This place was such a pleasant surprise!! The owner was very friendly and hospitable and made us feel right at home. We had the breakfast sandwich which hit the spot as well as the bread pudding- very good!! I recommend read more

Stopped in to grab some coffees and gluten free pastries to take over to my cousin's place, for a visit. The lattes were excellent! Creamy, smooth and delicious. The gluten free pastries were not that great (hence 4 stars instead of 5). The blackberry scones were very dry and somewhat salty. The muffins were better, but still quite dry. That being said, the staff were sweet and helpful and the atmosphere was reminiscent of a great old.coffee house- comfortable, relaxed and welcoming. For sure give them a try, and if you can eat regular pastries, I'd love to know if they're good read more

Sometime you and your friends party so hard that they don't wake up until 2 or 3 hours after you. You're an early riser; what do you do? Do whatever you want, but I recommend hitting up this cafe first. I stumbled in here in search of some good coffee and free wifi. I ended up finding free wifi, good conversation, coffee, and food - win! I opted for a simple black cup with a basic breakfast muffin - very tasty choice for a weak morning stomach. Within minutes I felt like I was coming back to life, when I noticed a variety of early risers stumbling in with the same idea. Because I'm an awesome friend, I also bought some Nutella cake and Irish bread for my late sleeping preggo buddy - it was enjoyed. I like this little local spot because it has nice strong coffee, a good crowd for people watching, a hilarious staff, and all of the breakfast basics and more...and, it's open early for those of us who can't sleep in - great start to my day. read more

I was so excited to try this place as everything on the menu sounds amazing and I'll give them that flavors are good BUT every thing we ordered (5 items) tasted like it had been baked several days ago. So disappointing. Maybe just an off day but not sure how all 5 items could taste so stale. read more

Delicious blueberry muffins. Can't wait to go back and try other things. Super friendly people working.

Walked into this wonderful Russian River gem to smells of freshly baked foods and coffee...it had been over a year. The owner, Kari, greeted us and remembered us even though so much time had passed! My kids LOVE the fresh made to order breakfast sandwiches. I love a great cup of coffee and their brown bread. read more

Ok, other than the owner, who may or may not be called Bia and is the most kick ass, hilarious person, the tuna salad is the best tuna salad I've ever had. Yes, the tuna salad. And her breads are perfection. read more

If the staff cant bring a smile to ones face the food and drinks can. On of my favorite spots to grab coffee.

best gluten free options in the area!!! I highly recommend it.

Love this place. The people here are beyond friendly. The coffee is good and the pastries are delicious. We tried the lemon blueberry muffin and something that was like a lemon meringue pie with a shortbread crust. Both amazingly delicious. It's true... They only take cards for anything over $10 so make sure you come with cash if you're spending less. Highly recommend. read more

Keri is awesome! She's funny & doesn't take any bia. Food was so good , coffee hot & equally good.

Great place for breakfast! Second time going today and it did not disappoint. I had their brewed coffee (Bella Rosa light roast) and a breakfast panini on a bagel. My husband had their mocha and a breakfast panini on ciabatta. Love that the eggs are cooked when you place your order. Would love to try their breads that are baked in house next time, they have different flavors and gluten free breads! Great atmosphere and friendly staff, highly recommend coming here for any morning treats. read more

The best coffee in Guerneville. Always prompt friendly service and coffee poured with love. Love stopping in this place. read more

Well, we are now down to a one-star review after the owner sent me a second private message telling me how horrible I am. So.......she and her staff break food safety handling rules/laws apparently daily, yet she lambasts me for warning the public. Seriously SHAME ON YOU for trying to attack me and my daughter instead of dealing with the issue: you and your staff are breaking the law. period. YOU and your staff need training. Seek it out. STAT. Before someone dining at your cafe' becomes ill. And stop sending me hate messages. I don't know you well, nor do I care to. You have the nerve to insult me where no one else can see the things you are saying. It might be a good idea for me to copy and paste your messages here...but instead, I think its time to turn your in for a public health inspection. read more

The coffee was good but my daughter's rice crispy treat was completely stale as if it had been made a very long time ago and my pastry was so absolutely dry it was worse than sawdust dry. The baklava was also unlike any I have ever had. Usually it is flaky and yummy, but even this was stale as if it had been sitting there for a while. They drizzled honey over it to mask how stale it was. Too bad... had such good reviews I was hoping for it to be amazing! I don't think we will ever go there again unless it's for just some coffee. read more

