First time there. Cool location, historic looking building, fun and relaxed vibe, popular for a reason, good WiFi, nice and chill employees. Only thing I was confused about is whether or not they serve regular coffee, but only specialty drinks. I didn't see any regular pours on the menu. Next time I'll ask. Will certainly be back!

Best coffee shop in town! If you're a TRUE COFFEE LOVER, I highly recommend you try Philz. My preferred blends/suggestions: Ambrosia, Philtered Soul (my all time favorite), Mint Mojito (an iced blend with mint), or a Tesora. Staff is always super attentive and provide a warm and welcoming environment. Free wifi and comfy seats invite you to stay and savor your coffee while catching up on work, school, or with friends.

Great friendly coffe-istas (baristas?), Cool atmosphere to chill or work inside and at the tables outside. Fun art hanging on the walls. Coffee is pretty caffeinated, sometimes a little too strong for me so I can make a small last all day. Thank you Philz for coming to San Mateo!

Philz is amazing coffee, but I absolutely love this exact location. Angie is the BEST barista around, and is the reason I go there every day. Makes the best mocha!!

This must be easily one of the largest Philz stores - ample of seating inside (and even outside!), brick-exposed walls, artwork, and the consistent quality in food and drinks. That is an easy 5 stars! Parking can be a little tough, so is finding a seat here. Most people seem to come here to get some work done, mingle, or get their Philz fix to-go. It's busy basically any time of day. Love the vibe, and their coffee... Philz's the man.

To start off, I'm not a huge coffee addict. I like coffee that has been indulged with sugar and cream while discarding the bitterness that comes with caffeine. The baristas are super friendly. I went with my co-worker and he basically knew what he wanted. I told the barista to make me whatever she recommends but my criteria is that it had to be cold and sweet. Behind the counter, they were super chill and worked pretty fast but somehow, someway made it possible to have a decent conversation with you. Kudos. I forgot what she gave me but it was really good and minty. Had a good combination of coffee and sweetness that I never really thought was possible aha. The atmosphere was mainly busy but not really in a bad way. There were tons of chairs and tables but spaced out nicely away from each other so it was pretty comfortable. Although, people traffic seemed heavy - once you're sitting, you should be able to find a good spot to sit and read a book. The only thing I would change is the ordering system. You have to order thru the barista then walk to a different counter about 2.5 metres away and repeat your order, pay, then walk back to the barista's counter to get your order. It's not a huge delay but possibly having the barista write down the order then hand you a piece of paper (or using an intranet system) so you can hand the cashier to pay for your order would possibly make it a little easier on the customer's side. But hey, it's not a big deal and everyone seemed cool with the system. Just for the new comers. Overall, awesome place in downtown San Mateo.

Been going here to this "old brick storefront meets warm tech loft" off and on since the soft launch last Fall. Staff here is friendly, helpful and takes the time in educating you on Philz's flavors. One got me hooked on medium roast Tesora, heavy cream and sugar. The San Mateo location is the biggest and the most spacious I have visited compared to Civic Center, Berry Street and Middlefield locations. Throughout the day, this place is busy to the point sometimes you can't find a chair to sit. Once you experience hand-dripped coffee it's hard to drink any other. Metered street parking.

Huge space with decent wifi and lots of outlets, tables, and chairs. Perfect spot to do some work. The playlist was nostalgic Top 40 hits.

Finally they are in San Mateo! Awesome coffee shop with great barristers (barristas?). Excellent service. This place is always super busy with people studying, working on their laptops or simply reading a book.

Friendly staff from order to checkout. Excellent coffee; many blends from which to choose, and of which the baristas were knowledgeable. Atmosphere was perfect. Plus they had vegan donuts 😀

Their avocado toast was delicious, affordable, and actually filling. Gave me a free baklava because it was my first visit. Iced mint mojito is the bomb. Looking forward to trying different coffee concoctions. Love that they have ample seating and fast Wi-Fi.

