Starbucks in Santa Monica

“I walked in and was immediately greeted with a smile! Susie took my order and went above and beyond! She asked how my day was and followed up to see if there was anything else I needed. Her attention to detail and charisma with myself and the other customers make me want to come back only to this location.“

“I was never really a Starbucks person. I always felt the coffee quality wasn’t great—it often tasted burned—and the stores didn’t feel particularly inviting. That changed when I recently started visiting the Starbucks location at Montana and 7th in Santa Monica.
I’ve been genuinely impressed. The coffee quality has improved significantly—it tastes fresh, especially when the beans are ground and brewed straight to the cup rather than sitting. The store itself is bright, well-lit, and welcoming, making it a place you actually want to spend time in.
What truly stands out, though, is the team. The staff and store leaders are exceptional. No matter how busy it gets—especially during hectic mornings—they remain warm, attentive, and upbeat. There is always someone greeting customers, calling out names with a smile, welcoming people as they walk in, and keeping the energy positive. It makes a noticeable difference.
Professionally, I work in training and development, focusing on areas like management development, communication, and soft skills. From that perspective, it’s clear that this location reflects not just strong hiring, but strong training and leadership. It really shows in how the team interacts with customers and with one another.
A sincere thank you to Hailey, Xochilt, Pedro, and Leilani. Job very well done.“

“This is definitely my favorite location. The staff here are extremely kind, friendly, and are always smiling. Daniela always goes above and beyond to ask about my day, to say hello, and creates such a welcoming atmosphere. She is not the only one! I could easily name at minimum 6 other people at this location. Thank you for a great experience every time!!!“

“quick drive thru and really nice staff! I ordered my usual hot London fog and sometimes other places make it kind of bitter tasting but this one was perfect! I had an issue with my card and the staff was very patient and kind w helping me. The girl gillian and I think their name is vallin were really nice to me. just moved here and will be coming back for sure!“

“I do strictly drive thru for this Starbucks, on the weekends. The line moves fast for the most part, and the service is very good. BONUS: this Starbucks is piloting a sustainability/environmental effort - all drinks (even iced) are served in cups made of paper (even the lids). I wish more Starbucks did this,“

“This Starbucks does a solid job handling what is clearly a very busy weekend crowd. The line moved surprisingly fast, and the staff stayed efficient and friendly even with constant foot traffic coming in from the promenade area. Service definitely deserves credit for keeping things flowing.

The atmosphere here has a darker, richer vibe compared to some brighter suburban Starbucks locations, which actually fit the area nicely. There’s seating for roughly 20 inside and another dozen or so outside, making it a decent place to sit for a while if you can grab a table. One cool touch is being within earshot of local street performers, which adds a fun and very “Santa Monica” type of energy to the experience.

The biggest downside was the restroom situation. There was a pretty serious bathroom line during my visit, and it seemed like the facilities just can’t fully keep up with the heavy weekend promenade traffic. To be fair, not everyone waiting appeared to be paying customers, so that probably adds to the challenge.

Overall, a good Starbucks location with strong service, a lively atmosphere, and a great people-watching spot.“

“I have always seen this and always busy when I visit Ralph’s. But today, it is really cold and I need something to warm my cold hands and feet. First time, I order from this busy and small location.Arielle is professional and friendly. The first time I order, it is she and the other old gentleman who serve me and both are nice. The second time I visit, Arielle is the only one there to take order and brew coffee for me. I also find out that she likes video games, which is rare for females in my life circle. She is indeed unique.The coffee is pretty standarized and cannot duplicate at home even with my Breville. I guess I will just have to keep visiting Starbucks and accumulate my points. The place has only counter to order and the seating area is outside. Two times I visit, both are cold and raining, and that is just right for the hot coffee outdoor. Luckily, no one is smoking in the tiny area.Starbucks is not going to give you any surprises when you order. It is always good no matter where you go. And this why they are successful. And the location is really strategic that you visit supermarket, you get a chance to have good coffee.Today I visited again and had a funny yet busy lady who served me. She is funny and I had a very good and relaxed converse with her while I was waiting to get my mocha. Starbucks is good!I know understaff is a serious issue. This branch has been placing only one person here and it has been always slow when you have someone or more than one in front of you. It is taking very long time to get your order. I just waited 12 minutes for a cup of coffee and there was only one girl in front of me.Besides that, they also close early like 6ish pm.“

“It’s a nice location because it’s very spacious, and there were some people working on their laptops, which gave it a nice atmosphere. The staff was very friendly, and Christine was especially attentive. The coffee is always good. Unfortunately, there were a few homeless people outside asking for money, which made me feel a little uncomfortable, but I guess that’s just part of Los Angeles.“

“Stopped by this Starbucks recently and had a great experience. The staff was friendly, my order was made correctly, and the service was quick even though it was busy. The store was clean and well maintained, making it a nice place to grab a coffee and relax. Overall, a solid Starbucks location with great customer service.“