Maple mocha forever! Customer service, flavors of coffee are always on point! Thank you Red whale for being our offices lifeline for coffee on an ongoing basis!

A hidden gem.I finally made it to Red Whale Coffee last month, I had a „Long Black“ to go, which really was better than many Americanos I’ve had.Also bought some coffee beans from Mexico which were a bit pricey but worth every cent.Friendly and very helpful staff made for an overall great Experience, I hope to be back soon!

I go here every weekend! BEST coffee in Marin hands down. You literally cannot go wrong with your order. The Maple Late is something special though.YOU GOTTA TRY THE BAKED GOODIES 😍Pictured: Nitro Cold Brew & a sparkling water

There is so much to love about this place. Truly a local gem. Great coffee, people and atmosphere. Already looking forward to my next visit. Keep up the great work!

My cortado was amazing! Staff were so cool and friendly. And buy one get one 50%off bean bags.What else could I ask for?

I love their beans! Superb! Also my Aussie husband has hate every place hes tried except this one. This is the only place he will buy coffee From.If you want qualify coffee this is your go to

How is this place not a 5.0? Best espresso drinks in Marin. Incredible milk work. Worth a trip — exceptional!

This place is adorable! The coffee is superb. Top of the line! Front makes it look small but come to hang. Its huge! Baristas are awesome and this is a must stop when in area.

Absolute hidden gem of a place. We pulled off the highway looking for a bite to eat and found nothing. We pulled into red whale expecting a normal small coffee shop. To our surprise it had a full arcade,video game consoles,and both hot and cold snacks. Grabbed a breakfast burrito and found out they smoke their own meats in house for them. Talked shortly with a gentleman named Nile (yes like the river) about our families down south,and then hit the rode. Marking this spot off as a MUST return any time I am passing through the area. Thanks again Nile!!!

I like this place. Its a nice coffee shop and I can usually get in and out surprisingly quickly. They have a square card reader, and it keeps track of your points s ok that you can get a discounted drink every now and again. I love this, since I just dont like having punch cards in my purse.The drinks are good and they have a nice variety of options to choose from. They also have a small number of baked goods in case youre hungry.The people have all been fairly friendly, and overall its just a nice little coffee shop.The only downside I would say is a matter of personal preference. I like less acidic coffee, and Ive asked for their least acidic blend in the past only to be given a cup thats still pretty dang acidic. This is a bummer since my drink of choice is honestly just a cup of coffee with a little bit of half and half. But now I stick to their lattes, which are all good and I dont have to worry about the acidity of the coffee. Not taking a star off of my review for this though, considering thats just personal preference. Just mentioning it so youll know to get a latte instead if you have similar tastes.

If I’m paying more than $5 for a small cup of coffee I expect to be transported to another plane of existence with the sheer strength of the caffeine. Obviously very disappointed but the people working there were nice.

The coffee is SO good, and you can play pinball!!

Great coffee shop with a huge selection of beans. Highly recommend this place to anyone looking for quality coffee.

Top quality coffee, equipment, pastries and pinball machines. This is where the hot bean magic happens. Sweet lounge in the back, very chill environment/atmosphere. These people are serious about the quality of their coffee. Self serve microwave sandwiches seem a bit lazy, and its strange to ask for milk or creme behind the counter rather than offered at the fixer station, but otherwise a very special coffee treat.

Friendly popular local spot

Been here once. So far so good. All sorts of excellent items. Great coffee. Fantastic people. Will definitely come back here next time I’m in the area. Worth five stars but as I’ve been here once I am going 4. It’s pretty easy to find. Lovely area near water.

Really fun coffee shop! Great latte and my friend had a very good hot chai. The man who served us was kind and friendly. Loved the cute back game room/lounge, but wish there had been a little more seating. Parking is difficult, but thats not their fault. Will definitely come again.

Small coffee stop, but they have great coffee. The vibe and mood of the place is top notch as well. Highly recommended!

Great coffee. Local pastries. Fast.

Coffee is the best🤟

A must stop for us every time we visit the area. Best coffee I’ve tasted.

I love this spot :) been coming here for years the staff is always so good espically John T. And Demanous- Im sure I messed up her name, but theyre so great. GET THE CHOCOLATE COLD BREW its Johns creation!

The coffee is very good and very strong. The service is great and the folks that work there are super friendly.It’s a bit of a hidden spot but definitely worth a stop.

Really good quality coffee here. I really enjoyed the dirty chai latte as they make it not overly sweet.

Back room was pretty chill

Loved this place!!! Great tea selection and interesting layout. Pinball machines and coffee! What an idea!

