I stop often at waterlilly cafe when I go hiking in Topanga. It's a lovely little place with good food and kind service.

The menu was extensive, the prices reasonable but the service and associated attitude was sub-par. When my drink order and subsequent food order was ready it was placed on the front counter, 5 feet away, with no "order for..." when I was seated literally 3 feet away. I did not feel like a valued customer and, believe me when I say that I am not an overly sensitive person. Probably won't return. read more

I've been a frequent customer here, but the owner's behavior today was completely unacceptable. I placed an order well in advance, yet I was ignored for a significant amount of time after arriving. When I politely asked about the status of my food, the owner responded with shocking rudeness and an aggressive attitude. It is incredibly unprofessional for an owner to pick a fight with a customer who is simply trying to pick up an order. I don't care how good the food is--no one should be 'attacked' or spoken to that way for expecting basic service. The lack of management skills and common courtesy here is embarrassing. If you don't want to be treated like a nuisance for spending your money, go elsewhere. It is genuinely embarrassing to watch an owner argue with loyal customers rather than simply doing their job. read more

Very cute interior! we got the spinach quiche and goat cheese sandwich and both were delicious. Quiche was fluffy and hot, very tasty. We added bacon to the sandwich and it really rounded out the flavor and added a nice crunch. Service was friendly, very nice people. read more

Waterlily Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Topanga, California

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See photo for the type of food you will receive! Was not refunded even though we've been coming here for years and have let a lot of things slide. Disappointing food and customer service. Also beware our other sandwich had a giant toothpick flat inside the sandwich that could be choked on. read more

Waterlily Cafe - Veggie burger burnt to a crisp. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Topanga, California

Had the best matcha ever here.. hands down... delicioso! Outdoor and indoor vibes are cool..

If you like Topanga, you will love the Water Lilly Cafe. Nestled in a Woody strip mall, you can feel your heart rate slow down as you ease into a chair and have anything on the menu! The owner takes great pride in allmenu selections. Never been disappointed. Enjoy! read more

Waterlily Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Topanga, California

Perfect little cafe to drop in and have a sandwich and a tea/coffee. GREAT coffee (and I'm picky), fantastic breakfast sandwich, such friendly service. Perfect spot to pop in on our way passing through. Again, she was so friendly and helpful when I was deciding what to get. Gluten friendly options. Wonderful. Thank you!! read more

Waterlily Cafe - Breakfast sandwich, turkey panini, iced dirty chai latte, Carmel latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Topanga, California

No complaints. My stop in was a quick one and only for a drink. Orange blossom tea over ice with a single pulp of vanilla syrup. Parking could be a little hectic but I was parked up around the corner. The ambiance was no frills and it would of been nice to have outdoor seating. read more

Waterlily Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Topanga, California

One thing I love about coming to a place like this is a place called the water lily café your walk in you're instantly greeted, it's like coming home to a family restaurant but I had to try to pastrami wrap. Now I have to try it 1 million more times what they have to serve is absolutely delicious food and comes up quickly also got great outdoor seating. but I couldn't stop there I had to have the organic P soup now it's totally vegan so don't expect any ham, but that's OK tasted just as good! Followed up by a breakfast wrap, we absolutely love this place and recommend coming here and sitting out front and meeting some of the locals! read more

Waterlily Cafe - a person eating a sandwich and soup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Topanga, California

Breakfast burrito was very good a little spicy and had a perfect ratio of protein, vegetables, and beans. It was a beautiful Saturday morning and we enjoyed the sunny skies. Very close to Calabasas. Love the vibe and the people walking by. read more

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Great food, veggie burger with the chipotle sauce is amazing! Breakfast burrito is good as well. Service is great. Highly recommend this cute cafe. read more

My absolute favvvv cozy little cafe in Topanga Cyn. A must if you're shopping for yr loved one, thrifting or just out for an afternoon of bucolic bliss w/ a side of sandwich. Every single time. I order a vegetable wrap from waterlily's. It's larger in size than my entire face and my boyfriend and I have to share it. It's a great problem to have right? And it's delicious, finger-licking good. I think the wrap material is more like a pita and it's an absolute delight. Parking is plentiful and there is minimal outdoor seating. Esp, in these Covid times, it's a pleasure to be in the woods, in fresh air, eating some delicious vegetables like a rabbit. I miss waterlily's already writing this review. May have drive up the mountain range today. Yummmyyy. read more

