Cafeteria

If y’all don’t know about Ada’s, y’all should — because they got one of the BEST coffees around town. They are locally sourced and get the most organic beans, and make the BEST pastries. And best of all, they are a 501(c)3 non-profit social enterprise running in the heart of Palo Alto. I work at Cubberley not far from Ada’s, so I have been coming by often and supporting. A big shout out goes to Kathleen, the owner and founder of Ada’s Cafe — she’s absolutely humble and very caring at every customer. She goes above and beyond in support of not only the neurodivergent community, but also for the communities in need in Palo Alto. I ordered a 16oz latte with whole milk on a Friday — and they honestly served it with SO much love and so much belonging. It truly felt like I was at home, but 10x better. The beans had flavor, and the whole milk wasn’t overly saturated. I also appreciated how much love and consideration they put in the croissant sandwich as well, because the ingredients were fresh and not too sweet or too salty at all. It is located next to the Palo Alto Library, and they do close early at 4pm. There is limited indoor seating, but there is a variety of things you can choose from. I would definitely recommend supporting a local business like Ada’s and having your bestie brunch dates here too.

A cozy cafe, delicious food (I recommend to try "apple pecan with cranberries"), and friendly staff. It might be a little crowded, but it's still a warm and inviting place.

Ashley Marie

Kathleen and her co workers are so friendly and inviting. Not only is this an adorable hidden gem of a cafe but it has a great mission and wonderful atmosphere and food. Highly recommend!

Julia Kutik

I absolutely love Ada's Cafe for so many reasons! The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, with charming homey decor that makes you feel right at ease. The food is consistently superb — fresh, flavorful, and thoughtfully prepared — and the service always exceeds expectations. The staff is kind, attentive, and genuinely caring. Everything is spotless and well-maintained, which adds to the overall experience. We’ve been loyal customers for a long time, and I truly enjoy treating my family and friends to this special place. The prices are very affordable, and the staff is always happy to help you make the right choice — especially if you have dietary preferences. There are plenty of delicious vegetarian options, which I really appreciate. Also there are tables inside and outside and there are always fresh flowers on each table. It adds caring to the cafe vibe! 🌷❤️ I also really love the eco-conscious values Ada’s promotes — from offering free coffee grounds for organic gardening enthusiasts to the opportunity to purchase plants right at the cafe. I picked up three cherry tomato plants on my last visit, and now I’m eagerly waiting for the harvest!🍅 Most importantly, I deeply admire Ada’s mission of empowering and providing meaningful opportunities to employees with disabilities. It’s truly inspiring, and it makes supporting this wonderful cafe feel even more special. I’d highly recommend Ada’s Cafe to anyone looking for a warm, delicious, and community-minded place to enjoy a great meal! In my earlier review 4 months ago, I forgot to highlight one of Ada’s greatest strengths: no matter how busy it gets, every new customer is welcomed with such genuine attention that you instantly feel like royalty. That kind of care is rare, especially in a café located right next to the Palo Alto Library, where the mix of moms with kids, students, and older guests could easily make the place hectic. Instead, Ada’s makes everyone feel seen and appreciated—a true gift in our busy lives. As for the food, the quality remains superb! This time we enjoyed our favorite mini frittata muffins along with new treats—gluten-free lemon bars and a plum coffee cake. Both sweets were beautifully served with a little container of whipped cream, a thoughtful touch. We paired everything with smooth decaf lattes and couldn’t have been happier. If you’re looking for an oasis of warmth, kindness, and delicious food, take my advice: visit Ada’s Café. You’ll leave feeling both satisfied and uplifted!

Hai

Really delicious croissants. I like the Ham Brie croissant, has a think layer of mayonnaise, yummm 😋 Latte was also really good, rich and aromatic 🥰🥰 Has decaf options.

Niko Sadr

What a fantastic find! This place really is a golden gem, the coffee was rich and flavorful, the food absolutely delicious and the service genuinely fantastic. Everything felt thoughtful and welcoming.

Paige Fitzmorris

As others have said, this place is a gem. I've lived here all my life and we've never had a cafe in this park which I can walk to for my house; amazing. What's more of their pastries are quite good and I have both complaints about the coffee service either. They can be a little slow but it's for a good cause they employ adults with differing needs or other challenges. They're hot sandwiches on croissants look good, I'll try that next time. They have grab and go sandwiches which were great for taking to the park that's next to the building. It's also nice that you could take a study break from the library by just stepping outside. There are fresh flowers on all the tables outside resting in mason jars, and inside are clear cappuccino mugs hosting artfully planted succulents;I liked being able to see the layers of soil and rocky bits for drainage. There are cute pillows on the long half booth / bench seats. It's a place for the charming vibe which is pleasing enough already, and then one notices rule compostable draws lids spoons stir sticks, even the plastic cups and lids are ALL biodegradable (metal utensils available). I can't tell you how happy this makes me. And another thing.... They have chips and cookies and pastries, naturally, but what I did not necessarily expect was the healthy alternative snacks like GEM or another vitamin gummy snack substitute. Just standout. I often am overloaded by sugary options that just make me feel sick, that won't be a problem here though. So happy Ada's is here!

