Been sitting in Philz for a few hours now as I pen this review. Due to the the day's events, I had to find a place to work out of San Mateo and this place sold me due to the availability of outdoor seating and the fact that it has wifi that works outdoors. It's been one of the best "work from a coffee shop experiences" I've had this past year due to the impeccable service (they've literally greeted me 3 times now for each time I've walked through the door), fast wifi, and seating availability. And c'mon, their mint mojito never lets me down! They have a range of food items like pastries and breakfast sandwiches. In addition to my iced mint mojito with almond milk, I also got pumpkin bread, which was solid and great as my morning snack. With limited spots in downtown San Mateo to work from, Philz is a great choice. read more

I've been frequenting this place for years every time I'd come visit my friends in the area. Very spacious with plenty of seating --don't worry, all the seats will still fill up anyway, so start getting comfortable with uncomfortable with your personal space bubbles if you want to camp out for a bit. Good roasts, good brews, good service, and as always, great vibes. The light roasts will definitely get your heart rate going if that's what your life needs. read more

Philz Coffee - Sooo Good with oat milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Despite it expanding out of California to the Midwest and Chicago and losing its "local" vibe, Philz is still my go-to coffee shop. The San Mateo shop has a lot of seating so it's usually not an issue trying to find some place to plant myself. When I want to treat myself (which happens often), I always go with the mint mojito. If you've never tried it before, the thought of mint in your coffee can sound unusual, but trust me, get it and you won't regret it. The mint goes well with the sweet and creamy flavors of the coffee. It also has a lot of caffeine. For coffee purists, get the Philtered Soul, a smooth medium blend with a hint of hazelnut is a favorite of mine. You can also customize your coffee however you like it without any additional cost! Pro Tip: save a tree and bring your own mug (up to 24oz) and they'll charge you the price of a small. read more

Philz is one of my favorite coffee shops. Coming from SoCal I've had my fill of Philz and am so glad i was able to find my home away from home here in San Mateo. I love the location and the openness of the place. Kinda wish they had more seating as i got quite often and usually stuck at a couch as there are no more seats. The baristas are my fav. All of them are so nice and love providing input on their fav drinks and ways to make them more lovable. I tend to go with the tesora, philtered soul, or mint mojito. All iced. Quite a bit of sugar and light cream. They're amazing. I crave their coffee. You should too. Coffee is life read more

Another one of my favorite coffee shops. It's located I in a low key tucked away shop. Has a front entrance (busier street meter parking) and back entrance (parking garage) . The staff is always so vibrant and friendly! (Must be the coffee) read more

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This is my home base Philz. It's definitely one of the nicer and more spacious Philz locations. There's rotating local art that is showcased on the walls and all the times I've come here, I've never found the baristas to be anything but friendly. Even though it gets insanely busy here (I'm talking line to the door on a weekend morning) and the seats get taken up by students and laptop users who camp out all day, they do have quite a bit of seating around and these big long tables with multiple outlets which makes it so you can usually find a lone seat somewhere. This place being conveniently located in downtown can get busy and the wait for your drink can be brutal especially if you're in a hurry. I've actually missed my Caltrain to work a couple of times due to not budgeting 15-20 minutes to get coffee which is not ordinary. Thank goodness for Uber/Lyft. I've since discovered the OrderAhead app. I put in my order and it will estimate how long to prep your order. I've seen up to 35 minutes so plan ahead. I will typically put my order in before my shower. :P Some food items are available for order on the app like the breakfast burritos but not everything. When my drink is ready for pick up, I can just breeze on in and grab it and go. You pay ahead of time on the app. Easy peasy! I also feel like the drinks are more consistently made when I order ahead so that's another plus. Highly recommend doing that! If you're looking for a place to get your Philz fix and some good cafe ambience this is a great spot. Depending on the time of day, just be prepared to wait for that caffeine fix! read more

This Philz location tends to be really busy in the mornings, and yet it's the fastest. The staff is very friendly, fast, and efficient. read more

Philz Coffee - Iced ecstatic to start my day - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

Love the setting, the open space concept is always one of my favorite architectural choices. High ceiling and lots of natural light in my opinion, make the ambiance very pleasant. Love the different artworks displayed there, such a cool idea, it gives me European vibes... The place is well kept, clean and functionally organized. Service is prompt and friendly. Coffee is generally good, (sometime I experienced a burnt/bitter after taste), I usually order the Large Silken Splendid, absolutely a must. Overall , a great spot to hang out with friends or enjoy a relaxing moment by yourself . Can't wait to go back! read more

