GoodLife Cafe & Bakery

We come to this restaurant often for coffee and pastries, and it’s always a favorite. This time we decided to try breakfast as well, and wow, we were not disappointed. The food was absolutely delicious. All of the baked goods and pastries are amazing, the coffee is great, and the hot chocolate was rich and very tasty. Our group ordered a variety of items from the menu, and I got to try a bit of everything, every single dish was excellent. I ordered the meat lover omelet, and I loved it. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. We’ll definitely keep coming back!

What a great experience we had here. Delicious perfectly cooked burgers, salad and fries. Food was so good we ordered dinner to go since we were staying locally. Our server was great! I was concerned arriving at 1:30 that quality might not be great since they close at 2 😳...boy was I wrong! Indoor and outdoor seating and food made to go. A huge offering of desserts and baked items. The cinnamon muffin (gifted from our server 😍) was delish!

One of the famous breakfast spots in Mendocino is Goodlife Bakery. It’s really good but always has big lines, so be ready to wait. Seating is inside and out, but it still gets super busy. The food was very good. Mocha is a winner and the toddy is a must. Their bakery items are a must try tooo nd cowboy cookie is a winner, savory danish is good, chocolate almond bar is awesome, and chocolate mousse was ok. For food items, the burrito was tasty, stir fry veggies were good, pumpkin curry bowl was good, and the tostada is good. Def a must try for breakfast

We were in the area and looking for a good breakfast, so we stopped in for a taste of the good life... The service was friendly and the Ingredients were fresh.. Overall the food was good. I had the prawn omlette and my wife had the apple cinnamon French toast, and we both enjoyed them, but the little things were the star of the show. The fresh jelly and sourdough bread along with the fresh squeezed orange juice was a great way to start the day before enjoying the coast.

I could see moving to Mendocino to have this place in my town! Fabulous selection of pastries - I cannot confirm or deny that my wife and I got three each! 🤭 I suggested we could get different things and share but the idea of sharing was voted down. 🤨 There was lots of seating inside and outside. But the latte I had was heavenly, them smoothest I've ever had. I'm going to order some of the beans and I hope to replicate it on my own. Oh, and the staff was very friendly and patient (it took us forever to figure out what to order). I highly recommend this place. 👍

FWIW, the $22 3 egg omelet is not for those who aren't really hungry. 3 eggs will never wrap all the greens, mushrooms, etc. from the "Greens Omelet," much leave room for a half-meal sized side, and toast. Excellent eats, though. Great coffee too. Spicy Mexican Mocha was exceptional. This spot has a tight "indoor" area, a side deck with walls and a tent for 'outdoor' seating sporting gas heaters, and a backyard lawn area. Impressive planting IMHO, but we live in a colder agricultural zone. Wellworth stopping in, but for the larger sized humans, that one bathroom is seriously toght quarters. They also sport an honor system produce shack, and it all looked exceptional.

The GoodLife Cafe is well known as a local favorite to Mendocino and it definitely lives up to the title. My dad and I made the mistake of not eating anything till 1pm so we came here starving. We got the fried chicken wrap and the banana walnut pancakes(special menu) the portions are big and they have a huge drink menu aswell, on top of that, the staff who work at GoodLife are so kind and very helpful!

Cute bakery with great dishes. Inside and outside seating. A wait staff that is very attentive and some of the best pastries around. Easiest to park a a few blocks away and walk over as the block it’s on tends to be very bushy

Every small coastal town has to have its staple cafe and this one goes above and beyond. Over the course of the weekend we ate here for breakfast and lunch. As well as stopping by for Thai teas on our way out of town, which were surprisingly great. The staff here are so polite and make the place feel like home. This place was always packed but they're quick with service. Very cute inside with a nice gift shop. For breakfast I tried the biscuit and gravy, gravy was flavorful and loaded with protein, no soupy plain gravy here. I will say the biscuits were a little lacking, dry and dense. I also had a cup of hot apple cider with my breakfast, sooooo good. My husband had the huevos rancheros and was very pleased. For lunch I tried the ranch chicken sandwich. OH MY GOSH! Amazing! The chicken was fried to perfection and so flavorful/juicy. They're definitely making their ranch in house and it's divine, so creamy so dilly I loved it! The one thing I regret is not trying anything from their pastry case because it all looked amazing.

