{"id":193377,"date":"2026-02-25T18:00:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T18:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/193377\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T18:00:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T18:00:17","slug":"10-new-cafes-you-need-to-know-about","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/193377\/","title":{"rendered":"10 new cafes you need to know about"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the Bay Area slowly \u2014 some might say glacially \u2014 crawls into spring, there\u2019s nothing better than sipping a hot cup of tea or coffee<\/a> to warm yourself up. At least it\u2019s cheaper than running up your PG&E bill these days.<\/p>\n

This past year, the region has seen a blossoming of cafes operating under a number of umbrellas. There are Asian matcha houses, pouring the fresh and forest-green green tea, and Latin American spots making caf\u00e9 de olla and Tijuana tonics.<\/p>\n

You might encounter buzzy Yemeni coffee shops, \u201cBridgerton\u201d<\/a>-inspired high tea parties or a Korean pour-over mecca whose drinks are as beautiful as the flowers it sells.<\/p>\n

In no particular order, here are 10 new places to get a cuppa or some joe this year.<\/p>\n

Molly Tea (San Mateo, Palo Alto, Cupertino and coming soon to Santa Clara)
\n\"MollyMolly Tea in San Mateo specializes in floral milk teas and has three new Bay Area locations that have opened since October. (Kate Bradshaw\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

This booming teahouse chain specializes in Chinese flower and fruit teas, particularly jasmine teas. The brand is growing rapidly around the world \u2014 after launching its first location in 2021 in Shenzhen, China, it has grown to more than 2,000 worldwide locations.<\/p>\n

The soft opening for Molly Tea started at the end of October<\/a>, and has been a popular addition to San Mateo\u2019s B Street promenade, drawing long lines. The Cupertino location opened Nov. 7<\/a>, then Palo Alto on Nov. 21<\/a>. Those three new locations follow closely on the heels of the region\u2019s first location in Sunnyvale, which opened in October 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And coming soon is yet another location, this one in Santa Clara at\u00a0Rivermark Village.<\/p>\n

The cup: Try its flagship premium jasmine milk tea paired with a jasmine whipped cream top. It\u2019s floral, sweet and elegant.<\/p>\n

The bite: This tea shop only serves beverages.<\/p>\n

Details: Open 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays at 153 S. B St., San Mateo; usa.mollytea.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Kopi Bar and Bakery (Berkeley)
\n\"CustomersCustomers order food and beverages at Kopi Bar and Bakery on the second floor of the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive on Feb. 13, 2026. (Ray Chavez\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tears fell among foodies and coffee junkies last summer when Kopi Bar and its sister restaurant shuttered in Walnut Creek<\/a>. But that city\u2019s loss is another\u2019s gain, as Kopi Bar returned in a delicious way at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive<\/a>. (Is it a good thing when Alice Waters drops by to eat at your new cafe, as verified on Facebook?)<\/p>\n

Owner Nora Haron tapped her Singaporean and Indonesian, particularly Nusantaran<\/a>, roots to create the museum cafe\u2019s small but intriguing menu. She\u2019s in charge of the kitchen R&D, whipping up lunch dishes like gado-gado salad and soto ayam, turmeric-coriander chicken soup with sous-vide egg. Pastries like passion-fruit malasadas and chocolate-babka pistachio swirls benefit from her sourdough starter, still alive and bubbling after a decade-plus of traveling. \u201cIt\u2019s a living piece of continuity and care, and it shows up in the flavor and character of what we serve,\u201d Haron says.<\/p>\n

\"KopiKopi Bar and Bakery chef-owner Nora Haron shows some of the food and coffee options at the cafe located inside the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. (Ray Chavez\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Oak-roasted beans for the coffee and espresso drinks come from Oakland\u2019s Mr. Espresso. They\u2019re brewed into drip coffee, Americanos and lattes. But why order those when you could get a Coconut Cappuccino or a Kopi Avocado, made with the guacamole ovoid?<\/p>\n

\u201cAvocado coffee is absolutely part of Indonesian coffee culture, especially in places like Java and Bali,\u201d Haron explains. \u201cIt\u2019s traditionally made with really strong, dark coffee and ripe avocado, usually with a little sweetness. The avocado isn\u2019t there to be trendy \u2014 it\u2019s about texture and balance. It brings this natural creaminess that softens the bitterness of the coffee, so it becomes something lush, almost dessert-like, without needing dairy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"CoffeeAvocado coffee is one of the drinks served at Kopi Bar and Bakery inside the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. (Ray Chavez\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

