Definitely want to come back to try a few other coffees as well and some of their pastries or cooked foods such as the tuna sandwich or mood ring coffee. Everything looked delicious and staff were friendly. Prices are a little on the high side and the place was pretty busy when we stopped by on a Saturday morning. My bf and I shared the Plain Jane Latte and the drink was true to its name. It has a satisfying coffee taste to it but sweetened slightly from the vanilla. If you're sensitive to sweetness this is a safe and delicious pick! read more

I give this place 5 stars for food and 1 star for slow drip coffe and chai latte and zero stars for tidiness. Here's why... Had the JB Burrito (picture and description in photos). It was delicious and a great size! All the flavors were distinguishable yet married perfectly together. And the GREEN salsa is a must! Didn't see it on the menu, but they had it on a promo flyer near the register. Also tried the vanilla cranberry pancakes with a side of bacon. The pancakes were light, fluffy, and perfectly cooked. Accompanied by whipped butter and a not-too-sweet cranberry syrup. Whatever they are doing in the kitchen is magic. I'll be back to try other things from the menu as well as something from their pastry selection. The chocolate cherry hand pie is lingering in my mind! Pictures attached. Sadly, the coffee and chai latte were a miss. The medium size coffee was teeny tiny. So much so I thought they made a mistake. It didn't have a kick and fell short. Too weak for what I was expecting. The chai latte was flat. There was no froth, it was way too spicy, and although I asked for extra honey, it was still not enjoyable. Too bad because the food was so great. The location is perfect and if they can get their drinks a notch up, it will be Sierra Madre's gem! There's a small indoor seating area both with small couch/table set up and single seat bench seating lining the window and wall. If you can grab one of the two high top tables you may have to wipe things down. There are small tables outside too if you don't mind foot traffic and the people watching is good. It may have been the Sunday rush (I was there around 12:30) but I was disappointed with the lack of someone doing quick wipe downs of the least the table tops. Both my table, the window bar seating, and floors were quite untidy. Most disappointing was that a manager or owner was sitting in the 2nd heigh top table chatting with friends. We realized he was management because the barista informed him that they were out of ice. At this point he was surprised that barista was in (maybe it was her day off?) He quickly said goodbye to his friends and walked to the back. This disappointed me for two reasons. 1. He could have been wiping tables and sweeping the floors instead of customers having to clean their own tables. And refilling the utensils as there weren't any forks. 2. He and his friends sat at the table for a while. We arrived and I saw them already there. And they were there until we were almost done eating--which was about 40 mins. There were other customers looking for a place to sit and totally could have used that table. I'm pulling for this spot. I hope they can tidy up these details and will be around for a while. read more

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Came in today at 7:27 am and greeting the 4 people behind the counter and they barely looked up and acknowledged me. Then one of them said for me to sit on the Couch and wait till 7:30 until they were officially open. So I sit and wait for them to tell me when they are ready and then this guy walks in and they take his order. I get up and look at these people and again NONE of them acknowlege me and they avoid eye contact and they continue to serve other people coming in so I decide to just leave. I will not be coming back. There seems to be preferential treatment towards certain types of customers.... PS From reading the numerous other 1 star reviews and the owner's responses to them I anticipate the owner doing his cookie-cutter misrepresenting and twisting the narrative to fit his dismissive habit of avoiding accountability. Read through the 1 and 2 Star reviews- look for patterns of repeat complaints and ESPECIALLY pay VERY CLOSE attention to the reactions of the Business owner/Manager. He loves to deny, dismiss and argue with customers. That tells you everything about the morale of this business. Its clear that I was not valued as a customer and that they dont need/want my money. I will spend my money elsewhere going forward. read more

