The service was warm and welcoming, and it’s easy to see why this spot is so loved, everyone who came in seemed like a regular. We sat and ate there, and it felt like such a great community vibe.

Highly recommend this place“

“Great food/drink. Nice patio.“

“Welp! As the owner, I have to say it’s a sweet lil spot with great food on the weekends and a perfect spot to pick up anything you need during the week. A great getaway from the madness downtown and a place to reflect and be grateful.“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Above and Beyond in Every Way

Hannah and the entire crew at Amarith Farmhouse Cafe are nothing short of amazing. I was scrambling last minute to find a Thanksgiving dinner for our church staff, and even though they were technically closed, they stepped in without hesitation to help meet the need.

Not only did they say yes, they made sure everything was prepared with care and personally delivered, ensuring our church team could sit down together and enjoy a true Thanksgiving meal. That kind of generosity, heart, and professionalism is rare.

The food was wonderful, the service was exceptional, and the kindness shown meant more than words can say. Amarith Farmhouse Cafe has earned my trust for life and will be my number one choice whenever I’m looking for a caterer.

Thank you, Hannah and team, for turning a stressful moment into a beautiful one.“

“Excellent art-inspired bakery treats. Sean (sp?) and his team’s hospitality is top-shelf.“

“Local diner, perfect for a weekend meal. Various coffee, decent menu selection, nice staff.

We ordered the eggs Benedict and a Lake Forest burrito. Both portions were perfect, maybe on the big side for some. Quality of the food was great, possibly all scratch made.

It's a nice place for breakfast with a mellow atmosphere.“

“The iced chai, churro latte (hot or cold) and their bagels are to die for. I live out of state but cannot wait to go back when I’m in So Cal! Employees are so nice too - seems as though they are very happy working there:)“

“Delicious Dinner. Beautiful presentation and the Carnitas Tacos unbelievable. Chef Michael is a true gem.“

“Delicious 🥰familiale belle vague 🌊 beach 🏝️☀️“

“The chef puts out unique and delicious pizzas, pastas, daily specials and desserts. Very unique location too!“

“This coffee is amazing. I live in Kentucky and the coffee i received was well packaged and very very fresh and packaged air tight. way better than the big store chain. I was on a search to find a very low caffeine coffee that tastes o.k. and I found it! It tastes wonderful.“

“A nice small café with a boutique attached. It felt to me like an original breakfast place with unique menu items.

Your order at the counter where you can also see the daily specials, and then you sit where you want.

The food actually came pretty fast.
The hot chocolate was nice - it wasn’t too thick and didn’t seem over sweet. The foam was actually nice to have!
There is an effort in presentation as you can see from the pictures.
We all liked it. I tried a bit of the swedish pancakes, it is very sweet and heavy as you can expect, but enjoyable!
The Eggs Anna were definitely original with that sauce. It was very interesting. I’m not gonna say it’s the best thing I ever had, but it was good.

It was farmers’ market, but we didn’t struggle to find a place to sit.
For parking, you need to find in the city - but, the place is not far from the main areas, so convenient. You just walk a few blocks.

Overall, a cool spot - we were not sure where to go and wanted a more local place. So, I guess we found it!“

“Absolutely! Here's the updated version with Stopped by Hopper & Burr and tried the Cavendish — a chilled banana milk espresso made from scratch. So smooth, naturally sweet, and perfectly balanced. The almond milk ricotta toast with seasonal jam and fresh fruit was creamy, flavorful, and surprisingly filling. Staff was super nice, and the latte art was fire. Definitely coming back!“

“Don't miss this wonderful place. Once you try BrioBrio's delicious food, you'll regret you hadn"t discovered It before. Thanks Naoko and Ruichi for feeding our body and soul!!!“

“The food was so good. Our waiter was very helpful and accommodating. The restaurant had a really good vibe. We celebrated my husband's birthday the other day and they gave a free dessert because one of our dishes for my son came late. Really didn't expect it but the waiter was kind enough to give it to us. So thank you! Reason why I gave a 4 when the food itself deserved a 5 was because the hostess at the front wasn't very welcoming. It felt frosty and put on and every time she came to our table it was like this. Anyways, despite that, we will be back.“

