GoodLife Cafe & Bakery

Wanna put a little joy in your day, go and have a taste of the Good Life Cafe in Mendocino. It's fun, friendly and delicious. There is joy in the bottom of a cup of "joe", the sweetness on your tongue of a fresh baaked pastry, and savory flavor in a breakfast of lunch entree. Everyone here seems to be smiling, its festive, like you walked in on some old friends. Choose from many of the varied meals or pastries, take sometime out of your local stroll or visit to town. Classic period building welcomes you to a cozy, atmosphere where the aroma smells of roasted beans, and warm pastry. It feels special because it is.

From the moment my wife and I walked on I knew it was going to be awesome. Everything is cooked homemade huge portions. Service is magically fast like a food genie within minutes what would take me at least an hour to make is lovingly placed before us. I would definitely want to eat here again. I also want to mention the artwork is captivating with bright psychedelic colors and intriguing imagery of people with dynamic lifelike expressions. It’s almost like they’re alive.

Great selection of brunch items but stay away from the pastry case items. So-so coffee. Cafe offers great local ingredients which is always appreciated. 5-star service, thank you we had a good time overall. Maybe we ordered the wrong thing but Peach Ginger Gallette was a big no! $14 for underbaked tasteless pie crust. Big no! Danish tasted more like stodgy bread. Bagel was great..will order again! 🥳 Coffee was so-so. Walk 2 blocks down to The Waiting Room cafe for a proper coffee. May come back to try their specials next time. But overall cant recommend anything from the pastry case.

Busy but cute. We stopped around 11am and it was already pretty busy and loud for lunchtime. I ordered a cappuccino that turned out much closer to a latte. Food was good. Service was great, very attentive and personable. They have a great selection of gifts and souvenirs. The bathroom is very small and not accessibility friendly.

Visited from out of town and truly fell in love with this Cafe. The food and service were spectacular. Also ordered a Mexican mocha drink that was delicious. Gets busy but wait times are very reasonable. Worth the wait. Will definitely be back when in town.

Everything is so fresh and delicious. Lot of vegetarian and vegan options. Love everything I've tried here. My latest obsession is the goddess bowl! They keep adding new items to their menu and my latest favorite is the falafel burger (I prefer it in a wrap!) All their bowls are absolutely delicious and nutritious!

Delicious food and super fast service even when they're super busy. Things we ordered: Salted Caramel Latte- 8.5/10 Matcha Latte- 10/10 Carrot Cake Cupcake- 9/10 Breakfast sandwich- 9.5/10 10/10 with Cholula Chicken Fried Steak- 8.5/10

This was my first time in Mendocino and my friend and I decided to stop here for a late lunch. The people who greeted us were super friendly and welcoming, and although it was busy, they seated us right away! We ordered lattes, a meal, and dessert to go. Everything was absolutely incredible!!! I had the buena vida bowl and it was fresh, tasty, and the portion was huge! Even though they were closing soon after we sat down, they didn’t rush us! I can’t wait to come back when I’m visiting Mendocino again in the future! :)

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.

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

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!! ;)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

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!

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.

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.

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!

Went to Fort Bragg to relax and meet friends. My friend recommended this cafe. I did a to go to keep me awake for my itinerary for the day. The to go line was quick. Food came out warm and coffee was really good so is the dessert! Love the food i bought.

Must be the Mendocino misty air and fresh water which majestically flapped the best jacks! Best pancake ever since the Jurrasic Period! Great friendly welcoming cafe in the most homey town in CA, next to the SGV Lol. Peeps livin the Good Life ova hir!

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.

Had a late lunch here, only waited for about 20 minutes after we checked in around 1:30pm. Unfortunately, they sold out of most of the baked goods from the morning. However, the food was quite solid. Good pancakes and hearty granola bowl. Service was just OK, they just seemed a bit distracted trying to serve the last customers of the day before closing.

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!

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!

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.

Good life recently changed from cafe style to restaurant style. Now, it's trying to be both cafe and restaurant in one tiny building. Excellent food but they should just get a restaurant somewhere else. The service wasn't good, I bused my own table, got my own water, and was still expected to tip like a regular restaurant space. I wish they would just be a cafe. It's too much. They also mischarged me by nearly $10 and I'm really glad I caught that.

This place doesn't even deserve one star...The customer service was horrible, atmosphere was dark and dreadful and our waitress was rude as shit.Our food came out cold because it sat off to the side after it was done for several minutes. they sat us in a main walkway and then had the nerve to ask to move even further into the walk way while everyone who walked passes kept bumping into our table.

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 was kicked out of my table for eating my Togo order. It would have made no difference if I ordered for here because I wouldn't be able to finish it after. There were also many tables open so I don't see why they would make me move behind the patio where all the trash lies. Being the only Asian in the restaurant also made me feel weird because how the waitress only chose to speak with me instead of everyone else. This was not a good experience for a visitor. Overly expensive things, surcharge on debit and credit, and 18-25 tax brackets.

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.

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.

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!

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 stayed at a nearby hotel and came here twice for breakfast while in town. Solid menu for breakfast, and of course, all the homemade pastries looked so good. I had a breakfast sandwich with GF bread, which was made with buckwheat, which was moist and delicious. My husband had Benedicts twice and their biscuit was also so good. We both got the same pastries twice because they were so good. Hubby got the cinnamon roll, and I got GF olive lemon cake, which is the best olive lemon cake I've had!! So moist and a perfect amount of sweetness. They have lots of table outside, which are pet-friendly and inside is cute and cozy but a bit smaller space. If you are in Mendocino, I highly recommend coming here for breakfast or getting some good pastries!

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.

