This little gem is tucked away in San Rafael just 15-30 minutes north of San Francisco. The store itself is small and there aren't any places to sit. It's more of a place where you go and pick up your cup of hand poured joe and mosey on. You can buy their roasted beans there as well. I'll defer to the other coffee connoisseurs to comment on this place. I did very much enjoy my cup of iced mocha but if I happen to be in the area next time I'll opt for something like a flat white. The baristas were very friendly and nice. Worth a pit stop if you're a coffee lover. read more

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The coffee was delicious and robust; I also appreciated the sugar free options. The service was spot on and they had a plethora of snack options. read more

Every time I go: No smiles, no 'hello,' just bad vibes all around. Ordered a cappuccino and I'm struggling to name a worse one from a standalone coffee shop. The foam was overly thick and stiff, with a watery, lukewarm mix of milk and coffee underneath. It felt like they just threw it together without any care. Location is good though? read more

Tasty but the drinks are expensive. I got a chocolate cold brew (rich and sweet, $6) and my boyfriend got an iced dirty chai (recommend getting this drink sweetened, $7.25). We also got a piece of morning glory bread which was really good and only $2.75. The inside is cramped so it's not a spot to hang out for a long time but they have pinball machines in the back which is fun! read more

Get the Jonny's legendary Chocolate cold brew! It's the BOMB! We live in South Bay and my husband always has to get 2 cups whenever we head to San rafael. Please open a store in South Bay!! All other drinks are also excellent and I love the super chill vibe of the store and the baristas. There are also an arcade center at the back of the store so you can hand out with friends. The location is kinda odd as it's located among some office building areas, but hey, that's what GPS for! read more

Really fun place with terrific coffee beans & great barista made coffee products like cappuccinos, lattes, espresso, you name it. Yum! And the lounge area has pinball machines. read more

This place was cute, fun! Stopped in to Red Whale on my way to Sonoma Raceway for a morning latte. Many different options in a cute little set up. Not much on food selection, just a few quick grab n go pastries, but the drink was great! Downside, they didn't have any sugar free syrups, which I like in my latte, but they did have great milk alternatives as options. ...and in the back, vintage arcade games! Definitely will be back before the weekend is out. read more

Red Whale Coffee - Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Rafael, California

Wish they were on every corner. Crafted coffee. Period. If you like Starbucks you'll hate this. But should absolutely come try and see what you've been missing. Funky and charming and soothing to the soul. Yes it's not downtown Main Street so it's perhaps out of your way; we make time for what brings us joy. Go. Grab some joy here. read more

I've heard complaints from others about very rude service but dismissed that as I had been there numerous times without any real issue. My daughter and I went there in Memorial Day, we had two people in front of us that had placed their orders. They came and went and the place was empty while we waited for our orders. More people arrived and placed their orders. Mine came in the normal 5-10 minutes. My daughter's iced drink was nowhere to be seen. We asked once and waited for 35 minutes while at least five customers came and went. We asked each other what's going on?? We are always respectful of service people. I'd been in customer services for years and know what it is like dealing with the public. I went up and said we'd been waiting 35 minutes while other customers got their orders. I saw our order was still in the queue with somehow three others STILL ahead of ours. At this point, disgusted with the service, my daughter said forget about it. I said to the barista to please finish her order and I'll take it to her, all the time being totally respectful. All she needed to do was pour some espresso into the cup and we were going on our way. Simple! NOW THE GOOD PART... As I'm walking out, with all the other people who came well after us standing there, she calls me out as "ENTITLED!" I was deeply embarrassed and calmly walked back into the place explaining we waited 35 minutes by that point. As a former customer service manager If it were me, she would be fired on the spot. I put this completely on the owner for not training their people to be respectful to customers. I HAD been a regular. I don't need to be embarrassed for doing nothing more than asking why other orders were going in front of ours. This rude individual made what should have been a nice morning visiting with my daughter spoiled. One word: Bye! read more