Bia Cafe and the two "grown kids" who created and maintain it, make for a delightful experience, and I'm afraid it's only a matter of time before some big-city joker copies their biz and opens Bia Cafes all over America! Well, I may be over the top with my vision, but I've known Kari and Torch for a few decades and they're a remarkably talented pair. If you swing by you'll see the most evident talent is running a clean, cheery establishment, home to delectable, aromatic pastries and Celtic-type breads with Irish roots, as well as fresh-ground French Roast which is deeply satisfying. Bia is a few feet from Monte Rio's post office and close by Northwood Golf Club. Easy access and parking..about a mie East of town. .but if the Ladies are there (usually Kari) your visit will be considerably more memorable. You may bring your own cup (reduced price on coffee) and sit outdoors if the weather cooperates. Incidentally, the word "Bia" means "Food" in Ireland, but in internet slang it has an entirely different meaning which Yelp might find inappropriate. In fact I'd bet Kari and Torch have no idea! read more

Bia Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Monte Rio, California

The food, coffee and service are some of the best on the river. An absolute must try! The shepards pie is the best I've ever had! read more

Bia Cafe - Shepherds Pie - Cafes Near Me - Monte Rio, California

This is the best espresso in Sonoma County. Kari makes the best whipped cream from anywhere I've been. All food is yummy and there's a lot of decadent choices like bread pudding and her baked oatmeal (that also comes with whipped cream). Lots of great breads to choose from from the really healthy brown bread to the cherry almond and strawberry walnut (my favs). I highly recommend Bia for espresso and food. I'm sure the coffee and other drinks are just as awesome. I've stuck to my doppio con pannas for the past 4 years. read more

Best place to start your day on the Russian River! First thing you're served is a big helping of hospitality from Kari! She truly makes you feel like a regular from welcoming "hello!" There's a store and case full of the smells of fresh baked Irish breads and muffins, inc. gluten free. I chose a fresh made ciabatta breakfast sandwich with egg, ham, cheese and tomato. It was so good, I got a strawberry scone for later. It was not a mistake. The Cuban latte was perfect too. If it's happening on the River, someone in the shop can tell you about it. Start your river day at the Bia. read more

I don't know whether to start with the paninis, the blueberry lemon bread, the smoked salmon chowder, or the above and beyond service we got on a day when the weather was nearly 100 degrees and everyone had a reason to be grumpy but wasn't. We stopped in at the Bia to get lunch to go so we could enjoy our meal from our deck across the river. While we were waiting for our paninis to grill, I mentioned that I had read about the owner's smoked salmon chowder on Yelp. Not a moment later, I had a sample in my hand. I am convinced that the only reason there wasn't a line out the door for salmon chowder was the 100 degree heat that day. I don't even like smoked salmon and can say with confidence that if you do not order smoked salmon chowder at the Bia, you are making a mistake from which you may not recover. (It's not cured like lox; it's a fresh salmon filet cooked in a smoker.) Those paninis? Also outstanding. In fact, my husband finished his and said, "I wish I had another half. I'm not still hungry, it's just that it was so good." We thought the blueberry lemon bread would have to be a low point, but it was just as good as everything else. We found the owner and her staff welcoming and friendly. She even helped us out by turning us on to a great wine store when we asked where we could find a really nice bottle for dinner. The Bia was an exceptional experience from start to finish. read more

Love this cafe! The hot chocolate was delicious and the breakfast bagel panini sandwiches reminded me of the ones my mom used to make when I was a child :] You could tell that it was super fresh and the owner was very sweet as well! Let's not forget to support our local businesses, especially during the winter! read more

Tasty food, Gluten free, excellent location & superb hosts. I am so glad my friend Jean introduced me to this great cafe today next door to Northwoods golf course. The fritata and gluten free Irish bread was great. Good coffee, laughs with friends. If you are heading to Monte Rio or further west on River road, stop here. You will love it for a delicious, convenient quick meal and more. read more

-won a raffle coupon to this place; no idea what to expect--great panini--delicious and made right there, not pre-packaged. Plus they were very helpful, and let me swap out an espresso for a juice. Nice! I would totally go here again--paninis were reasonable for the area. They've got a little outside place to sit, and seating inside. Nothing too exciting, just a good pit-stop--they also have lots of natural sweeteners, like agave and stevia, which I need and value. read more

We were staying across the street at the lovely, newly opened Casa Secoya motel for a weekend getaway and discovered this place the 1st morning we arrived. We sampled the following over the course of 2 days and loaded up a bag to bring back to the Bay Area as it is that good! Blackberry muffins, strawberry chocolate muffins, cherry scones, chocolate scones, coffee cake, cinnamon swirl muffins and 2 types of frittata:bacon and artichoke/re pepper. My only regret is that I didn't sample the cherry chocolate bread( next trip)! read more

