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    The Notebook Cafe

    3.8 (85 reviews)
    Open • 7:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    The Notebook Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    THE NOTEBOOK CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Notebook Cafe

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    Strawberry matcha
    Edith M.

    Such a cute café! The service was great, the environment was super cute and welcoming, and the matcha was good. I also loved the nice outdoor chairs and tables. it's such a cute spot to sit and enjoy your drink. I absolutely loved my visit and will definitely be coming back!

    Blueberry muffin
    Zach H.

    Chapter 2. New day new review. We returned to The notebook cafe and it was almost as magical. I will say returning I felt very comfortable and welcomed. I ordered the banana cream matcha again and she ordered the biscoff matcha again however this time we added on a blueberry muffin. I will say the muffin tasted like a Costco muffin (this isn't a bad thing) but it's definitely not the same as other places that make their pastry's fresh in house daily. One thing that is nice is they offer 2 drink sizes. 16 and 20 oz and there is only a .50 cent difference between the two. I did just wonder if the amount of matcha is adjusted for the larger cup or are they the same and they just add more milk? Anywho I will have to look into that. I will say that they constantly have a line of several people however the line moves quickly which I appreciate greatly.

    Alison J.

    This cozy spot in Riverside is perfect for a quick bite or to sit and co work or read! I ordered the blueberry latte and blueberry bagel. I loved both options and our food and drinks came out pretty fast despite the long line. I highly recommend 9/10

    Samantha C.

    The cutest little whimsical coffee shop. Everything from the color scheme to the books on the shelves, all of the little touches is just perfect. Upon walking in we were greeted, the staff was so friendly. It was my first time and the staff was so sweet and help walk through the menu and provide suggestions. Decided to get the Salted vanilla pistachio latte. Delicious! So many flavors hit you upon the first sip. It was suggested to get the hony drizzle on top and it didnt disappoint. The standard sandwich with jalapeño cheddar bread. Loaded with meat and toasted perfectly. Wish I had more jalapeño pieces, but it was good. Happy we made the drive from orange county to try this little shop.

    Front area
    Alexis B.

    Update review: Came back here a second time a few weeks after my first time going. Got the Banana Matcha this time and it was SO good. The banana taste was consistent throughout the drink, which I loved. Different workers there this time, but they were still very nice! They make the drinks pretty quick, considering there's only 2 workers helping.:)

    Banana Cream Latte
    Canary H.

    Update: Someone messaged me about my review saying it was a complaint instead of a review. He didn't appreciate my "paragraphs" of my experience. I definitely will not be back. The Notebook Cafe sounds like a very cute concept and a new cafe in town! Being a month old(?), my fiancé and I wanted to see how it would be! Parking is a bit difficult, especially if you are trying to avoid paying for parking. It's unavoidable unless you stop for only a bit. The first 30 minutes are free and any longer you'd pay $3 an hour. You can use the Riverside Parking app because the QR codes on the street wouldn't load. When we walked in, the AC was blasting, but the door was left ajar. It was a bit counterintuitive, but understandable since their sign outside wasn't upright. We got in line, which snaked along the counter. It was a very small distance from a person sitting with their coffee versus the coffee line. The shop is very small. While in line, we looked at the menu and the pastries to our left. I tried to look around to see why they were called the notebook cafe, but alas, nothing hinted toward the name. I had ordered a banana cream latte and my partner ordered an espresso. We tried to sit and read, but didn't last longer than ten minutes. They had music blaring in the speakers and I couldn't hear myself think. Their banana cream latte definitely had cream and milk, yet there wasn't any coffee. It tasted like a melted ice cream pint instead of a caffeinated drink. Needless to say, I didn't drink more than half of my beverage before tossing it. In addition, it was very pricey. $8 is a lot for a 16 oz. I honestly wouldn't come back unless a big improvement was made. It wasn't unique and there wasn't much of a coffee taste in my drink. The cafe was small and I didn't feel comfortable sitting inside.

    Brown sugar shaken espresso and banana cream latte
    Kayden L.