This place is popular. You'll likely have to wait for a seat. But it's worth it. The food is great. We had a great server too, Daniel. He was fun and right on top of it. We sat outside, but they have inside seating too. This is our favorite breakfast place in town. We will be back again and again.

Food & coffee: 5 out 5 Excellent products. Quality food & coffee that you can taste! We first came for the pastries then came back the following day for brunch. Everything we tried was seasoned & cooked well! The baked goods & breads are all made in house! Service: 5 out 5 Friendly folks, but there will be a line out the door on the weekend. Environment: 4.75 out of 5 Great location. A few tables inside with more seating on the patio area. Overall: 5 out 5 The line is worth the wait! Come early especially during the weekends.

This is popular breakfast and bakery place in Mendocino. Place gets packed quickly during weekends. You can always sit on picking table at the back yard. They serve delicious breakfast and deserts. Service is good. Outdoor and indoor seating available.

Yummy food. The Tinga chicken was very well seasoned and satisfying. Hearty pieces of Carne Asada on the tacos and the pickled onions were delicious. The vegan burrito was tasty as well. They took our order quickly and brought the food out with a smile. They only have one small bathroom so there tends to be a line from what I can tell. Large selection of pastries... Definitely look forward to eating there again.

Such a cutesy little cafe in the middle of Mendocino! Soooo worth the wait... It's busy any day of the week, their pastries looked amazing! They were out of the one I wanted but I'll find my way back here eventually! I had their huevos rancheros two mornings in a row, they were absolutely perfect! Their mimosa was delicious also, they use fresh squeezed orange juice.

The food was good, coffee was great, and staff were friendly!! The patio is dog friendly. Most of the seating outside was covered, but it got pretty hot in the sun. Parking was easy. The wait was about 10-15 minutes long, but definitely longer after us.

Good amount of plant based options. Bakery even has a good amount too. The inside is packed with merch and take-home goods. Place is cozy. Wish I could have visited more than once, so I'm already building a stop at Goodlife into my next trip. Portions are good, and the food came out timely. Outstanding service by all, they really work as a team. The standout is their house made buckwheat (gf and vegan) bread... LIFE CHANGING! + the homemade preserves and !!! The goddess bowl had too many seeds for me, so I'd order light on that next time. The tofu was heavily marinated, a bit too much for my palate, but probably not the case for others. There will be a wait, but it's worth it

Stopped here after a morning of camping. The place is small and quaint with colorful artwork for sale on the walls and a pastry display that will make your mouth water. The place was packed; a great sign when you're looking for good food. Not always a definite tell, such as Acme Oyster company in New Orleans; however in this case the people were right. We had the half biscuit with gravy; add 2 eggs with home fries, the herb cream bagel, and sautéed veggies. All for $43 ($47 if paying with a card) After adding a bit of salt, pepper, and some Tabasco (the least of the essential 3 Louisiana spices; Louisiana and Crystal hot sauces being the other two) I dug in and the flavor was surprisingly good. The gravy had a deep and rich bacon flavor that outweighed any breakfast sausage. Perfect! The home fries had caramelized onions and deliciously prepared burnt ends. Crunchy, tasty and the perfect combo with the gravy and eggs. The herbed spread on the bagel was delicately balanced with dill and green onion with a well toasted crunch on the bagel. Service was fast, efficient and friendly. I'd say overall an extremely pleasant experience.

GoodLife has the best Eggs Benedict I've ever had in my LIFE! I ordered it two days in a row - yes, it's that serious. The atmosphere is always lovely and comforting, the staff championing friendliness and community. Daniel especially was incredibly kind and attentive, making my solo meals feel shared with a good friend! The best!

