I'm not sure when Peet's left and Red Bay moved into the Ferry Building, but I like the change. While Peet's has always been dependable, I just think its unique value proposition faded over the years as it became more, y'know, corporate. I only noticed Red Bay by the big potted plant in the middle. Normally I would've scooted down the hall to get my coffee at Blue Bottle, but I decided to give Red Bay a try. Glad I did as this Oakland-based venture founded by entrepreneur Keba Konte provides a needed personality jolt to this tourist magnet. They have the hipster-cool drinks like Vietnamese Cold Brew and Charcoal Latte. I ordered the $5.75 Mocha and found it rich and soothing without being too chocolatey (photo: https://bit.ly/3GoyypH). I know there's a Red Bay at The Market on Market, so I'll definitely be trying them again. COFFEE - 4 stars...a rich mocha worth savoring AMBIANCE - 4.5 stars...its best quality in a building that needs more diversity SERVICE - 4 stars...efficient and friendly TOTAL - 4 stars...welcome to Red Bay RELATED - Exploring the Ferry Building? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2ImdQvs read more

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Excellent variety of coffee drinks and delicious baked goods. I especially like the latte which has the right ratio of espresso to milk. I like oatmilk which they do carry. The baked goods include bagels, delectable pastries, muffins. They have quite a number of unusual and tasty items such as ube mochi pastry. Prices are fair and service is very good. Great location in the historic Ferry Building, with seats inside and outside in the enclosed corridor with great views of SF Bay and the Bay Bridge. I love this place. read more

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Great coffee shop! I'm really digging' this Oakland made coffee shop with plenty to offer. I love the vibes at this Ferry Building location. It's nice & cool with a few available seats, a merchandise and coffee section, friendly staff and great drinks. I highly recommend the Red Bay Spritzer which is basically sparkling water, simple syrup and their espresso. This is perfect during the hot weather and a nice cold Bev. My wife really loves their iced latte; the milk they use is delicious. If you're visiting the Ferry Building and want coffee, I suggest avoiding Blue Bottle and trying Red Bay! *Tip- they have no WiFi but there is a Ferry Building Free guest wife with a passcode up on the wall located by the bar. Have a seat and enjoy! read more

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update time... I came here before a giants game a couple weekends ago. Nobody was at the counter to take my order...in other words it was all by kiosk. This is just not my favorite thing. Once I figured that out the coffee came fast. Half the coffee...the cup was filled half way. HALF? I have consumed thousands of coffees and never once did that happen in the past. So of course I had that resolved though the person who helped me offered no verbal or non-verbal regret about it. Service here has typically been mediocre due to whatever reasons, but this was a new one. read more

Red Bay Coffee - Filled my cup half way?? What the hec!? - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Whythe ferry building managers let this completely inadequate little joint in can only be called stupidi.One espresso machine , so one person making drinks for holiday crowds. After 20 minutes waiting for one cup I had to leave for the ferry. The two others working left without helping the one guy left (not his fault- the owner/manager should have been there). Don't waste you're time for this pathetic excuse for a coffee stand. read more

I saw a huge line out the door in the Ferry Plaza so I had to try it. I ordered a hot vanilla latte with whole milk...and it was just ok. I waited around 15 mins to order and my drink came out within 5 minutes. There was nothing special for me to really have a great experience. Perhaps I didn't order the right thing? I don't know if I'd try it again, as there's so many other coffee shops. read more

Red Bay Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

This coffee was a pleasant surprise! We tried the candied yam latte and didn't know what to expect as we've never had a sweet yam flavored coffee before but it was pretty good! I see why it's popular! Would try this place again! read more

Red Bay Coffee - Candied Yam Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

I love Red Bay and was excited to see them in the Ferry Building! They have some stuff to work on at this location though. It was suuuuper busy and there were two lines - one to a kiosk where you can pay with credit card and the traditional line to walk up and order. The kiosk line is when you walk up to the storefront and when that line got long and there's folks waiting around near the register line, it's really hard to realize there's a second line. The signage isn't clear so the baristas had to keep coming out and telling folks in the kiosk line. All that being said, their coffee is great and I love everything I've ever gotten from Red Bay. I hope they can work on the line situation a little as it'll make everything more streamlined. read more

