Wow, this place is such a dissapointment. Before I ordered their Passionfruit iced tea i asked if it was sweet. The lady said it was slightly sweet because they use passionfruit puree. Got their iced passionfruit tea and basically it was ice water at almost $6. Flavorless and just plain rip off. They only take cash or zelle or another form of payment that is NOT credit card. Would not come back. Hard to find parking too. read more

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This rating is for the iced white mocha latte alone. Weak coffee (comes with 2 shots of espresso) and odd tasting white mocha syrup, for $6.69 for 16oz, this wasn't nearly good enough. Staff was great, she brought out each drink personally to each customer rather than calling out the names like any other coffee shop. They only accept cash/Zelle/Venmo. read more

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Shout out to and for a little neighborhood gem of a coffee shop. Service - friendly, welcoming, and efficient with a smile. Cleanliness - super tidy, well organized and charming inside seating My go to is "any of the Bagel" breakfast sandwiches and you can choose your meat and cheese. I usually go for the Ham & Swiss, around $7.50. Flavorful, steaming hot and not skimpy on the ingredients, which spill out of the bagel. I have not tried their coffee - yet. If in the area, do stop in, you won't be disappointed. Wonderful menu board and all items extremely reasonable. Support local and independent business. read more

Yumm!! If you are in SF and looking for a delicious coffee, Lava Java can help you out! I really enjoyed the charm of this coffee shop. It reminds me of old Sf so I personally loved the inside. Service was fast, friendly, and helpful! The Coconut Mocha and chocolate muffin we bought were beyond yummy! Next time I want a mocha it has to be a coconut mocha, it's changed my mind about mochas forever! read more

Lava Java - Inside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Charming, friendly, delicious, so worth a visit! I'll be back for sure! And such a great selection! read more

The staff are really chill pleasant to talk to they're not uptight . I've only had their latte, which would be like any other, right? For me, I was able to sip without worrying about it, burning down my throat and having me screaming M F !! That is always a treat for me. And yes, the coffee was great. Give the place a shot. What's the worst thing that could happen? You might just enjoy it read more

It's a cute local cafe that has everything you need. Bagels, breakfast sandwiches, wraps, smoothies. I got two breakfast sandwiches to go and an orange juice. $20. Not bad for Cole Valley/Haight. The eggs in the sandwiches are microwaved fyi to fit the round of the English muffin. It was pretty good. They only take Venmo, cash, and Zelle. Probably easier for them. It's a tiny little cafe so don't expect it to be Starbucks which I prefer the local vibe anyway. They have puzzles and games. No bathroom. read more

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I stopped by around 4pm this afternoon to get a bottle of water, get snacks for my kids, and use the bathroom. We purchased a few drinks from the fridge and some packaged cookies. The barista was very kind and the service was quick. Taking a star because they do not have a customer restroom. Other reviewers mentioned a sign, but I never saw it. Otherwise we would have gone elsewhere. Not sure how an establishment can sell food and drinks and not have a customer restroom. read more

I found this little coffee shop on my morning walk near Golden Gate Park and UCSF medical center. It's small, but very welcoming inside. The lady working was friendly and helpful while I ordered! She made my caramel macchiato quickly and it was very hot. The macchiato wasn't "traditional", but it was pretty good. Would definitely recommend this place compared to any others in the area. They only take cash, venmo, or zelle for payment. read more

Lava Java - Caramel macchiato ($5.45) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Drinks: 4 Decor: 3 Service: 4 Came here for a coffee meeting with a friend. Avocado, spinach, & banana smoothie ~4/5. Tasted pretty good and seemed healthy. Service was good. They gave some recommendations since it was my first time, but I only opted for the smoothie. read more

Great little spot to take refuge from the rain and enjoy a quick brunch! My spinach mushroom egg wrap was yummy, but the two other people in my group said that the bagels are really good, so if I had to order again I would go that way. Heads up for other tourists that they only take cash/Venmo/Zelle! read more

Lava Java - Mushroom spinach egg wrap, Bacon egg and cheese on everything - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Very small mom and pop shop. I just got an iced soy latte. The latte is just okay it's not phenomenal, yet it's still $7.27, there wasn't any flavoring or syrup either so for a basic soy latte I don't think it was quite worth it. read more

Lava Java - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

I am in love with this place! Hands down the best chai I've had in the city--the ginger chai has a lovely spice to it and is not too sweet. Also obsessed with the tuna melt. Whenever I'm in the neighborhood and even when I'm not, I dream about this place. read more

I like the catchy name. I kept picturing a river of red hot magma flowing out of its front door with Polynesian island princesses running away in terror. But no, this is the Haight on the edge of Golden Gate Park, not Kilauea on the Big Island about to erupt. In fact, the only thing tropical about this compact cafe was the $5.20 20-oz Coconut Mocha, which provided a soul warming bliss on a brisk weekday afternoon (photo: https://bit.ly/3mxcP5W). I sat at a small cafe table in the corner watching a stream of regulars put in their orders, none of them in sarongs. Likin' the Lava. MOCHA - 4 stars...the coconut flavoring was a nice treat in their mocha AMBIANCE - 4 stars...cute and compact SERVICE - 4 stars...cordial and quick TOTAL - 4 stars...no molten lava but the mocha was piping hot RELATED - Exploring the Haight? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2YK1e99 read more

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This place is amazing: the service, the bagels, the loose leaf rose oolong tea! I loved it here. read more

Lava Java - the loose leaf tea :) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Friendly service, great food. Great location, can't go wrong. My order is a blt on an Asiago bagel!

