The Best Coffee in San Mateo
A born-and-raised local's short list of the independent cafes worth going out of your way for.
Good coffee is personal, so think of this less as a ranking and more as a local's short list. These are the independent San Mateo spots worth going out of your way for, whether you want a serious pour-over, a matcha, or a corner table you never want to leave.
The top of the list
Kaizen & Coffee
A minimalist specialty cafe with single-origin coffee and a short from-scratch menu. The black sesame latte and the matcha are the ones to get. If you just want the best actual cup in town, start here.
Three Bees Coffee House
Downtown's coffee living room, named for its corner at 3rd and B. Dark wood, local art on the walls, bold drip, and a crowd of regulars who never left.
Izumi Matcha
A new 2026 matcha bar built around award-winning Marukyu Koyamaen matcha. Get the honey matcha or the strawberry matcha. Grab and go, no seating.
Backhaus
A German-style bakery with a genuinely serious coffee program (Ritual beans, Leaves and Flowers tea) next to sourdough, pretzels, and pastries. Come for an espresso and a pretzel, but come early before the bread sells out.
Also worth the trip
Blue Bottle Coffee
The airy Bay Meadows cafe from the Oakland roaster. Clean, precise espresso, the signature New Orleans iced coffee, and beans to take home. The anchor stop on the Hillsdale side of town.
Bonjour Bakehouse
Voted the area's best bakery and coffee in 2025. French-leaning pastries, lattes made with Ikon coffee, and a sunny patio. Mornings only, so don't sleep in.
Sama Coffee Shop
A Turkish and Middle Eastern coffee house with traditional Turkish coffee plus rose-cardamom and lavender lattes, chai, and baklava. The most distinctive cup in town if you want something different.
Fiero Caffe
A family-run Italian cafe doing proper espresso, cappuccino, and macchiato alongside a sit-down Italian breakfast. Closed Tuesdays.
Caffeinated Cowboy
A small, personable independent on the south end of El Camino with a fun western streak and a devoted local following. The under-the-radar pick.
Think we left off your favorite? Tell us at hello@sanmateolocal.com and we'll go check it out.