Another 5 star + performer here in Monte Rio. The only game in town if I'm looking for a bite to eat without the wait. Everyone knows my name and says hi every time I walk in the door. Gluten Free is the middle name of Kari, and along with her partner Torch, work to create an affordable place with great food, friendly service and nice ambiance. Well worth the trip, and you don't need to bring $20 to get a meal, unless there are two of you dining, and you want extra to go food. read more

I fell in love with this place. Unfortunately, I was a visitor in the area, so I won't get to come here again. I know if I lived in the area, I would frequent this place to study and get homework done, but also for the friendly atmosphere. My goodness, I got a gluten free turkey and pesto panini and it was the most heavenly and delicious thing I've had in a long time- so much so that I went two days in a row to get it! It's a turkey panini with provolone, tomato, and pesto, but I added a little red onion and avocado to make a tasty and protein filled sandwich. The second day I came here, I brought my boyfriend and he chose the panini as well (not gluten free), and he raved about it for about an hour after he had finished it. We are both deeply upset we won't be having their quality of sandwich any time soon. As a gluten free person, I dare say my heart aches I won't get to have that bomb gluten free panini bread. I haven't been able to have caffeine, so I didn't try their coffee, but their selection of teas are a nice variety of flavors and options. I chose a minty one to help with my digestion and it helped my tummy and nausea. Since I was in this great place, I actually had the option available to pick through gluten free breads! I got a blueberry muffin that was so moist and bursting with blueberries. Just wow and I don't really like blueberry muffins! They had gf scones (flavor depending what's available), muffins and Italian soda bread. I wish I could have bought out their gf panini bread; such a shame I didn't think about that! I was fortunate enough to see the owner of Bia this morning. She was funny and I loved the way she interacted with locals while being so hospitable yet genuine about liking her customers. I was attended by a girl with a horse tattoo who had mentioned working there for about a month. She was very friendly and boy can she make a masterpiece of sandwiches! She was the kindest and very attentive to detail. When I first arrived at Bia coffee, there was a boy and another girl. Again, I really dig the way the locals are treated here and how they're spoken to by the workers here... the boy made my panini and it was great, of course. I didn't interact much with the other girl, but she was working hard and I felt like she was trying to keep some positive vibes going on in the Cafe and trying to be kind to her coworker. This place is about 2.5 hours away from where I live, that totally sucks because I'd love to come here again and gain all the weight from enjoying gluten free options. read more

Now this is a place that knows how to bake! I would say that the gluten-free items are some of the best I've had! The Irish soda bread is delicious! This has become one of the places that makes me smile. Was thrilled to find this great place when I came to visit the Kiddo's! Had time to chat about making a difference! I'll be back soon and thank you for the tips and your recipe! read more

The Coffee was SO good, and Rebecca was a sweetheart. Will 100% be back next time I am even remotely in the area. Gorgeous scenery too!

Awesome breads and coffee. We tried so many breads, cakes, and scones that were all amazing. During our three day stay we went daily. The ladies there take their time and it's not a quick stop, in and out. Good people in my opinion read more

Great folks and baked goods. And the coffee is good enough for this coffee snob. I stop in most every time I am in this neck of the woods.

Best Irish soda bread and brown bread ever. Hands down - they're happy to sell you a full loaf if you order it a day ahead. It's all fresh I guess they make a limited amount to avoid wasteful leftovers, but everything is fresh it's odd I see complaints about that in their reviews but it's pretty simple to me. Great baked goods - and the coffee is delicious which is why I started going there in the first place read more

Eek, me thinks not!! I really don't know how this place got such good reviews, I guess the food is good but she has run us off twice and I really haven't wanted to go back since. Was there a different owner less than 10 days ago. Omg! I have tried this place two different times with two different groups of people and both times the owner...I guess it's the owner, she wears chefs pants...was so extremely unfriendly! The first time she never once said hello or smiled at us. As most people know, friendly customer service is a huge part of running a business and it makes people want to come back so I am confused by her display of unfriendly character. I guess she has enough customers for her not to care. The only thing I can come up with is that we are cyclists! I am assuming that she really just doesn't like cyclists. A gentleman from the golf course asked us if she ran us off, so I guess we weren't the first ones. We are a group of very friendly cyclists that support local businesses every time we ride, we love our bakeries! I decided to give it a second chance. We pulled in and were going to park our bikes in her patio, go in and get our goodies and come out to sit in the patio with our bikes. When she hustled outside to us, I even asked her if that was an ok place for us to put our bikes... Her first comment to us was that we were taking over her whole patio... what??? Yes we were but we were patrons! She told us to park in a parking spot...um, we don't have kickstands. There is no bicycle parking in the complex so what to do?? Anyway, my friend told her we would just leave and she went off on a rant. She told me point blank that we cyclists are rude, demanding and we are not friendly. She said out loud that she hopes my cyclist friend gets hit by a car....I kid you not! Long story short, all 8 of us decided to leave and never return. We have also done her a favor and posted on our cycling site that this is an unfriendly cycling spot and to beware. So if you are a cyclist, friendly or not and are looking for a nice coffee shop to go to, keep on pedaling to Guerneville to Coffee Bazaar, Great coffee, friendly staff and yummy snacks! read more

