I'm not a big review writer, but I've noticed how well this Philz is run compared to others.. coming from a restaurant service background i know a well run establishment ... so shout out the manager working here .. she was holding it down during covid too !! read more

This location is awesome! I really like the formation of this shop. There are two large islands in this huge living space. One huge island for coffee making and the other for pastries and "To-go" orders. There are couches and tables throughout the shop including a mini outdoor patio for seating. There are lots of people who come to study and just have regular coffee talk. From the looks of it, most people who come are either from the neighborhood/area, regulars, and students from the nearby college. Their baristas are friendly and on point. My barista and I had a good convo while my drink was getting made. This Philz is one of the best I've seen and I would definitely come back! read more

There's tons of space and seating here plus art work for sale on the walls! This is the biggest Philz I've been to. Every & their mom, including us, were looking for a quick breakfast place open in downtown San Mateo this past Labor Day. Philz pretty much seemed to be the only place (and of course they're way better than Starbucks & Peet's). We placed our drink order than the pay line is seperate per usual Philz standards and you can also order food here as well. I like how they have the display by the front of the line rather than when you hit the register. Also a little further down is their hot foods menu. I had placed an order for a toasted croissant, a Philz bagel, and we also shared a large Iced Mint Mojito. After a couple minutes the girl who rung me up called me and told me that the only plain bagel left looked kind of funny and she didn't want to serve it to me. We totally appreciated her honesty, as perhaps some other establishments would have just served it. So we went with the asiago bagel. After about 5-7 minutes the drink was ready, and our food was ready in about 7-10. But it was an extremely busy morning. The Philz bagel is AMAZING! It's cream cheese, cucumber, and tomato, and seasoned with olive oil and salt and pepper. Simple yet delicious, and even better with the asiago bagel. Philz has been consistent with their drink taste and quality at all of the locations I've been to. Staff members are friendly as well. The large space, consistency and friendly cashier warning me about a weird looking bagel deserves a 5 for sure. read more

Philz Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

I find this chain's coffee to be highly overrated, and like everything else in the Bay Area, overpriced. It seems to be a classic case of "jack of all trades, master of none" in that Philz has far too many coffee options for the baristas to really skillfully craft on consistent basis (this is doubly true during peak hours when the baristas need to quickly turn around coffee orders). On the other hand, the food is always quite good. Overall, it is probably the best spot in San Mateo to kill some time while awaiting the train. read more

August 21, 2016 Sunday - 7:45 AM for coffee 2 adults Atmosphere - 5 stars Food - 5 stars Service - 5 stars Background - We needed some coffee before breakfast. My friend loves this places and heading to this as it was on the way to breakfast. Atmosphere - This aint a Starbucks, each barista has their own work station with four pour overs. Food Drink - Large Silken Splendid straight up no cream no sugar. It was silky, I loved it. Service - Yeah it was my first time. There was no line and I walked straight up to the first barista I saw. My buddy taps me on the shoulder and tells me to get back in line. Flashes to Seinfield and the soup Nazi episode streamed in my head as I quickly moved back. She still smiled at us as she called us up to place our order. Future - Yes please or any other Philz location. read more

See all

San Mateo Philz Coffee is huuuuuuuuuge!! And I like it! I usually stop by here early in the morning to enjoy a nice Philtered Soul or Tantalizing Turkish before I go on my grocery run around San Mateo. I also pick up something to eat here as well as they have a pretty extensive food menu with Breakfast sandwiches, bagels, burritos, and quiche. Both their meat and veggie quiches are pretty good and pair well with any of their teas and coffee (http://bit.ly/1cv2Sij). Even though this is a huge location, it can still get quite crowded and sometime the line would stretch out though the door. But there there are plenty of tables and seats for the masses. It's also times like this when using the OrderAhead app does come in handy. And they do a great job getting all the orders fulfilled on time. Very convenient and I wish all Philz locations used it. Parking here isn't much of a hassle with plenty of street parking around the area and the huge parking garage behind it. Well, at least if you come early. It might be a little harder at night and weekends. Even though I have a Philz near me in SSF, this is by far my favorite location. Awesome baristas, nice food selection, large space, plenty of tables and chairs, and easy parking. It's a winner! read more