Always a good high quality breakfast with over the top service. You can sit outside and is dog friendly. The coffee drinks are very delicious. If you just want a danish and coffee it works as well. Best biscuits and gravy I've ever had.

Very vegan friendly spot and worth the stop! So glad we made a point of coming in for breakfast/lunch. They have a number of items that can be made vegan and they are SO delicious! Staff is awesome and they have a dog friendly patio too. We'll be back for more!

Best salad I ever had! Delicious quiche! Coffee wasn't bad, but a bit too acidic for my taste.

Such a great spot! My fiancée and I are currently scouting wedding venues in the area, and one of the places we visited insisted we try this café for breakfast--we're so glad we did! I had the biscuits and gravy, she ordered the chile relleno, and we split the walnut banana pancakes. Definitely more food than we needed, but every bite was worth it. She got a matcha with vanilla and said it was one of the best she's ever had--and she's a matcha girly by trade. I had a caramel latte (with a pinch of salt on top--highly recommend), and I loved it. Diego was our server and he was very nice and answered our questions with great recommendations. Thanks Diego! The only downside? It's a four-hour drive from SF! But if we're ever in the area again, we're definitely coming back. Cozy vibes, great decor, and even better food. 10/10.

I really enjoyed GoodLife Cafe and Bakery. As one of the few eating establishments open in Mendocino on Mondays, it was pretty crowded, but we did manage to get a nice outdoor table. The service was friendly, our food and drinks came out quickly, and the lattes were delicious! I enjoyed a salted caramel latte and avocado toast for lunch. They have a pretty large menu for breakfast and lunch items. Helpful tip: there is a 3% charge if you pay with a card, so have cash if you want to avoid this fee. I would love to go back to try more food items and maybe a goody from the bakery!

There aren't many options in Mendocino, but thankfully this place exists. Despite the line being out the door upon our arrival we were sat down in minutes so don't let that detour you. The staff were warm, welcoming, and they have really cool things for sale that aren't food too. We were sat outside on a sunny patio which was perfect. I ordered the chilaquiles and the waiter suggested adding carne asada which IS A MUST. It was great. Looking forward to coming here again! Also prices are so good.

This place gets packed on a weekend, as expected, but we only waited for 10mins before we got our table. The blackberry waffle and mocha latte were really good. They only have one restroom stall and the line gets very long, and the wait is longer than the Cafe itself they sell products from local artists which is cool.

Goodlife Cafe & Bakery is probably the most popular breakfast/brunch place in Mendocino. We actually came twice during our weekend stay. The first morning we already ate breakfast, so stopped by to just to get coffees since we planned to eat here Saturday morning. I got a hot vanilla latte and my boyfriend got an iced salted caramel latte. He also couldn't help himself and got a ham and cheese roll. Oh my the coffee here is delicious and was excited to have again the next day! I highly recommend. The ham and cheese roll was probably one of the best savory pastry I've had. It was so flaky and had the great crunch while having the warm and soft texture inside with the ham and cheese. On Saturday, I ordered a hot salted caramel latte and my boyfriend got a hot spicy Mexican mocha. Coffee was top notch again. The spicy Mexican mocha was something different and really did have a kick! Salted caramel latte is probably the best I've had and so delicious. I got a breakfast burrito and my boyfriend got the country fried steak. He ordered the sauces on the side for me, so when the burrito came it was lacking in presentation a bit but it was overall a decent burrito. It was not my favorite I've had, but it is a decent size and I only ate half. The country fried steak wasn't anything special to my boyfriend. The breakfast food was alright to us and nothing special. To go, we ordered another ham and cheese roll and an almond croissant. Again, pastries here are delicious! Overall, I'd definitely come back for coffee and pastries. It's a must!! The staff here is very friendly and I love the ability to sit outside and order on your own. They also have heaters already going for you in the winter. It's a really cute place to come with family and friends!

Super cute, great service and fun vibe. We went for both breakfast and lunch. Both times we received excellent service from both our waiter and waitress. This place seems to always be busy and the go to place in town. Even though they're super busy they made sure to consistently check in on us and preformed excellent service. Food was tasty and they were very accommodating of my food allergies. They also offer a lot of dairy free and gluten free pastries and treats!