We ordered Philz nearly every morning of our stay in San Francisco and then picked it up. We did go into the shop closest to our friend's house one morning and checked it out. I loved that the baristas appeared to know their regulars and got started right away on their orders without even having to ask. Those kind of baristas always impress me. They were helpful to me when I wanted the almond milk latte. I wasn't sure what the closest thing on their menu was to that, but I was happy with what I got and ordered that every day for the remainder of our trip there. I loved the ginger scone I got with my latte and I liked looking around at all the fun art. The avocado toast actually sounded really good, but I just decided a more dessert-y breakfast scone sounded better. read more

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This place is average and what you would expect from Philz. It's not the greatest location or fastest, but you'll get your coffee fix. Their ordering can be confusing if you've never been to this location before. You order from the cashier island, and not the barista, despite the signs that tell you to wait as if you're going to order from them. The wait for the coffee seems longer than other locations, and they prioritize online orders, which is a plus if you got the app, but a minus if you're in-person. You get friendly service, which is normally what you find at a Philz location. It's a larger location, with plenty of tables and seats, though they do fill up with people. Some of the tables and chairs have seen better days, with some tables off balance, which can be solved with a few napkins. They have fast Wi-Fi, which is a plus. They have one bathroom, which can get messy with the amount of people in the store. For all the coffee spots around (Peet's, Blue Bottle, 3 Bees), this Philz is just average; it doesn't stand out and just meets expectations. read more

Always good coffee and friendly people. I like their advice on new drinks; they know their products. read more

The staff here are great! Very nice, & quick to respond to inquiries or concerns with your drink. They get so busy, very easily, but the wait is worth it. Love it here, especially the service. Definitely a return customer. Tons of seating inside and out and parking a long the residential area. They have Stanford gear as well! read more

Who doesn't love Philz?! I mean their stuff here is top notch and this particular location is no different. I have been a fan of Philz for quite sometime now, especially the iced mint mojito, which is flavorful and delicious. This San Mateo location is quite substantial in size and the service is always on point. Overall, not much more can be said that hasn't already. It's Philz, a much better alternative to Starbucks. Legit- Great product Nice overall menu Great pastries Friendly staff Large location with ample seating Wifi Inexpensive Meh- Lines sometimes takes a while Limited parking at times read more

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

This was the first Philz Coffee I've been to that (1) was extremely large, (2) didn't have a very long wait, and most importantly (3) asked me to try the drink before I walked away to make sure it was to my liking. I laugh a little bit because I'm reviewing a chain on Yelp, but this particular shop in San Mateo really did go above and beyond. read more

I love the people and the Coffee is always on point. Thank you for bringing me a smile every time read more

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

I don't normally go to this Philz but, the person that was on register took my order and I ordered a bagel with a mint mojito. I asked for oat milk and how to prepare it with cinnamon but I still had gotten my drink made with normal milk and when I asked to get it fixed Vanessa responded with an attitude "I MADE YOUR DRINK RIGHT IF YOU WANT ME TO MAKE YOU A NEW ONE YOURE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT 10 mins." I was getting upset already because of the person on register grabbing my bagel. Instead of using gloves, she grabbed the bagel with her bare hands after handing cash/register. I asked her to stop and asked why would she touch it without gloves she told me not to worry about it that she's clean. I never saw her go wash her hands nor did she even take a step to the back. I've asked to get a refund and Vanessa came with an attitude again "She's knew she doesn't know any better" but I would think your register person would have common sense not to touch food without gloves even if your hands are washed. Unsanitary Vanessa ruined this experience for me because instead of fixing the problem she just brushed it off like it wasn't important nor was giving the proper customer service. She never once tried to have a conversation she just rushed the situation so she wouldn't have to deal with the problem. Very professional Vanessa Won't be coming again! read more

Hands down the best philz around! Loved the silken splendor and the ambiance is so cool! I would highly recommend checking out this location and grab a bear claw along with your coffee!! Tesoro is another good blend to try out. All in all, grab a cup and enjoy a seat read more

Personally, this is the most disappointing location by far. Very frustrating when my iced coffee is barely iced so the little ice that is in my coffee is melted within 5 minutes of picking up my drink. Sweet and creamy is not sweet. And this is every single time I have to order from the San Mateo store. :( read more

I came here with my fiancé on my lunch break and I ordered our drinks through the mobile order. I placed the order and about 20 minutes later I realized I placed it at the wrong location. The barista was nice enough to still make our drinks without charging us because he saw the receipt which confirmed we still purchased the drinks at the other location. Drinks as usual is on POINT! The Philz at this location is big and filled with plenty of tables and chairs! Nothing beats Philz coffee, literally NOTHING!!!!!! read more

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Wow - what a difference. I got a note from Jenn the store leader and we went back and gave the place another try - Giovanni was the store lead in Charge and he and Chelsea were smiling and serving the lines (still long!) in such a nice way ( Happy Holidays! There are just the 2 of us.l,we will get to you as quickly as we can and we really appreciate your patience...those words do make a difference !). We got the Tesora's and Dancing Water - the Tesora's was really good! We will be back! read more