Red Bay Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Latte and macchiato with limited staff to help with the long lines on the weekend. Both drinks were lackluster just like the staff here. I saw people get the charcoal latte, a speciality of there's but when I asked them if it was good 3 people say "no." This would not be my coffee joint of choice. read more

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Came here to try the charcoal latte and was not very impressed. It kind of tastes like a weak regular latte and is pretty messy considering it's literally pitch black color even if you get milk. The coffee shop itself is super cute and the employees are friendly so I would recommend visiting, just maybe skip the charcoal latte read more

Red Bay Coffee - Charcoal Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Tasty mocha! They don't have your normal vanilla layer but they have a mocha and pecan I believe mix..atmosphere is like your at a train station book store. Nice view of the bridge and they make your order quickly. read more

We ordered the Turmeric Latte and a regular Latte with plant milk. The Turmeric Latte was very heavy on the Turmeric. We like that but buyer beware, if you don't love the heavy Turmeric taste maybe this isn't the drink for you. As I said, we do like it and were impressed with the fact that they lean into it. The coffee latte was delicious also, the coffee was smooth and comforting if that makes sense. Great drinks, a little pricey. read more

Pretty good option at the Ferry building especially if you have no patience on Saturday bc the one we normally hit inside is hopping around the corner & the one outside in the tent doesn't open until 8 AM. This coffee place could use three baristas! My Americano was super duper hot! We got to try charcoal latte which got capped before I got a pic for the gram. Yup an IG fail. Will try next time we return. The latte was tasty & sweet. No they don't do SF. What's that? I'm sure we will return. Foggy weather in Sacramento but that's weather in the valley. Thank goodness we made it though. It was cloudy in the City but gorgeously sunny later in the afternoon! Woohoo! Love visiting the City! read more

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The Vietnamese cold brew is everything you'd expect because you can never go wrong with condensed milk. If you're also looking to get in and out relatively quickly, I recommend getting this because it's prepped beforehand, so they just pour it after you order. I've heard service can be slow, so I opted for the quick route this time. I wish they'd allow online orders to combat the long lines/wait. Or at least, I didn't see that option on their website. I've also tried their charcoal latte (not at this location), which is pretty good. Staff kind of gave me weird vibes. They were mid-conversation with each other when it was my turn in line, so I waited, but the cashier kept looking at me like they were expecting me to order... while they were still talking. How can you listen to me and your coworker at the same time? You can't, so I had to repeat my order after they finished anyway. Obviously this has no bearing on the coffee, but the encounter made me feel unwelcome, like I was inconveniencing them and interrupting their personal conversation. Maybe I'll have better luck next time. read more

Red Bay Coffee - vietnamese cold brew 16oz (after a couple sips lol) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

This used to be my go-to in the Ferry Building, but not anymore. TLDR; They got my name and order wrong and asked if the incorrect drink was ok, but it would've caused an allergic reaction for my colleague. I ordered this morning with the girl behind the counter for a matcha latte with oat milk for me and my colleague. She asked me for my name, and I thought I was good. I timed it perfectly so we have more than enough time for her to get to the office. Tell me why they got my name and order wrong. Two matcha lattes with almond milk for Fernando. My name is Andrew. I was waiting, and they kept calling for this guy, so after a while I concluded it was for me. When I told the guy behind the counter that I asked for oat, not almond milk, he said it was almond milk and if that's fine. It was not. My colleague is literally allergic to nuts and would have a severe reaction if she drank that. They made us new drinks, but we were now running late and I will never come here again. read more

Red Bay Coffee - Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Quick, yet comprehensive review of Red Bay: Aesthetic, smooth, and Vietnamese cold brew is perfect. What an airy, open, and effortlessly cool coffee spot. The coffee is good. The atmosphere is relaxed. And the location is convenient. I've "dined in" with my friend a couple times for a quick coffee date, but I couldn't stop thinking that this place would be a great place to get some studying or WFH done. I've tried both the Charcoal Latte and the Vietnamese Cold Brew. Both are great cups of strong, tasty brews. The price and quality are spot on. BOTTOM LINE: If you find yourself in the Ferry Marketplace, make it to Red Bay for a cup! You won't be disappointed. read more

