Palermo

Great spot for coffee, shopping, and snacks on the main street! Easy to locate, I enjoyed visiting for a quick morning coffee, or to sit with coffee, gelato, or a pastry mid morning. There is a cute shopping area in back with a broad range of options - always fun to explore what's new. This is a frequent stop whenever I am in town and my go to caffeine kick!

The Owner of Palermo unnecessarily took his anger out on me over having other coffee shops as competition. I am somebody who likes to “spread the wealth” and support multiple businesses when I can. Today, my sister and I decided to get a coffee at Caje, and after sitting there a while, decided that the macaroons from Palermo would be a nice pairing. We bought a few pastries & sat at the tables outside to eat them. While my sister was ordering more pasties, the owner was getting off work and spoke to me in the most rude & unprofessional tone, it actually repulsed me. The owner did not even start with “hello” like a normal person would start an interaction, he said, “Throw that cup away, these are our tables”. I was understanding at first as he didn’t know I was a customer yet, so I explained I purchased macaroons and that we were ordering more, we definitely spent at least $20. The owner continued speaking to me in the most hateful tone, implying that I was stupid and tasteless for going to Caje for coffee. He then continued his rant, tearing down Caje, saying, “I don’t know why people go there all the time, the coffee is trash”. Not saying you need to jump for joy at a competing business close by, but there was no need to be disrespectful to another business that helps make downtown great. Instead of reflecting on how he can improve his coffee (which is sour or burnt tasting all of the times I’ve purchased it there), he’s tearing down others. If what I’ve heard from past and present employees is still true, this man knows nothing about coffee and does not train them to make it, he only cares about the gift area. I will also add that it was completely empty on the outside tables, as it was chilly from the rain yesterday, and it was around 3 pm, so he just wanted to yell at me for fun. I can’t help but think he saw me as an easy target to take his anger out on since I’m a Latina in my 20’s who he thought was alone & I would genuinely bet he would’ve kept walking to his car with his messy briefcase if I were an older man. Needless to say, I will NEVER be supporting this business again, as the Owner himself could not even treat me with basic human decency.

Every time we're shopping on Main Street, we stop at Palermo. They are perfectly positioned for a mid-street pickup. The coffee is good, I especially like the Ancho Chili mocha. They have a selection of gelato and baked goods as well. But the real kicker is that they also stock a home goods store behind the coffee bar. Interesting things like cookbooks, soaps, dishware, ornaments, plush toys; like it's really one of the better "gift" stores in the area, and it's just an afterthought to this cafe.

Kind Staff, Incredible Gelato & Laid-Back Vibes Palermo in Ventura is a true gem. I came in just before closing and the staff couldn’t have been more kind or welcoming — no rush, just genuine warmth. I had a decaf latte with coconut milk that was smooth and comforting, and then treated myself to a scoop of matcha gelato and Earl Grey gelato. Both were absolutely amazing — rich, flavorful, and refreshingly different. The space has a cozy, laid-back vibe, and there’s even a cute little gift shop with fun, unique items. Whether you’re craving a treat, a good coffee, or just a peaceful place to unwind, Palermo is the spot. I’ll definitely be back!

We arrived at Palermo about 10 minutes before closing, and I have to say, the staff was amazing! Even though they were getting ready to close, they were in great spirits, super friendly, and never rushed us with our order. I had a decaf caffè latte and a two-scoop gelato — Coppa Mista and Mint Chip — both were absolutely delicious! They also have a cute little souvenir shop inside, which we didn’t have time to browse, but we’ll definitely check it out on our next visit. We grabbed some carrot cake bars to go as well, which was a nice treat for later. Tip: If you want to add a tip to your card, let them know before they process the payment. It doesn’t show on the screen, and you can’t add it afterward — we ended up placing a second order to leave a tip and pick up those carrot cake bars. Great service, great vibe, and great gelato — we’ll definitely be back!