Red Whales San Rafael location is in an industrial area so you wont see many hipsters or Range Rover Marin Soccer moms strolling around for a shot of coffee so its a great place to get that said shot. The coffee drinks they serve at the counter are very good and they even have one with ice cream...the Affogato. As for the take home coffee, there are many choices from all over the world and if you dont beans about beans, the staff is happy to help you pick.If you are reading this review you most likely have not been to the store so just walk in say you are a newbie and they will take pride in telling you their story. There are no venti nor grande drinks so its OK to just say small or large. I like this place so much that I wear the Red Whale hat where ever I go. If you want your own hat they also have an in-store shop with shirts and a bunch of other stuff so you can be a Red Whale ambassador.

Love this place. I come here with my family at least once a week, to grab some of their delicious coffee, some of the pastries, and just generally hang out.They have a really cool, unassuming space, with a couple of pinball machines out in the sitting area at the back.The food is always good, and the coffee is really good too - try out the Kryptonice if you want something different (it comes with a frozen cold-brew ice cube sphere!)

Really great coffee. Custom coffee equipment is a real treat to watch them work with as well

Good chai. Got a tour of the roasting area. Real effort to ensure high quality coffee.

Always great coffee and service. Takes time but the result is always top notch.

Fun coffee joint with energetic smiley party time staff, but the coffee menu has room for improvement, especially in the Summer.

A must visit Coffee spot whether your driving by to grab a latte to go or hang out and play pinball in the back room.

If I was to ever open a coffee shop it would be something like this place. Of note was the attention to the overall customer experience and attention to detail. The coffee was fantastic. The merchandise selection and design quality was surprisingly impressive. The snack options were pretty high quality and the gluten free options were much appreciated. The back sitting room is a must, books, magazines, couches and pinball/classic gaming options were a great touch.

Red Whale is the best coffee shop I have ever been to. Unique menu options and playfully atmosphere. I get the super Krypton ice, which is amazingly creamy nitro cold brew with a giant ice ball made of cold brew, so your drink doesnt get watered down. Innovation!

Fantastic coffee shop with welcoming staff and tons of great coffee and chocolate products to buy! We stopped in for a quick visit and loved our time in the shop. I loved my almond milk latte, and the others loved their pour over orders.

This is a long overdue review for my experience shopping online at the website. The customer service by the owner Sean Boyd was OUTSTANDING!Due to the PGand E blackouts, there had been some issues with the roaster computer, but Sean made up for the delay by personally delivering our order so we could serve his fantastic coffee to our family over Thanksgiving. Thank you so much! You are a talented and kind coffee guru:)

Off the beaten track gem. Knowledgeable and friendly staff and good coffee (definitely darker roast than some 3rd wave spots). Marin is tragically short of quality, independent coffee spots so if you’re in the neighborhood it’s worth stopping by (don’t be confused by industrial surroundings). Food game could do with stepping up but they’ve got their priorities right ;-)

Amazing coffee 👌. Super friendly staff. Cozy setting and a spot to relax and enjoy your coffee. Thank you guys for perfecting the Maple Oat latte!!

This is totally a great service and this place has a good coffee to have while relaxing their coffee shop. I actually love the theme. Red Whale is the coffee shop we need in this day and age. Exceptional service, incredible and potent coffee, and a relaxed environment that is open to all.

I wanted to try a new local coffee house today. Unfortunately I will never go back. I ended up waiting 25 minutes for a coffee. The barista made his friends drink before mine even though I ordered first. The coffee wasn’t even very good. Definitely not worth the wait.

Wonderful in every way ! Im an internet customer and their attention to service and value are outstanding. Sean and his staff are awesome and I recommend to everyone.

I always have latte and it’s more than good, but today I had a different experience.My husband and I had latte at the farmers market. Both of us did not like our lattes and came home with tummy pain 😔 I am sorry I won’t buy latte or any other drinks from this coffee shop.

Iced latte this visit. All the selections they have are always amazing and perfectly roasted

Good place to have some coffee. Staffs were nice and seemed to loved their job. Tasty and satisfying too.

A great coffee place. Im sick of Starbucks and corporate coffee so I always try to support local coffee roasters. If youre like I am, Red Whale is the place for you. The baristas do a good job welcoming you into the store and asking you what you want. I highly recommend giving Red Whale a try!

Finding the best coffee matters to me, and Red Whale quality beats the rest. Its not the closest to me, but definitely worth a few minutes drive, very close to Century Regency Theatre. Helpful friendly staff, quality pastries, spacious second room with a wall of pinballs. Oh yeah, tasty pastries and simple breakfast sandwich-type edibles with microwave. But, always most important is the killer coffee on-site with beans to take home.