Cool place right in the middle of Mendocino. It is a good size restaurant yet still has a cozy feel. The food was fresh and tasty. We had the full order of Biscuits & Gravy and The Classic. They do a nice job with the biscuits and the gravy is thick the way we like it. Service is prompt and friendly and the prices are reasonable. Nice selection of pastries, too.

Oh so good! Quality ingredients, vegan choices, great croissants, coffee, lattes.... Soups salads and more Delightful inside- bright artwork on the walls. Can Order and Pay at your table. Variety of beers and drinks. Also has "Grab & Go" as you walk in... for those in a hurry.

Excellent food, great atmosphere, relaxed and friendly vibe. There is usually a line to get in and for good reason. The food is great quality, all the ingredients are fresh. The staff are friendly, the place has a nice mix of locals and tourists. The baked goods sell out fast and they close at 2 PM ... so get a move on!

Do NOT come any where near 2pm. Crazy aggressively rude that they are closing. They barricade doors, shout at customers and despite being in line much before 2pm you'll have the pleasure of hearing we are closed 10 plus times. Just close earlier!!

Came here on a Sunday for lunch and was able to get seated right away outside and we ordered cheeseburgers with salad and a side of fries and everything was good, especially the salad with pickled cauliflower, would definitely eat that again. I also got a non-alcoholic hot toddy drink they have with ginger, turmeric, lemon, and honey, and that was really good. Everything in the pastry case looked delicious as well. Would recommend this place.

It was a very rainy morning here in Mendocino. I needed a nice hot breakfast that would warm my heart and soul. I definitely found it here at Good Life. The cafe is warm, inviting, and has a friendly staff who love the place. I ordered the shrimp and polenta Benedict with a side salad. The Benedict is rich! Perfectly poached eggs over sautéed shrimp, spinach, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes. The hollandaise sauce is so rich and creamy. The polenta underneath adds a nice texture to the dish. The side salad was a good choice next to the richness of the Benedict. It was like a palate cleanser. The vegetables were all fresh and crisp, and the light dressing was very tasty. I also loved that they put sunflower seeds on it! I wasn't in the mood for anything sweet, but all the pastries certainly looked good. I also really like the merchandise they have as well as arts and crafts by local artisans.

The spicy mexican mocha is so good! food was good, vibes were good - kinda crowded. I'm adding this to my Mendocino list

Great coffee and teas. The staff is also extremely accommodating, we were able to get the hot apple cider iced and it was delicious.

An egg, potato, and cheese burrito is $13 and meat is an additional $6. I got the bacon breakfast burrito to-go and it didn't come with sour cream or salsa. It was the size of my average sized hand. It's a complete ripoff in my opinion when I make bigger and more flavorful burritos at home for a few bucks. The breakfast burritos used to be twice the size and way cheaper. Go for some of their other options cuz the breakfast burritos are definitely not worth the ridiculous price tag

Uniqueness: Tarts are great! Wish I got the danishes too if they weren't sold out so quick. Wait Time: [x][x][x][x][x] Food Quality: [x][x][x][x][x] Service: [x][x][x][x][ ] Setting: [x][x][x][x][x] Cost: [x][x][x][x][ ] Recommendation? Baked goods are great! Seems like the breakfast is also good too. A quick stop to Good Life Cafe and Bakery was well worth the stop when it came to getting some delicious baked goods. This place must have been well recommended as when we stopped here, the line was nearly out the door. They have sit down breakfasts and baked goods if you want to get a baked good on the go. The baked goods were plenty of tarts, pies, danishes, and other small baked goods that all looked very good to choose from. We stuck with just the tarts as unfortunately the Danishes ran out by the time we got in front but still enjoyed those delicious tarts anyways. If I'm ever back in Mendocino, I'm definitely coming earlier and getting those Danishes and as well as a hearty breakfast. Well recommended place!

