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Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Hayes Valleybanana bread slices, zucchini mini loaves, krispy treats- all are home made by Aunty D.
All treats are $2.00 each
Mon-Sat. 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
"Awesome and friendly staff here serving up great, inexpensive organic coffees that are always fresher than I am in the morning, even though…" read more »
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i know how to get free coffee here. you just gonna take them to the back storage with you and tip them good.
just playin.
this is definitely a good neighborhood cafe, in the old hood!
It seemed like a good place to work but the internet connection is awful.
The coffee (Mr. Espresso, organic) is decent, strong and reasonably priced ($2.50/$3.05/$3.35) though I was thinking Blue Bottle is so close - only they don't have seating or wi-fi; the foam on my latte was decorated with a heart and the veggie bagels ($3.50) are very good. The addition of creamy avocado to the cream cheese, red onions, cucumber and tomato makes a big difference (good veggie bagel). They also have scones, danish, croissants, yogurt parfaits, cookies, and sandwiches (typical coffee house menu).
The place is small and cozy with local art on the walls and a fireplace. The chairs, even the padded ones, aren't comfortable. But there are plenty of power outlets for your laptop, free wi-fi and a bathroom. The wi-fi connection was horrible and unstable.
I liked how they let fresh air in but then so many people started smoking by the door that the smoke entered the cafe. And the cafe became so stuffy that I kept smelling some guy's cologne over and over. Homeless people drifted in and out (which is understandable, it is SF) and someone who wasn't blind entered with his dogs (health code violation).
The spotty, slow internet connection was very frustrating. I've said it three times now. I was ready to hurt someone.
Cozy and quiet. Great place to work with free wi-fi and friendly service! I like the music they play too - boots my productivity level.
This place is on my top 5 favorite places to work from my laptop in the city.
Having just moved to Hayes Valley Ive been looking for a good cafe to sit down for a bit of study time.
While Blue Bottle kicks a** it is seriously lacking in the chair-like mechanisms department suited to hold one comfortably for extended periods of time while delving into obscure topics like Postmodernism and the New World or whatever other quirky delight my Professors decide to bestow upon my fortunate soul.
So I took a walk around the neighborhood and find myself sitting in Cafe La Vie.
Coffee- check. Taste-meh. Chairs-check. Comfortable? Attuned to the frequency of a man suffering through the disregard for the structure of the English language that Postmodernist authors flaunt? LACKING. Seriously though these chairs are wack and the tables are small.
Also Cafe La Vie seems to be attempting an imitation of a borderland swamp because the flies be a' stormin my friends and the sandwich crumbs and dressings abound on the floor......lets hope I find a better spot the next time around.....
I think I found my new favorite café.
Come here if you happen to find yourself wandering around Hayes Valley. It's a great little spot for a coffee or snack.
Love the outside seating.
Love how they can open the windows and the cafe expands into the sidewalk.
Love the soy latte!!!! So delicious!
Love the people that work there. Super chill.
If Momi Toby's is the anti-laptop cafe in Hayes Valley, Cafe La Vie is definitely its antithesis, with young hipsters huddled over their machines and not a conversation to break the silence. If the two cafes were characters in a comic book, Momi Toby's would be an ethereal character with a penchant for long, lazy conversations, staying out way too late and smoking too many cigarettes, and Cafe La Vie its arch nemesis.
Still, for how modern it is and laptop-obsessed, Cafe La Vie manages to have some soul. The folks behind the counter are always characters, serving up a side of sparkling indie pop with your Mr. Espresso. Today I heard Wheezer, Vampire Weekend, AC Newman and TV on the Radio all in one sitting. The espresso machine is super retro and they have a lovely selection of teas and healthy juices to drink, and even some simple soups and sandwiches.
The fire place in the back is pretty cozy, but most notably, it can thaw writer's block! This place wins my "Best place to work in the Valley" award.
