We stopped by Amai Coffee and really liked it! Food: I ordered the cream cheese croissant, hojicha latte, and a regular latte. Everything was really good! The cream cheese croissant was my favorite, it was warm, flaky, and had a good amount of cream cheese. The hojicha latte was really good too and had a nice flavor. The regular latte was also good and tasted fresh. The staff was really nice and friendly, and we didn't have to wait long for our drinks and food. The cafe was also clean and had a cute, cozy vibe. It's a nice little spot to grab coffee and relax. Overall, I really enjoyed it and keep coming back! read more

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I come to Amai frequently because it's one of the few coffee shops in the area that opens at a reasonable hour for people who work early. The drinks are consistently good, which I really appreciate. That said, the hours have been a little iffy lately. There have been several instances where I've shown up around 7:15-7:20 AM only to find the chairs still up on the tables and the lights off, so I'm assuming someone didn't show up on time. The most recent instance was this Wednesday (9/2/26), when I arrived around 7:20 AM and the shop was still closed. It was a bummer, especially since this isn't the first time it's happened. I tried my luck again yesterday (9/3) and today (9/4) around the same time, and luckily the shop was open. Shoutout to the girls who were working yesterday and this morning for showing up on time and making some fire drinks! . I hope the opening hours become more reliable, especially for the early workers. read more

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The princess peach matcha was the best, when I ordered it I felt a light feeling coming from my third eye being opened to the best matcha I've ever had. It opened myself up to a world of flavor.... All three drinks were good, the seasonal as change so don't get too attached to one drink :( Good service and very fast Cool vibes and nice place to have matcha read more

Amai Coffee - The princess peach matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I thought I'd like Amai more but maybe it was just a blip in the universe type of day where it just wasn't happening. Walked into Amai on a Friday afternoon pre-road trip and it was a bit of a stale and ever so silent environment. Nobody else in shop which I mean isn't their fault but for some reason, everything looked run down and tired. Used the bathroom and it too looked like it had a long day. Ordered at the counter with the barista who then immediately started making my drink. What was odd was the fact that he made the drink on the serving counter right in front of me so I saw how little effort was put into the drink. I thought the iced matcha latte was decent but nothing out of the ordinary. Later that day was glossing my credit card transaction history and saw the charge for Amai upwards of $10. I realize I didn't complete the tip page on the screen (my mistake) which is likely where the barista took the liberty to fill it in on his own. Not cool. Maybe one day will be back but also, there are so many alternatives in the area, it's a tough business case. read more

Amai Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Tried a banana cream top matcha & latte here. Both are pretty solid. It is not one of the best ones but is definitely a good one. Stuff & place feel warm and welcoming. If I want something near SM & Venice with banana foam - I recommend this place within area. read more

Amai Coffee - Banana cream top latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Signature coffee is good! I asked for less milk and it was perfect. Lots of parking in the lot. read more

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This coffee spot can get crowded sometimes because it's across the street from Santa Monica College. It's a smaller, cozy shop but didn't have too much problem getting a seat Thursday morning. Hard to find a charger outlet though so bring your laptop charged/ The barista was really nice and greeted people warmly. Ordered the blueberry matcha which wasn't too sweet. There seemed to be a bit of a fizz in there too. Also got the everything croissant which had fragrant toasted sesame seeds and lightly filled with cream cheese. Parking is available in a small strip lot mall. read more

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Popped in here around 3pm needing an afternoon matcha pick me up and wow did they deliver! The barista was so friendly and kind to make recommendations. They have a nice selection of both coffee and matcha drinks, and I went with the mango sticky rice matcha with almond milk. I was a little nervous about the color of the mango, but not to worry it was absolutely delicious! Great flavor and the perfect amount of sweetness. The space is on the smaller side with a few tables and one community table, but a chill vibe to sit and enjoy. I will definitely be back! read more

