I will always attribute ZombieRunner with my very first experience with good coffee.. Many years ago, when ZombieRunner Coffee was nothing more than a little booth in the corner of the ZombieRunner store when they sold shoes.. (SO LONG AGO!! If I were to actually guess.. it would've been around 2010..) I went up to that booth.. a little curious on their selection of various coffee beans.. Talking to the barista, I vividly remember talking to him about coffee and ended up ordering a Guademalan pour over. Known for its dark chocolatey notes, He suggested that I made sure to try it as it was after he was finished. Specifically told me to try it before adding any sugar or cream to it. Coming from crappy coffee that you had to add sugar and cream to to make it palatteable, I took my very first sip of that Guatamalan straight black and instantly had my mind blown. I got it immediately... That was the day I understood that there was coffee out there in the world that didn't need anything and could be enjoyed as is.. Out of curiosity, a friend ended up adding sugar to their drink, and ya... it ended up making it taste worse.. Fast forward to the other day when I came back to ZombieRunner for the first time post shoes going away.. While I will remember ZombieRunner for its former selection of athletic shoes and equipment, I am so grateful that their coffee continues on. I ordered their Zombie Proof coffee and while there were certainly other things added to the drink, the flavor of the India Mysore beans that they use primarily in the store shines thru. Clean, smooth, with hints of natural sweetness that made me remember of those times. ZombieRunner knows coffee.. and I thank them for opening up a new world for me. read more

Highly recommend Turkish chai!! Chai is strong and yummy with just a touch of sweetness to it. It comes with oat milk! The ginger snap one (cold brew with molasses and ginger) is also super good. Molasses flavor is strong and ginger is subtle. This one's a bit more sweet. Staff were friendly! Not much inside seating but on a lovely street with some outdoor seating and right on the farmers market on Sunday. read more

Serendipity! Ended up finding ZombieRunner as I was looking for coffee at the farmer's market. No seating, so it's great for coffee on the go. This worked out since we wanted coffee at brunch. Highly recommend their latte. It's strong and smooth. Also got the cream cold brew, which was delicious (sweeter). I was surprised the cups seemed on the smaller side, but with the strong coffee...it makes sense! Otherwise I would've looked like @_@ Would definitely stop by if in the area again. read more

ZombieRunner Coffee on California Ave is my favorite spot to meet up with friends and to get the best Matcha Latte. The staff members were always so friendly and professional. Drinks are served quickly and the prices are reasonable compared to prices at other coffee places in Palo Alto. Parking is easy in the parking lot behind the coffee shop. Tables outside are very inviting. Sundays could be busier than weekdays. read more

ZombieRunner Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Happened to see this new to me coffee shop while in the area. They are known for their unique cold brews and seemed to have a lot of returning customers. I ordered a decaf iced vanilla latte and it was good, not necessarily outstanding. Sampled a few cold brews but they were not for me. Service was friendly and informative on their menu selection. read more

ZombieRunner Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Palo Alto, California

I dropped by this coffee shop bc I was desperate for coffee on a sunday morning around 10 am while shopping at the Palo Alto farmers market... and it's actually one of the only coffee shops within walking distance in the area (surprisingly). There was no line or wait and everything was very efficient. I ordered an iced latte (it was $6 flat) and it was smooth and tasted good. The quality feels reliable, consistent, and solid. There's no seating inside but there is outdoor seating which would be nice on a sunny day. Would come back again. read more

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Great coffee, consistent, lasting the test of time. Wish there were more coffee options still (like Backyard Brew -- can't wait for them to reopen!), but it's what we got -- and it's pretty solid. read more

Nice variety coffee shop in this block of Palo Alto. Stopped by after a meeting with bunch of team mates and tried hot and cold variety coffees. I ordered the golden zombie a cold coffee with ginger and turmeric. Heard this was a pit stop for runners in past and hence the name. Lots of healthy concoction coffee in a nice spacious and friendly service. read more

