Sana'a Cafe

Great place to study. The seats are extremely comfortable and there’s WiFi. The interior looks newly renovated so it’s extremely clean and sleek inside. Only real gripe I had was the food I got was supposed to be warmed. The outside was slightly warm but the inside cold and stiff.

San Rafael has a new cafe in downtown. And it ain’t no ordinary cafe. Sana’s Cafe offers tri if my favorite things. Coffee and pastries. But not just any old coffee. They specializes in Yemeni coffee and pastries (sweet and savory). The corner cafe is decorated in a regal palette of white, black, and gold. They offer free WiFi. The customer service is a big off the day I dropped in. The cashier was not answering any of my questions. There was no language barrier. I asked what was the best selling coffee drink, and was met with smiling silence. Hmmm. There were no other people in line, just me. So I did not venture further with any questions. I ordered a Yemeni latte with oat milk. Ooolala… it was smooth and creamy, spiced with cinnamon and cardamom. They served it in a real cup and saucer. Nice touch. It added to the whole cafe experience. But the potato fatayer was so so. Even though it was warmed up, the crust was warm but the inside was cold. Like refrigerated temperature cold. Another thing I noticed l, which was odd, was that the gorgeous looking pastries in the glass counter did not have prices. The coffee/espresso drink menu had prices but not the pastries. So I was purchasing without knowing the price and the cashier was a man of few to no words.

The flavor of the coffee is GREAT, but I feel the sweetness level needs to be worked on. Every latte I ordered needed to be sweetened. I also hit my kids the lemonade and again, I feel they need to really taste what they are making. Think water with TONS of lemon. It tasted like straight lemon juice with zero sugar. The did offer to remake it in the strawberry lemonade version but all that did was add strawberry flavor with a hint of sweetness and still extremely sour. Think warheads candy. The honeycomb was delicious and the pistachio latte was great. They have all it takes to be amazing but there’s a lack in sweetening their drinks.

Belal OMG I am a coffee connoisseur if I do say so myself. I ordered a coffe with milk. Really simple. It was off the charts some of the best coffee ever!! So smooth, a teeny spice, no bitterness whatsoever. Also, my daughter and I had some special requests regarding food etc and the owner, Belal, was so kind and accommodating!! The atmosphere and decor is beautiful and the vibes are immaculate. Wish I could give them 6 stars. I’m moving in.

This place absolutely amazing. The perfect cafe I could find. Place is chill with soft music. The only difficult thing is parking and the price. For a mango smoothie and tiramisu cake is about $17. Still the taste, atmosphere and service makes me forget about the price.

Great customer service and delicious dessert. A wide variety of to choose from. Also the latte I order was delicious as well. I would recommend the pistachio milk cake and I had a pistachio latte. The atmosphere is very mellow and I enjoy it very much. Definitely give them a go!

I visited this place with a friend after a customer recommendation. Upon entering, we were immediately captivated by its charming ambiance. The cashier and barista were both friendly and attentive. I opted for a match latte with oat milk and three pumps of vanilla syrup. It was an exquisite drink, expertly crafted to perfection. We also shared a slice of pistachio cake, which was equally delightful. The sweetness was just right, not overpowering I definitely will be back.

This is fun. Think marble and gold leaf: gaudy but on theme for that part of the world. I didn't try the spinach fatayer because I had just had breakfast, but the Turkish coffee was perfect with subtle cardamom notes. If you ask for lightly sugared you get what Syrians would call "to the smile". They have wifi so you can work and the espresso was a good west-coast style roast. Our experience was excellent.

This isn't my first time at Sana's Café, and it definitely won't be my last. I ordered a café latte with oat milk, and honestly, it's one of the best I've ever had -- hands down. I'm not sure what magic they're working behind the counter, but their oat-milk lattes stand out from every other one I've tried. Creamy, smooth, and perfectly balanced. Highly recommend.

Another great experience with The Kid. Ordered the Sana'a latte with condensed milk. Sweet and full of flavor from cinnamon and cardamom. The katafi baklava was sweet and sticky. The service was exceptional. The atmosphere and ambiance is elegant and regal with beautiful tea sets and gold decor. Definitely recommend giving them a try.