Amai Coffee - Mango sticky rice matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Ok I'm giving a 4 because my coffee did not taste like banana. If I'm ordering a banana coffee I want to taste banana, not coffee oat milk and a random syrup. I saw her put banana syrup in it but I think anything banana needs to be made from banana itself not a store bought syrup. Customer service was great, they welcome me in and everything. Overall presentation of drinks were beautiful as well. Despite my banana itself it still tasted good. My friend's coffee was the Manila Vanilla and he really liked it and said it was good. There's parking !!! WOOOO HOOO Ambience was nice .. enough co working space if I wanted to come back and work for a bit or have coffee with a friend. read more

Amai Coffee - Banana Coffee and Manila Vanilla - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Tucked away in a small Asian plaza with plenty of free parking, which is definitely a plus. They were unfortunately out of the Ube, so we tried the Amai Signature and Manila Vanilla instead. Both drinks were light and easy to drink--safe choices that tasted good, but neither really stood out. The Signature was slightly sweeter thanks to the cold foam, though the two flavors were otherwise quite similar. If I come back, I'd be more interested in trying the Ube or Mocha. The café itself was clean, and the restroom was spacious (you'll need a code to access it). The two women working the counter were friendly, answered questions, and adjusted another customer's matcha drink when she asked for it to be sweeter. read more

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I tried Amai coffee and immediately understood the great ratings. The flavors are very balanced and even with almond milk it tastes like a treat. read more

Amai Coffee - Amai Signature - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

A chill day at the coffee shop. Love the chill vibe and great drinks they offer here. read more

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I've been out training in Santa Monica, so I finally made my way to check out this gem. Very pleased with the Manila vanilla signature drink I ordered. Service was great, and was happy to see that they had good street and lot parking. I will definitely be back! read more

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Was craving a matcha and decided to check out Amai Coffee in Santa Monica. There's a small parking lot out front making it easy to stop by. The cafe was small, but so cute with a few seats to relax in. I ordered a mango sticky matcha with almond milk from the seasonal menu and my friend got the strawberry matcha. They were around the $8-9 range. My drink really brougth home the mango and coconut flavor from a classic mango sticky rice. The matcha itself felt very light, the drink overall a bit on the sweet side. I would come back to try the hojicha latte or a fun seasonal flavor, but not sure if I would spend that much for their regular matcha menu. read more

Amai Coffee - Strawberry matcha and mango sticky matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

We got the matcha einspanner, banana matcha, and mango sticky rice matcha. Service was fast and there's a good amount of seating inside for studyung. - Matcha einspanner: standard, good amount of sweetness - Banana matcha: banana flavor was a but too artificial for our liking Mango sticky rice matcha: subtle mango flavor and good amount of sweetness (we liked this one the most) read more

Amai Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I love getting drinks from here ! They're always so good and one time I got a mocha and they did not burn the milk. It tasted soooo good ! Shoutout to the barista that did it, you are a good barista (didn't ask for his name). But I love everyone here they're always super nice and attentive ! And I love their drinks and the aesthetic of the place, a really good vibe. read more

Amai Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Overall (8/10) - This was a cute coffee shop near my workplace. I have been to another location of this shop in Torrance previously. The cafe has a cute atmosphere to chill, hang out, work, and read. The Matcha Einspanner here is not what one would consider a Matcha with a strong Matcha flavor. The service was nice, and the staff members were friendly. There was some parking at the plaza where the cafe shop was, but it could get crowded due to its proximity to Santa Monica Community College. Drinks - I got a Matcha Einspanner, which I thought could have a stronger Matcha flavor. I could have asked for an extra shot of Matcha next time it is made. Overall, the drink is decent and has a good flavor. Overall - I would come to try some more drinks in the future and see if the other drinks would compare to this one. read more

Amai Coffee - Matcha with Vanilla Cream Top - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Went with a friend for the first time and loved it! Our barista was friendly, knowledgeable, and had great recommendations.We got the Vietnamese iced coffee which was strong, sweet, and very creamy, super luxurious. I got the everything bagel croissant which I didn't love, it was decent. Will definitely come back! read more

