Depot Bookstore & Cafe

I love the atmosphere here, and the natural beauty of Mill Valley Square. But the menu is unimaginative, and the food is mediocre on a good day. I’d recommend that you stick to coffee and a pastry. This place would be a gold mine with more attention to the menu and an outdoor waitstaff.

The Depot is the kind of place that reminds you why many people in California look like they’ve never worked a day in their lives. It’s in a cool location with a super laid back vibe. The food won’t blow you away in any way, and that is part of what makes everything feel normal. Normal is a rare dose that is often needed around these parts. Inhale. Exhale. You’re ok. They make some of their sandwiches here on regular bread that comes in a plastic bag, pre-​sliced.

Cute bookstore. Very mediocre food, and bad service. The only friendly person that we encountered was the older lady at the cash register.

I went to the Depot Café and ordered a black unsweetened ice tea and rhubarb pie. I asked for the pie to be cut in half, but the guy refused. I then got iced coffee and when I told them they said they were out of ice tea. I then asked if they have an English breakfast black ice tea, the girl said yes. I instructed her how to make ice tea, but she said I will give you the tea bag and you can make it. They refused to give me a refund. Bad customer service. I hope a manager will take the time to train their employees. I also got someone else’s receipt.

Too long for a sandwich :
Only one sandwich maker for a $ 10 sandwich
Need to get more help
The girl making sandwiches looked to busy
Yo improve need more help

Did I do it wrong? Was I supposed to eat the books and read the food? In any case, my experience at the Depot was mostly below average.
The Good:
My wife and I stopped in here for brunch one weekend while strolling around downtown Mill Valley. It’s a cool location with a lot of character, being located in a historic train depot. Sitting outside on the patio, people watching, and listening to a street performer was the best thing about the experience.
The Bad:
The food wasn’t mediocre, it was just bad. My wife and I both ordered sandwiches and I’m pretty sure we could have gotten better ones from a gas station. The bread was soggy, the vegetables were wilted, and the meat was slimy. It was like they went to Safeway and bought items that had been discounted because they were about to perish and then made them into overpriced sandwiches.
All that being said, I can’t say I won’t come back here for another try. They did have a lot of good looking cakes, pies and pastries. I think that if I had simply ordered a coffee and a pastry, and enjoyed the setting, I probably would have had a much better experience. So, maybe I did do it wrong.

The bookstore is tiny and is a little too heavy on kids stuff. The counter has decent coffee but the food is just okay. Service is negligible.
Normally that’s enough for me to give this any place a lackluster review. But The Depot for all it’s faults is great place. Every time I come here, I buy a book I could have gotten from Amazon for a lot less, I grab a coffee despite my being a tea drinker, and I settle down and think of how much I like this place. The building, the tables, the art on the wall, the fact that it has a tiny little bookstore, the possibility of getting food if I get hungry, the patio seating and people watching. Just sitting in the middle of downtown Mill Valley with families and kids and dogs and Redwood trees in an establishment that is still family owned after all these years.
I’m a fan.

Went there for a latte and a cookie. The coffee was good, tasty (though probably not as snobby-​fancy as across the street) and the cookie was the most Mill Valley cookie ever — chai flavoured and gluten free.
I love books and coffee at the same time, so I’m a fan.

Still here and still a super chill place to hang in MV. Love the veggie burger, split pea soup. Great seating in an awesome environment

My how I wish someone who cared about good food and drink would buy the Depot. It’s a landmark location and a truly lovely setting. But the food and coffee are downright lousy. I hope they one day step up their game.

Only thing going for this place is location, location, location. Food is very average. Service is slow and unfriendly. Prices based on real estate cost not on food value.
Not a coffee shop or café for morning pre-​work stop, doesn’t open till 8:00. Small, very loud inside seating. Small patio with seating right in the town square which is only thing going for the Depot.
Small bookstore with current best sellers, a few local authors, and travel books.

