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    Sams General Store

    4.3 (35 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Sams General Store Photos

    Business Info

    SAMS GENERAL STORE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Sams General Store

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    Lox Bagel ($17), Iced Strawberry Matcha Latte w/ extra matcha ($9.25), Iced Latte w/ oat milk, vanilla cold foam, whip ($7.85)
    Cherylynn N.

    3.5 STARS *Walks in* *Stop and stare* To some it may be a red flag to have people stop and stare at you but to me, it's kinda a green flag. When you stick out like a sore thumb, sometimes it's a sign that you've stepped into a local's place, not a tourist trap. Sam's General Store is named after the man who started the Gold Rush. They're an artisanal cafe serving specialty coffee and matcha drinks, pastries (from Starter Bakery), breakfast bites, salads, and sandwiches. Their OG location is in Calistoga and their St. Helena location opened in 2025. Online ordering available. D R I N K S * Iced Latte ($6) w/ oat milk (+85 cents) - Add vanilla cold foam + whipped cream (+$1) - Request half-caffeine I couldn't find a small business in Napa Valley that offers a Einspänner but Sam's offers the components so you can make one. The latte was smooth and roasty with the cold foam adding a creamy sweetness and the whipped cream an extra later of richness. Pretty solid. * Iced Strawberry Matcha Latte w/ strawberry foam, extra shot of matcha ($9.25) - Batched made, not hand-whisked - Cannot adjust sweetness It looks nothing like the layered drink on their website and IG. Also, the color was dull, so either the matcha was oxidized or it's poor quality. Sadly, it tasted like a Crumbl cookie in liquid form. Even with the extra shot of matcha, there was no matcha flavor and tasted like an incredibly sweet strawberry milk. I hate wasting money but we tossed it. * NY Lox & Bagel w/ gravlax salmon, cream cheese, pickled red onions, cucumbers & capers ($17) - Served open-faced, no mods available - Bagels are flown in weekly from NY but shop/brand is not specified Deliciously chewy, lightly toasted plain bagel layered with rich, creamy schmear and silky, buttery lox. The fresh tang and crunch from the pickled red onions and pickled cucumbers balanced everything perfectly, adding brightness to each bite. S E R V I C E Transactional - I ordered online and they were just finishing up my order when I arrived. A M B I A N C E Modern, cozy boutique vibe with ample seating. Even on a weekday, all the indoor seating was taken; looks to be a regular gathering place for locals. Front patio and sidewalk seating. Free WiFi. Overall, cute cafe...if you're visiting from a city with great matcha - stick with their coffee!

    Horchata latte -- good!
    Jessica L.

    Review for 1 visit: Nice enough staff. Got the horchata latte, good! Not too sweet but still sweet. I think she said they don't make their own syrup. Beautiful, modern space. Lots of seating and tables. They had some sandwiches, pastries (not made in house I was told), refrigerated drinks. Decent size drink menu. Would go back if in the area but might not go out of my way for it.

    Heather L.

    I really didn't expect their matcha latte to be good, but I was actually quite surprised. After placing our order at the register, we went out to the patio, and the staff brought our drinks to our table, which we appreciated. It's such a cute cafe, and we really enjoyed a little sunbath on the patio. Next time I visit, I'll have to try their coffee.

    Marielena L.

    I stumbled upon this sandwich spot by chance after finding a three-hour parking spot nearby--it worked out perfectly since I was planning to walk around town afterward. I decided to stop in for a quick bite, and I'm so glad I did! The sandwich I got was really good--fresh ingredients and super flavorful. I also tried one of their drinks, and it totally hit the spot. Sometimes the best places are the ones you just happen to find, and this one definitely surprised me. I'd definitely come back next time I'm in the area!

    Great coffee and expresso
    Andre S.

    Karen Thank you for the great smile and excellent service, Nice place, Coffee sandwiches, bites and more.5 *****

    Coffee machine and grinder
    Jennifer P.

    This location (St. Helena) went through a major upgrade. Outdoor decoration with black, white, and yellow decoration is chic and modern. The inside feels calm and welcoming with black, warm wood, and caramel leather accents. The grab and go section had so many delicious selections to choose from and the pastries were also tasty. The breakfast empanada was delicious and the overnight oats were absolutely delightful. They also have soft serve which I will come back to try next time!

    Liliana M.