Izzy Mayer

Ada’s Cafe always leaves me with a smile! I stopped by last week for lunch, and while the food was good, my conversation with Madi (who was working the cashier) and Rosa (who helped me with my order) was even better! It was a warm afternoon and I found a lovely shaded table to do some work while enjoying my wonderful Wendy sandwich. Highly recommend the wonderful Wendy Sandwich which comes in Dutch Crunch bread and of courseall the fresh scones, cookies and pastries.

FWexplore

Ada’s Café is a cozy, welcoming spot with excellent food and friendly service. The calm atmosphere makes it perfect for relaxing or catching up with friends. Best of all, it’s a nonprofit that supports people with disabilities—so every visit helps a great cause. Highly recommended!

Raquel Vargas

My experience at Ada's Cafe was fantastic! The atmosphere was warm and friendly, making it a delightful place to relax. The staff were incredibly helpful and took the time to assist me in choosing something from their diverse menu. What stood out the most was how they remembered my name, which added a personal touch to the service. I highly recommend Ada's Cafe for anyone looking for not only great food but also a welcoming environment where you feel genuinely cared for.

Christina Jain

Great for coffee, limited but decent options for lunch that taste healthy and/or flavorful depending on what you get. The location is unbeatable, right next to the library and Mitchell Park where kids of all ages can be entertained for hours. Has lots of outdoor seating and a number of smaller tables indoors. There's only 1 highchair and 1 booster seat, so don't count on snagging it. By noon on Sunday most of the tables were full but folks moved through really quickly so it's not hard to get a seat. Parking can be a little rough though.... Just park farther away and don't bother to fight for the close spots. You'll get to the cafe faster that way.

Austin Zhuang

If y’all don’t know about Ada’s, y’all should — because they got one of the BEST coffees around town. They are locally sourced and get the most organic beans, and make the BEST pastries. And best of all, they are a 501(c)3 non-profit social enterprise running in the heart of Palo Alto. I work at Cubberley not far from Ada’s, so I have been coming by often and supporting. A big shout out goes to Kathleen, the owner and founder of Ada’s Cafe — she’s absolutely humble and very caring at every customer. She goes above and beyond in support of not only the neurodivergent community, but also for the communities in need in Palo Alto. I ordered a 16oz latte with whole milk on a Friday — and they honestly served it with SO much love and so much belonging. It truly felt like I was at home, but 10x better. The beans had flavor, and the whole milk wasn’t overly saturated. I also appreciated how much love and consideration they put in the croissant sandwich as well, because the ingredients were fresh and not too sweet or too salty at all. It is located next to the Palo Alto Library, and they do close early at 4pm. There is limited indoor seating, but there is a variety of things you can choose from. I would definitely recommend supporting a local business like Ada’s and having your bestie brunch dates here too.

Aleksandr Korovai

A cozy cafe, delicious food (I recommend to try "apple pecan with cranberries"), and friendly staff. It might be a little crowded, but it's still a warm and inviting place.

Stebs

Fantastic cafe with great food, great drinks and even better service. Love the mission, and their menu is great. Everyone I went with all loved the food. Would absolutely go back again. The egg sandwich, empanadas and blueberry scone are to die for.

I love this gem! It's my safe space. I've been coming here for years when I want to get work done, and when I just feel like I need to have nice people around me. The team here has seen me at my best and my worst, and at all times, have been geniounily intersted, and made me feel welcome without judgement. The space itself is cozy and sweet, and the scones are so good!

Ada's is one of my favorite places to spend time, and I visit every chance I get. The atmosphere is so warm and inviting, the staff is caring and kind, and the food is delicious. Try the banana bread and the egg frittata–my favorites! And I can never pass up their soft serve ice cream on a hot day. The little touches inside the cafe are are so cozy–the eclectic coffee mugs and the charming decor are some of my favorite that I've seen at a cafe. Ada's also has a basket of blankets for you to use if you're a bit chilly outside! Their catering is also superb! They catered my son's birthday party last year and we got so many compliments on the food. Most importantly, Ada's mission is a uniquely noble one that I am beyond proud to support. I never pass up the chance to bring visitors to Ada's–it makes me proud to have somewhere like this in my community.

Best cafe on the area! We visit often after the park or library. All the staff are amazing and friendly. The food here is next level and the coffee is sublime. Bring your patience as, like many amazing places, it can get busy. Love the mission of the cafe too. All around, wonderful place.

