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    Riptide Cafe

    4.4 (54 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 2:00 pm

    Riptide Cafe Photos

    RIPTIDE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for kids
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Riptide Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Hayley H.

    If I could be anywhere right now, I'd choose to be sitting at Riptide's coffee counter overlooking the Pacific Ocean on San Juan Island. Riptide was one of my favorite stops during my recent trip to Friday Harbor. This cafe shares a storefront with the local souvenir shop and it's just steps away from the ferry dock. Because of its dockside location, it has captivating views of the harbor and ocean. I now find myself day dreaming about working from this coffee shop on a daily basis. Riptide had a selection of holiday cookie lattes that instantly caught my eye. I ordered the Jam Thumbprint, a strawberry and almond latte, since it sounded both unique and delicious. I also grabbed a veggie and egg breakfast bagel sandwich. This fresh Asiago bagel was filled with micro greens, egg, avocado, and a juicy tomato. I couldn't have asked for a better mix. This island feels like magic and I think it's largely due to their local business community. Get out there and support!

    Posey on Gluten-Free Bun
    Greta Z.

    Run off the ferry directly to this spot with a gorgeous harbor view from the tables outside. Let your pup have a sip of water from the bowls outside and then order the Posey for the most perfect breakfast or lunch sandwich. I had mine in a gluten-free bun, and it was literally the most delicious gf sandwich I've ever had!

    Katherine Y.

    They had a special summer Shrek-themed menu, which was fun and cute. The coffee wasn't really to my taste, but my friends thought it was fine. The cheese danish, though, was phenomenal. It's a cute spot overall, with a little shop area and outdoor seating.

    Coffee with a view
    Justin M.

    This is the best tasting coffee I found in Friday Harbor. Good smoothies and pastries as well and really can't beat the view. Highly recommend.

    Lattes
    Matt B.

    Breakfast sandwiches were incredible and after watching their barista make a drink we decided to go with it and get some lattes as well (I'm a coffee snob admittedly). They use Stumptown coffee and made a great drink. Loved sitting outside by the docks.

    Desserts on display - mine is the missing one
    Steve A.

    A charming little home shop on a charming little island. I'm glad I picked Friday Harbor to eat, because this is probably the best food you'll get out here. There's a nice selection of different bagels, and what I thought was a nice selection of desserts, until my choice took one out of the display! I guess, especially in early April, it's a small crowd on the island so they're more going for locals and Washington weekenders than what summer tourism may bring. Anyway, the prices were really not bad for being so remote, the sandwich was piled up big and tastes nice and fresh, the dessert was also really tasty and clearly fresh made. (I asked, and while they don't bake things themselves, they get them fresh from the mainland and prepare to order, so things aren't frozen or mass-produced. It's all high quality stuff.) Friendly place, rather small especially if there's a crowd, so plan on grabbing food (and coffee, I suppose most people get coffee there) and walking, but there are a few seats there. The cafe is also a little library (books and other trinkets for sale and/or display - I didn't look too hard at them but I was just looking all over the room at the variety). Kinda felt like places I've seen in Vermont. I love little town establishments, and when they deliver on quality as well as a wonderful community vibe, that's 5 stars all the way. Walk on in!

    Outdoor table on the water. Perfect atmosphere, perfect latte, perfect quick breakfast
    Genna G.

    Friday harbor's only coffee shop on the water is a must visit. It is located inside an adventure outfitters store. Order at the counter and snag a table outside and soak in the most beautiful waterfront atmosphere ever. My latte was perfection and they accommodated all my high maintenance requests ( almond milk, sugar free vanilla). Great breakfast menu too and had gluten free bread for my avocado toast which was a huge plus . Husband loved his peanut butter toast as well. Super reasonably priced ( less than Starbucks). A plus experience and a must for a quick coffee and/ or breakfast when on Friday Harbor

    Cardamom honey latte
    Angela F.

    Super cute cafe by the water. There are some indoor and outdoor seating available. There is a small gift shop joint with the cafe. I tried the honey cardamom latte and it was delicious! The staff was very friendly as well.