DRINKS:
1.) White Mocha = yay I asked for it foamy um I dunno it's good i guess not really a coffee connoisseur :P
SERVICE:
eh good enough
ATMOSPHERE:
It's cute, I think better for warm days because they have outdoor seating and they open up one of the window walls to the outdoor. But yeah even though it's small, it's nicely designed, wood floors, hanging lamps, track lighting, this pretty neat framed fireplace in the wall haha..
Darling. Simple. Cozy. NO ATTITUDE!
I'll deduct a smidgen for the "weird chairs" factor. Indeed the indoor chairs are a bit different. If you are tall - not helpful. Even the small-boned, small-bottomed men I saw fiddling intently with their lappies admitted "yup, the chairs are uncomfortable."
So I opted for a bar stool and counter height table. Pretty good. Great little view onto leafy Octavia. A nice perch for an hour or two.
Love the house music. With one exception. During a quieter period of the afternoon, the totally nice barristo got busy with cleanup duty (alert the media - they CLEAN the place!) and let the jazzed-up version of Ravel's "can't remember what you call it thing that goes on for f*c#ing" ever basically.. go on forever. And it wasn't Bolero. It was the other one. Ugh.
High quality mocha. No idea what it was - good quality powdered cocoa in the coffee? Nice.
BATHROOM ALERT. BATHROOM ALERT. It's nice! Tiled, pretty, clean and well lighted.
Holy crap - a civilized hole in the wall wifi spot with attitude-free friendly barristi.
Looking forward to my next visit, guys.
Before I say anything, the place has a garage door wall which opens up to the sidewalk. This, by default, was it's saving grace and prompted the last star to be added to the ranking. It was pretty cool to sit inside and have it feel like you were outside on a great SF day.
That said, I'm surprised at the complete lack of cafe's in Hayes Valley. It gets some of the City's best weather and from what I can tell, there are about 3 that can truly count as your typical study/work/chat coffee shop. Cafe La Vie was my top choice of the 3 for the simple fact that it has: free wifi, power outlets and "food". The first two are given pluses but the food options were terrible.
Ok, so this is probably where local fans of the place start yelling at me BUT food is important. I don't drink coffee and really, if you're going to tap into a places power supply and chillax there for a couple hours laptopping, spending money on a meal is a must. This place is small and has no kitchen so I guess what could I really expect for a meal. But still, it was disappointing to say the least. I ended up with the daily special: turkey sausage gumbo which ended up being minestrone with small sausage pieces in it. Oh well.
Service is great. The music selection is random but toned down enough that it doesn't really get to you. Seating and table space are a bit limited inside so that might restrict your laptopping requirements. In the end, I was able to get a good amount of work done albeit I was starving by the time I left. In the end, this place is great if you're looking to do anything but eat.
4 stars for the space. It's small, but it's cozy, modern and lovely. The outdoor seating is nice as well.
Minus one star for the regular drip coffee which was just "eh". My friend dug her latte though.
Minus one star for one of the girls working the random Saturday I afternoon I found myself there. The lid to the half n' half fell into my coffee and when I brought my cup, complete with empty half n' half container and lid inside my drink, she took the lid out of my drink and poured the SAME COFFEE INTO A DIFFERENT CUP.
It's drip coffee. I did not ask for anything that would take an effort to make . You will not lose money for a measly 16 oz. cup of drip coffee. Why she did not just dump the lid-infested coffee and pour me another is beyond me.
Minus another star for giving me that fake "Uh, sorry 'bout that" kinda smile.
Plus one star for the new guy behind the counter when we inevitably came back to the Cafe after sitting in the Park for a couple hours. I got one of their Japanese bottled iced teas and it was awesome as was the new friendly guy behind the counter.
I'll probably stick to Momi Toby's or Blue Bottle while I'm in Hayes Valley.
I have been sitting here and working the whole day because its so warm outside!
I love the huge window/wall. They slide it open all the way on warm days and it feels like you are sitting on a veranda. Wifi is free, they dont mind people hanging out here the whole day. The little leather chairs are very comfortable, and even though the place is rather small, they manage to fit 10 chairs in here, very smart use of the space! The ceilings are high which adds to the space dimension.
