Got the brisket breakfast burrito and felt like the Arugula was very overpowering and after taking it out, the meat and egg still had no flavor. 3/10 The Croque Madame was pretty good, very enjoyable and flavorful. 8/10 Matcha latte was good but very small compared to other places (like the one down the street) 4/10 Service was good. read more

I have heard wonderful things from my Yelp friends about Copa Vida. When I had plans with a friend to go to the Huntington Library Museum and Gardens we decided to stop by prior so that we won't be hungry during our adventure. Parking is probably the greatest obstacle coming here. We made a few circles on complicated one way streets before we decided to park at some meter parking a few blocks away. We also found the place to be popular on a Saturday morning and incredibly busy. They had a lot of seating inside and a few more tables on the outside. Given so, one of us rushed to the opportunity of a nice table outside while the other went inside to order. For our drinks, my friend had their Iced Mocha ($6.50) and I had a hot Vanilla Latte ($6.25) knowing they do cute latte art here. For our meal, we both had their Croque Madame ($17.25). It comes with the option of soup or salad, and we both opted for the soup. Everything was delicious! The croque madame comes with ham, caramelized onions, tomato, melted gruyere, sunny egg and a generous amount of bernaise sauce. The house focaccia bread was toasted nicely. The tomato soup complimented the croque madame perfectly. It was the perfect bite to start off and fuel our day. Copa Vida is definitely a little gem in Pasadena and I look forward to trying more of the menu the next time I have the opportunity to come back. read more

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Copa Vida is one of our favorite coffee shops in Pasadena. The coffee is fantastic and all of the food items we've tried are so flavorful. I ordered the bacon burrito without the tortilla on salad and it was fantastic. I love when places can make adjustments and it's not a big deal. The staff is always super nice and helpful. There's also plenty of comfy seating. It's a great place to bring your notebook and get some work done. read more

Copa Vida - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

A Perfect Breakfast! I wouldn't consider myself a breakfast burrito person, but I might be now after trying Copa Vida's bacon breakfast burrito. You get just the right amount of everything in this burrito. None one ingredient outshines another but they all work perfectly with together. I highly recommend this burrito, especially with avocado and their habanero sauce. Bonus points if you pair it with their ginger lemon grass herbal tea. read more

It wasn't awful but it could be better. I experienced the same thing as one of the previous reviews mentioned. I ordered, place was not too busy, I got my food and no coffee. I went up to the counter to ask about my coffee and the employee asked for my name and then what I had ordered and she said I'll make it right now. I waited and waited and finally got my coffee but left my food unattended and it was cold. Front of house doesn't have the best attitude which is why I hate that places ask for tip upfront when you pay because how can you tip if you don't know what kind of service your gonna get? The music is loud so have noise cancelling headphones if you want to work or study. Plenty of seating and tables, although they are not very comfortable. P.S. save your money and skip the macarons. They are so tiny and the pictures they have at the register are definitely misleading. lol read more

Copa Vida - Chorizo Egg Hash - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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A spacious corner coffee shops with lots of seating and good selection of music. Service is fantastic for a bustling brunch place. Croque Madame is objectively fantastic. The Béarnaise sauce is a fantastic balance of tart and creaminess. The tomato slices cuts the richness of the caramelized onions and balances out the ham and cheese. My only suggestion would be that the eggs shouldn't be fried in a non-stick pan with virtually no oil - the bottom of the fried egg has the texture of rubber. read more

I'm sad to say that my experience at this place was quite disappointing, from the food to the service and overall cleanliness. I discovered this restaurant on Yelp and visited on January 30, 2025, around 11:30 AM. We were eager to try their Croque Madame and coffee after seeing some enticing photos. Upon arrival, we noticed three employees at the front counter engaged in a casual conversation that had nothing to do with their work. As first-time visitors, we were unsure whether to order at the counter or find a table first. We looked around, clearly needing assistance, but the employees continued their chatter without acknowledging us. Eventually, I approached them, and one employee informed us to place our order first, and they would bring it to our table. After ordering, we searched for a place to sit, only to find that most tables were occupied by people working on their laptops, with very few actually eating. Many tables still had remnants of previous customers' meals, which was off-putting. I asked one of the staff members if she could clear a table for us, but she seemed annoyed and replied, "I'll be right with you." After moving aside, she cleaned the table two minutes later without informing us and then walked away. Once seated, an unpleasant odor began to permeate the air. My partner remarked that it smelled like sewage, but we couldn't find the source. At this point, we just wanted to eat quickly and leave. We first received our coffees, which I do not recommend. I ordered a cold lavender drink, and my partner ordered the same but hot; they mistakenly served us two iced versions. My partner suggested we just eat and go. When our food arrived, I was sadly underwhelmed by the Croque Madame. I noticed that none of the Croque Madame dishes on Yelp looked the same, and mine was completely different from what I had expected. It did come with a choice of soup or salad, and I chose the soup, which was actually quite good! My partner ordered a chorizo burrito, which thankfully was delicious, as I was still hungry after my disappointing dish. We ended up sharing the burrito. After our meal, we left without a word or farewell, and it was clear that this experience didn't live up to the hype. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this spot based on my visit. read more