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Knock off one star because the man behind the counter wasn't friendly at all. His body language was terrible and someone touched my breakfast burrito thinking it was there's and just said sorry but not I'll make you another one. On top of that I wish I could get back my 20% tip because the man and the woman kept playing with their phones behind the counter. I've been here before and I'll still go but I'll keep this spot to myself and not tell ppl where I got it from. Breakfast burrito was 10/10. read more

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Great little getaway situated in the Topanga canyon. Had an oat milk chai latte that hit the spot on the way to the beach. Quick service made this a cool stop to get that pick me up through the great scenery. read more

Waterlily has delicious sandwiches! I cant remember the exact name but the pepperoni club is AMAZINGGG and I mean delicious!! .. a little on the pricier side but no TOO bad :) read more

I ordered a breakfast burrito based on the menu on their website. The burrito is supposed to have bacon, but mine did not. Also, it said that it had, "egg salad" in the burrito which is really strange, but luckily it had scrambled eggs. So to sum it up, their menu on their website is not what you think you're ordering. Make sure to be completely thorough with what you order from them because it's very likely they will mess it up as ordered. I will say that all of the employees are very nice and helpful, but whoever is making their food gets it wrong nearly every time I order from them. read more

In a word... YUM! in a bunch of words: lots of delicious options, kind courteous service, quick order turn around, conveniently located and plenty of parking. Grab a wrap and head to the nearby park. Thank you WaterLily for consistently serving the Topanga community and beyond. We LOVE you read more

This place is lovely and I'm glad I stopped by while visiting the area. I ordered two drinks, a dirty chai and a mocha and both were delicious. I also got a bagel with cream cheese. Everything hit the spot. A great little gem in Topanga. read more

Waterlily Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Topanga, California

I went to get something to eat while I was at the Topanga library, it was less than a 5 minute walk from the library. The ice latte was good, not too much milk or ice, and the turkey wrap was great and good sized portion!!! The wait wasn't long either, only a few minutes to get my food and drink. The vibes inside are great and they have options for everyone, I can't wait go again. read more

Pretty vibes. Great food. Beautiful people. Enough said. I love it and I will be back. Follow me on ig @camcarter901 read more

Waterlily Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Topanga, California

A place full of love - and great food. I would always come back when in the area. I am not sure I would make a 30+ min detour just to have a coffee and a snack - mandatory in my rating scheme to achieve five stars - but my wife and I genuinely enjoyed the place and everything we had - so if you are in the area: highly recommended. read more

Grateful they stay open. Have been going to an outdoor yoga class, every Wednesday and stopping here for a treat to have by the ocean on PCH before coming back home to Long Beach area. Love everything my friend and I tried so far. Lately crazy about the mozzarella, green pesto sandwich. read more

Waterlily Cafe - Fresh Mozzarella Sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Topanga, California

I wanted to like it I really did. I've given this place more chances than I usually do but they are so inconsistent. Also there have been times I've been charged different for the same drink so that's a bit confusing. Service isn't amazing and frankly questionable how fresh the food in the back is. I really wanted to like it but I'm sticking to TLC down the road. read more

Amazingly tasty wraps and very cozy little cafe. Recommend to anyone! Kids friendly :) read more

I have never been disappointed with any of their yummy menu items. I was sorry to read that a few people gave this place a bad review dew to a employee that gave awful service. The owner is very kind, hard working, hands on and definitely would have wanting to hear if any issues with a employee. I know I would want to know if someone was not doing my business right when I was away. Anyway.... With all food items on the menu, being made to order and fresh and delicious. If you are in a hurry I would call in your order. read more

There was a very intense energy in the place as I walked in. Each of the small tables lining the walls was filled with single settings of just men, granted one was with a baby but it was very odd in a way. The person at the register seemed like she didn't want to be there or didn't want me to be there. She was short with me during our whole interaction and her over all demeanor was not welcoming in the least. It almost seemed as though she was in a fight with the other person working with her. They never spoke and it was eerily quite for 10 or more min. Music finally cut the awkwardness in the room and others started to wander in, see their friends, and start up some conversations. There was a very small selection of pastries in the case and it was actually pretty sad. The flowers in the vase were dying. The floors were dirty and the windows were dirty. read more

Waterlily Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Topanga, California

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This is easily the best place in the canyon for an affordable and delicious quick bite. You can't go wrong with the sandwiches and salads. The avocado sandwich on wheat is my favorite, and they have a unique and delicious iced tea. Usually friendly service. The owner is lovely. But once in a while, the counter person has a major attitude. Other than that, awesome place! read more

