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    The Notebook Cafe

    3.7 (43 reviews)

    The Notebook Cafe Photos

    THE NOTEBOOK CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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    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

    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.

    Miguel G.

    Where do I begin. The flan dessert? The coffee? The ambiance? Or the personalities behind the counter? There's so much to unwrap in this brand new little coffee shop in the heart of Downtown Riverside. The decor is modern and was kept nice and clean. The owners John and Michael were so welcoming and made me feel like I was ordering as a friend rather than a customer. John gave me a solid recommendation for the Salted Vanilla Pistachio Latte. We also got to try the Banana Flan as well as the Ube flan which both had the best flan texture but my favorite was definitely Banana. The owners even came out to check up on us and asked how we were doing and wanted our genuine feedback which shows how passionate they are about growing their business and offering exceptional service. Just after today's visit I know I'll be coming back to try everything off their menu!

    Ghirardelli caramel latte
    Kariss A.

    This place absolutely nailed it. The açaí bowl was incredibly fresh and delicious -- you can really taste the quality of the ingredients, and everything felt perfectly balanced. Not overly sweet, just clean and refreshing. I also tried their Ghirardelli caramel coffee with salted caramel foam, and it was so good. The sweetness was just right, and the foam added a nice touch without being overpowering or too heavy, which I really appreciated. Overall, such a great experience from start to finish. Everything felt thoughtfully made, and I'll definitely be coming back!

    Ashley H.

    I was excited to try this place since I've been following their IG page for awhile. Yet, I was somewhat let down when I went for a latte during my lunch break today. It is small inside, but the decor is cute and fits the vibe they are going for. The barista that took my order was nice and nice enough to let me know they were backed up on drinks... That's where the disappointment set it. With staff trying to get caught up on ALOT of lattes, I ordered a match (less backed up). Maybe The Notebook Cafe is still trying to figure out a system that works or weren't prepared for heavy foot traffic.. but having to wait 45+ minutes for a drink is not okay. I'll wait for foot traffic to die down until I give this cafe another shot. Until then, if you want to try it yourself, be prepared to wait (depending on the day?).

    Genesis B.

    So I've seen all the hype. Not sure if it's worth it YET. They just opened the 13th and I came a week after. The cafe is on Main St, right in downtown. I arrived on a Saturday morning around 9am. The line was almost out the door. Inside, the cafe's aesthetic was like a study, contemporary, with dark colors. Or reminds me of a library. It can get crowded pretty quick, since it's a pretty narrow space. There is restroom down the hall, towards the back and there are two accents walls. At the front counter, there is a patty shelf with muffins and bread. The menu is on a paper sized display, with laminated menus as well. I saw they offered lattes, espresso, matcha, cold foam, and specialty drinks. There are two sizes, 16 and 20oz. For food, I saw just sandwiches (not breakfast), toast, and an açaí bowl. I decided to get the 16oz Ghirardelli Caramel latte with whole milk. I paid around $8 with some change. It takes a bit to receive, since there was lot of people. Luckily there was seating. Once I received it, I tasted it. I did taste the caramel but not much of the chocolate. Not very impressed YET, but I would come back.

    Celeste C.

    Just went for the first time today and it was sooo good! The drinks are amazing! My husband got the brown sugar shaken espresso and I got the banana cream matcha. OBSESSED! The workers were very welcoming!

    Bathroom vibes
    Hope N.

    Beautiful café with delicious drinks. The coffee was rich and flavorful, and the matcha was excellent as well. Unfortunately, the service left us feeling a little disappointed. While standing in line, a staff member in a white shirt and hat was handing out samples and completely skipped over my fiancée and me. Later, after we sat down waiting for our drinks, he came around with more samples and avoided us again. It may not have been intentional, but being overlooked twice while everyone else got one..definitely changed the energy of our visit. We had planned to stay and enjoy the café, but decided to leave after getting our drinks. We'd still come back because the drinks were great, but hopefully the customer experience feels a bit more welcoming next time...

    Korina R.