Like this spot for their ammmazing bakery! Those seasonal croissants make people come early because they run out of them too fast! As for coffee, I'd say it's on the same level as the Blue bottle. But if I'm lucky enough to catch croissants I'm ordering coffee here as well. They have no sitting inside but there are some nice spots in the ferry terminal or outside on the market plaza where you can seat and enjoy your treat. read more

Red Bay Coffee - Inside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This coffee shop is conveniently located in the Ferry building. The prices are actually a very reasonable for such a touristy location. The service is friendly and the views from the seating area are nice. However I felt the coffee was a bit lacking. My drip coffee tasted kind of watery. My partner did like her cappuccino though. read more

Red Bay Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Stopped here for a quick drink before going on the Alcatraz tour. Red Bay Coffee is located inside the Ferry Building. I ordered the Vietnamese Cold Brew. The drink was alright, it didn't really have the Vietnamese coffee taste that I was looking for, but it wasn't bad. read more

Red Bay Coffee - Vietnamese Cold Brew - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

This was my first time at this coffee shop even though I've been to the Ferry Market Building several times. There was a relatively long line that went by quickly! We took our coffees to-go. I ordered the Vietnamese Cold Brew, and it was tasty and had the perfect balance of coffee and condensed milk! read more

So many unique pastry offerings! Loved the ube snickerdoodle but also want to come back for some of their croissants :) good pick me up while exploring the ferry building read more

Red Bay Coffee - Cold brew + milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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- Locale Destination - It's in a middle of the ferry building, by the entrance from harbor side. Ambiance: modern, a bit upscale by looking at bunch of fancy merchandises. But the coffee is terrible for the price. A few seating inside but there's shared seating outside of the shop (still inside of the building) as well. Price: too high for the taste quality Menu: simple coffee, pastries, merchandise - Gluttony Expedition - Cappuccino: wow. It was slightly better than the coffee at the crepe place nearby, but it was burnt, barista has little skills, coffee was ruined. Bad. Decaf version was bad as well. - Conqueror's Deduction - Coffee was rather burnt-side, barista wasn't skilled (judged by the milk foam and coffee taste), and overall poor taste quality. Avoid. read more

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After an epic lunch at Hog Island Oyster in the SF Ferry Building, our group was ready for some coffee before the 1-hr drive back to the East Bay. There are several good options within the Ferry Building and in the nearby vicinity. Philz right outside the entrance to the Ferry Building looks permanently closed. Peet's inside the Ferry Building is usually solid, though we found Blue Bottle a bit too tart for our liking. Red Bay Coffee seems to be a relaxing little coffee shop with a pretty large and creative drink menu. They have some exotic drinks like Charcoal Lattes and Turmeric Lattes in addition to the classic espresso drinks. I enjoyed my Africano (like a double shot Americano with some steamed milk), though I thought the $3.35 was a bit much for very little actual liquid. My wife and sister each went with Saigon Lattes with Oat MIlk which they enjoyed. Like a Vietnamese Coffee only smoother and with more sweetness. You can also get actual hot and cold Vietnamese Coffee too. Definitely recommend Red Bay as an alternative to the big-chain coffee stores if you're looking for something different. There's limited indoor seating, so its best to enjoy your coffee outside or take a short hike to the Hyatt Regency SF and chill for a while in their expansive lobby which also has lots of charging outlets and clean restrooms. read more

Red Bay Coffee - Outside. And yes, they do have beautiful coffee. Get the Saigon Latte with Oat Milk! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Im giving a one star due to when I walked in and waited in line I was not greeted at all. Also the lady who was at the register did not only not greet me but was having a conversation with another group of people while I just stood there waiting. I ended up going to blue bottle instead. Previous to this experience I have tried their hot chocolate not very good doesn't taste like sweet warm hot cocoa. I've had family come here and they said it's just ok. Well they're no longer at the ferry building and now selling coffee out of a mobile unit. I haven't came back here ever since that bad experience and never will. read more

