I've been to Caffe La Scala numerous times and can't believe I haven't written about them yet. This longstanding Walnut Creek café sits at the corner of Main and Civic, right across from City Hall. My latest visit was on 01/18/2026, when I met an old friend from South Dakota for breakfast. It was fairly busy when we arrived at 10am. No changes were noted to the interior -- it's still cozy and relaxing. We ordered a couple of ham and egg breakfast croissants, an iced coffee, and a hot cocoa. The total, with tip, came to about $32. The barista who helped us was friendly, and we were given a placard for our order. Our food was ready in about 10 minutes, and the same barista brought it to our table. The croissants were on the smaller side, served with a side of mixed greens. The taste was pretty good, making it a perfect light breakfast for a cold morning. The iced coffee was fine, though I wish the flavor had a bit more boldness. Overall, this visit was very much in line with my previous ones. I was able to catch up with a friend over decent coffee and food in a comfortable environment. They're favored by many locals for a reason. Keep this place in mind if you're looking for a coffee shop in Walnut Creek. 4 stars. read more

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Apparently, spending nearly $20 on an egg sandwich and iced tea qualifies you as a customer--but not enough of a customer to sit in a chair with a back. I worked from the barstools for about an hour and a half. After the breakfast rush had passed, I noticed plenty of open tables along the wall. Since I had thrown out my back this week and desperately needed more support, I moved to one of them. The sign said the table was reserved for up to two hours for customers who ordered food. Great--I had ordered food and had only been sitting there for about an hour. Nope. The same barista who took my order approached me to explain that the table was reserved for customers who ordered food. When I reminded her that I had, she asked what I ordered--as if she hadn't personally rung me up. She then told me I needed to return to the backless barstool. I challenged this because it made absolutely no sense. There were plenty of open tables, I was a paying customer and I was within the posted two-hour limit. She simply repeated that it was the policy. To be clear, the problem isn't that the policy was poorly communicated. The policy should not exist in the first place. Kicking a paying customer out of an empty chair and directing them back to a barstool is a horrible business model that lacks basic respect and hospitality. I left angry, embarrassed and regretting the money I spent here. I will absolutely not be returning. read more

It's been awhile, I love coming back. The desserts alone are magnificent. They make their tiramisu so it was tough choosing a different dessert. The pistachio pastry we got did not disappoint. It was delish. We ordered a latte and their Havana latte was recommended. I loved the Havana latte, one of the best lattes I've had. It was flavorful but not super sweet as it has condensed milk. We ordered and paid at register both the cashier and barista were super friendly and polite. There is indoor and outdoor seating. It's a large coffee shop, also serves alcohol. I've had their espresso martinis in the past and one of my favorites. We just had wine and we were looking for a place to have dessert. There's plenty of table and booth seating. read more

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This is a cute, seemingly authentic Italian caffe in Walnut Creek. I think my mistake was to order a matcha instead of an espresso drink; espresso and deserts seem to be more of the speciality here and I did notice a small menu as well (pizza and sandwiches mostly!). It's a cute interior and friendly staff. I was disappointed by the matcha, especially since it was crunchy and not stirred very well. I also wanted it hot, but it was iced. I'll have to come back and try a coffee drink next time which I'm sure would be a better experience! read more

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Amazing place to have morning coffee, a brunch mimosas, and also food available to enjoy the time there. Bathrooms are available but you have to ask for the code. Girls are always with the smile, nice, and attentive. read more

