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    Riptide Cafe

    4.4 (54 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Riptide Cafe Photos

    RIPTIDE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for groups
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Riptide Cafe

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    Hayley H.

    If I could be anywhere right now, I'd choose to be sitting at Riptide's coffee counter overlooking the Pacific Ocean on San Juan Island. Riptide was one of my favorite stops during my recent trip to Friday Harbor. This cafe shares a storefront with the local souvenir shop and it's just steps away from the ferry dock. Because of its dockside location, it has captivating views of the harbor and ocean. I now find myself day dreaming about working from this coffee shop on a daily basis. Riptide had a selection of holiday cookie lattes that instantly caught my eye. I ordered the Jam Thumbprint, a strawberry and almond latte, since it sounded both unique and delicious. I also grabbed a veggie and egg breakfast bagel sandwich. This fresh Asiago bagel was filled with micro greens, egg, avocado, and a juicy tomato. I couldn't have asked for a better mix. This island feels like magic and I think it's largely due to their local business community. Get out there and support!

    Posey on Gluten-Free Bun
    Greta Z.

    Run off the ferry directly to this spot with a gorgeous harbor view from the tables outside. Let your pup have a sip of water from the bowls outside and then order the Posey for the most perfect breakfast or lunch sandwich. I had mine in a gluten-free bun, and it was literally the most delicious gf sandwich I've ever had!

    Katherine Y.

    They had a special summer Shrek-themed menu, which was fun and cute. The coffee wasn't really to my taste, but my friends thought it was fine. The cheese danish, though, was phenomenal. It's a cute spot overall, with a little shop area and outdoor seating.

    Coffee with a view
    Justin M.

    This is the best tasting coffee I found in Friday Harbor. Good smoothies and pastries as well and really can't beat the view. Highly recommend.

    Lattes
    Matt B.

    Breakfast sandwiches were incredible and after watching their barista make a drink we decided to go with it and get some lattes as well (I'm a coffee snob admittedly). They use Stumptown coffee and made a great drink. Loved sitting outside by the docks.

    Desserts on display - mine is the missing one
    Steve A.

    A charming little home shop on a charming little island. I'm glad I picked Friday Harbor to eat, because this is probably the best food you'll get out here. There's a nice selection of different bagels, and what I thought was a nice selection of desserts, until my choice took one out of the display! I guess, especially in early April, it's a small crowd on the island so they're more going for locals and Washington weekenders than what summer tourism may bring. Anyway, the prices were really not bad for being so remote, the sandwich was piled up big and tastes nice and fresh, the dessert was also really tasty and clearly fresh made. (I asked, and while they don't bake things themselves, they get them fresh from the mainland and prepare to order, so things aren't frozen or mass-produced. It's all high quality stuff.) Friendly place, rather small especially if there's a crowd, so plan on grabbing food (and coffee, I suppose most people get coffee there) and walking, but there are a few seats there. The cafe is also a little library (books and other trinkets for sale and/or display - I didn't look too hard at them but I was just looking all over the room at the variety). Kinda felt like places I've seen in Vermont. I love little town establishments, and when they deliver on quality as well as a wonderful community vibe, that's 5 stars all the way. Walk on in!

    Outdoor table on the water. Perfect atmosphere, perfect latte, perfect quick breakfast
    Genna G.

    Friday harbor's only coffee shop on the water is a must visit. It is located inside an adventure outfitters store. Order at the counter and snag a table outside and soak in the most beautiful waterfront atmosphere ever. My latte was perfection and they accommodated all my high maintenance requests ( almond milk, sugar free vanilla). Great breakfast menu too and had gluten free bread for my avocado toast which was a huge plus . Husband loved his peanut butter toast as well. Super reasonably priced ( less than Starbucks). A plus experience and a must for a quick coffee and/ or breakfast when on Friday Harbor

    Cardamom honey latte
    Angela F.

    Super cute cafe by the water. There are some indoor and outdoor seating available. There is a small gift shop joint with the cafe. I tried the honey cardamom latte and it was delicious! The staff was very friendly as well.

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    7 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Business owner information

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    Brian G.

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    8 years ago

    We have had great experiences at Riptide. Especially their drip coffee no cream needed. The staff is funny and helpful.

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    9 years ago

    Great location, great service. My mocha was decent, but their cinnamon rolls, however, are delicious! I would go back and try another drink.