Philz Coffee - Meat Quiche - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Expect the same great taste of Philz coffee you've come to love. Whether it be a full bodied decaf Ethiopian or a chocolate-y Mocha Tesora. This location is just more modern and hip with lots of seating! I love, love the exposed brick wall! It just gives it that warm look that oozes a bit of history. read more

I love Philz Coffee, they are superior to any other coffee shop near me. Amina is the best barista I have ever had. My order is an oatmeal cookie of the secret menu, and anytime I order this drink from her it always the best, no one makes it taste the same as how Amina makes it. Thank you Amina for making my mornings more yummy and bettering my days! read more

Philz Coffee - Rose and oatmeal cookie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

I know, I know....reviewing Philz is redundant these days. Besides the fact this is my fifth one, there's really no need to gush about them since everyone already knows their coffee is pretty damn good. And yet, I still feel compelled to since, out of all of the locations I've been to, this one has quickly become my favorite! While the workers and drinks are just as awesome here as they are at any other Philz, everything else about this particular location itself hits the mark. Granted, it doesn't have the same type of character as the original Philz in the Mission, but this one feels so much brighter, cleaner, and generally nicer than any other location (it helps that it's new). Plus, it's so much more spacious, with a ton of chairs and tables spread throughout the place. If there was a downside to this particular location (and there isn't, really), it'd be that parking can be tough. However, that's true of any business around 3rd Ave in San Mateo, as well as any business that's located anywhere that's popular, so it's to be expected. I'm just thankful that the meter rates here are nothing like SF (read: these are so much cheaper!). Mmm...what I wouldn't give to have a Mint Mojito or Tesora in my hand right now. If only I could find a way to make it here and back to my office without anyone noticing. Maybe if I quit my job... read more

My fave of all the Philz locations I've visited. The coffee and service are just as wonderful as the others, but what makes this one fabulous is all the seating and electrical outlets! We had a team meeting here and we were able to find a table for our team of 6 without having to disturb those around us. We were also able to get our own outlets and had no issues with wifi. This location is bigger than the downtown San Jose and Los Gatos location. It's also easier to differentiate between the order and payment lines. Plus, they have these benches you can sit at while waiting for your coffee. I've only been at this location after hours so not sure what it's like during the day time. Street parking can be a challenge, but we parked at a garage nearby. read more

Of course I got mad love for Philz! My stomach used to churn at the thought of coffee. I drink tea every morning but when it's one of those days where the caffeine level needs to be quadrupled, Philz is my go-to. It tastes good and doesn't give me the shits. Thumbs up! This location is my absolute favorite due to its spaciousness. I like to sit down and take my sweet time in enjoying my philtered soul. There's plenty of seating here. At other locations it's get my coffee and get the hell out of there since I'm so claustrophobic. They also offer some pretty tasty baked goods. I'll indulge in the cream cheese danishes every once in a while. The lady heated it up for me so it was nice and toasty. Nomz! Sometimes I'm in a rush or up too early before they open so I'll default back to Peet's. But when I have the need and patience for a good cuppa, Philz is my #1. Now, can everyone stop instagramming their mint mojitos? :P read more

See all

Love the San Mateo Philz!! Always friendly, clean and welcoming. Love KAT!!! She is wonderful and always has a smile on her face!! I live in Burlingame area and drive to San Mateo because the Burlingame Philz is dirty, unkept, and the staff look like they need showers. read more

