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Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: Noe ValleyMon-Fri. 6:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
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for a first time at a cafe can be hard, but with LUV A JAVA, it never disappointed me! let's see... that day (9/5), i was looking for a new cafe to take advantage of, and i saw this. my first reaction is this cafe is all the wayyy down at dolores, and the walk there can be challenging. BUT THE WALK IS WORTH IT BECAUSE IT'S GOOD FOR YOUR TOUCHE AND CALVES! hehehe..
about my experience, i just had an iced mocha and their italian chicken turnover. they're BOTH great, but what irked me is that you have to have a $5 minimum purchase on your credit/debit, and i was running low on my debit at that time. other than that, i liked that the cafe have a wall of books to read and buy, lots of outlets for the laptop, not much of a seating. there's this corner that has the couch and a couple of comfy seats (however you call them!)
it wasn't bustling with people, but it was alright. i like that this cafe is a corner cafe, on a quiet street, and very quaint. LOL
i would go back for sure! hope you will too..
Rocks! I have just seamlessly spent the whole day sitting on the cafe's couch, doing computer work, eating a veggie bagel, a chocolate croissant, coffee, and orange juice.
The cafe is in a very friendly neighborhood which is reflected in the cafe itself.
Serving not just java but also delicious parfaits with freshly chopped strawberries and rather tasty wheat bagels with turkey and hummus. On the latter, while I was initially disappointed my request to have the bagel scooped out was met with a blank stare, swapping in the hummus and taking off a buck because I didn't want avocado or cheese was a really nice gesture.
Everything is reasonably priced, the service is friendly and attentive, there are plenty of windows to do some city watching at 26th/Dolores, and free wifi and outlets abound.
This is a nice little cafe that is pretty quiet and a great place to work. Fre wifi and power outlets make it possible to work here for a nice long time, the seating is not very comfortable and is the weakest link. By no means is it a complaint or a deterrent. If you wanna grab a coffee and work/surf for a while, its plenty comfortable. I tend to be a squatter on occasion, so Id like to be the first to admit that this review needs to be read with a pich of brown sugar :)
Update: After re-checking my statement today, the amount charged had been corrected. So..maybe it was a mistake? Or maybe they read my review...? In any case, at least it was corrected..
We tried this cafe out for the first time last week. Never again. After ordering bagels and coffee,… Read more »
While taking a brisk walk through my neighborhood, I thought I'd check out a new coffee house experience - Luv a Java. Since the shop is in more of the neighborhoody part of Mission/Noe, I had not come upon it before. The atmosphere, food, and beverage was more than just bland.
The place was quiet even though most of the tables were filled. When I said hello to the cashier upon stepping up to the counter, everyone in the shop turned like I had sneezed in a monastery.
The manager or owner type felt the need to ask everyone in the shop if they had ordered my sandwich, even though the cashier had asked for my name, saying that he thought my order was weird. The order - turkey, hummus, cucumber on plain bagel. This guy made the order weird & me sick from it - he heated the hummus! Gross!
And my chai tea was luke warm with milk concentrated on top.
Me no luv Luv a Java Coffee House.
What a lame name! Well, these days every possible name is out there somewhere, so proprietors have to go trite. The staff here are good people, always consistent with their early morning "hellos" and service. The drip and espresso beverages are about equal in quality, I feel like they use a darker roast than most other places. Good place to stop into in the morning if you are in the Mission and want to avoid Valencia and Mission streets due to parking issues.
If you dig bagels, they prepare tasty toasted ones with melted cream cheese.
Free WiFi and lot's of power outlets! The coffee isn't bad, either. The baristas have been friendly to me and remember me after only a couple of visits. They asked if I liked my mocha and/or if they could make it better for me (hard to get the strength factor just right on an iced mocha). They also have a big bookshelf with books you can browse through or buy. I just wish they had outdoor seating.
Update: A few months ago I had to take my luvajava down a couple of stars because of a change in counter folks, but things are back to normal, which in this case is great, and so all my stars are back!
This place is such a rarity - a truly unpretensious place with great coffee, an inexpensive fruit salad, and free WIFI. The women who work the counter in the morning when I stop by are really nice and down to earth and the customers are a nice mix - the work crews from Dolores Street, work-from-home/cafe types, neighborhood parents. I get an Americano, fruit cup, and zucchini muffin and am good to go.
I know that Martha's gets many more regulars up the street, but I now can't stand the service and grainy mochas after trying Luv a Java.
Luv Luv a Java
Unlike some of the reviewers below, I have always had wonderful interactions with the staff here, and the coffee has been perfect (I rarely stray from my soy latte so perhaps other beverages aren't quite as good?).
I happen to think the bathroom with its wall opening up into the alley an amusing quirk...peeing en plein air...tee hee.