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    7 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Janae made the most delicious green smoothie! Riptide cafe is the best cafe in Friday Harbor.

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    7 years ago

    Fantastic staff, free wifi, and a great view out over the harbor! I always stop at Riptide before hopping on the ferry!

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    7 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - Riptide Cafe

    Yo! Friday Harbor

    Yo! Friday Harbor

    4.1
    (41 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $

    Have I ever told you how much I love Lavendar flavored ice cream? And Yo! Friday Harbor's double…read morescoop of this fragrant deliciousness didn't disappoint. While waiting for the departing ferry at Friday Harbor, we left our car parked in the ferry queue and hoofed it a few blocks to this cute little ice cream shop. The staff were super friendly - summer vacation kids working tourist season - but they were kind, engaged, and knowledgeable about flavor selection. And, oh my goodness... the flavors to choose from! This shop serves Lopez Island Creamery ice cream, and if you can, always opt for the seasonal flavors. They had Blackberry Lavender, Lavender, Mountain Huckleberry, Strawberry Fudge Brownie and more. I opted for 2 scoops of Lavender and was not disappointed! Cold, creamy, oh-so fragrant, but without an overpowering medicinal lavendar taste. It was perfect, and so refreshing in the hot summer sun. Make sure you take an opportunity to get some Lopez Island Creamery products while visiting the San Juan Islands. I saw their products available in grocery stores and several restaurants, but do support Yo! Friday Harbor if you can. It's conveniently located next to the ferry and you just can't beat that!

    Lopez island ice cream served daily! With an hour to wait for the ferry it was only natural on a…read moresunny day to crave the creamy goodness of ice cream. I hopped out of my car and right over to Yo! The huckleberry/blackberry ice cream here is a must! Even though you can now buy Lopez Island ice cream in pints in most Seattle grocery stores, somehow it tastes better fresh scooped by somebody else! Prices were reasonable and the service was A+!

    Photos
    Pecan praline
    Pecan praline
    Yum they have Lopez Island ice cream
    Yum they have Lopez Island ice cream
    Chocolate truffle

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    Chocolate truffle
    San Juan Island Brewing

    San Juan Island Brewing

    4.2
    (458 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    We had lunch here while waiting for the ferry and really enjoyed the nice little patio and good…read morefood. Service was prompt and friendly and they had gf designations on their menu which made my life easy. I had the house salad and the apricots on top were delish. The husband of mine had a pizza which he said was the indulgence he was craving. Our friend had the curry soup of the day, fried cheese curds and a cider tasting. Everything was good. They had some cute stuff in their shop inside and I secured myself a perfect fox hat. Next time we come back to San Juan we'll definitely stop in again.

    This is a really cool, spacious brewery setup over on San Juan Island. It has a great local pub…read moreenergy, making it an easy place to want to gather, grab a drink, and hang out with a group. The food was a bit of a mixed bag. The pizza was definitely not good, honestly, pretty much everything about it fell short. On the plus side, the beet salad was good, and the chicken wings were tasty as well. The overall ambiance here is super fun and lively. However... the service left a lot to be desired because the kitchen was incredibly SLOW. We were dining with kids, and it took a massive 50 minutes just to get our children their food off the kids' menu. Not even our main meals, just the kids' items! Needless to say, by the time the food finally arrived, our kids were completely starving. Management, please make it a point to ensure that when parents order off the kids' menu, those items are prioritized and brought out much earlier so the little ones can eat... While the space itself is great for a drink, the massive kitchen delays make it tough for a family dinner. I'd say it's fine to check out for a beer and some wings, but if you have young kids with you, be prepared for a long wait.

    Photos
    The Bar
    The Bar
    San Juan Island Brewing
    San Juan Island Brewing

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    Vic's Drive In

    Vic's Drive In

    3.5
    (57 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $

    This long-standing family-owned diner has a lot of historic charm and the service is a real…read morestandout. The cashier was incredibly friendly and detailed when I asked about the history of the establishment. The food is unfortunately average, and for the price point my chicken Caesar salad could have more chicken. Still I'd consider returning the next time I visit the island to support this local business and enjoy the wonderful service again.