Great, laid back atmosphere and friendly staff. I highly recommend the Tesora blend coffee -- very rich without bitterness. My new favorite coffee spot!

Classic philz experience: really nice staff, really tasty coffee, comfy decor/atmosphere. I like this one better than the Palo Alto and FiDi locations because it feels more spacious inside. The spaciousness could just be a time-of-day-busy-ness thing though.

Philz is life!!! I absolutely love the Mint Mojito...and I don't like coffee...haha. Their black tea with mint is also wonderful. The vegan donuts are delicious!!! (I was hesitant too, after all I grew up in the midwest. But trust me-theyre good!) And the breakfast burritos...scones...bagel. Okay...how about we stop here and assume it's all good!!!! I think it's obvious that I may recommend this place. ;)

Philz is a local Institution. Pour over coffee and it takes a bit of a wait but it is well worth the wait. I would take Philz or Peet's or Starbucks any day. Lots of Philz options in the Bay Area and if you haven't been here and like good coffee I would seek it out.

Philz Coffee is always good. The baristas here keep it consistent which is appreciate a lot. They're quick is friendly, if I were to work around corner still I'd go to this location.

I love philz and this location is no exception. It's HUGE in comparison to many other locations (plenty of seating) and things seem to run efficiently. All the staff I've ever engaged with have been super pleasant! Definitely would recommend (explicitly a iced Rose with oat milk... and a chocolate chip cookie if you're feeling festive)

I love all Philz Coffee locations but this one is especially large yet always bustling. Drawback is that all parking around it is metered.

One of the larger Philz places I've been to. There's plenty of seating inside and a few tables outside. I usually come in the mornings and it's usually pretty busy. However the service is always quick and staff is super friendly. Or you can use their mobile app for quicker pick ups. Drinks are always tasty. I'll definitely come back soon!

The coffee was great. They have a wide variety and the bagels on cream cheese were rather ‘generous’! The ambience for a cafe was great. But getting seats for the family was a struggle. It is a waste if you don’t visit Philz Cafe if you are visiting the Mission Area is SF.

Philz coffee never disappoints. The wait can be long for a hot beverage, but the quality of the drink is worth it. They do amazing pour overs. I love their Chai tea. The sprig of mint is a nice touch. The hot chocolate is also super chocolatey :D. This Philz is the largest one I've been to. There is plenty of seating to hangout with friends, and it's the perfect place to wait if you are in line for a table at another restaurant.

My favorite coffee house in Mateo. Great space inside and conveniently located next to the parking garage. Very friendly staff that will always greet you with a smile. The hot mocha Tresora is my favorite beverage.

The coffee was really good with the craft on it there so many coffee blends. The taste was greater than other coffee been taste before. I love it in here. It was a perfect combination so far. Great place, clean and with the accommodating staff though a bit busy.

Amazing staff, finally got to meet Phil as he was lounging in his new branch! Sweet guy, even gave his chair up for me. :)

My first time there a staff member said "this is the best cup of coffee you will ever have". "Bold statement" was my reply. He was right! The flavors from a simple drip coffee are so intense it's amazing. I've had cappuccinos all across Italy and I enjoy a cup of Philz just as much.

It's tough these days to find really great coffee made by really great, friendly people. Philz has executed this delicate balance with absolute ease! I Never feel rushed, always get the best recommendations, and leave contented and caffeinated. This location can be tricky for parking, but it's definitely worth taking the extra time. Try the iced Silken Splendor Mocha - it's my new bliss...... 😊😊😊

Always greeted at the door. Very easy how to place an order bartender is always happy to remake your drink just how you like it. Easy to pay great place to sit work there's a lot of couches their tables chairs. Art pieces around the store to help local sell their pieces.

Personally my favorite Philz in the Bay Area. Decent seating, but it gets packed quickly, so be prepared to wait a minute for a spot. Great people watching downtown, and a good spot to network. Silken Soul with Cinnamon in the filter all the way!

