50 Best Cafes in Santa Monica

“My wife and I went to the Grove in Los Angeles last night and we had dinner at "Sogno Toscana," an it was outstanding. It was perfect in every way; great food, great drinks, outstanding and friendly staff, beautiful location, etc. I love Italian food but I can't think of one Italian restaurant that I like, until "Sogno Toscano." The food was outstanding, and there was so much more we saw go by that we can't wait to go back and try. And the drinks were outstanding. I love martini's and they served the best martini I've ever had. Giacomo was our server and took great care of us. He's from Italy and "Sogno Toscana" brought him to America when they opened their New York restaurant, and now he's in LA for this new restaurant. Although very busy, the entire staff were very fun to be around, and most of them are Italian which is also great.“

“The Menemen was absolutely delicious - fresh, flavorful, and almost as good as the one I had in Istanbul! 😊 It reminded me so much of the Bulgarian mish-mash. The oat milk latte was perfectly smooth, too. I’ll definitely be back! ☕❤“

“10/10, asked the server for his recs and they were all awesome - 5 stars for service as well. They also have WiFi and outlets if you’re looking for a spot to work that also has great food options! I got late breakfast here after 11 AM which I always appreciate!“

“Best Sunday Brunch- we were first timers and when other customers rave about the food while waiting for a table you know it’s gonna be great! And it was - not to mention the fresh orange juice mimosas! Awesome service … I’ll be back!!“

“Great new neighborhood spot! The food is healthy and delicious. Lots of variety on the menu so everyone should have a few excellent choices!“

“Fabulous hyper-farm-to-table food by a creative chef, on Main St in Santa Monica. I’ve tried the Gazpacho, the many Danish Rye toasts with what is fresh that day: eggs, salmon roe, avocado or ....? They also have baristas that make all type of drinks. My fab place to indulge healthy and fresh“

“excellent salad. thank you ben“

“Excellent food!! SO good and such great selections on the menu! Service was over the top! Wish there was one in the OC. We will be back!“

“Oh my gosh, is this my favorite place to get coffee in SM? Yes! So cute, great coffee and smoothies, great avacado and egg salad toasts. Great dog watching and people watching too. Easy to park, but pay the meter, the meter people make a sweep in the morning. Lovely place to sit, lots of shaded places.“

“Muy rico!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!“

“The best Honey 🍯🍰cake I have ever eaten! Dumplings, lazy cake, and crepes with homemade (curd) farmer's cheese. Hige recommend 🇱🇹“

“I have been looking for the best gluten free bagels for years. Finally found it! Thank you Modern Bagel!“

“Friendly atmosphere and excellent food!“

“I hadn’t been to Bubble Boba in years, and coming back reminded me how much I like this place.

Service is quick, everything tastes fresh, and they always get it right. This time I had the Hojicha Milk Tea—a roasted Japanese green tea with a rich, nutty flavor—and it was so good. Light, smooth, and just the right amount of caffeine and boba. for those wondering Boba are made of tapioca versus mochi which are made of rice.

The K-pop music gives it a fun vibe, and the staff is always kind. It’s also in a prety walkable area, so it’s easy to grab a drink and stroll but it's mostly been a great destination for the times I had to take my children to soccer or if you have to go to Santa Monica college or a quick stop in after visiting one of the cute art studios here. They also have Frappuccino's and brown sugar milk drinks, and dipping dots. Support local. Thank you!“

“Great food & treats! Saw on Somebody Feed Phil & had to give it a try“

“Did I just find my new WFH Friday Spot? Yup!
So happy to know a place like this exists with healthy superfood/coffee options, a large coworking space without the big membership fees (they do have private office rentals for $25/day though which is so affordable), and a cool community to go with it. Lots of seating + outlets, a free parking lot, speedy wifi, good lighting + vibey playlists. truly a godsend westside spot.“

“Delicious food and very friendly owners. My favorite breakfast place in town.“

“Went here and got an iced matcha and a banh mi sandwich. I don’t know what the other reviews are talking about with the drinks being bad because what I had was flavorful. I really liked the staff as well, the lady who took my order was great and had a good attitude. I will definitely come here again.“

“Riquísimo y exelente lugar ❤️“

“Good coffee—the denk (w no milk) wasn’t too bitter. Tasty.

Banh mi was good, but it was way too wet. I think there’s too many sauces on it. I’d recommend getting one without mayo and/or the other sauce. Good price, though.“

“Great pricy place for breakfast, fancy coffee, pastries. Lines out the door but was doable at 9am this morning on Labor Day Monday. Pricy, food was pretty, but taste was so so. Carrot teff cupcake (small) was very cold and hard-but again pretty! $48“

“Perry’s Beach Cafe is one of my favorite spots by the beach. The customer service is outstanding, and the staff is always welcoming, friendly, and attentive. Their iced vanilla coffee is excellent, perfectly balanced, refreshing, and consistently delicious.
The menu has a wonderful selection with something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a quick coffee or a bite to eat. The atmosphere is what really makes this place special. It has an amazing beach vibe that is relaxing, clean, and perfect for enjoying the ocean. If you’re looking for great coffee, excellent service, and a laid back coastal experience, I highly recommend Perry’s Beach Cafe.“