Came here after a run and ordered their hot coffee latte, chai latte, quesadilla, and Da Vinny Sandwich. All food and drinks were mediocre. The chai latte was nicely spiced compared to most other cafes. The quesadilla was a little disappointing, and if I could describe the filling other than the cheese, it has like 5 pieces of beans and chicken. The sandwich was also underwhelming. I would recommend this place if you want a quick bite, which I think is a hot spot for many cyclists, but don't have high expectations for the food or drinks. read more

Syndicate - Top: Quesadilla, Bottom: Da Vinny Sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - Sierra Madre, California

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The owner, Alex, is a super nice guy and so are all the workers I talked to. Came into order a flat white and chai with cold foam and a shot of espresso and ended up getting a berry croissant and chocolate one. The beans were very molassesy. I personally liked it but some may not. Price is good for the quality. I'm definitely picking this place over somewhere like Starbucks. The croissants were super good and the owner said they made them all and it takes them about 3 days to finish them. You can definitely taste the quality. The texture was light and not dry. Super good flavor and crunch. 10/10 place with a great environment. Will be back! read more

Stopped here on my way home and picked up a iced matcha with lavender syrup. It was very tasty especially knowing the syrup was made in house. It was very busy for a Saturday morning but I think I only waited about a minute for my matcha. Which is pretty cool seems like they really got it down with the service. There's a couple of spots to sit at, they are mostly stools so not really a place for a big group to hang out. read more

After months and months of wanting to try Syndicate, I finally got to stop by yesterday morning. It's a fairly busy place and there's not a whole lot of indoor seating since it's a smaller place, so be mindful of that. Lots of street parking available but it may be hard to find a spot- downtown Sierra Madre seems like a pretty popular area. The baristas are friendly, I do wish they would've asked me if I wanted my items to stay as I didn't realize that was an option until afterwards; I would've preferred to be less wasteful if I could! Not a big issue though. They also need to update their menus as both of the lattes I asked about weren't available anymore. I ended up ordering a hot white chocolate peppermint latte and a caramel apple morning bun. The latte was really smooth and not too sweet, which I love because I don't like overly sweet coffee & when it comes to peppermint mochas, I find that I'm often turning away because the peppermint is too in my face. This latte was perfectly balanced flavor-wise and I really enjoyed it. I love the little detail of the pink lids as well. The morning bun was to die for. I don't have many notes on that one except that I think everyone should try it at least once. I really loved it. I stayed for an hour or so to read and the little chairs they have inside are super comfortable (I have a back disability, so that's incredibly important for me) and they have little side tables for your coffee or bag, etc. All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by Syndicate and I will be planning my next stop soon. read more

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This coffee shop has been on my radar for a while now after reading my fellow Yelp Elite "peeps" reviews. So, when I had the opportunity to meet a friend for coffee last minute, I picked this place. It was packed on a Saturday morning but the line moved pretty quickly. The girl who assisted me was very nice and helpful. I ordered a Nitro Cold Brew with Blackberry flavoring or so I thought. Never again...it was puree with no sweetness. It added a tart flavor to my coffee which anyone who knows me, knows it's not a good fit for my morning coffee...LOL! I also ordered a Ham & Cheese Croissant which was delicious. My friend ordered the poppy seed cake which was also good. Yes, we shared:) We were able to grab a table out front and sat next to a lovely couple. It was a really nice hang. My only gripe and it's kind of a BIG ONE...NO RESTROOM FOR CUSTOMERS!!! WTH! You serve food and drink..is that not illegal in CA? Just Saying... *2 Hour Free Street Parking read more

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Syndicate Pastries are delicious and savory treats. Picked up a Ham & Cheese Croissant and a Morning Bun. Celebrating turning 21 years old. All jokes aside, the cashier was super friendly, but the crowds are no joke. The parent and their children keep this local hometown coffee shop lively and entertaining. From children running amok, it's never a dull moment at the Syndicate! read more

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Such a cute coffee shop the staff is so nice and friendly. Their pastries are amazing and the coffee is great. I spent a few hours here visiting with a friend and it was a great environment. I love this place. read more