ZombieRunner Coffee - Cold coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Coffee is delicious! Asked what they recommended and was able to snag the last two peppermint mochas (which are similar to after 8s in taste). If you love Jaffa cakes, terrys or chocolate orange sticks, their chocolate orange is the way to go. And if you just love coffee in general, you have to give this place a try. The staff is friendly and they know their flavors. We've been in the bay for the past few decades and didn't even know this gem of a place existed. ZombieRunner has been around for 13years and we frequent the restaurants around here quite a bit but never took notice. The giant tree outside blocks most of the shop so it is difficult to see in comparison to the other restaurants on the road, read more

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Really cute spot on CA Avenue! We got the turmeric ginger (?) coffee and it was strong on the turmeric. Service was pretty fast, some outdoor seating. Chocolate bar options here are good. I like the vibes here! read more

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Love love love their coffee! They do it right. Walked in around 11:30 am today and no line, they made our drink pretty quick and it was exactly what I needed! We get the cold brew cream every time and never leave disappointed. I just wish they had bigger sizes because I would love more of it :) read more

ZombieRunner Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Turkish coffee FTW. A perfect spicy combination of tea and coffee with oat milk and delectable foam! The service is fast but relaxed at the same time. Ambience is very Cal Ave and Palo Alto. Love it. read more

I have only been here twice because I don't live in the immediate area, but both times I went in and asked to add vanilla syrup to my Matcha latte, they asked without hesitation if I would like to try the Matcha first without any syrup. Great customer service! read more

The cold brew coffee was one of the key items at this spot. I purchased a ginger oat milk, cold brew that was absolutely delightful. I sat out in the sunshine and delighted in the beverage the sun in the overall easy-going atmosphere of this spot. The staff were efficient and friendly, and I enjoyed my coffee very much. I will be back again tomorrow. read more

ZombieRunner Coffee - Ginger Cokd brew - so bom!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Stumbled upon this place by accident -- needed to commute to Stanford early in the morning for a few days in a row, and the free coffee from the law school just wasn't doing it for me. Decided to stop by ZombieRunner kind of on a whim & was surprised to see how popular it seemed to be around 9 AM on a Friday morning. All the drinks sounded interesting but I was in a chocolate-y mood & so decided to give the chocolate orange a try -- wow. Quickly became one of my favorite coffee drinks ever, and I ordered it for the next three mornings. Would genuinely recommend this to everyone, and I fully expect ZombieRunner to become a staple of mine when I start on campus next fall! The drinks also came out FAST and the baristas were super friendly. The drink was only available in a 12 oz size, which honestly might be for the best for me or else I would drink a gallon of this every morning lol. read more

ZombieRunner Coffee - Chocolate orange coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Came by and had a cup of coffee when I was at the Sunday farmers market. Even though I added cream and sugar I thought the coffee tasted bitter. Maybe it is me but I was not thrilled with the taste of the coffee. I did think the service was very good. read more

ZombieRunner Coffee - Cup of coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Palo Alto, California

4.5 stars. I really loved this place! Stopped by on a Sunday during the California Ave farmer's market. It had a line out the door but the line went quick and the drinks came out fast, which was pretty impressive. They had some nice covered outdoor seating too so it was a perfect location to sip our pick-me-up's as we hung out with some friends. My hubby ordered iced ginger snap and I got the zombie fizz (both available in the 12 oz). The iced ginger snap was even better than the Philz gingersnap iced coffee and the ginger taste was pleasantly pungent without being overpowering. The zombie fizz was also really good and truly was lightly sweet (which is my preference). Both drinks were refreshing in the warm weather. Would definitely come again if we are in the area! read more

ZombieRunner Coffee - August 2025 menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Tasty coffee and lovely people. Fair warning the store has no indoor seating (though there are a few outdoor tables) or restroom.

Came by for coffee the other day and it was a tasty experience. ZombieRunner Coffee is across the street from Zareen's and is now expanded with a spacious location. We were the only ones there after lunch during the week. It seems like we were served by the owner and the wife. Ordered an iced mocha and it was decent. A touch on the sweet side, the espresso was smooth. ~$6.5 for an iced mocha. They also have a variety of high end pastries and organic chocolates. read more

ZombieRunner Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Best matcha iced drink ever! Glad to find this place. It's a treasure! Will definitely be back. read more

ZombieRunner Coffee - Couldn't resist drinking this before taking the picture - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Palo Alto, California