The cup: The Kopi Avocado is a refined version of the overseas drink, delivering a comforting and indulgent mouthfeel while seeming modern enough to match the museum\u2019s art ($7). There\u2019s a golden latte and a moringa latte, made with nutrient-rich tree leaves<\/a> ($6.50). Tea-based drinks rely on orange flower or fresh ginger, and \u201cBridgerton\u201d fans take note: The cafe will hold its High Tea, inspired by the show,<\/a> this April, with the \u201cfinest attire\u201d encouraged.<\/p>\n

The bite: A rotating menu features savory meals like beef rendang chili with microgreens ($22), vegan mushroom congee with caramelized-soy sambal ($16) and nasi goreng, an Indonesian fried rice with egg and pickles ($18). On the sweeter side, Haron\u2019s pastries are varied and mouthwatering enough to make choosing hard: makrut-lime shortbread ($4.50), black-sesame chiffon cake ($5.50) or perhaps a pandan-sourdough brioche with kaya butter and coconut-sugar brulee ($6)?<\/p>\n

Details: Open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays at 2155 Center St., Berkeley (second floor of BAMPFA); no museum admission required to visit the cafe, thekopibar.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Ananas Coffee (Walnut Creek)
\n\"AnanasAnanas Coffee opened in Walnut Creek in 2025 with homemade pastries, sandwiches and Turkish coffee. (Photo courtesy of Ananas Coffee)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ananas is a Turkish-inspired cafe whose name, despite the resemblance to \u201cbananas,\u201d means \u201cpineapple.\u201d \u201cDid you know that while English uses \u2018pineapple,\u2019 most of the world refers to this tropical fruit as \u2018ananas\u2019?\u201d says the business\u2019 website. \u201cFrom Paris to Mumbai, Berlin to Istanbul, \u2018ananas\u2019 is the universal word that connects cultures, languages and cuisines.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like this word, the menu at Ananas is sprawling and inclusive. There are turkey-Caesar wraps and burrata-avocado toast, homemade chocolate-chip cookies and baklava, and one strange thing that everyone seems to order \u2013 a Korean Cream Cheese Bun<\/a> that went viral after a food influencer blew it up online. If all that\u2019s not enough, owners Berke Tutuncuoglu and Alaeddin Mistikoglu recently opened a cute grocery next door, Verde Gourmet<\/a>, selling specialty vinegars, imported olive oils and their own dips and spreads.<\/p>\n

Ananas uses beans from Zolo Coffee Roasters<\/a>, a Third-Wave<\/a> coffee company that has gone far since starting as a Danville farmers\u2019-market stand. It\u2019s served in every way imaginable, including tiny cups of Turkish coffee, authentic right up to the dark grit on the bottom.<\/p>\n

The cup: Not too many places have Turkish coffee, so why not order a cup ($5.50)? You can add a flavor syrup for a buck \u2013 there\u2019s caramel, hazelnut and cardamom, which matches the bitterness of the coffee well. If you like the edge taken off, add a slug of milk or instead order a flat white ($5.95) or a smooth, nitro cold brew ($6.50).<\/p>\n

\"AnanasAnanas’ Korean Cream Cheese Bun \u2014 a blooming onion-shaped sourdough loaf bursting with soft sweet cheese \u2014 went viral thanks to a food influencer. (John Metcalfe\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

The bite: The viral Korean Cream Cheese Bun is a blooming onion-shaped Acme sourdough loaf dipped in garlic-parsley butter and bursting with soft, sweet cheese. It ain\u2019t cheap and is best described as an acquired taste, but will give you bragging rights among your food friends ($15). The baklava is artfully arranged on platters with a pistachio-chocolate version ($3.95-$7.95), and there are homemade desserts like sesame-tahini cookies ($4.75) and tiramisu ($8.95).<\/p>\n

Details: Open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays and 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays at 1372 N. Main St., Walnut Creek; ananas.coffee<\/a><\/p>\n

Milyar (Santa Clara)
\n\"AA banana cream matcha and Biscoff latte are set at a table with Ramadan decor at the Milyar Cafe in Santa Clara on Feb. 24, 2026. (Shae Hammond\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s 7:30 on a Sunday night and while other Bay Area coffeehouses are winding down for the day, Milyar is just revving up.<\/p>\n

Inside this spacious, white-and-gold cafe with bright lights hanging from a high ceiling, 14 of the 20-plus tables are filled. About half are small groups of friends chatting over Yemeni coffee and pastries, and the other half are students from nearby Santa Clara University studying at their laptops, maybe a latte by their side.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re welcome to stay for hours in this \u201crefined golden ambiance,\u201d for Milyar is a rarity in today\u2019s post-pandemic world \u2014 a cafe that\u2019s open till 2 a.m. Yes, night owls, every day!<\/p>\n

