42 Best Coffee Shops in Berkeley

“This is a special spot. I’m a coffee snob and keenly attuned to energy and this is truly a special place. I probably shouldn’t share this. But I don’t live in Berkeley. I spent time in the area over the holidays and still thinking about it. Enjoy!“

“Very cute cafe with pastries and a hot/cold drink menu. I really enjoyed the genoise and London fog, great on a cold rainy day. The Christmas tree was up and twinkly lights about really made it a perfect cozy cafe to hide in.

Wheelchair accessibility: On the first level, very accessible with wide berth around the counter.“

“I stopped in for the first time last week… People working there are super nice. Latte was really good, I don’t know what beans they were using but it was delicious. I had a breakfast sandwich on ciabatta that was HUGE. I saved half for my lunch later!

Dog friendly!“

“I got the hojicha and it was hands-down the BEST hojicha I’ve ever tried in the bay!!! The hojicha was so rich and my drink was sweetened perfectly—not too sweet, which didn’t steal the thunder away from the hojicha’s notes and flavor! I do want to disclose that they did take over an hour for my drink to be ready, BUT I went for their soft opening weekend, so that may be why many people were there (there were around 25 orders ahead of mine). They whisk the hojicha and ceremonial matcha right in front of you, which was a blast to see. The ambience was great! I’d definitely go again at a time where there aren’t as many customers there.

Update: my friend went a few weeks after me, and their wait is still just as long (about 40-50 minutes). Definitely place your order, explore downtown Berkeley, then come back for your drink. There aren’t a lot of seating options available in the tea bar.“

“Friendly staff🥰, best bagel in the states🥯“

“I recently visited Roaming Bean Coffee, an outdoor gem that exceeded all my expectations! My drink was perfectly balanced with rich, smooth flavor and delightful frothy top. The staff were incredibly welcoming and attentive. Overall, Roaming Bean Coffee is a fantastic spot for coffee lovers looking for tranquil outdoor setting!“

“The real thing whatever they serve you. And delicious.“

“Friendly staff🥰, best bagel in the states🥯“

“I usually swing in for a drip coffee, always greeted with a smile by the staff, and the overall atmosphere is chill and welcoming.
When the weekend comes, they always request Jaffa coffee, for a juice and pastry.
Really great spot to visit when in Berkeley.

Kid-friendliness: It’s a very chill vibe, and welcoming.“

“Visiting from NJ and decided to walk from my hotel for coffee vs. hotel's coffee. Was greeted warmly by the young lady behind the counter. The music and decor is lovely. I had the rosemilk cake, the Heyma latte, and the Yemeni tea. I didn't want to leave! Also, as a Muslim, it was nice to see representation in the art. Wonderful!“

“Love this neighborhood spot!! The owners and staff are so attentive. There's plenty of options for breakfast and lunch at reasonable prices. They have some outside seating for those who want to get some sun. Easy to find free parking on the side street. The vibe is chill - I often see people lounging, reading, or playing games in there with their friends. Come support this gem!“

“First impression, I like it here more than most of the starbucks I have visited before. The place is a little small and good for people who like to sit differently and want to listen to nice music. The latte I ordered was warm good enough for me to enjoy drinking it while having my “Kouign Amann - Chocolate” and it was small and 50% of its advertised picture, but surprisingly, it was delicious and nothing like I taste before.

I did give 3 stars to services, because it felt like no one was welcoming me there, I was hanging around a little bit and the baristas were deep in their brewing coffees, so I ended up ordering the food digitally by the monitor! Maybe a little more love to new people coming over welcoming them, can go a long way.

Overall, 4 out of 5! Cheers!“

“Excellent coffee and exceptional house made baked goods! Everyone who works there is super friendly and they love dogs, which is important for our family, especially when we're en route to daycare or the park with the pup and kiddo. My only wish is that they had a space with a nice seating area so I could soak up the good vibes for longer.“

“I came on a beautiful weekend afternoon. They had a DJ in the garden. The crowd was young and seemed to be in a post caffeination party mood. I mostly came because I wanted to try a masterpiece coffee! They served me an americano and called it a coffee…? It looked kind of like a few college kids bought a La Morzocco and a cart, so I dont think they have the gear to make coffee. The americano was ok, but over-extracted. The one at Strada is much better. Still if you’re looking for good vibes, but not expecting coffee, or a masterpiece, it’s worth stopping by 👍“

“I've booked this venue twice for work events (team offsites, strategy planning retreats) and have had nothing short of the best experience both times! The Sway team is extremely professional, responsive, and accommodating -- even arranging the furniture to fit all of our day's activities, and providing coolers for drinks that we brought ourselves! The location is great -- close to many restaurants for breakfast/lunch options and neighborhood parking all day. We've loved using this beautiful space and couldn't recommend it more.“

“Not the best matcha I ever had, but better than most other matcha places in the area. The strawberry matcha was very good, but could have used some more strawberry puree in it. I wanted the double matcha latte, but it wasn't in stock. *sad* Atmosphere seemed good for studying, but didn't stay. Service was very quick and ordered on snack pass. Will be back when I'm in the area.“

“This cafe is really cute, and the park right outside makes for amazing vibes! The coffee is pretty good, and the food is nice. Service is okay. Their matcha latte tends to have a lot of clumpy matcha in it.
Also, be aware that this place is very popular (especially on the weekends) and it can be hard to find a table to sit at.“