Super disappointed to find out they don't even make their Vietnamese coffee in-house and of course they were out when I got there. I asked if they could throw one together with espresso and condensed milk, and the girl at the front looked like I asked her to solve a physics equation. I spared us both and aborted the mission. Instead, I left with everyone's safe choice, the iced mocha for a 5-hour drive. It's frustrating how many coffee shops prioritize convenience over craftsmanship these days. Feels like the art of a real coffee shop experience is slowly disappearing. read more

Whenever I'm in the SMC area of Santa Monica, I have to stop by and get coffee at Amai Coffee. The coffee is strong and the drinks are unique and delicious. My favorite is the Turon Banana -- you might not think coffee and banana could go well together, but in this drink, they do! I've also had the Amai signature, which is good, too. Be aware that this place is popular, so there's a line sometimes and service can be slow (but they will get to you and it's worth the wait). If you want to get pastries or a croissant, they do sell out so get yours early! read more

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I've always wanted to visit Amai coffee after seeing it on Instagram (what's new?), so we came around during a relaxing day with beautiful weather. The space is a little vintage and spacious, almost millennial-coded given the hipster records, potted plants, and unique stools. It's likely not the best place to study or work for more than a couple of hours because the parking lot is a small outdoor lot that shares space with other shops (unless you find street parking). Antonio took our orders of Vietnamese coffee and the Mango Sticky Matcha, which you really cannot go wrong with! The rest of the staff is also very friendly and efficient with delivering drinks, though to be fair, it wasn't tremendously crowded when we arrived. I loved the drinks we had! The Mango Sticky Matcha was perfectly flavored and the Vietnamese coffee was strong and sweet. read more

Amai Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Amai, you are charming, you have parking, the lighting is amazing, your mirror is flattering, the college kids across the street love you.... stop, stop you are so cool and dangerously close to my work!!! Matcha einspanner is delicious and so are your hochijas. I love your sweet cream top that's not too sweet. Owner is very patient and so are the baristas. I feel so Santa Monica cool when I come to visit you. read more

Amai Coffee - Menu Oct 2025 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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we stumbled upon this hole in the wall coffee shop on Saturday morning and were in love. The ambience was so calming, the decor was simple and cozy, and the space was very welcoming. i didnt catch the baristas name but he gave great recommendations and although he was behind the bar alone, he managed a very long line very quickly - i think it took like 3 min for our drinks to be ready. we got a vanilla honey latte and the Vietnamese coffee with the banana cream and both were so tasty! we will definitely be back read more

Amai Coffee - left: vanilla honey latte right: viet coffee with banana cream - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Really wanted to love this place but it fell short of my expectations. I came on a Saturday afternoon and there were about 7 other people in line. There were 3 workers but only 1 person taking orders AND making drinks. The other 2 were ignoring the customers. I had the matcha einspanner and thought it was too milky and not enough matcha. I also tried their croissant and found it too oily, literally wiping my hands after every bite lol. There is a small parking lot. But plenty of street parking. read more

Amai Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

So close to my school and my recent obsession with Vietnamese coffee brought me in. Such a cute little coffee shop, no line at all. One girl was working the counter and she was very sweet and helpful and made my order super quick. Coffee was good! Very strong if you like that sort of thing, will definitely come back to try out the other drinks :) read more

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Was ordering pizza next door at SaMo and saw this coffee shop. Haven't had my morning coffee yet so I decided to swing by and grab a salted cold brew. The place was quite busy for 1:30pm and lots of people in here looking busy. The salted cold brew was simple but I was expecting some fresh whipped salted foam. I'm going to be picky on that point alone! It did not give me any feelings of must come back here to taste again. First impressions for Amai was ok since I am Asian and it seemed Asian inspired, but I somehow missed that they had Vietnamese style coffee on the menu in my half awakened state of mind. Overall the place seemed to be vibing with local students. read more

Amai Coffee - Salted "foam" cold brew but was more like bottled creamer with salt sadly - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