Caffe La Scala - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

I think this will be my last visit after coming here for years. I genuinely like this place--the outdoor space is beautiful, the food is enjoyable, and it has always seemed like a great place to sit outside and get some work done. Unfortunately, nearly every time I settle in to work, families arrive with children screaming, running through the property, jumping on things, and even tearing through the flower beds while their parents seemingly make zero effort to stop them. It seems this is the place to sit down and let your children run wild while other people are trying to enjoy the space. I understand that children are children, but that does not mean every public space is a playground. I was certainly not allowed to behave this way as a child. There used to be a basic social expectation that parents would teach their children how to behave in shared public spaces and intervene when they became disruptive or destructive. What bothers me almost as much as the behavior itself is how completely normalized this seems to have become. I asked a young staff member whether anyone had complained before and was told no. I found that astonishing. I sometimes wonder whether people simply don't speak up anymore because expecting basic courtesy, boundaries, or order is somehow viewed as intolerant. Perhaps this is part of a broader erosion of shared social norms, but I find it genuinely depressing. Adults should be able to enjoy a restaurant, garden, store, or other public space without having to accept uncontrolled screaming, running, and destruction simply because children are involved. I've enjoyed coming here for years, but I'm tired of repeatedly having the same experience. This isn't a playground, and unfortunately I think I'm done. What makes this especially frustrating is the inconsistency in what management chooses to notice and enforce. Staff have approached me to ask whether the water in my personal water bottle was a drink from an outside source, so clearly there is both the ability and willingness to monitor customer behavior and enforce rules. Yet repeated screaming, running, climbing, and disruptive behavior in the back area seems to go completely unaddressed. When I raised the issue, I was told no one had complained before. Whether or not that is true, the absence of complaints does not mean the absence of a problem--many customers simply tolerate an unpleasant environment, leave, or don't return. After years of coming here, I find it incredibly disappointing that management has allowed what could be a wonderful space to repeatedly become a playground rather than establishing and enforcing reasonable standards of behavior for everyone. The picture attached here is after three kids went after this flower bed, destroying many of the beautiful flowers as the parents sat smiling at the whole scene. Astounding. read more

Caffe La Scala - No - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

First off, this place has the ambiance of a euro cafe, the espresso options and baked goods were super delicious! We didn't try the salads or food options but we will when we return. We were looking for coffee and pastries and they delivered. The girl at the counter was so kind, patient and answered our questions on the desserts we weren't familiar with. I had the Boston cream pie and tiramisu which were amazing! There's also outside seating too in a private courtyard for non-cold days. Cozy inside! Minus 1 star due to lack of parking options and accessibility but other than that no bad options here! read more

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Gave this place another chance. The Nutella latte was not my favorite, but their carrot bar was not too bad, just cold. Friends and I enjoyed their outdoors seating area. Service was OK. read more

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Truly one of the best cafes I have ever been too. The food, the coffee , the service. All of it was perfect. I haven't been in years as I don't live around the area anymore. But what a gem for that town. Truly amazing cafe overall. Friendly, happy and amazing food. Miss it always !!! read more

I'm extremely disappointed with the service I received. I ordered a specific item and was given the completely wrong food. When I politely asked for it to be remade correctly, the staff refused and instead offered to pick ingredients off and hand back the same meal. That's unacceptable, especially after paying for something I didn't order. Customer service was dismissive and unprofessional, and the situation could have been handled so much better. I won't be returning after this experience. and refuse to give me a refund I was very kind and respectful, no yelling no foul language. I recommend none of you come here you will receive the same service I did. It's a on and off thing. They're very rude and they have nasty attitudes towards Black people too. read more

Caffe La Scala - Pizza - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Great service and loved the vibe of the cafe. The pastries were great and had a good variety as well. They also have a menu for food. Great coffee, nice place to chat with friends, would recommend to anyone looking to relax at any point in the day. read more

Caffe La Scala - Ice caramel latte and iced latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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ya gotta love la scala. they make a great cappuccino. my go-to cafe when i wanna sit down and enjoy the vibe. also pretty impressive service considering how busy the spot usually is read more

Caffe La Scala - cappuccino, espresso macchiato - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Came in on a Wednesday evening when it wasn't that busy needing to do some work. Sadly the back tables are the only ones with outlets to charge. I come here quite a bit and know the rule of needing food to sit at those tables, but I desperately needed the charge. Half the tables were empty, and all but myself and the gentleman sitting next to me who sat at the same exact time did not have food. After about 20 mins I was asked to leave the table and I did quietly without saying anything. The gentleman sitting next to me was never asked to move, despite only having a drink. He was there for an additional 35 mins, I know because I sat outside. After asking what difference between me and him they said oh it was a mistake. There was a plate... If you going to enforce the rules please do so to everyone, and not just single out one person. This was Wednesday, 6/15, around 8:30pm to 10pm. read more

