21 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.“

“Not many food places I can honestly say I love in San Rafael, but I love this breakfast sandwich place. Im addicted and it's a problem. It doesn't help that the staff is awesome, personable, and has good taste in music. I keep coming back and my bank account doesn't appreciate it. My bank account and stomach are at war, and my belly is winning. Anyway, eat here!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

“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!“

“I love San Korean’s food! Their bibimbap is delicious (on the phot: added a over easy fried egg to it). I tried the new Korean Chicken wings and they were delicious too. Very happy that their new hours included dinner 😀“

“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!“

“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!!“

“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 ☕“

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

“WOW! Just ate here while our car was being serviced at Mercedes of Marin. (Quick Uber Ride) 2012 Prices 1950's portions and Service. Just got back from LA and ate breakfast at some Luxury Hotels for twice the price and half the everything else. Wish we didn't live so far away in Alameda or would definately come more often!“

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

“(Translated by Google) The staff is very attentiveWith me they get a 10Everything about the food is very good except the pupusasI think it is something that they should improve or not sell pupusasEverything else is super good(Original)El personal es muy atentoConmigo obtienen un 10De la comida todo es muy bueno excepto las pupusasCreo que es algo que deben mejorar o no vender pupusasLo demás todo esta super bien“

“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.“