Paradise Perks

I’ve only been here a couple of times in the past and just returned after months of hiatus. I remember that I was here before and really enjoyed it as a place to study, but this time, Paradise Perks officially wowed me. I’m wowed not because of the many study tables and seating available for individual or group use, extension cords and outlets for people to use, library of board games on hand to enjoy, yummy pastries, or nice staff… but I’m wowed particularly by the ability of the staff to use their best judgement and work independently, and THAT’s how they are able to deliver such excellent customer service.
It’s nice to see a place that trusts their employees to do their job so that the whole darn place is a harmonious environment to be in. That also makes me feel good about contributing to the success of their business and makes me want to buy drinks from them instead of chain places like Starbucks.
In particular, bravo to Paradise for hiring Ricky. She’s the reason why I immediately opened up my Unilocal!app and clicked on 5 Stars. Above and beyond service = 5 Stars and that’s exactly what I just got! Bravo and keep it up!
*NOTE: I wrote this on 5÷10÷2013, so I don’t know if the location is still open or not, but if you ever see a Paradise Perks wherever you’re at – go in!

Goodbye Paradise Perks. It was paradise of a coffee shop. But they are closed as of today June 25, 2014. The sign on the door today said this is it. Five years of great memories, now it’s all gone.
I honestly felt that, given the cost of renting this large space, too many people went in to study or hang out and didn’t buy a coffee drink or anything. Even on busy open mic nights, I never had more than 2 – 3 people in line ahead of me even when there were a hundred people on site. People run in… listen…hang out… and run out… A revolving door spinning faster than any DJ turntable… with not enough money. Now this space is dead, as are all the available spaces in this building.
There have been blogs that say that the reason for closure was the noise on Open Mic nights. I would believe that, too. The place was wide open and it probably was loud to some shop owners and nearby residents. Some people would use the parking lot to practice and give impromptu jam sessions. Noise or music… it’s in the ear of the beholder… But make no mistake, if noise was the problem, they could just dump open mic and keep the coffee shop open as a plain coffee shop and less noisy events. It’s all about the money, honey.‘and it just wasn’t profitable enough… At least that’s what I think.
To the owners, thank you for those five years.

The first thing you notice is that the staff are super friendly and normal — big plus.
After waiting a year or two for my espresso drink though, I was a bit surprised that it just tasted «ok».
The back area is spacious, and seems like a promising place to study —
— Until you are slapped in the face with the aroma of sweaty balls. Sadly, I am still traumatized by the olfactory ordeal I endured here, and cringe at the thought /​smell of ever returning

After numerous disappointments at the Starbucks in Sand Canyon and Irvine Center Drive. I found coffee paradise and perks here on the corner of Jeffrey Rd. right across Irvine Valley College.
I like to get my coffee over ice and with non-​fat milk. So, most flavors you can get hot they can make cold coffee out of them. Here are the flavors I’ve tried over ice.
— Caramel Macchiato: It’s a smoother blend, milky, sweet and not too bitter. You can see the caramel drizzle in the cup and adds to the candied taste. By far this is the sweetest of the flavors.
— Mocha Dark Chocolate: Smooth and Milky, it does taste a bit dark but this drink was really strong and it kept me buzzin’ for hours working in the office,
— Café Latte Almond: Not too sweet. You can taste more of the coffee and the almond flavor. This became my second favorite drink.
— Hazelnut Latte: The Hazelnut flavor, to me tasted kinda weird but its less sweet. My least favorite of them all.
— Macadamia Latte: Smooth, mildly sweet and roasted with a touch of Macadamia flavor. It is not listed on their menu but I found out when they made me this drink by mistake. Since then, this flavor has become my favorite because its well balanced.
My other favorite is the Pastry, and that is their Pizza Bagel w/​cream cheese. It’s baked in tomato sauce and cheese. Tastes better toasted! really a better alternative from going plain.
Nice atmosphere and comfortable. It has a Hawaiian theme and goes by its name well. They sell some «Hawaiian Sun» canned drinks too. College students come here to do some studying. This place reminds of the It’s a Grind coffee shop I used to go to in La Habra years ago. There is a meeting room on one side for the extra space and one night I saw a bunch of dudes doing Yoga classes there as well.
Overall, Indeed this is my favorite coffee shop around. It’s the best choice away from Starbucks and Paradise’s large size coffee and prices is almost a dollar cheaper. By far my coffee’s made here has been good and service here has been pleasant. Naturally at every coffee shop there’s maybe one or two barista that makes your drink right. Same story here, but still I come consistently because no matter what, they do have better flavors and makes.