I've seen ads for Red Whale Coffee around Marin and I was pleasantly surprised to find one near me! How did I not know about this location? I decided to give it a try. The staff was so nice when I walked in and helped me decide what to order. They also told me about the back room which is a full on arcade! It's so amazing! I can't believe I didn't know about this hidden gem. I decided to order: 1. Ice Matcha Latte with oatmilk: Delicious! Perfect amount of sweetness and matcha flavor. Not too heavy and a good balance of oatmilk and matcha. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Overall, I think the arcade area is such an unknown gem. It's the perfect place to hang out with friends and have some drinks. Excellent coffee and I love that it's local. read more

It was like time travel - transporting me back to my roots in Portland, Or. Great coffee, homey, friendly vibe. Friendly service, friendly guests - we hung out and chatted with some folks from............Oregon! Most importantly the coffee was spot on! read more

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I heard this place was cute. It is. However, when I got there, I was not acknowledged and stood there for a long time, waiting for service. The person working at the counter and responsible for taking orders was filling up the coffee machine and it took over five minutes with no greeting or notification she even saw me in front of her. The other person was busy, making drinks. The coffee was strong, the parfait typical, but expensive. I won't go back as I don't have 20 minutes to wait for a coffee order. read more

Best coffee in Marin County. I've tried just about every spot throughout Marin. There are a few 1Bs but red whale is 1A. The weekend service at their San Rafael brick and mortar location is very friendly, but the place has near zero ambiance (unless man caves / warehouses are your thing,) However I don't care about anything but how excellent their coffee is. Worth the drive IMO, or just another plus for the civic center farmers market read more

Meh. I have come here many times because it is convenient to other businesses that i frequent and sad to say, I've never had a GREAT experience. Today, the barista barely greeted me or looked up. There were only two others (women) inside that had already been helped. She helped me with little enthusiasm and I waited for my coffee. A man walked in and he got all the greetings. Smiles, conversation and seemingly free coffee before mine was ready. This has been my experience here each time. Not a ton of personality from baristas ( except a sweet blonde gal) and when others come in ( regulars, fine) the attitude is much nicer and more outgoing/customer service based. Create community by engaging the people you don't know. One of my other memorable experiences here included parking as the last car in the driveway and being yelled at by an AGRO ( entitled marin) man customer to move my car while I was trying to get my coffee doctored up after it took 10 minutes + to make. All of the coffee options around here have some detail that makes them less that enjoyable to Visit. At red whale The coffee is good but I'm all about service. I'd rather drink ok coffee in an an Establishment I feel welcome in than drink great coffee in a spot that doesn't value customers that aren't regulars. Bye Red whale read more

Rad coffee shop! A gem that's worth the trip off the freeway. Slow drip, nitro on tap, cold brew, chai, matcha, seasonal blends and tons of treats. Owners are amazing and they have their own beans. read more

Red Whale Coffee - Red Whale Coffee Shop - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Rafael, California

Love this place My favorite is the chocolate cold brew that was created by John! Speaking of the staff they're all fantastic. First Kristian is a absolute delight, he's so sweet, caring and has something interesting to chat about. James is very knowledgeable and quick! Violet is easy to chat with and is always very kind! Sean the owner is extremely intelligent and humble. Here's me drinking a matcha read more

Red Whale Coffee - Matching my matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Rafael, California

This place was so cool! We were in town visiting and decided to stop for coffee and pastry. The coffee was ridiculous awesome! Their cold brew is highly recommended. The pastries were the perfect pairing to our order, which was a cortado with oat milk and a mocha. The employees are so kind! They are willing to answer question and really engaged us in conversation, making us feel welcomed. Honestly, I'm so bummed we were in town for one day. I can't wait to go back. read more

Really good coffee and fast service. The coffee was smooth and made from fresh beans in front of me. Just not a fan of the environment. Came there to study and have a work meeting and it wasn't the typical cozy coffee shop vibe I'm used to. All good! read more

So many great choices for great coffee in the San Rafael/Mill valley area! First time here, service was friendly, making a great suggestion, as I was heading out for a awesome hike. The 415 was a great dark coffee, great flavor and a good kick to start off the day. I also picked up some holiday blend, looking forward to trying it this weekend. They do the coffee as a pour over which definitely brings out the flavors, worth a little wait. Definitely stopping by, next time through. God bless and cheers! read more