I love Philz. I've been to many outposts even though San Mateo is my neighborhood spot. Great place to hang out, work, meet a friend or colleague and enjoy a break from real life. Go on down and take my word for it. You won't regret it because Philz is in a coffee league of their own!!

Strong, flavorful coffee, super nice staff, spacious seating. You can even order ahead (called Caviar now?) with an app. Usually can find a place to work for a few hours even though it's crowded pretty much all day long.

I normally order from Burlingame because it’s right next to my work but they’ve been so inconsistent with the way they make their drinks that I’ve almost avoided Philz completely. My co-worker recommended to give up an additional 10-15 minutes to try San Mateo’s location and I was blown away how better the drink was! I really want to give a shout-out to Manuel who made the best tasting Philtered Soul Cold Brew I have ever had!

This is my favorite Philz outside of SF. I order my drink with special instructions from the app and each time it was perfection. Thank you Vanessa for nailing my drink every time and always with a smile.

Spacious, clean restroom Good staffs wiilling to take questions. Nice coffee, of course.

The best cup of coffee I've ever had from a coffee shop. The staff is super friendly and you get a free baclava on your first visit!

Great vibe, super friendly staff, and a great surprise for first time customers / visitors. They have plenty of seating and good music.

Friendly & knowledgeable staff!

The food and coffee is good. When I order a large tesora coffee (EXTRA SWEET EXTRA CREAMY) its always warm and Not HOT. Every employee there is doing a great job at making coffee. I just would like a HOT COFFEE and Not warm... PHIL can you help me out?

The barista was so friendly, and so helpful. The mint tea was good. Philz took over a really cool space on the street. The floors look like they're from the turn of the century. The ceilings were soaring. Great ambience, and great vibe.

Great vibe to hang out and spend a weekend afternoon. Coffee tastes great. Friendly staff.

How is it possible that I haven't been here before? This place is great! Love the interior, lots of individual seating for one to come work alone. I had the mocha and it was absolutely delicious! It tasted like heaven. One of the best coffee drinks I've had. Lovely service and lovely ambiance. If your serious about your coffee that's the place to be. (And that's coming from a Starbucks-only kinda girl).

I love this franchise, the types of coffee they have in their menu are exquisite, I always choose Jacobs but anyone is delicious and to complete I ask for the delicious slice of bread with avocado! Very pleasant place to talk, de-stress, or just read! For 5 stars! all workers are friendly and polite

Philz coffee definitely sets itself apart. Seen as a comfort coffee shop where you wait upwards of 5-10 min for your coffee, it may not be for everyone. Each cup is brewed individually which contributes to the long wait time, but it will probably be one of the better cups of coffee you will ever have. Made with care and love, you will be rewarded for your time. However, since they are super busy all the time, they may not be as welcoming as one would like, but it is understandable since they are all flying around the workspace. The ambiance is quite fitting, inviting and comfortable. If you ever get a chance to try it out, it would be a mistake if you didn’t!

Chu Wang

Amazing coffee, it’s the first time I had such good pull over coffee, very smooth and deep. Highly recommend!

R McLennan

Being from out of town I hadn’t heard oh Philz. I stopped by to hang out with some coffee for a little while before a meeting. I was surprised by their comprehensive coffee list and landed on a delicious blend to sip on. Service was fast and friendly. There were a dozen or so customers working away on their laptops with plenty of table space to spare. If this place existed near me I wouldn’t go to another cafe for coffee!

Keegan Smith

Great coffee!! I love trying all the fun things here, got a fall special this time, so good. This is also such a large space at the San Mateo location, really great to meet friends or do some work. Quick service, I love mobile ordering and I think it is so cool that the drink is always ready exactly when they tell you, they have a good system down!

George Chang

Old building new coffee house. You know Philz right? Mint mojito or Rosé. Can’t go wrong with that.