Every pastry I tried here was absolutely delicious. It's a small shop but very popular, with lots of great breakfast options. Their signature items are especially good. The staff are friendly, and the place is simple and clean, definitely worth a visit! read more

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Stopped by here for a quick coffee while my daughter was in dance class. The vibe was very cozy and cute. The latte was good, the barista made a heart design in the paper cup. They had some interesting house made syrups and pastries I'd consider trying next time. read more

They could do better pricing and deliver better breakfast items & portion wise with Homemade salsa or sauces

I first discovered this incredible small, woman-owned bakery years ago, and their croissants have been on my mind ever since. Although I no longer live in the area, a serious craving today was enough to convince me to make the drive back to Sierra Madre. The line was a testament to how popular and delicious this place still is, but it was absolutely worth the wait. I ordered an almond croissant and a warmed ham and cheese croissant. Let me just say, this bakery makes the best croissants, hands down. The flakiness is unlike any other I've had--each bite is a perfect, buttery crunch. The bakery itself is quaint and charming, with a few seats inside and more seating outside where you can enjoy their wonderful croissants, pastries, and coffee. If you're looking for the perfect pastry, you won't be disappointed by this place! read more

Syndicate - On the left almond croissant and on the right ham and cheese croissant - Bakeries Near Me - Sierra Madre, California

Poor service and a sneaky 3% surcharge for using a card. There are plenty of other places to enjoy instead in the area.

Loud club music playing at 10:30 am. Not giving cafe vibes. Other than that a nice local spot

Vibes! This spot hits everything that I wanted it to. The music, the food, the coffees, the pastries. The baristas were lovely and everyone there seems to be enjoying working and giving together. I couldn't believe what a pleasant experience this was. The betta living his best life among aquatic plants, the numerous plants placed about the cafe. This place is playing killer music and serving up killer coffee too. I'll definitely be back! read more

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Okkkk I love their coffeee and pastries! Got the Jason Lee and Coconut Head and both drinks were great. We also got their morning bun, almond pastry, and The Bodega. Yes it's a lil pricey but worth it. They typically have a wait but everyone there is super nice and the man at the front the orders was warm and friendly. It's also in downtown Sierra Madre so there's a ton of food and shops nearby read more

Syndicate - Bakeries Near Me - Sierra Madre, California

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Cool little spot in Sierra Madre, partial bakery, brewery and eatery. The staff was friendly, the wait was not too long. They had a simple menu but with variety. We tried the matcha, chocolate cookie, Roonie Bagel and the Bodega Breakfast sandwich. All the food was tasty specially the bagel, only downside was that the bagel or bodega bun were soggy and not toasty. The bodega was a little on the light flavor side, needed more aioli or chipotle. The cookie was great too but cold and was not given option to be warmed. The biggest let down was the matcha, it tasted just like milk. Asked for more matcha after tasting but did not improve flavor. Either quality of matcha or ratio to milk was off. Great first impression and would try more things again but I least I know what changes to make next time to my order. read more

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overdue coffee date with tesee!!! i was going to be in the area and asked if she was avail to meet up. we agreed on place and time super cute coffee place service is a bit on the slower side but the foot traffic was present on this saturday AM we opted to sit outside, as it wad a beautiful day! we went halfies on their lemon poppy roll and the ham & cheese croissant . both delicious , IMO! i ordered the jason lee - its a latte with earl grey and chocolate ganache, it was okay, like a 7/10. would not order it again, i like my lattes and coffee on the strong side. parking: street (free 2 hr) i believe there is also additional parking in the back. read more