Had lunch on a Tuesday - at 11:30 inside was almost full (it was foggy and chilly) but there were seats on the deck. GoodLife is still providing excellent quality in the pastries and food. I got a chocolate ganache tart, a blueberry and custard cro-muffin, plus the torta sandwich with carne asada and fries along with a soda. Food is made fresh here so it can take some time but it never feels long. I was dressed warmly so was happy on the deck. Fries came out fresh and hot, well cooked. At the tables they have ketchup and two types of hot sauce - always a plus fopr me. Torta was good with good tomato and some lettuce. The carne asada was like you would get in burrito with many pieces, so it makes for a somewhat sloppy eat, but was very tasty. The chocolate ganache tart had a toasty, firm oat crust, about an inch of ganache and walnuts on the bottom and the top. Excellent chocolate flavor with a generous portion, as it's so rich you could get 3 desserts out of it. Not usually a fan of crossaint/muffins, but this had wonderful blueberry filling along with a tasty custard that filled the cruffin shape like a cauldron. Fruity, creamy, with the buttery pastry/danish to enclose it. Still providing good quality food and drinks after many years, glad to see GoodLife continue to thrive.

Great brunch spot in Downtown Mendocino! I stopped in for a casual lunch and was surprised by how many items that had. They serve as a bakery, coffee shop & restaurant to enjoy. My husband and I shared a BLT with Avocado added as well as a Cowboy Cookie; delicious! Our server was great when listening to our meal preferences, suggesting items, and making sure our waters were filled. Can't wait to revisit and try other items Goodlife has to offer!

overall great experience! the food was well priced given the portions. the avocado toast serving was generous as was the prawn omelette special. the food wasn't the best i've ever had, but it was pretty good, and it tasted local and organic. the cheese danish was slightly underwhelming, but we got it at around 12pm, so maybe it would've been better earlier. the cowboy cookie was yummy and tasted healthy and oatmealy. the service was incredible and the two women at the front were very skilled at attending to many customers despite how busy it was. we only waited 10 mins to be seated and the food came very fast, as did the bill. i also liked the friendly atmosphere and the little gift shop + coffee you can buy from while you wait to be seated.

This place exceeded my expectation! The food was delicious and fresh and felt very seasonal. Great stop for lunch or breakfast as you come in from a long day on the road. They have seating outside and inside and even a little farm stand out back. Grab some pastries or coffee or sit down for a nice meal in the sunshine. I enjoyed the turkey BLT with a side salad.

I really wish I was eating there right now as I write this review but alas fairytales do have to end and I had to return home from my week long road trip down the California coast. Everything was perfect with this breakfast. Bagel was made fresh and was delicious. I also need to figure out how to make this delicious tea for myself at least once a week. Waiter was super friendly and I felt like I was watching a small town come alive in the early morning. Everyone seemed to know everyone or wanted to get to know everyone. I felt like I was on the set of Gilmore Girls. I can't wait to come back!

I have been a yelp user for a while and every once in a while you are lucky to find an exceptional spot, this cafe is truly amazing and has been for a while ( last time we came to Mendocino 2020 it was amazing, in 2025 it is still amazing) Food is great quality fresh ingredients with a large menu that pleases all eg great vegan options. Bread is fresh and soft, even small items like the chia pudding were tasty. Service is surprisingly prompt given the volume of costumers. We had little wait for a table. Ambience in the patio is nicest, this time we were inside and was packed but not very noisy. In short best in Mendocino county!

What a lovely cafe. Excellent food options and very good quality. Would highly recommend of you are in the area. Went it today and got seated in 10 minutes. This place has warm and friendly vibe. Staff is very polite and carry a smile on their faces. Tried their avocado toast, onion rings, croissant veggie sandwich, fresh fruit that tart, lemon olive cake and cortado coffee. Will definitely visit next time I am in the town.