Friends and I were walking around in Walnut Creek and stumbled upon this cafe and decided to stop in for coffee and dessert. Nice place lots of people inside but a homey comfortable atmosphere. Nice place to hang out and chat. We were greeted and their servers were nice and answered our questions. I tried the seasonal hazelnut latte it was very good. I also tried the vanilla affogato and both were delicious. We will definitely be back to try more items. read more

I like the fact that this place is open early and late in the evening. It is a great spot to film (yes like a YouTube short), read, meet, or just enjoy a cup of coffee and people watch. It is easily accessible for people on crutches or wheelchairs. I was on crutches so this was a great place for me. They also have fresh baked pastries and a breakfast and lunch menu with about 10 items each. Pro tip: it opens at 9am, but street parking is free before 10am so get here early! read more

Caffe La Scala - Plenty of tables and great service. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Climb the stairs and look outward. Or use the stair master and just stare. Well staring outward is what you can do at Caffe La Scala, translates from Italian to Cafe of Stairs/Staircase. As you people watch, climb up with so many coffee offerings, and that's just on 1/2 of the menu. The other half includes wines, beers, and bubbling alternatives. Perfect to match with a dessert or light meal. read more

In my opinion it's the best coffee shop in Walnut creek. Always a delight walking in and smelling good quality coffee and able to talk with the friendly employees. read more

Caffe La Scala - Iced Caramel Macchiato! With a touch of perfection - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Great vibe and friendly staffs. What a perfect place to enjoy your weekend morning with coffee, classic Italian desserts, and sandwiches. Its my second time enjoying their Sandwiches and it still takes good. They lightly grilled the bread with butter for crispiness and the sauce and contents are well balanced. I tried their pistachio cake which was very light and soft. Lovely. This place is definitely distict from those chain coffee stores... read more

Caffe La Scala - Pistachio cake slice - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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I went to the caffe 30 min before closing nobody pay attention I wait for 10 min to somebody come and help me after that I wanted to order she didn't take my order and she told me the kitchen it's close very disappointed and poor customer service never come back to this place hopefully the owner pay attention to the employees they are losing customers with this customer service I wanted to get the catering with them but I changed my mind going somewhere else read more

Nice cafe that also serves meals. We tried the pear salad and a pizza both were very good. I would definitely go back to try the coffee and pastries like tiramisu or cannoli. Friendly staff you order at the counter, pay and they bring the order to your table. read more

Caffe La Scala - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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I was in the area this past Sunday and I wanted to try out this cafe. First of all, I'd like to say I like how there was plenty of indoor and outdoor seating so it's great if you would like to be here on your own or with some friends. It felt cozy inside with the decor and layout. I can see why people like to dine in. There was a specialty menu and I got an iced Nutella latte. It was surprisingly good in the sense that it wasn't overwhelmingly sweet and I can still taste the espresso. I also got a tiramisu cake which was okay but it could've been more flavorful (it was very subtle). The service was okay. It was hard to tell whether the cashier was talking to me at first. She wasn't making eye contact and was multitasking when she asked me what I wanted to order. For me it was a little overstimulating seeing her move from point A to point B while I was trying to order and I kept blanking out. I think she realized I was struggling so she stopped multitasking and took my order. I would say the other thing, when my order was ready, I had a little trouble trying to tell what items were mine and when I asked the barista she seemed annoyed. It's not the worst service but it felt like I was inconveniencing the staff. read more

Caffe La Scala - Iced Nutella Latte and Tiramisu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Intimate little cafe with selection sandwiches, salads, pizza and drinks. We had a couple of paninis and a sandwich. Everything came with a side salad and were delicious. Cheese was gooey, veggies fresh, and bread toasted well. This is a popular hang out spot so there are tables with signs limiting your time. Can see why it's popular with good food and service. Near the Lesher Center so parking is a challeng me but good apot for lunch if you are in area. read more

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My cousins and I came in to this establishment around 10pm a few days ago. One of my cousins had gotten a small scoop of ice cream somewhere else. She had around 1/3 of the ice cream left. The cashier looked at us and said you are not allowed to bring in outside food. She said to us three times. My boss is coming he is very strict he does allow outside food. My boss is coming he is very strict he does allow outside food.My boss is coming he is very strict he does allow outside food. We were gonna buy three pastries and three drinks bc we were celebrating my birthday. We left and we are not coming back. read more

