Don't understand the rave reviews. I was hoping such a little cafe, at least the food would be good. The cheddar chive scone I purchased tastes like flour- as in it wasn't mixed correctly. The coffee is fine. people friendly enough. But the cafe is tiny and not comfortable to sit in, so I opted for the one table outside- which was unbalanced, causing my coffee to spill as soon as I put it down. the seating inside is not comfortable at all- if you opt for the tiny bar, you end up sitting next to the speaker- which plays banal musak. No thank you. read more

I visited Bench on an early Saturday morning. There was a lone barista preparing orders. He greeted me as soon as I walked in letting me know he'd be available right away. Easy listening music hummed in the background as I waited making the wait pleasantly. It's a bright and airy space serving various tempting pastries and coffees. I couldn't resist and opted for a blueberry scone with my cappuccino. The scone had just right crisp and moist inside. I loved it. The cappuccino was decent. If I'm in the neighborhood I would definitely stop by for some treats. read more

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Not a drill I just had the best iced drink of my life and I do not say that lightly. I ordered an iced banana cream chai latte with oat milk, and it was unreal. The barista blended in fresh, real bananas, and it tasted so refreshing and smooth. The space itself is super clean and lush, and the baristas were genuinely friendly and helpful. My friend grabbed a pastry and was equally impressed, said it was delicious. We loved the quirky art throughout the space. I look forward to coming back! read more

Bench - I mixed it up already, but it was a beautiful iced banana cream chai - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

I love spending time in Berkeley. There's always a new place to discover, and this trip wasn't any different. I discovered Bench almost by accident, and it turned out to be a great discovery. It's a quaint, super tiny coffee shop, that absolutely should be on your list of places to try. I stopped in fairly early in the morning, and all of their savory pastries were already gone. I don't know if they just don't carry a lot because of the small space, or if there's some mad rush at the crack dawn of the morning. I wanted to try their banana cream iced coffee, but got hung up on ordering a mocha instead. I really wish that I ordered the banana cream and absolutely will be going back to try it. Since all of the savory items were already gone, I opted for a chive and cheese scone. Seating is incredibly limited as in this is a place you go to get things to go, more so than sitting and enjoying. I absolutely would not consider this to be a work friendly place. Since the vibe was to go, I still had to hang around so to speak and wait. The coffee space is fairly quiet, with their people that are working upstairs. I don't know if it's an owner's/manager or what but they were super loud which overshadowed the quiet atmosphere of the shop. You order at the counter and then you pretty much hang out. It appears that some people knew to order ahead because they seemed to come and go fairly quickly. When my coffee was done, no one called out my name, no one said anything. I guess I was just supposed to know that it was sitting at the counter, waiting for me. They absolutely get credit for using really good coffee. This is exponentially better than my usual place. The mocha was pretty to look at, but definitely needed some added sugar. I was able to grab one of the few empty seats. Once my coffee was ready, which I'm glad I did so that way I added the sugar and my scone. As I took a bite into my scone, I realized it was the wrong scone that was given to me. This was not chive and cheddar. It was I think ham and I don't know what. Normally, I would've said something, but at this point I needed to get going, and I've already taken a bite out of the scone. It's just disappointing when you pay for one thing with the expectations of trying it, and then find out it's something completely different. There's a little to no parking outside because it's Berkeley, so keep that in mind. Price point is equivalent to if not higher than the green mermaid store, but much better! Even with the mixup, I will be back! read more

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Both hands up for this wonderful coffee place I happened to stumble upon, right outside the skirts of Downtown Berkeley. They're located right on the intersection of MLK and University, right behind the Indian restaurant. This coffee place is honestly a little bit small, so please proceed with caution at all costs. But it really makes you feel cozy at home. They do have upstairs seating, but rather really limited. It will be full at times, and at times, not at all. It depends on the time that you go. They have a wide assortment of sweet and savory pastries available as well. I got their ham & cheese scone, as well as their speciality drink, their banana cream iced coffee. I love how balanced their iced coffee is with the banana cream, which surprisingly, is made with ACTUAL banana puree made from actual bananas. The barista who made my drink was very nice and very chill, and served it rather quick. That's what's up! If you're looking for a locally-owned coffee shop right here in Berkeley, look no further than Bench Coffee! Trust me, it will be a trip worth it :) read more