“Just tried the chicken & nopal empanadas…..SO GOOD!! Packed with flavor and filling. 🙌🏻 I liked how the actual masa (outer flour coating) is not thick but rather thin making the empanada balanced. I need to go back and get more, i’m obsessed!! Also note, they’re not greasy - most empanadas are deep friend and I like how these aren’t!“

“By far the most creative and exquisite coffee drinks! Plus Pepples vegan donuts!! Danger Will Robinson...addictive And live music on Sundays.“

“The food here is absolutely amazing. Best Ethiopian overall ive ever had. Their collard greens and green lentil dish are both seriously the best ive ever had for those dishes in Ethiopian cuisine. Everything else is still show stopping. When we first went here, there was a dish with red sauce and I wasn't a huge fan - but i also am personally not a dark meaty-taste sauce person, and all the dishes here have otherwise been amazing. Even the sambusas are great! They could use a little more variety, maybe served with the green lentil dish as a side even or with a sauce- but even by themselves are amazing. Long story short, Desta is a must visit!“

“It's a cafe! Smells like coffee. Great service.

Parking: Outside seating nice spot to drink your coffee

Kid-friendliness: Yes

Wheelchair accessibility: Not sure? I walked up stairs. Plenty of room. In the restruant.“

“Fabulous assortment of specialty coffees and a delicious food menu. My favorite go-to is the quiche!“

“🙃Came to visit and didn't know what to expect but I'm glad that I did! Some of the best Lattes I had in the Bay Area and the ambiance is really nice and relaxing. The people here are what makes the place thrive and people love to come back again and again because of it! 😋“

“I live their expert roasts!“

“There were three in my party. We ducked in here to take a break from the cold rain. We ordered a chai, a golden/turmeric chai, and a caffé latté, all with oat milk. It’s our first try of oat milk. We all liked it a lot. The foam on my golden chai was lovely. I’d reorder it anytime. I tried my mate’s latté with oat milk, I can recommend it. The pastries we ordered were all worth the consumption. I’m so glad there was one pretzel cheese bun left. It was delicious even though it wasn’t warm. I highly recommend them. We also ordered a quiche, a chocolate croissant, and an almond pastry. They were all superb. The almond pastry which was super light and flaky tasted like baklava more so than an almond filling. I liked the vibe here. So often I want to grab my order and split, not here. I felt fine taking refuge from the outside environs. The staff were sweet regardless of their spoken English being nearly impossible to understand. It was cool assuming they were part of the refugee program. It felt good being a patron there and the inspired conversation it led to. I am sure my party was surprised I was already knowledgeable about the topic on current refugees. That made our café and conversation time only that much more enjoyable.“

“Atmosphere was superb, place is veryy clean. I ordered two drinks and the Milk cake the pastries were amazing.The owner/manager was there and he seemed to really care and was very hospitable. Will definitely be my go to coffee spot moving fwd.“

“The womlettes are delicious! the teas are great too. Definitely recommend "party at the beach"“

“Great coffee and elegant atmosphere. $195 for a manual Brewer? $85 for tin coffee pot? I think I'll pass.“

“I just love this local Berkeley gem. Friendly, warm vibe where everyone is welcome. You can tell a lot of thought and care went into the place. The coffee is THE BEST, the pastries are amazing. From the coffee made with care and the super nice baristas to the comfy/welcoming/inclusive atmosphere, Bench Café has it all. My go to breakfast items are the Spinach Feta Empanadas and the Date Latte. P.S. the music adds a nice touch to the place.“

“Operated like a mom and point coffee joint even with the big brand name. Coffee is great and next door you NEED to get a pastry at Fournee.“

“Tesoro! I drive from Hilltop“

“Food experience: 4/5
Service and

Beautiful Palestinian cafe. They offer halal chicken sandwiches and I only wish they would offer halal turkey and beef. But the quality of the chicken in the sandwiches is tasty. The cafe drinks are really special and highly recommend it. And the simplicity of their croissant flavors like the zataar and cheese croissant is really tasty. They have lots of Kunafa style desserts here too.“

“it's a great place, especially if you're looking for a place to work and eat/drink“

“The best place ever. Love them ❤️ 💕“

“I came to Barkley to study abroad, and it was a nice shop with a nice atmosphere, the staff were very friendly, and the sandwiches were delicious.

This is a good shop with very friendly clerks. I especially like the pastrami sandwich here. There are also fresh shakes in summer!“

“This place is a hidden gem for quick bites. The banh mi are especially delicious and a great value ($8). The service is always friendly and fast. It’s located right near Ashby Bart (you can get into the Bart station from the same building). I always just get a pork banh mi and it’s loaded with fresh veg, generous pork, and crispy toasted bread.“

“Great people work there. Always treated with respect.“

“ultra efficient, super intelligent and very entertaining barista KELLY is the BEST . Double her pay and chain her inside your worst store. She can fix anything, retrain your worst employees and keep a line moving! Worth her weight in gold.“

“Best of the best. Tons of choices, exquisite French patisseries, true North African specialties… there is so much to choose from. High quality and scrumptious! We will be back!!!“

“Literally the best coffee I've ever had in my life and their artwork is always fun.“

“muy rico el caffe y muy amables las personas que te atienden“

“Friendly staff & good location for neighborhood families.“