I came here after visiting the Palo Alto farmer's market and got the golden zombie. It was so good, it definitely had a kick from the turmeric spice blend but it was still delicious and easy to drink. Not to mention, I feel like it gave me a huge dose of energy without the jitters! LIke most spot,s it's definitely pretty pricey, but in my mind, worth it for a treat I'd be unlikely to be able to replicate at home! read more

I was looking forward to visiting zombie runner, Coffee for a business meeting. I recall from its own location and once proudly boasted, the best cappuccino in the world, and my recollections of it were lost in memory. Eager to try my cappuccino my business associate generously bought it for me. And do the fact we were having a business meeting, it was required to drink it slowly, and I refrain from comment to him on what I thought of the cappuccino. Now I'm no longer gonna practice that restraint of pen and tongue. I focus on the quality of the espresso. And I will overlook the fact it was served in a to go cup without choice. The espresso was hidden in milk and topped off by a Lock Lester level of foam. In fact, it seemed more like a latte gone wrong than a cappuccino gone wrong - either way it was way off of good espresso. The seating outside was very nice in the shade and we were interrupted twice by a woman who was patrolling in front who told us to go home. I don't think she was an employee, but I got message. She meant: Go back to the basics. Dial in the espresso and then the milk and foam fall in line. read more

ZombieRunner is one of my favorite coffee spots in the area. I usually stop by on Sundays when I'm on California Avenue for the farmer's market. The staff members are friendly and make drinks super quickly, and they also offer Midwife and Baker pastries which are always delicious! The store is super small, but you go down to the end, order at the counter, and then come back near the door to pick up your order. There isn't any seating inside, but they do have a few tables outside (most people just take everything to go). My favorite drink here is the seasonal Chocolate Orange Zombie, which I get iced, but I also really love the iced Turkish Chai (basically a dirty chai latte). My only ask is to PLEASE offer larger sizes!! I love these drinks so much and would love for one drink to last me longer than the time it takes to get back to my car, haha. read more

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My friends and I had lunch nearby and I spotted their sidewalk sign for their "chocolate orange zombie: cold brew coffee, oat milk, orange and chocolate!" I've had sparkling orange espresso drinks but nothing like this before! I'm glad we stopped inside, and they were so kind to ask me if I'd like to try a sample. Of course I said yes, and I'm glad I did because what an amazing discovery this was! It tastes just like an orange chocolate bar, so rich and lovely. But not too sweet in my opinion. The orange is not tart like orange juice, but it's fragrant and pairs so well with the rest of the ingredients. I am not local enough to come here often so now I'm on a journey to recreate this drink at home. I agree with another review that the sizes could be bigger--when the drink came out I almost gasped at how tiny it was for the price lol. I saw someone say this was a seasonal drink. I think they should definitely add it to the menu permanently, it's very good. There are no seats in the shop, strictly a grab and go spot nearby many businesses. Luckily we found some seating outside so this wasn't too big of an issue for us. On a Sunday I found street parking fairly easily. read more

ZombieRunner Coffee - Chocolate orange zombie drink - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Was in downtown Palo Alto and really needed some caffeine. This is one of the coffee shops on the strip, I decided to try it as I wanted some matcha. Iced Green Tea Latte - It was a light color but seemed a bit overpriced ($6/12oz) The menu said that its matcha with oat milk and sweetener. It definitely did not have a strong matcha flavor but it wasn't bad if you need a fix. To me it definitely tasted like it was a box drink mixed with milk. Service was really fast, they had two workers taking orders and it was a few minutes until my drink came out. The inside was a nice size with an area for things to buy. Outside had a good amount of tables to sit out for a nice day. Some shady areas and some in the sun depending on your mood. read more

ZombieRunner Coffee - Iced green tea latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Popped in during the Sunday farmer's market and got to try their seasonal drink: Coco-mocha! Coco-mocha was a mix of cold brew, oat milk, coconut, and that rich chocolate flavor! The drink itself was VERY coconutty and chocolately, which is great because that's exactly what they advertise! However if you're looking to taste any of the cold brew, this is not the drink for you. Matcha: pretty good matcha I will say. The oat milk with matcha made for a very creamy drink. No graininess which was great. Service was very fast! Was slightly hesitant because there was a decent line when we approached, but it moved along very quickly and our drinks were ready within a minute or two of paying! Only downside is that for $6-7 a drink it is a small cup, but that is the price trend these days so can't be helped. read more