Coffee is good and strong, good selection of teas, pomegranate is my favourite! The barristers are nice and cool too!
This is a great place to lounge at
Friendly service, amazing almond croissants, and the perfect cup of coffee...or latte...or cafe au lait....or espresso....
there is also a very sexy customer named Tito who often goes in to order double espressos with water. I'd try to catch him in the morning if you can...what a treat ;)
Great Location. Great Patio. Cool decor. Free Wifi. Enough power plugs. Decent coffee. No real food. Shite music that's played loud. I mean I love music. Everybody loves music. Yet everyone does not love the same kind of music. That's ok... unless it's loud. Then it's a polarizing. Love it or else.
I'm in the else category on 90% of today's music selection. We've gone for the relatively benign ungodly-overplayed-so-I-never-want-to-hear-it-agai n Violent Fems to bad tinny terrible folk music and noise bands that make Sonic Youth sound like the Symphony.
I spent the better part of a day working here. The music selection and volume do vary a bit based on the dripper-jock. I've also been here when this wasn't an issue. So... meh.
Going here was like cheating on Blue Bottle. I don't feel bad about it though because I wanted sit and converse with my colleague rather than wander the streets of Hayes Valley like some sort of caffeine addict, you know?
Cafe La vie is small and sort of cozy and sort of modern and sort of retro and sort of cold; it is many things but one central idea. I'm ridiculous for even thinking about these things, right? The cafe occupants were the regular sorts, some with the ubiquitous laptop some with a book on self help . . . that's not nice, very sorry; I'm the one who needs the self help!
Local art hangs on the wall which was all very morose but fine.
The man behind the counter was intense and had some of the straightest, whitest teeth behind his scruffy beard; it was like duality of the mouth area. What is my problem? Too much espresso!
OK THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THE PRODUCT WAS GOOD. I will return with my book on focusing on the positive within.
If there's two people in line your better off walking out. The service is slow. And they'll stop helping you to give free coffee to their buddies who walk to the back of the counter. Oh express line?
Dude, it's a job, you'll still be cool if you give a shit.
The coffee isn't bad we've just given up on eccentric weird staff. I'll check back in a year and see if that barista is still in a coma.
I keep coming back here and it's really just out of convenience. I get a tea or a coffee and use their free wifi, all the while, thinking how I really wish I went elsewhere. I find it annoying how each time I've ordered my drink (no matter who the tattooed hipster worker is) the worker barely gives me eye contact and maintains his/her loud conversation with one of her/his pals outside the cafe door. It's real poor customer service.
Two stars for playing good music and having a *bit* of charm. When I say bit, I mean more like a smidgen. Nevetheless, I'll probably still come back here and sit in the weird chairs for 3 hours typing and sipping away. C'est La Vie, Cafe La Vie.
Date & Time: Saturday June 28, 2008 @ 3:30pm
Company: Michael & Canine Jack
Crowd: Young Cute Friendly Neighborhood Peeps & Tourists(Dropped off by The Tour Bus Co.)
Atmosphere: Chill
Decor: Cute! Lime Green Walls w/ Small Photos & Paintings. Colorful Leather Chairs W/ Low Tables, Cocktails Tables, Lounging Area in the Back w/ Modern Fireplace.
Service: Nice & Friendly
Imbibe: Mint Mochas & Hot Apple Cider
Such a cute and chic place hidden in the alley!
Great spiced apple cider when it's not holiday season, just when I craved for it. Good coffee too, best option when you don't want to stand in line for 30 minutes fr Blue Bottle.
This is a great little coffee shop on Octavia. It's nestled behind a few trees so it may not jump out at you, but there are always people typing away with the free WiFi on their comfy couches.
(I accidentally confused this place and put a scathing review up for La Boulange - I have only had great service at Cafe La Vie and haven't seen a hair in my food yet. :)
How often do you get free coffee from a coffee shop that is not even open? Probably never unless you are at Cafe La Vie!