+4

Nan Liu

Spacious and have stuff like crayons for kids to play. Coffee tastes good.

Jon A.

I recently visited this coffee spot and was immediately struck by its fantastic atmosphere. The place buzzes with a friendly vibe that makes you feel welcome right away. Although I didn't personally try any of the beverages, my companions seemed thoroughly impressed with their choices. The staff deserves a special mention for their warmth and professionalism. A must-visit for coffee enthusiasts and anyone looking for a cozy spot to relax or chat. Will be back to try their coffee myself!

Aalam Singh

I searched the place on internet for a halt from job at SF onto a job in Portola valley. And i was happy and surprised to see the oil paintings from an Indian artist.The place is marvellous.I reached there at 5 in the morning and when it opened, people were already in queue.

+1

Rachel Royer Denzer

Great stop for coffee! Fast service and spacious for those who work remotely. I love stopping here after I get off the Cali train 🚞

+3

Bjorn Munson

If you know someone who's "serious about coffee," this is the place to check out. They take their slogan of "one cup at a time" seriously as each order is custom ground and brewed. There are a wide variety of blends, from dark to light, to choose from and the barista is happy to chat with you about your personal preferences. The shop also has a variety of standard food one finds at coffee shops including bagels, pastries, and toast (everything our group tasted was good). The coffee itself was phenomenal and worth the wait.

Ibee Ibee

Great coffee. Nice big space where you can hang out, work, meet up with friends. Awesome crew! They are always so friendly and helpful! Parking available at the parking garage nearby. You have to pay for parking though.

Typical Philz coffee, which is pretty good. I generally prefer espresso drinks to pour over, but if you go sweet and creamy, it's hard to complain. Pretty big space with lots of power outlets. Even so, it's usually full.

Service is not meant to be speedy here as each order is made one cup at a time, plus specialty drinks. It's good, but I think Peets has superior beans and blends.

Only the best coffee shop in the Peninsula! The hip vibe is a little overwhelming but I'll take that over a lack of delicious coffee. Only problem is they don't make espresso drinks, oh well. Beware, the caffeine content is super high, you will unleash your bowels later.

Very organized setup. They have cool pieces by local artists on display. Their mint mojito special coffee drink is great. When I buy beans, I like to get Philtered Soul - it smells like hazelnuts.

Delicious, STRONG coffee, moderate prices, and friendly staffers. Unfortunately, parking around here is problematic: metered except on Sundays, and can't use credit cards, even in the garage. Who carries cash nowadays?! Also, this place fills up (no pun intended) quickly and often, so finding a seat for 2, much less 3 people can be quite difficult.

Excellent pour over coffee spot with a superb variety of coffees. The service is excellent and efficient. The coffee is pricey but delicious. Recommended.

Good coffee. A clean and spacious space that has a limited seating inside with tons of different coffees, teas and bake goods. The best part upon entering of this café is the samples of their teas and coffees and the knowledgeable staffs. People who are working here are awesome at giving recommendations, suggestions and welcome any questions you may have. It's such a great place to come and stay for tea and coffee.

Philz is my new favorite coffee shop. The drinks are delicious (I ask for something different every time, but have never been disappointed). And watching them makes the drinks is entertaining. My only issue is that they close far too early - I can't really enjoy a cup of coffee there after dinner.

Super chill vibe. Unique coffee. Full service coffee bar. Free samples of pastries at times. The only thing I'd like would be a coffee mug for "here" orders. Good place to chill after the bookstore or after a big meal nearby. Careful with the high quality coffee. If you're not used to it, it's like a hot burning buzz spike in the brain.

The furniture and atmosphere is really fun with brick walls that make it look super handy. Music choice is good however, I personally didn’t find myself able to properly study as a music is incredibly loud, and I actually found myself having hearing pain 2 weeks later.