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In between errands, I stopped by Bench to try a latte and baked goodie. In this early afternoon, the place wasn't crowded. And has the feel of an art deco loft. After reviewing a range of options, I decided upon a Golden Latte and chocolate chip cookie. Each was @$5 with tax, decently sized and absolutely yum. The latte tasted like a perfect blend of espresso, steamed oat milk, and turmeric. Major kudos to the barista. I've found most not to be blended well at all nearby. The chocolate chip cookie had just the right amount of sweetness. All in all, this place is a great weekend stop! read more

Bench - Counter - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I was intrigued by the banana cream iced coffee. It certainly seems like this is the summer for ganan coffee drinks. They use fresh bananas in the cream and you can definitely taste the difference (compared to creams that use banana flavoring). I think the cream flavor is really good and the coffee blends well with it. I took off 1 star because there is a bit of a sour undertone, which I'm not sure if from syrup or from the coffee itself. Service was very quick! There seems to be two stories with a spiral staircase to the upstairs. Some chairs and benches to study or read on on the first floor. Didn't check out 2nd floor. read more

Bench - Banana cream iced coffee - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

Bench is a hole in the wall cafe that serves fantastic coffee. Many bay area coffee spots have fallen a bit flat, but Bench stands out. The manager (I think?) is a cool French guy and a pleasure to chat with. The owners are lovely, too, and so is their photography! The shop is cozy and cute with lovely decor. All this being said, I'd like to highlight one thing in particular. There is a barista named Lauraline at the shop. In my opinion, she singlehandedly elevates the bay area coffee experience. Pulling an espresso shot is never the same every time, but Lauraline makes a consistently delicious extract. Even when she's gone off script and pulled a decaf shot for me, it was DELICIOUS. I credit Lauraline for reigniting my love of coffee and causing me to come back and spend extra time+$$ on Bench. She is a gem. What a talent. Try Bench next time you're in Berkeley and looking for a good cup of coffee. read more

Cardamom latte w oat milk... homemade syrup... offers vanilla/lavender/cardamom syrup & oat/almond/coconut as alternative milks. Super friendly server. Super cute place. Very fast and delicious! read more

Bench - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

I was early for a meeting so I popped in to grab a coffee while I waited. From the moment I entered one of the coworkers was eyeballing me. I chose to ignore it and proceeded to order the banana crème iced coffee and a pastry. The other barista was pleasant enough, but the initial one never even made contact with me. I'm not expecting a full-on conversation, but a simple "hello" would go a long way. They placed my pastry on a little wooden board and proceeded to make my drink, so I figured they'd bring it out to me when it was ready. I chose to grab a seat while I waited. They then called my order so I went to grab it and sat back down. I immediately noticed every other person there was getting table service. The baristas would bring out the drinks and pastries on the same wooden boards, even to the people that were upstairs. Coincidentally, I was the only male and person of color in there. It really left a bad taste in my mouth and soured my whole experience. Drink and pastry was great, but I would not recommend going here just based off their customer service. With all the coffee shops in the area, you'd think they'd make an effort to make people feel welcome. I'd suggest taking your business elsewhere. read more

Had such a good experience at Bench! It is such a quaint shop with relaxing vibes to match its lovey menu. I got the date latte, and it was so tasty! The flavor was a nice balance of sweetness and nuttiness that made every sip taste so so good. Would for sure come back here. read more

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I came here on a weekday around lunchtime to grab some pastries. The selection was very limited and pretty basic. I got a carrot cake muffin which was surprisingly moist and really good. I also picked up a chocolate chip cookie which was OK. The cashier told me that they opened a new bakery in southwest Berkeley and they have a wider selection. read more

Lovely Dog friendly cafe and the best coffee and nice home made pastry. Sweet owner sun is creating the atmosphere for community. read more

Bench - Dog friendly cafe and a homemade pastry and the best coffee. - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Me and all of my coworkers' go-to spot for amazing coffee and solid matcha! They have fun flavors if you wanna change it up, but my basic vanilla latte is always great. Their house made pastries are all super good too and serve as a the perfect treat. Staff are very friendly and accommodating and the space is very cute! Definitely recommend. read more

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Amazing coffee and house a-made pastries in this cute little shop featuring awesome art. Definitely a must stop spot for coffee lovers.