The library is an added bonus - for my husband at least...he rarely comes out without a book in hand and our shelves are overflowing. Ah well.
A great neighborhood coffee shop - perfect for a drive by en route to 280 or to sit down and wile away the hours.
If you are any kind of frappuccino-style blended beverage fan, there is something magical going on at Luv A Java in this department. I have been hooked on their blended lattes for months now, so much so that I've recently had to limit myself to one per week to prevent things from getting totally out of control. I'm not sure I quite understand WHY their blend of ice, pre-made mix, fresh espresso and milk is so bewitching, but IT JUST IS.
I also appreciate this cafe's friendly staff and slightly-off-the-beaten-path location. If you live in the Mission, like me, this place (and the blended drinks, did I mention those?) are a great incentive to walk a few blocks up the hill.
Luv-A-Java is the Noe Valley coffee shop I head to when seeking solitude rather than human interaction. Come the rainy season, it's my go-to spot when inclement weather displaces the outdoor bench scene at Martha's on 24th Street.
While peaceful, it's not terribly chatty. Whenever I cozy up to a window spot and kick back at Luv-a-Java, I do so knowing that a solitary visit sits ahead of me, but also *knowing* that my paper will get read, and *knowing* that the crossword puzzle will get my best effort. Martha's on 24th Street is polar opposite...conversation is quick and easy, but you never know when one of the locals is going to get ahold of your ear and start going yakyakyakyakyak a mile a minute, leaving little if any chance of your newspaper getting a quick glance let alone a solid read. Regular customers interact with the staff while ordering, but conversation at the tables is scarce. The music is coffee-shop appropriate, but just a tad loud. Barking dogs on the sidewalk are rare, and screaming children are all but non-existent.
Newspaper readers gravitate towards the front, where small tables bask in natural lighting that cascades in through large windows facing Dolores and 26th Streets. Free wireless Internet brings in laptop users, who usually cluster towards a cozy area at the rear featuring subdued, LCD friendly lighting. Better yet, multiple power outlets placed in useful spots let the home-office crowd hang out with their laptops without worrying about battery life.
Quiet. Peaceful. Solitary. A light, airy space with good coffee and ample snacks. A good spot to lose oneself in a newspaper or work away from home, but not so great for catching the latest neighborhood gossip. Looking to get away from it all rather than wallow with the masses? Pop by, grab a cup, and postpone life's demands for an hour or two...
I always try to stop for a coffee when I am heading for 280 and the peninsula. This place delivers perhaps the most consistently excellent cuppa joe in town. (Well - that's a doubleTallNonFatLatte, actually, thank you very much!)
It's a bright and breezy location, with interesting artwork and very pleasant baristas to pass the time while you wait for your next caffeine fix.
They have a 5-minute parking space out front on Dolores - 5 minutes that people actually seem to honor, so, if the space is taken, just hang a turn at the next right, come around the block, and the space is most likely going to be free and waiting for you when you come back around!
It's worth it - it's the best... every time.
My boyfriend and I affectionately call this place "Mom and Pop's" because of the sweet folks who work there. He prefers Martha Bro's for a more potent cup, but I'll choose the relaxed vibe at Luv a Java any day over long, crowded lines at Martha's.
I'll echo Kingpin X's comments about it being a great place to swing by on your way to 280. Their extra foamy lattes make the daily trek down to Palo Alto that much easier.
Also, their Greek salad makes for a great quick lunch if you need it.
In desperate need of coffee I was delighted when Google reported that my apartment is in very close proximity of a coffee shop. I sleepily walked over and got myself a huge cup of latte, admiring the full shelf of books for reading and purchase (w00t!) and the comfy couches. Walking out the door, I was already planning to Yelp this place with five stars, but realized that maybe I shouldn't let my withdrawal symptoms along with proximity to my apartment dictate my reviews. I should at least taste the coffee first, and take into account that not everyone in San Francisco is my roommate.
The latte could have had more bite to it and the milk could have been more frothed. But the ambiance was nice, the staff nice and helpful, so I'll be back to try the rest of the menu.
A really fantastic coffee shop. Their top selling points for me are
**quiet**
**clean**
and
**free wifi**
although their simple but delightfully tasty iced tea and iced coffee (to me, the mark of a good coffee place is not messing up iced coffee) don't hurt.
VANILLA CHAI HERE WILL MAKE YOU NEVER DRINK COFFEE AGAIN BC COFFEE SUCKS ANYWAYS.
nice book selection too xo
A few nice plants, lots of books, interesting art make this little neighborhood cafe good overall. Kinda small, about 8 tables, and often has kids in it ..
Wifi is free but needs password.