I have a strong feeling that Philz's coffee company will land in downtown San Mateo. And the company did, after I no longer work near downtown San Mateo; a frequent lunch area when I worked there many years ago. But I liked the newest Philz much better than the other locations. The new location is spacious, great place to do work and a perfect waiting spot for the Cal Train station, which is only a half a block away. I have been here a few times and have ordered many tasty and crafted coffees. My latest visit, I had the popular Mint Mojito, another popular and specialty cold beverage for $5.00. San Mateo does get really warm and the Mint Mojito is the perfect beverage to cool me down with also a little perk. The baristas from the new location are faster than the others. And they do a great job in making great coffee drinks. I wished Philz was here when I worked in downtown San Mateo. Otherwise, I would be a regular here. read more

Philz Coffee - Mint mojito - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

We recently moved to San Mateo after having fallen in love with it. It's a story we like to tell people, it was raining and we ended up here at Philz. Except it's not true as I only just discovered. I somehow was able to check into the San Mateo location while in Redwood City, which lead to the honey and I believing that San Mateo was the place we wanted to live. It lead to us searching and finally finding a home in San Mateo. Which we love, so it all worked out. But apparently, we fell in love with Redwood City. And the Redwood City Philz was the Philz were visiting when we decided it would be an awesome area to live in. So after discovering this I switched over the review and am leaving a brand new (and correct) one for this location, which is amazing. We've been here numerous times and every time our service is steller. We've never had the polar bear issue at this location we had at Redwood City, and they've never mixed up our drink sizes. It's also awesome that this location is so close to Caltrain. Win! We adore this location and I was having the hardest time figuring out why it looked so different than the first time we were here! XD All in all, we'll keep coming back! read more

I love love love philz. Great coffee always. This one in particular is very spacious, offers a lot of seating and has many outlets. Parking is super easy (there's a parking structure right next to B street, behind philz) and this has definitely been my go-to study spot. Good for study groups! read more

Philz Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Hard to say if I'll make it back to this Philz Coffee again so here - bam !!! 5 stars. Big coffee shop. Nice atmosphere, love the vibe, love the staff, iced mint mojito coffee and with plenty enough mint. Considering the fact that I'm used to finding the huge Siren logo, I didn't have a hard time finding this location and parking wasn't difficult as well. There is a garage to the back of the coffee shop - JUST BRING CHANGE. It wasn't difficult to order my java from this shop and unlike other non-(SBUX) shops, I didn't feel intimidated by this one. The barista was really friendly/accommodating ! Most of all, the music that played was - of all tunes 90s music (Sublime, Nirvana, Gin Blossoms....) as if they knew I was coming that day. LOL ! Super cozy, very nice chill. Next time, San Mateo. Next time - it will be Philz, and it will be this shop ! read more

Philz Coffee - My mint mojito coffee today ! Therapy drink - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Philz: Location, walking distance. Addiction level: Sustained/worsened. Oh dear, I'm so happy there is a Philz here. Wait, they're going mainstream and will be popping up more and more places. It doesn't matter because I can get my favorite coffee even more conveniently. Standout favorites, which, no doubt, you've heard about, are mint mojito and their tesora roast. Philz is great because you know you're getting something high-quality prepared with attention. Given my profession and expertise, I also think it's worth mentioning the impressive short-term memories that the employees at Philz possess. At Starbucks, they write thinks down; at Philz, they just remember it. After having ordered at at least 5 different Philz consistently over the last several years, I'm still quite impressed. Haven't had a missed order or an order in error yet (knock on wood). Just something I noticed :) Also, I noticed the cream Philz uses is manufacturers cream--not readily available in stores. In case you were curious and ultra detail oriented, manufacturers cream has a higher butterfat content than heavy whipping cream. Could this have something to do with the addictiveness of their coffee? Do I need more dopamine released with every visit? Yes please. read more

Philz Coffee - Nirvana in a cup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Philz Coffee has the barristas immediate to the right as u enter. cashier in the center. lots of seating the full length of the shop. brew: jacob's wanderlust (sm3) -smooth, nonacidic, unusual for a dark roast -would be a fav on those laid back days otherwise would a more robust brew. drips: -coffee within 5 minutes. cool, otherwise standing around feels awkward. read more