    We decided to stop in for a quick meal before boarding the ferry back to the mainland. Given that…read morewe only had about half an hour before we had to get to the terminal, Vic's seemed like a good choice. I do have to comment - the name of this restaurant is strange. What exactly makes this restaurant a Drive-In? Considering there's no parking specifically for the place, no car hop service, nor any semblance of a drive through. Instead, it's street parking and typical counter service restaurant. On the window, they had signs for a crab cake sandwich, which we decided to order along with another burger. Even though this was on a weekend during the height of summer, there was only a single other party in the place throughout our meal. I guess most people show up later in the night? But then again, they close at 7PM, so I dunno. The food took about 10 minutes to come out. Deluxe Cheeseburger ($10.99) - Firstly the bun - it's a very thick sesame bun that seems to be homemade, or perhaps from a local bakery. It's toasted well until very darkened looking, but isn't dried out at all and is instead soft and fluffy. Tons of shredded lettuce, sliced onion, and tangy pickles, form a base layer on the bottom bun, glued on by a dollop of their secret burger sauce that's nicely creamy, sweet, and tangy. On top is a juicy ¼ pound patty that's cooked to perfection for a diner burger (e.g. well done, but not dried out at all). On top, of course, the melted, fatty cheese. Everything works together very well; this is just a very solid diner-style cheeseburger. There's not really much I could envision to improve it. (5/5) Crab Cake Sandwich ($14.99) - This is pretty much the same as above but without cheese and substituting the beef patty with a crab cake. The cake is fried well, giving a good crunchy breading, whereas the interior is soft and tender, mostly filler without any taste of crab. Seems to be a typical frozen crab cake, but expected for this price point. It's a salty and savory bomb that goes well with the rest of the ingredients. This sandwich comes with a giant pile of crinkle cut fries. Unlike most crinkle cuts I've had in the past, which are typically floppy and sad, these are fried relatively well, creating a decently crisp crust on the outside while maintaining a fluffy interior. I think if these were immersed in the oil for another 30 seconds to a minute, it would create a better experience? Regardless, these are pretty good fries. (4/5) Overall, I was pretty impressed with the food served at Vic's. I'm not sure why they don't have more business at night? It's probably one of the best (if not the best) diner burger on the island. Pricing is high, yes, but it's kind of expected since it's in a tourist area, not to mention on an island. I would happily return on any future visit to Friday Harbor. Bathrooms - Single unisex room Edit: After doing some more research, it seems this place used to be a drive-in. They had to modernize but kept the name.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Vic's Drive In
    Vic's Drive In

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    Bakery San Juan

    Bakery San Juan

    4.6
    (210 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $

    Wonderful bakery in Friday Harbor with great pastries. We had the apple danish, pain au chocolat,…read moreberry cheese danish, and the carrot cake muffin. Each pastry was great but the highlight was the berry cheese danish. We also really liked how the apple danish wasn't extremely sweet and the texture of the carrot cake muffin. The bakery also has coffee and pizza available, but we didn't try any of that. Seating wise, there's both indoor and outdoor seating available for guests and water on tap. The ordering process was smooth but we sat, bussed, and served ourself which was fine.

    My wife and I stopped into Bakery San Juan for a couple sweets before investigating lighthouses…read more Bakery is open Mon-Fri from 8am-5pm and closed on Saturday and Sunday. Free parking can be found in the parking lot. Discover is an accepted form of payment. Orders are placed and paid for at the counter. A small outdoor seating area is available as well as indoor seating. Beer and wine can be purchased. Craft coffee drinks can be ordered and enjoyed with ones' pastry order. Bread loaves/rounds can be purchased whole or can be sliced. Some breads are also available in sandwich form (roll/baguette/Rosetta). Menu offers pizza; unfortunately, we were too early for pizza. All pizzas are available as take-and-bakes. Pizza slices are not available until 11am. Sandwiches and salads can also be ordered. My wife and I shared a Cinnamon Roll for $4.75; served warm upon request. We also shared a Cheese Claw for $4; served warm upon request. We ordered a Ham & Cheese Croissant for $5.50 to eat later at our lodging. The minimal interaction with the staff was friendly. Our sweet treats were tasty and reasonably priced. Thank you, Bakery San Juan for fueling our day of fun.

    Photos
    Order area
    Order area
    Blueberry Cream Cheese Danish
    Blueberry Cream Cheese Danish
    Bakery San Juan

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    Bakery San Juan

    Riptide Cafe - cafes - Updated June 2026

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