I absolutely adore Bench. The space feels effortlessly welcoming -- bright, calm, and quietly neighborhood-centered. The pastries taste genuinely handmade (not performatively artisanal), and the coffee is balanced and clean without pretension. It's the rare café where you can read, think, or talk without feeling rushed. Staff are warm but never hovering. Bench feels less like a shop and more like a small daily ritual -- the kind of place that gently improves your day. read more

Small coffee shop along MLK near trader Joe's. There is not too much seating, so don't expect to be able to sit and do work while enjoying your coffee and pastries. Service was fast and friendly. It would be nice to have some placards saying what pastries were in each display, but being told in person was fine! Got a latte and a spinach and mushroom handpie. I really enjoyed the handpie. It was filled to the brim with spinach and mushroom and had a lovely buttery crust. The latte was enjoyable, with no complaints here. Plan on coming back to try some more pastries! read more

Bench - Latte - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Since I started drinking coffee more regularly in recent times, I'm always spending the little money I have on coffee. LOL. I've lived in Berkeley for around 10 years so I got used to going to Peets. The Shattuck location closed unfortunately after COVID. Where should I start? Haha...Bench Cafe opened shortly after Gold Leaf closed. I hadn't been a regular customer at Gold Leaf, but I've recently discovered the awesomeness of Bench. The cafe is small, and upstairs for lounge and downstairs for business. The staff changes frequently but the people who have consistently been employed are friendly and very skilled at preparing coffee beverages. The owners often come to bench regularly and chat with the customers. There is a cool vibe and quality food. My favorite drinks are the cappuccinos, iced coffee, and house coffee. HIGH WIRE ALL THE WAY!!! Fun music and I'm sure good times ahead with Bench. BTW, Check out their signature treats: pistachio cookies, banana iced coffee, and lemon poppy seed cookies! The atmosphere is upscale and right across the street from Trader Joes. Their employees often come by to grab a drink. As well as city of Berkeley Fire Department and workers from the shops next door. A nice way to spend a little extra cash( and time) early in the morning. Bench has easily become my favorite place in downtown Berkeley to hangout during the week. Cheers! read more

Super cute and great coffee!! Don't forget to try their pastries! Their customer was awesome i don't remember their name but they were so sweet and amazing! read more

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On a lazy Thursday, I need a caffeine pick me up and bench was perfect. The barista/cashier was super friendly as I ordered a iced cortado and chocolate cookie. It is a thin cookie and after ordering I should have gone with the ham and cheese biscuit, as the cookie is crispy vs. chewy. It is still a decent cookie, but the coffee was the star. read more

The vibes in the cafe is great! Definitely go here if you like calm and relaxed environments. From the coffee to the decor, everything was great and beautiful. I tried their ivl (iced vanilla latte) and it was sooooo good. Service was amazing. read more

Bench - an ivl and banana cream latte - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

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not only is this coffee shop very cute and quaint, the customer service is excellent!! the staff are so sweet and attentive, even when answering questions about certain drinks. the only reason i don't come here often is that i live quite far away from it, but it's conveniently located next to trader joe's! i ordered the cardamom latte with almond milk today and it's nothing short of spectacular. definitely give bench a try! read more

This past Valentine's Day I bought a piece of Chocolate Raspberry Cream Cake from Bench and my partner and I loved it and couldn't stop raving about it. For her birthday this year I wanted a custom cake made for her. I asked the owner of Bench she could make the Chocolate Raspberry Cream cake for my partner's birthday. It came out beautifully. Delicate, delicious and the perfect sweetness. My partner and her family were very impressed. The cake serves 8-10 people and when I opened the box we were greeted by the soft exquisite scent of roses. It was a WOW moment for sure. read more

Bench - Chocolate Raspberry Cream Cake - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