I stayed around the area for a week and came here everyday. I absolutely loveddddddd their iced pistachio latte. I tried it both hot and iced but the iced wins since you get more of the pistachio flavor. I'm missing this drink just as I'm writing about it now. Also, they carry a great selection of sweets and even some savory items all day. The staff are super friendly and the decor is very pretty as well. Great place to get some work done or just relax with a good cup of coffee and sweet.

San Rafael has a new cafe in downtown. And it ain't no ordinary cafe. Sana's Cafe offers two of my favorite things. Coffee and pastries. But not just any old coffee. They specialize in Yemeni coffee and pastries (sweet and savory). The corner cafe is decorated in a regal palette of white, black, and gold. Giving off posh resort vibes. They offer free WiFi. The customer service was off the day I dropped in. The cashier was not answering any of my questions. There was no language barrier. I asked what was the best selling coffee drink, and was met with smiling silence. Hmmm. There were no other people in line, just me. So I did not venture further with any questions. I ordered a Yemeni latte with oat milk. Ooolala... it was smooth and creamy, spiced with cinnamon and cardamom. They served it in a real cup and saucer. Nice touch. It added to the whole cafe experience. But the potato fatayer was so so. Even though it was warmed up, the crust was warm but the inside was cold. Like refrigerated temperature cold. Another thing I noticed l, which was odd, was that the gorgeous looking pastries in the glass counter did not have prices. The coffee/espresso drink menu had prices but not the pastries. So I was purchasing without knowing the price and the cashier was a man of few to no words.

Try a different cake or fatayer EVERYDAY trust me... try the milk cakes ans triangle fatayer ... theyvtaste like a saltine cracker type of fluffy wheat

I absolutely LOVE this place! It's my go-to spot whenever I'm feeling stressed about exams and need a comforting drink. I always get the iced pistachio latte, literally the best thing on earth. I could talk about it for hours. It's so flavorful and never disappoints. I tried my friend's caramel macchiato too, and it was delicious. Staff is also friendly!! And the interior is gorgeous. Definitely 5 starsssss!!

Very nice cafe! Food is good, service is excellent and cozy ambiance. Dogs are allowed too :-) ordered their homemade dubai choc, hope its good

Smoothest Turkish coffee I've ever enjoyed. Open til midnight, at least this Saturday nite. The pistachio and honey pastries we tried were very much to my liking and paired very well with the coffee. They sell Dubai Chocolate bars for $7 less than a shop East of the freeway. They're still expensive, but I got to try one without totally emptying my wallet. Very pleasant place to enjoy a break.

Yemeni coffee in San Rafael! The interior is bright and light filled: white with lots of gold touches. There are a number of seats throughout and they offer free wifi, which was helpful so I could get a little work done. The drink menu offers traditional espresso drinks and Yemeni specialty coffees and teas, including the cozy flavors of cinnamon, cardamom, clove, mint, ginger, and more. The staff were super helpful in explaining the different drinks and flavor profiles. I ordered and really enjoyed my Yemeni Latte (with cardamom and cinnamon) for dine in, served in a pretty mug and saucer, and they happily accommodated my request for light sweetness. Creamy, warm, flavorful! The cafe also offers imported chocolates (including the viral Dubai Chocolate, which I need to try next time!), pretty tea sets, and a case of freshly made sweet and savory pastries. I'll definitely stop in again when I'm in San Rafael.

This place absolutely amazing. The perfect cafe I could find. Place is chill with soft music. The only difficult thing is parking and the price. For a mango smoothie and tiramisu cake is about $17. Still the taste, atmosphere and service makes me forget about the price.

What a find! A Yemeni cafe, an alternative to the run of the mill coffee shops in Marin. Lots of delicious drink and food options. We ordered a Turkish coffee and a Latte, in addition to the potato fatayer and beef fatayer, which I expected to be more crispy, but delicious nonetheless. It wasn't super busy at 11:30, we likely missed the morning rush. Vibe is full of energy. The space is open, light and bright, with lots of tables. Music a bit loud for me, making conversation a bit challenging. Overall a good addition to Marin's coffee shops and hope they are successful.

Sana'a Cafe is a Yemeni coffee shop chain, and this location is in downtown San Rafael. The ambiance is aesthetically pleasing and there's plenty of seating for small groups indoors. The baristas were nice and made good recommendations. The pastries are pretty but aren't really sweet or flavorful. I'd rate the pistachio cheesecake a 5/10, but would definitely try the place at least once.