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    9 months ago

    Healthy food options and gluten free bagels! Many tasty smoothly options. Friendly and helpful service.

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    2 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Great chai latte this morning, perfect balance of sweet and spice. Quick, friendly service!

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    7 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Riptide Cafe

    Yo! Friday Harbor

    Yo! Friday Harbor

    4.1
    (41 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $

    Have I ever told you how much I love Lavendar flavored ice cream? And Yo! Friday Harbor's double…read morescoop of this fragrant deliciousness didn't disappoint. While waiting for the departing ferry at Friday Harbor, we left our car parked in the ferry queue and hoofed it a few blocks to this cute little ice cream shop. The staff were super friendly - summer vacation kids working tourist season - but they were kind, engaged, and knowledgeable about flavor selection. And, oh my goodness... the flavors to choose from! This shop serves Lopez Island Creamery ice cream, and if you can, always opt for the seasonal flavors. They had Blackberry Lavender, Lavender, Mountain Huckleberry, Strawberry Fudge Brownie and more. I opted for 2 scoops of Lavender and was not disappointed! Cold, creamy, oh-so fragrant, but without an overpowering medicinal lavendar taste. It was perfect, and so refreshing in the hot summer sun. Make sure you take an opportunity to get some Lopez Island Creamery products while visiting the San Juan Islands. I saw their products available in grocery stores and several restaurants, but do support Yo! Friday Harbor if you can. It's conveniently located next to the ferry and you just can't beat that!

    Lopez island ice cream served daily! With an hour to wait for the ferry it was only natural on a…read moresunny day to crave the creamy goodness of ice cream. I hopped out of my car and right over to Yo! The huckleberry/blackberry ice cream here is a must! Even though you can now buy Lopez Island ice cream in pints in most Seattle grocery stores, somehow it tastes better fresh scooped by somebody else! Prices were reasonable and the service was A+!

    Photos
    Pecan praline
    Pecan praline
    Yum they have Lopez Island ice cream
    Yum they have Lopez Island ice cream
    Chocolate truffle

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    Chocolate truffle
    San Juan Island Brewing

    San Juan Island Brewing

    4.2
    (461 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    We had lunch here while waiting for the ferry and really enjoyed the nice little patio and good…read morefood. Service was prompt and friendly and they had gf designations on their menu which made my life easy. I had the house salad and the apricots on top were delish. The husband of mine had a pizza which he said was the indulgence he was craving. Our friend had the curry soup of the day, fried cheese curds and a cider tasting. Everything was good. They had some cute stuff in their shop inside and I secured myself a perfect fox hat. Next time we come back to San Juan we'll definitely stop in again.

    San Juan Island Brewing was quite solid given the lack of food options open past 7 on the island…read more After waiting about 20 minutes to get seated, we ordered pizza and a couple of dishes to share. Pig war pizza: I thought this was good but my friends said it was too salty. Maybe it was a tad salty but I think that's how all pork pizza is going to taste normally. 4.5/5 Fried chicken sandwich: I didn't really like this as much, I liked the sauce and it had a nice kick to it but the chicken was a tad dry and flavorless. 3.5/5 Philly cheesesteak: I enjoyed this, the steak and the melted cheese mixed together nicely with the bread to create a delicious experience. It is a bit expensive for a Philly cheesesteak though for its size and it's not anything super special. 4/5 Fries were also pretty good but they didn't come out hot. The food took a bit of time to come out but that is somewhat understandable since they were quite busy on a weekend night. I enjoyed the ambience, it definitely felt like a brewery and gave pub vibes but with solid food. 4.1/5

    Photos
    The Bar
    The Bar
    San Juan Island Brewing
    San Juan Island Brewing

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    Rocky Bay Cafe

    Rocky Bay Cafe

    3.9
    (512 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Back to back mornings the daughter and I hit Rocky Bay Cafe for some breakfast…read more Place gets packed early so don't mess around get in and eat! Service was excellent as my coffee cup was overflowing and the food was great. The guys cooking in the back are legit! Both days I ordered the breakfast burrito with chorizo. See beautiful photo below. The salsa was also on target! Thanks Rocky Bay Cafe! 5 stars I'll be back!