“the best place for breakfast 😋“

“Great food and awesome service! Perfect place for brunch 😋“

“The food is good, huge Portion’s . Many different food options to choose from. Cool atmosphere. Very artsy ! It was worth the day trip.“

“Great food! great appetizers!“

“Nikki's has the best machaca burritos around. I get them all the time. They are HUGE and so delicious!“

“Fantastic freshly made food, coffee and baked goods always, and the most hospitable service and hosts. A definite must“

“Nothing is better than fresh croissant! Great family owned place. Very friendly prices. Signature Butter Croissants baked daily. The taste is balances, very mild sweet as I like, texture is between the super fluffy croissant and the bun, I really liked it. The chocolate croissant was a totally different story, check the picture. The taste was like it was baked sometime this week :) and the texture was like it is a bun with chocolate. So do not expect the same excitement from their chocolate croissant as from their signature plain croissants, which are super awesome and could be used for French toast and sandwiches as well and any filling. Next time I will take fresh plain croissant and fill it with chocolates home :) Next time we will try their breakfast / lunch menu. It looks awesome and the customers I met were happy. Update: amazing place with unique home character, loving breakfast here“

“Amazing food and service!“

“Amazing coffee and food. Very good ingredients.“

“First time at Ellie’s Table this morning (breakfast). Excellent! The baked goods are terrific and the restaurant itself is wonderfully open bright and clean in a historic house.“

“Joe Biden sucks here too!“

“Stopped in on a lark after arriving at Orange County Airport and having some time to kill. Great vibes, eclectic music 🎶 in the background, really kind and engaging service and a breakfast bowl that delivered a tasty vegetable and protein packed punch. Locals and regulars greeted warmly by the staff and us non-locals soon made to feel like we belonged as well. Hung out over coffee and played a board game with my wife —not rushed out. Really good experience.“

“If you're looking for a breakfast spot where the food is made with genuine care, look no further than Avocado Cafe. Their breakfast burrito is a masterpiece—you can tell it's crafted with love, and the fresh, high-quality ingredients make all the difference. The wonderful experience was topped off by the excellent and kind service from the entire team. Five stars!“

“I always receive great and friendly service when eating here. The menu variety is impressive and the food is delicious, fresh to order. I’ve enjoyed the shrimp tacos, fried chicken sandwich, chicken fingers, fish and chips.
Seating outdoors with great ocean view is always stellar.
So nice to have a great cafe with many food options when visiting the beach.“

“Always enjoy staying at the Waldorf Astoria. Nice escape, great location, attentive staff. Perfect getaway.“

“The earl gray lavender ice tea was the best along with the melt in your mouth croissant 💕💕“

“Really enjoyed my stay! The rooms were quiet and comfortable, the hotel bar was fantastic, and the room service was excellent. Loved the thoughtful little amenities—they really made a difference.“

“I eat here about once a month. Honestly, it is the only place to eat within 1/2 a mile of here. The service is very good, positive environment and when you are done you walk the grounds of Mariner's Church and stroll past babbling brooks, ponds, olive trees, and read a little scripture along the way.Positive environment and pretty easy to be social here. Open and safe environment.“

“We celebrated my sister's birthday in this cafeteria, and we have an amazing day. The foods and the drinks were very good and worth it. Besides, the waiter and the waitress that served us at that time were very friendly, nice, and professional. They treat customers very well, and that was a satisfaction to us. Their cafeteria also has a good view and style. It was perfect!“

“This is my favorite sandwich shop! Out of all the amazing menu options, my current favorite has to be the turkey pesto sandwich it’s so good! I’ve seen a lot of people ordering it too, so I guess it’s pretty popular. Everything else on the menu is delicious as well. They also have plenty of drinks, chips, and even cookies and smoothies, so it’s a great spot to visit with kids. Plus, they always play classical music, which makes the place feel super cozy and relaxing!“

“The cookies are so fabulous! Everyone that works there remembers me and they always greet me with a smile and a warm hello.“

