25 Best Coffee Shops in San Rafael

“I’m highly recommend it ..I’m here every day“

“Thai coffee beans caught my eye when this place showed up in a search. So, we went to check it out.
Location is in a strip mall close to the 101 freeway on-ramp and is surrounded by budget stores. Surroundings are modest and even though they have a couple outdoor seating options, the proximity to the freeway and associated noise made it less attractive to us. Indoors was pleasant but basic. Coffee and other beverages menu is extensive. A roaster is on display and they sell their beans by the pound. We had a flat white and a latte. The espresso flavor was nice, aromatic and smooth, a medium roast is my guess.
We would have liked to get a couple pastries but the choices did not look appealing. Asked the person at the cash register if the baked goods were made in house. Got a flat no and no further attempt to sell those products. So we passed and had just the coffee beverages.
Espresso drinks are reasonably priced and the quality was good, so we might go back when all we are looking for is just coffee“

“I had coffee this morning for the 1st time. The cafe has such a relaxing vibe to it! It was a nice group of patrons. The staff was very helpful. I've found my favorite coffee shop! 😋😋😋“

“On our hunt to find “The Best Burgers” in the area on Google Map….Pretty close…We searched & found “Best Burgers”a great find for family-owned quick fresh to order homemade like burger. Lots of other menu options, full menu availableConvenience for time management & multi-tasking. Located in the Trader Joe’s parking lot @ Montecito PlazaWe had a super low battery on car, hungry & needed to go grocery shopping @ Trader Joe’s. Trifecta.We plugged into a ecar charger in front of the restaurant for Rockstar parking. We arrived hungry & left happy. We ordered a Cheeseburger combo with sweet potato fries. The place just had a huge crowd walk in before me, of at least 20 people. The cashier and orders with the kitchen were coordinated like a machine and no one waited for lunch.Thanks for Great Burger & service & Fries!

Parking: Not only a large parking lotElectric car vehicle charger & Trader Joe’s share the parking lot for convenience“

“Best coffee in san rafael IMO! Lenny is really nice and always has my order ready! Nice vibe and close to my work! Highly recommend!“

“Awesome coffee and a very comfortable space to sit and enjoy the coffee.“

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“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.“

“I have always loved the Gloria Jeans drinks in fact I used to work at the Ontario Mills Mall in Ontario California at Gloria Jeans there it was owned by Katie Chuck a very nice lady to work for but unfortunately she closed her business I miss working there that was back in 2002 -2006 4 years I had worked for her I still know how to make every drink we had back then cold and hot drinks speciality drinks which were the holiday drinks I remember the measurements to brew coffee ☕️ for the day when you work there for that long everything sticks with you but as for today I’m sure many things have changed as the years went by but I do still see some of the same coffee beans we had back then I wish we had one here in applevalley California we used to have one in the Victorville Mall years ago but that one has gone out of business as well years ago please ?? someone bring Gloria Jeans back to the High desert of California Applevalley California we need one here desperately I’m so sick of Starbucks they overroast their beans which gives the drinks a burnt taste of course they will deny it there is nothing like a Gloria Jeans coffee ☕️ hot or cold simply the best you can’t get any better then Gloria Jeans Coffee..❤️“

“After the first time, I can't stop myself from going back. As you know, San Rafael has wonderful coffee shops. I have not found a bad one this year. Now, The Peets' down by San Rafael High School has a student effect for Adults. I usually hit it about 7 p.m. Heading North of the Border. I need to be alert but, rested. I get that here, Good coffee, kick back chairs & free Wi-Fi to stay up to date. After the service I get, I like to tip...“

“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.“

“I thought this was an ordinary around the corner boba tea shop, the store presentation and their uniqueness really surprised me. Not only did they offer Vietnamese coffee made from equator coffee, they also offered a variety of matcha for matcha lovers like me. They pretty much have everyone covered. I also like that they have the option to do 0% sweet, which is extremely important for those who are health conscious.“

“Delicious, authentic Vietnamese restaurant in the heart of downtown San Rafael. I just had the very best bowl of pho ever! The broth tastes amazing - I suspect that their pho broth is homemade. Golden Era looks unassuming from the outside, and I have been reluctant to try it, but this is now my absolute favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Marin. I had the chicken wings and beef rib pho. The chicken wings were generously sized, crispy and fully cooked, yet juicy and tender. I realize I've become accustomed to freezer burnt undersized wings at other local Vietnamese restaurants. The beef rib pho had a huge tender, cooked to perfection rib, AND several large pieces of incredibly tender sliced beef (prime rib? so good!). I'm blown away by the broth! Every other Vietnamese restaurant I've ever been to has the same powdered, tastes like gym socks buillion broth. Okay, maybe Slanted Door and Golden Era 1 have housemade broth.

This is the tasty, high quality comfort Asian/Asian fusion food you've been looking for. And at such good prices! The menu is on the small side, but I think that's a good thing, so they can focus on their delicious dishes. Family run, these folks try super hard to make delicious food for their customers.“

“Great place to shop for food“

“always friendly staff. Pretty much get a coffee here everyday.“

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

“My favorite coffee! Discovered this at Hidden Kitchen, and had to know who roasted it. Their decaf is incredible as well, water processed, bold and delicious. Very well priced, makes great espresso as well. Highly recommend! Looks like another reviewer had a bad experience at one point. The few times I have emailed Palin they have been very responsive, maybe they have changed their ways for the better.“

“I went to Graffeo yesterday to pick up 14 bags of dark roast coffee (which is delicious), and had occasion to watch Joey prepare the bags. What an artist of efficiency!! I can’t imagine how anyone could do a better or faster job of grinding, bagging, and sealing bags of coffee—all while being very pleasant and customer-focused.“

“The mocha there is great.“

“Always nice people, great coffee, and quick service. Our family has patronized this business for 10 years now, since it was a simple trailer unit, and we will always choose them as our preferred coffee and drive-thru breakfast spot in Fairfax.“

“The food was so good that I had to visit here 2 days in a row!

Monica, the owner, was helpful and patient as we asked about the various menu options available. We had kimchi soup with banchan & a protein rice bowl with spicy pork, and both were excellent.
The beverage options were great as well, including everything from Aloe Vera juice and Korean soft drinks to classics like coffee & boba tea.“

“This place is the best and I hope they never close! I grew up in the area but now live out of the country and my family has relocated to the east bay but I still make the 60 min drive all the way to Jelly Donut whenever I come to visit them. The owners are super friendly and generous, often throwing in an extra freebie too. We've tried 4 other donut shops in the east bay and none are even close to as good as these. Long live Jelly Donut!“

“Let me start by saying — I’m a tough reviewer ( evidence below). 90% of the time, I give terrible or fantastic reviews, and this doughnut shop firmly lands in the “fantastic” category (the kind that restores your faith in humanity and fried dough).

Everything on the menu is pure deliciousness. My kids loved anything with sprinkles or chocolate, leaving a trail of sticky smiles behind them. As for me? I fell head over heels for their apple fritters — crisp on the outside, tender insid. And don’t even get me started on the plain old-fashioned doughnuts — simple, nostalgic perfection that somehow tastes like a Sunday morning hug.

Highly recommend — but be warned: once you try these doughnuts, there’s no going back to ordinary ones.“

“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.“

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