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TLDR: Not a great spot if you're walking with your dog. Since moving to the area, I've really enjoyed walking my dog through town and checking out local restaurants. Sierra Madre is one of the most dog-friendly towns I've been around, so I was surprised to see Syndicate has a no-pets policy. That said, I wanted to respect their rules while still giving them business. I called ahead and asked whether it would be okay to place an order in advance and simply bring my dog in briefly to pick it up. I was told that would be acceptable. Today, I did exactly that. I ordered ahead to minimize the amount of time my dog would be inside, kept him as non-invasive as possible, and just came in to grab my drink. Instead, I was told my dog was not allowed if his paws touched the floor. I understand businesses have policies, but the inconsistency was frustrating, especially after I had called ahead specifically to avoid an issue. For the price point, including a $10 iced matcha, I would expect a little more clarity and customer-friendly communication. The drinks are good, but based on this experience, I wouldn't recommend coming here if you're out walking with your dog. read more

I ordered the Cafe Noir! It had a thicker consistency than i expected; rich in chocolate, tasted like hot chocolate but iced LOL It was tolerable but next time I'd order something else! The shop is located in downtown, near a lot of offerings! It was pretty busy and service was slow. Though the cashier was helpful and patient answering my questions! read more

Syndicate - Cafe Noir - Bakeries Near Me - Sierra Madre, California

Tucked away in a quaint little corner of downtown Sierra Madre, Syndicate Coffee is as charming as it gets. The area itself is already adorable, and this café fits right in with its cozy aesthetic. I decided to go bold and ordered the Mood Ring Latte; where the barista gets to pick the flavor. Risky for me since I'm pretty particular, but I'm so glad I did! She created a chocolate walnut latte for me, and it was perfect ..subtle flavors & smooth espresso. Truly so well done. Their food selection is just as impressive. They've got a solid brunch menu and pastries, and I was thrilled to see savory scones (a rarity!). The cheddar jalapeño scone I tried was absolutely delicious..flaky, flavorful, and such a good balance. Service was warm and friendly, and I loved the seating options: cozy spots inside by the window plus a few sidewalk tables if you want to soak in the downtown atmosphere. Overall, a gem of a coffee shop with great drinks, tasty bites, and a setting that's equal parts cute and inviting. I'll definitely be back. read more

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Kindle and coffee is delicious they have a cute area where you can sit and relax. I would come again and bring people. read more

Syndicate - Cappuccino with expresso - Bakeries Near Me - Sierra Madre, California

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The food was fair - hell-a salty breakfast burrito that probably bumped up my blood pressure significantly. Pretty expensive and they wanted to charge extra for a small container of salsa. It was a coffee shop, so I ordered at the counter. Staff was moderately friendly, nothing to write home about, but they didn't gouge my eyes out either. I probably would eat elsewhere when next in that area. read more

Cute little place for downtown Sierra Madre. Staff are friendly. Food and coffee were meh at best. The drip coffee and the latte were luke warm although I asked for extra hot. The egg and bacon burrito was waaaay too salty, I mean way out of norm that I couldn't eat more than half. They said they don't have any other sauces because they make their own. Great idea but their house made sauce was, well, yike. Won't go back. read more

Syndicate - Bakeries Near Me - Sierra Madre, California

I'm on the hunt to find the best coffee shop around my area and this one is definitely up there. Coffee is amazing, staff is friendly and their tuna sandwich is AMAZING! read more

Tried this local coffee/breakfast cafe: Avocado toast $16 (salty), small small mocha $7, won't be back! The staff seems more concerned with socializing with each other than attending to customers. Uncomfortable outdoor seating. read more

Great spot for a coffee and a pastry. They make their mocha with homemade ganache and all the pastries are just melt in your mouth, great. Cute area to sit or walk around! Everyone is very accommodating and nice who works there. read more

Stopped by this cute cafe as I was in the area and the staff is super friendly and happy to share about the drinks and give recommendations. I tried their espresso tonic and their bee keepers latte. Both unique in their own way and very good drinks! read more

Syndicate - Espresso tonic and Bee Keepers latte - Bakeries Near Me - Sierra Madre, California

