When looking for your next pick-me-up while in Gilroy, California, you’ll find a balanced blend of coffee and tea houses serving up sweet and savory drinks.
Whether you’re in the mood for a hip, laidback vibe or a tranquil, chic experience, Gilroy delivers plenty of gems to escape the daily grind and enjoy your favorite coffee or tea drink.
Camino Coffee, downtown’s newest Coffee House, offers a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere and delicious coffee. Housed in the former historic gas station at Monterey and Seventh streets, Camino Coffee boasts unique architecture and a convenient location just steps from the train station.
You’ll be greeted with a hello as you enter the modern, spacious café. Contemporary rock music plays softly under the whirl of the cappuccino machine. Place your order at the mosaic tile counter where the friendly baristas are busy making caffeinated concoctions. The café partners with Proyecto Diaz Coffee, a coffee roasting coffee company in Oakland whose family coffee farm is located in Oaxaca, Mexico. Choose from hot or iced espresso drinks, including cappuccinos, lattes, and mochas, as well as matcha, drip coffee, cold brew, chai, Italian sodas, and an assortment of teas. A refrigerated case displays sparkling water, kombucha and Ollipop sodas.
If you’re craving something more than caffeine, the bakery case offers a variety of croissants, including ham and cheese, and chocolate, as well as scones, and coffee cake.
Take a seat at the long communal table or one of the three-seater or two-seater marble topped tables scattered around the polished concrete floor. Lounge seating to the left delivers comfy chairs and bar seating. Additional bar seating resides against the large picture windows that rise to the ceiling. There’s also outdoor seating at picnic tables or chairs on the covered sun-drenched patio. Free Wi-Fi is available as well as gift cards for sale.
For high-tea or an espresso drink, unwind at the inviting and elegant AnNam Bistro and Café on First Street. The restaurant is a fusion of Vietnamese French cuisine, English high tea, and Italian espresso specialties.
Enjoy a drink from their full menu, which offers cappuccinos, lattes, salted caramel lattes, mushroom lattes, dalgona cafés, a variety of Vietnamese coffees, Italian soda, and teas.
Pair your iced or hot drink with avocado toast, a breakfast bagel sandwich, a flaky croissant or one of their other delectable breakfast options. The full tea service is an ideal treat to share with friends. The three-tier tea set includes a selection of sweets, including pistachio mousse, Crème brûlée, and other sweets, as well as pastries, sandwiches, and an assortment of teas.
The lunch menu boasts a variety of salads and sandwiches alongside Vietnamese cuisine including egg rolls, spring rolls, potstickers, chicken noodle soup, beef stew, seafood noodle, and golden spice fusion curry. At the counter, large clear cases are filled with tempting sweets, including cake, cheesecake, tiramisu, and other desserts.
Opt for outdoor seating in the sunshine or linger over your meal inside as gentle instrumental music plays in the background. The elegant space is tastefully decorated with tile floors with mosaic tile inserts in shades of gray and rose, painted and wrought iron chandeliers, and creamy walls with gold trim, framed artwork, and sconces. Bouquets of roses dot the space, and red and yellow roses in vases sit on each wood table.
For a more casual bite and to-go drinks, try Tea Leaf Café, right next door. The café’s low instrumental music and friendly service lend itself to a pleasant visit. Open all day, the popular breakfast and lunch spot serves up Vietnamese fusion cuisine and drinks.
You’re treated to a bounty of options, including teas, fresh boba, and authentic Vietnamese coffee, as well as savory Asian and Vietnamese dishes. Enjoy a creamy, sweet Thai-iced tea with or without boba paired with one of their delectable spring rolls. For a heftier option, choose a rice bowl featuring your choice of protein, tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce, topped with their house sauce. A vermicelli salad and the Vietnamese classic banh mi are also on the menu. The sandwich served on a French baguette is bursting with fresh vegetables and your choice of protein. For a quick or to-go snack, try the basil popcorn chicken, French fries (including garlic fries!), fried tofu with basil, or churro bites.
Downtown Gilroy’s Fifth Street Coffee Roasting Co. is a longtime local favorite for fresh coffee and pastries. You can’t miss the warm and comfortable café at the corner of Fifth and Monterey streets. The exterior wall is emblazoned with a mural of a Southern Pacific Coast Daylight GS-4 Locomotive, painted by Gilroy artist Scott Lance in 2014.
Greeted by the café’s soft music and hum of activity, you’ll find the full menu resting over the wood bar where the friendly baristas are busy taking and making drink orders. Choose from a variety of espresso drinks, including lattes of every flavor imaginable from vanilla and coconut to salted caramel and honey lavender, or a mocha, including white Mocha, peppermint, and Mexican Mocha, or an Italian eggnog. The coffee is sourced from all over the world and roasted on-site. If you’re opting for a coffee alternative, try a Tazo tea, chai tea latte, honey vanilla tea latte, hot chocolate, or a fruit smoothie.
At the bar, tall glass cloches are filled with cheese Danish, blueberry muffins, almond pastries, cinnamon rolls, bear claws, and a variety of bagels. There’s also a refrigerated case of water, sparkling water and apple juice. To the right of the bar, you’ll find a tasty variety of Marianne’s ice cream from Santa Cruz.
Take a seat at the corner wood bar for a view of Gilroy’s bustling downtown. Here you can spot two other murals across the street — the “Garlic Capital of the World” mural, which faces a mural depicting Santa Clara Valley wine country.
Two easy leather chairs, a bookcase lined with books, and wood tables with chairs rest comfortably against the wall. At the back of the café, a pop-up shop is stocked with candles, cookbooks, clothing, table linens, coffee cups, and home décor items. The café also offers free Wi-Fi and gift cards for sale. Before leaving, sip a to-go coffee outside in the sunshine at a low top table or one of the high-top tables lining the sidewalk on Fifth Street.
One of the newest spots in Downtown Gilroy serving up a curated menu of tea and coffee beverages is Café Motif. This café is located inside The Clove Art Complex, a vibrant venue where creativity, culture, and culinary arts come together.
Their coffee and tea offerings include espresso classics like Americanos, cappuccinos, and lattes, along with specialty drinks such as the Caramel Macchiato, Mocha, and Matcha Fusion. In addition to their espresso-based drinks, Café Motif serves a variety of chai and matcha lattes, as well as the classic French Press Drip Coffee. Their expansive tea menu features an array of Silk Road Loose Leaf Teas and Plum Deluxe Teas available by the cup or served by the pot for the whole table to enjoy in the beautifully curated atmosphere. Pair your beverage with a fresh pastry, explore their seasonal baked goods—including gluten-free options—and don’t miss their locally sourced sourdough bread! For a heartier option, try the Argentinian Empanadas, or a personal-sized Pizzetta.
Order your drinks to-go and explore the 1202 Contemporary Art Gallery and gift shop in the same space, or sit in the café and pair with delicious food from their menu. However you choose to visit, Café Motif offers a uniquely creative and flavorful experience in the heart of Downtown Gilroy.
We look forward to welcoming you to Gilroy for your next mug of joe or cup of tea. Treat yourself to a delicious breakfast drink or afternoon tea at one of our cozy cafés! See our Sweets and Treats page for more information about our caffeinated can’t-be-missed spots, or stop by the Gilroy Welcome Center, conveniently located at Gilroy Premium Outlets.