This review is overdue (since we went for the grand opening) but I'm so glad that downtown San Mateo finally has a third wave coffee shop. Their coffee is really, really good, their tea is really, really good, and this location is awesome and huge. There are many baristas at stations to make pourover coffee for a bunch of people at once. It's like you have your own personal barista! The Mint Mojito and Mocha Tesora are probably pretty played out by now, but I don't care because they're SO good. And everything is really strong. I usually get those or the Yerba Mate. And, they are as generous as you ask them to be with the mint leaves. They always have a full shelf of packaged coffee (and merch) to go, so you can make your own Philz coffee at home! read more

I had two different experiences here, so I guess I can't really say this place is awesome because the first time there was no wait, the second time it was so busy the line snaked and wrapped around several times. Not to say Philz isn't good, but if you were looking for a quick in and out coffee experience this location would not deliver. Other than that, the space here is awesome. It's airy, light and lots of seating. Plenty of areas to hang out in or do work if necessary. The staff is extremely friendly, the payments location is a little weird but I think they get by just fine despite where it is located. Philharmonic is a fun one with a mint leaf inside, otherwise I usually get Greater Alarm because it's got the most caffeine! read more

I have been to quite a few Philz and I have to admit, this is my favorite one. Its really deceiving from the outside but once you pass through those doors..the world seems to open up. Ok that was over dramatic but really it's so roomy inside! Its probably one of the larger Philz and I love the long bench in front of the barista where you can sit to wait for your perfectly brewed cup of joe. I'm not sure how they do it but its been perfect everytime I've been here. There are some locations that require multiple redo's but so far this one has been spot on. This Philz just seems easier to navigate especially if you are new to the way Philz operates. The smaller locations which are insanely packed adds to the newb confusion. Trust me, I have been there and didnt return for along time because of it. Here are my location preferences: San Mateo Sunnyvale Cupertino SF- Westborough SJ-Downtown and the palo alto locations are my least favorite of the bunch. read more

I'm in the area for business and decided to forgo my usual Starbucks office in favor of a local joint. The vibe in Philz is really cool (read: NorCal hipster) and spacious. There are a lot of places to sit with your computer. Unfortunately, the space still gets packed. Their order flow can be a little confusing for first timers: (1) order your drink with the barista; (2) walk over to the cashier, tell them what you got and pay; (3) walk back over to the barista and wait for your drink--and by wait. Be prepared to spend at least 10-15 minutes waiting for your drink. I ordered a simple iced coffee with cream and there was maybe one other person in front of me. It took me a solid 15 minutes to get my drink. However, I can deal with waits, especially when the experience or product are good. What I have a hard time stomaching is the outrageous prices. My "large" iced coffee was $4.50 and their large is basically a medium everywhere else in the world. I'd hate to see what an actual speciality drink costs. People balk at Starbucks prices, yet I can get a real large Cold Brew or Iced Coffee for well under $4.00. My coffee was good but nothing Earth shattering. If their prices were more competitive, I'd be more inclined to come here again. read more

Philz Coffee - "Large" iced coffee for $4.50. What a deal! /sarcasm - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

I sometimes get 'ma'am' bellowed at me when I come here and sometimes not. The inconsistency in moniker also translates to the drinks. Overall, the coffee, served in to-go cups, is fine. However, occasionally, the beverage is tepid, too hot, not terribly sweet, too sweet, and, sometimes, over-filled so that when you pick it up coffee spills down your arm, onto your pants & all over the floor. This location is super popular, and, therefore, usually packed out. Finding a seat inside could be a challenge amid the sea of lap-toppers & that one guy who always takes his shoes off before tucking into a paper and a brew. I'd love for downtown San Mateo to have a third-wave coffee joint move into its realm. The old B St. Bean space a few blocks down would be the perfect venue for 'Flat White Central', or whatever it could be called. As it stands, there are the big chains: Peet's & Starbux; some randoms: Kaffeehaus & that other place that's mediocre; and Philz. San Mateo coffee aficionados have to take what they can get, alas. Bonus: baklava; one can pre-order coffee for quick pick-up; outside seating. read more