I had been to the Mill Valley Square I-don’t-know how-​many-​times and never made it inside the Depot. Being a history buff, I knew without knowing any details that this place had a history that went along side the history of Mill Valley. I recently visited the depot for my first time when a business associate asked me out for a cup of coffee. The experience was a good one. I only ordered a cup of coffee, but enjoyed the cup of coffee in a nice wide porcelain cup within the comfortable environment the Depot provided.
I looked up the history of the depot. Here’s a good website if you are interested at all.
One thing I didn’t realize is Depot today is owned by the city of Mill Valley and they lease it out to the bookstore and coffee shop. They also lease out a small office on the north side to the building.

Love their outdoor seating area. It’s so nice to sit out there and read. They have a small selection of gluten free cookies that are ok, not amazing but beggars can’t be choosers.
I’ve had several sandwiches there on their gluten free bread and they are quite good.
I have to say though that the coffee here is sub par. Got an almond milk latte about a week ago and it barely tasted of anything. Bland and boring.
So go for the sandwiches and outdoor seating but skip the latte.

What happened to this place?
The beloved Depot Bookstore and Café in Mill Valley has always been a destination, for years, right in the center of town. One of the original OG bookstore cafes. Now it seems like a shell of its former self. Either that or my memory of this place is all wrong.
The selection in the bookstore is really, really tiny. Its barely a bookstore and more of a newstand at this point. It was always small, sure, but now it really seems there are so few books here. It hardly feels like the rich, well curated, chock-​full yet petite stop it once was. There was a time when you could be inspired here by many of their selections and recommendations. Now, the adults section is very small. The older kids selection is tiny –we found it hard to find a good book for my avid reader for the summer. I really hate to say this, but it seems to have settled into being more of a café with a bookstore hanging in as an afterthought.
I have such fond memories of this place. I champion the independent bookstore, but wish that things looked more enticing here in the book selection department. The food was never exceptional, but now the bookstore seems a shadow of its former self. In terms of this being a functional bookstore and café, it’s disappointing to see inventory looking so meager. I suppose its a sign of the times. Sigh.

Might be a staple for downtown but very poor service, cold lattes madd right in front, food was so so, no water in self serve overall I suppose if you need to be here you accept the level of service, better for the mi ions visiting and never coming back. Needs some structure.

First time: Yes
When: 3÷22÷15
Experience: Food was A-​OK but the Customer Service… Oh Man! Hold on this is going to be a bumpy ride!
Star rating: I was trying to be nice and give the 3 stars but all I could keep thinking about was the customer service and how horrible it was! I’m still disappointed!
I came here for brunch as me and a girlfriend was meeting her boyfriend and some friends to eat before we headed back to SF after a long volunteering event.
We approached the café and let me admit that on the outside its beautiful! The area itself is a wonderful view! Its right in the middle of all the little shopping area’s. They have convenient parking but please be aware that the parking meters are monitored 7 days a week! I was SHOCKED to see that!
Walked in and was pleased to see a bookstore inside the café I think that’s a FABULOUS idea! I haven’t seen that before!
The menu is pretty simply and straight to the point. To me, i felt that the food was pricey especially after the rude customer service and mediocre food! I noticed that they have mimosas and breakfast sandwich before 11:30AM! I liked that!
Everything seemed to go downhill after I approached the cashier. After the customer in front of me left I walked up and greeted the cashier. I greeted her and before I could finish she puts her finger up and says, «umm wait». Ok… cool. I understand it may be busy… After she comes back she seems to have this attitude I ignored it. I ordered the Ham and Cheese sandwich. When I came back from the bathroom and realized that my buzzer was ringing (which meant my food was ready) I looked at the plate and asked the rude cashier,“umm is this my plate” she greeted and stated yes. I was looking like I SWEAR I ordered a BLT sandwich. But I didn’t argue or say anything I just took my plate and went to the patio and sat down.
The last and final straw was when the waiter Jack came and took our plates. My friend and her boyfriend didn’t finish there food and wanted a TO-​GO Box. She asked Jack for a To-​Go Box and he stated, «You have to ask the lady at the front cashier for a box». So my friend responded, «Can you do that for me?» Jack looked shocked like we just asked him to quite his job, he responded hesitantly, «Umm.Yes, I guess». WTF!!! Really Jack! You work here, I know you are young but this is ALL part of customer service!
I was disappointed, this café reminds me of the saying, «A pretty woman with a bad attitude». Like how can you have a nice café like this and the workers just turn it into a sour level! Like really? I’m shocked and I don’t know if I will be coming back.
I asked for the name of the manager, which I hear is John! John, if you are reading this I would recommend you take notes on this matter and teach your workers GOOD customer service skills!
Enough said!