Why 5 Stars? The best cappuccino I've ever tasted! I wandered in, not knowing or realizing anything about Yemeni coffee, and ordered their Sana'a Cappucino It has a hint of some kind of exotic spices and is absolutely delicious. And the staff is nice and the decor is cool. But go for their coffee.

I watched a play at one of the local high schools and was looking for somewhere to go for a late night snack. I was excited that this cafe is open late! What caught my eye was that they have the viral Dubai chocolate bars. They have two kinds which were both good. I would've liked a bit more pistachio cream. One is a thicker bar and it's in a pink box. The other one is a more delicate bar and that one is in a wrapper. I walked in and wow - beautiful decor, open seating with lovely high ceilings and a decked out display case. What a gorgeous addition to downtown San Rafael. If this place was open when I was in college or even during the many years I lived there - I would've been there multiple times a week! I had the honeycomb which one of the friendly and helpful workers recommended. I also had the kenafa cheesecake which was amazing. I would like to try everything there. Turkish delight, cakes and other baked goods, sandwiches, baklava. They have so many delectable items!! I love this place already and I will not only be back but will be telling others to go!

My boyfriend and I saw the "grand opening "signed with a bunch of balloons out front and he knows I love coffee so we just had to check this place out! It was a lovely Saturday afternoon and we were lucky enough to get parking on the side/meter and it was free for that particular Saturday! Lol perfect! Lol As I walked in, there were two different baristas behind the bar and since I had never been a Yemen coffee shop before.... I figured the best thing to do was to ask a barista what their specialty drinks were! He steered me to a hot coffee, but it was honestly too hot for something with hot coffee so I got an iced version of the companies name as a coffee! He said it was the way his mom made his coffee growing up and it was with espresso beans and cardamom, so it had a sweet spice to it. I honestly love cinnamon in my coffee and tea so the combination sounded very interesting to me!! I favor light roast, this particular roast was rather tasty but a little strong for my stomach lining! Lol carrot cake that I bought was delicious as well as the two pistachio baklava!! After I ordered, I saw they had a cinnamon roll coffee cake! OMG where was that all my life?! I will definitely have to go back and try their cinnamon roll coffee cake ! But on a day that I'm safe with all my gluten-free items! Yes, gluten-free! But I have cheat days! Lol Overall, the service was very personable, and both baristas spoke to me on different occasions about the pastries and the other gentleman regarding their coffee and how it was brewed! I truly love their hands-on, personable, friendly service, and the coffee was strong, but tasty!! Nothing that some ice couldn't handle! I will definitely be going back!! They also have a great following on Instagram!

I was going to rate this place a 4/5 because it was good but not the best Yemeni coffee I have had but added another star because the service was really great! They were super fast and I accidentally ordered the wrong drink (ordered hot instead of saying iced) and they remade my drink with no issues and gave me and hot drink as well. The pistachio latte is my favorite -- perfectly sweet and great flavor. The food is also super good we got the Dubai chocolate cookie and some of the savory pastries and it was all delicious. The ambiance is also great, very well decorated in there and it is a great place to stop by for those that want a place to grab coffee and chat with friends after dinner or for students who need a place to study in the later evening (they close at 10PM S-W and at midnight Fri and Sat).

Your pistachio latte is on point so fire. pastries are amazing and staff really friendly and warm. Their interior is super unique and welcoming.

First, North Bay yelpers: you can find VIRAL TIK TOK DUBAI CHOCOLATE here, which people have been waiting in mile-long lines for. But here in downtown San Rafael's elegant new Yemeni cafe, there's no wait for the Dubai chocolate bars packaged in lovely little pink boxes. (It's not cheap, but what do you expect of anything with "Dubai" in the name?") This is a fun addition to downtown San Rafael. Yemeni coffee is different than western coffee--it's weaker and spicier, almost like a blend of coffee and chai. So I wouldn't go here for my usual coffee fix (that's what Royal Ground is for); this is where I would meet a friend for a different cultural experience in an elegant ambience. I recommend ordering the traditional Yemeni coffee pots for two, which arrives beautifully laid out on a tray with gold filigree saucers and pot warmer, to get the authentic experience. This place is open late: it seems like the perfect place for students (walking distance from Dominican!) to hang out.

The place is beautiful, clean and comfortable. I just had a Yemeni latte, but I will come back for treats another time.