If you are near the Santa Monica Beach this is a good place to come and have a coffee. They're set up is pretty cool. I noticed they had a record player so I'm guessing sometimes they do play music from there which is pretty cool. Service was great. They were very attentive and helpful. He did get a little busy, but he was able to provide us with a pretty quick service. The coffee itself was pretty good. We went with hot lattes. A banana and a signature one. Both were tasty. Next time I will have to try them iced. The pastry were ok. We tried the ham and cheese. It was cheesy and delicious. I believe I got the croissant covered with a chocolate chip cookie. Overall, this place has delicious coffee different options on the menu. I wish I could try them all in one seating, but this would take a few trips. read more

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My partner and I went on a Saturday at around 3:00 PM. The shop is very spacious and open layout which I like. However there's isn't much seating (there's also two long benches that's not shown in the photo; indoor seating only). I feel like this isn't the best working coffee shop (even though there's a wifi and restroom), because there are only like 4 small tables and the seats aren't the most comfortable (most have no back support). The staff were nice but not very memorable (don't get me wrong, they were nice haha but Ive been at places where the servers are SOOO nice and friendly and go out of the way if that makes sense). The coffee we got was delicious!! Not sure why the price isn't listed for the specialty coffee, matcha, and tea but I think they're around $6.75 or $7. The Vietnamese House Coffee was strong and sweet but not too sweet. The cacao powder on top was unique and gave the drink some mocha like sips. The Honeycomb was also great!! A good sweet level (less sweet than the vietnamese house coffee for sure) and the honey works very well with the coffee they use. Not bitter at all either! read more

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Loved the range of matcha drinks and pastries! First time trying a matcha almond croissant with matcha infused filling! I like the aesthetic vibes and trending cozy cafe music. It was a bit warm inside when I visited though. -Restrooms with wifi and a few outlets. - have alternative milk options -Try their matcha cookie -Matcha Almond Croissant: Liked the sweet almond crust on top but wished this was crispier. Matcha is subtle. -White chocolate matcha cookie: Highly recommend this. Strong matcha taste and a white chocolate bits compliment the matcha taste. I was surprised this wasn't excessively sweet but just right for me taste. DRINKS -*Seasonal* Banana Cream Matcha with almond milk: A lof of creams I've had are normally overly sweet but this was a lighter cream top that blends with the milk. Banana taste is subtle and not artificial. -Strawberry Matcha with almond milk: Strawberry taste was creamy like strawberry milk with very small bits of strawberry bits. -Blueberry Matcha with oat milk (like a sister drink to the Strawberry Matcha): Surprisingly came out not having a dark blue/purple hue but don't let looks deceive you. The blueberry was a bit stronger than the matcha and reminded a bit of like a berry juice. read more

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Coffee shop right across from SM college. I got the banana flavored coffee latte, and the banana was subtle but a really nice addition. Coffee flavor was bold and strong; very aromatic. I got a couple of pastries and while they weren't gourmet they were okay tasting. But my stomach protested later, so I wouldn't order them again. Coffee is a yes, pastries were a one and done. Girl at the counter was great, and I can see the place is very busy and ideal for studying and getting homework done for the college groups. read more

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this place is right beside my job and I've come here a couple times. Always great service and a great menu. The drinks here are really good. I either get the mango sticky rice matcha or the Amai Signature. They have a parking lot and plenty of seats inside if you ever wanted to chill out here. read more

Amai Coffee - MANGO STICKY MATCHA Amai Signature - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Amai has some of my favorite coffee and matcha on the west side. Everything is so well made and balanced. I especially love the matcha tonics. They're super refreshing and consistently delicious. The coffee drinks are perfect too: flavorful, smooth, and not overly sweet like a lot of other places. Such a great spot with high quality drinks and a really calm, welcoming vibe. read more

Amai Coffee is most definitely a must try. There are a great variety of drinks to choose from. My go to is the Amai signature, it's perfectly balanced, sweet and slightly creamy while still maintaining that good coffee taste, which is rare to come by. With every visit the staff is kind and attentive, never rushing and always welcoming. The music and atmosphere are at normal levels of sound, and most times I've seen people with laptops and tablets , working. Overall a very wonderful coffee spot that I will continue to go to. read more