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I'm going to say, great coffee, excellent barista, love the pinball machines; and I'd really LOVE it if when I ordered my coffee "extra hot" I'd get it that way. There's nothing like going six blocks and having to heat the coffee in the microwave because it's lukewarm. This place got a star knocked off for the parking; which I know is not really their fault, it's just a small place with off street parking and a half circle of a driveway and street parking which is unavailable most of the time they're open. I hope some day there will be a better flow of parking around this great shop!! read more

Destination coffee spot. Breve latte perfection. Chill atmosphere for reading, work or conversation. Red Whale is the real thing

Great tasting coffee and cute back room. I went with two other people. By the time my drink was made, my friends were done! Several staff, and I'd been waiting for so long, even one staff asked if I was waiting for something?? They also gave me caffeine, which I'd asked for decaf. Wasn't busy at all? I do like their coffee, but service wasn't the best. read more

Why haven't I been here before? Discovered this cool coffee place while I stayed at a nearby AirBnb. Looks like a small coffee place on the outside. Once indoors, this place goes deep. Place for red whale coffee swag and merchandise, place to get pastries, and a large place to sit, chat, study or play some pinball maybe. Whoa! This is a first ever. Never seen a cafe with pinball machines. I asked the lady barista for any dark roast recommendations. She gave me two recommendations. I chose the Mt. Tam blend. Was I glad. One large pour over of leaded Mt. Tam, and I was seriously awake and alert the rest of the day. I let the lady barista know I will be back to pick up a pound. Glad I came to Red Whale coffee. read more

Like to customize your coffee? Believe in pour over only? Swing by Red Whale. These folks will introduce you to your new favorite blend. Industrial store front divide into 3 public spaces. Bright front space hosts the pour over stations and nitro taps. Middle space has merch--hats, speciality pour overs for home, and various food items. Back space has comfy couches and pinball machines. I recommend the 415 blend and then grab a generous berry scone next door at Redwood cafe and head out on your next adventure fueled for the day! read more

Red Whale Coffee - Pinball and strong coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Rafael, California

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This place is definitely worth checking out. They have a wide selection of coffees and they're all great. Staff is really friendly too.

Excellent coffee! Brewed to order as you like! Baristas are friendly and tell jokes while you wait. There's a real turntable with records, pinball machines, a popcorn machine art on the walls... just go there!!! Fun place!!! read more

Really rough visit to red whale this morning. I have been but coffee here every week for 2 years and today was a low point. I arrived and ordered at 9:39 am. At 9:55 I had to leave without receiving my latte. At no point did anyone working there say that things were taking longer or that they were sorry that it was taking longer. I love Red Whale and they make great coffee but this was one of the worst service experiences I have had. read more

Thank you so much Mr.Sean Boyd for making my Mocha today, incredible taste gracias gracias read more

Red Whale Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Rafael, California

Great coffee, great service, the storefront is in an industrial area but well worth the stop

It's been many years since I've been here since we're in Oregon now and I just remember it different. I remember it being simpler in its offerings and being amazed at the quality of the espresso, so I was excited to see it was still there. Unfortunately our drinks were pretty over-extracted and slightly bitter and the milk wasn't very hot. So... definitely not the worst but not the best. Right in the middle. Not bad enough to not give it another chance, though, next time we're around. Coffee: ** Service/staff: ***** Location: **** read more

Dope hole in the wall no bs coffee spot. Nice people and service. Cool regulars. Would come back. Thanks yall!

