Terrible coffee which has gotten worse over the years. Terrible corporate ethics. I avoid them unless no other options exist. Great staff. They’re the best thing about this terrible company.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
B
Is there a reason all the starbucks in Santa Monica try to block people from laptopping there with a coffee? They remove seats and cover power outlets at every starbucks
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Ryan Borland
When the Doors Close: Starbucks, Survival, and Losing a Lifeline
For most people, Starbucks changing its policy to restrict non-paying customers or making you pay for water might seem like a minor inconvenience. Just another corporate decision to tighten things up. But for someone like me, this isn’t minor—it’s a gut punch. Starbucks wasn’t just a coffee shop to me. For years, they’ve been my go-to for something as simple and vital as water. A resource that, when you’re living on the margins, can mean the difference between making it through the day or not.
This isn’t just about losing free water; it’s about losing one of the few places I could turn to without judgment. Starbucks was more than a business—it was a refuge, a creative hub, and a lifeline. It’s where I’ve created countless videos. It’s where I’ve gone to write (like this review) recharge, and find a moment of peace in a chaotic world. For someone like me, who has no permanent place to be, Starbucks has always been one of the few constants.
Now? That’s gone. And sure, some might say, “Just buy something.” But it’s not that simple. When every dollar counts, when you’re stretching nothing into something, even a $3 coffee feels like a luxury. And beyond the cost, it’s about what this change represents. It’s a hard shift away from the inclusivity that made Starbucks a beacon for so many people in need.
I remember back in 2018 when Starbucks opened its doors to everyone after that high-profile incident in Philadelphia. Two Black men were arrested for sitting in a Starbucks without buying anything. At the time, I thought, This is going to blow up in their face. I imagined bathrooms turning into shooting galleries and stores overrun by chaos. But to my surprise, Starbucks handled it with real class. They leaned into the challenge and showed that a business could be both accessible and functional. For someone like me, who relied on that accessibility, it was a game-changer.
Starbucks became a place I could always count on. Whether I needed water, a restroom, or just a moment to catch my breath, they were there. They didn’t just talk about inclusivity—they lived it. So this policy reversal isn’t just disappointing—it feels like a betrayal of the very principles that made me rethink my entire view of the company.
Before I came to California, I used to bash Starbucks all the time. I mocked their “woke” policies and liberal ideals, rolled my eyes at their inclusivity, and dismissed them as another corporate giant trying to buy goodwill. But when I got here and started relying on their open-door policies, I saw the other side. I realized how vital those policies were—not just for me, but for so many others.
Now I have to ask myself, where do I go from here? The library? Let’s be honest—libraries these days feel more like holding pens for homeless people than spaces for creativity and peace. They’re monitored and controlled, not welcoming. Starbucks was different. They gave you space to exist without demanding anything in return. That kind of freedom, that kind of respect—it’s hard to find, and it’s even harder to lose.
For someone like me, this is more than just a policy change. It’s the loss of stability in an unstable world. It’s the loss of a little bit of hope, a little bit of humanity in a world that already feels like it’s closing its doors tighter every day. Starbucks was a place I could count on, a place that said, “You belong here.” Now, that door feels a little less open. And that, for me, is a much bigger loss than just water or a seat. It’s losing one of the last places that felt like it saw me.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bacon & Gruyère Egg Bites
Dante Rubin
Asked for Turkey danishes,was given a turkey Bacon English muffin sandwich. Total dissatisfaction, name misspelled in a very funny way, It was like a McDonald's experience
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Nico Blanco
Great customer service ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Parham Kolahi Azar
I’m not someone who gets easily offended. I just recently started going to this store because it’s very close to where I work. I always get a quad Espresso and oat milk on the side. Starbucks recently removed the non dairy sub charge on their non dairy milks. Once I ordered my coffee I mentioned how much oat milk I want. Once I received my order, I had my quad espresso and half an ounce of oat milk on one of their sample cups. Half an ounce of oat milk doesn’t even change the taste of my coffee. Once I asked for more, Ashley said it’s extra with a very bad attitude. I was like I don’t care if it’s extra. That’s what I want and I’m willing to pay for it. You can’t just embarrass me in front of all your other customers trying to say I tricked you to not pay for my oat milk.
Service: 1
Ahmad Shahshahani
The baristas in this location are very good. Especially, Mia is a dedicated and customer friendly whose heart and soul is in her job.