Good deserts both light deserts and not too sweet. Good little coffee and deserts place read more

Caffe La Scala - Hazelnut torte and chocolate cream puffs - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

I came across this cafe while looking for dessert after dinner in downtown. I was surprised to see a cafe open late as it's not a common thing in our area. It was packed inside with every table occupied and the cashier said it was pretty slow for a Wednesday night. The menu offered the usual cafe items but also some alcoholic beverages which was unique. I ordered the tiramisu which was delicious and sat outside on their patio. I typically prefer a more lowkey and spacious cafe, but this was an interesting spot nonetheless if elbow to elbow is your vibe. read more

Caffe La Scala - Tiramisu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Their tiramisu is the best I've ever tried. If you only order one item, you better try the tiramisu. I also really enjoy their pizza, specifically the tomato basil and the truffle mushroom pizza. Service is great, and there's lots of outdoor seating in the back patio. This is the only coffee shop that's open late in Walnut Creek. Ambiance is very cozy and inviting. read more

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The food. Well i had a sandwich and it was very very average. Lettuce was almost wilted. Side tasted of store bought. I also ordered a dessert but it was still frozen in the center. Clearly brought in store bought as well. I washed it down ten minutes later with what i presume was burnt coffee in my africano. Very very disappointing. It is a lovely location but the staff were incredibly rude to some of those seated around me. Pressuring them to order food or surrender the table. Apparently you cannot enjoy coffee at a table there unless you buy their garbage food as well. This town deserves a real italian or french cafe not some fugazi pretending to be one. read more

Chocolate Macaroons are the very best I've had east of the tunne The staff are always very nice. read more

Staff are great and the hours are a huge convenience to folks who need a late night spot that isn't a bar. Everything you guys do, keep doing it read more

One of my absolute favorite cafés in Walnut Creek. It's a go-to for me--open later than most, with plenty of seating, and my favorite part: top-tier people watching. There's always a mix of people--students, remote workers, families, people on dates, and people trying to be on dates. It's lively without being loud, and the atrium outside is such a lovely spot to sit, especially in the afternoons/evenings. The menu is big, with surprisingly solid sandwiches, lots of coffee options (I usually go for a decaf latte), and some teas. Their tea menu could use a few more options, but it's still a great setup overall. And the baristas are consistently friendly, which makes every visit feel warm and familiar. Speaking of dates... La Scala is honestly a great first date spot. Unfortunately, I recently had one of the worst first dates of my life here. The guy was monotone and the conversation felt like pulling teeth. There were awkward silences galore. The thing he got most tangibly animated about was when he started telling me all about his love for the restaurant chain Pacific Catch. By the way, do you know that Pacific Catch has a rewards program where you get points by dining at any of its locations, and you can redeem those points for free appetizers? I didn't know that, but now I do, thanks to this guy. He seemed genuinely disappointed we were meeting here for coffee instead of at his beloved Pacific Catch. I, however, am deeply grateful I didn't have to endure dinner. So: one star for the date, five stars for La Scala. And if you ever spot me here on a future date looking visibly distressed... please send help. Thanks in advance. read more

Meh - cool place to meet someone for a drink if you want a beer and they want a coffee Otherwise I never came here Will never understand how this place made it onto "Check Please Bay Area"... the other guests who were forced to go there had hilarious responses lol read more

I've been going here since college and still love it -- feels like home. Cozy with a wonderful ambiance, great music, and good coffee and food. My only ask: please get loose leaf tea or tea from the paper bags. The tea bags look pretty but they are in those awful plastic coverings that contain microplastics--please have a healthier option. And it would be great to get a chai with less sugar. read more

Such a great gem! Great service, friendly people, cool ambience, and yummy selection! Tiramisu is made in-house, along with other desserts & they offer pizza, paninis, coffee, wine, beer, etc. Chill place to be in morning or night - Will definitely be back! read more

The staff here is friendly yet the owner is a complete jerk who verbally abuses his customers. There has been multiple times that the owner has tried to kick me out for only buying a drink and sitting at the tables with my friend who was in fact eating food, we were the only guests in the cafe at the time so I wasn't taking a seat from anyone and I was accompanying my friend who was eating and drinking, we also combined two-tables together due to our large group, again we were the only guests dining at the time. This is not the first time I have heard about this happening and it is disgusting behavior from a man who acts more like a child. He should be more grateful he had a successful company but instead he loves harassing paying customers who keep his business open. read more