The coffee is more of an "experience" than a treat. I mean, it's good coffee, but it's not mind-blowing. What is mind-blowing is how long it takes to get a simple drip coffee. No joke. If you are the first person in line, it takes like 15-20 minutes to get your coffee. For each person in line in front of you, add another 15-20 minutes. If you have a small child, and you're looking for a quick place to stop, this is not the place for you. I repeat, do not bring small kids here, especially if they are tired or hungry or don't like waiting around. One pretty cool thing about going into the location is that the back room has a ton of pinball machines! This is the ultimate hipster past time. I actually used to play pinball as a kid, so it's very nostalgic for me. It probably helps most people with the incredibly long wait for the coffee. Oh, the coffee. Like I said, I like it. However, if I'm comparing the brands that show up to the farmers market, I much prefer Zolo. read more

What a great coffee shop! The coffee is amazing and they also have a great selection of food items, both savory and sweet. The only reason I don't give them five stars is that there is no good place to sit down. We were there on a Sunday late afternoon, so perhaps the tables in the front were already cleared. That said, I like the pinball machines in the back. What better can you do with your coffee buzz then play pinball? read more

Delicious coffee every single time!! I usually order online and never have an issue! Super convenient location.

Excellent choice for friendliness, great lattes and, my favorite - UNsweetened alternatives milks!! Why is it so hard to find these other places? If people want their coffee sweet, let them add it! Makes sense to me. That makes this place a 10 for me! Oh, and not to mention the drive up parking, pinball machines and chill vibe. Keep it up Red Whale and THANK YOU! read more

Total surprise. It's located in an industrial park and has a kind of old-fashioned coffee shop exterior. But wow, the coffee was good. We had a "long black," which, as they say, is like "an Americano but better," and an iced cortado (as a cortado drinker, this iced version was a first for me). Absolutely delicious. Too bad there's no seating either inside or out, but the coffee made it worth the inconvenience. read more

I love coffee and I am also a coffee snob. Marin County and SF have the luxury of having some great coffee shops. Red Whale Coffee is one of the best coffee shops I have frequented in my 30 some odd years of life. Everyone from the owners to the baristas are amazing, knowledgable, and insanely friendly. I could rave about their awesomeness for days. If it gets crowded which it does often, the owner will get behind the coffee bar and start taking orders. It's literally a community coffee shop and one that I am proud to support and promote! At this point, Red Whale is the only coffee that I have in my home and the place that I will run to for a horchata oat milk latte. Red Whale is opening up a new shop in Mill Valley which will be super convenient for the Southern Marin coffee aficionados. Keep up the great work Red Whale! read more

So glad I finally visited. It was a surprise to come into a coffee shop that didn't have any obvious coffee machines - just drip apparatuses on the counter. The staff were very friendly and welcoming and the one who took my order was charming (didn't get his name, sorry) and gave this sense of calm like no need to stress and hurry to get my order in. Note that it's a Friday around 10 am so there might be a different vibe on a different day/time. The most perfect mocha I've ever had in that I didn't have to adjust the taste with any extra milk or sugar. Pastry selections this day were from Flour Chylde - I don't know if it's different every week. Funky seating space in the back with couch, a couple small tables for two, and pinball machines. Also a wall of drip apparatuses (not a coffee connoisseur so I'm not sure what they're called) were fun to look at. A little downside to this place is location - street parking only. We had to park about a half block away. There was a closer space but it involved better parallel parking skills on my part. Also, it would be lovely if they had an outdoor seating area as well. I will still definitely come back and highly recommend to family and friends. read more

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The only thing that gets me through my work day is a stroll down to Red Whale for some cold brew awesomeness! read more

Red Whale Coffee - Super krypton action! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Rafael, California

THE BEST DAMN COFFEE IN MARIN. PERIOD. Don't even bother with the local chain growing into a Bay Area Starbucks, they are like McDonalds coffee to Red Whale espresso. Can't even compare. Other local shops espresso is bitter, acidic, or "astringent" compared to Red Whale's smooth, creamy, even espresso. I was so surprised how "sweet" the espresso tasted (but not sweet as in added sweetener). It's a great taste profile that sits comfortably on the palate, not extreme on any one taste. Just smooth, pleasantly bitter sweet, deep. The staff are super kind and helpful in answering any questions about their beans/blends/drinks, and while they are SUPER SLAMMED in the morning, they still have a smile for everyone! You must come. You WILL ABSOLUTELY BE HOOKED... LINE AND SINKER, Too! Thank you Red Whale for staying true to your mission, your community, "yourself". Stay passionately curious!!!! read more