- Good food selection, really expensive croissants - Music can be loud sometimes and there's too much of just country music at times - Good amount of seating - Good drinks read more

First time here. Iced vanilla latte, oat milk, half sweet. Hits perfectly on a warm Saturday afternoon. Baristas were friendly and knowledgeable. And the location has a very urban, modern feel. Points for free wifi! read more

Top tier service and a top tier drink. Ordered the serenity matcha with macadamia milk. Drink tasted so smooth and right amount of sweetness. Spacious to be studious but also to mingle. read more

Copa Vida - Serenity Matcha - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Saw a sign in the window for a Pistachio Orange Latte and definitely had to swing in and grab one! Two of my fave flavors - it's listed as one of their seasonal winter drinks and it was excellent! Decadent nutty coffee flavor with just a hint of orange. And beautifully decorated with the steamed milk. I feel like it could've had a stronger orange flavor but I still loved it. We also tried a Golden Chai Latte which is just a chai latte with their ginger/tumeric seasoning blend added and it was also very lovely. A perfect blend of the spices with the steamed milk and chai! A very lively coffee shop - very busy on a Sunday afternoon and in a prime location in old town Pasadena. Lots of comfy seating and windows for people watching. They also have a select few food items, bags of coffee, and various coffee/tea pots and mugs for sale. The shop is deceptively large - it looks really small from the outside but huge when you go in with a second seating room off to the right so don't be fooled if the main room looks packed. And the staff are friendly and helpful! Parking is metered street parking but fills up fast - you're probably better off in the nearby garage on Green St - it's $1 for the first 2 hours so not too bad! We'll definitely be back to try more coffee flavors when visiting the area! read more

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came here for a brunch before heading to huntington library, was a great spot! ate their sausage burrito and it was more filling than i thought even though it looks more on the smaller side. also ordered a vanilla latte later and it was delicious as well ambience was nice too, not too loud even though there was a good amount of people. i'd study here! read more

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Stopped by on my way after work to get an evening boost of coffee before I knock out for the rest of the night. I've been around a couple of times on the weekends and it's very busy. They have a ton of space for you to just plant yourself for a couple of hours get some work done or even just relax. They've got limited outdoor seating but it's so close to the edge of the street that it's somewhat uncomfortable. The chai latte and the hibiscus tea or a great alternative because I really didn't need another espresso or else I wouldn't be able to sleep. I didn't get any food but I definitely want to grab a snack for next time. The barista was really nice and helping me choose what drink I wanted despite me being indecisive. read more

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Came on a weekday morning and got their croque madame, tomato soup, and a yogurt parfait to share with a friend after hot yoga. Good thing we only ordered one entree because portions don't seem too big but the croque madame was on the heavier side. Def wouldn't even be able to finish even half of it myself. We didn't order drinks but they do have a good selection of teas that I wouldn't mind trying next time. read more

Copa Vida - Croque madame and tomato soup - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

The coffee here is so good. I tried a pistachio milk latte and that was fun and delicious. We ordered two sandwiches and split, the Turkey pesto and the Reuben. They were both amazing, the pesto one won for me. I can see why it was packed in here! read more

Copa Vida - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Really good place to get work done they have outlets and lots of places to sit it can get busy though. The drinks are really good too and offer a large variety. I definitely recommend this place. read more

Copa Vida is okay. The prices are pretty high, although they do serve good quality items. The hot food looked better than the Strawberry Croissant that I got. The croissant wasn't the best but the filling and toppings were good. The cappuccino we got was good as well, a little on the smaller side. The staff and overall vibe of the place was pleasant. All in all, good quality on most items and high prices. read more

Copa Vida - Strawberry Croissant - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

One the most popular places in saugt Pasadena. This is not a classic American breakfast. I love both classic and French breakfast places . This place was OK . FOOD**** It was made with care and healthy ingredients all over it . Eggs were cold but over all taste was great. Service **** Service was great Interior ***** It made to sit and enjoy the downtown life through the window also outside sitting available. Music ***** On point some classic piano some smooth jazz Parking * Heart of Pasadena and street meter parking only use Uber or public T Restrooms ***** Clean Price * $$$$$ Very very expensive. Still I didn't regret it cuz of service Coffee ** My Americano was regular for 4$ Worthy to try it but nothing crazy . read more