I like this location the best! Friendly baristas, spacious, comfortable seating and easy parking. My favorite drinks are - mocha tesora medium medium - sooo good, medium medium - mint mojito sweet and creamy - philtered soul, medium medium And more!! read more

Long and over due review, as I have been to this location since the grand opening! Born and raised in the heart of San Mateo, I am so glad that my trips to Starbucks are gone due to Philz and the fantastic coffee they offer ! Philz coffee is liquid crack and the people who work here have contagious personalities who always make you smile and laugh. This particular location is spacious and a comfortable spot to study, host or catch up with friends over coffee. I have been to the South City and Redwood City location also, but San Mateo is definitely the best location. I always find myself studying in this location 3 to 4 times a week. Love the mobile pick up also! I love Philz and this location is great with quick service, keep on vibin' read more

A great place to meet friends and enjoy UR special drink. Tons of varieties and they are super friendly- always a smile on their face. NOT a REGULAR drink - it's YOUR Drink !!! read more

More laid back feel than some other locations. Everyone there was friendly including the helper at the register and the barista. I ordered several items online and everything was ready when I got there. The mocha Tesoro was delicious. My wife ordered the mint mojito and iced cafe rose and liked both of them. My son loves their hot chocolate. read more

Out of baklava by 2pm..........................................................................................................

I'm going to start this review off by saying that I used to be a "coffee" drinker (more like lattes, fraps, etc.), but more recently I've been a tea drinker, because I didn't like the jittery feeling I got from drinking coffee. I had heard so much about Philz, so I decided to break my rules against drinking coffee and try this place with my mom. My mom loves her coffee and is generally enjoys drinking coffee black. She ended up ordering the ether, black. I got what everyone on Instagram gets, the mint mojito iced coffee. My mom absolutely loved her coffee and said it was very "smooth". My mint mojito was alright. A LOT more minty than I was expecting, like literally biting-into-a-sprig-of-mint-minty. It was good, but not great, and I couldn't even finish it, because the caffeine ended up giving me a headache. The location itself is HUGE, which is nice, because there are a lot of people constantly going in and out. The layout of the line is a little weird/confusing and when my mom and I originally walked in, we were unsure what to do/where to go. Later, I noticed a sign that says what you're supposed to do, so I guess that was our mistake. The bathroom was surprisingly disgusting and pretty dirty. Everything else seemed clean and nice. Overall, in terms of the actual product, I enjoyed the drink, but I think I'd rather stick to tea. If I were to go based off of my mom's experience (and she probably has more credibility than me as a coffee drinker) I'd give Philz a higher rating, but I think the mint mojito is a tad overrated, which leads me to the average rating of 3 stars. read more

Philz Coffee - Mint mojito - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Best Philz Coffee place ever! I love their system because you order from the barista first, and then when your order is ready, you pay at the cashier. Makes things so much faster! read more

I love Philz! I went to the first opening of one on the east coast - in Adams Morgan, Washington DC - and it's been true love ever since. I've only ever had ONE drink of theirs, but that Mint Mojito has kept me a loyal customer. Every time I go to Philz, east or west coast, the staff is vibrant and friendly. Be prepared to wait a bit, but hey good coffee takes time. This location has a large interior but it definitely fills up quickly with students and professionals. There's a great mix of tables, couches, and chairs so you can find something comfortable to fit your working style, or your chat with friends. Definitely recommend! read more

My son is a big fan of Philz coffee I have tried it a few times but i somehow have yet to become a fan. The coffee is good but not great, at least for me Ordered Silken splendor, it was ok. Philtered soul was also ok My son enjoyed cold Tesoro read more