I've liked the drinks at Philz since the first time my cousin took me there a few years ago. Now every time i go to SF, i make effort to go out of my way (if its already not on the way.. kekeke) to go get a drink from here, at least once. Decided to swing by this location after driving around the bay, on the way to another cemetery (doing visits to grandparents graves). Had been to this location previously and remembered parking being a pain, and it was as expected LOL. Located in i believe downtown San Mateo, its a nice location to chillax at, if you have time. As my mother, grandmother, and uncle had not had Philz before, i decided to order a variety of drinks. My favorite Tesora, as well as a Philharmonic and Arabic coffees. Both Tesora and Philharmonic are "medium roasts", and Arabic is a "dark roast". Each has their own unique flavors but all are good. I try to pick up a bag of roasted whole coffee beans of Tesora every time i visit, so i can slowly grind and savor at home. HEHE ! "No sugar. CREAMY !" is what i prefer in my coffee at philz. Always so good. Family loved it as well. As said previously, picked up a bag of beans for myself. Had picked up another bag for a friend whos gifting it to a coworker that is leaving. I hope they like it too ! read more

Good coffee. Did have an unhappy experience when I used UberEats app to order. Waited over an hour because two drivers couldn't wait for the drinks to be ready & the third driver waited a long time too. Apparently Philz didn't get my order on time (who knows if that's true). I complained on UberEats & luckily got a refund! read more

Layout is elongated. Parking lot is right near the other side, which is superbly convenient to park and drop in. I like how they have side comfy booths and plenty of seatings on the table side as well as on the counters for productivity on laptops! Stream less WiFi and comfortable coffee shop. Philz is a classic for hipster coffee and cafe setting! read more

Finally Philz is in my hood! Love the huge, long spacing with plenty of seating area with a leather sofa and high back chairs to plop myself, and enjoy sipping my Ether fix! Service is Philztastic and quick. If you like dark roast, I recommend trying their Ether. Their Tesora is another favorite of mine. It is rich and nutty taste but smooth. If you are new to Philz, step back a bit and look up at their board before ordering. Their awesome staff can also recommend a beverage tailored just for you. Once you have one Philz, you gotta have another, and another! Until then, Cheers! :p read more

Philz Coffee - New Philz now open in San Mateo! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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You really can't go wrong with a place like Philz. Good coffee and the food was better than average. I had a breakfast burrito which I was hoping was a bit flavorful. It had a little too much potato relative to the other ingredients. So the ratio was a bit off. The banana bread was fine but again, not a lot of banana flavor. I wanted it to scream banana, which it really didn't. I'll try other food next time. Maybe I'll have better luck. I'm still giving Philz four stars because the vibe was cool, the staff was great and the coffee was excellent. Oh and handing out avocado toast while waiting on line was a nice bonus. read more

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Welcome to club Philz! This location is huge with lots of seating. It kinda reminds you of a lounge in the city. The baristas are friendly and super duper fast. They have the same choices of coffee as the other locations. #1 get in line #2 order from the Barista #3 go pay #4 wait for your order to be called #5 take a sip to make sure all is good #6 enjoy! read more

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My daughter bought me a mocha and was hot and delicious! Was a nice treat! Better than the other company with the green logo. Lol. I will not patronize them. read more

This place is downtown and we went on a Saturday we found parking a block away. There was outdoor seating. This is probably the biggest Philz I've been to. There is a ton of seating. The signs are clear where you have to order and pay. Bathroom was very clean. The staff was very helpful and friendly. This is really strong coffee so order with caution if you don't drink a lot of coffee. The price is ok but it is quality stuff. This place is way better then some other big chain coffee spots. They always make your coffee to your liking. Definitely a 5 star. read more

Hip new coffee place in town! Large. Spacious. Hip. Modern. Clean. It's hard not to like this place. Lots of seats inside, as well as outside seats. Warm decor with modern furnishings. Hip waitstaff who are also friendly. The coffee is ok, nothing too special, but buying coffee from this place makes you feel good somehow. The place closes early though, so grab a coffee from this place if you pass by! read more