My bf and I were at dinner when he started to have an allergic reaction to the food. Apparently on of the best aids for an allergic reaction is coffee... so... we rushed over to Cafe La Vie which we'd passed before dinner. When we walked in, the incredibly nice barristas apologized that they were already closed. I asked, "do you by chance still have any coffee?" and they responded, "sure, you can have some!" and started to pour it in a huge cup. I explained that we were SO appreciative and that the bf actually needed it to help with his allergies. He then requested milk (which I teased would not help his allergies) and they whipped it out willingly. So, we left with a delicious, warm, large, free cup of coffee and a healthier boy!
I like the low key chill atmosphere. I appreciate the free wifi. I tend to use that most when I an unemployed in between jobs. I wondered if it was ok that I was using something other than a Mac though.
Good mint tea and hot chocolate. I just wish they stayed open later.
I'm glad that I am one of many that love this cafe! I lived right across the street for a year and I nearly cried when I moved (only a block away) because I would be missing the staff, service, the luxury of rolling out of bed stumbling across Octavia and enjoying a nice variety of goodies and beverages. It's funny how the other side of Laguna feels less like Hayes Valley.
The owner is a doll and the staff are trendy, down to earth and sweeter than the pastries they sell. I've stayed there for hours and never felt uncomfortable or unwanted. I've jumped in and out and had great personal service.
I hate the tour service next to them and how the people who work there come in, jump the line, help themselves and act like assholes. The tourists are another story! They bring in the business and since the Cafe is a bit hidden it's good to see other local business' support one another, but c' mon people wait your turn! It's my turn to order my medium soy latte! Though this can a nuisance it's worth putting up with because La Vie is so fantastic!
1. Free Wi-Fi and workers who don't care how long you sit there with an empty coffee cup.
2. Great location.
3. Cool gas fireplace in the back.
4. Usually good music.
5. Sidewalk Seating
I wish the ironic moustache trend would end sooner rather than later. Most men just can't pull it off, and trust me, the few who can are not scrawny little white hipster boys. Not to mention any irony was lost as soon as it became a trend.
Okay, enough on the clientele. The iced tea and iced coffee were pretty good. The internet signal was strong, but the tables were tiny with several chairs all squished together. The chairs were also more decorative than comfortable. Not a good study spot unless you already live in the area, and definitely not good for a large group, but the coffee makes it worth going for a while at least.
Came here at 10 AM this morning to meet the photog for our son's up coming Bar MItzvah. All had various drinks including latte's, chai's, coffee with espresso and I had a bagel with lox for ONLY $5.25. Super fresh local high quality lox piled high. Would definitely come again.
"YAY!" to free wifi and an extra one for having power outlet! pretty solid internet connection. it is nice to have a local spot in the neighborhood to work. there's usually a spot to work.
during the summer, it's nice to sit outside with a book. most of the barista are nice and place good music. coffee is okay. the selection of tea is great - pomegranate oolong!
I'm taking KO out for dinner tonight for recommending this place. I got here precisely three minutes ago to get some work done on this gorgeous Sunday, and I'm already writing this review. Cafe La Vie is my new found love. I mean seriously, I thought I fell in love when I found Marc Jacobs, Gucci or Joseph Cozza, but this little coffee shop (two blocks from home) even makes Tom Ford's new sunglasses look shabby. Giant open windows, excellent menu for coffee and nibbles, free wifi, and a hunk behind the counter makes you feel like turning the powerbook's new camera function on (I can send it to all of ya). And guess why I feel like home here? Coz I see like 20 mac users all around me. None of that Windows PC bullshit.
Now I have to find a cool matching bag for my mac from Ro or Marc Jacobs. Kenneth Cole or Jack Spade is not gonna cut it for this hip spot. Cafe La Vie deserves better. That's the only dilemma I have encountered so far. Jade has a sister coffee shop now!
The perfect place to nurse a hangover on a Thursday after deciding that Wednesday night is the PERFECT night to go on a drinking binge after consuming 4 bottles of wine and some Velveeta and salsa during the season opener of Project Runway at a friend's house in Duboce Triangle and then deciding that you want to karaoke at The Mint but realizing that The Mint is one block further than you want to talk and ending up at a nondescript gay bar and letting Darin I hit you in the head with a door!!!!