What I had: - BTYM biscuit sandwich ($15.50 x2) - Plain Jane $6.25) How it tasted: - The latte was actually quite good; not too hot and not too sweet. The biscuit flakiness was present along with the subtle sweetness, but the choice of sausage may have thrown off the balance of the dish for me making it more off-putting than "let me take another bite." Why did I give it a four? - Quite busy and the prices were a bit much for what we received. Will give them another chance as I wanted to try a different food item and see if that is redemption worthy; otherwise, the coffee and latte selections are wonderful. Verdict? - Quaint place if you can grab a seat. Give it a shot if you're in the area. read more

My favorite coffee place if you are in the area! They know how to prepare coffees! Small menu, but every item we tried from breakfast burritos to muffins and baked goods, was divine - yummy. I go there every time I am in Sierra Madre - I just have to! Super friendly staff. Perfect place to lounge, read and catch up too - love the vibe there. Lots of locals. Note when I was there, no bathroom facilities though, had to go to another venue for that! read more

Highly recommend the Da Vinny hot sandwich (chicken and sun dried tomatoes). They had lots of food and pastry choices. There was inside and outside seating. read more

Syndicate - Matcha, coffee latte, earl grey cookie, da Vinny hot sandwich (chicken & sun dried tomatoes) - Bakeries Near Me - Sierra Madre, California

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10/10 love this place!! friendly staff, great food and drinks, and overall friendly and welcoming vibes highly recommend a visit!! and there tuna melt is a must read more

Best coffee in Sierra Madre. Also their pastries are amazing. We go there regularly. I love the café noir (moccha) iced or hot, depending on the weather, and their croissants, ALL OF THEM. Their morning buns and chocolate chip cookies are also incredibly good. The staff is always helpful, friendly, and fast. read more

May I0th goood lort !!! Better late than never right ? Who's with me ? This was a great little coffee spot in an area I grew up in . Little town Sierra Madre . This had nice open seating and some outdoor seating as well. I believe they offered wifi as well. What was really cool was everything was made in house. The chocolate , the pastries , etc . Really nice. Have merchandise as well you can get too as seen in pic . I ordered an iced mocha latte extra sweet ! Was delish . Service was awesome and would definitely go back when im back to visit . Go and enjoy if in the area ! Enjoy !!!! read more

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I stopped by for an optometrist visit nearby, and decided to grab a coffee at syndicate. The cafe seems pretty chill, and had a very layback atmosphere. I ordered an ice americano and a peanut butter cookie. The coffee was good, the cookie was GREAT! Will come back next time I'm in the area. Would recommend if you're looking for a solid cup of coffee and stellar pastry. read more

Syndicate - Peanut butter cookie - Bakeries Near Me - Sierra Madre, California

Love the baked goods & coffee The location is perfect too. Really glad they added the outdoor seats! read more

Came to this place for some juice after breakfast as today is a very hot day. The cashier recommended me to get passion fruit matcha latte and I got it with oak milk ($9), and a strawberry lemonade ($5). We also got a fresh 12 oz pressed juice from the fridge ($12). It costed me for around $28 including tax. The fresh press juice is tasty, but it is just like any other fresh pressed juice. Nothing stands out. Also, $12 for 12oz is a bit too much in my opinion. The strawberry lemonade is very refreshing, and I like it. It is a mistake for me to order the passion fruit matcha latte. It tasted like a sour green tea with milk. I cannot taste matcha or passion fruit, and it is not worth for $9. Servers are friendly. Street parking is available. Will only come back if I want strawberry lemonade. read more

Syndicate - Strawberry lemonade - Bakeries Near Me - Sierra Madre, California

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Thee best coffee place in the area but honestly top 3 in all of la IMO. The staff is so nice and food is delish We've started using their breakfast catering for family and work gatherings and everyone talks about it forever The food and coffee are made w/love Shoutout to Alex Paige Angelo Hana That are like family to us at this point read more

Syndicate - Iced oat cortado - Bakeries Near Me - Sierra Madre, California