I'm on my way walking along Lakeshore Ave, headed to the Top Dog further down Lakeshore , walking with my "OG" Oakland guide. He sees this Cafe Lakeview and recalls the "old days" like 60 years ago this building here was called the Rockway Store. It was a small neighborhood grocery store that he used to go into, taking the hidden pathway behind the store up to the next street behind what is now Cafe Lakeview. There's a house hidden way back up in there, I can sort of see it. It was kids having an adventure romp through peoples back yards! Those were the days. Now, Cafe Lakeview is maybe the third or more business here since the Rockway Store. I wonder if anyone else remembers that from the 1960's? Cafe Lakeview is a little cafe serving lunch that looks good, but we're headed to the soon to be closed Top Dog location. read more

Cafe Lakeview - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Came to a Wellness Social Event on the rooftop. Food was catered by someone in the event . The food was good the drinks were good the vibe was right! There was a masseuse dancing games and good fun! read more

See all

Showed up to this place hungry, had this place on my eyes since I've been to the church two doors down from here. Service was friendly, wonderful staff. I had the Ethiopian breakfast it was great! Place is a bit empty, I guess this place is underrated. I definitely recommend it! It read more

Cafe Lakeview - Ethiopian BreakfastEthiopia - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Lady seems like the main proprietor, the two times I've been here, with a little help. She can seem stern and standoffish, but is very kind when she has the time to talk. Simple food done well. Ethiopian breakfast is solid, with lightly seasoned potatoes, fried egg, and couscous cooked with bell peppers and onions. Breakfast sandwich - while no frills with turkey sausage, egg, and cheese - hits the spot! Americano is strong with some nuttiness and not much acidity, just the way I like it. read more

Cafe Lakeview - Ethiopian breakfast (no meat) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

DO NOT eat here! We waited 40 minutes and still we didn't get our food. Asked for our money back, we we got, and left. The place is depressing. Tables were left dirty. Never again! read more

The Husband and I have been to this spot many times prior, and it's high time that I give this restaurant a proper review. My usual order is the Ethiopian Breakfast because it's my absolutely favorite. It consists of a trio of home potatoes, couscous, and scrambled eggs. The home potatoes are very well-seasoned, the couscous (seasoned with Ethiopian spices, I believe) have pieces of bell peppers in various colors and red onions embedded in them, and the scrambled eggs are perfection in that the eggs are not dried out but instead still contain the moisture/glossiness that one prefers in scrambled eggs. This dish is consistent in its perfection and wonderful taste/umami-ness, hence my never varying from it whenever I come here. I usually pair this dish with Cafe Lakeview's latte. The latte is subtle and understated, with none of the acidity that is unfortunately associated with it from other cafes. The Husband usually orders his Grilled Chicken Sandwich (with Sourdough bread) - says that it's a very well-made and tasty sandwich. The Ethiopian music that emanates from the speakers in this restaurant is the perfect touch to the dining experience. I feel myself bobbing along or my feet tapping along with this addition to the total experience. Many thanks to the sweet and wonderful lady who runs this restaurant!! read more

Small place with small staff. Breakfast burrito was great. I am ordering two more today. The lady working there made sure to tell me what was in the burrito to be sure that I would like it before she let me order it. I used to only order sandwiches, but now it is burrito time. Give it a try. read more

The food took so long and lost one person's order in our group. Coffee was kinda bad too.

When I entered the café this morning, the staff member spoke to me rudely and told me to leave without even greeting me. I walked in politely and said hello, but she gave me a cold, angry look and said the café would be closing she had to go somewhere and come back! Meanwhile, there was a group of people already sitting inside who were not asked to leave. I felt singled out and very uncomfortable with how the situation was handled‍ read more

Such a local gem of a cafe. We usually come through for their house special smoothie which is spot on each time. There is a kind lady that usually runs the place who always remembers us and our order. This place has a great local spot feel and is always a pleasant part of our day. read more

Cafe Lakeview - House special smoothie (added spinach) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Had the French toast combo, prolly the best French toast I've had, sausage and eggs were perfect too Tried to come in the last 2 days but they've been closed hope they open back up soon I'll be in there everyday. read more