They people giving this place lower reviews are out of their minds. This is a wonderful and extremely popular place. Great food and amazing cakes. Super lovely owners too. read more

Wi-Fi only lasts 1 HOUR. You can only sit for 2 hours, ONLY if you order FOOD (not even coffee or dessert). Everything is over priced and the food kinda sucks, coffee is okay but nothing special. Workers can be generally nice but they're strict with rules- but that's not their fault, it's their job so I don't hold it against them. I recommend the Philz nearby (plus it has tons of free parking). read more

I have been here a couple times when I am in town for bridal appointments. I drive almost 2 hours each way every time to go for the appointments. For the last few times, this cafe has always been a nice place for me to rest, get some work done and eat lunch before heading back. I had plans to keep coming here for next couple times I'm in town for appointments, but no longer. The coffee and food are pretty good, but I saw several reviews saying that the service is bad and can't agree more. The first time I came the place felt off because after lining up to order for about 10 mins, the girl at the register was just happily chatting to her coworker behind the bar for a good few mins - with no acknowledgment of me waiting and offering no eye contact, even though I was standing right in front of her at the register. When she did finally talk to me for my order, there was no apology for waiting, just "what would you like today". Really strange and rude behavior that I have never encountered at a seemingly neighborhood cafe with family business vibes. The most frustrating encounter, however, was when I left my AirPods there almost 2 weeks ago on a Friday. It was a long weekend after that and I didn't notice my AirPods were missing until the Tuesday back at work. Find My tells me that my AirPods are still at the cafe. I called them on Wednesday but no one answered. Called again Thursday and was told that they saw my AirPods but didn't know where it is now. The girl later said she can't find it and they donate lost items there every week or so because lots of things get left there -- I found this so ridiculous because it wasn't like I left my water bottle. They just donate people's valuables too? I found it very unkind, especially it was less than a week from when I left my AirPods, and the casual tone she was saying it with. The girl told me to call back and every time I called for the next few days they said they will look for it or ask if someone has seen them. The next few days my AirPods continued to show its location at the cafe. I called today and the girl said they can't find it, at which point I realized my AirPods location showing they're no longer at the cafe and at an auto shop??? (God forbid a staff took it and sold it) Despite me telling the girl on the phone that I live almost 4-hour round trip away, she told me that she has many customers to serve and that this is a busy cafe so things get shuffled around, and that my best bet is to come in and look for myself. She then said "good luck finding them" at the end of the call. I find my experience with this cafe so infuriating not because losing the expensive AirPods, which is my fault for leaving there, but the cafe's attitude AFTER FINDING THEM has always been "we're so busy, our lost and found get shuffled around" for days. At no point they offered an apology for finding something they found and then misplaced. Now it is somehow no longer at the cafe and no where to be found. It's like leaving something at someone's place and they said they have it but they misplaced it because they're busy. There was absolutely no empathy nor apologies, and telling me "good luck with finding them" was really tone deaf knowing how far I live and my best bet was actually if they could've been more responsible and helpful, not making a 4-hour trip without knowing where my AirPods are. Anyway, their service is the opposite of what you would expect for a place that looks like your friendly neighborhood cafe, and don't leave your stuff there lol. read more

I have found my new favorite café in Walnut Creek, serving delicious drinks, sandwiches, pastries & more for the last 30 years! This was a perfect weekend spot to work especially when I can order a morning espresso martini! We also ordered an iced strawberry matcha latte, bbq pulled pork sandwich, prosciutto panini and coffee cake. Everything is delicious here and has such great vibes! The service was good, just expect it to be busy at times. read more

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The coffee here is outstanding -- rich, smooth, and perfectly brewed every time. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, and the staff are friendly and attentive. Highly recommend! read more

I love Caffe La Scala! The service was very friendly and warm. It's a really cool spot. I tried the pulled pork sandwich with a Coke and it was great. My wife had the pasta with a strawberry lemonade and she really enjoyed it. I will be back soon. read more