\"YemeniYemeni beehive bread is served at Milyar Cafe in Santa Clara on Feb. 24, 2026. (Shae Hammond\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

The cup: Milyar specializes in Yemeni coffee, known for its fruity, earthy tones. There\u2019s a Yemeni Latte, with hints of sweetness and spice, and a popular chai. Signature drinks include the Pistachio Latte and the Dubai Latte.<\/p>\n

The bite: The pastry case overflows with tempting options including two customer favorites \u2014 honeycomb cake and Biscoff milk cake \u2014 and new mousse desserts in chocolate, raspberry or mango. Slices of cheesecake come in many flavors, including pistachio. On the savory side are the hand pies called fatayer, with spinach, beef or other fillings.<\/p>\n

Details: Open 8 a.m.-2 a.m. daily at 1908 Monroe St., Santa Clara, where there is street parking that becomes easier to find when the nearby restaurants are closed. Also at 3300 Adeline St., Berkeley, but that location offers slightly shorter hours, 8 a.m. to midnight.<\/p>\n

Maymay\u2019s Cravings Asian Snack Bar (Walnut Creek)
\n\"Maymay'sMaymay’s Cravings Asian Snack Bar is a new cafe serving Filipino-inspired food and drinks in Walnut Creek. (John Metcalfe\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

This teensy cafe specializes in comfort food and drinks of the Philippines<\/a>. It\u2019s in the same building as a Yifang Taiwan Fruit Tea, and both are owned by the family of Maylanie Vallejo, who are often on-hand to offer ordering advice and good cheer. It is a pared-down but scrappy operation, with a wall of instant ramen \u2013 so many brands, from fiery Buldak<\/a> to Lucky Me! Filipino noodles \u2013 and electric stoves to boil it and mix in purchasable toppings.<\/p>\n

The drinks come in clear cans that resemble beer tall boys and are customizable for sweetness, ice amount and dairy preference. Some of the most popular beverages are caffeine-free, like a corn latte or a coconut cream-mango smoothie. But for those who want that jittery boost, there are rainbow-colored drinks with Thai or jasmine tea or matcha, with the option of \u201cboosting\u201d your latte with 30 grams of protein.<\/p>\n

\"Maymay'sAt Maymay’s Cravings Asian Snack Bar in Walnut Creek, the drinks come in clear cans that resemble beer tall boys and are customizable for sweetness, ice amount and dairy preference. (John Metcalfe\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

The cup: The Creamy Corn Latte is golden-tan and studded with floating shreds of kernels; it tastes like the milky nectar you get from biting into really fresh corn ($7). Folks with a sweet tooth will enjoy the other options, too \u2013 of course you can ask for them with less sugar \u2013 like a Strawberry Matcha latte (also in mango or ube flavors) or a Matcha Coconut Water that\u2019s fresh and hydrating ($7).<\/p>\n

The bite: The small menu rotates but might feature rice bowls with beef kare-kare or pork adobo ($16-$18), arroz caldo (chicken soup, $10) or the savory rice porridge called lugaw ($7). There\u2019s the wall of DIY ramen, of course ($3-$7), and a case with homemade onigiri and Spam musubi. (Combo deal: order three with a tea latte for $15). The chilled mango sago is a popular dessert ($9), as is the taho, sweetened silky-tofu pudding with tapioca pearls ($8).<\/p>\n

Details: Open 11:45 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays and 11:45 a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays at 1349 Locust St., Walnut Creek; maymayscravings.com<\/a> and instagram.com\/maymayscravings<\/a><\/p>\n

Bici Coffee (Menlo Park)
\n\"BiciBici Coffee, a cycling-themed cafe at the Rosewood Sand Hill hotel, kicked off its soft opening Jan. 5. (Kate Bradshaw\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

A stylish new cycling-themed coffee shop is now open at the Rosewood Sand Hill hotel in Menlo Park after launching its soft opening Jan. 5. You\u2019ll find it through a separate door to the right of the main hotel entrance.<\/p>\n

In addition to being known as a venture capital hub, Sand Hill Road is a popular Silicon Valley spot for cycling and is a common route to and from the quiet, woodsy bikeways of Woodside, Portola Valley and the Santa Cruz Mountains.<\/p>\n

\u201cInspired by bicicletta, the Italian word for bicycle, Bici Coffee celebrates movement, community, and the simple pleasure of a well-crafted pause. Located at the gateway to the Santa Cruz Mountains, Bici is a natural gathering place for cyclists, locals, and the Silicon Valley community,\u201d the cafe\u2019s webpage<\/a> states.<\/p>\n

