15 Best Cafes in San Rafael

“Stopped by this spot by chance and it was amazing!! The mango tango drink which is basically mango sticky rice is so creative, made with real fruits and sticky rice and authentic tasting. I love that you can also adjust the sweetness level of drinks - will definitely be back!“

“I can’t recommend the Garden Cafe enough! I had a wonderful first experience here today having lunch. The food was delicious & nutritious- I got the Salmon Greek Salad (comes with garlic bread) and the “San Rafael Sunrise” drink, which is a juice including veggies and chia seeds. Lots of seating options indoors and outdoors with good lighting. Free wifi for those looking for a good study spot.
The service was AMAZING and contributed to creating such a friendly, inviting atmosphere. I have to give a special shout-out to Miguel, who was so gracious and apologetic about my juice being made wrong the first time. They were out of beets and I believe Miguel called someone and had more beets brought in while I was eating lunch so that I had a corrected juice with beets to enjoy before I finished eating! To be clear, I told Miguel it was completely fine that they were out of beets but he insisted it wasn’t fair to not get what I ordered and made sure I got my beet juice. I can vouch for how much the Garden Cafe values each customer there! I will be recommending to friends and coming back.“

“Amazing and authentic coffee and pastries with Yemenese twists in a warm and inviting environment.“

“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.“

“When I went there, they had no lines and the churros were only $2.84 for 3 churros. They were very kind to me and quick to serve. I was craving for churros and started searching. Lo and behold, there is a churro restaurant just exclusively churros set aside sandwiches and smoothies but now I know there is a churro place when I am craving for churros

Parking: Good luck finding a place to park as their parking lot is a shared lot.“

“Spent $32 for a cherry scone, bacon breakfast burrito, and a drip coffee. That being said, it was like if my mom was making me breakfast before school but so much tastier. Very delicious, great scone, drinkable coffee, would recommend other than it being expensive. But hey, what isn’t these days.

(Okay the burrito was probably the smallest breakfast burrito I’ve ever purchased, and it was $16, but it tasted good)

Okay I gotta say it again, the scone was fantastic and had the perfect amount of sugar and was perfectly moist and crumbly and delicious. Soooo goood, but sooooo $8 ☹️

Vegetarian options: Good amount of vegetarian as breakfast can be subbed avocado for protein easily but not many other vegetarian options. My friend had a vegetarian breakfast burrito and left satisfied.

Dietary restrictions: Lots of gluten free options, also tended to be on the milder amount of sugar used which I prefer

Kid-friendliness: Great atmosphere and very homey vibes. It is an adult professional atmosphere because this is SF but very friendly and comfortable.“

“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.“

“💙 I can come here every day. 💜“

“It was great! The food was delicious we recommend the Kim Bap! But really all the food was delicious and fresh! The boba tea is yummy and feels homemade. The inside is a bit small so we sat outside which was pretty. The service was great and they were very kind to us! 10/10 place. We’re also a very picky family when it comes to Korean food as we love it and this place definitely reached our expectations!“

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

“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!“

“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.“

“Little slice of life and good food! All the food is home-made and uses good products. You will get a lot!! If you are a Hispter, stay clear, this may be too real for you!

Parking: Restaurant is in an industrial area....so depends on business I guess.

Kid-friendliness: we had a three year old with us. She was fine. The restaurant is cafeteria style.“

“Great spot for a classic treat! Locally owned and operated.“

“This is a cute find. Croissants are buttery and flakes, very good.
We've been here from breakfast and lunch. The hamburgers are grass fed antibiotic free beef. Very good and filling. My husband has had the omelet and chorizo scramble also good. I usually order a latte and they bring it i a little tea pot so it fills my cup a few times and they have dairy alternatives.“