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I'm going to start off by saying that I'm not one of those people who is a coffee addict that brings their laptop to a cafe or reads a book while sipping black coffee. I'm not even a huge fan of coffee, but Philz is a game changer. I know some of you coffee snobs may think "big chain coffee stores aren't the real deal blah blah" but I still love coming here. This location is so large with a ton of open space. Chairs and tables set up along the perimeter of the room and some longer group tables floating in the center. It's a little confusing when you're ordering your drink. I wasn't sure how to order my drink the first time I came. But if you're observant, you'll find a brown board of instructions to the right of the counter. You line up and order your drink at the counter, go pay for your drink at the cash register, and then go back to the counter to pick up your drink when your barista calls out your name/order. I've only tried the Mint Mojito and Chai Latte here. The Mint Mojito, which is what everyone raves about, is great! I always ask the barista to make it more creamy and they always get it right. The Chai is good as well but I found that clumps of chai particles (I don't know what it's called) remain at the bottom of the cup. I took off my lid one time and tried to drink the leftovers but that was a bad idea. Overall, love this place! Ambiance and drinks are good. If you ARE one of those people who reads or does work at a coffee shop, I think you'll be pleased as well - it has the rich coffee smell you expect from a coffee shop and it's quiet enough to concentrate on whatever it is you're doing. read more

One of the nicer Philz IMO a large space with ample seating, has online orders/pick up and the staff are very welcoming. The coffee here is as to be expected always on point, amazing. Good location, the only annoying thing is the parking around but not too bad. What I like about this place is that you can get you drink and find a spot to enjoy it and do a little work. read more

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The best Philz location I've been! Interior is clean, bright, and spacious! This place is centrally located in downtown San Mateo with plenty of metered street parking, or a parking garage just a little ways away. I spent an amazing 4 hours getting work done here. Free wifi and plentiful outlets? Everyone had a laptop out and working! This location is one of the few that makes my mint mojito perfectly the first time around. You get in the line closest to the door to order, then move inner more to pay at the cashier! Service is friendly, though may be a bit slower compared to other locations. Clean bathroom here is a huge plus too! read more

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

Offer is good has some Great choices of coffee a d flavor lines move good wait is usually only a few minutes or so. Parking is i sally impossible around here so find the first spot you can read more

Located in San Mateo downtown, street parking is chaotic and paid meters spots only. But still glad I checked out the coffee shop. Nice modern interior, not pretentious or anything, very comfortable. I ordered a cup of Mocha. Barista was very knowledgeable about their coffee, very helpful, very friendly. Coffee was excellent, I even stayed there a couple hours to work on my laptop. read more

This is the largest Philz I've been to and the staff is so nice! I initially went in so my friend could grab her Ecstatic iced coffee. I haven't had a Mint Mojito in a while so why not? They have a mobile app and mobile order line for faster service! Lines may appear long, but signs assure customers they go by fast. You'll be greeted by a barista once it's your turn to order. Take a seat on the long wooden bench and they'll let you know when the order's ready. Walk a few feet to the pay line, but first take a look at their freshly baked goods. I saw avocado toast! An employee noticed I was eyeing the display case and kindly offered to answer any questions. Cool. Large mint mojito! Strong coffee. I'm not even a coffee drinker but the sweet and creamy beverage is a nice treat every once in a while. My barista was all smiles and asked me to taste her concoction to see if I was satisfied. Two thumbs up. Maybe I'll ask for decaf next time though, if it's possible? Cashiers are sweet and those new Four Square payment tablets are awesome! Just stick your card into the slot, choose tip option, and sign without turning any screen. I almost took a photo. So many seating options and it's so chill Saturday afternoon! Lots of folks catching up, working on their laptops, and just relaxing. I'd definitely come back. read more

I was so excited to try this coffee, but it wasn't all that. I was so confused on where to order and didn't get much help. I didn't know what to order so I ordered the one with the mint and it tasted weird with it. It would've been cool if someone made a suggestion and treated me as a valued customer. read more

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

All my experiences here have been fantastic! Super easy ordering, paying, and getting my drink. Lots of room to work, but the caveat is you have to really be lucky enough to find an open seat sometimes. I had no such problem, as somehow one way or another, there's always a seat or two vacant when I come. But the prime seating by the outlets on the big tables I have yet to have the opportunity to sit there. You probably have to come really early in order to snatch one of these seats, or be fortunate to arrive when one of these campers finally decide to leave. All in all, solid study and coffee spot! read more

Philz Coffee - View from the back - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Ordered two drinks, ended up getting made by separate baristas. Service was nice and friendly. One drink was great, the honey haze. The other was a Chai. I ordered to go with no sugar or milk to add my own. When stirring it at home I noticed a mucus like goop at the bottom of the cup. I went back and asked about it, they confirmed there are no syrups involved, and offered maybe sugar wasn't stirred as a possible reason (despite there not being sugar in the drink). Fairly certain my chai got served with a side of spit. read more

i got jacob's wonderbar iced and it was delicious; it's my favorite dark roast here. this philz location is really nice, as it's spacious and well-decorated with art. great study/work location read more

This location is large and spacious compared to the other Philz locations. There are four main barista stations up front and also two separate baristas in the back next to the cashier. The baristas are very friendly and welcoming. Although there were a lot of people on the day I went, the wait time for my Jacobs was fast. I've waited longer at other Philz locations with less people. Can't wait to return! read more

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