Great space in downtown San Mateo. Staff is friendly and coffee, as with all Philz's is amazing. If you want a seat you may have to be patient, though. And the place tends to get fairly loud due to it being so busy and the high ceilings. If you can't park on the street in front, a City parking garage is on the alley behind and I can always find a spot.

Pleasantly surprised! This was my first visit to a Philz. It was late enough on a Saturday morning that there was a longish line. Still, the line moved quickly, the barista was friendly and easy going despite the morning rush, there were plenty of open seats (I guess most people were ordering to go), and plenty of electric outlets! I'll definitely be back, and recommend the chain to others. My only complaints: the hip, warehouse-y interior makes the place feel pretty noisy, and I know there's a way to add cardamom to coffee without making it super acidy but my large "Philharmonic" was not it.

Coffee is so good. Honestly it would be a 5 star review if I hadn't been asked to leave half hour before they actually closed because the staff wanted to clean up the outdoor seating. That should wait until after the cafe closes, and should definitely not ask people to leave before closing time.

very friendly and helpful staff members and baristas!! the music is always blasting at this philz location, it feels more like a bar than a coffee shop. It’s often too loud for my noise cancelling headphones to block out the music.

Decent size Philz/coffee shop near San Mateo Caltrain station. It has a street entry and an alley/parking structure entry. Excellent for online order pick ups. Its coffee. It's delicious. Friendly staff for the most part. My drink: 9/10 times, mint mojito (sweet and creamy)

Great vibe, friendly staff, quality coffee, cool place to chill, hangout, work. Your perfect 3rd place.

+1

Exceptional Coffee Experience at Philz Coffee in San Mateo Review: I’ve consistently had fantastic experiences at Philz Coffee located at 113 S B St, San Mateo, CA 94401. The quality of their coffee is truly top-notch, and I find myself drawn to the refreshing Mint Mojito every visit. The overall atmosphere and service contribute to making this place a favorite. The customer service has consistently been excellent, and the staff’s attention to detail enhances the overall enjoyment. Pricing is reasonable, and it holds up well against competitors. Philz Coffee offers a great balance between quality and affordability. In conclusion, my visits to Philz Coffee have been consistently positive, and I will definitely be returning in the near future. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a memorable coffee experience.

Has lots of cool flavor, avocado toast is the best!!

+1

Cool spot, but so crowded we couldn't get a seat anywhere. Had to leave and run down to Peet's. Although, one should resist corporate coffee, apparently these folks got that memo.

Steve Inguanta

Great coffee options but no espresso. Still, the drip coffee is very well done.

Daniel

I love Tesora Coffee. It’s one of my favorite coffee chains. As a coffee enthusiast, I tend to visit almost every new coffee spot that opens. When I first discovered Philz Coffee, I ended up going there every day for about two weeks to try their coffee. (It was a similar pattern with Blue Bottle.) I tried pretty much all the menu items, and these days I find myself mostly drinking Tesora. The staff and the store atmosphere are relaxed, and the coffee here feels just as free-spirited!

Food Date

A nice spacious coffee shop with a variety of coffees. You can place an order from your app while sitting there and pick your coffee from the counter. Tried the iced coffee hazelnut, maple coffee. You can choose the type of milk like oats, almond, regular etc and choose the sweetness like sugar, honey, mild or strong etc from the app itself. Sit Cosy for hours, took a large coffee. Was nice.

Lisa Huang

Great place to work from! And the mint mojito is a must for any Philz location. I am caffeine sensitive and prefer less sugar so I get it decaf, light cream, and light sugar and it’s perfect!

J Liu

Great vibe and lot of seating for "work" to be done. As a non native, their order then paid service is a bit confusing when it isn't imply anywhere in the shop. Love the mojito mint!

+1

I've met Phil Jaber (lived in a house next to a store run by his brother) and I know he loves and makes great coffee. But this location is super slow, hot/stuffy, clubby, and if you aren't planning to be encamped for an hour or three with an Apple product, you are out of place. I'm just not sold. But hey lots of other folks like it.