Not a friendly place to immigrants. On my second morning, a woman of color walks in and asked for Yerba Mate and a whole, or almost whole, loaf of sweet bread. They wouldn't sell it to them, since they only sell by slice. She should have ordered ahead of time. Weird, couldn't they count how many slices were left and charge her that? They just bought slices, made it easier on her. My third morning there I had to say the word chocolate 4 times. The last one was in Spanish. I could have done French, Italian and Portuguese. I guess they got a kick out of it by making me repeat it. I paid in full and even tip every time, I wish they would treat some people better. read more

My family and I were staying at the lodge across the parking lot for vacation. This afternoon we decided to go across the parking lot to get a mid-afternoon cup of coffee and snack. It was around 2:25pm and the young girl behind the counter informed us they were closing, their posted time was 3:00pm. So when we questioned she her she said the decided to close early, but did we want. We wanted coffee so she looked at the brewed coffee and would sell us the bottom of the pot, but failed to offer espresso drinks. DON'T COME HERE IF YOU WANT AN AFTERNOON COFFEE THE STATED TIME MEANS NOTHING. In such a tourist driven market you need to be there for the customer when you say you are. read more

Holy good God. How did I not know about this place for so long?! Amazing local, organic coffee. Baked goods. GLUTEN-FREE baked goods!!!! I win. Winning. Gluten-free in-house smoked salmon chowder. What a gem. Happy face. read more

A MUST stop! Have a glass of their special "Flower Power" tea and a warm piece of the best Irish Bread I've ever had! Clean bathroom too.... read more

In the Guerneville/Monte Rio area there are some exceptional places to eat. Usually we start at Big Bottom, Boon or Blomster's. The thing about Bia is that it's SO exceptional for Gluten Free eaters. All of their Gluten Free items, from the Mango/Coconut muffins to the GF Bread Pudding to the Irish Soda Bread (toasted w. a bit of butter, mandatory) is fantastic on any level, especially judged against foods with wheat or normal flour. They really care and labor to make interesting Gluten Free options- and the place has a super vibe. Definitely worth a visit for any one who loves great baked goods- especially GF types- (though that's not all they have!). read more

This is a great little spot along 116. We stopped in for breakfast before playing next door at Northwood Golf Club - good coffees, lates, breakfast sandwiches. Carrie is a gem. She makes a great latte and is super welcoming. We had a great time talking with her. read more

Such a cute cafe w/an AMAZING atmosphere, but I must have gotten a bad day with the older female employee. I asked about the CC minimum being at $10 and if a Debit card didn't have it (some places do idk!). So I pretty much ordered the most expensive things on their menu just to reach the $10 (I love coffee, I can't help it) Right away she got an attitude with me and in the middle of ordering my coffee she corrected me saying there was no reason for the add shot I wanted. I went with her opinion, just to keep my order going. I was in the process of ordering a couple slices of the loaves they sold, and went to the case to point them out and she COMPLETELY turned and helped the customer behind me. I stood there, at the register, where I was clearly ready to continue with my order, and she looked at me once, and then turned back to continue helping the gentlemen (who was obviously a regular) behind me. I will not be back, and I love the whole Northwood business area. I was actually really excited that I finally stopped at the coffee shop I'd been dying to go to, just to experience that. read more

a long overdue review of Bia's. what can i say---i always find real life experiences as the best examples of ways to review places and things. with that being said, --- it was probably 2-3 weeks, ago, i go through phases, I was a little down life/work wise. I put in a Smith's CD in the car to get my mail. ---One of the most beautifully depressing songs came on, Asleep . If you know the Smith's, and you know the song, you will understand.----the Song happens to make my cry when I hear it. Well, i get out of my car, sunglasses on, eyes still wet over the entirety explained above and out comes Kari. her warm personality and humor, just took me from tears to laughter, hard laughter. -----it is things which big city folk, often can't imagine, or don't know exist, but it is what makes living in a small town great, people like Kari- Oh, and the food, ---well, yes, great. Home-made, from scratch, baked at the crack of dawn, at 5am, of great bakery delights. the pannini grilled sandwiches on La brea Bakery bread, fantastic, simply, but perfect. Prices, a step out of the old days, where $5 will get you something significant. Free wi-fi, great staff, and Keri...what not to love?? read more