50 Best Coffee Shops near Portola Valley

“Very good place for morning coffee“

“We really like the new “special” Vietnamese sandwich and the coffee is not too sweet and is delicious, exactly what I was hoping for. The customer service is great, feel very comfortable when inside the place. The owner is also very friendly. Ty, we’ll be back again!“

“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.“

“My husband and I just discovered this place! We love how unique the menu is and it's all delicious, especially the lentil soup. We will definitely be back!“

“I highly recommend the coffee and dessert here. I had the best Turkish coffee I’ve ever drank in my life at this place. It’s also in a great location in Palo Alto. We got to sit at a table and enjoy our dessert and coffee. My daughter got the matcha latte which was also excellent. And my wife got a smooth black tea with mint.“

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

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

“Honestly the breakfast bagel was okay, but nothing about it was remarkable. If you're just looking for sustenance this gets the job done. But if you're looking for something memorable that you would look forward to and want to recommend to out of town visitors I'm not sure this place would make the cut. The seating was not very comfortable and the table was very wobbly which is annoying when you're drinking coffee. Water was available upon request but not self serve, so you'll have to keep bothering the busy staff if you want a refill. Same for sugar for your coffee, they literally counted out two sugar packets and if you want more you have to ask them again. Just a bit strange these days when most coffee shops just let you help yourself.“

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

“Very cute place. Quite spacious. Very busy when I came as it was a Sunday morning peak breakfast time. Very family friendly environment. Obviously popular with locals. Service is good and prompt although you have to order at the counter. Expect a small queue at peak times like Sunday mornings. There’s some outside seating also which must be great in the warmer months. I came during a cold spell so couldn’t experience it. Parking is available and there are some places to lock your bike although they’re not easily identifiable.“

“Excellent store to stop by whether you need a quick coffee or if you're looking for something delicious to start your day.

Would definitely recommend the breakfast sandwich. It's delicious and hearty. Do watch out for the egg exploding everywhere though! Made a bit of mess myself ?

The batch brew was excellent. They source some great beans and I highly recommend grabbing a bag as well!

Super friendly and approachable baristas as well, thanks for making my morning excellent!“

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

“Great coffee, super fresh, decent prices for Palo Alto

The coffeeshop is freezing cold. I was worried I’m gonna get sick. Have to bring a jacket.

And who puts mint in Chai??? I understand the owners aren’t south asian, but if you borrow something from a different culture, then do it right. Creativity is appreciated but mint on chai simply doesn’t work. Milk and mint don’t mix well. “

“location, coffee and sandwiches“

“12oz caramel cold brew
Muffin
Orange cranberry breakfast cookie
Turkey egg and cheese sandwich
21 and some change plus a 15% tip

Turkey egg and cheese wasn't bad
Cold brew was good but I wish you got more for the price
Breakfast cookie wasn't the best texture wise but this is pre-made not by the shop
Muffin was a blueberry with either pecan or almond which was good and not too sweet“

“Best coffee !!!!!!!!!!!!!“

“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.“

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

“Loved the open face salmon sandwich.“

“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“

“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!“

“A gem during our road trip. A break before the last stage towards San Francisco, discovering Stanford University on the way:
Fresh produce
Varied menu
Hearty portions
Top service
Very very good value for money. Congratulations to the team. Everything was perfect. Thank you for the welcome.“

“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“

“샌프란에가면 마셔봐야하는 민트모히또아이스커피“

“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!“

“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.“

“right next to Draeger's and parking available“

“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!“

“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!!“

“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.“

“Check Nous is amazing place, its not only delicious coffee and other drinks and food, its also beautiful atmosphere. We always enjoy it very much!!“

“I love Jason's cafe. A very pleasant breakfast spot. I highly recommend it. If you're looking for entertainment or drama, then you need to go someplace else. If you want good food, good service and a relaxing breakfast, or lunchtime, then enjoy a great meal at Jason's Cafe.“

“Looking for something different with a nice view ? girls in bikini if that is offensive I apologize but it's a reality here drinks are for the most part good but the women working are the real reason you go maybe not a place to go with kids or family.“

“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...“

“Ordered the Mango Matcha Latte and it was delicious as expected. Love that they offer so many different matcha options. Boba looks delicious as well. Ordering is simple using the website on your phone or via the automated kiosk or employee. Not a ton of seating but was still able to find a seat on a weekend afternoon at the bar for an hour or two.

Parking: Large parking lot shared with Safeway“

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

“Fresh delicious food - can never decide which baked good to get but croissants and palmiers are top of the list. All the breads are amazing and freeze well (if any is left over!). The cafe is clean and bright - perfect atmosphere for a chat or doing some work. Highly recommend!!“

“Zoom Caffe, highly recommend! 5 � coffee and great eats!“

“This Starbucks is a lifesaver! I ordered coffee from the Starbucks by El Camino and they majorly screwed up my order to the point that I threw away the coffee right there inside the store after one sip because the baristas there are just so incompetent. As a last resort, I decided to take a chance and order from this Starbucks before going to work and honestly, they're the reason why I won't quit going to Starbucks now ? by the time I got there, my drink was ready, one sip and it tasted exactly how I wanted it to. Major kudos to this store right here. Thank you so much ?“

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

“I recently moved to the area, and I’m thrilled to have found this bakery for my partner’s birthday cake! They were incredibly accommodating with my order date, and the Bamboo cake was delicious. The mousse had a wonderful flavor—not too sweet but with a rich aroma. The shop itself is clean and welcoming. I can’t wait to come back and try more of their desserts! Highly recommended❣️“

“It is healthy and pricey $$and if your cluster phobic make sure they seat you away from others“

“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.“

“Peet's Coffee is one of my favorite places. At the Redwood City location, the medium roast coffee and cold brew are very good. However, the air conditioning isn't working well, which can make the atmosphere uncomfortable for working or enjoying your coffee. Overall, I prefer Peet's Coffee over Starbucks.“

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

“Excellent espresso. Lavender, orange, and rose flavor sweeteners are sweetner free!!!!! This makes 3 unique flavors accessible to those who prefer/need no sugar or artificial sweeteners in their diet.As someone who loves espresso based drinks ( loved the cappuccino and the Gibraltar here) but also avoids sugar and artificial sweeteners- this was a real delight.I had a lavender orange hwc cappuccino. It was perfection.Great staff. In charming downtown.

Vegetarian options: I think this place has very few non-vegetarian options regarding food choices.Many alternative milks

Dietary restrictions: They were fantastic for drinks. No options food wise for low carb people. Limited for gluten free.

Parking: Free plaza parking for the downtown area. It is hit or miss to find parking

Kid-friendliness: It’s a coffee shop. It is neutral I guess?

Wheelchair accessibility: Not great. Narrow access to bathroom area might be hard to maneuver and there is an entire (main) lounge area that is only accessed by stairs.“

“The owners are awesome and I'd definitely come back again! :D“

“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.“