    We checked in and put our name on the list and were told to wait outside while a table was being…read morecleaned. Unfortunately, we were forgotten. After noticing that two couples who arrived after us had already been seated, I went back inside to ask about our table. The staff seemed a little irritated by the question, which wasn't a great start to the experience. The waitstaff was very attentive and friendly throughout our meal, which I appreciated. However, it took quite a while for our food to arrive, and when it did, it wasn't very hot. I ordered my eggs over medium, but they came out overdone. From what I observed, the kitchen and counter staff seemed somewhat disorganized, which may have contributed to the long wait and cold food. I've heard mixed reviews about this place, and based on my visit, it seems like your experience may depend on the day. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either. There are definitely some positives, especially with the waitstaff, but overall the experience fell short of expectations.

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    Rocky Bay Cafe
    Rocky Bay Cafe
    Rocky Bay Cafe

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    Vic's Drive In

    Vic's Drive In

    3.5
    (57 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $

    This long-standing family-owned diner has a lot of historic charm and the service is a real…read morestandout. The cashier was incredibly friendly and detailed when I asked about the history of the establishment. The food is unfortunately average, and for the price point my chicken Caesar salad could have more chicken. Still I'd consider returning the next time I visit the island to support this local business and enjoy the wonderful service again.

    We decided to stop in for a quick meal before boarding the ferry back to the mainland. Given that…read morewe only had about half an hour before we had to get to the terminal, Vic's seemed like a good choice. I do have to comment - the name of this restaurant is strange. What exactly makes this restaurant a Drive-In? Considering there's no parking specifically for the place, no car hop service, nor any semblance of a drive through. Instead, it's street parking and typical counter service restaurant. On the window, they had signs for a crab cake sandwich, which we decided to order along with another burger. Even though this was on a weekend during the height of summer, there was only a single other party in the place throughout our meal. I guess most people show up later in the night? But then again, they close at 7PM, so I dunno. The food took about 10 minutes to come out. Deluxe Cheeseburger ($10.99) - Firstly the bun - it's a very thick sesame bun that seems to be homemade, or perhaps from a local bakery. It's toasted well until very darkened looking, but isn't dried out at all and is instead soft and fluffy. Tons of shredded lettuce, sliced onion, and tangy pickles, form a base layer on the bottom bun, glued on by a dollop of their secret burger sauce that's nicely creamy, sweet, and tangy. On top is a juicy ¼ pound patty that's cooked to perfection for a diner burger (e.g. well done, but not dried out at all). On top, of course, the melted, fatty cheese. Everything works together very well; this is just a very solid diner-style cheeseburger. There's not really much I could envision to improve it. (5/5) Crab Cake Sandwich ($14.99) - This is pretty much the same as above but without cheese and substituting the beef patty with a crab cake. The cake is fried well, giving a good crunchy breading, whereas the interior is soft and tender, mostly filler without any taste of crab. Seems to be a typical frozen crab cake, but expected for this price point. It's a salty and savory bomb that goes well with the rest of the ingredients. This sandwich comes with a giant pile of crinkle cut fries. Unlike most crinkle cuts I've had in the past, which are typically floppy and sad, these are fried relatively well, creating a decently crisp crust on the outside while maintaining a fluffy interior. I think if these were immersed in the oil for another 30 seconds to a minute, it would create a better experience? Regardless, these are pretty good fries. (4/5) Overall, I was pretty impressed with the food served at Vic's. I'm not sure why they don't have more business at night? It's probably one of the best (if not the best) diner burger on the island. Pricing is high, yes, but it's kind of expected since it's in a tourist area, not to mention on an island. I would happily return on any future visit to Friday Harbor. Bathrooms - Single unisex room Edit: After doing some more research, it seems this place used to be a drive-in. They had to modernize but kept the name.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Vic's Drive In
    Vic's Drive In

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    Riptide Cafe - cafes - Updated July 2026

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