“I write for a music and coffee blog called Crooners In Coffeeshops, in which I interview local musicians at local coffeeshops. My writeup reflects the positive experience that I encountered at Primo Passo Coffee on our interview date. Family-owned Primo Passo Coffee is located in the cutest part of Santa Monica, where it’s just close enough to get your tan on at the beach or get your shop on at the Third Street Promenade. Fun sized coffee and teas, an assortment of pastries and sandwiches, and a relaxingly pleasant overall atmosphere are all you need to choose Primo over the Starbucks across the street. My little Carmelo was the daintiest and perfect post-hangover pick me up, and even just sitting in the shop uplifted my mood in an instant. And if you’re a fan of Instagram-ing your coffee sesh, their baristas will do latte art for every order! Right when you walk into Primo Passo Coffee, you will be greeted with friendly smiles, the aroma of fresh roasted coffee, and warm sun shining through large, perfectly placed windows. Seating options ranging from bistro style tables to barstools to plush benches along the wall, any sized party can come in and enjoy a quick (or long) caffeine pick-me-up. I especially noticed that a lot of people come here to read or write (even on a collaboration aspect), so maybe one day we’ll learn that the next great novelist or screenwriter came here to work on their passion project.“

“New Orleans Cold Brew is Where it’s at!“

“Perry’s Cafe is a beach rental cafe near the Santa Monica Pier. They have multiple locations along the beach. They serve coffee, juices, breakfast and lunch. I came in the morning to grab some Iced Coffee. It was very refreshing. Prices at Perry’s can be pricey but some were fair. Moreover, they have beach seats.

Service was spot on. Staff were nice and competent. Overall, I enjoyed my iced coffee.“

“The attendant was friendly ! Turkey sandwich and the hot chocolate were amazing ! Definitely recommend !“

“I ordered my Thanksgiving dinner from the Thyme Cafe and it was amazing the directions on cooking and reheating everything g was spot on and everything was delicious. Thank you for making our small gathering a very memorable one.“

“Came to check out this place because it is conveniently located across the Santa Monica Medical Center. The place is pretty small but the menu has lots of different food items which include breakfast burritos, sandwiches, and fresh juice. The cashier was super nice and my food (chorizo burrito) was freshly made and delicious. I would definitely come back to try other food items.“

“Absolutely delicious, great environment and awesome service 🤩“

“Best coffee cafe in Santa Monica 😁“

“Always amazing service and highest quality products!“

“Enjoyed the croissant and a muffin with a mocha coffee“

“I didn’t expect much since the overall ratings are average, but this place is right across the street from the Tesla chargers, so it was very convenient when I needed to charge the car and get my toddler out to walk around for a bit. I was happy to see that they had lavender lattes on the menu cuz those are my favorite. I was even happier with how it tasted—not overly sweet, and perfect velvety foam. I was also very pleased that they had a savory pastry option. The caramelized onion scone looked suspiciously dry, but it wasn’t. It was quite moist and delicious, which was another wonderful surprise. But the best part for me (which is very parent-specific, so probably not relevant to most people), was the fact that the kids steamed milk I got for my 1.5yr old was actually perfect temperature, with a nice amount of foam. As a parent, it’s rare that a barista has the awareness or experience to recognize a good temperature for younger babies. Most of the time at other cafes, the milk is still too hot for kids younger than 5. But this barista was pretty awesome and skilled, and I soooooo appreciate that attention to such a seemingly benign detail. I didn’t get their name, but I was overall very impressed.“

“I’m always on the look out for the locally roasted coffee, I’m often disappointed. But THIS spot I have to say I’m absolutely IMPRESSED!!! Not too acidic, not bitter at all and a fantastic taste. Staff was sincere and I will be back again tomorrow!!“

“I rented a bike from the Rapha store in Santa Monica and I was blown away by the service. Dave was truly excellent - super friendly, helpful in giving advice on local routes, and generally made my experience enjoyable. The bike was a Factor Monza and it was a joy to ride - well maintained and performant. The espresso I had in-store was also delicious and had good texture.“

“I used the beach butler service for 2 days on a vacation to LA. Salud was great - he set everything up (a nice semi privare spot) and would periodically text to check in. You could text him food orders and the service was quick. I did turkey burger one day and beach bowl the second, enjoyed both. Made for a very relaxing 2 days. Thanks so much!“

“Love the staff -- humor and positive energy galore. Also, matcha latte.“

“The Big Dean's burger was fantastic. Highly recommend!!!!“

“Best meals ever in the town. Hope to visit again and again.Highly recommend.“

“Beautiful setting for a wedding! The food is super yummy and the staff is amazing! Can’t wait to go back.“

“Cute little spot inside a medical building, small treats available, clean, friendly staff, good variety of drinks. A little pricey but you’re in LA and comparable to other coffee places. Great flavor in the iced Vietnamese coffee, highly recommend and would return if I were in this building again.“

“Excelente lugar, excelente servicio, todo muy Rico ❤️ muy recomendado.“

“BLUE VIBES. Amazing. It is blue and it is fantastic.“

“04/25/2026

This place is very good specially where it's located at.
They sell ice creams, cakes, sandwiches, cofee, and donuts. This place is perfect to hang out while shopping in the area. This spot is perfect for me.“

“This place is so cute and we enjoyed our drinks! I got the tastiest strawberry matcha and my friend got herself a latte. I love the vibe inside, the décor is absolutely immaculate but sadly there isn't a lot of seating inside. We were able to snag seats but there are only 4 in there total which is a real shame because it's a nice café to actually sit inside of. I suppose it really is meant for hotel guests and less so the general public.“

“A true taste of Italy for us. Two items really stand out for me. The most fantastic, home made gelato. And the coffee-undeniably Italian Coffee Roasted and Imported Directly from Rome Italy. We loved it so much we bought the 2.2 lb bag and make a cup of coffee with these coffee beans every day.“

“Great coffee. Friendly staff. I have only been to the location on S Shepherd in Houston TX. wish they had more parking. love the pink top and straw for February. Wish they would open a location on the east side Baytown/Mont Belvieu area“