3/5 Coffee
4/5 Atmosphere
3/4 Service
4/5 Value
I enjoyed the mulitple times that Ive had a 2ble capp. here.
You can also get a (little) snack if you are on the go.
The place is more neighborhoody than mission-visitor strollers. They have a comfy couch and also an open space so you can people watch out the window or sit and read. I quite appreciate their openess in their space, makes it relaxing and welcome.
Note: this might not be a fair review.....
I have been romanticising about falling in love with this coffee shop since I moved to Noe Valley a few years ago. We walked by on our way home from taking our dog for a walk and stopped in for a quick coffee to go.
No sooner did we get in and I placed my order (specifying "to go") than the guy behind the counter told me to leave my dog outside. I have no problem with that, but I did say to go, our dog is all of 10 pounds, it was really cold outside, and there is no sign anywhere saying "no dogs". I went out and stood in the cold with the pup while my boyfriend finished the transaction and brought out our coffees.
Frankly, the coffee wasn't that good and I was just put off by the way I was asked to leave. I highly doubt if I'll go back here again.
The atmosphere of Luv a Java is more conducive to work than play. It's off the beaten path, so to speak, so you shouldn't find a hard time finding a place to take root. (I like the couch, myself.) The staff here is friendly, and the coffee is just right.
Note: The bathroom is tiny! It reminds one of an airplane lavatory (except this one is clean).
This is the only coffee shop I'll bother to review, because it's incomparable. I walk the extra blocks, past XO and Martha Bros. to patronize Luv a Java.
1. Best mocha I've ever had. Drop me a line if you've found better, and you better not say Martha's, Starbucks, Seattle's Best, Tully's or Peet's.
2. Try the blueberry bran muffin and tell me you've had better! It's a $1.65 and a meal unto itself.
3. Kindly service. The staff is very nice.
It was cool to meet the Barista who is a fellow Minnesotan! Go midwest!
I really like this place; great chill atmosphere and good coffee. I like the big front windows that let in a lot of light. It's also nice being off the beaten path to have less traffic coming in and out when you're trying to relax.
One bad thing, I don't I've had such a dry/crumbly cookie in a while. Oh cookie, did you want to go in my mouth? No? No you just want to cumble when i touch you and get all over my clothes and table? Okay.
And Luv a Java is a terrible name. Just sayin.
But I won't let that stop me from enjoying this great place and free wireless.
This is a nice little neighborhood cafe with free WiFi. We occasionally come here to do work and usually kick back with a pot of tea (they have a really good multi-brand selection of teas, Mighty Leaf being the high end. I prefer this cafe to Martha's (which is a couple blocks closer to us) as it's far less chaotic and a nicer place to sit and have a quiet conversation or do some work. There's a wallful of books if you'd rather read, too. The staff has always been friendly.
Cons: food selection is kinda small (bagels and some pastries). They do have some nice fruit cups, too. Not only is the bathroom toilet tiny, it's unheated, and freezing on a cold day. Good thing I'm a man.
---this coffee shop gets a a big fat george castanza sarcastic "EHHH"
--why
---well its a good coffee shop. the coffee tastes good.
---when i got interviewed here it was stressed that "the customer is always right", which if you have read my reviews i really don't agree with.
---customer "hey this macchiato is made wrong"
---I think to myself "is it worth it to ruin this persons day? should i break it to him that a macchiato is not what he thinks it is? am i one of those stuck up coffee shop asshole? were is the line between loving coffee so much that you wanna educate the public, and being a f-ing jerk asshole stuck up barista?"
----i say "oh OK, ill remake it STARBUCKS style"
---customer "your a dick"
---i say "well........ the customer is always right"
ya so anyways
it seems like a pretty yuppish coffee shop. my only real problem with this is...........if i actually got the job (which i didn't, and no, I'm not bitter) i would have to listen to Sarah McLaughlin (or however you spell it) on some digital radio station all day. and YES that does ruin a coffee shop.
but
the boss Ruth is nice and if quiet jams and blended mocha-bagel-chinos are your thing then,,,,,,,,, this is your place.
-----oh ya also i don't like walking up a hill to join the rich folk, it just physically reminds me that I'm "poor folk" ......like if a big ass flood came us valley dwellers would die first.
Great place wonderful coffee and wow bagels, I have the bagel with turkey and cheese yum this place rocks. The iced coffee with fat free milk is yummy. If I could add stars I would the guys and gals that work there are great they are the nicest ppl in any coffee shop I have ever been to all of them are consistantly nice you guys rock!!!!!
Luv A Java is the place I go when I really need to have a good cup of joe, put on the headphones, and get some quality work done. It's my home-office away from my home-office.