Wait, what?
Anyways, much like Omid, I want to spend my life here in Cafe La Vie and never leave and rub myself with the splendid espresso grinds of what I think is the best cafe in Hayes Valley (and no, I don't consider a kiosk in the garage of a woodworking shop a "cafe" per se, so BOOYA).
And they have a free strong WiFi connection as well and are open until 9:30 every night, so I am currently writing this awesome review from a stool that I've occupied for the last 3 hours listening to Sufjan and Bright Eyes and Of Montreal and othersuch hipster cred music.
And a man and his son just came into the cafe and the son is going "Daddy, you know what would be the best thing in the world? That I would love more than anything except you and mommy? You know what that is?"
And the dad goes "What is it?"
And the son looks up with innocence and wide eyes and naivete and love and goes "If every morning you could make me fresh squeezed juice for breakfast."
I fucking hate kids but I love Cafe La Vie.
I know what you're thinking.
You're thinking - this is exactly what San Francisco needs - another coffee shop, with a chalkboard menu. And some croissants. Maybe odwalla. Maybe some sandwiches and bagels. Yes. This is what you've been waiting for. There aren't approximately 1,000 other places just like this all over the city.
But, wait! Here's one thing that Cafe La Vie that is going to blow your mind. Are you ready? The coffee here ... is GOOD. Yes, it tastes good. It's not burnt. It's not watery. It's not BROWN (coffee should be black. hello!). You can drink this coffee and actually enjoy how it tastes ,as opposed to tolerating the shitty swill most places serve and waiting for the caffeine to hit your veins. What a revelation.
Also, I saw the best post one night stand meeting here between two guys. One guy came to pick something up he left at the other dude's house and the painful look in his face told me all I needed to know. I'm sure you're double parked and have to leave right away. So very sure.
Late July 07:
Beah sits at Cafe La Vie trying desperately to get the free wifi to work. The signal is crystal clear but her computer just won't connect. People around her are starting to complain about the same problem. The barista finally locates the wifi hub and resets it. Beah waits. Beah tries again. No luck. Others begin to agitatedly ask the barista "where else in the godforsaken neighborhood they might find a signal that actually WORKS." Beah roles her eyes because she doesn't like obnoxious, self-righteous customers but, deep down, is pretty disappointed about the wifi thing because she REALLY needs to check facebook. Just kidding. But she REALLY needs to check yelp.
Late September 07:
Beah returns to Cafe La Vie, laptop in hands, ready to pound out hours of productive work. She assume the wifi snag has been corrected over the intervening two months. She is wrong.
Luckily, there are other signals within range that one can steal from. Beah works feverishly, though somwhat miffed that Cafe La Vie is still false advertising a free wifi signal.
OK. I'm pretty much over it. I'll probably go back this afternoon and get some more of that refreshing mint iced tea and maybe a Chai when the sun goes down. The space itself is beautiful and sunny, which is pretty invaluable as far as my seasonally depressed ass is concerned.
And a note on the chairs: while I am typically suspicious of the comfort level of chairs that are designed to appear un-chair-like (as Cafe La Vie's are), these guys are the exception. They are phenomenally comfortable to me, which is a major selling point for those preparing to sit at their laptop for hours one end. Mitigating this fact is the somewhat awkward table height. I need another couple of inches from you guys. Do I sound like a real asshole? I do, right?
La Vie - a painting by Picasso, done in his "blue period" (1901-1904), which essentially means the period of his life where he was super tortured and upset because one of his best friends, Carlos Casagemas, committed suicide. Depressing shit, but the result was some pretty amazing art, if a little blue, literally. If you are ever in Cleveland go check out La Vie at the Museum of Art.
Am I giving the place 5 stars just because I like Picasso? No, that wouldn't make any sense, would it? I am just pointing out that La Vie is pretty great as a painting AND as a cafe in Hayes Valley, and that I like art, and that this particular La Vie is all about showcasing local artists, and is artistic in its very design. Plus I am sharing a bit of art history with you in the process, and there is nothing wrong with a little education, is there? Well?
