Situated in downtown San Mateo on busy B Street, BAMBU is a drink spot specializing in chè, coffee, tea, and smoothies. For those that don’t know, chè is a Vietnamese beverage made-to-order using freshly cut coconut water combined with select exotic and healthy ingredients. The most popular item is the Bambu Special, a refreshing drink made with fresh coconut, pandan jelly, longan, basil seed, and coconut water.

If you need a jolt of caffeine, the coffee list includes lattes and mochas served hot, cold, or blended, along with strong Vietnamese coffee sua da, which gets an extra kick from the slow-drip brewing method and is served on ice with sweetened condensed milk. The blended Thai tea also provides ample caffeine in case you need a wake-up refreshment, but don’t care for coffee.

 Stop by BAMBU Sunday through Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.