It's a decent breakfast sandwich from a cute neighborhood cafe that predates the modern cafe aesthetic. Reminds me a lot of Berkeley.

Heads up for tourists! No Apple Pay / Google Wallet / credit cards! Cash or Venmo only, which is a drag for Canadians that don't have Venmo or Zelle or whatever. Other than that, coffee is fine, snobs need not apply but it will get you going. read more

One of my favorite things to do in the mornings is to come to this cute neighborhood coffee shop in Cole Valley. Perfect spot for breakfast! Gives those great small town feels. Love coming here for to go or to hang out a little. It's 5 minutes away from golden gate park, so sometimes we take our food there. Large coffee and breakfast sandwich for $11! Can't beat the value. read more

Lava Java - Ham cheddar egg bagel - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

***[Pre-COVID-19 customer experience]*** Athletes are superstitious. So are referees! While I'm not as bad as some others, I do have a short list of rituals that some may consider superstitious. One of my less quirky ones is I must stop by Lava Java for a cup of pregame coffee whenever I work a game at Kezar Pavilion in San Francisco. I've always had a smooth game whenever I do that. On 03/03/2020, I was assigned to work a state basketball playoff game at Kezar. As usual, I stopped by here for my pregame cup. This time, I got an iced coffee ($2.95). The taste was pretty robust and they didn't water it down like Starbucks does. Service was fantastic. The owner's daughter is running the show now and she was energetic and friendly. We ended up chatting for quite a while. When she saw me finish my drink, she told her employee to give me a refill. Her gesture was greatly appreciated. This is a great neighborhood coffee shop. Check them out if you have a chance! By the way, the game I worked came down to the wire. The #1 seed avoided a major upset by hitting a 3 at the buzzer to win the game! I will be back again next time I work at Kezar. :-) BONUS MATERIAL: - Cash only. read more

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Did not like my latte that much. But the good part was that you can pay with Zelle. The pastries looked good too.

Small local cafe , has so many options for a quick breakfast ! Decent price , i didn't mind paying about $25 for 2 sandwiches and 2 drinks . Strawberry banana smoothie : 7.5/10 .. fake strawberry taste but still solid Irish Cream Iced Coffee : 7.5/10 .. good no complaints Food was awesome !!! Egg Spinach Mushroom wrap : 10/10 so awesome , comes with salsa / tomato in the wrap . Delicious , would have everyday if i can Tuna Melt Sandwich : 9/10 .. awesome tuna , really peppery which was awesome . Big sandwich for the price!! So good Nice outdoor seating read more

Lava Java - Egg spinach mushroom wrap . Irish cream iced coffee , strawberry banana smoothie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Amazing warm friendly little coffee shop. Good chai and hot chocolate. Reasonable prices. Very friendly staff. Will stop by next time I'm in town. read more

Found this gem out walking. Saw coconut mocha on the sign outside and had to try it. Really good. Others in our party all loved their drinks. They only take cash or Venmo. Not a problem. Sat outside at one of the two tables and people watched. It's a nice local business situated in a residential area. The locals are lucky to have it. read more

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A friend lives near by so I stopped to get something. It is a cute little shop with the prices reflect the area and I had expected to get service reflecting that. However, the owner(?) was asking questions and being incredibly rude that I did not feel comfortable so I left. There is a sign saying no public restroom and there is no real parking as it is right by a bus stop. read more

Lava Java - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

I absolutely love the turkey bacon club. And bagel sandwiches I'm glad they take venmo now because I never have cash. Good value and cute location. Coke valley gem read more

The cutest and quaintest little coffee shop. I've been shopping around the city for a decent Dirty Vanilla Chai (I get mine with 2 shots) and I gotta say Lava Java is one of the best I've had so far (I've gone twice this week). The lady running the place is sweet, kind, and clearly takes pride in her work. Keep in mind they only do cash/venmo! I'd argue this shop is better than some of the ones you might find on Haight that may "look" nice on the outside but lack quality. read more

Lava Java - Outside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Great food. Great service and cozy ambiance. Please support this local spot! (Cash only) read more

Lava Java - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Best Chai in the Bay! This coffee shop is a gem! The owner is so friendly, attentive, and the drinks and food are fresh and delicious. My grandmother is at UCSF and I'm so glad i found this spot to help me find a moment of comfort. A must try. read more

Lava Java - A nice hot Chai latte on a cold SF day - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