Popped by for a matcha latte and savory scone after being in the neighborhood. Cute, light filled spot with friendly service. The scone was ham and cheese and super tasty! My latte was made perfectly. I sat and did a little work- it wasn't too busy seating wise, so I was lucky to carve out a little space for myself. I would definitely come back to this adorable little spot and hope to try more of the baked goodies next time. read more

Found a new favorite cafe in town! Lovely interior and very friendly owner and staff. I've been going almost every day for the past two weeks for their Persian Rose Tea and am just starting to try out their baked goods. Cardamom and saffron cookie goes really well with the tea! read more

Bench - Persian rose tea - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

Yummy pastries, beautiful space, and (most importantly) great music! Incredibly kind staff. Nice shop to chill at and enjoy my own company. read more

Bench - latte art inside a coffee coffee mug, framed photography in the background - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

Very yummy Macha and pastries. The environment was also very lovely inside inside. Nice and fast service with good recommendations.

I dream about their lemon poppy cookies. Soft and chewy and amazing. The crinkle chocolate are a close second. Kind people that work there and super cute inside! read more

such a cute place. The owner was so friendly and I love the Decor! The coffee was good. The sweets were fresh and so yummy. Great place for friends to meet up and have coffee and snacks! read more

Bench - Cafe Latte, Biscotti, cookies - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

I got a coffee and a strawberry meringue cookie. The coffee was decent but the cookie was outstanding. Chewy center, crispy edges, absolutely delicious. The cashier was very nice and explained how the cookie was made. Take out only but a nice, clean space. Looking forward to going back! read more

Bench - Meringue cookie with strawberry preserves - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

Super delicious homemade pastries love their blueberries scones and my favorite is their biscottis read more

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Great service and cute aesthetic. I will say their matcha is not my favorite it was a but clumpy at the bottom and not as strong but their coffee is really good. If you prefer a grassier/more umami matcha i'd skip the matcha and just get a coffee. For people just getting into matcha theirs is great, though. read more

Cute cafe/pastries shop :). Matcha latte was delicious!! I was able to taste the Matcha really well. Great quality. Many places make sugary matcha latte that you can even taste Matcha. But this was not the case at Bench! Highly recommend to people who like to taste Matcha :) read more

What a wonderful spot... this is our new favorite neighborhood spot. Drinks are great, and pastries are amazing - the owner makes them herself. If you haven't yet tried their blueberry scones, you must! Our dog loves this place just as much with the friendly atmosphere and dog treats. There is also a very cute work area upstairs if you're looking for a spot to relax and work. Highly recommend this spot. read more

Bench - How excited our dog is for his treat - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

Amazing place for studying and chilling out! They offer homemade pastries and great coffees! If you're up for a fresh place with the best attitude to the customers then this is a must to visit! read more

I love this place since their pastries are always fresh. The owner claims they are homemade and I believe her because of the their phenomenal taste! Beside the great coffee and delicacies there are some avant-garde pictures on the wall which are eye catching and give you a bit of art gallery vibe. read more

Love this place! Beautiful coffee, atmosphere and food. The owner is gracious and lovely. Original art on the walls, and nice soundtrack. Let's support these local cafes that make our town so special! Homemade red lentil soup on the menu today. read more

Love the cute atmosphere, little Persian cookies and the lovely owner. The tea and coffee were both amazing. Also loved the puzzle I will be going back. read more

I stopped by today around 1pm. I ordered the Kookoo (Persian spinach frittata) with a cherry syrup drink. The Kookoo was homemade from scratch. What a delicious lunch I had! Excellent food, drink, service and ambiance! I recommend Bench highly! read more

Visited the cafe yesterday for all the goodies the have. TBH I'm not a coffee person but boy, have you seen the variety of teas they offer?! I also tried the dark hot chocolate and it was absolutely fantastic. The cookies and scones are super fresh and baked daily, my husband and I each had one. And the place is super cozy, lots of natural light and cute decorations. Almost every piece of art work you see there is made by the owner and her family and I think that makes the cafe even more authentic. I know the owner for a long time, she actually baked and decorated my wedding cake in May 2022(see pictures, we had 5 different cakes and our guests could not stop raving about the cake!). Give this place a try, you'll become a regular! read more

Bench - Dark hot chocolate - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

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