A Market — Local services in Newport Beach

We came here for a small meetup, and I was pleasantly surprised. The place is very unassuming as you drive by, you can miss it easily from the road. Its modest and humble facade is easy to miss from the road.

But once you enter, you are taken away to a different place. Inside you’ll find a coffee shop, with pastries and cakes and cookies. Lots of seating and comfortable nooks and crannies to sit and read some of the magazines they have, or your favorite book.

They also have group tables if you’re feeling a little social. If the fresh baked goods aren’t your thing, they have a few fridges full of food and snacks and other goodies.

This place reminds me of the old school markets and coffee shops where the neighborhood would come to meet, and chat, socialize and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee.

In regards to the coffee, I have to be honest, it was terrible. I think maybe it was a little old or something,  it was bitter and kind of sour. But I was busy with my meet up, so I didn’t say anything, I should have. On the other hand, the lemon cake was outstanding and by far the best I’ve ever had.

I rated this high because I really loved the place, despite the coffee being awful. I think the ambiance and the lemon cake more than made up for it, and if you’re in the area, you should definitely drop by and...

Convenient place to get a good sandwich when staying in Newport. They can get pretty busy, so order ahead if you are in a hurry. The parking lot is small and tight and there is limited seating inside. They added more outdoor seating recently, which is helpful. I got the market club sandwich the last few times and it is a delicious, fresh sandwich and a good size as well. As others stated, it's kind of pricey and you don't get any sides with it. I also like their cauliflower salad. They have a large selection of refrigerated drinks for purchase, as well as trinkets and candles. My friends and I have been coming here for years and consistently get good sandwiches and salads. We rode our bikes there. They do have a small bike rack. The employees are not very friendly and some times the order takes a while even when it's not busy and you see employees standing around behind the counter. They also add an "employee benefit" charge automatically to your bill, which...

Worth the Wait — The Best Marble Cake in Town

I came to A Market Cafe on a friend’s recommendation specifically for their marble cake. When I got there, they had just run out—but the owner, Shelly, told me a fresh one was baking and would be ready in 20 minutes. I decided to wait, grabbed a coffee, and to my surprise, Shelly offered me a free slice once it was ready, just for waiting. That small gesture made a big impression.

The cake itself? Phenomenal. Moist, rich, and perfectly balanced. The coffee-flavored icing added depth without overpowering. The swirl was a work of art, and the texture of the pound cake was spot on—light yet satisfying. I ended up buying the whole marble log and taking it home. Hands down, one of the best marble cakes I’ve ever had. I’ll...