25 Best Coffee Shops in San Mateo

“Iced matcha was not strong enough, so I will try hot matcha next time. Also iced strawberry matcha is nice. They made my order wrong at first (matcha instead of strawberry matcha) so they gave me the matcha for free—super kind, thanks!

Line is long but fast, and seating may not look available at first but it cleared up for me. Love the vibe and furniture.“

“was an amazing vibes lovely crew coffee was so good!“

“Nice staff. Great menu and lovely outside patio for dining“

“Excellent Turkish coffee, they had some delicious Chai tea as well. The selection of lattes are incredible. A must experience for those who want extraordinary Coffeee and Tea experiences.“

“The bacon scallion scones are delicious!“

“Fiero Cafe is a great spot for a casual but satisfying meal. The pasta here is authentic and delicious — the bolognese especially stands out, rich and full of flavor. Portions are just right, and you can tell the ingredients are fresh. They also serve omelets, which make a nice lighter option if you’re not in the mood for pasta. Overall, a cozy place with tasty, well-made dishes that feel genuinely Italian.“

“Stopped by Little Late Bird on a weekday at 11am. It's a comfortable cafe serving Korean staples. The Ube Latte was like tropical Hawaii in a cup with coconut hints. The vegetable Japchae had perfectly chewy noodles and just enough sauce and veggies. The Bulgogi sandwich was amazing: toasted roll, perfectly cooked beef, lettuce, tomato, and spicy pickled jalapeños for contrast. Everything was filling but not heavy. They're also open on weekends 9am-4pm, so it's officially entering our brunch rotation!“

“I love the love sign in the Golden latte! #Nice!“

“Great food an Service. Friendly staff and generous portions.“

“Being from out of town I hadn’t heard oh Philz. I stopped by to hang out with some coffee for a little while before a meeting. I was surprised by their comprehensive coffee list and landed on a delicious blend to sip on. Service was fast and friendly. There were a dozen or so customers working away on their laptops with plenty of table space to spare. If this place existed near me I wouldn’t go to another cafe for coffee!“

“They're doing a good job, being small local stores - a nice diversion from Starbucks junk. I'm a latte guy and find their coffee to my taste (well, maybe not as good as I make myself 🤔). The pastry selection is fresh, not shipped in plastic wrappers them warmed like SB. And the place is pleasant and open with sitting inside and out.“

“Fritters are great for a treat“

“Not only is the coffee the BEST but everyone who works there is so friendly and helpful! Great start to my day!“

“Good food (we had the green papaya salad and the pad kee mao, both excellent). Had we known that the pad kee mao didn't come with tofu we would have asked for it, so next time we will, but that's nitpicking. Very fast service, noticeably so. Location great for those in San Mateo or Foster City (and this restaurant is much better in my mind than Sweet Basil, I'm sorry). The pad kee mao dish was huge and we had to take home half of each plate (we got two, next time one will be enough, but we took it home and plan to enjoy later)“

“Late is the best, looking forward to be drinking my late everyday here“

“Backhaus has been on my to-visit list for so long!

Two of us ordered:
croissant $5.50
cold brew $6.75

Cold brew definitely on the pricier side. Coffee was standard and croissant was nice. Came by in the afternoon around 2:30PM after lunch, so not much was left.

Staff mentioned to come early in the morning since they usually sell out within a few hours!

Street parking / garage parking a few blocks away.“

“Nice place!“

“When I used my husband’s Starbucks card, cashier said she couldn’t put my name on the cup. Weird! But the barista made my coffee perfectly!!! That occasionally happens when I order my coffee at other Starbucks. The first time I was introduced to Iced Cocoa Cappuccino, I was hooked! I do have to order Iced Mocha Cappuccino now because I was told they don’t always have “cocoa” in stock.“

“Peet’s Coffee in San Mateo has quietly become my daily ritual—my personal launchpad into the chaos of the day. There's something grounding about walking in and hearing the low hum of grinders and the warm “good morning” from behind the counter, where they already know I’m here for my chai tea. It’s not just the spice or the perfect froth; it’s the familiarity—the way the light spills across the tabletops, the subtle rhythm of the neighborhood waking up around me. I sip slowly, letting the warmth seep into my thoughts as I sketch out the day ahead.“

“I often visit this place first before starting my Target trips since I always take long trips a d having coffee while shopping is delightful. It’s good to have a Starbucks in every Target store.The staff are friendly. Sometimes, I got my orders mixed up though. I was quite upset for not having what I wanted but just shrugged it off.

Parking: Plenty of free parking lots in the shopping center

Wheelchair accessibility: Wheelchair road and tables“

“I am genuinely surprised to see this location rated at only 3.9 stars. I've been coming here twice a week for the past month, and my experience has been consistently five-star.

The morning staff is particularly excellent. They are always friendly, and their genuine smiles are the perfect way to start my day. Yes, they get busy—it's Starbucks—but the consistent and friendly greeting everyone receives truly sets this location apart.

This spot is now one of my top locations, right up there with the East Cut store in SF!“

“I came here to pick up breakfast once before school. The man serving us was definitely a character. I have a feeling he was the same person other reviewers are perceiving as rude. I thought he was just funny. He let me and my mom pet his dog, which was sitting outside.

I got a toasted sesame bagel with cream cheese. There's other places where I can get the same thing in higher quality and for cheaper, but the convenience of Bagel Box and Coffee cancels that out. Overall, I might come again. 4/5.“

“Cozy little hidden place in San Mateo. A bakery, coffee shop and specialized on cakes. They do offer some Filipino delicacies.“

“The food was delicious and was generously portioned. I ordered the Yahoo!! which is an open-face Mexican-style omelette. The omelette included broccoli and celery which were unique but tasty omelette toppings. The celery was cut into very small pieces so it wasn’t overwhelming.

The service was quick and attentive. We were also seated right away for brunch on a Saturday at around 11am.

There were so many good-looking options on the menu that everyone in our party had trouble deciding what to order. 😂 We will definitely be back to try more of their dishes!“