Another Topanga coffee place that is unreliable and disappointing. Why oh why can Topanga not get a decent coffee spot? If you want to be blatantly ignored and neglected for 5 minutes while the barista chats with their friends, this is your spot. I can't understand how they are still in business. My husband and I refuse to ever come here again as we've both been so poorly treated on separate occasions. And the coffee? MEH. I'd rather drive to Calabasas and go to McDonalds. they're at least friendly and welcoming even at the drive thru window! After writing this, I realize my review is based on the same poorly mannered employee everyone else keeps commenting on. Amazing. Thanks everyone for letting me know it's not just me he dislikes but the world at large. The earlier reviewers calling him a "Dour hipster" sums it up! read more

Maybe I'm grumpy. I dunno. But I think the service at this place sucks. Anytime you stand at the counter, not being acknowledged while the woman chats with a local, it's a bad sign. Especially when you are the only person in the place. And that leads to some serious grumpy. This place is sloooow, beyond all that. I mean, how long can it really take to make a veggie burger? Is half-an-hour too much? Is Topanga so laid back that this is the norm? A "sorry," or "excuse me I'll be right with you," would have been helpful. On to my second gripe: the internet service wasn't complimentary with the meal. So, yeah, I had to fork over a buck for a half-hour even though I just paid eleven for a freakin' veggie burger. Grrrrr. Then, the password wasn't working and her (same woman) response was just, "Eh. I'm not technical person." Again, any kind of sympathy or effort to help remedy this situation would have been much appreciated. But, rather, she seemed to BLAME ME!!! "People use it all the time," was her reply. She must have said it 5 times. Way to make me feel welcome. If the locals have no problem with it, maybe it's just me. My non-Topanga-ness must have shorted out the system. Why not point me in the direction of someone who could help. Or get someone who works there to actually CARE. That would have been nice. Then there's that wait again. 40 minutes and counting for a veggie burger. Oh, hang on. That's right. She's been "calling it out" for a half-hour. Seeing me sitting there (the place is small), and not gesturing or getting my attention. So, essentially, I had been waiting for 40 minutes plus for a veggie burger that had been sitting and getting cold at the counter because this woman couldn't be bothered to lean over the counter and tell me it was ready. And when I went to ask for it, she AGAIN made it seem like it was my fault. Customer first? Try again. Customer to blame comes first. AVOID this place!! read more

This place is really yuckaroo, and that even sounds too complimentary for what they've got to offer. I didn't look it up on Yelp (mistake) and just went for it because I was staying in the area. The salad was limp, partly wilted, and pathetic - for $8. The coffee just sucked. I added it to half a frappuccino later and it tasted better. And I drink, like, one of those bottled bad boys a year, so that's saying something. The service was really bad. I feel bad for the guy. He's not so happy. But dude, you're on the clock so step it up. Bad times all around in the otherwise beautiful Topanga canyon. read more

I saw the legendary granola man. Didn't think I'd get the chance. For a tourist? Maybe this place would appeal. But to a SoCal girl? Nah. Hyped. I do appreciate that they offer gluten-free bread for all their Panini's and everything that they do with bread. They also gave me two sandwiches because the gluten free bread is substantially smaller, which is why I kept my review at a 3 star. I don't appreciate the atmosphere and the attitude, though. I wasn't feeling the vibe that the girl was giving me; she was very hipster in her mannerisms about my requests for flavors they offered and choices of milks they have. Unapologetic about the timeframe it took for my sandwich to be made; 15 minutes to be exact. I had time to read a little bit of a comic book while I was waiting for the bathroom and come back and it still wasn't done. To be honest, I noticed that they treated patrons that they knew or locals different than people that they didn't know. That was kind of annoying. I wouldn't want to be a tourist and come here and be treated that way. All in all the sandwich was good. I had the goat cheese and the red pesto that everyone talks about is really delicious. But the service is just not something I would want to experience again. read more

Waterlily Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Topanga, California

I love Topanga and almost everything in this plaza but... I'm so disappointed with this place! Had the veggie burger which comes as is for 8 dollars. It was more bread than anything but still a good patty with the spicy after kick. That's like, a 3 star for the patty. We were SO disappointed with the manager; the cashier was more professional than she was. After ordering a kombucha that was pretty flat (I prefer a little more carbonation in my kombucha experience) this woman insisted it was kombucha because she brewed it and ignored me completely when I asked for another substitute. I got a bottled drink, cheaper than the kombucha, not offered any refund, and just left. Definitely needs improvement. Won't be back. read more

Waterlily Cafe - Veggie burger - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Topanga, California

Wonderful service by Claire and staff. Delicious food and coffee. The ham abd cheese croissants, egg burritos and quiche are favorites.

