The 5 Best South Lake Tahoe Cafes & Coffee Shops: My Top Coffee Spots in 2026

Pretty much every single morning, whether I have a big hiking day planned or I’m having a lazy day by the lake, I need to start the day with a good coffee.

Before coming to Lake Tahoe, I was actually a little concerned about whether I’d be able to find any good coffee shops here. Luckily, I was wrong, and I ended up finding a few really great cafes and coffee spots around South Lake Tahoe.

During the week I spent in Lake Tahoe, I tried quite a few different coffee shops and so you don’t have to go through all that trial and error yourself, I decided to put together this little guide with my favorite Lake Tahoe cafes and coffee shops.

Whether you’re looking for a quick coffee before heading out on a hike, somewhere to grab breakfast, or just a cozy cafe where you can sit down and relax for a while, hopefully this list will help you find the right spot.

What are the Best South Lake Tahoe Cafes? My Quick Answer

I hate to admit it, but I’m a bit of a coffee snob. That’s probably what happened to me after living in Australia for a while, because they have such an incredible coffee culture there. 

Ever since then, I’ve become pretty particular about my coffee. I love a good flat white, a proper latte, and basically just specialty coffee in general.

And I don’t want to be a hater, but that type of coffee can honestly be a little harder to find in the US, especially outside of the bigger cities.

So, I was actually really surprised when I found Three Pines Coffee in South Lake Tahoe. It ended up being my personal favorite coffee shop in the area, and the coffee was exactly the type I was looking for.

However, I’m not writing this guide just for myself, I’m writing it for you guys. So I made sure to include all sorts of different cafes and coffee shops around South Lake Tahoe.

Whether you’re a proper coffee nerd like me or you just need a good caffeine fix before exploring Lake Tahoe, hopefully you’ll find a spot on this list that fits you.

1. Three Pines Coffee Company // Best Speciality Coffee in Lake Tahoe

Opening Hours: 7:30am-2pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★★
Menu & Location

My favorite coffee shop anywhere around Lake Tahoe, not just in South Lake Tahoe, was for sure Three Pines Coffee Company.

I really do love myself a good specialty coffee, so I actually came here a couple of times while I was in Lake Tahoe. I would usually get either a cappuccino or their flat white, and both were amazing.

I’m not really big on cold foam, whipped cream, syrups and all those things but of course, if you like your coffee on the sweeter side, they do have all of those options too.

They also serve breakfast here, from sandwiches to waffles and smoothie bowls, but I’ll be honest, I haven’t actually eaten here myself. I only came for the coffee, so that’s all I can personally recommend.

2. Drink Coffee Do Stuff

Opening Hours: 7am-5pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★★
Menu & Location

Second on my list is Drink Coffee Do Stuff, which is located in Heavenly Village, super close to the gondola. So if you’re visiting Lake Tahoe in the winter, this is a fantastic spot to grab your coffee before you hit the slopes.

I only came here once, but again, similar to Three Pines, I had really good specialty coffee here. I pretty much always go for a flat white, but they also have lattes, cappuccinos and plenty of other options.

Here I actually tried their food as well. I had a bagel sandwich and it was really yummy, quick and easy, so I would definitely come back here, especially if I want to fuel up before a day of skiing, hiking, mountain biking or whatever else I’m getting myself into.

3. Bert’s Cafe // My Favorite Breakfast in Lake Tahoe!

Opening Hours: 7am-2pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

Bert’s Cafe is definitely not anything like the first two on this list. It’s not really a coffee shop at all, but more of a proper American diner, and since I’m basically talking about breakfast places in Lake Tahoe in this article, I felt like it made sense to include it.

Since I’m not from the US, coming here was actually so much fun for me. I love experiencing those little things that feel very traditionally American when I’m traveling, and eating at a proper old-school diner was definitely one of them.

They had the big drip coffee machines going, all the seating was in proper booths, although we ended up sitting at the bar, and the portion sizes here were absolutely humongous.

We had biscuits and gravy, sausage, bacon and hash browns, and for me it was pretty much an American breakfast dream come true. And then, of course, we got the unlimited coffee refills on top of all of that, which I was very happy about.

After eating this massive breakfast, I was basically ready to roll out of there because I was so full, but it was absolutely delicious and I highly recommend coming here. Just make sure you come hungry!

Opening Hours: 6:30am-2pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★★
Menu & Location

If you’re looking for the best outdoor seating and want to have your coffee and breakfast sitting outside in the sunshine, I would definitely come to Clyde’s Coffee Roasting Company.