Conveniently located right across the street from IVC, this coffee house is standard fare for students. Yet the great customer service, delicious drinks, friendly baristas, combination of inside café and outside patio seating, and overall ambience is anything but ordinary. Love this place!
PROS:
— Great study environment! Tons of seating inside and «outside», lots of outlets
— Friendly and responsive staff!
— Nice selection of music
CONS:
— Can get busy, especially during finals week
— Drinks occasionally inconsistent, BUT baristas more than willing to re-​make!
Overall, I just love this place. Need a change from Starbucks? Get on over to Paradise Perks! :)

I don’t ask for much when I say I want a «good» place to study.
1. Quiet atmosphere
2. Wifi
3. Plenty of outlets
4. Lots of space
So simple, yet it’s so damn hard to find a decent study spot. BUT Paradise perks covers them all! I’ve been here plenty of times to cram for exams and I’ve never had a problem finding a nice big table. (Unlike a lot of Starbucks locations that have tables the size of one textbook).
Unfortunately, their coffee isn’t my thing. Tried a hot coffee with foamed almond milk and it did not have that caffeinated kick. AKA weak. Also tried a triple espresso and it was overly sour. I frequently get straight espresso shots and they don’t taste that bad :(. Then I finally came here and ordered a plain mango smoothie. Bam! Found my go-​to drink. I’ll just stop by somewhere else to get my caffeine fix before coming here to study.
Service with a smile :).
I’ll be back soon.

First time here. Ordered medium cappucino and mocha on a Saturday morning. Coffee was not strong nor medium, leaving me disappointed after choosing this coffee house. Otherwise, the atmosphere is «coffee house» like and nice to hangout. Though, I’m not sure about the coffee. Maybe next time will be better.

Service –Great&&&Friendly
Drinks — Hot Upside — down Caramel Macchiato, Iced Caramel Macchiato, and their hidden menu Strawyberry Black Tea Shaker (iced)
Best place to sit down and do hw, read books, chat, etc
Will miss this place after I move out of Irvine):

This is probably the best spot to get your stuff done. I heard that parking here is pretty troublesome but so far I haven’t had any problem.
Coffee is ok for me. Nothing special or notable except for the blooming flower tea which was really pretty but tasted like a tire.
I love studying in the patio especially with the fresh air, wi-​fi, extension cords, huge tables and the comfort. When I get hungry, just walk a little to Thai Spice and bring it back to eat.

I love this little joint! My friend introduced me to this down to earth place a while back and I love coming back here. The atmosphere is different than the rest of Irvine without being out of place. I feel so comfortable being here unlike many arrogant places in OC. The baristas are nice and the people here seem so chill.
It’s an indie café with a selection of coffee, teas, pastries, and snacks (i.e. sandwiches). The café reminds me of some mom and pop coffee shop, but with plenty of space and seating. They have a really cute patio seating outside where they host comedy nights once a week.
My friends and I usually come here for board games. You can bring your own or they have a shelf of board games you can borrow.
It’s located in one of the older plazas in Irvine where Thai Spice Is. There is plenty of parking and it’s a quiet location.
If you’re looking for someplace where you can study, catch up with friends, enjoy a beverage, or play games — this is the place I highly recommend for you! :)

What a cool place! I really fell in love with the atmosphere within 10 minutes of sitting inside. There’s live music on Weds night. Music? Sweets? Nice cozy soft rock/​indie genre? Love at first listen!

Impressive, earthy tropical motif and spaciousness really help «perk» this place up! One of the nicer coffee houses I’ve been to with that hip, independent coffee house atmosphere. Lots of boardgames here too.
They have sandwiches and smoothies along with coffee and teas. There are two sections. small indoor section and a section with an open wall. They sometimes have live music and meetup groups here.
Parking is aplenty as it is in a small business shopping area. Various restaurants and coffee shops are nearby. Very chill and relaxing here. Free wifi.
I only had the rooibos tea here, but I will have to come back here and try the other stuff!

TIME&PLACE: Sunday early-​afternoon
I had NO idea this café was here (on the corner of Irvine Center Drive and Jeffrey — despite what the Unilocal map may say), in the same plaza as the Thai Café (not so great) and dentist.
I really like that the menu has a wide variety of drinks — coffee, teas, smoothies (mostly fruit, with one veggie option), and some food (noticed salads, but didn’t pay much attention otherwise. I think I may have seen sandwiches as well). I’m on a no-​coffee resolution for the year so I tried the THAI TEA SMOOTHIE which was exactly what it sounds like… good strong Thai tea flavor, plus a creaminess that you get probably from ice cream or something like that.
Super friendly workers and a very cool vibe — a big portion of the café was being used for piano recitals so seating was sparse, but I spied all the board games that people mentioned and there was a writing group meeting for #nanowrimo, which I thought was cool.
This is SUPER close to where I usually hang out in Irvine, so will likely be back!

Open relatively late and with a local or indie bands playing on weekend nights and on Wednesday nights.
My buds and I went here to relax after a grueling dinner of AYCE. Nothing like a hot latte or coffee to mellow out the meat sweats =]
The baristas are super knowledgeable and really friendly.
All their drinks are delicious and really well made.
And near closing, they’re still willing to make drinks and mess around with the customers. So friendly and nice.
It’s nice to find a place that is overrun with franchises that has a local vibe to it.