ZombieRunner Coffee - Matcha latte + Coco-mocha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Best Coffee and Chai in the area. My favorite thing is their specialty black licorice candy. You have to try it! Come early. They close early. read more

So sad they don't sell shoes anymore! But, go for their fun seasonable flavors! +++ DRINKS +++ But I love their unique drinks! The Green Tea Latte with Oatmilk is great, but I just tried their Ginger Snap (hot), I loved the zing the ginger gives and the hint of sweetness. **WARNING** It is not for the coffee snob though. My husband (likes pourovers and drinks it black and harps on the freshness of beans) did not like the Ginger Snap. However, their drinks are quite pricey for the size. $6+ +++ PASTRIES/OTHER GOODIES +++ They sell Midwife and the Baker pastries which are delicious and little Valrhona chocolates at the register. +++ AMBIANCE +++ There isn't much seating inside just a bar along the window, but there is some outside. I wish there was more. read more

Got the gen Z stare hard from the young cashier who proceeded to be shocked and confused on why I asked if they had hazelnut syrup/flavored coffee (in a variety craft coffee place). And then, again with the stare, when we asked if they had whole milk. How dare us steer from plant based milks! Haha Coffee was pretty decent though. Enjoy! read more

Great coffee and friendly staff. I highly recommend the ginger snap. The mix of ginger and molasses is a nice treat.

On Sundays, there is a nice arbitrage: you can wait 30 minutes in a long line to buy pastries from the Midwife and Baker farmer's market stall, or you can simply wait approximately zero minutes to pick from a selection of their best pastries from Zombie Runner, and indeed you can buy their pastries on every other day of the week too. read more

ZombieRunner Coffee - Almond croissant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Good for coffee, but all the pastries were sold out by early afternoon (probably earlier) and they have no other non-packaged snacks, and the ambience is terrible if you want to meet someone there to chat over coffee. I liked the Turkish coffee drinks. read more

I chose this place after the other one down the street look unusual. Great service by the owner. She didn't rush in getting it done as I was the last person last Friday. Great latte, but not worth the price. Guess it has to do with the fact that is Palo Alto after all. I'm sure that it does have get popular on Sundays with the flea market happening on the same street. read more

Visited ZombieRunner for a quick coffee run, and I appreciate that the coffee came out pretty fast. The barista was very nice and friendly, and let us know what food was available. Ordered the cold brew and Ginger Snap. Cold brew was decent, the sizes were a little misleading since they said 12oz cups on the menu, but the cup size looked closer to 8oz. The ginger snap drink was not very good. I was interested because of the description of ginger and molasses, and it's a creative idea. However, the ginger was very strong and felt more medicinal rather than like a ginger snap cookie. The molasses made it a dark color that didn't look too appetizing. read more

Different Menu. Loved our first visit. Ginger Snap with Oat Milk - 5* Good service (She gave us a taste of the coffee we were curious about which led to us ordering it :)) read more

So-called black they tea claim to be Darjeeling is undrinkable. Forget this place if u want black tea. I let the staff know and they said write to the owner since they would not believe the staff. I ended throwing it out. read more

Solid. Crazy coffee drinks. I can't believe it but I actually ordered 2 drinks: Zesty Lemon cold coffee and hot coffee with turmeric (can't recall the name). Both were really tasty and the place had an upscale hip vibe to it. I guess I shouldn't be surprised but $7+ per drink is pretty shocking. read more

I love this place! It's very walkable from work and I enjoy heading to it in the morning for a coffee. The coffee is a little unusual in that it's almost all cold brew but somehow it works even hot. The staff is amazing and they got to know me almost right away. The seasonal drinks are top notch and always a favorite. read more

Cute spot, lots of merchandise for sale. I got their iced latte, and it was ready pretty quickly. The staff was friendly read more

ZombieRunner Coffee - Iced latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Palo Alto, California

This place has always been a favorite of mine when I'm in the area. I do wish they had non-oat milk matcha drinks though. Makes it hard to get certain drinks when they're premade with a milk that doesn't sit well with you. read more