One of my favorite classic Topanga spots. Red bell pepper sandwich , no cheese, extra vegenaise. The end . I don't know what it is - but it's better than almost anything. Lordy, lord, lord. It's good. Been going here for years . Really good period. read more

I really like all the food here. My favorites are the paninis and wraps. The Mozzarella panini is absolutely delicious in flavor. If you get a wrap here just know that it's made with a lavash or a similar type of bread and not a tortilla skin which I think is a nice little twist on a wrap. Wraps here are filled with tons of leafy greens, depending on which sandwich you get. My friend had the peperoni wrap and it was loaded with greens like a salad almost and the wrap was gigantic. The cold regular sandwiches are okay, I recommend getting a panini or a wrap if you're looking at the sandwich menu. Service here is nice and friendly. The food takes a little while and seating can sometimes feel limited. If you're in the mood for a healthy meal and you're in Topanga then you should totally stop by, also prices are very reasonable and they accept cash or credit. read more

I wanted to love this place. I really did. I try to support small businesses as often as possible. However..... This is my 4th visit here spaced out over a 2 year period. So, it's really just not great as far as my experience is concerned. Today, I ordered a chefs salad. And then a turkey panini. Quality of product for salad is meh, to ok but one thing I REALLY do not like is being asked to tip BEFORE I receive my food OR any service. (Good luck on friendly service as every time I have been there, the kids in "service" act as if they are doing me a favor). I will also try to attach a photo of my turkey panini which, would have been laughable except for the price. Thank GOODNESS I asked for arugula instead of mayonnaise. As arugula made up 90% of the sandwich. Said sandwich literally contained 2 thin slices of turkey and every 3 or 4 bites, a taste of goat cheese. I went to the counter (after paying 28.58 in advance) and had the salad with two tiny pieces of bread shoved at me so fast that the bread fell on the floor where a line of customers was standing. I asked for different bread as I am not fond of the idea of eating stepped on bread. I was treated like a jerk because I didn't want gross, publicly floor trodden bread. I'm not convinced that I was the jerk here. I would have happily left an additional cash tip upon leaving if anyone or, anything had been more than questionably marginal. Now, I just know that I won't return and I regret that I was forced to leave a pre-tip in the first place. I love Topanga. I love little shops. But this place is just not worth time or price paid. Go ANYwhere else. read more

They are soooooo slow and the cups for the medium are so small. I'd hate to see what a small looks like.

It was my first time dropping into Water Lily Cafe yesterday with my friend who is a Topanga resident. She's a vegetarian and from her recommendation, we ordered the avocado sandwiches. I ordered it on gluten-free bread, which I was glad they had even though there was no mention of it on the menu. Being gluten-intolerant sucks, but I'm delighted when a food establishment offers that option. I wanted to give Water Lily at least four starts but I think they could take their service up a notch. The person behind the counter and register yesterday morning seemed a bit lazy, aloof, and flat. Mind you, this was already around 11:30am. When bussing my basket after I finished my sandwich and returning it to the counter, he asked if I could throw the paper that they served my sandwich on, along with my crumbs, away in the trash cans near by, but the way he said it seemed a bit standoffish. I may sound a bit picky here, but first off, we didn't have to bus our sandwich baskets, and second off, he could have taken them from us and threw the contents away himself instead of having us do it for him. It just seemed kinda lazy to me. I think management should consider approaching their customer service in a different way at this cafe, in my opinion. It costs them a star in my book. However, I gave them three stars because their avocado sandwich was really good. The red pesto sauce that they spreaded on their bread gave it that extra kick that has me still thinking about it. I'm curious to try their coffee and may have to try that on my next venture back. No need for a wifi password here. Seating is limited, as well. Nevertheless, I'll make my way back here for their avocado sandwich and especially since it's one of the few businesses you'll find in this neighborhood that's on the more affordable side of things. read more

Awesome turkey sandwich. Fresh bread, veggies, and nice flavor combinations. It's Topanga, not West Hollywood don't expect it to be boujee.