    I went during their soft open so I knew there was still going to be some hiccups but these weren't hiccups, they were real issues that hopefully have been fixed but I'll be waiting a couples of months until I go again. The man who took our order was super friendly loved him and then it all went downhill from there. We got one drink probably 5 mins after we ordered and then the second one came probably 25 mins after that... I received the first one and they said they would bring out our second one shortly so we waited, and waited, 10 mins went by and I went inside to see maybe they had it at the bar. They didn't, the man who took our order was like you haven't received your second drink? Let me see what's going on. Well he had a talk with his baristas and they were like oh we didn't know what you wrote so we didn't do it. Wild to me and to him but he told them what it was and went on with taking orders. I stood back a bit, another 5 mins went by and I believe the owner asked me if I was still waiting for anything, I told him I was for a while now, now he went back to the baristas to talk to them. He told me it would be out shortly. Another 5 mins went by and they have been calling out other orders left and right. And again no drink for me :/ the owner guy went back again and asked them again and his baristas finally said it was just getting the ice. I finally got my second drink, just a caramel latte... nothing fancy. By that the time my first drink was watered down and not great. Second drink was whatever. I was really looking forward to this spot opening since I work downtown. Maybe I'll give it another try in a couple months. One star for the man taking our order and another for the cookie we also ordered. That was good.

    Front Counter
    Devyn D.

    Went for the Grand Opening. It was busy but the staff were super friendly! The drinks and food are delicious. This is my new favorite spot.

    banana matcha and blueberry latte

    Got there around 9:30am for their grand-opening at 10am. I asked if I should form a line, but one of the workers said it wasn't necessary because we were first. Despite this, I still formed a line and a group of 3 still cut in front of us... There was no structure and no giveaways. I think they underestimated the turn-out. Once inside, our drinks took a while because of the lack of preparation. Also, the cups were filled to the brim with ice and the drinks lacked flavor. There's a lot to improve and I hope they take the time to address these issues.

    White Peach Cloud
    Aileen R.

    The White Peach Cloud is 10/10. Also, their brown sugar shaken espresso was really good too. They have a variety of cold foams+flavors that are not very common. Be warned, they just opened and the line gets pretty long. Don't go if you're in a time crunch and be mindful of the baristas. Don't let the negative reviews about the wait time fool you into not going. Or, go when you have more time. Busy people might have to stay away until the buzz dies down.

    White Peach Cloud

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    8 days ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 1

    12 days ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 3
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    9 days ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 3
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    Page 2 of 2

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    Arcade Downtown

    Arcade Downtown

    4.4
    (404 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Arcade Coffee in Riverside has quickly become one of my favorite spots. I've tried several of their…read moreholiday drinks, and every single one has been delicious--flavorful, well-balanced, and clearly made with care. Their pastries are also really good and pair perfectly with a coffee or seasonal drink. The space itself is clean, modern, and has a really trendy, inviting vibe. It's the kind of place you actually want to sit and stay awhile, whether you're catching up with someone or just enjoying some time to yourself. Every visit has been consistently great--nothing has ever disappointed. Overall, Arcade Coffee is a solid go-to in Riverside if you want good drinks, good pastries, and a nice atmosphere.

    This is a solid, upscale coffee shop in Downtown Riverside. I've been to their other locations as…read morewell, but mostly visit Bakehouse and Downtown. As far as options go, I think there's a decent selection of more unique syrups for coffees. They do change it up throughout the year. The drinks here are definitely more of a premium price point, but I think they're generally good. On this particular trip, I wanted to try their new syrup flavor (it was some form of orange zest, or something similar?), but noticed my latte had no real flavor in it after a few sips. Upon looking at the receipt, the person who took my order just gave me a regular cafe latte and didn't add the syrup I requested. The coffee was fine, but I would have liked trying something new. I have gotten several of their food options before, and I think that some of them are well-priced for the portion and some can be more on the expensive side. I think the avocado toast was pretty robust and was a good value. The steak and eggs are somewhat hit or miss, and I have had it multiple times. The cut of the meat can be chewy at times, and then also more lean and tender other times. Sometimes it comes with large pieces of chewy fat, which isn't quite to my taste. The sandwich options generally are a good value. I do kind of wish they switched up their menu a bit more often, since this current menu is rather basic and they have had more interesting food options before. Overall, a decent choice for a more premium coffee, tea, and food for the Downtown/UCR area of Riverside. Service is okay, and I have had somewhat mixed experiences with that. The employees generally seem pleasant and they're nice, but I have gotten incorrect orders at least a couple of times. During this particular visit, in which the photos are from, I had to ask two different people to get extra napkins. Our actual server was the first to acknowledge, then possibly forgot and didn't come back.

