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    Genes

    3.4 (19 reviews)
    Open 6:00 am - 6:00 pm

    Genes Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Genes

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    They are always closed or "on break".

    I have attempted to go to this coffee shop twice in the last week, but they are never there. They must not be looking for business, since they always have this sign up. Won't be going by again.

    Probably the best coffee place in Santa Monica! Super friendly staff! I'm so happy I found you guys! I got a Vanilla ice latte

    Great service highly recommend stopping by and trying these delicious Açaí Bowl loving the fresh fruit thank you Kimberly

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    3 months ago

    Service was great and the coffees were excellent.. made us a lovely flat white and an almond milk latte

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    6 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Business owner information

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    Brandon S.

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    2 years ago

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    Brandon S.

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    1 year ago

    Really disrespectful did not feel welcomed the drinks were disgusting. Yeah if I could rate it as zero, I would.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Amazing vibe, great drinks -- great spot to pop in if you're in Santa Monica. Matcha latte is 10/10

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    2 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Genes

    Review Highlights - Genes

    Weird reasons to rate a coffee place...

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Goodboybob Coffee Roasters - 'Nilla Latte $7.00

    Goodboybob Coffee Roasters

    4.1(430 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    goodboybob is a delightful communal cafe tucked away in the santa monica neighborhood! the long…read moreline that extends out their door on weekends is well warranted. their coffee is well balanced and their latte art is impeccable! their breakfast burrito is as amazing as folks claimed, too! ORDER 01. brown butter latte ("BBL"): house-made caramelized butter syrup (containing REAL butter), espresso, & milk 02. gold coast: eggs, beef & potato hash, avocado, pepper jack cheese, scallions, & cilantro crema in a whole wheat wrap i was worried the burrito might be too dry on account of the whole wheat or too greasy because of the hash, but it was neither dry nor greasy! all the ingredients came together beautifully. the burrito felt healthy and satiating, enough to feed two adults! note that this item is only available at the santa monica branch! the "gold coast" is the cafe's take on the california burrito, whereas "the six" is the cafe's take on the standard american breakfast. pick the former if you want something more savory. pick the latter if you want something more sweet. in any case, the hot sauce served on the side is a must! SPACE the open floor plan allows for plenty of seating indoors and outdoors, so the atmosphere feels relaxed. there is one unisex restroom available. WI-FI stable!

    Unfortunately my experience was less ideal than expected, my friends and I got the cosmic cream top…read more(ube cream over coffee), matcha latte, and new moon latte (sesame latte). The flavors sound exciting, but the cosmic cream top lacked both a prominent coffee and ube flavor despite the color, the matcha was quite milky, and the new moon latte did not taste of sesame. It was visibly busy when I visited, but the drinks came out reasonably quick. The cafe itself is quite hidden from the street, tucked away behind what looks like a business complex. The environment is cute, with both indoor and outdoor seating, and there is only street parking.

    Photos
    Goodboybob Coffee Roasters - Guava matcha

    Guava matcha

    Goodboybob Coffee Roasters - Chapati and matcha latte

    Chapati and matcha latte

    Goodboybob Coffee Roasters - Beautiful carrot cake !!!

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    Beautiful carrot cake !!!

    Kavahana - Strawberry Matcha and Kona Coffee with Blue Spirulina Coconut Cream Top + O.G. Kava Nectar in a Coconut Shell

    Kavahana

    4.7(263 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$$
    Romantic vibe
    Pet friendly

    I love kava! I've only been to Kavahana a couple times but they have unique flavors they blend with…read morethe kava, such as ube and mango lassi! The bright green colors of the store front are fun and the back patio is spacious. Everyone here, including the customers are pretty sociable. I had a couple shots at the front of the bar with the staff and took a mango lassi mixed drink to the covered patio in the back. The flavor combination of this was very refreshing. It was a lil' thicker than your typical mango lassi, but the faint sweetness did a great job at masking the earthiness of the kava. It was bomb and I would have loved to order 2 but I hadn't eaten so that was not the move lol The space has their own parking lot, as well as easy street parking. The patio is nice and ambient with music playing and many boardgames available for your entertainment. The bathroom was clean and had some funny Barbie dolls on display in there. The effect of kava is mellow and puts you in a positive head space. It also does truly enhance your desire to have discussions and connect with each other. If you appreciate any of that, you will like it here for sure. Overall, the kava served at Kavahana is well mixed and the environment is curated in such a cute way, it just makes you want to come back and chill out with the homies. I highly recommend!

