Highest-rated cafes in the Salinas area by diners
Highest-rated cafes in the Salinas area by diners
From the first coffee houses in the Ottoman Empire to Boston's famed London Coffee House, cafes have always been an egalitarian place to gather, sip, and share ideas, many of which have changed the world.
During the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, cafes regularly entertained the likes of Voltaire, Rousseau, Thomas Jefferson, and Isaac Newton. Later, Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre would spend hours in cafes, pondering their works and holding court alongside other intellectuals.
Needless to say, coffee and cafes beget some revolutionary ideas; sipping a cup may even be a political act. When settlers dumped tea into the Boston Harbor to send a message to the British in 1773, tea became a British loyalist's drink, and coffee became a popular substitute.
Boston's London Coffee House, which had opened nearly 85 years earlier, was soon renamed the American Coffee House. Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, Merchants' Coffee House hosted the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Paul Revere.
Many other coffee shops steeped in history abound in the United States, including New York City's Caffe Reggio. Founded in 1927, it was the first to serve cappuccino in the country. New Orleans' Cafe du Monde, founded in 1862, is a fixture in the French Quarter for its coffee and beignets.
Whether it's for a cup of Joe, a heady conversation, or simply a place to start the day, cafes have become landmarks of our daily lives. But where's the best one to find refuge and that perfect caffeinated cup near you?
Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated cafes in the Salinas area based on diners' reviews on Yelp as of February 2025. Cafes with at least 20 reviews tagged as "coffee" on Yelp within a 10-kilometer radius of Salinas were included. As a result, some cafes featured may primarily serve other items besides coffee and tea. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 25 locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.
Keep reading to see if your favorite cafe made the list!
#15. Honey Berry
- Rating: 2.8/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 796 Northridge Drive Salinas, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Desserts, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Tapioca Delight
- Rating: 3.2/5 (135 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1572 North Main St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bubble Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Winchell's Donuts
- Rating: 3.3/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1120 South Main St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Donuts, Sandwiches, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Honey Berry
- Rating: 3.4/5 (140 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1592 North Sanborn Road Salinas, California
- Categories: Bubble Tea, Coffee & Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Winchell's Donuts
- Rating: 3.6/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 640 East Laurel Drive Salinas, California
- Categories: Donuts, Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Cherrybean Gourmet Coffeehouse & Roastery
- Rating: 3.6/5 (202 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 332 Main St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Coffee Roasteries, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#9. The Bagel Corner
- Rating: 3.8/5 (282 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 818 Park Row Salinas, California
- Categories: Bagels, Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Brewjee Coffee
- Rating: 4.0/5 (34 reviews)
- Address: 16 East Gabilan St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#7. BKM Healthy Foods
- Rating: 4.1/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 620 Williams Road Salinas, California
- Categories: Sandwiches, Coffee & Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp
#6. The Beerded Bean
- Rating: 4.3/5 (188 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 210 Main St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes, Breweries
- Read more on Yelp
#5. The Power Plant Coffee & Store
- Rating: 4.4/5 (222 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7990 Hwy 1 Moss Landing, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Viva Espresso Organics Coffee
- Rating: 4.4/5 (320 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1552 North Main St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Castle Rock Cafe and Mercantile
- Rating: 4.5/5 (99 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 667 Hwy 68 Corral de Tierra, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Gift Shops
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Jack's Coffee
- Rating: 4.5/5 (93 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1348 South Main St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Gourmet Central Bakery
- Rating: 4.9/5 (46 reviews)
- Address: 17637 Vierra Cyn Road Prunedale, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Rasha Aly and Carren Jao, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 313 metros.