Cafe Lakeview - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Stopped by for a quick bite on a Sunday afternoon. Ordered the Ethiopian breakfast and breakfast sandwich. Both were ok, came out quickly, got the job done. Service was friendly and quick. Lots of tables and space and nice place to chill/read/get some work done. Music was nice and relaxing. Would come here again to try their coffee. read more

Cafe Lakeview - Ethiopian breakfast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Not a good experience, unfortunately. I stopped by with a friend and our babies to use the restroom. It's understood that a purchase is often necessary or expected, which we had no problem with, but we were immediately brushed off and told that the restroom was for customers only. My friend stated to the woman at the register that we didn't mind purchasing something we just wanted to know if the restroom was available for use. I proceeded to examine the menu and asked the woman at the register about a particular smoothie. She replied with "that's not for you." Confused I asked her what she meant. She explained what ingredients were in the drink, which included peanut butter and oats, I believe. Still confused, as I was unsure what part of this particular smoothie "wasn't for me," I ignored her comment and against my better judgement and solely for the sake of using the restroom, ordered a mango smoothie. Turned off by her lack of customer service and unprovoked rudeness, myself, my friend and our babies proceeded to leave the establishment without the ordered smoothie. I only purchased the smoothie to show we were good for it and to use the restroom. Don't intend on returning here. read more

I had a bagel and my dad had a veggie omelette. The bagel was just egg and cheese, but it really hit the spot. The egg was the perfect texture. The veggie omelette was made really well, they don't skimp on anything. I had a café latte as well, it was exactly what I wanted, nothing indulgent just good hot coffee. I'm told the coconut soda is not bad either. This isn't a quick spot, but the food is worth the wait (about 10-15 mins depending on your order). If you're seated the food is brought to your table. My family asked a lot of questions, but the cook/waitress handled it nicely. read more

Cafe Lakeview - Egg and Cheese Bagel. Veggie Omelette. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Tasteless coffee. Warm Italian soda. Super overpriced. Place itself is small and pretty empty.

A good neighborhood spot for Breakfast or lunch. Many vegetarian and vegan options. Also a good selection of coffees and teas. Nice people, and good prices, as well as a lake view make this a great spot, especially if you live in the Grand-Lake area. read more

I came here to order a burger and some coffee and asked if I could use the restroom. The man I spoke to immediately lied and said the bathroom is out of order. From the cafe you can see there are bathroom doors that are available and have no issues. I wasn't planning on supporting their business if they were discriminating against customers. I would like the owner and her attendants to know that not providing a bathroom for paying customers at a cafe is illegal. I walked out when I noticed the bathroom was working but a friend of mine decided to use the bathroom regardless. The owner took a key from the back and opened the door while she was using the bathroom and yelled at her. She called her names and said that customers can't use the bathroom because she has to pay the water and toilet paper bills. This is pretty standard for all restaurants and cafes. It's insane to lie and tell customers your bathroom is broken because you don't want to pay for toilet paper. Please don't support this cafe until they change their practice. Using a toilet is a right, it's not up for debate. read more

I absolutely adore this place and the food the Ethiopian nice lady cooks. You can hang out in here for work or meet with friends, the ambient is always very welcoming. Another plus is that it's across the street from Lake Merritt. Great coffee and amazing sandwiches- please try the chicken pesto sandwich. It will probably be the best chicken pesto sandwich you've ever had. read more

I just had the most horrible experience at this local cafe. I popped in to quickly use the lavatory, and the woman that owns the place started me down and said the restroom is broken. I responded to her that I believed that to be a false since so had just used the restroom and knew that it was functional. She then said so what, no you cannot use it. I asked her again if I could please use her lavatory. She said you need to buy something to which I agreed and asked if I purchase something may I please use your restroom to which she said no. I told her I would purchase anything if she please allowed me to utilize the lavatory. Again she said no. No this is truly a horrible experience, but I remember that the last time I' visited this cafe when I was 6/7 months pregnant with my son she also refused to allow me to use the lavatory back then. So proceed with caution because their restrooms are off limits. By the way all of the customers that were present were shocked that she was being so rude and refused to allow me to utilize the lavatory. read more

Potatoes are perfect. Ketchup is untouched. The lady is so nice. Couscous is perfect. Eggs are bomb.com. Skip that hipster shit across the street and eat here like we did- you won't be disappointed read more

Cafe Lakeview - Ethiopian Breakfast with turkey (left) French toast (right) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