    I was looking for a coffee shop with my fiancé and saw this new one pop up in Riverside and wanted to try it out. Came on a weekday afternoon. Finding parking wasn't too bad since we were able to get a spot but there is limited parking on the street and you only get 30 min free on week days, which is fine if you're only grabbing a coffee and going. I can only imagine it harder if it was a busy weekend. Upon arriving I see they had a flimsy sign on the ground noting the opening of the shop and two patio table seating in front of the shop. As soon as we enter, I notice how dark it is, given how bright it is outside. I think it was too dark. There were already a lot of people seated and in line and it felt really crowded and hard to move around. The bar felt really high, had too much on the counter, and did not feel welcoming at all. The staff took our order and we didn't really feel welcomed. They weren't mean but they weren't nice either. There were a lot of people behind the coffee bar so I assumed it wouldn't take long for our orders. I got the brown sugar shaken espresso and it was just really milky. I could not taste any coffee and the cream top and cinnamon was too much for the drink. My fiancé got the banana cream latte and it also was milky and no coffee taste with like a hint of banana. These type of drinks are our go to at any coffee shop if it is offered and this shop did not deliver on the drinks, unfortunately. Their menu and many of their drink offerings seem unique but nothing I would personally drink as it all seems too sweet for my taste. The Red Bull refreshers don't sound really refreshing at a coffee shop and would not be something I would want to try unless you really like Red Bull. As for the prices, I think they are WAY overpriced for such mediocre drinks. The music was blasting and loud for a coffee shop and I could barely hear myself talk or talk to my fiancé. This isn't a place I would want to go if I wanted to try to do some work or study. It is not a memorable coffee cafe. I was very disappointed in my experience at this coffee shop and would not go back at all.

    Stephanie G.

    Rich coffee! First off, who doesn't appreciate a cute locally owned coffee shop?! The ambiance is adorable...low lighting, intimate, darker colors, and just welcoming. The cashier was friendly and attentive. I believe they have only been open a week. Now for the coffee, it was absolutely strong and tasty and everything I like in a coffee. It's quickly going to become my favorite spot. I got the Iced Vanilla Latte w Half N Half, an extra shot of espresso, and Vanilla Cold Foam...and wow, talk about perfection! My husband got a Hot Americano w a pump of Vanilla and it was super hot just like he prefers. Overall, strong 5/5!! Try it out for yourself

    Inside The notebook
    Maria M.

    This time we try the blueberry muffin and my pic doesn't make justice but it was soooo good, just like the perfect muffin texture, not to sweet and crispy on the outside. The place was very crowded I guess because is Monday and the quality of the matcha very good just like the first time we tried it. I ordered again the biscoff matcha and tried the banana matcha, I loved more mine LOL, good service and I like the lamps hanging from the ceiling, the warm light make the perfect ambience to start the week :)

    Ryan S.

    Finding a coffee shop with great drinks is easy enough. Finding one with a beautiful atmosphere that makes you want to linger a little longer is a bit more special. The Notebook Cafe has a warm, inviting interior and a creative drink menu that made it hard to decide what to order. Thankfully, the coffee lived up to the presentation. It was smooth, flavorful, and exactly what I was hoping for. At the end of the day, that's what really matters. The stylish space is just a nice bonus, and it's a great addition to downtown Riverside's coffee scene.

    Decor inside
    Leilani M.

    New neighborhood coffee shop in the downtown area. Right across the street from the post office. Line does get long so plan ahead. Inside is quaint with high top table or seating along the wall. Also patio 3 tables on the sidewalk. Staff were welcoming and friendly, keeping up with T the rush of guests, espresso was great! Double shot over ice was refreshing on the hot day. Gave some pep to my step. Street parking only. There's a few limited parking spots right in front otherwise will need to pay at the meter. Parking garage a block away. Single restroom for customers. Would definitely return!

    Honey salted pistachio latte
    Yohonna B.

    I had been wanting to check this place since it opened and I'm so glad that I stopped by . When I walked in I was greeted by the cashier and he explained the menu to me . I decided on the honey pistachio salted ice latte with oat milk and sugar free vanilla cold foam . I also got the avocado pistachio toast with honey because it's sounded interesting . The drinks and food came out fairly quickly . I really enjoyed the ice latte it had a nice balance of flavor and it had the perfect amount of sweetness . The pistachio avocado toast with honey was interesting . It was good but it had a little too much pistachios for my taste but still good none the less . The ambience in the place was super cute was well and it had a nice aesthic .

    Miriam L.

    Cute new place, wanted to check it out. Really liked the vibe/decor, service was ok. I asked for recommendation and the barista suggested the Salted Vanilla Pistachio latte. $8 The drink was not good. It was maybe a 3/10. It didn't have a pistachio /vanilla flavor, the salt was overpowering the cold foam and the cold foam tasted just like regular heavy whipping cream. I was also expecting a cute aesthetic cup like shown all over there IG and i got a basic clear cup. Not a good first impression for sure. May try it again, but likely won't go out of my way. I hope you have a better experience.

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    17 days ago

    The drink was good but the environment made me feel claustrophobic. I'll come back one day again when it's not too insane indoors.