We got the Turkey Pesto Garlic Sandwich and it was sooo good! The bread was nice and toasty as well. The Iced Vanilla Latte was just ok. In terms of the atmosphere, it was very cozy and almost "homey" in a sense. Workers were really nice and service was great. read more

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Absolutely delicious bagels! The bagels were very good quality and I loved the fresh veggies that I could add to them. We ordered an Asiago bagel with jalapeño cream cheese and red onions and another everything bagel with the pesto garlic cream cheese. The jalapeño cream cheese felt fresh and had a nice kick to it! Definitely a favorite! The everything bagel was soft and the pesto garlic cream cheese was lovely. This will definitely be our go to bagel place going forward! Their house coffee was also good though the pumpkin spice latte was a little too sweet for my liking. The owners were lovely and made sure to double check that my coffee was super hot since I'd asked for it to be a little extra hot , loved the attention to detail and extra care they take for their customers. They also ensured to have markings to maintain distance and tried to only accommodate one party at a time into the store taking all covid precautions. Additional tip, grab your bagel and coffee and cross over the street to enjoy it in the lovely golden gate park for a small morning picnic! read more

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I have always wondered about Lava Java. Thanks so much for making me fall out of your outdoor seating chair, but I had my Iced Coffee for $3.50 today and it had an interesting flavor. It was a light coffee with a sharp vanilla taste so it was iced coffee with a twist. It was swirly and a good craft. They have smoothies and chai. The chai is interesting. They have different flavors and it's a fun cafe on Stanyan. Never went until today and you pay with cash. Been here for years and sit outside but the chair was broken today. Great. read more

Lava Java - Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

I love that they take Venmo. 2/3 times I've gotten a BEC it has tasted like dish soap, please rinse your dishes more and this place would easily be a solid 4.5/5 read more

Cash only. They charge for extra cream cheese and by judging the bagel I ordered, anyone and everyone will be needing extra cream cheese. It was very disappointing opening up my bagel at home and seeing how scarcely they use their cream cheese. Unless you want to always pay for "extra" cream cheese. The Green Tea Latte was really good tho. read more

Lava Java - Bagel menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

A hidden gem in San Francisco. I was hungry and wanted a sandwich. I decided to go here after I saw that they made tuna melts. The price seemed decent and it was a hot sandwich. I liked that it came on a delicious soft roll, lightly toasted, with veggies and cheese included. Also, they add a delicious dressing which gave the sandwich an extra flavor. I looked at the rest of their menu. They have coffees, teas, smoothies, bagels, and even a Thai iced tea. I definitely plan to return soon since I am in the area during the week. Make sure to have either cash or Venmo to pay. The prices are decent for San Francisco. So happy to have found this place! read more

Lava Java - Delicious sandwiches - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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There's just a handful of tables (and no bathroom - had to walk a few blocks away) at this small cafe. There isn't much of a vibe. The ginger chai was quite good. Unfortunately though the ginger was overwhelming and spicy because there was just too much of it. I couldn't finish my 12 ounces. But the flavor of the chai underneath spoke of potential. I would definitely come back and get the vanilla or chocolate chai. Kathy's Bay Area Chai rankings Coupa Cafe, Los Altos 1 Oz. Coffee, Mountain View Julie's Coffee and Tea Garden, Alameda Redberry, Los Altos Voyager Coffee, Santa Clara Vero, San Jose David Rios Chai, San Francisco Chromatic Coffee, Santa Clara LAVA JAVA, SAN FRANCISCO ----- (not worth getting below this line) 10) Dana St Roasting Company, Mountain View 11) Peet's Coffee, Sunnyvale 12) Starbucks, Mountain View 13) Red Rock Coffee, Mountain View 14) Maison Alysee, Mountain View 15) Backyard Brew, Palo Alto read more

Favorite place for my daughter and I to swing by every time we take a mini vacation at our family's home in Cole Valley. Can't wait to have their jalapeño cream cheese on an everything bagel. read more

CASH ONLY!! Somehow my friend missed this when he picked this place and so we found ourselves doing an ATM walk of shame across the street. Ordered: Turkey Pesto Special Sandwich & Chai Tea Latte + Great portion of food + Super yummy - the cream cheese has a very strong flavor/after taste so be prepared but it was delicious + Best Chai Tea Latte I've ever had - the woman was cute and helped me pick it Also, the woman gave my friend and I a free taste of the avocado smoothie. Great customer service!! read more

Lava Java - Turkey Pesto Special - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Stopped by for a late lunch after hiking Mount Sutro and had one of my favorite tuna melts by far! My friend got a turkey pesto sandwich that she also thought was good. This is a great place to stop by for coffee or a quick bite if you're in the area. I'll definitely be coming back to try their other sandwiches! read more

Lava Java - Tuna Cheese Melt and Iced Vanilla Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

This local mom and pop coffee shop is the real deal. My partner and I stopped in here after running some laps at Krazer stadium. I went with a Matcha latte which was perfect. My partner went with an almond latte which he really appreciated and we also shared a fresh made cherry pastry. Customer service was great and I could see the other customers were purchasing their fresh made sandwiches. read more