    Photos
    What a cool place !  Noisy tho
    What a cool place ! Noisy tho
    Veggie Sandwich | bakehouse sourdough, roasted peppers, avocado, english cucumber, roasted garlic kewpie
    Veggie Sandwich | bakehouse sourdough, roasted peppers, avocado, english cucumber, roasted garlic kewpie
    Mont Blanc

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    Mont Blanc
    Back to the Grind

    Back to the Grind

    3.7
    (755 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $

    I had a pleasant experience at Back to the Grind coffee shop as I was looking to get off the road…read moreto take a work meeting (traffic put me way behind my anticipated road schedule). I didn't want to enter any cafe very small/ with petite tables or judgement if I sat down for 1.5 hr to work on my computer. I bought a sausage croissant which was just ok, but still a nice quick breakfast item. I was able to sit in a comfy chair with an outlet source & table to conference in my meeting. I was left unbothered & comfortable the whole time, which I greatly appreciated. There are several lounge chairs, tables & areas to space out to work, read, lounge, etc! I would certainly return another day to try out their coffee menu and those earl grey lavender scones (wish I saw those first!!) The barista was kind & the atmosphere very pleasant!

    SERVICE here is VERY BAD!…read more The service at Back to the Grind was genuinely one of the most unprofessional customer service experiences I've had. While I was in the middle of placing my order, an older gentleman wearing glasses abruptly walked away from me mid-conversation to speak with someone he knew. No acknowledgment, no "I'll be right back," nothing. I was left standing there confused and waiting while they casually chatted amongst themselves. At the same time, my husband approached another employee -- a young woman with very long black hair and a pink bandana (see pic)-- simply to ask for the WiFi password. Without even looking at him, she told him he needed to "buy something first." When he explained that I was already ordering, she repeated herself in a dismissive tone and continued making sandwiches without making eye contact once. What stood out most wasn't just the lack of hospitality, but the overall attitude from multiple staff members. The environment felt cold, dismissive, and inconvenienced by customers being there at all. Ironically, the café advertises community classes like yoga and live meditation classes on the window, yet basic customer service and professionalism seem completely absent. The food itself was fine, which is why this review is specifically about the service experience. Even after how poorly we were treated, I still left a tip because I refuse to match that level of disrespect. Management seriously needs to address the customer service culture here. One rude interaction can happen anywhere -- but multiple employees displaying the same behavior reflects a larger issue.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Back to the Grind
    Back to the Grind

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    Buenos Dias Cafe

    Buenos Dias Cafe

    4.1
    (253 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    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.

    You're here for the review. Here it is…read more BOMB. Everything on the menu is delicious. I've tried just about every food item, and today went with the sausage burrito. Thick, meaty, eggy, cheesy goodness. Today I was lucky to receive both the green and red salsas. Which is better? Naw, it doesn't work like that. They each have their own flavors and hit differently with each bite. Not enough kick for y'all, but for me it was perfect (lightweight). For coffee, I went with El Chino, which is their version of a Vietnamese Coffee. Without stirring, you're going to get that moment you're looking for. After a good stir, you're sipping on a creamy, but strong coffee. Perfect for those who need a quick boost. The girls here always take care of you, answers your questions and provide the best service. If you're not a fan of lines, set your alarm to come a little earlier than your normal coffee run (pre-9am). Either way, come here and try it yourself, you won't be disappointed.

    Photos
    Absolutely love the murals
    Absolutely love the murals
    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.
    Dulce de leche latte

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    Dulce de leche latte
    Condron Coffee

    Condron Coffee

    4.0
    (426 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    Cafe is such a hidden gem. From the moment you walk in, the whole place just feels like a…read morevibe--plants everywhere, good music playing, and a super inviting atmosphere that makes you want to stay awhile. I ordered a hot fig latte and it was honestly incredible. You can tell they really care about their craft--the espresso shot was smooth and rich, and the flavor of the fig was perfectly balanced, not too sweet but still super satisfying. The fact that they make all their syrups in-house really shows in the quality. I loved it so much I ended up buying a bag of their coffee beans to take home, which says a lot. The location is great, the ambiance is on point, and the coffee is genuinely some of the best I've had in a while.

    I was a regular customer here from the day this coffee shop opened. After moving out of state, I…read morerecently drove an extra hour out of my way to meet a friend here because I always enjoyed this place. We purchased several drinks and were sitting inside when the manager asked us to move outside because my toddler was being loud. While I understand he may have been disruptive, he wasn't running around or causing damage. What disappointed me was the manager's unfriendly approach. We moved outside as requested, but all the tables were in direct sunlight, which wasn't practical since I had my newborn with me. After going out of my way to visit a place I had supported for years, I left feeling unwelcome and disappointed. Unfortunately, I won't be returning.

    Photos
    Iced Vanilla Latte
    Iced Vanilla Latte
    Unfriendly staff at this location.
    Unfriendly staff at this location.
    VG/GF Chocolate Donut

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    VG/GF Chocolate Donut

    The Notebook Cafe - cafes - Updated June 2026

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