What a great place for breakfast and brunch! We were recommended to try the pastries beforehand, but the food was not too bad either! The breakfast burrito was loaded with the classic breakfast ingredients, each prepared and seasoned well. Plus, it was a pretty reasonable price for the amount or food we received. Regarding the pastries, I happened upon the beautiful galette in the display case that was calling my name, the apple frangipane galette. This monstrosity should definitely be shared, but my culinary hubris inspired me to finish it myself (a terrible decision). Despite that, with the lightly heated pastry, the chilled almond filling with apples had a perfect balance of texture and sweetness. I usually find almond desserts to be much too sweet, but this almond cream was amazing! The almond flavor was not too strong and the texture was soft and a bit fluffy. Contrasted with the slight tartness and sourness of the many apple slices in the galette, the filling was well balanced enough for me to be able to eat the whole item without suffering a heart attack of any sort. The light sprinkle of cinnamon over the rich and flaky pastry brought it all together. The cafe itself is super cute and homely, with friendly workers as well as indoor and outdoor seating. I greatly enjoyed this meal although I felt bloated afterward.

FLAVOR (4/5): I had their country fried steak, pretty good! The potatoes were nice and crispy and the gravy was well seasoned! The biscuits on the other hand was a bit too dry, even when smothered in gravy. INSTAGRAM WORTHY (4/5): The place has indoor and outdoor seating! They have koi fish painted on the ground to show you where you line up. The outdoor seating is spacious with the pickup drink window. SERVICE (4/5): Order at the cashier and get a number! Pickup drinks yourself when called but food will be brought to you. We were warned 35 minute wait for food. TAKEAWAYS: Simple breakfast but tasty! Good portion sizes and dog friendly patio seating!

We stopped in on a Saturday morning around 10. The wait for a table outside was quite short, but we opted for takeout. We tried the chilaquiles, chocolate banana cream tart, and raspberry danish. All were really great, and the chilaquiles in particular were a huge hit. The spicy Mexican mocha was also awesome -- well balanced and tasty. Staff were extremely friendly despite a busy morning rush. The space inside is small with a lot of people waiting for takeout orders, so it can get pretty cramped, but was worth it to me!

Cozy breakfast spot on a rainy day. Came for breakfast on a rainy Monday morning and this place was surprisingly packed for a Monday at 8am! You order and pay at the counter before seating yourself. Their outdoor patio is covered, but we grabbed a small table inside to admire the colorful artwork that decorated the interior. We ordered a chorizo breakfast burrito, egg & cheese croissant sandwich, almond cookie, blueberry Danish and Cafe au lait to try a little of everything! The portions were generous and filling and everything was delicious! I saw other diners enjoying bagel and lox and now I want to return to try other breakfast options! Honestly, everything in their pastry case looked phenomenal too. Would definitely recommend stopping in, even just to grab something to snack on during your drive!

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.

Found this place while walking through Mendocino. They had a wide variety of pastries as well as sandwiches and brunch options but I decided on the Nutella bun. The worker was really nice and heated it up for me as well. I liked the powdered sugar coating on the pastry but wish there was more Nutella included in the actual pastry itself. However, it was tasty and I would try this place again if I was in the area!

It was the best eggs Benedict I ever had the pancake also so delicious it melted in my mouth the muffins so yummy! It is very unique and style and service. I can't wait to go back so I can try more things. Yum Yum Yum Yum Yum.

If you like a home-made breakfast, this is the spot to get it! Breakfast is served all day and their lunch looks amazing. We normally do not like breakfast restaurants because the food usually tastes processed, overly sweet, and of freezer burn. GoodLife makes everything fresh and home-made! We had the chicken fried steak with a side of fresh fried potatoes, scrambled eggs, homemade biscuits and strawberry jam, and crispy bacon. The staff is very friendly and hospitable. We enjoyed eating outside and the beautiful deck. Dogs are welcome! This will be our regular breakfast spot on our future visits to Mendocino!

Brunch at @goodlifecafemendo is amazing! And they have a lot of vegan options! I had the veggie stirfry and oatmilk cappuccino, yum! instagram: jax.vegan.eats

They were able to seat a group of six w/o reservations. Everyone enjoyed their meals. Whoever prepared the shrimp tacos knew what they were doing!

The pastries here are wonderful. Highly recommend stopping for pastries and a coffee. Great little gift shop as well. Try the peach danish!!

This place has such a cozy welcoming vibe! With plenty of outdoor and indoor seating, there's room for everyone. One area is filled with local wall art, another with books and gifts, a fabulous array of baked goods and varieties of coffee. Prices are reasonable and their sandwiches are very good. We had a turkey and cheese panini along with a salad that was perfectly filling for two people. Couldn't resist buying some stickers too! Service was efficient and friendly, while at the same time not rushed, which perfectly fits the Mendocino vibe. Depending on what time of year you go, there may or may not be parking nearby. You might have to walk a couple of blocks, but it's worth it.

Customer service was quick and friendly, the food was top quality, we had a breakfast sandwich that came with thick pieces of bacon and a cinnamon roll. Its a must try destination.

Amazing! We had the best breakfast I've had in a really long time. The country fried steak was perfect and the buttermilk blueberry muffin was lovely. Additionally the service and atmosphere is delightful. This place is a gem!

This place was packed when we came. The line was long, but moved fairly quickly and we got our yummy pie and tart and went on our way. These were soo delicious. Cooked just perfect, the crusts were soft and not hard, The fillings were thick and full of flavor and just soo good. I would totally come back here again.

WOW FACTOR? Yes. Great ambiance - wished we'd had lunch here. HAVE AGAIN: The chocolate peanut butter cup was so rich, heavy like fudge and delicious. Chocolate almond bar also very good. NOT HAVE AGAIN: The chocolate almond danish was dry and very disappointing.