Goodlife Café & Bakery
Best coffee break in Mendocino
A momentary break in the line outside revealed all the darling art that Goodlife painted to help keep things organized.
A bold little fellow cocked his beady eye at me from the wooden planks of the deck outside Goodlife Café & Bakery, shiny black feathers softly iridescent in the muted light under the café’s recently-erected big top-style awning. There was a greedy little gleam in that eye, the definite glint of a well-fed scavenger ever hungry for more. The folks at a neighboring table walked away, leaving their dishes behind, and my avid observer swiftly abandoned me to bicker with a couple of his peers over the forgotten bread crumbs and bits of lettuce on the bright orange plates.
I laughed inside at the birds’ antics as I rose from my table to answer the call of the loudspeaker announcing my coffee was ready and waiting at the pick up window. This little pastry and coffee break on a brisk fall day was just what I had been wanting, and I was determined to enjoy every single bit of it. People watching? Check. Live entertainment from fearless birds? Check. Perfectly warm latte in between my breeze-chilled fingers? Check! And a sweet little treat to make the day complete? Oh yes, that would be a definite check!
Perfect little break!
As small family groups and sleepy-eyed young couples on vacation finished up their lunches and meandered out to a day of exploring the Mendocino coast, I lingered over each bite and sip. The latte was comforting and creamy. And my snack… well… I usually go with one of their toasted bagels liberally topped with their fresh herbed cream cheese, which is oh-so-good and a small meal unto itself, but today I had decided to change things up and indulge in their Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar. I had never seen this dessert there before, but it seemed to be calling to me from the case (Chocolate AND peanut butter? Someone in this kitchen knows my kryptonite!). Knowing how good everything else I had ever ordered had always been, I listened to the dessert’s siren call. And boy was I glad I did.
That Chocolate Peanut Butter bar was fantastic. Imagine a dense, oatmeal-packed peanut butter cookie baked in a giant sheet pan and topped with lusciously soft chocolate and delicate chocolate shavings. Then slice it all up into generously portioned rectangles of heavenly goodness. And you might, just maybe have an inkling of what this lovely treat from Goodlife was like. It was richly satisfying without being too sweet or heavy, the perfect pairing for my pre-lunch coffee.
Ah, sigh. I was almost done. One last sip. One final nibble. I brushed the crumbs off the table onto the wooden deck with a glance over at my twinkle-eyed friend from earlier. There he was, perched on the fence nearby, head craning about as he waited for me to leave. I smiled. Alright, little guy, you get to try it too!
Why, hello there!
Goodlife Café & Bakery is one of my personal favorite spots in Mendocino for lunch or just coffee and a snack. It also seems to be a favorite with almost everyone else in town, as it is almost always busy. The ambience is laid back, and the food prepared with love. All food right now is outside dining or to-go. You can order online if you want to avoid the line, but then again the line outside is so charmingly marked with paintings of koi that you might want to stand in line just to enjoy their fishy little faces. The café is open daily 8:00am-2:00pm. Stop by next time you’re in town to get your own Goodlife fix!
Words & photos by Laura Hockett