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    Ask the Community - The Notebook Cafe

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    I found this place a few weeks ago and was impressed with coffee and the loaded breakfast burrito…read more I came back again today hoping that they could duplicate the quality and quantity of both. They did. Ordered the loaded burrito with sausage and bacon. It was in fact loaded. There was not a single bite that did not have sausage, bacon, crispy potato, cheese, avocado, AND sour cream. Wrapped all nice and pretty like a burrito present. You literally cannot go wrong with this breakfast burrito. The salsas are good. Green has a little kick to it in spice and tanginess. Red is really mild, almost like a pico. Ordered the Morenita with 2 added shots of espresso (yes, I'm a caffeine addict, lol!). It was delicious, the espresso was rich and flavorful. I have a feeling that every time I come here in the future, my order will stay exactly the same. Keep in mind, the food is made fresh to order, so you can wait for a minute especially if there is a few people already enjoying this place. The inside is a nice little set up, but I always enjoy sitting outside. Highly recommend this place.

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    Absolutely love the murals

    Buenos Dias Cafe - They also have a cute little section to buy from. I bought some shot glasses & a heart mug. Pricing on those are pretty reasonable as well.

    They also have a cute little section to buy from. I bought some shot glasses & a heart mug. Pricing on those are pretty reasonable as well.

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    Qamaria Yemeni Coffee - Aden Tea- Medium size pot

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    Where to even begin, my spiritual daughter and I were going to another coffee shop that was closed…read moreso she suggested this place. What a cool hidden gem. You walk in and are immediately greeted by music which invokes a chill vibe. It's a place where a lot of UCR students hang out. The coffee drinks and the deserts we chose were really good. Of course I had the baklava and she had a strawberry cake. Shout out to the young lady who helped us and offered her advice on the best drinks. Her service was great.

    The matcha was a 3/5 for me. It was definitely missing that strong, earthy matcha flavor I usually…read morelook for, and there was honestly nothing particularly special or memorable about it. To be fair, Qamaria is a Yemeni coffee shop, so I probably shouldn't have gone in expecting the matcha to be the star of the menu. Just a heads-up for any other matcha girlies coming specifically for that. That being said, $9 for a matcha is actually insane. At that price point, I'm expecting something that really stands out, and this just didn't for me. I've also tried the brown sugar shaken espresso (4/5), which was definitely on the sweeter side but still pretty good. But again... around $9 for a coffee is kind of wild. One thing I will absolutely give them though: the service is amazing. Everyone I've interacted with has been super kind, welcoming, and attentive, which honestly makes the experience a lot better. The price tag still knocks a star off for me, and another downside is that the music always seems to be SO loud. I like a lively coffee shop, but sometimes it feels like I have to yell just to have a conversation. Overall, the drinks aren't bad, and the service is genuinely great, but between the prices and the matcha being pretty average, I personally don't really get the hype. I'd probably stick to what they're known for rather than coming here specifically for matcha.

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    Pistachio Latte

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    Outdoor seating!

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    Lift Coffee Roasters

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    Lift Coffee Roasters - Inside seating

    Inside seating

    Lift Coffee Roasters - Inside mural

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    Copper Goat Coffee - Shaken Expresso

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    It was my first time visiting Copper Goat Coffee, and I was pleasantly surprised by the rich,…read moreflavorful profiles of each item they had. I ordered the Maple Bourbon Vanilla Cinnamon Latte, which seemed to be a crowd favorite. After I got my drink, I had an opportunity to meet the co-owners and learn about the origin and stories behind the coffee shop. Both the owners and staff were a delight to be around, and being able to learn about what inspired the coffee shop made tasting the food and drinks more enjoyable. I was introduced to the European-sourced pastries they had by one of the astute co-owners, Teddy. The chocolate croissant was filled with velvety, decadent chocolate ambrosia and surrounded by buttery, golden-brown pastry. Alongside this taste of Europe, I got to try a shot of their specialty Ethiopian coffee, which was smooth and absent of any bitter notes. As someone who enjoys tea over coffee, I was thoroughly impressed by the diverse taste profiles of their coffee. If you appreciate a solid, smooth, and full-bodied cup of coffee that steers clear of artificial flavors and overly sour acidity, Copper Goat Coffee is definitely worth adding to your morning routine. Overall, this coffee shop's consistent delivery of high-quality products and vibrant, welcoming atmosphere make it a place I'd recommend. It's the perfect third space that we've all been wanting.

    It's a pretty nice and relax coffee shop…read more... Once you enter, it's a pretty relaxed vibe... nice place to have coffee and some pastries.... The staff is nice and I saw probably the owner helping out... and a cute doggie to boot. I got their reco of maple boutbon vanilla cinnamon latte.... the cinnamon didnt overpower it... pretty nice since i did lower the sweetness a bit and also chose oatmilk... Very nice. In anycase, would definitely be back here

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    Ordering counter

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    The Notebook Cafe - cafes - Updated September 2026

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