Red Bay Coffee at the Ferry Building Those who have been going in and out of San Francisco Ferry Building may recall where Peet's Coffee used to be. Well, Peet's Coffee is no more, instead meet Red Bay Coffee. Red Bay Coffee was founded in 2014 in Oakland by Keba Konte, an Oakland based artist and entrepreneur. They have a number of locations in Oakland, but I first saw them when they opened in the SF Ferry Building which is not too far from where I work and live. I have patronized them a number of times and tried different coffee drinks; all delicious. The coffee tastes very good and it does not have that sour aftertaste that some local coffees do. It is rich and smooth. Don't quote me on this, but I would say that I tasted a slight hint of fig in there too which I liked. I have not tried their drip coffee yet (I am not even sure if they have drip coffee), but I've had their Latte and it has become my favorite. Their location in the Ferry building is beautiful and right across the hallway from the exit to the back side of the Ferry Building that offers a great view of San Francisco Bay. read more

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charcoal latte w almond milk was delicious, although the latte art was probably ruined because I ordered almond milk read more

Red Bay Coffee - charcoal latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

10 out of 10 coffee! Pretty quick service despite the long line. I liked that you have the option of ordering off the tablet or with a real person. Kinda bummed they didn't have straws or lids but honestly everything else makes up for it. read more

Red Bay Coffee - Vietnamese cold brew - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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In the old Peet's space, serving up much more exciting looking pastries and coffee drinks. Every baked good I tried has been quite tasty. Delicata Squash Tartine: This is a really hearty slice of bread! Topped with a medium-thickness layer of buttery squash. And that is topped with a layer of gratinéed cheese. Way better than any savory pastry you'll find at a chain like Starbucks. Mushroom Croissant Hand Pie: A very fluffy flaky dough, which is refreshing in a hand pie. It really is like a croissant, in square form. The inside is filled with a bunch of sautéed mushrooms. Which if you're a mushroom fan, you'll love this. Otherwise, you'll wonder why other ingredients weren't added to the filling too. Almond Twice-Baked Croissant with Strawberry Jam: This was really indulgent. Lots of almond paste and jam! The croissant itself was flaky in parts that weren't overflowing with filling. Though maybe a bit overcooked on the edges, perhaps due to the twice-baked process. Guava & Cream Cheese Pastelito: Such a nice surprise to find at a bougie coffee shop. Love the super sweet guava paste. Pairs great with the flaky fluffy pastry. The cream cheese was nice too, though it was distributed next to the guava instead of on top, so you didn't always get bites with both. Chocolate Chip Cookie: Some fancy dark chocolate inside and large salt granules on top. This is no common Nestle Toll House Cookie, that's for sure! Really fancy tasting, but also has the comforting soft baked chocolate chip cookie texture. Though I could probably do without the salt though, that whole salted dessert trend is getting a bit long in the tooth. Vietnamese Cold Brew: Pretty intense coffee. Though not as creamy as Vietnamese Coffee I'm used. Didn't see any traces of sweetened condensed milk. It was a little sweet, but I was expecting more. read more

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Whenever I visit San Franciso, I go for early morning walks. It's one of the best times because not a lot of people are out, except on Market Street toward the Ferry Buidling. However, most of the crazies were still asleep and a number of people were heading into work. I just kept walking not knowing where the journey was taking me. As I walked through the Ferry Building I say Red Bay. I don't remember seeing it back in 2019, so after playing tourist out on the dock, I came in for some much needed coffee! I ended up getting two bags, Coltrane and Carver's Dream, and had the friendly young woman grind them for me. She also said I get a free coffee for purchasing which I took and a cappuccino, cause no one can have too much caffeine...LOL! I also ordered an almond blackberry croissant...SO EFFING GOOD!!! I should've ordered two! Yeah, I'm a fatty! The barista also told me that this location was new so I'll definitely be back in December. Red Bay has a great back story to it and I love supporting local! What a great way to start the day! read more

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This place is solid. Great place to stop by when you're around Pier 39. The only con would be the line. I mean, it's got a 15 min line to order, then another 15 min wait for anything other than drip coffee. Price per quality/quantity is also very solid. Lots of different milk substitutes, but they have varying prices so please be aware. Their almond and oat milk were delicious with their coffee. Their beans are overpriced. You can easily find similar beans at groceries stores and get double the quantity. Their blended beans are also not unique. For example the Carver's Dream they were selling in house was about $15 for a couple oz. It was only a blend of 2 beans which aren't hard to find. For those that buy beans, I'm sure you can agree that it's not an amazing deal, but I got one for a friend that fell in love with the coffee. Guess it makes a nice gift. Still, if you're just looking for coffee, it's a nice place to stop by and a good restaurant to support. read more

