50 Best Coffee Shops near Portola Valley

“Very good place for morning coffee“

“I attended a Chemex Kenz coffee tasting and love their Hambala. Their love and passion for coffee translates in the quality of their beans. I’m glad I can also enjoy their brew at Sue’s Cafe in Downtown Saratoga.“

“I came here to say that this hole in the wall exceeded my expectations.

I ordered the breakfast sandwich with egg, cheese and bacon. ? I had it with their homemade style biscuit and it held its shape; not too buttery.

Eating the eggs was like eating fluffy clouds. The texture of the breakfast sandwich dissolved into my mouth and it helped that the Pumpkin Pie oat latte wasn’t acidic or too bitter or lacked espresso so sip, don’t gulp because you want to take your time.

The ratio of coffee to Oatmilk was equally proportional. One can actually taste every sip, reminiscent of a fond fall memory in your mouth. ??

Sadly..there are no pictures but in many ways I felt like I was truly present enjoying the experience. I can tell the workers also cared about their work; all were friendly and kept the place nice and clean.

Thank youuuu!!! I’m coming back and I live in Berkeley where all their cafes are hard to beat. But this takes the prize in San Carlos.“

“A hidden gem! The coffee is good, but I keep coming back for the bacon, egg croissant. One of the few places with bacon in every bite and not just two anemic pieces. The price of the sandwich is approaching McDonald's, but the quality is 1000% better! Such a great deal for breakfast!“

“Love everything about this place - food, atmosphere, books, decor, performances. What a blessing for our community!“

“Best coffee in San Carlos... by a considerable distance.“

“Fantastic community based organization at a beautiful. Welcoming site!“

“Love the layout and ambience. The coffee was great. With @mike and @gordon“

“Best coffee in the Bay Area according to me.“

“You can tell when you walk in that this is a well-established fixture in Palo Alto. The breakfast menu is limited, but the food is made fresh and the ingredients were whole and healthy. And the coffee is very good, which makes sense since they advertise coffee from around the world and have a big roaster sitting off to the side.

The veggie omelet had a good number of veggies and was accompanied by a bagel and a cup of fruit. Although I was hungry I couldn't finish it all. They are generous with the coffee, and I also needed a to go cup for that. The seasoning on the omelet was pretty tame, but they provide salt and pepper, along with Tapatio got sauce to spice it up for those who like a little more flavor.

The counter service was courteous, and attentive, and our orders were correct.“

“Amazing food, excellent place to attend an event and meet new people.“

“I’ve been to many coffee shops, but none come close to the warmth and energy of the baristas at Philz. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with genuine smiles and an uplifting atmosphere that sets the tone for your whole day. The baristas here don’t just make coffee — they go out of their way to ensure your drink is exactly how you like it, often exceeding expectations.

What truly stands out is how consistently kind, cheerful, and attentive they are. It’s rare to find a team that takes this much pride in creating not only a great cup of coffee but also a positive customer experience. A special thank you to all of the Philz baristas for smiling and making every visit a little brighter. You make great coffee — but even better, you make people feel good.“

“Best coffee I’ve ever had!“

“I tend to forget to take pictures sometimes. But by far, my favorite bagel spot in the bay. Warm toasty bagels. Delicious sandwiches. Always great customer service. You want a nice thicccccck bagel sandwich you go to docs. The rolled hotdogs and hotlinks are delicious, too!“

“location, coffee and sandwiches“

“Delicious food in a pleasant setting with great service. Recommended.“

“Great nice clean place friendly crew as I write this I'm back here again ... Good Day cheers“

“Nice place and nice coffee“

“Best coffee !!!!!!!!!!!!!“

“Ada’s is the best place for delicious food, friendly service and a real sense of community. On top of all that, it believes everyone can have meaningful employment and trains and offers wonderful work under the kind and generous care of founder Kathleen. It’s a community GEM!!“

“Good food and good hot chocolate“

“Food is absolutely amazing. The breakfast sandwich is to die for, and their Kouign-amann is the best I've ever had. The store is adorable and doesn't have hipsters on laptops camping out in it. Service is quick and very kind. Best bakery I've ever been to.“

“샌프란에가면 마셔봐야하는 민트모히또아이스커피“

“The food was really very tasty. The staff were very humble and courteous. Food was served in an excellent way.“

“I tasted the quality in the ingredients. The texture of my chicken sandwich was perfect and the sweet potato fries were crispy. The kids mac and cheese was freshly made and perfect portion. The service was above and beyond. This is my family’s new spot!“

“Lots of bright, natural lighting. Big open space with lots of seating with access to power outlets. Clean. Three individual all-gender bathrooms. Friendly staff. Drinks come out perfect every time. Good place to work. Some people take personal and work calls though, so I recommend bringing noise canceling headphones if that bothers you.“

“The owner runs a great business and the staff is wonderful. Thank you.I double checked and you are correct. I have the wrong location. It’s the new store front under construction at the corner on the left side of the arch. I was upset and didn’t clarify I had the right business. A mistake I hope I can rectify with a new 5 star review“

“Ordered on Doordash and my croque monsieur was just about ready when we arrived. It gave me time to order an americano and matcha latte. Spent about $30 for everything. The sandwich is packed generously with ham and the cheese was done to perfection as a crust on top. My husband and I demolished it before we got to Ikea. Coffee is well done. The cafe itself is decorated well and a great spot to do some work or chat. The lady/owner? Was very nice and patient while trying to decide on my drinks.“