    Typically not the type of to leave reviews however, this particular experience should be recognized. My coworker placed a morning order for two salted caramel lattes: one iced, one hot. Her latte was great! I received the wrong order. Please see attached photo for reference. Called in to request either a refund or a remake to pick-up and was met with attitude over the phone instead of a solution. The employee over the phone said it is customers's responsibility to make sure they pick up the correct order. This would make sense if it was busy however, there were no other drinks at the bar when her name was called out. She then left work to return the coffee that the employee claimed was for a "regular local". Upon arrival the same employee then switched her defense and said it was in fact the correct latte only with oat milk and hazelnut? Which would still be the wrong order. I will say, she did receive a refund, only after the same employee continued to fight her as if to prove her wrong. The picture speaks for itself. As a local and former barista, it's exciting to have a new place to hang out and have a morning coffee, however this experience was very disappointing and a poor example of customer service.

    Love Sam's. Wanted something light to eat. Had an Overnight Oats. Like a yogurt parfait. Oats, banana, chia, peanut butter, almond milk, chocolate ganache and cocoa nibs. Absolutely fabulous. Had a spiced chai tea latte. Made perfectly. I like they ask milk choice and don't fill the cup with ice. I didn't ask for light ice - so that made me happy! Add enough to keep it cold. I really liked their spice chai - great flavor. Lots of tables inside and a couple outside. Interior is well designed and attractive. Clean in cafe and where they make drinks. Nice location just off main strip so it isn't so noisy.

    Cute window seats with bistro tables. Great mocha!
    Nikki M.

    We were up in St. Helena searching for coffee and we were so happy to stumble upon Sam's! It's a cute and modern place with lots of seating options (big communal tables, small bistro tables by the window, couches, etc). I had a mocha and my husband had a hot chocolate. They had a pastry case full of options and even a couple gluten free items (thank you for giving me that option with my celiac). Both drinks we ordered were delicious and they brought them to us. We chatted with the staff about them opening the new location and you could tell that everyone who worked there was happy to do so. We brought our baby and were pleased that they had changing tables available in both bathrooms (traditional wall folding one in the family stall and a piece of furniture with a big flat top in the regular stall). They even had a community board with local happenings. Definitely coming back!

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    28 days ago

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    21 days ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    6 months ago

    Your worker Julian is a very responsible and respectful young man! Great service and food was great!

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    1 year ago

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    8 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Delicious quiche and honey latte! Easy to find parking. Good vibes for studying or working out of.

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    10 months ago

    Pastry texture old, hard. Staff just going through the motions, waiting was very long The atmosphere was uncomfortable.

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    1 year ago

    The service as well as the deliciousness of the pastries and food items leaves no other place to go for coffee and gatherings in St Helena

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    2 years ago

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    Carl D.

    Thanks Linda, the support has been amazing and so appreciated

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    1 year ago

    This place mainly caters to the out-of-towners, so it's kind of pricy. Drinks are good. Their salads are also very tasty.

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    1 year ago

    Awesome spot. Had a delicious coffee and sandwich, while enjoying their outdoor seating. Friendly staff too. Look forward to coming back!

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    1 year ago

    The drip coffee is very good and they have a great selection of pastries. Nice place to sit outside with a coffee on a nice day.

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    2 years ago

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    Carl D.

    Thanks so much for the great review! Glad you enjoyed our quiche..

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    1 year ago

    amazing food, great atmosphere and location. priced well for st helana. this and the station are my go too for sure.

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    Sams General Store Reviews in Other Languages

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    The Model Bakery

    The Model Bakery

    3.9
    (720 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Good food but slow service. We always make it a point to stop by when we are visiting the area…read more We have tried several of their breakfast sandwiches but on this trip we had the breakfast burrito and a toasted English muffin on the side. The burrito was well seasoned and a good filling ratio. The side of English muffin was very buttery and was delicious with their side of jam. They also have pastries and premade sandwiches available. Only complain with this visit was the time it took for us to get our food. Seemed unusually long. We had ordered at the kiosk instead of at the counter. A few seating are available inside as well as outside. No bathrooms are available for customers.

    Never heard of the Model Bakery but using Yelp for great Bakeries. We were on our way to a morning…read morehike to Linda Falls. This bakery was on the way and not so crowded then the one in Yountvile. There was no line waiting outside, which was good. There were people eating outside and inside. There was no line to order, but we never been here so we let the locals go in front of us. I decide on the Oxford Veggie Breakfast sandwich, minus the ketchup. The sandwich was great lots of Avocados in each bite and the egg was spot on. Id highly recommend this breakfast sandwich. By bf got the carmel mocha and a bear claw. The carmel mocha was excellent, I wanted ordernone for self. The bear claw was jus ok. Very dry. Not recommend. But that's just opinion. Cute little bakery, very popular, quick service, lots of options, and very friendly service. If your ever in St Helena. Definitely go here for bake goods, breakfast, lunch, or and coffee and tea drinks.

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    Inside
    Inside
    Sweet stop.
    Sweet stop.
    Hot Chai with Almond Milk

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    Hot Chai with Almond Milk

    Sams General Store - sandwiches - Updated August 2026

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