Rhody's Garden Café

The Café is open for the season!

Rhody's Garden Café is open daily during the spring and summer months. Lunch items are served from 11AM to 3PM. Snacks, drinks, desserts, and ice cream are available from 10AM to 4PM. No reservations or admission fee required to dine at the Café.

The Café uses high-quality ingredients from local providers and the freshest seasonal produce from the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens' own organic demonstration Vegetable Garden. Open seasonally, our menu includes house-made soups, fresh organic salads, sandwiches, daily specials, desserts, drinks, and Cowlick's Ice Cream. Vegan options are available.

Enjoy a cup of Flowerland Blend Thanksgiving Coffee with cookies and daily treats from GoodLife Bakery and Fort Bragg Bakery (gluten-free desserts available). Avoid the after-school crowds in town and get your Cowlick’s Ice Cream cone here. Did you know that with a minimum purchase, your favorite canine can enjoy a "doggy ice cream"? Drinks at the Café include coffee, Chai, and other teas, plus delicious fresh organic Strawberry Lemonade.

SAMPLE MENU — Items and prices are subject to change

Takeout is available! To place a to-go order with the Café staff, please call 707-964-4352 ext. 104.

Doggie Dining Rules

Dogs are welcome at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens and Rhody's Café! To keep everyone comfortable and safe, please follow our Canine Guest Policy.

Dogs are not allowed at tables in the enclosed patio area of the Cafe. Seating is available for guests with dogs on the plaza overlooking the Perennial Garden. Dogs may accompany guests in the Cafe while you place your order.

Follow Rhody's Garden Café on Facebook and Instagram for updates and alerts on lunch specials!

Rhody's is on TripAdvisor and Yelp! We hope you had a wonderfully delicious experience at Rhody's. Please share the love and help spread the word about our fantastic lunch spot. CLICK HERE TO REVIEW

Contact us

If you have any questions about the Café, call us at 707-964-4352 ext 104 or email info@gardenbythesea.org. Please contact administration@gardenbythesea.org with any accessibility questions.

Rhody's for the Win!

Rhody’s Garden Cafe and The Bewildered Pig continue to prove they are a perfect pairing. At the 25th annual Crab Cake Cook-Off & Wine Tasting Competition, Chef Lynn Derrick of Rhody’s teamed up with Chef Janelle Weaver of The Bewildered Pig and took home 1st Place People’s Choice with their unforgettable Umami Crab Cakes.

The duo has been on quite a crab cake streak. The team once again helped make the event a flavorful success in support of Mendocino Coast Clinics in 2024. They won 1st Place Judge’s Choice and 2nd Place People’s Choice, and this year, they came back for another delicious victory. Adding to the excitement, Chefs Lynn Derrick and Janelle Weaver are also featured in the 2024 Fall/Winter issue of the renowned culinary magazine, Saveur.

Blue Zone Approved

In 2025, Rhody’s Garden Café officially became a Blue Zones Project Approved™ restaurant—and you get to enjoy the benefits! This designation means that Rhody's offers healthy choices that are accessible, affordable, and, of course, delicious.

At Rhody’s, wellness is always on the menu for you. Every day, you can choose from Blue Zones–inspired, plant-forward meals including crisp organic salads, hearty house-made soups, vibrant sandwiches, daily specials, and always-available vegan options. Every dish is thoughtfully crafted with fresh, locally sourced ingredients from community favorites like the Fort Bragg and Mendocino farmers markets, Harvest Market, L + R Farms, and even organic produce grown right here in the Gardens.

Rhody’s is more than just a café, it is an experience! You can dine in an open-air setting surrounded by coastal blooms and ocean breezes, then treat yourself to Cowlick’s Ice Cream or wholesome desserts. It is the perfect mix of nature, nourishment, and community.