The cup: With beans roasted by coastal favorite Cat & Cloud<\/a> in Santa Cruz, any of the coffee items provide a sampling of the flavors on tap on the other side of the Santa Cruz Mountains. (Also, rumor has it that people who participate in the cafe\u2019s Saturday morning run club get free coffees.)<\/p>\n

The bite: Pastries are sourced from Manresa Bread, plus the cafe offers fresh juices, salads and sandwiches. Try the spinach and artichoke escargot \u2014 a flaky, rich, bready spiral \u2014 for a savory snack.<\/p>\n

Details: Open 6:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily at 2825 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park; rosewoodhotels.com\/en\/sand-hill-menlo-park\/dining\/bici-coffee<\/a><\/p>\n

ChaiAum Tea and Coffee (Pleasanton)
\n\"BaristaBarista Lauren Jepson pours a cup of Himalayan Chiya at the ChaiAum tea shop in Pleasanton on Feb. 11, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

This colorful strip-mall shop bills itself as the \u201cTri-Valley\u2019s first authentic chai cafe.\u201d Founder Rani Rauniar aims to re-create not just the drinks and snacks of the Himalayas \u2013 spiced tea, sel roti pastries that\u2019d be perfect for a ring-toss game \u2014 but also the region\u2019s warmth and inclusivity.<\/p>\n

\u201cGrowing up in Nepal, chai was more than just a drink. It was a daily ritual that brought people together, fostering connection and comfort,\u201d Rauniar says. \u201cAfter moving to the U.S., I realized how much I missed that sense of togetherness around a cup of freshly brewed chai.\u201d<\/p>\n

The cafe invites customers to kick back and lounge a while, with comfy furniture, device chargers and posted Wi-Fi access. Organic tea is sourced from the high-altitude Himalayan foothills of the Ilam district, which is renowned for exceptional tea quality. Crystal-clear pots are perfect for sharing, and there are plans to make English-style \u201chigh tea\u201d a regular experience.<\/p>\n

\"InteriorChaiAum tea shop in Pleasanton features bright walls, comfy chairs and books to read. (Jose Carlos Fajardo\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

The cup: Himalayan chiya, or Nepalese chai, is brewed with aromatic spices, available hot or iced, with the choice of adding espresso to make it \u201cdirty\u201d ($5.50-$8). There are the standard coffee drinks, including fruit-flavored lattes, and noncaffeinated options like Ayur herbal tea or a hibiscus-mango cold brew with scratch-made flower concentrate. A new Ocean Latte is popular with the TikTok generation; it\u2019s a deep-blue elixir made with matcha, butterfly pea and salted caramel. And the foamy golden-turmeric latte is particularly comforting, feeling like it\u2019s dribbling straight into your immune system ($6.50).<\/p>\n

\"AFrom left, a Raspberry Matcha Latte, an Ocean Iced Latte and a Strawberry Hibiscus Cold Brew are served at the ChaiAum tea shop In Pleasanton. (Jose Carlos Fajardo\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

The bite: There are European-style treats like smoked-salmon toast and spinach-feta croissants, and then Rauniar prepares some of her home country\u2019s cuisine. \u201cWe serve nostalgic snacks from Nepal, such as sel roti and nimki \u2014 items you won\u2019t find in any other cafe or restaurant in the Bay Area,\u201d she says. The former is a sweet, hula hoop-shaped pastry, the latter an imminently snackable fried-dough crisp. And the kitchen has recently introduced chicken and vegan momos.<\/p>\n

Details: Open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Sundays at 5424 Sunol Blvd., Suite 11, Pleasanton; chaiaum.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Kanom Co. Sweetery (Daly City)\u00a0
\n\"AtAt Kanom Sweetery in Daly City, you can sip a layered green an iced orange matcha and Thai tea iced drink while nibbling sweet rolls stuffed with pandan and Thai tea custards. (Kate Bradshaw\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

This Thai dessert shop opened this past August and serves Thai tea and coffee, green tea, and fusion slushies. The drinks come in a rainbow of colors, from a purple-and-white-swirled milky taro drink to a layered yellow-and-green matcha honey lemon beverage. Snacks and bites include custard-filled bread, Thai coconut pancakes with pandan or Thai tea fillings and dipping custards for steamed bread or pa-tong-ko, Thai-style Chinese crullers.<\/p>\n

The cup: For a matching snack and drink, get the Thai tea matcha combo to drink. The layered beverage packs a caffeinated punch and its bright colors are hard to beat.<\/p>\n