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I'm not a coffee drinker, but I do drink gallons of iced tea, and this is one of my favorite spots. They have a delicious black iced tea that hits the spot, but this review is to criticize whoever took the almond butter toast off the menu. The toast was excellent. Probably the highlight of my once-a-week treat, I really miss it. It was the perfect blend of fruit, almond butter sprinkled with mint. Please bring it back read more

used to absolutely love it here!! all of the latte, tea, and coffee options are delicious but my favorite thing to order was the almond butter toast. truly the best thing on the menu, i am not sure why it was ever taken off but please bring it back!! read more

I was ascended into heaven when i took a bite of my beautiful fabulous outstanding dish called the chorizo hash... the coffee, excellent, subtle, sweet, fabulously wealthy tasting. My skin has been cleared, my wealth has skyrocketed, my job has given me a raise, all with the help of my beautiful meal today... Okay but fr like 10/10 the brûlée mint latte is a must everyone please try it and the food WILL be coming back! read more

Copa Vida - Chorizo Egg Hash - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Good breakfast menu and quality food. Lots of great coffee choices . The interior is nice and comfortable. Staff is friendly. It's a good place to stop and hang out. Lots of your coffee houses have excellent coffee and mediocre food not the case with Copa Vida. The food is excellent. read more

Stopped by for some coffee. I ordered a honey latte and tomato soup. The soup was so yummy! Would reorder. The space was a little messy but someone was cleaning the tables so that's nice. read more

Their pastries were delicious. I had the almond croissant and pistachios croissant. I would definitely go again.

:: Food :: The Pulled Chicken Burrito Bowl (gluten-free) and Soy Glazed Chicken Donburi were super flavorful! I really liked the sauce in both, the vegan lime crema in the burrito bowl, and the spicy mayo in the donburi. :: Drink :: The iced vanilla latte with oat milk was good. Personally would've liked if the coffee taste was stronger, and thank goodness it wasn't filled with ice so the drink didn't get diluted. :: Service :: Customer service was good! You order at the register and wait for your name to be called. If you're ordering to-go or ordered online, there's a pick-up area near where the bar is. :: Parking :: There's a parking structure nearby, but I opted for street parking and paying with the Passport app. read more

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It's been some time since I've re-visited Copa Vida since it's one of those, "This is one of those places I have to TREAT myself to when I'm deserving of great coffee", and tbh, I'm not sure why I think that way about this place. Copa Vida is great all around. Always has been, still is, and I'm pretty sure will always be! The most recent time I came was a couple of Saturdays ago around 2:30pm (so as you can expect, it was quite busy) I ordered 4 items: London Fog, Matcha Latte, Chorizo Burrito (for my boyfriend), and a croissant. All of this was still at the same Copa Vida quality that I remember so fondly, and even the burrito was still delicious (per bf). I savored those drinks until the very last drop and was so glad that they still managed to keep the flavors JUST perfect with each cup. Even with a LOT of people on prime Saturday afternoon, the food came out FAST and warm! It's hard to believe Copa Vida is a coffee spot and not a restaurant! (Keep in mind their kitchen closes at 3:30.) Parking here is simple as there are quite a few structures in Old Town to park at! Definitely a winner forever in my books! read more

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This is definitely an aesthetically pleasing coffee shop with a large space for coffee shop standards. It was packed when I came here with a friend on a Sunday evening around 3 or 4pm, and luckily we were able to snag some bar style seating in the other room, but otherwise it would have been a to-go coffee order. Clearly the place does well based on how busy it was; and I have to say I did really enjoy my matcha latte! This to me would be a great place to get work done if you are able to snag a good spot! read more

Copa Vida - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

DELCIOUSSSSSSSSSSS!! I'm currently still eating but I took one bite and knew I had to give this place 5 stars. Staff is friendly, atmosphere is cute and chic, and food comes out quick. But oh my god. The matcha latte is the perfect sweetness. The bacon breakfast sandwich is stupendous, one of the best I've ever had. The chorizo breakfast burrito is perfectly crunchy and savory and the portion is HUGE. Plates nicely too. Definitely recommend coming here. read more

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I remember when I first walked into this place on the weekend. There was a line out the door which mean this place should have good coffee. I ordered a cappuccino which was $5 with oat milk +$1 than with tax the total needed up being $6.42 without tip. With the prices going up I shouldn't of been surprise how much much my cappuccino cost. The cappuccino I ordered taste good. It's not the best cappuccino I ever had but it's good. I like how the temperature was just right, not too hot or too cold. I could also taste the notes of the espresso which was chocolate and some fruity taste. I also just love the vibe of this coffee shop. The music and the background noise was perfect for studying or catching up with a friend. Would I come here often? Probably not. But I'll drop by once in awhile to spoil myself with some good coffee! I got to try the mocha next time!!! read more