The coffee here was really good, and all of their bakery items looked fantastic as well, but the highlight for me in terms of food was definitely the apple cobbler and their almond croissants.

So if you’re the type of person who wants a coffee and a good pastry for breakfast, this is definitely a place I would check out.

I also really liked the overall vibe here. Where some of the other coffee shops in South Lake Tahoe feel pretty new and modern, Clyde’s has much more of that classic Lake Tahoe mountain-town feeling. The decor is really cool and they have a beautiful little outdoor patio, which makes it such a nice spot to just sit down with your coffee and enjoy the morning.

5. The Free Bird // This is Where I Always Stop for Take-Away Coffee

Opening Hours: 7:30am-2pm
Price: $
My Rating: ★★★
Menu & Location

And very last but definitely not least is my favorite place for anything to go.

Whenever I want to grab a coffee, bagel sandwich, smoothie or pretty much anything else before hitting the road to go hiking, or even on my way out of Lake Tahoe, I think The Free Bird is one of the best places I found.

It’s a really small space and, as far as I know, they don’t really have any seating, so this isn’t necessarily the place where you come for a long breakfast and sit around for an hour.

But for a really good grab-and-go breakfast, I absolutely loved it.

I had their mozzarella, tomato and pesto bagel, which was fantastic. I also tried their coffee and smoothies, and honestly, everything I had here was really good.

So again, I wouldn’t necessarily come to The Free Bird if you’re looking for a traditional sit-down breakfast. This is where you come when you want to grab something really yummy, get in the car and start your day. And for that, I think it’s perfect.

FAQs About the Best South Lake Tahoe Coffee Shops

Where should I go for breakfast in South Lake Tahoe?

For a proper American breakfast, I recommend going to Bert’s Cafe, but you better come hungry! The portions are absolutely massive, but the food is delicious and it was such a fun experience having a proper American diner breakfast.

What is the best coffee shop in Lake Tahoe?

The best coffee shop in my opinion is definitely Three Pines Coffee Company in South Lake Tahoe. The specialty coffee there was exactly what I was looking for, especially their flat whites and cappuccinos.

But there are plenty of other places I really liked too, especially Clyde’s Coffee Roasting Company and The Free Bird.

Is Lake Tahoe expensive to visit?

It definitely can be, but it doesn’t have to be. Yes, Lake Tahoe is in California, so things in general can be a little more expensive, especially restaurants and activities. But I was genuinely surprised by how affordable accommodation in Lake Tahoe was during the summer, especially compared to what I expected before coming here.

What are the best restaurants in Lake Tahoe?

I personally enjoy a more casual dinner vibe with burgers, pizza, tacos and pub food way more than fancy dinners, so for me Elements Eatery & Bar is probably my favorite spot. It was a great place to grab some food and a beer, sit outside, and enjoy some live music after spending the day exploring Lake Tahoe.

Where can I get good specialty coffee in Lake Tahoe?

There are actually quite a few different coffee shops in Lake Tahoe that I tried, but for proper specialty coffee, Three Pines Coffee Company and Drink Coffee Do Stuff were definitely my favorites.

Final Thoughts on the Best Coffee Shops in South Lake Tahoe

All in all, I can say that I was very, very positively surprised by the coffee scene in Lake Tahoe.

I don’t know why I had such low expectations. Maybe because before coming here I thought of Lake Tahoe more as this remote mountain-and-lake destination where I’d be spending all day outside and probably drinking basic drip coffee.

But I was actually super happy when I found so many really good coffee shops serving proper specialty coffee, as well as things like mochas, matchas and all the other coffee and breakfast options you could want.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not nearly as fussy as I probably made myself sound in this article. I’m also perfectly happy with a regular cup of black drip coffee with some milk or creamer. But when I get the chance to have a really good cappuccino or flat white, then hell yeah, I’m getting one of those.

And for that, I think Three Pines Coffee Company and Drink Coffee Do Stuff are the best coffee shops in Lake Tahoe. By the way, Drink Coffee Do Stuff also has a location in Incline Village, so you have another option if you’re staying on the north side of the lake.

Overall, I was genuinely impressed by the coffee scene here, and I hope this quick little guide to the best Lake Tahoe cafes and coffee shops gave you a good idea of what to expect and helped you find your own favorite spot.

Enjoy your coffee and safe travels!

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