“Thank you to "The Green Room" and Iciar for her help in organising a NICE 2023 pre-show commission from Aneke, who was as warm and friendly as ever when I collected the artwork, I had great communication from Iciar during the entire purchase, before, during and after the convention. The website is clean and easy to use, they have informative emails and a good social media presence and I won't hesitate to use "The Green Room" again for my collecting goals with the wonderful stable of creators they represent. I'm already thinking of my next request! Highly recommended!“

“Delicious food🤤 Must give it a try.“

“🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰“

“Awesome service! Great desserts. Shout out to the guy taking orders. Very patient and kind. Gave my son milk to wash down his desserts. Yum yum“

“Fresh, tasty, great combination of flavors and options on both salads and sammies. The natural sodas are a nice touch. Gotta try a cookie!💛 Staff has been consistently courteous and responsive. I’ve been three times. I CRAVE their salads.“

“Exceptional birthday weekend at The Resort at Pelican Hill! Upgraded to a stunning villa with breathtaking views as American Express Platinum Members. Coliseum Pool Grill offered delightful meals. Immaculate room, perfect views – a truly relaxing and unforgettable experience. Couldn't have asked for more!“

“Amazing food and service!“

“Oliboli isn’t your typical walk-in, grab-a-donut, and head-out kind of shop. Instead of picking something out of a case, every donut is made fresh to order in the kitchen and handed to you warm within 3–5 minutes. Whatever topping or glaze you choose melts right into the donut and adds to the flavor instead of overpowering it. The donuts come out warm, light, and almost brioche-like, with just enough crispy edge to make each bite feel special. Plan on paying around $5-6 dollars per donut.

I ordered the Maple and the Autumn Sprinkle, and both were great for different reasons:

• Maple Glazed: Warm, soft, and perfectly glazed. The outside has a gentle crisp from the fryer, and the maple flavor isn’t overly sweet — super balanced. It reminds me of a really good old-fashioned but with more lift and a cleaner finish.
• Autumn Sprinkle: Fun, seasonal, and surprisingly flavorful. The glaze has a hint of vanilla, and the sprinkles add great texture without being overly crunchy or artificial. If you’re in a fall mood, this one nails it.

Overall, Oliboli is one of the few donut shops where you can tell every donut is made with intention. If you appreciate quality over quantity, this place is a must-visit in OC.“

“Cassel Earth feels like a hole in the wall coffee shop. Customers service was excellent, baristas were so warm, welcoming, and kind. Most importantly, the coffee was delicious. I tried one of their “Regulars’” lattes- “Michael’s”. Espresso was excellent quality and the pistachio/vanilla flavor was a yummy match. 10/10 would recommend.“

“I stopped by this 7 Leaves Cafe today to pick up my cousin to go order. She got 2 jugs of the Thai tea and Jasmin Milk tea. I found parking easily when I came today around the afternoon. When we walked inside we were greeted and ask if we could give them a couple of minutes because they were making drinks. I first put in a order of a large summer mint and a Jasmin Milk tea for my wife. I paid with my American Express credit card because they told me they accept it now. After I paid for my order, I told them I was picking up my cousin order as well. I just give them her name and they give me her order. It didn't take long for them to make the 2 drinks. The inside of this place isn't that big but I think it's more of a pick up or to go order here. They have outdoor seating as well. My wife loved her Jasmin Milk Tea, my cousin husband enjoyed his Summer Mint and everyone else like their teas we got in the jug so it was a big hit.

Parking: There a lot of parking places in this plaza.

Kid-friendliness: This place is kid friendly

Wheelchair accessibility: This place is wheelchair accessible but it is tight inside.“

“I sent my friends to this place with my highest recommendations. I go to this restaurant often. I get very good feedback from my friends. The the cooking is tasty and the team is welcoming and cooperative. Every time we go to this place we have a cheerful evening. warmly recommended.“

“This is a family owned establishment that truly puts the meaning to the phrase ‘Hidden Gem’. The food is prepared fresh and comes out hot. The best way to describe the menu and meals here is homestyle. I could eat here everyday. Everything is good. Prices are also better than any fast food. 11/10.“