Christopher More
I was a Barista at a Starbucks in Minneapolis, Minnesota U.S.A. in 2014 and 2015.
When I worked in fundraising for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation in their Washington, D.C. office I would travel on occasion to LAX and stay at a hotel in Santa Monica (The Ambrose Hotel).
When going to different meetings in Los Angeles in my Budget or Nationa Rental Sport Utility Vehicle, I would stop at this Starbucks location. One time I saw actress Ileana Douglas who I had seen most recently in the motion picture Factory Girl.
WHERE INSIDE THIS STARBUCKS WAS ILEANA DOUGLAS STANDING WHEN I HAD SEEN HER?
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Christopher “Chris” More
I was a Barista at a Starbucks in Minneapolis, Minnesota U.S.A. in 2014 and 2015.
When I worked in fundraising for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation in their Washington, D.C. office I would travel on occasion to LAX and stay at a hotel in Santa Monica (The Ambrose Hotel).
When going to different meetings in Los Angeles in my Budget or Nationa Rental Sport Utility Vehicle, I would stop at this Starbucks location. One time I saw actress Ileana Douglas who I had seen most recently in the motion picture Factory Girl.
WHERE INSIDE THIS STARBUCKS WAS ILEANA DOUGLAS STANDING WHEN I HAD SEEN HER?
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Joel Nall
Whole foods star in is the best. Americano 23 rd st.
Ordered light ice and picked up 20 mins after order was made and this is how much ice was left when I poured out my coffee LOL
Gabe Gooch
Ordered light ice and picked up 20 mins after order was made and this is how much ice was left when I poured out my coffee LOL
Elexis Chetram
Incredibly slow and they are always getting my order wrong yet I be so scared to order hot food thinking it’ll take forever and I order something like a pastry and yall still getting it wrong order a crumb cake and getting a pumpkin loaf Instead smh
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 3
William Brownell
I Finally found a Starbucks that knows between a Cappuccino and a Latte! Sweet!
David Ellerbrock
The staff here is absolutely trash. I've watched them on numerous occasions make fun of and laugh at homeless people who just ask for water. They treat them like garbage. Once I saw them laughing at a homeless veteran who was very obviously mentally challenged. Great job employing such great staff. Exactly what's wrong with America.
Terrible coffee which has gotten worse over the years. Terrible corporate ethics. I avoid them unless no other options exist. Great staff. They’re the best thing about this terrible company.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Is there a reason all the starbucks in Santa Monica try to block people from laptopping there with a coffee? They remove seats and cover power outlets at every starbucks
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
When the Doors Close: Starbucks, Survival, and Losing a Lifeline
For most people, Starbucks changing its policy to restrict non-paying customers or making you pay for water might seem like a minor inconvenience. Just another corporate decision to tighten things up. But for someone like me, this isn’t minor—it’s a gut punch. Starbucks wasn’t just a coffee shop to me. For years, they’ve been my go-to for something as simple and vital as water. A resource that, when you’re living on the margins, can mean the difference between making it through the day or not.
This isn’t just about losing free water; it’s about losing one of the few places I could turn to without judgment. Starbucks was more than a business—it was a refuge, a creative hub, and a lifeline. It’s where I’ve created countless videos. It’s where I’ve gone to write (like this review) recharge, and find a moment of peace in a chaotic world. For someone like me, who has no permanent place to be, Starbucks has always been one of the few constants.
Now? That’s gone. And sure, some might say, “Just buy something.” But it’s not that simple. When every dollar counts, when you’re stretching nothing into something, even a $3 coffee feels like a luxury. And beyond the cost, it’s about what this change represents. It’s a hard shift away from the inclusivity that made Starbucks a beacon for so many people in need.
I remember back in 2018 when Starbucks opened its doors to everyone after that high-profile incident in Philadelphia. Two Black men were arrested for sitting in a Starbucks without buying anything. At the time, I thought, This is going to blow up in their face. I imagined bathrooms turning into shooting galleries and stores overrun by chaos. But to my surprise, Starbucks handled it with real class. They leaned into the challenge and showed that a business could be both accessible and functional. For someone like me, who relied on that accessibility, it was a game-changer.