Anyhow, this place has free wifi, doors that roll up on a nice day to let in the fresh air, a counter on the ceiling, red and orange hues (sort of like Picasso's "rose period" (1905-1907) combined with his "cubist period" (1909-1919), cozy seating and, drum roll please.........
Good coffee! Yes, an independent cafe with good coffee! You heard it here. You also heard a bit about Picasso. With a name like La Vie I couldn't resist!
Free wifi and good coffee in an intimate upscale retro-modern George Jetsons atmosphere. The owner, George, is a plumbing contractor so he is handy and creative. He has a good eye for design too. All of that explains why Oxenrose's old reception desk has been repurposed as a canopy over the order counter.
Only for the small to mid sized of tush. The upside down conical section chairs are sturdy and gorgeous but not welcoming to bountious butts.
The espresso machine is a beauty. I don't know if it's a special model but it's art art deco wonder.
Friendly atmosphere, huge window that opens up so you can people watch while working on your laptop (Free Wifi).
My new favorite neighborhood cafe. Say hi to Crystal behind the counter.
Great mochas too.
Thank the caffeine Gods there is another coffee option in Hayes Valley. Sometimes I don't want to wait in line for Blue Bottle especially when I want a capuccino or latte because for some reason, they seem to make mine lukewarm. If I'm not going for a crack drip at Blue Bottle, I head to Cafe La Vie for a nice hot excellent capuccino.
The interior is cozy and cool in design, you know like Ritual but a fraction of the size. Cafe La Vie is also on the cutest tree lined block of Octavia you know by the African store? It reminds me of Europe. I love that area, and I can tell it loves me too.
There you go.
Definitely not everything I hope it would be. The space is limited, and the chairs are fun, but not comfy. The iced coffee was delish though, so I'd get stuff to go from here.
The barista needs to focus on the cafe, rather than some friend who has nothing better to do on a beautiful day than hang out with his working friend.
good, not great.
Lately I have been lost for words. Can not seem to say what I mean. Everything that flows out of thy lips is misconstrued.
Until...
I took my sip of the cafe mocha...
"Woah!"
I really did mean to express each letter and punctuation in that 5 character space.
There's nothing like getting to know about new places early. REALLY early. In this case, about 2 months early.
I was in Hayes Valley enjoying the pre-xmas street festivities, when I came across the owners of Cafe La Vie sitting next to the open main window of their soon-to-be cafe. I was, admittedly, in the mood for a coffee, but this place wasn't going to open until Jan or Feb at least.
Still, there was something about it that charmed me.. maybe the flat fireplace set against the wall like a picture, maybe the burning man crowd playing with fire just down the road from me, or maybe just the buzz from drinking on an empty stomach. I decided that this was to be my cafe, and I it's champion... So, keep an eye on this place, coming soon!
Since this is the closest coffee shop to me, you will usually find me here for an hour or two after work, just relaxing. If that isn't enough to make you check this place out (or, more likely, stay away), it also has a really laid back feel, everyone is really nice, and they make great espresso drinks. I've never had the drip, so I have no idea how it is.
update: they have wifi again! And it works, too!
One of the most important features of a good apartment is access to coffee. And I'm not talking mini-mart coffee or Starbucks but rather, cute, unique coffee shops, like this one. In an effort to get to know my new neighborhood (and again, in an effort to effectively telecommute) I started wandering through Hayes Valley and came across this gem. While small inside, it has great outdoor seating, and the front wall of windows open up so that even inside eaters can feel like they are outside (or, as the case maybe, inside office space can be outside office space too!). I didn't have coffe, but I did have a cookie and it was very good - breakfast of champions. Likewise, the guy at the counter had a great music selection going - very hipster but not distracting.
Note: This place DOES have internet access - it's not secured and didn't show up at the top of my available wireless list. You might have to scroll down a bit, but it's there with a good signal.
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