This is place is great. It’s the only place in Irvine and one of the few spots in the OC that’s not a chain coffee spot. I think that’s refreshing in this city and others must feel the same way by always filling the place up.
I haven’t tried any of their updated food menu items but I’m sure they’re fantastic. The espresso is always perfect and balanced unlike Starbucks where it’ll differ depending on who is pulling the espresso, this place is always consistent and delicious.
Free Wi-​Fi and board games with plenty of tables to relax or study.
A standout place in Irvine.

I’ve been trying to find a coffee shop to study in since Starbucks gets wayyyyy too crowded and the Lost Bean kicks studiers out at 5 PM and I think I’ve found it! They have five tables inside, and a bunch of tables and comfy chairs on their covered patios. The first time I came, customer service was great. However, the last time I came there were two people behind the counter who didn’t address me at all! They looked up when I walked in, but said nothing when I came to the counter. I finally got my order taken when someone from the back walked out and saw I had not been helped.
I’ve had their cappuccinos also, which were great! They weren’t too sweet and were very strong. It’s a great place to study, it’s pretty quiet with ample space.

Paradise Perks is more of a local coffeeshop than a coffee lab. Their focus is on providing a relaxing environment in the Irvine neighborhood with games and live music. The quality of their drinks takes a back seat.
Paradise Perks is unique in that there is a large open patio area with tables facing the parking lot. It reminded me of sitting inside a large garage. That area is suitable for catching up with friends over coffee, playing board games, reading a book, or casual studying. Paradise also hosts their music and game events in this room. These events attract the older crowd (age group 45+).
In terms of PP’s coffee knowledge, the staff is just as competent as Starbucks baristas. This is where you can order an oversized 24oz espresso beverage. This is where you can get a flavored syrupy lattes. The beans do not seem to be freshly roasted and the espresso shots are pulled haphazardly by inexperienced baristas. Moreover, the menu indicates pourovers are offered but they had been discontinued for several years.
The coffee at PP is substandard, so the only reason to come is for the environment. I treat it as a relaxing place to study. IVC is conveniently located across the street from Paradise Perks, so many of their students come at night to do their homework or read.
Fun fact: One of their refrigerators generates annoying «moo» noises every 10 seconds. If you are bothered by this, you better move to the patio area.

Im a fan of their blended taro (
). it was $ 3.75 for a regular size and another 50 – 75 cent to upgrade it to a large size. i told the person that took my order to make my drink less sweet coz i dont really like sweet stuffs and he did a great job in that. my drink turned out to be just the way i like it: not too sweet yet creamy and yummy! ive yet to try their lattes, coffees and blended green tea, which i will sometime soon.
average price for a coffee shop, so cant really come here everyday otherwise my wallet will be empty before the week ends. customer service is pretty nice and descent though a bit slow. the lounge area where many students usually come to study are too noisy for me. the sofas are also smelly, which likely is because there have been many people sleeping and sitting there even though they havent shower for days! i dont think ill ever study here. i rather have my drink to go and study at home or somewhere else!
CC is for purchase of $ 5 or over!

This is really the place to work!
I came here with the girlfriend to study and work our asses off. I love the ambiance and décor. It is pretty spacious inside with the coffee shop side and a little patio side. There are plenty of tables, chairs, and sofas. The tables are larger than your normal Starbucks tables with electrical sockets everywhere. Free Wi-​Fi is provided but I think there was a two hour limit. I liked that the patio was sectioned off because their was a guitarist playing there, but I didn’t have to hear any noise where we were. There was no blasting music either, just peace and quiet.
Service was awesome. I couldn’t connect to internet for some reason and the girls working there were really helpful. What I did not enjoy was their food. I ordered a tea which was delicious, but my girlfriend and I got a muffin and cupcake. Both was stale and hard as rock. It was obvious it had be sitting there. We also came on a day where there was an event. It was a showcase for the works of art that artist had painted displayed in the coffee shop. At that point, I did not enjoy the pretentious attitudes. They also had way too many people eating and standing around with their babies and strollers. Couldn’t they think of better organization? I don’t care about your artists’ with their $ 500 paintings. I’m there for the coffee!

INTERNET
They have a new internet system which is 100x better than the old dumb router they use to have. Before, internet was incredibly spotty, and most of the time, I got nothing at all. Now, they are on a nice system similar to Coffee Bean, where you get the first two hours free, and then if you buy something, you get another 2 hours free via a code.
CARAMEL MACCHIATO
Incredibly sweet maybe too sweet for me. I ask for less caramel.
ICED COFFEE
Pretty good. Refreshing in a hot day.
CHAIRS AND TABLES
There is a whole patio with tons of chairs and tables, but very few outlets. The interior of the coffee shop has tables that are closer to the outlets, but those are usually taken by people with laptops… and they stake their place for long periods of time.
COUCHES
Large comfy couches in the corners are good.