Red Bay Coffee - Drip with almond - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Ordered coffee here with my bff and it was just okay. I got their specialty charcoal coffee and it did not taste anything great. Don't know what they hype is all about. Just another chic /trendy coffee shop read more

Red Bay Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

It's always so exciting when a new coffee shop opens in SF! From what I can tell, Red Bay Coffee is an artisanal coffee shop that's headquartered in Oakland but recently made it's way into the Ferry Building! When I tried them on a Saturday morning trip to the farmer's market, the line was long but moved quickly. I really love that on top of their already great quality coffee, they have some more interesting drinks and brews! I just had a cappuccino, but my boyfriend tried the red bay fog, which was like a London fog with a hint of fresh vanilla. It was super fragrant and delicious! The ferry building already has a great selection of coffee shops, but Red Bay definitely brings something new and exciting to the scene! read more

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I got a white iced tea and it was quite delicious, I need to try the other drinks though I have had a latte from here before and it was well made. My first in person visit got me a $5 coupon (emailed) for my next visit, that's a nice touch! They have WiFi and convenient location across from the ferries. read more

Cute place and lovely bookstore next door. Got my coffee after a midweek afternoon Giants game. Good coffee, nice people. read more

Red Bay Coffee - Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Attended Red Bay Coffee during the time they had a good Yelp check in deal and was very pleased by the ambience and quality of my drink!! This spot is located inside the building. There should be signs so it wasn't super difficult to get there. The line was kind of long around 1:40 PM on a Friday but it went by pretty fast. They also prepped the drinks within 5 minutes or so. They don't have that much seating in the store but there are some seating spots outside! I ordered the iced charcoal latte and it was absolutely delicious! Such a unique drink and flavor that I never had before. You can really taste the charcoal but it wasn't overwhelming. The coffee blended seamlessly with the charcoal flavor - no bitterness what so ever. I also tried the cold brew and it was not bitter at all, even with no milk or sugar or anything. I got some of their coffee bags - some are better than others (unfortunately i don't recall which was better). But it was generally pretty good!! read more

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Love Red Bay Coffee!! Glad they're growing and opening up new locations. Everyone should experience the goodness of Red Bay. It's in a great location downtown right in the ferry building. I recommend ordering ahead by scanning the QR code at the door. The line can be long and busy so this is a hot tip to get your drink even quicker! My favorites will always be the charcoal latte and the seasonal candied yam latte! read more

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We have gone to Red Bay a few times before and have never been disappointed by the pastries from Loquat. This time, we had the lemon cake because it looked gorgeous. It wasn't too sweet and was one of the best lemon based cakes I've ever had. The flower is pretty but taste-wise not very good. Their cold brew is also high quality! read more

Red Bay Coffee - Lemon Ricotta Cake - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Charcoal latte - 5/5. So good, just the right amount of sweet. Oat milk was creamy. Not too much caffeine. Red bay fog -3.5/5. Good but not enough sweetness for my taste. Added a shot of vanilla later which made it better. read more

Red Bay Coffee - charcoal latte with oat milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Cold brew was 3/5...I drink lots of various cold brews and I would not recommend one from here. Their cold brew is too acidic and very bitter, not rich or bold.. Even with milk...still terrible. I had 4 sips and tossed the rest. What a shame! The person working the register was very nice! Although Blue Bottle is over-hyped. I'd rather have one of their coffees compared to this quality. read more

I am so glad this location exists as it's so convenient to pop by on the daily if I want. I don't think I've had a problem with a single drink I've ever ordered. The only thing than might keep me from purchasing is if the line is long, as it'll also mean so is the wait for the drink too. However, if you're having a leisurely day, then this cafe is lovely. There is also a tempting variety of gifts n snacks to empty your wallet. Today they worked with me to fill my thermos full of caffeinated wonderful. I even got some latte art! read more