I've been waiting for this place to open since I moved here in November of 2023 & I have to say it is worth the wait. First, this place is beautiful. The decor is stunning and it's very welcoming. Great and comfortable seating. I asked the barista if the Iced Pistachio Latte was good and he recommended it. I got this iced with oat milk and the Viral TikTok Kunafa Bar. Although a little pricey for the size of the bar, I had to try it. Both were absolutely amazing. I've never had a pistachio latte and now I'm wondering why I waited so long to try it. The coffee itself is sooooo good. The chocolate bar was great!! Super thick, but I would definitely get it again. & I want to return to try some more of their pastries because they all looked incredible. $18 is a bit pricey, but it won't deter me from returning. Just definitely a place to treat myself. & they're open late. I meant to get a pic of their hours but I went at 6:45 on a Saturday! I cannot wait to be back and am so grateful to live so close.

Service 3/5 Food 4/5 Ambiance 4/5 Coffee 5/5 So many drink options! Prices are fair. Decor is very luxurious with the gold details and marble floors. I'd say this a great place for socializing and even studying. Good central location as well.

Sana'a Cafe is located conveniently in downtown San Rafael. I stopped by in the late afternoon for a light meal to-go. I got the chicken fatayer, spinach fatayer, and a pistachio baklava. Service was helpful and efficient. They offered to heat up the fatayer which was nice. Everything was delicious, not greasy at all and very reasonably priced. I'll be back again to try their other delicious looking pastries and desserts!

All the food of a regular coffee shop but with a Mediterranean twist. The croissants have a beautiful pomegranate and pistachio dusting. Very nice music plays in the background. This is a great place to relax and enjoy company of others. Best of all, they are open until 10 pm.

Pistachio latte is bomb!! They use real pistachio and the flavor is perfectly sweet, a little savory and very nutty. I'm in love! There are even little pieces of pistachios in there. So so so good! Services is good also and it's nice and quiet inside.

Try the rose cake! So so so so good. Like mouthwatering good. tasted so much better than it looked (and it looked good). We ordered a Yemeni vegan savory pastry (potato, curry and pea flavor) alongside the spinach and cheese versions. All three were delicious, served piping hot and flavorful. Even the dough was tasty, which is a definite step up from many cafe pastries. To drink we had a Adeni Chai, which was quite interesting (it's made with cream) and had a good blend of spices and tea flavor, and an attractive caramel color. I also had a Qisher - a yemeni spiced coffee shell drink which had a very mild flavor, I had mine with oat milk and it may have drowned it out, they typically serve it straight,

Nice service with good quality product.. Most recommended .. you should try the adeni chai , it's really good.. they also have decafs coffee .. their pistachio milk cake is something ,they also have Dubai chocolate You should give it a visit ..

Located nearby the local Marriott and many office buildings, this beautiful cafe serves a variety of coffee drinks and yummy looking treats. I got a matcha latte with a shot of espresso and it was delicious! I wish I was hungry because their case of savory and sweet treats looked SO GOOD! The staff were friendly and I would definitely be back!

They have Turkish delight in its own area and they are all GF. They also have a pistachio rose pastry that's GF but in the same area with the rest of the pastries. I really enjoyed the Sana'a latte with no sugar and it tasted great. Super sweet lady who is eager to share the culture with the customers. My husband got the Yemen latte with the honeycomb and feel in love with the lightly sweet taste of the coffee and the creamy, sweetness of the pastry. Location is right at the corner of 4th st and it's super clean, spacious and welcoming.

Looking for a coffee place at night can be tricky While walking downtown San Rafael we found this place which honestly exceeded my expectations. Very nice people working here , desserts to accompany coffee . I got this Turkish coffee and it was delicious same as the Rose milk cake which really tastes like roses Love it . Coming back .? Yes . It's a must visit place for coffee

Wow! Awesome place. The ice tea is out of this world and the spinach and lemon "hand pie" is yummy! I definitely would recommend this spot.

This coffee shop is amazing My special angel and I discovered Sana A Cafe on one of our long walks.

Beautifully renovated space is perfect for a date or meet-up. Also handy if you want to try new coffee options like Yemeni coffee. The cafe smells like cardamom, and the marble floors shine. I drank my chais and coffees here with a side of baklava and tried other pastries, as well. One server is especially friendly, and the seats are comfy. Suggest taking the drink temps down to 180°F since someone could scald themself is not careful. Overall, recommend you check it out since the cardamom and other flavors are great, the ambiance is the best, and the prices are fine.

