19 Best Cafes in San Rafael

“Great food and service. Great presentation“

“This was my first time visiting Oddcha while heading home from San Francisco, and it definitely caught my attention because of the great reviews.
We ordered the Coconut Bomb and the Thai Twister, and both drinks were excellent. They weren’t overly sweet and had a really refreshing flavor. The boba also tasted fresh, which made the drinks even better.
Ordering was easy using their kiosk system. One thing to note is that parking is located behind the shop. It was a bit confusing at first since the store is on a very busy road, but once you find the back parking area, it’s much more convenient.
Overall, a great stop for refreshing drinks—I’d definitely come back!“

“Sanaa Cafe offers an excellent selection of coffee, desserts, and delicious Fatayer. The atmosphere is truly unique, featuring authentic Yemeni architecture and Coffee. It is a perfect environment for productivity; it’s inviting, bring your laptop and work while enjoying a Sanaa Adani Chai or a Pistachio Mocha. I also highly recommend trying our delicious pistachio cheesecake.“

“One of the most inspired chicken sandwiches I’ve had in my life…

This place is hanging in there despite being the only tenant in a now defunct medical building. What that means for you is:
✅ ample parking
✅ beautiful outdoor seating
✅ quality food / service“

“I really like this cafe which sells authentic Yemeni snacks and drinks addition to the usual fare you would expect in any good coffee shop. The ambience is very open and welcoming with a few sofas to sit on if you want to feel extra comfortable. It's located in a vibrant area of downtown San Rafael.“

“This place has been a community bedrock for 20+ years. Always here for us. During covid lock downs, they set up their own food pantry (with the fridge getting electricity from the shop).

Churros are always a hit. Good coffee.
Come and enjoy.“

“Had my espresso machine serviced here, and it was an extremely helpful experience.Food choices are a little old school. Haven't seen piroshki for a while, but they have em.Geared to serving the local business employees, since they're in the warehouse district.“

“My husband and I came here for breakfast before our hike in Muir Woods. Husband got the huevos rancheros with house potatoes which was really good! I got the Mexican scramble with hash browns and I think this was literally the best omelette I’ve ever had. I was so full for hours afterwards (and yes, even after the hike I barely had any room for anything else). Would highly recommend!

Also, the man and lady behind the counter were also very nice!“

“If I could give 6 stars, I would.Fabulous little hole in the wall restaurant, outdoes any chain and several other small restaurants.If you order any dish that comes with tortillas, I highly recommend the corn tortillas. They are handmade and slightly thick, which is typical for Mexican or Guatemalan fare. They are extremely tasty and pair well with the chorizo and eggs combo, which is what I ordered.I got the rice and beans option which consisted of refried black beans and a Guatemalan rice that is similar to Mexican rice but has peas and tiny chopped carrot pieces along with the onion and tomato based sauce. I'm not really a big rice fan, but I would recommend this rice to those who are. It is not a heavy tomato sauce but rather colors it mildly red and adds just a little flavor.The refried black beans were a perfect consistency and had no chunks of beans. Definitely must try.The plate also had a generous side of crema, which a Latin style sour cream that is a little thinner than American sour cream and went well with my chorizo "tacos" that I made with the tortillas.A wonderfully mild Mexican cheese chunk was served on the side and lastly a restaurant made salsa that was mild in hotness and delicious in flavor was also served with the dish.The gentleman that served me was the proprietor and he was very gracious in his service to me. EXCELLENT customer service!The prices are in keeping with most restaurants, not overpriced, and the portions were a good size. Great value for money!I highly recommend dining at this restaurant when you're in San Rafael.“

“I picked up a sandwich to go. When I got home, I noticed the lunch was a chicken salad. I called the Cafe to let them know, Amy, the kitchen supervisor, was most gracious: she told me the next time I come in, the meals on them. To that I say cheers!“

“With much anticipation I dove into my Korean Cheese Steak. It was perfection with a gorgeous bun lightly crispy on the outside and rendering to softly chewy delight wrapped around an ideal mixture of bulgogi beef, onions peppers and gobs of melted provolone (jalapeños from the secret menu). Thanks to Isabelle and Jose for the polite and efficient assistance.
Highly recommend especially with the new dinner hours til 7pm!“

“This is a charming cafe with a sweet outdoor patio! What a hidden gem! The baked goods are amazing and homemade by Armida! They do homemade sandwiches to order, have savory and sweet baked goods! Try the bacon/egg/maple syrup bun or the veggie pocket! There is ample indoor space to sit and sip. There are also books and puzzles for bringing your child, and with the outdoor space, an ideal child friendly cafe for a bite to eat.
What a great neighborhood gem!!“

“Great coffee great service most of the time. People working there need to learn to communicate and let customers know when they are backed up so when they make an order, they understand how long it will take instead of letting them know after the fact.“

“Servers are fun to talk with and to learn about the best treats!“

“Loukas is the best - an integral part of the community . Without Kosmos - we would be left with Boring Corporate Coffee .“

“the most wonderful coffee I've ever had & was lucky to help at the roastary for a while until i had some shoulder issues doing production. besides that i still support Equator 500% they have the best coffee I've ever drank & continue to recommend their excellent coffee all the time & have subscriptions ☕“

“I came in today randomly for the first time today from the pet store nearby. I was really hungry but didn't know what to do because I had my dog with me. I called and told the lady over the phone told her if I could place the order and if they could bring it out for me because I had my dog. She said, no don't worry, you come in and pay and leave it's okay. They have tile floor so it made sense and really I appreciated that I didn't have to go hungry. My tuna melt was tasty, but what really made my day was their freshly baked breads in different flavors sold by the slice, I got pumpkin, zucchini, and banana for my partner. Best store bought bread ever! Soooo delicious! I will be returning.I had a good experience with customer service.Anyway, I am a happy customer.“

“Be careful what you order, the croissants are immense. We ordered breakfast including one signature croissant and couldn't eat half of what we got. Everything was delicious, the coffee was hot and strong, the staff were attentive and courteous. We were on vacation, however, rather than try someplace new we came back here a second time - we don't often do that!“

“Love this coffee shop. Nice sandwiches, easy ordering online. Quick in and out.“