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Spruce Cafe

4.0 (688 reviews)
Closed • 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
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SPRUCE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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Recommended Reviews - Spruce Cafe

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Reviews With Photos

Mariam T.

Yummy coffee, yummy pastry, cute interior, plenty of seating, parking, all around great! I tried the rose latte; a french eclair. My partner ordered honey lavender and a cheesecake slice. All were amazing! I saw many people working or having friend gatherings. The place thrives but isnt too loud and still has plenty of seating! Highly recommend for flavor AND atmosphere!

Black Lattes with apple pastries and a cheese danish
Elle F.

How dare I come to my favorite coffee shop & not write a review ! I've been coming here for years whenever I'm around the area & want some coffee. Our go to is the black latte which is made out of charcoal that gives the drink a deep black/grey color . The taste is very subtle not too sweet and has a light earthy taste . This pairs nicely with all of their delicious pastries ! I just tried their apple pie pastry and omg it was amazing ! It was a mix off croissant , a kouigann aman and an apple pie ! it was so crisp , and light and airy . MINDBLOWN. Today , I asked the barista if they did latte art and wow did she amaze me . It was a masterpiece . I love this spot & it's a nice hidden gem to enjoy coffee and pastries .

Pia V.

The cafe is nestled in a plaza with a 'food court' connected. There is seating indoors, outside seating, and a dog park with benches outside. However, the dog park fencing is super low, so any dog can easily jump over it. The setup is minimal, and the coffee is strong. The pastries look yummy but didn't get to try any this visit. Bought some beans, which they offer to grind up for you - if you want. The beans were pricey, $24, but they are strong beans. The woman who took our order was calm, and helped find the beans - looked like she was the only one working the entire cafe. Would come back here, unsure if they have wifi as it seems like a nice place to work.

Coco banana latte.
Tyler S.

Friendly staff and cute latte art! Prices are a little high for a smaller cup and no size options. I didn't order a baked good but they looked and smelled great. Was a good place for a work meeting as well!

Brown Sugar Latte
Lexine F.

This cafe is hidden on the left side of Spruce Ave. It is a super cute coffee place to chat with friends or a nice spot to chill and study. The staff is super friendly and works fast to get your order out to you. The coffee itself was just average. I am not sure if its because I ordered the wrong thing but I feel like for the price I could've made it for half the price at home

Hazelnut Torta Nocciola.
Ray N.

When you find yourself just south of San Francisco in very appropriately the city of South San Francisco( the biotech hub), you absolutely must come by Spruce Cafe and enjoy your lattes and donuts in the lovely atmosphere, big and relaxing seating area( both inside and out) with stellar care and service from the fantastic and friendly Kaitlyn and Alicia. We loved our time here and hung out with families from the Philippines and Canada visiting their new grandkids, students busy on their laptops and young couples on coffee dates. Alicia the cashier was a sweetheart. She lived in the area and besides her great pastry and vegan blackberry croissant recommendation she also gave us some restaurant pointers. Kaitlyn was the fantastic barista who took her time( positive) in creating the perfect pumpkin spice latte( photo) and a gorgeous and delicious extra hot honey lavender one. 6 bucks each and worth it. The vibe was just so laid back and warm. This is a big, big space with a beautiful outside patio to enjoy the 70 degrees and sunshine. No rush no fuss just chill, sip and hang out.

Linda K.

Food - Yummy sandwiches - Good matcha and coffee - Pastries are yummy as well Location - Has a parking lot in the front - Some indoor seating - Has wifi Service - Very nice and fast! - The baristas make delicious coffee and matcha

Lemon Tart
Mike L.