This place is such a gem! I love the ambiance here. This café has great lighting and an ornate design. The marble floors and gold accents create an opulent atmosphere the moment you step in. There are plenty of dessert and drink options. While their savory items are limited, I enjoyed their pork patty. It is similar to an empanada and is shipped in from another bakery. The chai was exquisite, and I hope to try the pistachio latte soon. The saffron cake had a nice level of sweetness that wasn't overbearing. The baklava was delicious. I have been here twice since the opening, and while the items are a bit overpriced, the staff is very friendly.

Best damn coffee shop in Marin. Period. This Yemeni coffee shop has it all. Coffee started in that region of the world and they have continued to perfect it. The service is amazing, the coffee incredible and the treats delectable. You can have a very strong Turkish coffee for under $5 served in a traditional way. Forget all about the other coffee shops and come and have the real thing.

Turkish or Arabic cafe...newer maybe...had gold trimmed border on the high ceilings...Turkish coffee in San Rafael...so many fun businesses...interiors...got a snack and would like to try the Turkish Arabic coffee...maybe the girls in high school would hang out here and say hello but that whole thing about not living here or there or where haha? where are you today?

The perfect coffee for one night in this rainy weather Coffee is very good and have a variety of coffee, I recommend it

Absolutely delicious coffee and tea choices. Had mine with oat milk - which they do offer - and the spices in the tea are amazing. Coffee is also spiced. Not hot spicy -but rich warm spicy- cinnamon, cardamom, cloves. Very addictive. The pastries and sweets look amazing. I bought my godson the Dubai chocolate cake and he was thrilled. There's other treats in their pastry case and fatayer - meat or vegetable filled flatbreads in a triangle shape. The couches and chairs are really comfortable and make the atmosphere. Go!

Loved it. Glad we found it. Excellent coffee (we love Yemen coffee). Thanks we will be back. Oh, dessert was great as well.

Fun place, great place for afternoon meet up with a friend. Definitely will come back. My bread and coffee was delicious. Can't go wrong with anything

Ambiance was perfect. Customer service was friendly. The coffee and desserts?..AMAZING!

I order latte with ginger and cardamom and baklava it's very tasty and good coffee I recommend it for lovers coffee. We love to see this place in Sonoma County

I am in love - this is overwelming and joyous - life worth living a palace with service to match and pasteries with a background of sound complimentary to a day at the casbah - johnny matthias

Incredible coffee. I had the pistachio latte that tasted like actual pistachio and quality coffee. Would definitely recommend. I saw that they also have Turkish coffee on the menu which is great for anybody needing strong caffeine for late night studying or in the morning after a long night. This is going to be my go-to coffee place from now on for a good pick me up or sweet treat. Give them a try!

The best late I've ever had. The flavors were delicious, the ambience is welcoming, very clean and friendly will definitely come back

Everything is absolutely delicious here. I drive ten minutes further than I need to for a latte just so I can get their pistachio latte. It's the best! Everything I've tried in their pastry case is astounding, and I've tried nearly everything! Every once in a while I see a new item pop up too so they keep it interesting. The vibe inside is very chill, always at least one or two people working silently on their laptop. Also love that they are open late! One of the only spots in the North Bay to have those hours. I love this place.

Something new and different! Yemeni coffee drinks are something special. I walked in here thinking it was a typical coffee shop. I was surprised. Super friendly staff gave me the rundown on the different drinks and snacks. Love it!

excellent clean welcoming business . prompt service outstanding selection of teas, coffees & eatables. Counter personal prompt courteous & personable. atmosphere is layback casual quiet & inviting. open late till 10:pm and 12:am fri/sat nights.

I'm in it for the pastries and desserts! The coffee might be good, but I'll never know. Cafe has a wide variety of pastries and desserts! They are of ample size with lots of filling. Almost all of the pastries and desserts have spices from Yemen in them. If you're looking for traditional French or American pastries, these are not it. If you're looking for delicious pastries and desserts with a new flavor profile, you should try these. The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is that they don't have a menu or labels on the majority of their food. If you're lucky enough to have a helpful person at the counter they will talk you through what they offer. If you're not lucky to have a helpful staff person, you can point at whatever looks good and it will probably be good.

High quality coffee drinks very well balanced not overly sweet! I will be back! Good dessert snack too come check out this new spot.