The drinks aside from coffee are not good, so avoid those. The selection of allergen friendly food (plant based and gluten free) could use some work. The vibe is nice and the quality of coffee, high.

Coffee was good. The croissants were mediocre: cold and chewy. They forgot to toast the croissants.

They don’t honor cash payments

simran shops

Really yummy but extremely slow service. They took ~16 min for one small iced drink. I had the same experience twice.

icarl

not quite sure what’s going on with this specific philz but a quality control check is more than needed. understaffed, easily takes 10 or more minutes to get your drink. no idea why they can’t use the nicer part of the cafe at the front which allows for more staff. instead they’ve consolidated to the smaller back area. beyond that the drinks are consistently just not up to par. the drinks taste watered down/ not made right here. the hilsdale, castro and burlingame locations all beat this one by far in vibe and drink quality i always try to skip the sm location if possible but would love to not have to do that bc it’s in a good area (dt sm) for getting food and running errands, hope it goes back to how it uses to be 6/7 years ago 🤍 rooting for u guys

ario nunez

The truth is that if you are in a hurry it is better not to go to that place because on the 2 occasions I have been there the service was bad. The first time I ordered a regular coffee and they served it to me iced. On the second occasion I ordered a regular coffee and it took 15 minutes and I had to ask for my money back because I was going to miss the train.

I gave a 4 star review before, but today, I had a very bad experience with their service at their San Mateo store. I ordered 2 coffees and a banana cake. It took over 15 minutes to have them made that two cups of coffee. It was not busy at that time. However, I notice our barista focuses on talking to other customers but keeps up the orders. 15 minutes for two cups of coffee during the non busy hour, that's not acceptable. I don't even want to talk about the coffee temperature, disappointed 😞

I didn't get it. I'm new to the area and an avid coffee drinker. The woman taking my order recommended something that was supposed to appeal to me. It cost $4.50, way more than I was interested in paying. There was a long wait. My coffee sat on the counter for a long time before I finally walked up and asked if it was mine. I didn't like the coffee either. Just one person's opinion, and clearly I'm the minority.

Sent 06/12/2025: On June 12, I ordered a large mocha Tesora at the San Mateo location. The coffee is watery and it was seven minutes late past the time I had requested/pre-ordered it. (After sending the email I threw away the beverage due to its poor quality). Received 06/13/2025: “Hi Christine, I'm sorry to hear that your drink and experience at our San Mateo shop were not up to par! We always want you to leave feeling satisfied. If possible, we encourage you to take a sip before you go. If your drink isn't perfect, one of our baristas would be happy to remake it for you. Also, I've shared your feedback with store leadership so they can follow up with the team working that day. Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. Best, Brittany -- Brittany Simpson”

I sometimes need to wait over 30 mins just for a mobile order of a black coffee

Had a really bad experience with regards to allergens. In summary, when I asked for allergens information I got contradictory information and later on unprofessional push back from the cashier. Their staff does not seem to be properly trained in allergens info and basic custormer service. Avoid this place if you suffer from allergies or other food related medical conditions. I am extremely allergic to some food products and when I asked if the Turkish coffee had any additives I was told it didn't by the lady cashier, I later on found out it had additives for flavouring. I then asked if they could check the allergens table and let me know what allergens were listed but the cashier pushed back in an unprofessional way saying that she could not find the allergens info for the coffees but that it was "just coffee". The cashiers attitude was rude and frankly plain ignorant of food safety.

Sean Lacson

Constantly inconsistent speed of service. I feel for the employees, but the management of coffee operations in this location has been poor for the 4 years I've lived here. Breaking point for me was my mobile order today. Waited an hour and the barista was still behind because management decided one person was suitable for the mobile order load today. Worst Philz location, try another branch or go to another cafe in town

CO CO

I waited for 20 mins for two cups of iced coffee. Don't know what happened. Customers paid after me got their coffee already. However, I was still waiting. Very bad experience.