Maybe it's just me, but when one of my former coworkers suggested meeting up at Spruce Cafe to get some work done, I never expected it to be such a nice looking place. That's not to say I thought it was going to look shabby or anything, but I figured the decor was going to look a whole lot closer to your average sort of neighborhood coffee shop than anything so modern and semi-IG worthy! Much like their next-door neighbor, The Night Market (which might be owned by the same folks...?), Spruce Cafe is a bit of a hidden gem in a mostly quiet part of South San Francisco. However, that also adds to the charm and convenience, as does having their own parking lot and outdoor seating, which is handy considering there isn't a ton of seating inside. Similarly, the menu also isn't super extensive, but it still offers a lot to choose from. Along with your staple coffees, espressos, lattes, matchas, and teas, you'll also find a mix of cold brews, including some with cremas, and seasonal specials. They also have a handful of sandwiches as well, but most of their food offerings are made up of the pastries and sweet treats in their display cases. -- HOUSE COFFEE Nothing super amazing, but still pretty solid. They use Ritual coffee beans, which is always a plus, and I appreciated that they didn't burn it (no char or bitter tail on it). -- VANILLA COLD BREW ESPRESSO CREMA Ever since the first time I tried this, it has become my go-to order. The drink as a whole isn't too sweet, the cold brew itself is delicious, the vanilla isn't overpowering, and I love how the espresso crema adds so much body/creaminess after it's all mixed together. DELICIOUS! -- CHOCOLATE CROISSANT Sadly, I didn't get a picture of this one, but it wasn't bad. The croissant was a little dry, but it was flakey, not overly buttery and the chocolate tasted pretty good. That said, I do wish it had more chocolate in the center. -- LEMON TART Not sure if they still have this (didn't see it the last time I was here), but this was great. The crust was firm and crisp yet not dried out and it still had a nice crumble to it. Plus, I loved the lemon filling - sweet yet balanced by a nice punch of tartness and acidity. With regards to the wi-fi and service problems mentioned in a few recent reviews, I can't say I've experienced the same (thankfully), but I'm not shocked that they did. The times I came here to do work, the wi-fi was fine for my needs, but it did get slow/choppy at times. As for service, I've definitely seen some of those issues. Most of the workers have generally been friendly and get orders out steadily. However, there was one time where the girl working the register, who later switched to making drinks, was fairly terse with this one couple and wasn't exactly in any rush to make even the simple of drinks. Also, FWIW, the bathrooms, which are shared with The Night Market, has been clean each time I've used it. Despite their aforementioned flaws, I wouldn't hesitate to come back to Spruce Cafe again (I don't come here often to do work, so the wi-fi doesn't matter to me). At the very least, it's awesome to have a place like this around than to not. The one thing I would probably avoid is the Salami Sandwich I was so tempted to try...until I saw that it had just a single layer of meat (add $2 and give me more meat!). Their dessert items, though? I'd definitely like to try more of those! All in all, FOUR AND A HALF STARS rounded down for now.

Black latte, Matcha Tea, Matcha Latte, latte
Warren W.

Place was a bit hard to find. It sits next to a Korean restaurant/bar that looked closed. Once you're inside, it looks industrial and cute with lots of white decor. Looked like a pop up shop. It was a bit cold on a December morning. They had the door open and there was no heat. I don't suggest taking off your jacket. We ordered the black latte, an iced matcha latte and a matcha tea. Matcha tea was a large cup with matcha flavor. It was a bit diluted and misses on the nuances that would make it good. The matcha latte was good. The black sesame latte was very good.

Inside
Linda C.

This review is only for the matcha latte. At no fault of the baristas, the matcha quality is not great here. The color is not a vibrant green and the flavor is weak. So if you do come, the coffee is probably better. The cafe itself is cute and a nice place to sit for a while though.

I have a 3 star rating now. I love this place but I wish 1) they have 16oz cups for hot drinks and 2) pricing going a little too high for me where many drinks are over 6 or 7 dollars. I've stopped coming here so often because of prices. They have variety. But they're getting too expensive like Blue Bottle for typical coffee beverages

Gamini G.

My friend and I were looking for some tasty pastries and good coffee. After a quick Yelp search, we came across this cafe. We were amazed by the coffee variety that they had! I got the rose latte, eclair, and pistachio pastry. It was raining outside and we wanted to do a take out and eat in the car, so we requested a to-go box. The server was super sweet about it. The coffee itself was delicious. They topped the coffee with real rose petals! The eclair was chocolatey and yummy. The pistachio cake slice was the best of the lot! It was made with real pistachios and the flavor was right on. The texture of the pastry was perfect. It was one of the most tasty pastries that I have had in a while. If you are in the area - definitely check out this place!

Vanilla cold brew crema (not good, I would not recommend- has a strange tangy aftertaste)
Gina O.

Stopped by because it was nearby, but overall it was just okay. Drink: I ordered the vanilla cold brew crema. It looked good, but the taste didn't match- refreshing at first, but followed by a weird muggy, tangy aftertaste. Not something I'd order again. Seating: At first glance, the interior looks nice, but it's actually pretty basic- standard seating, artificial lighting, and the space felt a bit warm and stuffy. Bathroom: kinda clean Service: Disappointing. The staff didn't seem friendly or welcoming. The person at the counter didn't greet me, just took the order without much interaction. When I said thank you as I was leaving, I was ignored, which left a bad impression. It felt like they were just there to do the job, nothing more. On a good note: The weather was nice, so I was able to sit outside and enjoy that. And there was free WiFi (only when sitting inside) and it has free parking with a design lot Overall: I was just visiting the area and decided to give it a try, but I wouldn't return. There are probably better spots nearby

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3 months ago

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Emily L.

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Spruce Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Spruce Cafe

Are there any charging outlets?

Yes! Behind the long bench against the wall on both ends.

Hello! I'd like to know if we can sit and work while eating and if the place has outlets?

I went here last weekend and there were plenty of tables/seats great for sitting and working/eating here (: there are both tables available inside and outside. WiFi is great!… 

Do they always have Hokkaido milk crepe cake available? Or certain days during the week/ on weekends?

Hi Amber yes we always have Hokkaido crepe available , any day of the week.

Is this place good for studying/working?

Yes it's perfect! Very chill

Are there any vegan pastry options?

Hi Yanni, yes we have a vegan blackberry croissant as well as a blueberry oat bar.

