The first place I tried after I moved across the country. This little cafe immediately warms my tired heart with their mocha and hot chocolate. Mocha is very smooth with deep flavors of the beans. Hot chocolate, despite having almond milk instead of regular, tasted delicious as well. Could really taste the nuttiness of almond. My brother and I also ordered their banana cake and turkey avocado sandwich. Both turned out good too. Turkey avocado sandwich is easy to bite into even though it seems thick with lots of fillings in it. Avocado is perfectly ripe with the right hardness. I actually got turkey slices from Safeway the next day inspired to make more sandwich at home! Really great food and environment. Would love to go back again.
Nannaphat S.
This might be my new favorite cafe. The coffee is good for the price and large! I love that there's an upstairs seating area and that the background noise is not too loud. The toilet could be cleaner. The WiFi is good and the service is great. They also have a good selection of food items if you stay to study for long. The upstairs area also has plenty of outlets if that's what you are looking for.
Adam I.
This is my #1 go-to spot for working in Berkeley. Fast Wi-Fi, lots of tables/counter space, great food and drinks, a friendly owner and overall very welcoming environment. Super convenient location (three streets up from the Downtown Berkeley BART station; also, metered parking is available right outside and free parking can usually be found around the corner). They also carry pastries from local bakeries in addition to the food they make in-house. I recommend the latte and any of the hummus platters or, my personal favorite, the lox bagel.
Marina M.
Awesome! Exactly what I was looking for after my 12 step meeting . I was visiting from LA and was so cute, so much charm, great vibe (friendly shopkeepers, great art, reggae was playing when I came in) But most importantly food and coffee were yummy; I had artichoke sandwich and a perfect latte!
Serena J.
My favorite mocha of Berkeley is Fertile Grounds' Mexican Mocha. I think they're one of the few coffee shops that doesn't just toss chocolate powder/syrup into coffee and call it a mocha. There are also power outlets! And free wi-fi! *ecstatic moaning* If it weren't for the mildly cramped seating, I would have studied here a ton, but this was my go-to for coffee. Go go go.
Kristin Zellhart
Lovely local coffee shop with excellent coffee and a good selection of breakfast options! Very small and charming with an upstairs good for getting work done on the laptop ðŸ‘
Kyle R.
Place is expensive. I paid 15$ for a drink and breakfast sandwich. Drink was pretty standard tasted good. Breakfast sandwich was microwave eggs and skinny precooked bacon that seemed to be microwaved. Too pricy if you ask me. I guess if you're going to stay for the WiFi it might be worth it but if you're looking for a quick breakfast to start your morning this place is too expensive.
Adam Gustafson
Drove in the rain to get here, found parking after circling the surrounding area for ten mjnutes, walked from there to find a closed door. No hours posted, no explanation why it's not open at 6:10pm on a Monday. Probably won't be back.
Chia-Lin Simmons
Always a great experience.
Allen R.
Top notch cafe. Seating? Check. Wifi? Check. Coffee smells and chill vibes? Check. Outlets? VERY check. Food-wise, a 4/5. I got a turkey pesto sandwich and hooo'mama, that was a good sandwich. Only thing is that it was a pretty pricey ($10). Service-wise, a solid 4/5. Great barista. Ambiance-wise, a stellar 5/5. From the local art on the walls, to the surprisingly aerated bathroom, this cafe has got it. I could sit here for hours... and I do.
My coffee was perfect, it was caramel latte. I also got a macaroon. The atmosphere is lovely here, music playing but not too loud, people were able to have a conversation. The service was excellent and attentive, but also careful prepared orders. The art on the wall is a lot of fun.
Agent F.
Great coffee and music, really nice people (owner and staff), yummy food...
Ed U.
Now that Philz has closed its door for good in the Gourmet Ghetto, options for appropriate caffeination have dwindled to a precious few. OK, that was an overstatement, but it does increase my likelihood of coming here as I take frequent constitutionals on Shattuck Avenue. It's a Berkeley-lite cafe with a local art gallery and a loft floor for the talkative types who don't know when to leave a party. The laptoppers appear to take over the main floor leaving the tiny side tables for two for the rest of us. No surprise that I prefer this cafe when it's empty on a weekday afternoon. That way I can nurse a becalming $2.50 cup of Mighty Leaf Vanilla Bean Tea in true leisure (photo: Most recently, while waiting for Cha-Ya to open, Jamie W. and I came in on a rainy Saturday when it was abuzz with customers looking for an excuse to fold their umbrellas. The staff looked challenged to keep up with the traffic as responsibilities appeared misallocated. Jamie ordered the $5 Mexican Mocha which added espresso-spiced chocolate to the steamed milk (photo: He felt there was an unappealing bitter aftertaste. I went for the $2.95 Cafe au Lait which I wished was amped up a level more than lukewarm (photo: Alas, it was crowded, and let's face it, there is no Philz to run to for salvation. COFFEE/TEA - 3 stars...a bit on the middling side amid the chaos AMBIANCE - 3 stars...pleasant when empty, less so when it's not SERVICE - 3.5 stars...true effort here but still harried TOTAL - 3 stars...a Philz back-up is now in the Shattuck spotlight RELATED - Hanging around in Berkeley? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed: bit.ly/2N4anQA
I was a bit frustrated because most of coffee shops in my house area do not provide electric socket for customer, while my laptop would die within 3 hours without charging. But in here, you can plug wherever your spot is. I like the ambience of this cafe. Not too quiet nor too noisy. Most importantly, their coffee is great!