My wife's sister said this was a good place for lunch so we said "why not?" and came here even though we weren't all that hungry. We split a ranch chicken sandwich that we both enjoyed along with English Breakfast Tea and hot apple cider as it was cold and rainy. I should have ordered the regular apple cider as it was really hot, but did taste good. Sonia was a nice server and we left agreeing with her that it was a nice place for lunch.

Going to have to lower the rating as they were not as good as last year. I come here annually and this last visit was disappointing. From ordering at the register to receiving our food, everything just had an issue after issue. My family each ordered separately and their order was put in wrong. I was charged incorrectly for an item, at a different register and from a different cashier. They took care of it when I brought it to their attention. Once we received our food, my brother in law's order was wrong. They corrected it as well. My eggs Benedict came out over poached (see photo). We didn't want a 5th interaction with staff so we didn't say anything. But the food was disappointing. Service was great and friendly, despite the flaws. I will see how it goes when I'm back next year.

A favorite of locals and visitors. Excellent food with so many choices. From full meals to yummy pastries and delicious beverages to enjoy. As a local I can also attest that the owner is an active community member and generously supports local organizations. Give it a try, you will be glad you did.

Yummy yummy yummy The thing with cream and berries in like a croissant bowl - just wow the 30 year old cowboy cookie was gone before I got to taste it Definitely worth the stop

Great restaurant! And it's the restaurant that explains the long line. Expect the long line. It took me about 15 minutes before I can order. There is outdoor and in door seating. My favorite thing is the hot cinder and country fried steak.

The breakfast was very good and I loved all the baked goods options! The place is small and quaint but had great atmosphere.

I love this place. they have the best gluten free scones ever! Breakfast is also great, i wish they stayed open later.

LOVE THIS PLACE!! Pup friendly -on their nice patio deck, awesome staff, delicious food and the pastries OMGAWD‼ Had the homemade bagel with all the produce and a latte - and a chocolate chip cookie- all fantastic! This place is a must! They also have a store of great gift items from mugs to wooden salad tongs, to travel silverware sets- much of which is locally made! Great spot for souvenirs! Oh and great dog cookies! Mine can be a little selective when it comes to treats and this is her FAVE! This place has a homey feel- I liken it to being at your best friend's house only better unless your best friend happens to be the owner or the baker here.

Would give 4.5 stars! Such a cozy place with the most delicious bakery items. We got the cowboy cookie which was oatmeal chocolate chip and the maple pecan cinnamon roll with lattes and it was the perfect way to start the day. We did not get the breakfast items but they have a full menu of breakfast food that looked really good as well

We came in here for lunch. Most happy with the long list of vegan options. They had tofu as vegan protein option, it was slightly roasted and crispy, loved the texture. My husband got omelette with hollandaise sauce and I got a salad burrito bowl with tofu. Portion sizes were huge. I felt both of us could have shared one item. I also got some black coffee and that was great as well. They have decent amount of seating but I think this place gets very crowded during weekends. Looks like a local favorite. Will definitely visit this place again if I am in the area.

1. Quality of food is always the best around. 2. Friendly and helpful at the counter for to go orders 3. Nice covered patio with ~18 tables 4. Always a line in the mornings, takes a bit of time as the food is made fresh to order. 5. My wife says the prices are too high. Guessing the supply/demand curve in this smaller town lets them get away with it. Thanks D. Trump!! ;)

Service was fast and food is made to order and very fresh! Don't skip the homemade bakery items - worth the calories! Relaxed and welcoming for humans and dogs on patio.

This was the best breakfast/brunch spot we tried during our visit to Mendocino/Fort Bragg. We came two separate times, once on the weekend and once on a Tuesday. Either day, if you come after 10am, you may have to wait to get a seat. Eating inside was cozy but pretty busy and cramped. Eating outside was chillier but with the heaters under the tent it was just fine. Beware the birds and don't leave your food unattended!! The coffees here were really good. One thing we noticed was that food tends to come out under seasoned, really lacking salt/pepper to start with. That's an easy fix of course, and other than that, we were really satisfied with what we got. The baked goods we had were great! Delicious biscuits with jam. And the servers are very friendly. Highly recommend!