I went to Ada's yesterday and loved it. The cashier, Don, had such a great attitude and personality and was focused on ensuring I got what I wanted. The chocolate chip coffee cake was delicious as was the frittata muffin. Granola to go was a nice touch as well. Very friendly atmosphere with options to sit inside or out. This was a great end to a Sunday bike ride!

I think this place really encapsulates what a community should be. They work to empower everyone while providing great food and great coffee. Whenever I am at Mitchell Park library studying for a midterm or final, I always depend on Ada‘s to keep on push pushing me forward. The mentors there are great as well. I hope they can recover their stolen cart.

Paul

I think this place really encapsulates what a community should be. They work to empower everyone while providing great food and great coffee. Whenever I am at Mitchell Park library studying for a midterm or final, I always depend on Ada‘s to keep on push pushing me forward. The mentors there are great as well. I hope they can recover their stolen cart.

Jen Pallister

Best cafe on the area! We visit often after the park or library. All the staff are amazing and friendly. The food here is next level and the coffee is sublime. Bring your patience as, like many amazing places, it can get busy. Love the mission of the cafe too. All around, wonderful place.

Tal Shay

I love this gem! It's my safe space. I've been coming here for years when I want to get work done, and when I just feel like I need to have nice people around me. The team here has seen me at my best and my worst, and at all times, have been geniounily intersted, and made me feel welcome without judgement. The space itself is cozy and sweet, and the scones are so good!

Peter Garadis

I went to Ada's yesterday and loved it. The cashier, Don, had such a great attitude and personality and was focused on ensuring I got what I wanted. The chocolate chip coffee cake was delicious as was the frittata muffin. Granola to go was a nice touch as well. Very friendly atmosphere with options to sit inside or out. This was a great end to a Sunday bike ride!

stopped by this café on a Friday morning for a quick breakfast and ended up sitting outside and working for a while. The setup is very straightforward—you grab a table first, place your order at the counter, and the food is brought out to you. They offer quick breakfast items like pastries and a variety of coffees, along with a few brunch-style options. I ordered a hot mocha, a slice of banana bread, and a ham-and-cheese pastry. The banana bread was excellent, with a pleasant crunchy element inside that made it especially interesting and flavorful. The ham-and-cheese item wasn’t a classic croissant but more of a breakfast pastry, and it was quite good. The mocha, however, didn’t quite hit the mark for me. While I could taste the chocolate, it was noticeably on the sweeter side. I probably should have asked for less sweetness. That said, I’m sure their other coffee options are better suited to different preferences. Overall, the café has a charming vibe. It’s located right across from a library in Palo Alto, where there seemed to be some community activities happening, which added to the atmosphere. Good food, a relaxed setting, and a pleasant place to spend the morning.

We went to JLS Middle School for a soccer tournament, and the kids were hungry, so we stopped by Ada’s Café. The place was very clean and well-organized, and the cashier was polite. The kids ordered hot chocolate, lemonade and quiche, and I got a croissant. The service was excellent, and the ambiance was warm and welcoming. They have a very cute atmosphere. The prices were reasonable.

Debisree Ray

stopped by this café on a Friday morning for a quick breakfast and ended up sitting outside and working for a while. The setup is very straightforward—you grab a table first, place your order at the counter, and the food is brought out to you. They offer quick breakfast items like pastries and a variety of coffees, along with a few brunch-style options. I ordered a hot mocha, a slice of banana bread, and a ham-and-cheese pastry. The banana bread was excellent, with a pleasant crunchy element inside that made it especially interesting and flavorful. The ham-and-cheese item wasn’t a classic croissant but more of a breakfast pastry, and it was quite good. The mocha, however, didn’t quite hit the mark for me. While I could taste the chocolate, it was noticeably on the sweeter side. I probably should have asked for less sweetness. That said, I’m sure their other coffee options are better suited to different preferences. Overall, the café has a charming vibe. It’s located right across from a library in Palo Alto, where there seemed to be some community activities happening, which added to the atmosphere. Good food, a relaxed setting, and a pleasant place to spend the morning.

Harry Miranda

We went to JLS Middle School for a soccer tournament, and the kids were hungry, so we stopped by Ada’s Café. The place was very clean and well-organized, and the cashier was polite. The kids ordered hot chocolate, lemonade and quiche, and I got a croissant. The service was excellent, and the ambiance was warm and welcoming. They have a very cute atmosphere. The prices were reasonable.

Found a lovely little cafe by the library while stopping into town to get my phone repaired. The atmosphere was cozy and inviting. The empanadas were so good, I ordered twice!

Ashley

Found a lovely little cafe by the library while stopping into town to get my phone repaired. The atmosphere was cozy and inviting. The empanadas were so good, I ordered twice!

Yash Doshi

Not sure why it has such insane reviews and called the best cafe, I tried the hot chocolate with friends and no one liked it. Very bland, hardly any chocolate taste, and watery, same as if I had made using a hot chocolate powder. Even if the cafe is pretty and people are kind hearted, I would come again for my drink