43 Best Coffee Shops in Berkeley

“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!“

“Great coffee and service, pleasant premises, Zen like patio in the back. My rating scale is tough and this establishment which serves a fine latte and cortado with solid roasted bean notes and flavors deserves a solid 4. Souvenir occupies the prior location of Semifreddi’s Bakery, a few blocks West from the Claremont Hotel. Next door is a comic book and poster store that harkens back to the 60s and 70s and well worth a visit on its own. Souvenir roasts its own beans which my readers know by now means a lot to me. The premises were full which is always a good sign. The back patio represents an oasis of tranquility in hectic Berkeley. Service was excellent and the kind young ladies took the time to explain which beans were used for espresso, all with a smile. This establishment deserves your business - and linger a while in the patio.“

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

“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'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.“

“What a gem! Delicious coffee (with some single origin beans from China!) and friendly service. It has a lovely side garden that is really peaceful and would make for a nice sunny spot to hang out and read. There’s a shop next door that wasn’t open yet but I will be back to check that out too.“

“Stopped by this cafe as I was intrigued by their selection of empanadas. They all sounded SO tasty, but I opted to go for the beef empanada and the spinach/feta empanada. Both were really good but the spinach/feta was incredible — everything tasted so fresh, and love that this empanada had such a thin flaky crust with a nice bite to it on the edges. The dipping sauce was a nice touch and spiced it up which was very addicting. The cafe itself has plenty of space for seating and the service was nice and friendly. I definitely think this will be my new go to spot for empanadas… I got to try them all eventually!“

“My favorite cafe in Berkeley! Vibes are immaculate, always busy (for good reason) but you can sit outside in lovely Strawberry Creek Park. Coffee is delicious, and I love the cheddar and scallion scones. I love to come here with a book and hang out in the park. Also there are always cute dogs!

Vegetarian options: Most pastries are vegan. Oat and almond milk available for all drinks.

Dietary restrictions: Oat and almond milk available. Most pastries are vegan and gluten free.

Kid-friendliness: The park outside is very kid friendly; there are usually multiple kids running around.“

“We have lived so close to Desta for years but keep missing their open hours. Finally made it today and we’re sad not to have eaten here sooner! Definitely the best food from the Horn of Africa that we’ve had in the Bay Area. Flavorful, light but filling, and delicious! Two warm, welcoming women run the restaurant and do everything from filling water glasses to cooking to bussing tables - we were impressed by their coordination.

Vegetarian options: Gluten free“

“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.“

“I’m so happy there’s more matcha places opening in the the East Bay and in Berkeley. As it’s close to the bart station and etc! As a matcha fanatic myself I’m soo glad there’s one close to home and school! I tried the Banana Matcha latte and it was soo yummy the Black Sesame Seed matcha was amazing as well! The matcha was so green and beautiful! The Grilled pork Banh Mi was so delicious too! This was place is soo worth checking out! I also can’t wait to try more!“

“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!“

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

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

“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.“

“I live their expert roasts!“

“🙃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! 😋“

“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.“

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

“Tesoro! I drive from Hilltop“

“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.“

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

“Visited Standard Fare for the first time today for Brunch. I was pleasantly impressed with the presentation, fresh food, variety, friendly customer service. I will be back to try their lunch menu! Highly recommend!“

“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.“

“The best place ever. Love them ❤️ 💕“

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

“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!!!“

“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!“

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

“May 2021: I've always walked past this place for the past few months since I had appointments in the building, but I finally went in today to grab something to eat and I'm so happy I did. I ordered a pork bahn mi (Vietnamese sandwich on the menu) and a thai tea and damn, they're were both delicious. I didn't get a chance to take a good photo of the thai tea since I drank it so fast, it was really really good! The cafe has nice artwork on the wall and the man behind the counter was so kind! I wished I could've eaten here sooner, but now I know where to get thai tea and a bite to eat after my appointments ?December 2021: finally took a photo of the Thai tea before I drank it all. Very delicious, 10/10. Even on a rainy day, this place still feels homey and nice!January 2023: update, still delicious! Some prices went up by 60 cents to a 1 dollar but still worth it. All his ingredients are fresh and this is probably my favorite homemade Thai tea in the Bay. This place is a hidden gem and owner is still as nice as ever, 12/10!“

“Friendly staff & good location for neighborhood families.“

“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.“

“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“

“Francisco was amazing they had not extra sauce on the uber eats website and it was my one day a week off with my and girl and it is what she wanted he old me he got's me hooked it up and said he'd tell his boss to fix it on the uber eats website!!! 5 STAR MAN HE IS A 100% PRO EMPLOYEE!!!“

“This place was spectacular. It blew all expectations out of the park, perhaps even out of Berkeley. This is now one of my favorite coffee places on campus. But one thing outshone the rest, and that was the service. Sophia gave me a very special drink, a drink that was one of its kind. As my friends know I actively hate oat milk, however, this drink may have changed my opinion on oat milk. I had no complaints and the drink was perfection, perhaps now I like oat milk. If you ever have the chance, be sure to visit this nice establishment and make sure you say hello to Sophia.“