Sadly the wait at our 1^st destination was an hour, so we switched gears and came to Depot Café. The location and setting are very charming. Situated right in the middle of the village center, the umbrella covered tables provide the ideal setting for people watching on a sunny day. 1 star.
The second star is on the food. The sandwiches were average counter fare with a price set accordingly. Nothing to write home about.
Too bad the staff diminish the quality of this establishment to epic proportions! The first strike was when the cashier said I will bring you your coffee when it’s ready. It never arrived. Turns out that the coffee was sitting at the bar to be picked up. by me. It was watered down and lacking any robustness anyway, so I wasn’t missing much. Second strike was the order mix-​up. My friend ordered the Ham & Cheese sandwich, but was served the BLT instead.
The final strike which sealed the deal on my 1 star review was when I asked for a to-​go box for my sandwich. The server came out to clear my groups table, at which point I asked may I have a to-​go box please? His reply as he was walking away from me was, ‘you can ask the lady at the front counter for one.’ To which I quickly replied ‘oh can you do that for me?’ His reply? Wait for it. ‘um okay, I guess.‘
Just no.

I spent a couple hours here at a patio seat, munching on a white cheddar cheese and tomato sandwich and sipping coffee.
The sandwich was fine– nothing special, but it filled me up. The coffee was just ok.
The folks inside seemed bored. While I figured out what I wanted, I felt all eyes on me so they could have something to do once given direction. Which is fine, just a little intimidating when I hadn’t been there before and was new to the menu.
The location is what makes this place great. Downtown Mill Valley equals people watching, a sunny day with a light breeze, and a good atmosphere. Though, the outdoor tables went unbussed about for about an hour. I had to wipe down my own table once I had found one that didn’t have dishes and leftover food still on it.
I would return to sit and read or get things done on my laptop outside. I wish I could bring coffee from the coffee shop across the street, though :/

Post-​Traffic Chill Time @ The Depot
SITREP
We had just come over HWY 37 from Sacramento Valley, and were heading to an event in Mill Valley, but were looking for some nice decompression time since we had an hour to kill
Enter The Depot Bookstore & Café!
THE SETUP
As we arrived into Mill Valley, we parked near the brick plaza and made our way into The Depot. It was a light crowd and we were able to make a quick order of an Apricot Bar, a Blueberry Cheese Croissant, and a large Mocha to share.
An Apple Pie came out and was placed in the display, looking all delicious & dectable and ready for someone to grab and take home.
BOOKSTORE
While we were waiting for the Mocha, it was nice to wander into the Bookstore half of the establishment and peruse the displays, and the book offerings. There were quite the selection of local artists and a dated calendar of events showing when some of them would come to the Depot for books signings.
THE PATIO
Since it was a very beautiful afternoon, nothing could be more pleasant than sitting out on The Depot’s patio, taking in the sun, and watching the families play in the plaza — some little girls were learning to ride their bikes and taking this occasion very seriously (some little boys were nearby and teasing them!)
THE LOWDOWN
The Depot Bookstore & Café is a charming establishment that is the centerpiece right at the heart of Mill Valley!

If not for its convenient location, I do t think anyone would eat here. Terrible value, small portions, below par service and just all around disappointment. The place was so cute, I wondered why it only had three stars, well, now I know.
They offer a very rudimentary menu, with no stoves, just a microwave. For that type of fare, to charge almost $ 10 for a croissant sandwich with microwaved eggs and bacon, and not even a few potato chips on the side? No thank you! And no service whatsoever. I had to go inside every time I wanted a refill.