Best coffee in Marin, but dont tell anyone.

Very masculine space. Not very inviting. Their coffee lids leak all over the place despite making sure they were secure twice before exiting. BYO coffee mug. The coffee was fine.

Delighted to find a cafe latte as good as Rustic Bakerys, which is high praise, indeed! I was in the northern reaches of San Rafael in a Sunday, hankering for a good, organic, indie coffee shop, and I didnt feel like going all the way to Rustic in Larkspur or Novato. Well, I found it – – in a lackluster industrial park near the cinema off Smith Ranch Road. Comfy, friendly, quirky. In the back room are pinball machines, which I dont care about, but they add to the quirkiness.

Best Beans around, great brewed and drip coffee, pastries and comfy cool spot. Finally a local coffee shop that is NOT a chain of burnt greasy beans! Great place !

I found this hidden gem nearby my home. I visit here when I don’t have time to make my coffee. It’s a treat, beautiful presentation, friendly staff and the place cool. They have pinball machines in the back room. How cool is that?!

This coffee is top shelf. The shop is so chill, hang out and play some retro pinball games, lounge with your friends, and try on all the awesome Red Whale regalia. Cool hats and stylish tees for the biggest Red Whale fans. Will be here often

Cute little shop around the corner from my work. Baristas are mellow and friendly and the first couple sips are literally amazing. Little pricey but worth it if you drink your coffee for the flavor and not just the pick me up.

Was lucky enough to pick this as our coffee stop on our drive further north, ended up stopping on the way home too because it was so good! Absolutely amazing coffee and tea, good prices, friendly/knowledgeable staff, and some really cool merchandise. This place will def be our regular stop during our drives north!

Amazing!

Love this place! So cool to see quality craft coffee roasters popping up in the Bay Area. Even better they have on site some classic pinball machines, and a great selection of brewing equipment

What a great little place!! Some riding buddies and I chose the Red Whale as our jumping off point for our ride to Hwy 1. We found the place with relative ease. The coffe is amazing. Flat out best coffee ever. The way the staff custom tailors your coffee truly makes the experience better than any other.The shop is small...tiny really. No place to sit down and enjoy your cup of coffee inside, though there are some tables outside.

STAY AWAY.After reading the reviews I was excited to try this coffee shop. I was amazed at just how bad it was.The shop smells musty. I ordered a Nitro cold brew and my wife a dirty Chai. The Nitro was poorly infused and made from overroasted beans that had been watered down to far.While making my wifes Chai the staff were commenting on how bad this batch of Chai was. One staff member asked who made it. The other replied it must have been Kevin. Then proceeded to make my wifes drink with said Chai.Just an absolutely horrible experience.

Awesome, knowledgeable and friendly baristas. Quirky and fun atmosphere. Of course, great coffee.

Great coffee, really friendly & outgoing staff.

Red Whale is the coffee shop we need in this day and age. Exceptional service, incredible and potent coffee, and a relaxed environment that is open to all. We only happened to spot this place while trying to find another attraction nearby that ended up being a bust, but it was clearly fate that we ended up here. I tried their coffee that is infused with co2 and it was refreshing and just the pick me up needed. Aside from the other great coffee choices they brew, they had a number of other snacks and pastries, including options for those who are gluten free. The exploration seemed to never end as after finding awesome merch for sale, we saw a cool lounge area with arcade games, comfy seats, and bathrooms available too. I truly wish there was a Red Whale in my hometown but will gladly make the drive to this location whenever were in the Bay Area. Red Whale is absolutely all about the customers and their experience.#coffee #glutenfree #LetsGuide

Great coffee, treats and service. Pinball machines in the back with places to sit. A lot of coffee stuff to purchase. However, only to go cups are available. Bring your own or buy one there.

Cool place to hang out. Their cold brew is very good. Pick up a coffee mug here.

Its the best coffee on the planet. You just have to find a bean you like. The only problem is that all other coffee tastes like S now.

Burnt taste in coffee on two occurrences. Almond milk over cooked. Took 20 minutes which I would accept for a great cup of coffee ...alas even with so many branded items for purchase, my experiences were subpar. I want so much to like this place

It was crazy. It was the first time I bought in Red Whale Coffee. I ordered vanilla late. The guy working the counter (owner?) only gave me to understand thats smarter than me. Everyone is intelligent and makes no sense make others feel stupid. I do not think back once again. No thanks!