Starbucks became a place I could always count on. Whether I needed water, a restroom, or just a moment to catch my breath, they were there. They didn’t just talk about inclusivity—they lived it. So this policy reversal isn’t just disappointing—it feels like a betrayal of the very principles that made me rethink my entire view of the company.
Before I came to California, I used to bash Starbucks all the time. I mocked their “woke” policies and liberal ideals, rolled my eyes at their inclusivity, and dismissed them as another corporate giant trying to buy goodwill. But when I got here and started relying on their open-door policies, I saw the other side. I realized how vital those policies were—not just for me, but for so many others.
Now I have to ask myself, where do I go from here? The library? Let’s be honest—libraries these days feel more like holding pens for homeless people than spaces for creativity and peace. They’re monitored and controlled, not welcoming. Starbucks was different. They gave you space to exist without demanding anything in return. That kind of freedom, that kind of respect—it’s hard to find, and it’s even harder to lose.
For someone like me, this is more than just a policy change. It’s the loss of stability in an unstable world. It’s the loss of a little bit of hope, a little bit of humanity in a world that already feels like it’s closing its doors tighter every day. Starbucks was a place I could count on, a place that said, “You belong here.” Now, that door feels a little less open. And that, for me, is a much bigger loss than just water or a seat. It’s losing one of the last places that felt like it saw me.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bacon & Gruyère Egg Bites
Asked for Turkey danishes,was given a turkey Bacon English muffin sandwich.
Total dissatisfaction, name misspelled in a very funny way, It was like a McDonald's experience
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Great customer service ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I’m not someone who gets easily offended. I just recently started going to this store because it’s very close to where I work. I always get a quad Espresso and oat milk on the side. Starbucks recently removed the non dairy sub charge on their non dairy milks. Once I ordered my coffee I mentioned how much oat milk I want. Once I received my order, I had my quad espresso and half an ounce of oat milk on one of their sample cups. Half an ounce of oat milk doesn’t even change the taste of my coffee. Once I asked for more, Ashley said it’s extra with a very bad attitude. I was like I don’t care if it’s extra. That’s what I want and I’m willing to pay for it. You can’t just embarrass me in front of all your other customers trying to say I tricked you to not pay for my oat milk.
Service: 1
The baristas in this location are very good. Especially, Mia is a dedicated and customer friendly whose heart and soul is in her job.
I was a Barista at a Starbucks in Minneapolis, Minnesota U.S.A. in 2014 and 2015.
When I worked in fundraising for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation in their Washington, D.C. office I would travel on occasion to LAX and stay at a hotel in Santa Monica (The Ambrose Hotel).
When going to different meetings in Los Angeles in my Budget or Nationa Rental Sport Utility Vehicle, I would stop at this Starbucks location. One time I saw actress Ileana Douglas who I had seen most recently in the motion picture Factory Girl.
WHERE INSIDE THIS STARBUCKS WAS ILEANA DOUGLAS STANDING WHEN I HAD SEEN HER?
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
I was a Barista at a Starbucks in Minneapolis, Minnesota U.S.A. in 2014 and 2015.
When I worked in fundraising for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation in their Washington, D.C. office I would travel on occasion to LAX and stay at a hotel in Santa Monica (The Ambrose Hotel).
When going to different meetings in Los Angeles in my Budget or Nationa Rental Sport Utility Vehicle, I would stop at this Starbucks location. One time I saw actress Ileana Douglas who I had seen most recently in the motion picture Factory Girl.
WHERE INSIDE THIS STARBUCKS WAS ILEANA DOUGLAS STANDING WHEN I HAD SEEN HER?
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Whole foods star in is the best. Americano 23 rd st.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
Ordered light ice and picked up 20 mins after order was made and this is how much ice was left when I poured out my coffee LOL
Ordered light ice and picked up 20 mins after order was made and this is how much ice was left when I poured out my coffee LOL
Incredibly slow and they are always getting my order wrong yet I be so scared to order hot food thinking it’ll take forever and I order something like a pastry and yall still getting it wrong order a crumb cake and getting a pumpkin loaf Instead smh
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 3
I Finally found a Starbucks that knows between a Cappuccino and a Latte! Sweet!
The staff here is absolutely trash. I've watched them on numerous occasions make fun of and laugh at homeless people who just ask for water. They treat them like garbage.
Once I saw them laughing at a homeless veteran who was very obviously mentally challenged.
Great job employing such great staff.
Exactly what's wrong with America.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 1
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