There’s nothing quite like a well-pulled espresso. Alone, it can be creamy and acidic and a little bitter or decidedly decadent with the right amount of milk and sugar added. Every time I’m lucky enough to go to San Francisco for an overnight, I try my best to go to Tartine and enjoy a latte and a pastry. Well-made pastry is a work of art, and a coffee that is its match makes my world sing.
But with my busy, little family and full-time job, overnights in San Francisco are numbered. Here are 6 cafés, in no particular order, that have delicious coffee without the drive or childcare needed for a haul to SF. And all of them are kid-friendly!
Manresa Bread
271 State St, Los Altos, CA 94022
This tiny shop in Los Altos will make you feel like you’re in San Francisco. It’s clean, small, and well-laid out. Manresa Bread makes delicious breads (how could they not with that name) and the granola is to-die-for. You may never have thought granola could be to-die-for, but now you will! The kouign amann is by far my favorite, though Manresa makes it hard to choose one. Buttery, carmelized, and decadent…only try it if you have a sweet tooth.
If you have your kids in tow, be sure to stop next door at Linden Tree, a beautiful children’s bookstore with a wide variety of quality reading options. You could reverse this order; take the kids to the bookstore; have them each pick out a favorite or one to share; grab coffee and pastries at Manresa, and enjoy them on the comfortable seating outside. Manresa really is more of a grab-and-go place; be prepared to order and exit if your kids are as boisterous and tiny as mine are.
Bluestone Lane
288 1st St, Los Altos, CA 94022
Read here for a full run down on Bluestone Lane but in short, Bluestone is bright and insta-rific with delicious Aussie-style coffee and trendy food items. They can make a true flat white like nobody’s business, and this mama appreciates quality caffeine. They also have hearty, filling, healthy bowls that are perfect on a fall morning.
Red Rock Coffee
201 Castro St, Mountain View, CA 94041
Red Rock has been a staple in Mountain View for coming up on 15 years. If you’ve lived in the area for a minute, you may have noticed that the restaurant business around here is tough. Maybe you haven’t noticed that per sé, but while chasing your kids down a sidewalk, you think to yourself, “Wait, where did X go? Is that another new restaurant?” Castro has had a few anchors, and I’m so glad that Red Rock is one of them. It’s story of “Caffeine, Community, and Culture” speaks to my teacher and mom heart. Various Silicon-Valley-esque events are hosted upstairs; service is fast and quality; and I love that Red Rock is non-profit in the middle of an area that is just….so for-profit.
Mayfield + Village Bakery
Mayfield, located in Town & Country Shopping Center, is a full sit-down restaurant with a bakery attached to the north side, and The Village Bakery is in the town of Woodside off of 280. Why are these posted side by side? TVB was acquired by the same company as Mayfield, and you’ll notice many similarities in style, offerings, and quality.
But their locations couldn’t be more different. For all you moms out there, try to drop in for the annual Fit4Mom classes hosted by Athleta at Town & Country, and then join some of those mamas for brunch afterwards at Mayfield. It’s kid-friendly, and if your munchkins have the wiggles, snag a table outside for some breathing room.
The Village Bakery is a favorite because of it’s location directly on the way to Huddart Park in Woodside. Grab a few pastries or a sandwich and a coffee. Down the coffee while it’s hot, park at Huddart, and pack in a hike with stunning views of redwoods, streams and waterfalls, and then picnic afterwards. Some of the trails are kid-friendly, and there are several picnic spots along with a clean public restroom. Coffee + nature + pastry? Yes, please!
Maisson Alyzée
If you love espresso, canelé, and pastry, this is the place for you. A more recent addition to the line up in downtown Mountain View, Maisson Alyzée is a true French import. All three chefs are French and French-trained, and we hope this place will stick around for years to come. Grab a seat outside, enjoy a salad or sandwich with their house-made bread, and for a brief minute you can pretend you’re not in California.
The Life So Valley 