Cool little cafe tucked away just East of the 101. Not too hard to find but you would have to look for it. Good coffee, very friendly and knowledgeable staff.

I regret not buying merchandise because this place rocks. They serve AWESOME coffee. I live in Montreal and am dreaming to go back.

Custom roasted coffee beans. The best Ive ever had. But two pounds so you get a discount on the second pound.

Small cozy place with a killer lounge ! And hands down my favorite Mocha in Bay area.

Delicious coffee! Vanilla latte is perfect and not too sweet at all

This is the best hidden gem in Marin County!!I have never had coffee that is sooooooo good!The service is amazing also!!

Awesome chai, great staff, extremely cozy lounge room in back to do some reading or get a little work done.

Best tasting coffee😋

No public restrooms! I would happily have purchased a coffee, but the employees refused to allow me to use their restroom. One employee offered that there was a movie theatre down the way, but that they probably wouldnt be open! There isnt anything else nearby. (Knowing that I had few to no options they still refused me! How can you sell offee but refuse to let your customers use your restroom?!) I drove for a while, finally found a place, and left a very large tip in gratitude.

Awesome coffee find off the beaten path. They take their coffee very seriously, but in a good way.

Coffee is very good. The service is spectacular. I think the best coffee in marin.

Great service great coffee! Never disappointed with red whale!

Awesome coffee. These guys catered a recent photoshoot I was on. Good stuff

Fire coffee ☕🔥

Great roast and great seasonal options

Love them, Rght next to my house and my work....Coffee is the best. People are very friendly.....Very Happy to have something Local......Thanks

Worst place around it smells bad in there and the prices are outrageousBetter places around for sure

Best old school cappuccino ever....really this is the best coffee in Marin possibly the Bay...

So much potential, so little consistency. Excellent espresso for home.

Outstanding Coffee, a true gem. Craft coffee with precision and soul.

Excellent coffee and scones, great ambiance. A worthy coffee stop before cycling up Lucas Valley.

Suing a small coffee shop in Reno- Blue Whale Coffee- for infringement and trying to strong arm them? For shame.

One of the best coffee Ive had in a long time, and also a very friendly staff.

Needing to get my coffee fix without a Starbucks no where to be found I ended up finding Red Whale Coffee in the middle of commercial buildings not to far from the freeway.Been to this place several times and I would have to say they do have their coffee down and highly caffeinated.Their nitro cold brew was around $5 for a 16oz and that 16oz packed a punch! It was a strong smooth flavor and I was able to only drink a 4th of it before I realized how wired I was.I then tried their pour over coffee ($5) which the barista when she did my pour over was very friendly and helpful on picking the right beans for my enjoyment. After trying their pour over I was sure these beans were roasted with love and steroids. Totally joking about the steroids part of course.After sometime I did try their espresso drinks, the mocha to be exact, and that is where I became iffy. It was almost $5 for 8oz and it didnt even keep me awake. . . For a small set back I still give Red Whale Coffee 5 stars because their coffee has a unique taste, its locally loved, its local, and their coffee is strong so it is well worth the price for the strength of their coffee. They roast the beans not to far from the store front.If you ever run into Red Whale in your nearest farmers market or if you decide to drop by this location I recommend getting your coffee fix here when you need to stay awake but your brain is still stuck on last Monday. Happy eating!! ^^

Baristas very friendly and the coffee is great. Tried the nitro cold brew, super good!

Love this place. Best coffee, stellar service and how cute is that red whale?!

Delicious iced mocha and fresh pastries, chocolate and espresso was smooth and rich, but not oily like the crummy stuff is. Also amazing cold brew.

So many coffee shops popping up with clean designs and trendy packaging its easy to overlook the actual quality of product youre getting. I feel youre sold on the coffee before you even ask yourself if its really good. The process can be described as well the time and care and how it was crafted but nothing compares to experience and passion. Red whale shop owner Sean Boyd brings nothing but passion and experience into his product and shop. He cares about his employees and the cup they deliver to their customers. Walking into Redwhale is more like walking into a research center. The coffee beans are always changing as the roasting process for that bean. The shop off 101 is immaculate and has a very friendly and knowledgable staff. The equipment they use is world class. Lounge in the back to hang out with a pinball and popcorn maker is a great touch. Redwhale is on the move. Amazing coffee/ice brew/nitro brew with outstanding espresso shots.

Great coffee. Great people. Great place to relax!

Super friendly staff know a lot about coffee.

Love the coffee, drum and base music, friendly and funky baristas.. what more can you ask!!

Best cup of coffee Ive ever had, bar none.

Amazing coffee...only outdone by the staff!