    came here for lunch and didn't really know what to expect but it was actually such a nice vibe…read more it's a non-alcoholic bar and they serve kava nectar, which is like a root drink that helps you feel more relaxed and social. i got a mango drink and it was really good, a little earthy but still refreshing after a few sips i felt super calm and more open, not like alcohol at all. it doesn't hit you hard, just a soft, happy, chill feeling the space during the day feels like a cute café. they also have coffee, matcha, and i tried their blue spirulina coconut cream top which was really good and non-dairy. also your tongue might tingle a little at first lol but it's normal overall really good spot if you want something social without drinking, i'd come back for a chill daytime hang

    Photos
    Kavahana - Coconut cups with coconut water

    Coconut cups with coconut water

    Kavahana - Strawberry matcha, mango lassi nectar, paradise nectar, o.g. kava nectar, soupless island ramen, bread pudding, and li hing olives

    Strawberry matcha, mango lassi nectar, paradise nectar, o.g. kava nectar, soupless island ramen, bread pudding, and li hing olives

    Kavahana - The Santa Monica Songwriter's Open Mic every Tuesday in the Kavahana Santa Monica patio

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    The Santa Monica Songwriter's Open Mic every Tuesday in the Kavahana Santa Monica patio

    Rabano - Baked goods

    Rabano

    4.7(165 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Established in 2024

    If I lived in LA County, Rabano would absolutely be my go to lunch spot. I ordered the VIP Poke…read moreBowl with sushi grade Ahi tuna, cucumber, scallions, wakame salad, roasted sesame, furikake, rabanitos, cream wasabi, and a side of avocado over white rice. The bowl was vibrant, flavorful, and filling. Every ingredient tasted high quality and thoughtfully combined, creating a rich, perfect bite in every forkful. The presentation was beautiful and colorful, making it just as enjoyable to look at as it was to eat. The space itself is bright, spotless, and welcoming, with a relaxed atmosphere that makes it a great stop for lunch. Service was friendly and efficient, and everything felt carefully prepared. Hands down one of the most delicious, well crafted poke bowls I've ever had! Yum!

    First time here today. Staff was nice, looks clean. Nice neighborhood with metered parking all…read morearound. The two items I purchased for the mahi-mahi tacos and the salmon salad. The mahi-mahi tacos were good I wasn't a big fan of the way. The salmon tasted so I probably will not get that again. And I wasn't a fan of having my salad dressing watered down. I was hoping for more flavor with the dressing and the salad but the dressing was clearly watered down - bummer. (One star taken off) I'll definitely be back for the tacos and possibly to try something else

    Photos
    Rabano - Where coffee happens

    Where coffee happens

    Rabano - Gogi Tacos

    Gogi Tacos

    Rabano - Drinks Menu

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    Drinks Menu

    Tartine - Banana cream pie

    Tartine

    4.1(867 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    We really loved this brunch spot. It's set inside a church, and the outdoor area is very cute and…read morecozy with plenty of seating. We sat under a beautiful tree covered in vines, with dappled shade that made the atmosphere feel extra charming. The smoked salmon tartine was delicious, and the bread was especially good. We really enjoyed our experience and will definitely come back!

    Tartine is located in what looks like a small converted church, but apparently it used to be a…read moremortuary. The setting and the ambience is quaint and unique with both inside and outside seating. It has a small parking lot on-site, otherwise there is street parking nearby. I had high hopes give all the rave reviews and the long line to get in at 8am when they opened, but was a bit disappointed. I ordered a cappuccino and the omelette with soft herbs and sharp cheddar. Perhaps I should have ordered a bakery/bread item given that's what they're known for. The omelette had no flavor and the cheese definitely didn't taste sharp. Something in the herbs also didn't go with the eggs (perhaps tarragon?). The included salad was overdressed and too vinegary for my taste. The cappuccino came out cold and I asked to have it heated up, and they gladly made a new one for me. Also, the loud music blaring at 8am when trying to have a conversation was annoying. This was a miss for me. That said, my friend enjoyed her bakery items very much

