Stumbled across this nice coffee joint while walking around stores here. It was definitely special…read morewith interesting coffee drinks to try! Ended up settling with the Oaxacan Mocha, it had a nice chocolate & espresso warm flavor. Great service and people too! I'd definitely recommend checking it out!

They say they're organic but having just delivered half&half... yes, it's made by Clover but not…read moreorganic... OVERALL: Kind of reminds me of the local Suju's in Fremont (where I'm from), as their local go to coffee in Salinas that's more concentrated in espresso complexity. CUBANITO: Their specialty! Only 8oz with 3 shots of espresso, turbinado sugar, and milk...can modify level of sweetness. However person for which this drink was for states it's still overly sweet. CARAMEL Macchiato: Made me sad that it wasn't authentic as milk should be first then the shots of espresso so there's two layers (that's why I secretly wanted this drink). Then a drizzle of caramel. Tastes like a caramel macchiato, nonetheless. ***overall, their coffee is good with a smooth flavor profile and no bitter undertones or after taste, equating to high quality beans*** SERVICE: They are so sweet, kind, and patient, willing to answer any and all questions. Very splendid seeing a group of Spanish speaking ladies going strong at it! AMBIANCE: Casual, local coffee joint that's mainly enjoyed by the Hispanic community. Bathroom available. WiFi available. Very clean. Very modern decor. Two outdoor tables. Multiple indoor seating options. Located in the Safeway plaza with a multitude of establishments, stores, Jamba Juice, services, etc. Very large private parking lot. In the suburbs. Would I come back? Probably not.

Stopped in for coffee and left with two of the best drinks we've had! The service, the venue and…read morethe inventive Mexican chocolate & espresso was perfection!

I had the privilege of landing here while driving back to Southern California!…read more This place alone, had me thinking of relocating to Salinas!!! The coffee I had kept me wired for the next 5 hours! This place is absolutely perfect!!!!

My partner and I were visiting the area and were so excited to find this tea shop! It was very cozy…read moreand cute inside and the woman working was so warm and inviting. She brought out a few different teas for us to smell and was really helpful and informative. We drank our tea there and she offered a second steep, milk, honey. It was a really nice experience and I wish they had a shop closer to home, but I've already ordered more of the tea that I had, Jasmine green tea, which was high quality and quite fragrant! Will be back!

I like all of the varieties here, but I have been treated in a very dismissive way by staff when I…read morehave come in with questions. I feel a little bit discouraged. I am a big tea person, but also don't know a lot about different varieties and want to try new things. I figured it would be OK to ask questions in a tea shop. I just wish that staff was a little bit friendlier to people like me who don't know what they're coming into order right away and need a little bit more time to ask questions and figure it out.

A great local coffee shop in the heart of Oldtown Salinas. The staff is super personable and…read morefriendly. I usually get a small or medium black coffee and occasionally an espresso. The interior is quaint with several two top tables. A big highlight is an actual coffee roaster in the back of the store.

Last reviewed over 8 years ago maybe time for a short update…read more The Cherrybean is one of many coffee shops within walking distance from my house to Old Town Salinas. And over the years my friends and I have visited all of them. The Cherrybean is respectable and relaxed. It's a full service shop with some food treats that go well with your choice of drink. A couple of tables and chairs outside in front and parking both front and back. If you're drinking your coffee black (me) it's pay and self serve. If you're fancy, you're waiting. Last words... good enough for me.

So so good! Great atmosphere, delicious pastries, and kind and helpful staff. A true gem.read more

My guilty pleasure is definitely the sweet treats here--they truly have it all! Choosing what to…read moreorder is never easy, but this time I went with the classic almond croissant and decided to try something new with the passion fruit-filled croissant. Wow! The passion fruit filling was absolutely amazing--fruity, fresh, and bursting with flavor. The white chocolate topping was the perfect finishing touch and complemented it beautifully. I planned to eat only half and save the rest for later, but it was so good that I couldn't resist finishing the whole thing. I first visited during their soft opening in 2023 and have stopped by occasionally ever since. After this visit, though, I think it's officially become my go-to spot for all things delicious. Every visit feels like a treat, and I can't wait to come back for more!

Checked out this coffee spot before eating at Toro Cafe next door. Super cute inside and they have…read morea lot of coffee/baked good items. The coffee was good, but this spot is kinda out of the way unless you live near by.

The crew are always welcoming, and patient while you decide... and it takes awhile there is so much…read moreto choose from! All the pastries are from local favorites, can't go wrong with a chocolate croissant from Otto's Bakery in my opinion. The quiches from Paris Bakery are a more savory option, but you really can't go wrong. The little ones love the "pop tarts from Lupitas Bakery. As for the coffee, hubby loves the lattes. I hear everyone order the lavender vanilla but we haven't jumped on the floral coffee bandwagon just yet. I love they offer unsweetened matcha and use good grade matcha. Only small irk was the cold foam was half my cup, delicious? Yes. However, I will skip the foam route and keep my full 20 ounces for matcha. The "vibe" as the kids say is fun, inside seating is very limited but plenty of outdoor dog friendly space on the patio. Parking is complicated being right off the highway and next to a popular breakfast spot, so be cautious, but definitely give it a try.

Is there always a line? Yes. Is it worth the wait? Yes…read more Staff are always friendly, and they're flexible if you have adjustments or requests not on the menu, they definitely know their coffee. Cold brew with cold foam is my go to. I'm not a fan of the matcha since it comes sweetened, but the drinks that are flavored here tend to be on the sweeter side. If I want to throw a few extra miles on my gym runs I will have the Mexican mocha frappe, but I don't even want to know the calories on that one. Good local spot you have to try.

I love trying new coffee spots in Salinas. I would definitely come here over Starbucks. I went on a…read moreMonday morning and there was no line at all. The baristas were very patient with me because I didn't look up the menu beforehand. The only reason I knocked down a star is because the pastry wasn't all that great.

I have no idea how this place ever got a bad review. We were greeted with a smile and taken to a…read morewindow booth. The staff were fast and the service was excellent. But the best part was the food. Generous portions, fresh and everything was tasty. I was raveling but if I was ever back in town, this would s must stop. The decor was excellent, it was very clean and again the service and food were great.

I have visited First Awakenings several times over the years, mostly for breakfast, but today my…read moreson and I decided to try lunch instead. I ordered the tuna melt and he got the chicken Caesar salad. The tuna melt was honestly really good. The sourdough bread was toasted nicely and I loved that crispy layer of cheese on the outside because that is a special tray and my favorite part of any melt sandwich. The tuna salad itself was flavorful. It came with potatoes that unfortunately were probably the only miss for me. They seemed like they were not reheated all the way, so they had that slightly cold, rubbery texture. They also serve this little cucumber and tomato salad on the side that was absolutely delicious and honestly such a nice fresh side to my sandwich. My son wasn't too impressed with the Caesar salad because he said the dressing tasted watery, but other than that everything else he liked - the chicken was flavorful and nicely cooked, the salad was fresh and crunchy. Service and atmosphere were nice. Overall, I would definitely come back for lunch again. Breakfast is also great here, so I would recommend both.