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!“

“Went in there to chill and do some homework this morning while the person I care for was at their day program. First time here. Didn’t get to try the coffee since I was already one large coffee in by the time I showed up but I did try the breakfast sandwich. It was bomb! Saw lots of regulars go in as well out of-the-country folks. It’s nice to see that. I’ll be back whenever I’m around to kill some more time. Thanks for the chill vibes Tim!“

“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.“

“Love our first time here this morning. Better croissants than we had in France and we thought they were good! Outstanding quality and you can tell everything is made with 100% pride, care, compassion and love. Will definitely go back more than once! Goodbye diet!😆❤️❤️👌🏼🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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.“

“Great donuts and excellent service“

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

“Delicious 🥰familiale belle vague 🌊 beach 🏝️☀️“

“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:)“

“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.“

“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!!!“

“Anastasia is an easy yes when you want something clean, balanced, and genuinely satisfying. I ordered the Greek salad with grilled chicken and a side of vegetables, plus two poached eggs and extra egg whites. Everything tasted fresh and well-seasoned, not greasy, lots of crunch, and the kind of meal that leaves you energized instead of weighed down. You can tell the ingredients are treated simply and with care.

The ambience is relaxed and bright, very Laguna, and the service is quick without feeling rushed. It’s an ideal spot for a casual breakfast or lunch, especially if you’re coming from the beach or running errands nearby. Super convenient location, consistent food, and a menu that makes eating well feel effortless.

More on social media: @ratedbymaryam“

“The is was our second trip to NEP and was as good as the first! Both the shrimp salad app and the squid and mango salad were so well balanced and tasty. The garlic noodles and shaking beef were sooo good. Nothing was too spicy but really flavorful. The shaking beef was so good we ordered another one! The cocktail that night was a raspberry sour and too was perfectly prepared. For a casual restaurant, these guys really put out the effort. Oh, and the sticky rice/mango desert was the topper. Not too sweet and the mango was perfect! Will be back sooner than later. Well done NEP.“

“Favorite spot on the West Coast!“

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

“Amazing coffee and food. Very good ingredients.“

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

“1. The coffee drink would definitely add a lot of energy to any day! The sandwich was delicious!
2. The spot has business casual vibes since it is located inside a commercial building! The interior has high ceilings!
3. The staff was friendly and timely with my order! During the lunch rush, my order took about 20 mins!
Note: I did not easily see if this spot has their own restrooms for customers!

Photo: Dirty Ghost and Tri Tip Sandwich“

“Toda su comida es deliciosa y el ecselente trato , muy familiar.“

“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.“

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

“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“

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

“Amazing food and service!“

“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.“

“Great food! great appetizers!“

“Loved their onion soup and their apple tart Ala mode“

“It’s a hidden gem in Irvine where I like to go for breakfast or lunch whenever I am visiting Irvine. There’s limited parking but I have never had trouble finding. The outdoor seating area is so nice and relaxing. I prefer that over their indoor dining space.“

“Great food and views. recommended“

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

“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.“

“Joe Biden sucks here too!“

“7 Leaves Café at Diamond Jamboree in Irvine is one of my favorite spots for tea and coffee. The shop is clean, bright, and conveniently located in the busy plaza, with a lively atmosphere and a line that moves quickly even during peak hours.​

The drinks are consistently excellent. The mung bean milk tea, house coffee, and Thai teas are rich and smooth, and the boba always has a great chewy texture. There are also good options if you prefer less sweetness or non-dairy, so it’s easy to get your drink exactly the way you like it.​

I especially want to recognize Tanner for outstanding customer service. He is friendly, patient, and professional, and he always double-checks orders and offers helpful suggestions. Service like that makes the experience feel welcoming and is a big reason I keep coming back to this 7 Leaves location.“

“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!“

“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.“

“Joy & Q are two of the nicest folks you'll ever meet! They take time to chat you up about your day and if you're a frequent flyer of Cassel Earth, like I am, they'll always remember your go to order and name!!

Their oatmilk lattes are by far my favorite thing to get there. They use quality syrups, espresso beans, and oatmilk! It tastes the same EVERY time which is amazing to me and so very appreciated!

Also, the location is absolutely perfect. It's clean, tidy, and overall such a fun vibe. You can tell Joy and Q love what they do and it is apparent in how the run their shop.“

“Excellent location, service, treats, and drinks. An absolute dream and lovely time spent with my mother and daughter. We all dressed up cute and spend three generation time together. I was genuinely impressed with how tasty and adorable everything was!“

“11/10 experience! I visited Vivot with my best friend - a nurse who works across the street after hearing her rave about the quality of the matcha and thoroughness of the drinks made. Unfortunately I ordered via OLO to the wrong location but nevertheless the store team quickly made our new drinks. I ordered a Einspanner Matcha Latte with Oat Milk and a Lavender Cloud. After visiting Japan, it has been extremely hard to find authentic matcha. Vivot was extremely authentic and delicious. A special thanks to Brandon for his help processing the refund for my error ordering at the wrong location. I can’t wait to visit again when I am back in town!“

“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!“

“Best apartment in Irvine“

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

“🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰“

“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“

“I pretty much eat here 2 times a day. Both breakfast and lunch. The daily specials are wallet friendly and tasty. Jose, Diana and Katie are always great and I get what I order regardless of how strange my combinations of meals are. Fast, friendly and delicious!!!“

“Hands down BEST donuts ever! Great family story, best ingredients, homemade syrups, homemade glazes, made fresh to order. We will be back when visiting again from Pennsylvania!“

“Amazing food and service!“

“Delicious food🤤 Must give it a try.“

“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.“

“Red straw is actually great. High quality ingredients and most importantly, MANY decaf options, which is what I am always looking for. Not just for myself, but my young son as well who will not be getting a caffeinated drink. The only thing I really wish most tea places had were kids sizes! Instead my son and I have to share a drink because I am not buying a 4 year old his own full size boba drink. So technically I would spend more money there if I could buy myself a full size and him a kids size. Oh well, hope to see more kids sizes in the future. Otherwise the drinks are delicious“