44 Best Cafes near Lake Forest

“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.“

“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!!!“

“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“

“Very good food with my baby“

“Cloud Cafe is a bright and inviting breakfast spot offering a variety of delicious morning dishes and fresh coffee. The menu features generous portions and flavorful options, perfect for starting your day right. Friendly staff and a cozy atmosphere make it a local favorite for breakfast or brunch.“

“very yummy and satisfying food. the staff are very friendly and helpful.“

“Clean and open. The coffee and smoothies are spot on. Everyone working there seems to be a bit of a “coffee nerd”. They really know their coffee! I would recommend it to anyone that prefers a higher quality coffee.“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“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 🥰familiale belle vague 🌊 beach 🏝️☀️“

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

“I love this place! The coffee and matcha are amazing — rich, smooth, and beautifully made. The food is always delicious, and the atmosphere is cozy yet modern. The staff is super friendly, and it's the perfect spot to relax or catch up with friends.“

“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!“

“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.“

“Amazing coffee and food. Very good ingredients.“

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

“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.“

“Great food! great appetizers!“

“Amazing food and service!“

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

“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!“

“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.“

“🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰“

“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.“

“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.“

“Delicious food🤤 Must give it a try.“

“It's Hello Kitty cute in here! This spot inside the Irvine Spectrum, this Hello Kitty-themed speakeasy is an adorable hidden gem!!! The bow-filled decor is playful and insta-perfect, making it a must-visit for HK/Sanrio fans. The interior is cozy yet cutesy. Cocktails are priced between $18 to $22, which is pretty reasonable for the experience. Each drink is thoughtfully crafted and often comes with a cute Hello Kitty twist. Whether you're here for the drinks or the vibes, it's definitely worth checking out! :) be sure to make a resy before hand~“

“Amazing food and service!“

“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“

“Love this place! Food is always great. Made fresh. Staff are always nice and give great service. My favorite thing to get here is the TUNA MELT! I am not a fan of tuna at all until I had theirs. There are times where they will run out because they make a certain amount of tuna salad for the day. Not complaining about that, I just know that it was made fresh that day, so I definitely love it! So order ahead by calling in. If you're not a fan of it at all, give any of their sandwiches a try and ask them to add that chipotle sauce, changes everything, you will thank you me later. If you are in the Irvine area, give them a try!

Kid-friendliness: They have baby seat chairs for dine-in and kid friendly items as well.

Parking: Since this is a small cafe surrounded by business establishments it will be difficult to park but it is fortunate that you do not have to pay for any parking. Usually people come to just pick up and go so parking isn't usually a problem.“

“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.“

“Great NY STYLE BAGELS!!! Great service too“

“The food is above average for a hospital cafeteria. The best value is the soup station, $2.70 for one serving. Optional rotate daily but I've seen chicken noodle, lobster bisque, clam chowder, red pepper Gouda, French onion, Italian wedding, broccoli cheese, vegetarian chili.There's also a small salad bar, hot food bar, grill, pizza, yogurt bar, baked goods, and some chilled grab-n-go items. Tuesdays are Taco Tuesdays (carnitas or quinoa, plus 2 sides of black beans/roasted corn/Spanish rice)

Vegetarian options: Taco Tuesday had pork and quinoa as options. There's also a self serve salad bar. Today also had vegetarian chili.

Dietary restrictions: Lots of options for different dietary needs.“

“just love this hole in the wall. Its the best“

“Quick place to get a coffee or tea. This is not a high end coffee shop, but it’s quick and convenient. I always order on the app, drive over and pick up. I prefer the sea cream black coffee easy sweet. The Vietnamese coffee and mint sereno are good too

This place is take out only and parking is usually not too bad since it’s in the back corner of the shopping center“

“There bagels are better than the ones in New York. They are always fresh big and super delicious. They even have lox in cream cheese. The staff are always super friendly and helpful.“

“Ts place is so tuff🔥 Mustard dripping of the walls how demure🔥 I ordered a lunchly with drippy cheese and I can say it was very drippy🔥 and guess what Adrian was there🔥 he just got back from the barber shop and it only cost a quarter 🔥 so we had our food he ordered mangoes 🥭 🔥 so yea a very rizzy experience would recommend coming here about 6 or 7 times every full moon before ur inner wolf breaks loose🐺🔥 one last thing Diddy might be there so chat ur cooked💀😭🙏🔥“

“Awesome little coffee spot that I stumbled upon. Noticed mostly every food option in this strip mall seemed top notch. James, the barista, whipped up a great flat white and white mocha. Seems like a really nice place to do some work too. Will be back!“

“A charming coffee shop with a warm, welcoming ambience that’s perfect for relaxing or catching up with friends. The mocha coffee is rich and satisfying, and their selection of Middle Eastern sweets is a delightful treat. They also offer tasty snacks and a good variety of drinks. Just wish service was a bit quicker. ⭐⭐⭐⭐“