I always look forward to my trips to the bay so I can get my Philz Coffee fix. Despite this company being a chain I must compliment them on how consistently delicious their drinks and food are. Their locations are all typically big enough to hunker down in if you have work to do, and the service is fast to get you in and out if you're crunched for time. I typically go back and forth between their Mint Mojito and their Philtered Soul. Sweet and creamy can come on a little strong so if you actually want to taste the coffee consider asking them to tone down the sugar and cream a bit. Their food is also pretty decent. I typically order either their breakfast burrito or their Philz bagel which has cream cheese, cucumber, and tomato. They both go really well with their drip coffee. If you're in the area, and are sick of Starbucks, be sure to give Philz a try! read more

One of the newer branches and easily my favorite. The inside was bright and particularly spacious with plenty of communal tables, couches and chairs for work/studies/hanging out. Mint mojitos and pour over coffee can be had however you like just as with every other Philz. Nestled right in the heart of downtown San Mateo and one of the best coffee spots in the area. read more

This was my first time here but I can tell that most people are frequents. I'm not surprised. The coffee was excellent...maybe one of the best cups of coffee I've had. And the concept is great. If you don't already know, they brew each cup to order. FYI... I ordered the Ginger Snap Iced Coffee and it was great! read more

Philz Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Our family loves Philz coffee! We always go here everytime we need to catch up...I personally recommend philtered soul! Super love it!!!!! Also the staff at Philz Fremont are so nice!!! read more

The same great Philz beans and drinks as the ones in SF. My favorites for pour overs are the medium roasts - Silken Splendor and Philharmonic. For a bit of sweetness, I love the mocha tesora. Unlike other mochas, this is not overly sweet, is just creamy enough, and has real chocolate flavor. On a hot day, I'll get the mint mojito. Compared to the SF Philz, this location is bigger and has more seating. The two negatives of this location are: 1) the baristas don't seem to be in as much of a rhythm as the SF ones. the line seemed to move slower 2) the low flush toilets in the bathroom can only deal with a number 1 so there was influshable left over from the people before me - ew. Please change the toilets. read more

Pros: -Delicious Iced Coffee -Spacious, Bright -Good music -Productive people to inspire you -Nextdoor to Curry Up Now Cons: -It's busy -It's pricy read more

Philz Coffee - This is how it goes - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

I'm super jealous that San Mateo now has a brand new Philz! I love the open floor concept with a mixture of modern and rustic furnishings. This location definitely looks special compared to others around the Bay Area. Parking is a nightmare during the weekends, but what part of DTSM isn't? What is awesome about this Philz, there are 4 main barista stations up front and 2 separate baristas in the back of the store next to the cashier. This place gets crowded quick with lines reaching the front door, so the overflow is nicely managed with the extra baristas on deck. Cool! All the baristas know what they are doing. They know the menu (and the secret menu) which is a huge plus. They are patient with the Philz virgins who are new to the scene, giving them suggestions and recommending drinks that suit their tastes. I wouldn't expect anything less from the baristas. As I picked up my Red Haze (dark roast with hazelnut notes....damn good, you gotta try it), my son and I ran into none other than Mr. Phil himself! I shook his hand telling him I was a big fan and keep up the great work. I asked for a picture with my son and he was totally excited. My life is now complete, I had a great experience with my favorite drink in-hand and met the legend himself, Phil Jaber. I now have a story to tell my son when he gets older! read more

Philz Coffee - Uncle Phil himself, Phil Jaber! Super nice guy! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Of course now that i move away from the area, cool shit just pops up left and right. What i remember as some personal gym is now the latest packed and crazy Philz. It's up the wazoo in folks. This one see,s to have a bagel bakery thing going on too. We were lucky to score an area for our large group. I like the order, pay, pickup methodology but the layout here causes traffic james. Turkish hit the spot and we spent a couple of good hours in conversation while getting caffeinated. read more

See all