The first place I tried after I moved across the country. This little cafe immediately warms my tired heart with their mocha and hot chocolate. Mocha is very smooth with deep flavors of the beans. Hot chocolate, despite having almond milk instead of regular, tasted delicious as well. Could really taste the nuttiness of almond. My brother and I also ordered their banana cake and turkey avocado sandwich. Both turned out good too. Turkey avocado sandwich is easy to bite into even though it seems thick with lots of fillings in it. Avocado is perfectly ripe with the right hardness. I actually got turkey slices from Safeway the next day inspired to make more sandwich at home! Really great food and environment. Would love to go back again.
This might be my new favorite cafe. The coffee is good for the price and large! I love that there's an upstairs seating area and that the background noise is not too loud. The toilet could be cleaner. The WiFi is good and the service is great. They also have a good selection of food items if you stay to study for long. The upstairs area also has plenty of outlets if that's what you are looking for.
This is my #1 go-to spot for working in Berkeley. Fast Wi-Fi, lots of tables/counter space, great food and drinks, a friendly owner and overall very welcoming environment. Super convenient location (three streets up from the Downtown Berkeley BART station; also, metered parking is available right outside and free parking can usually be found around the corner). They also carry pastries from local bakeries in addition to the food they make in-house. I recommend the latte and any of the hummus platters or, my personal favorite, the lox bagel.
Awesome! Exactly what I was looking for after my 12 step meeting . I was visiting from LA and was so cute, so much charm, great vibe (friendly shopkeepers, great art, reggae was playing when I came in) But most importantly food and coffee were yummy; I had artichoke sandwich and a perfect latte!
My favorite mocha of Berkeley is Fertile Grounds' Mexican Mocha. I think they're one of the few coffee shops that doesn't just toss chocolate powder/syrup into coffee and call it a mocha. There are also power outlets! And free wi-fi! *ecstatic moaning* If it weren't for the mildly cramped seating, I would have studied here a ton, but this was my go-to for coffee. Go go go.
Lovely local coffee shop with excellent coffee and a good selection of breakfast options! Very small and charming with an upstairs good for getting work done on the laptop ðŸ‘
Place is expensive. I paid 15$ for a drink and breakfast sandwich. Drink was pretty standard tasted good. Breakfast sandwich was microwave eggs and skinny precooked bacon that seemed to be microwaved. Too pricy if you ask me. I guess if you're going to stay for the WiFi it might be worth it but if you're looking for a quick breakfast to start your morning this place is too expensive.
Drove in the rain to get here, found parking after circling the surrounding area for ten mjnutes, walked from there to find a closed door. No hours posted, no explanation why it's not open at 6:10pm on a Monday. Probably won't be back.
Always a great experience.
Top notch cafe. Seating? Check. Wifi? Check. Coffee smells and chill vibes? Check. Outlets? VERY check. Food-wise, a 4/5. I got a turkey pesto sandwich and hooo'mama, that was a good sandwich. Only thing is that it was a pretty pricey ($10). Service-wise, a solid 4/5. Great barista. Ambiance-wise, a stellar 5/5. From the local art on the walls, to the surprisingly aerated bathroom, this cafe has got it. I could sit here for hours... and I do.
Restaurantji Recommends
My coffee was perfect, it was caramel latte. I also got a macaroon. The atmosphere is lovely here, music playing but not too loud, people were able to have a conversation. The service was excellent and attentive, but also careful prepared orders. The art on the wall is a lot of fun.
Great coffee and music, really nice people (owner and staff), yummy food...
Now that Philz has closed its door for good in the Gourmet Ghetto, options for appropriate caffeination have dwindled to a precious few. OK, that was an overstatement, but it does increase my likelihood of coming here as I take frequent constitutionals on Shattuck Avenue. It's a Berkeley-lite cafe with a local art gallery and a loft floor for the talkative types who don't know when to leave a party. The laptoppers appear to take over the main floor leaving the tiny side tables for two for the rest of us. No surprise that I prefer this cafe when it's empty on a weekday afternoon. That way I can nurse a becalming $2.50 cup of Mighty Leaf Vanilla Bean Tea in true leisure (photo: Most recently, while waiting for Cha-Ya to open, Jamie W. and I came in on a rainy Saturday when it was abuzz with customers looking for an excuse to fold their umbrellas. The staff looked challenged to keep up with the traffic as responsibilities appeared misallocated. Jamie ordered the $5 Mexican Mocha which added espresso-spiced chocolate to the steamed milk (photo: He felt there was an unappealing bitter aftertaste. I went for the $2.95 Cafe au Lait which I wished was amped up a level more than lukewarm (photo: Alas, it was crowded, and let's face it, there is no Philz to run to for salvation. COFFEE/TEA - 3 stars...a bit on the middling side amid the chaos AMBIANCE - 3 stars...pleasant when empty, less so when it's not SERVICE - 3.5 stars...true effort here but still harried TOTAL - 3 stars...a Philz back-up is now in the Shattuck spotlight RELATED - Hanging around in Berkeley? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed: bit.ly/2N4anQA
Always friendly staff. Nice, shall cosy environment.
I was a bit frustrated because most of coffee shops in my house area do not provide electric socket for customer, while my laptop would die within 3 hours without charging. But in here, you can plug wherever your spot is. I like the ambience of this cafe. Not too quiet nor too noisy. Most importantly, their coffee is great!