“Starbucks has good AND inexpensive ☕ if you bring a mug! It's $0.50 for refill ☕ at the Stanford University Starbucks if you bring your own mug AND the customers and staff are exceptionally charming! Get here early though! The trail from Los Altos to Stanford University through the back of Gunn High School is exceptionally therapeutic and the Starbucks ☕ at Stanford University definitely tastes better than other Starbucks, and everyone so far is AWESOME! I normally avoid Starbucks but the Stanford University Starbucks is on par with the Narita Airport Starbucks in my opinion for service and charm. ☕☕☕☕☕☕❤️“

“Super nice team working Saturday , glad we got in just before closing! Nice if you were open just abit later!“

“Easily the best sandwich of my lifetime. I paused after every bite, saying “Damn, this is amazing”. The bread had that perfect crust and taste. While I’m at it, it’s also hard for me to remember a better tasting chocolate chip cookie.“

“Quiet breakfast place. I got steak and eggs with gravy on my hashbrowns. Breakfast steaks are often tough as old boots, not this one. It was tender and tasty. The gravy was one of the best I've ever had. Service was prompt and friendly. The prices were very reasonable.“

“Just stopped for a cortado, which was really nice both in terms of temperature and flavor. The staff was also very helpful and accommodating with my crutches. Music was pretty good, and wifi solid but no outlets. Still good enough to get some work done.“

“Boba Bliss is my go to milk tea shop since is walking distance from work. The place is clean, modern and with plenty of in door and outdoor seating. Service is fast and friendly. Menu has seasonal items, coffee, teas and drinks that are more on the milk shake side. The tea is freshly brewed if you're like milk tea for the tea flavor. Boba is soft and chewy. Overall one of the best milk tea options out there.“

“I am visiting from out of town and stumbled upon this bakery. I purchased the fresh strawberry tres leches. Oh my goodness. It was one of the best desserts I’ve had in a long time! So so delicious. Highly recommend!“

“Buenísima atención. Ideal para realizar trabajos, mientras disfrutas de una bebida.“

“Dunkin in Redwood City does it right! Totally like an original DDs. I lived over 20 years in Boston where DDs is on every third corner lol. I always loved the consistency in taste and the great prices for coffee and bagels with cream cheese. Now I love also their iced green tea. What a delight. The first DDs in our area in San Carlos just didn’t get it right. I was thrilled with this one in Redwood City. Wonderful service and great donuts and bagels.“

“Cafe Zoë is an incredible little community space that serves delicious beverages, food and entertainment. Kathleen, Zoë and the staff are truly amazing and provide great service. They are community minded and love how they support the arts as well.“

“Their donuts are simply the best. Don’t pass up on the chance to have at least one maple cover donut as their maple is delicious and unique!“

“lots to see. you need 2 hours min. also sculptured gardens“

“The coffee is good, as usual, but service was not up-to-par. I paid with a credit card, because who touches cash during Covid? When I didn't put any thing in the tip jar the cashier stared at me, glanced at the jar, and then stared at me again. I said to her, "I wish there was a tip option on your credit card machine." She replied with an emphatic, "Me, too." Then, rather than pouring my coffee as they usually do, the cashier proceeded to sweep the floor and make busy. After a few minutes of this she got around to pouring my coffee. Excellent coffee, as usual...“

“Service is commendable here. The first few times I went, I didn’t realize until later but every staff member was very chipper and polite. Combined with the surpassingly addictive specialty lattes I’m sure it’s what contributed to me coming back. Today I was in a very grumpy mood. The staff serving my coffee asked, “is it perfect?” The question alone took me off guard . Such a contrast to any other establishment charging crazy prices and expecting 15-25% tips on much higher checks. Guess what? The iced honey oat milk latte was indeed perfect, just like it was the three times before that by different staff. Consistent. I presume it testifies to the managers hiring, training, and treatment of staff. I’m frugal so I’m surprised the Menlo Park Philz won me over with a $6-7 coffee.

Vegetarian options: Plant based sandwiches and pastries available.

Kid-friendliness: Kids seem fine here.

Parking: Caltrain and street parking available.

Wheelchair accessibility: No stairs.“

“EXCELLENT and nothing short of that! If i could i would have LeVant’s kanafe everyday of my life!! It is unreal! Service is very very good, the delivery is always on time has perfect packing and presentation. Thank you LeVant for repeated excellent experiences.“

“Please fix your a/c! I'm a local and I've noticed that it's been 2 months. Some business is lost because people who want to sit and work (me) with their delicious coffee, can't because of the temp. I have to go to a farther Peets. Otherwise, great Peets and great customer service. 3 stars for atmosphere = no a/c. I would love to come here again.“

“right next to Draeger's and parking available“

“Great place - superb coffee! Enjoyed the warm atmosphere and the exceptionally friendly staff!“

“IAbsolutely love this cafe! I always come here for the Havana cappuccino - it’s so delicious. Today, I tried their salad for the first time, and I have to say, this place is a hidden gem for salads. The signature avocado salad is incredibly tasty! unlike anything I’ve had elsewhere, and I keep craving it. It feels healthy and fresh, too. All the cookies are great as well. I’m so happy this cafe is close to where I work!“

“I missed the drop off day for donating for the animals in need. Stopped by there this morning with a donation. Loved the greeting with a smile that I received when I walked in by the young man behind the counter. he was totally surprised when I handed him an envelope and explained that I had missed the drop off date. Now I know why this Cafe receives 5 stars, very friendly atmosphere. I will be back!!“

“Good place to get work done! Drinks come out consistent, baristas are nice and clarify drink orders to make sure they get it right. Usually there is seating available, access to outlets and WiFi. Sometimes it gets busy so the baristas can’t wipe down crumbs off tables right away, but no biggie. I like coming here more than other nearby Starbucks locations.“

“Authentic and charming! The coffee, muffins and sandwiches are WAY wonderful!“