I love this place! I come to this spot every time I come to walk the lake. Their chai is so good (iced or hot) and I'm all about supporting locally owned businesses. I'd say if you're coming to lake Merritt to walk around or enjoy the view, stop here for a chai, smoothie or small bite to eat! read more

Just a nice, low key place. I come here for egg bagel and green tea. Cool Ethiopian music and option for Ethiopian breakfast Will have to try that next time. Will come back for sure. read more

Delicious breakfast burritos and coffee yum!!! Sweet kind service. Highly recommend and perfect to take to the lake for a beautiful view! read more

Cafe Lakeview - Burrito by the lake! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Incredible breakfast burrito 11/10, I'll be thinking about it for a while. It had a well-spiced Ethiopian sauce/stew along with the usual fillings and let me tell you I savored it. The latte was also good and the roast was a little different than usual! Otherwise it's pretty low-key/few frills. read more

If you're in a rush, this cafe isn't for you. This is the kind of cafe that feels like you're entering as a guest into someone's home. There's usually just one person who is taking your order, making your drink, and cooking your meal. Be patient, kind, respectful; Be a good guest. read more

I came in about 2 mins ago. I waited at the counter for 10 mins while she cooked in the back. I waited patiently and she came out of the kitchen and said I cannot serve you because my food will burn. WORST SERVICE EVER I will never support this establishment! read more

My BF has been wanting to try this place as it is just down hill, for me it was a letdown. It seems more of a pick and go place (even though there is wifi and tables to work), as the food is average to me. I did see smoothies which I think is what people usually get but we opted for more hearty breakfast. I ordered the breakfast sandwich and he went with the scramble. Both dishes were under seasoned and I could have made it better at home. The breakfast sandwich seemed to be on Colombo rolls bread, WAY TOO MUCH BREAD, eggs had no seasoning (if it was fresh eggs) and the bacon was most likely microwaved. The scramble, to me seems put together without much though, due to the tomatoes, spinach, and onions being raw....Also,with how small the "kitchen" they had, it does not seem to me that breakfast is their main attraction. View is nice, but I can do without.... read more

I go here every now and then to be productive. It's not a fancy nor trendy spot; its quite a simple place conveniently located across from the lake with some parking in front and several a couple of blocks down by the lake. PROS: - Free Wi-Fi - Sells both savory and sweet foods - Sells coffee and tea - Decent amount of tables and chairs - A couple of outdoor seating - Free Parking (street) CONS: - Some tables are wobbly, but can be fixed with paper towels! Here are some things I"ve ordered while here: TEA Cup - $2.50 Teapot - $3.75 I suppose its better to get the teapot, even though its tiny, but you get refiills on the hot water. They seem to have a decent selection of teas. TIRAMISU - $3.25 Although they didn't make it themselves, this tiramisu was quite good. It's not too sweet, and I love how moist it is! Yum! This place is my go-to place if I need to go be productive outside of my home. It's conveniently close to home and has all the necessities for me. Cafe Lakeview is quite new and I hope they do well and will stick around for long :) read more

Cafe Lakeview - Tiramisu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Great Chicken Salad! (Wish that I took a picture of it. There is a picture posted of the chicken salad and it looks just like it) Great service as well. I worked a job close by and came in for some lunch and asked what they were serving, they told be sandwiches. I said that I couldn't eat bread (keto) and she said (in a funny response) "than what do you eat.". Lol. She than recommended the salads. Will return! *****!!!! read more

Just walking by and decided to grad a bite.... One word DELICIOUS. Simple and to the point soup was amazing. .. . And the drinks are artistic and full of character. Server was pleasant and polite. read more

Great spot for breakfast. One of my favorite spots for smooth black coffee. Food, service, and ambiance are great without being too expensive. read more