Copa Vida - Outdoor Building - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Russell's was packed so came here instead. My almond milk latte got swiped by another customer and was quickly remade - thank you baristas! There crew got breakfast burritos I opted for the vegan breakfast sandwich - delicious! It was the perfect amount of food. Under all the arugula and spring mix was tofu vegan cheeze and vegan sausage. The vegan brioche bun was chef's kiss. read more

Copa Vida - Vegan Sausage Brekkie Sandwich - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Perfect spot to do some decompressing after running errands all around downtown Pasadena, I recommend just asking the baristas for their favorite drink or what they recommend because they all have great insight and helped me get to my perfect latte! Plenty of seating Free wifi Great natural lighting! read more

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It's probably been maybe a year since I've been here (was pregnant and didn't go anywhere) I was craving the chorizo hash so decided to come here with my sister. Boy, was I disappointed. There was barely any chorizo more like a sprinkle, mainly arugula. Definitely not how it used to be. It's also not on the cheap side, I came with my sister and we both ordered the hash and coffees and it came out to be around $50. If I'm going to be paying this much, I would expect more out of the food. read more

Copa Vida - Chorizo Egg Hash - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

I've been wanting to try Copa Vida for years now but for some reason was just never able to make it there, either from lack of time or just craving it by the time they closed I suppose! Either way, I was so blown away by their food! I thought they were predominantly a coffee and tea place so I didn't expect to eat such a good meal! I got their pulled chicken burrito bowl and I love that it's so creamy and everything is so cohesive together! Definitely did not expect the melted texture! Their ambiance is so also so fun for chatting and catching up with friends but also seems like a place where you could get a lot of work done! The only reason I give it a 4 starts though was because as a chai connoisseur, it was a 2.5/5 for me. It was watered down and a little spicer than I personally prefer my chais to be. But I will definitely be coming back to try their other dishes! read more

Copa Vida - Pulled chicken burrito bowl - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

The chai latte was really tasty. I ordered it with vanilla. However, the temperature of the drink was warm almost cold. The mug was still wet with water all around as well. The drink itself I would was good though. Sadly, the presentation was not giving. The bacon breakfast burrito had potential. I liked the crisp of the bacon in every bite. The eggs were perfectly cooked. But it needed more seasoning like salt or pepper. The sauce they serve on the side doesn't have much flavor, just a slight hint of something that wants to be spicy but isn't ? I don't know, but I still enjoyed the burrito. The cashiers usually have good customer service. They are good with suggesting items on the menu. The interior is really nice. They have two seating areas, but be mindful that they both fill up quickly especially on the weekends. read more

Copa Vida - Chai latte .... Mug was not properly dried ... - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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For years, specifically came for the Croque Madames - their best food dish. The service is friendly. Great atmosphere to meet with friends to work on personal projects. Not personally into drinks, but my friends have enjoyed them very much at this cafe. Very cozy corner in downtown Pasadena to spend day in. read more

Nice little cafe to do some work! They offer light meals and great coffee drinks. The burrito has a clean feel to it, not greasy at all. They have ample space and plenty of people do work on their laptop here. Service is also friendly so that's a plus. read more

Copa Vida - Bacon burrito with avocado - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

What a sweet, well rounded cafe to work at or meet with friends! The baristas are all so kind and made the ambiance feel very hip. Tall tables are a little squishy, but made it work. There's plenty of space to sit. Brulee Mint Latte 5/5: Loved how toasty it tasted! It was perfectly sweet. The mint wasn't strong, but I could tell it enhanced the latte. Jade Cloud Cold Brew Tea 4/5: basically came out 0% sugar, but tea was delicious! I'd love to come back earlier in the day to try their food menu! read more

Copa Vida - Left: Brulee Mint Latte Right: Jade Cloud Cold Brew Tea - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

We stopped in for a quick bite and coffee before heading out to explore the Griffith Observatory. We ordered a chai tea, a latte, a yogurt parfait and avocado toast. I was a bit surprised that the bill was $35 for these things, it seemed a bit steep to me, even in comparison to other places we ate/drank at. The avocado toast was pretty good, but honestly the arugula and radishes kind of stole the show. Coffee's were fine, but nothing special. read more

Copa Vida - Avocado Toast - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

I didn't take any pictures but the place is nice and able to accommodate inside and outside seating. I wasn't thrilled by their pastries, they were stale. The veggie burrito was very well presented and tasty. Coffee was great! I would go back for coffee there anytime. Service was excellent. People there were very chill. Would recommend highly. Will come back for sure. read more

A great spot for delicious food and contemporary vibes, that is served by folks that don't offer much engagement, and offer it up very slowly. If you're not in a rush, this is perfect for caffeine and a bite, but only if you have the time. The aggressive arugula on my breakfast sandwich was noteworthy. read more