The bite: To pair with your green-and-orange drink, get a combo of two rolls, one filled with green pandan and the other with orange Thai tea custard. The soft, moist bread blends with each custardy bite for a satisfying afternoon pick-me-up.<\/p>\n

Details: Open 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. at 2025 Gellert Blvd #202, Daly City; kanomcodaly.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Sana\u2019a Cafe (Mountain View, Redwood City, Oakland)
\n\"AA slice of milk cake and a mug of mofawar, medium-roast coffee with cardamom and cream, are among the menu items at Sana’a Cafe in Redwood City. (Kate Bradshaw\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Few trends have dominated the coffee space in the last few years like the rise of Yemeni coffee shops<\/a>. The friendly atmosphere and late night hours \u2013 plus spiced coffee drinks, milk cake and other treats \u2013 make it a trend we\u2019re here for.<\/p>\n

Sana\u2019a Cafe launched its first Bay Area location in San Francisco in 2023<\/a> and has since expanded around the Bay Area, with additional San Francisco locations, two Oakland locations (and more on the way), a Redwood City location that opened around October, and a Mountain View location that opened last February. Additional locations also appear to be in the works in Hayward and Sunnyvale.<\/p>\n

The cup: Go for its signature Sana\u2019a latte, a latte featuring cardamom, cinnamon and ginger; it\u2019s ultra-comforting and full of warming flavors. Or order the mofawar, medium-roast coffee with cardamom and cream.<\/p>\n

The bite: Try a slice of the warm honeycomb bread, stuffed with cream cheese bits and drizzled with honey, or one of the varieties of dense milk cake on offer.<\/p>\n

Details: Open 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays and 8 a.m.-midnight Fridays-Saturdays at 2400 Broadway, Suite 120, Redwood City; sanaahousecafe.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Little Store (Woodside)
\n\"AtAt The Little Store in Woodside, you can pick up flowers, coffee and breakfast and lunch items from a kitchen led by Chef Sierra Hazel. The revived 100-plus-year-old shop reopened in September. (Kate Bradshaw\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Little Store is a new flower and coffee shop inside a Woodside landmark that opened in September. It\u2019s co-owned by Aubriana Kasper and Gena Winter, who also own flowers-and-coffee shop Marigold<\/a> in San Francisco, and helmed by head chef Sierra Hazel, a private chef who\u2019s worked at the two-Michelin-starred Birdsong<\/a> in San Francisco.<\/p>\n

How did it get its name? The store building, which has been around since the early 1900s, is said to have earned its name over the decades from community members because \u201cThe Neuman\u2019s store at the corner of Woodside and Mountain Home roads (now Roberts) was \u2018the big store,’\u201d according to a 1998 Almanac article<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The cup: Go for one of their signature lattes, like the seasonal rose vanilla bean latte or honeysuckle latte, featuring honeysuckle syrup.<\/p>\n

The bite: It\u2019s hard to go wrong with this aesthetic, locally sourced fare, but we\u2019ll vouch for their breakfast burrito. But a more recent menu addition, their breakfast sandwich, featuring a housemade buttermilk biscuit and cheddar cheese, herb aioli, scrambled egg and sage sausage, barrel aged bacon or avocado, will be the pick for next time.<\/p>\n

Details: Open 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays at 3340 Woodside Road, Woodside; thelittlestorewoodside.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Still thirsty?<\/p>\n

You might consider these other new places that specialize in coffee and tea:<\/p>\n

Abe\u2019s Cafe: 3572 Mount Diablo Blvd., Lafayette; abescafelafayette.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Raindrop Cafe: 43360 Mission Blvd., #120, Fremont; yelp.com\/biz\/raindrop-cafe-fremont<\/a><\/p>\n

Boba Run: 15 E. Lewelling Blvd., San Lorenzo; instagram.com\/bobarunslz<\/a><\/p>\n

Cafecito Lounge: 625 W. Fourth St., Suite 118, Antioch; cafecitolounge.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Dandelion Kaffe: 1629 Park St., Alameda; dandelionkaffe.com<\/a><\/p>\n

De Matcha: 2315 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley; instagram.com\/dematcha.us<\/a><\/p>\n

Forest Tea Bar: 2628 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley; forestea.life<\/a><\/p>\n

Proyecto Diaz: 2201 Broadway, Oakland; proyectodiazcoffee.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Ryokucha Cafe: 4131 El Camino Real, Palo Alto; ryokucha.cafe<\/a><\/p>\n

Tea-Rek\u2019z: 37390 Niles Blvd., Fremont; tearekz.cafe<\/a><\/p>\n

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