Amai Coffee - Inside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Came on a late weekday morning and there was no wait. The barista was really friendly and explained their popular drinks to us. We decided on their signature Amai latte which was delicious! Plenty of open seating and natural light. They also have a parking lot which makes it convenient. We'd recommend this coffee shop when you're in the area :) read more

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Mmm not what I was expecting... Whenever I order drinks, I take a sip of each component. I ordered the Mango Sticky Matcha and my roomie ordered the Pandan Matcha. Upon sipping the matcha, it tasted bitter and lackluster. The mango flavor was better but I wish the fruity flavors shone through more. After mixing it, I was more pleased. Same thing for the Pandan; it was very light, which is expected bc it's a hard flavor to capture. The croissant was not flaky at all. The cookie crust was a nice highlight and not too sweet but the pastry itself was lacking. You can tell it had been sitting out for awhile. Service was fast and our baristas were chill. They offered recommendations for pastries and were happy to ask questions. The store was decorated nicely and wasn't too busy when we went ~1pm. It was quite hot in there tho. read more

Amai Coffee - mango sticky matcha, turon matcha, almond croissant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Great Asian inspired coffee in the Santa Monica area! I visited this coffee shop on an early Saturday afternoon and it was decently packed. There was a free parking lot by the coffee shop which was nice. The interior is also minimalist and aesthetic. I ordered the Viet Coffee and it was pretty good. Strong, but not too strong and also not too icy. Just the right amount of drink to ice ratio. It also wasn't too sweet. The cream was also tasty and kind of cheesy. Together, the cream and coffee were delicious. The drink prices were great at $7 for most drinks and they don't charge you for tax. Pretty rare in LA nowadays. I also got the almond crossaint which they got from Roji bakery. It was decent and I liked the buttery chewiness. It was $6.50 though so it was a bit too expensive for what it is. Overall, a good experience here and I would come back again to try their other drinks. read more

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It's pretty cute, aesthetic, coffee shop. I really enjoyed a few minutes we sat there and enjoyed the space. Very nice dark wood walls and long community style table make for a cozy feel in an otherwise bustling Santa Monica. The coffee was tasty. Not too sweet. read more

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I enjoyed this little coffee spot in Santa Monica. Came in and tried a few pastries and drinks. Strawberry Matcha - Loved this, flavors were on point and it was refreshing. Definitely a goto. (5/5) Turon Banana - This was good but the banana taste was a bit lacking. Flavors were good but would be better it tasted more like banana. (4/5) Pastries - I tried out the bacon, cream cheese, and sesame croissants/pastries. They were all good and I totally enjoyed them. I wish they could've toasted them because that would've made them better but still good nonetheless. Overall solid spot for a refreshing drink in Santa Monica. Nice spot to chill at for a bit. Parking - Small lot shared with the other stores nearby (1 hour parking maximum). Didn't have an issue getting a spot on the weekend but the lot only has room for maybe 20-30 cars. read more

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Tried the Amai Signature Latte- so yummy! I usually go for matcha because I find most lattes excessively sweet, but this had a perfect balance! My friend tried the matcha einspanner and really enjoyed it, so I'll have to try that next time! I really wanted to try one of their cookie croissants but sadly they didn't have any that day. I came early on a weekday morning and waited about 5-10 minutes in line. They have a free parking lot in the front. read more

Amai Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

This super cute spot serves up Asian-inspired drinks that are all made fresh right in front of you -- I tried the Blueberry Matcha, which was tasty and refreshing, but my favorite had to be the Banana Matcha -- it had that real banana flavor that was so tasty. Unfortunately, I think there was a mix-up with my Turon Banana Coffee -- it ended up tasting more like a plain latte with zero banana, which was a little disappointing. But the Americano was smooth and well-balanced, so still a win overall. The aesthetic is clean and welcoming, and the attention to detail in how each drink is crafted makes the experience feel special. Parking is in a small lot -- a little tight, but manageable even on a Saturday morning. Would definitely come back to try more drinks next time! read more

Amai Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California