View All 6 Questions

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Good service and food! Counter service with tables to eat in. I took it to go. Sunrise sandwich on…read moresour dough wedge. Grilled chicken avocado provolone cheese lettuce tomato - delicious - it was a warm sandwich. The place is bright with nice blue and white decor. I will be back whenever I am in the area!

Mar/2026 I had to put the date because the reviews from a…read moreyear ago and from eight months ago, don't quite paint the same picture of what is being served in this restaurant now. I ordered the Godfather sandwich based on previous photos. I thought it was going to be some kind of a loaded sandwich since it was $20 after tax. When I opened the box, I was a little bit worried that I had ordered the wrong sandwich because it was about the size of my hand. I looked at the photos and I thought ma'am it's kind of looks similar, but maybe I'm just missing something as a scale. But if you look at the layers of the meat, there are actually less layers now than there were 12 and eight months ago. I'm not saying it's a bad sandwich. I'm just saying it's a bad value. The Caesar salad seemed like it was prepackaged in a box. The cheese, kind of taste like refrigerator. And there was no lemon or any kind of anchovy sauce or flavor in the dressing. At the time of writing this review, this restaurant has 4.6 stars shame on me for not reading the recent reviews because I'm not sure I would have ventured here if I did.

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Mike & Ken's Deli - Pastrami

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4.5(263 reviews)
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Fast service and amazing Specialty sandwiches! Highly recommend the rancher sandwich with…read moreeverything.

I saw an Instagram video and decided I had to give them a try next time I was in the area. I…read moreordered an Italiano plus a side of potato salad (don't think it is homemade) and my wife ordered a crab sandwich. The Italiano reminded me of the way Poor Boys with ham, bologna, salami, mortadella and a slice of cheese on a really good roll with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and onions. I loved my sandwich, the meats tasted good, veggies were all fresh and a nice soft slightly chewy very fresh sweet roll. Next time I'll need to ask them to go light on the mayonnaise. Very old school sandwich that is hard to find. My wife was disappointed. She was wondering if they ran out of crab. She said it was a thin layer and was very heavy on the mayonnaise which overwhelmed her sandwich. I forgot to get the garlic sauce for her which we hear makes the sandwiches even tastier. I might go earlier in the day next time, ask for no mayonnaise and add the garlic sauce. My experience was great and my wife's was a little underwhelming. We definitely will go back for the Italiano and a second shot at the crab sandwich. Looks like a family run business by two brothers, nice guys. A little off the beaten path, inside Deli counter that looks like a Liquor Store do don't let the store front fool you. Stop by for good sandwiches and value.

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Mike & Ken's Deli - Mike and Ken themselves

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Mike & Ken's Deli - Ultimate meatball

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Darby Dan's Gourmet Sandwiches - Tuna Salad on Dutch Crunch w/ bacon!

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The crab sandwich on Dutch crunch from Darby Dan's is a local legend. Rumor has it they were the…read morefirst bay area shop to serve dutch crunch - a bread as San Francisco as sourdough. And they've been stacking it with crab salad, mayo, garlic spread and crushed jalapenos since 1970. I'd like to tell you they haul this crab fresh out the bay, but it's actually a blend of crab, fish, and imitation crab. I don't know where they get it, but it hasn't changed in over 50 years, and that's saying something. Not much about this place has changed. Generations of Bay Area kids grew up on this counter. Most of us remember stopping by on the way to a game at candlestick park, or after landing at SFO. Candlestick is gone now, but I still stop by sometimes, usually for the crab sandwich on dutch crunch. It's not the "best sandwich in the bay area". It's not a modern sandwich breaking the mold. It's a classic. A legend. A piece of history, and it's worth going for that reason alone. But they only serve it wednesday through friday.

What a classic sandwich shop! I ordered the sleeper on Dutch crunch! It was huge and I see why it's…read morecalled the sleeper! I took half home and ate half there, the lady was kind to warm half of it, but I think it might be better cold. Plenty of seating inside and I was surprised the have a hot grill section as well! For a sandwich less than $20 this spot is definitely a deal! I'll be back to try some of the hot grill selection next

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Subculture Deli - BBQ Cow Palace Club Sandwich

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4.5(327 reviews)
0.2 mi
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Patrick saved me twice today!…read more First he saved me from my super hungry belly pains... delicious Italian sub! He saw me sitting in my car at 10:30am, trying to time my order so the sandwiches could arrive hot at 11:30am. He welcomed me into the store (1st time there) and took the time to take my order giving me suggestions. He made sure to time my order so I could pick up and go right away. I mentioned I was getting a medical procedure soon and he was so sweet and reassuring as he had the same procedure done. Patrick and his staff are such helpful and wonderful people. After getting my order perfectly on time, my car wouldn't start! I was freaking out as I had hot sandwiches, Chile and hungry people wanting to eat. Not only did Patrick save me a 2nd time by jumpstarting my car, I learned he is also a certified automotive mechanic, and he gave me so much information about a battery that I never knew about! Amazing food and service! Thank you Patrick! Will definitely be back...

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Spruce Cafe - cafes - Updated October 2026

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