    Photos
    Tartine - Inside, to-go boxes, cups and water station

    Inside, to-go boxes, cups and water station

    Tartine - Seasonal fruit danish

    Seasonal fruit danish

    Tartine - Morning bun

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    Morning bun

    Paderia Bakehouse - Ube Coconut Latte

    Paderia Bakehouse

    4.5(341 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    This is one of my professors' favorite places to get Portuguese egg tarts, so obviously my friends…read moreand I needed to check it out. I can see why he loves it -- the egg tarts are very custardy and rich, with a lightly eggy flavor but the sweetness from heavy cream in each bite contrasting to the flaky crust. We also got the red velvet cheesecake, which was pretty standard. The strawberry and cream cookie was massive and I loved the strawberry flavor! It was a little too sweet for me but for the average American palette is probably perfect. There's a parking lot but pretty limited seating (that gets a lot of sun), so plan on taking it to go unless you want to casually borrow a table next door...

    Friends who came to have dinner with us requested that they be allowed to bring dessert…read more Well...YES! We were delighted with the box of cookies and tarts that they brought from Paderia in Santa Monica. The chocolate chip walnut cookies were fat and soft with a slightly crisp exterior. The thickness of them allowed a plethora of rich chips to reside inside. I'm not a fan of chunks of nuts in cookies but these were chopped in tiny pieces, so did not take away from the overall soft texture. The soft peanut butter chocolate cookie was also a huge fattie with peanut butter chips within the chocolate cookie. Both were enhanced with a quick warm-up. I loved both of these cookies and think the chocolate chip is the very best you'll ever find. We also had Portuguese egg tarts. The pastel de nata (if I recall, this is what they are called) I ate was small but good, but I have had others that were more to my liking, with a sweeter custard and a more caramelized top, which I guess is a personal preference. Not to say it wasn't delicious - it was! I love the cookies so much I'll be checking out their Irvine location soon, which is much closer to me.

    Photos
    Paderia Bakehouse - Strawberry shortcake cookie (limited time only) and egg tart

    Strawberry shortcake cookie (limited time only) and egg tart

    Paderia Bakehouse - Portuguese Egg Tart

    Portuguese Egg Tart

    Paderia Bakehouse - Guava cheesecake

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    Guava cheesecake

    Primo Passo Coffee - Peach and Apricot Galette

    Primo Passo Coffee

    3.8(487 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $

    My fiancée and I were taking a drive around the neighborhood on a Saturday morning and saw a line…read moreout the door of PPC so we knew we had to try it out. The line goes quick! And Ryan at the register was knowledgeable and helpful, welcoming us to the shop with a warm smile. We went with the vanilla latte (silky smooth, 20/10) at his recommendation, and the mint mocha (hint of fresh mint flavor and deep mocha, 20/10) - both iced with almond milk. For pastries, I had the everything croissant with cream cheese (20/10) and she had the triple blueberry muffin (15/10). For full transparency, and a reflection of their dedication to customers, we had a slight hiccup with our order - in the busy morning rush, our coffee orders were accidentally forgotten. After a few minutes, I asked the baristas about this and Ryan was quick to rectify the situation, even offering a complimentary gift card for our next visit. As you can see, the friendly service, phenomenal drinks and pastries make this an easy recommendation! We will definitely be returning customers! Shout out to the team today for a great first visit!

    One Star - Great coffee, but the attitude ruins it…read more I've been a regular at this coffee shop for a while because the coffee and pastries are genuinely good. Unfortunately, that's no longer enough to keep me coming back. Every single male employee I've encountered here is unfriendly, arrogant, and borderline rude. It feels like they know the place is popular, so they've decided they don't need to treat customers with basic courtesy or warmth. The "too cool for you" vibe is strong and consistent. Today was the last time I'll ever spend my money here. Life is too short to pay premium prices just to be treated with disdain. The quality of the drinks and food is solid, but it's simply not worth enduring the nasty attitude. There are plenty of other fantastic coffee shops in the area that offer both great products and pleasant service -- places like Grand Luxe and Lala Land come to mind. I won't be back.

    Photos
    Primo Passo Coffee
    Primo Passo Coffee - Cappuccino, coffee cake

    Cappuccino, coffee cake

    Primo Passo Coffee - Condiments section.

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    Condiments section.

    Genes - cafes - Updated May 2026

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