15 Best Cafes in Stanford

“Incredibly friendly atmosphere. Perfect for studying and sipping on a warm drink. Staff is friendly and genuine. Food is served in HUGE portions and you can’t beat the price. Have been here countless times!“

“All time favorite cafe latte spot. With waffle & strawberries. At 7:30am!“

“I got the Manila specialty drink (ube drink). Very interesting combination of flavors. Compared to the equivalent ube boba order, this one has a more mature flavor profile thanks to the shot of espresso. ⚠️Warning: it will make your tongue purple.

I’d say the drinks are a notch too pricey for me to come here regularly.“

“The book store was great!!“

“THIS was sooooo good! came here during a summer event and me and friends were walking around campus before a presentation when we spotted this place slightly hidden from others. we went inside and while ordering we got to talk to the lovely staff (a few of whom were stanford students) and they told us about working in the area etc. nice place with even nicer food“

“Jimmy's serves awesome food and his staff is the best catering crew around.“

“Phenomenal food at a student-friendly price! Had lunch with the wife today at this magnificent establishment and it was terrific. This cafeteria is part of the Stanford Graduate School of Business and is apparently where all of the b-school eager beavers refuel on sustenance. ? I particularly appreciated the, oh-so-clever, names that accompanied each of the food stations. ? Haha, you can totally tell this is where all of the MBA people hang out! Definitely get lunch here if you're in the area!“

“Coupa Cafe had the best coffee of anywhere I went in Palo Alto. I loved the flavor and intensity of the Marron in particular!“

“Cute cafe on Stanford’s campus. I loved the ample outdoor seating options! I got a burger which came with chips. It was good, but the burger patty could have used a little more seasoning in my opinion. The burger was also a bit pricey for the portion size you are getting, but that’s Stanford generally, so do not hold them against it. Staff is very kind & accommodating.“

“I will go out of my way to get their matcha cookies. They are VERY MATCHA. So good. They don’t skip out on the flavor here. Also will often run out of them.

I also like their ham+cheese croissant. It’s hella loaded and delicious.

Working out of here is a treat. Food service vibes 10/10 all around“

“When the P bus drops me at the Oval, I make my way through a trail of forest and trees. “I wandered lonely as a cloud that floats on high o’er vales and hills, when all at once I saw a crowd, a host, of golden daffodils.” These lovely clouds are my fellow cohorts, workshopping our poems—our triolets and villanelles. But sometimes I wish we could study the classic poets instead of listening to earnest student work and politely encouraging what feels like mediocrity.“

“Pabellion arepa w little side salad is my absolute favorite.
I’m a Peets gal so I don’t get coffee here, but the fruity matcha smoothie is good!
You can order ahead - or I walked in today & service was really fast so I could grab lunch & go“

“A great little spot right in the middle of Stanford University. Bytes Cafe is exactly what you want from a campus café: fast, reliable, and with a genuinely pleasant atmosphere.

The location is hard to beat, especially if you’re moving between meetings or just want a quick break without leaving campus. Despite the steady flow of students and staff, the service is efficient and friendly, and the space stays surprisingly comfortable.

Coffee is solid, food options are simple but well executed, and everything feels consistent, no surprises, just a dependable place to recharge.

Overall: a convenient and well-run café with a great campus vibe. Perfect for a quick stop or an informal meeting in the heart of Stanford.“

“I was meaning to write this last week, but a few days ago I went to visit Stanford University and I came across this cafe. The cashier at the time (whose name is Jose) was so nice and helpful with my order. Not only did he recommend a great food and drink item but he also informed me about the rewards system and he helped me go through the process step by step. I don't normally write these types of reviews, but I wanted to spend an extra minute out of my day to do this because I could tell he works hard, and good service can be quite hard to come by these days. This made my visit to Stanford very pleasing and I cant wait to go back! Thank you for taking the time to cater to me, Jose!“

“By far my favorite place to eat on campus, if not in all of Palo Alto. For how affordable it is, the quantity and quality of food you get is unparalleled. My favorite items are the chicken burrito bowl, the Aztec salad, and the pastrami banh mi, all of which are between $11 and $12 after tax. Oftentimes, one burrito bowl will last me lunch and dinner. The staff is great and incredibly efficient. When you order a burrito bowl, you will literally get it 20 seconds later.

Vegetarian options: You can customize any menu item to be vegetarian“