The owners and staff are lovely and everyone has a nice vibe. The coffee and espresso are delicious. Kind of light on food, but what they have (always a tasty quiche and homemade sandwiches) is very good.
Did I mention FREE WIFI? Love this place.
Plusses: Very nice staff, mellow environment
Minuses: Spotty internet connection, lack of outlets to juice up your computer, small tables (suited for one person).
Great place to drink good coffee, and get some work done if you are alone. But it is so quiet that chatting inside the cafe seems like a bit of a no-no.
Quickly rising in the ranks of my Coffeeshops To Chillax In. Very laidback, a few couches, a few tables. My favorite: a wall of used books available for reading and purchase! The awesome!
Try the cider - delicious and wintry! Coffeeshop Guy even put a cinnamon stick in my to-go cup. Awwww!
It's a nice shop in a nice location. They don't seem to balk at a customer buying a sandwich and doing some work for a few hours. The atmosphere, however, is ruined by the grumpy employees. The workers seem to be bothered if you approach the counter to make a purchase. Never a smile or a 'how are you doing'? The ladies there seem miserable and unpleasant. That attitude certainly takes away from what otherwise could be a wonderful neighborhood cafe.
This place is a great no-frills coffee shop -- prices are extremely reasonable, the staff is very friendly, and the coffee is delish! Especially try the blended coffee drinks if you aren't calorie-counting... they are not -to-be missed. They also have mini art/jewlery shows, which adds to the local-home-town feel.
We went here at 1 PM on a Sunday afternoon and there were tables available and our food and drinks were served quickly. It's pretty small with limited seating though, so I can imagine during peak hours it might be difficult to get a seat.
Nice little Wi-Fi enabled cafe that is pretty quiet, if your looking to catch up on some studying or work. Not crowded like XO Cafe, Ritual or Martha's and they have a decent amount of seating. I wasn't too impressed by the coffee or pastries and it's seems to lack a vibe. But when your looking for wireless and a seat, you need to keep your options open!
it's one of those sweet neighborhood joints. kinda like Cheers but without the drunks. you should go.
plus the coffee is the best.
the only thing better than the coffee is the staff! man they are great! they all deserve raises!
If you are looking for great coffee, Luv a Java brews one of the best cups in the city. The staff is friendly and the service is excellent. While enjoying the free wi-fi, you can always count on a chill vibe to counteract the effects of the strong brew. The location is conveniently located on the corner of 26th and Dolores. Parking is fairly easy and you are just a couple of blocks from the Muni.
The bathroom is in a little closet thing that opens to the side porch. The outside door is permanently propped open and is down right difficult to shut. So you sit down and realize that no further than 6 feet away is three plus stories of residential housing with windows all looking down on your business.
I lurv you guys!: My great discovery of the java-drenched year... finally found this gem in my own neighborhood - seriously, I would have continued to overlook it, not realizing their was wireless, if not for the reviews.
Get this - my residence where I used to work has been over-run by obnoxiously raucous construction, and so I realized I might be forced to trying to be productive at cafes along Valencia or Mission St -- which aren't my ideal setting, considering the commotion and tight quarters. Sooo a handy search produced this cafe, even closer to home. I truly like it!! It's not noisy - in fact, some people step outside to conduct their phone conversations so I wouldn't suggest coming here for a lively debate with a group or such. There's also enough space. While I am working, I peer upon luscious palm trees. I feel very comfy here! The people who work here are rather nice and helpful. And, oh, most importantly, the coffee's nice and brisk and rocks me to the core. And, hey, I don't know what is meant about there being no food, because there are plenty of nibblies here, though most are ready-made. I had a nice greek salad for lunch and I can see there are some pre-made sandwiches here too.
You simply can not get better coffee in the city! If you are in Noe or Dolores Mission, you would be fool to miss the coffee shop-cum-local art house!!! The staff is home-brewed and the free wi fi makes it a great place to amp n chill!
Cute neighborhood coffee shop. The decor and ambiance definitely leave something to be desired. They weren't too busy, so there was lots of available seating when I visited. Most of the other patrons were working on laptops, not a lot of groups gathering to hang out, so the place was extremely quiet for a coffee shop and work oriented. Weird music selection. The staff was really nice. The latte and veggie wrap I had were decent. Free wifi is a plus but it dropped once or twice. And the street parking around here isn't bad either.
Really, really nice people run this community coffee house. But I like the coffee at Martha & Bros. more, so I haven't been in a while.
I don't drink coffee, so I'm probably not qualified to comment on such places, but on the other hand it is opposite my house. I'm sure it's a lovely coffee shop, but unfortunately it has the most annoying name imaginable, and so I must give it two stars, just for that. This San Francisco trend of silly pun names must cease! Morning Due, I'm coming for you next!
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