I would like to begin by saying that I am an avid learner and am always studying. I am a loyal customer to the establishments that I choose and ALWAYS make purchases each time. With this, I enjoy giving business to cafes while I work and I especially like to support small/local/minority owned businesses as I do so. I live by Lake Merritt and was having a day of studying. I bought a plate of fruit with me on my journey and as I was on my way back home, I realized this cafe was still open for about an hour so I was going to purchase food and drinks from this place, sit down, and complete a project. Parking is not the best in this area so I found a spot at a pretty hefty distance. As I entered the establishment, I sat my belongings at table and I instantly turned towards the counter where I was planning to go make my purchase. The woman behind the counter was already staring me down before I started walking. I got to the counter and she immediately says, "you can't bring food in here" to which I replied, "I'm sorry. It's my first time here and I didn't know. I wanted to make a purchase and I won't eat the fruit, but my parking space is really far and I also have quite a bit to carry". Her response was that I need to understand that I am teaching other people that they can bring food in the place with an attitude. I was immediately turned off from the place and will not be planning to spend money here. The issue is not in the fact that I could nit bring food, but more so about the treatment given to a new and interested customer that genuinely wanted to support a local business. read more

I am very puzzled by this place and cannot recommend anyone try going there. I saw it on Yelp, and as it is close to my volunteer job, I walked over to give it a try. Seemed nice and airy, nice African music playing, not crowded, and started to think this could be my new lunch spot. After I waited a minute or two to see if someone would come take my order, a woman in the kitchen area preparing something turned around and saw me, and said she was busy working. I waited a moment, trying to understand what she meant--busy but going to help me in a moment?--and then she looks at me in an irritated way and said she is working. Basically, the message was "why are you bothering me, go away." I said "so you aren't going to take my order?" and then walked out. They could have had a regular customer, but now I will never come back here. My suggestion for this place is to close and lock the doors if you do not want customers. read more

Wait, what? Legit sandwich for $4.95? Sign me up! Ordered a BLT on sourdough and thought it was a little heavy on the mayo, but otherwise perfection. I'd definitely come back to try their other sandwiches which are also EXTREMELY reasonably priced. I think they're an Ethiopian shop and have a few specials. Wonder if they serve coffee Ethiopian style as well. Would love to try both. As this cafe is located on Lakeshore, parking can be a little tricky. Think this spot is definitely worth it if you want a homey cafe with reasonably priced, delicious sandwiches. Lots of seating and free wifi. Nice view of the lake, too! read more

#12 Cafe Lakeview gets 5 stars from this Yelper! I was meeting my friend this morning to do several rounds on the stairs at the Cleveland Cascade and he interested me in a strong coffee treat close by after we finished killing ourselves on the stairs. We walked over just barely one block to the Cafe Lakeview. We were greeted in a warm and friendly manner by the service girl and offered beverages. My companion asked about the "strong coffee" he was telling me about and she assured us it was definitely enough for two. Thank G-d we trusted her because I was super wired for hours off the tiny cup of coffee I drank at the Lakeview. We also ordered baklava to accompany our coffee drink. My companion said it was off the charts and was quite happy that I was not wanting to indulge in the baklava treat. However, I did want to partake in the coffee. The coffee was served in this neat little pot, with a wooden lid. It was quite beautiful. They offer two tiny little espresso type cups alongside of the pot for your coffee enjoyment. There is also a tray replete with thick sugars and heavy cream to accompany the strong coffee. I told my friend that it reminded me of Turkish coffee one might receive in the Muslim quarter in Jerusalem. Outside of there, I have never had such strong and delicious coffee. We sat in the open space, big windows, free wifi, comfy chairs and tables. The service is top tier and the quality is epic. I cannot believe it took me this long to visit, as this location is so close to my home and so close to the stairs I visit on a dally basis. I will be a frequent guest here and bring my friends to introduce them to this little gem tucked away by Lake Merritt. Stephani Smiles for Cafe Lakeview ;) #stillwiredfromthatcoffee read more

Cafe Lakeview - baklava and beautiful coffee service - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Another cafe near my casa. I decided to check it out on an early evening Sunday to do some work. There seems to be a decent amount of space, not too loud, and a solid location at the lake. There were two ladies working and I really just wanted a nice tea and a pastry. I went with a chai spice tea and poppy seed muffin. It was a huge muffin which I'm cool with and a bag of tea. Nothing too fancy. The muffin was decent; not extra moist and not super dry. It looks as though they specialize in Ethiopian foods which is cool for those of you whom are adventurous eaters. The place is super clean and all round, not shabby. Decent spot. Just don't expect a lot of pastry option later in the day. read more

Cafe Lakeview - Muffin and tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

It's probably not fair to start a review before even having a first sip of coffee, but in this case, I just can't help myself. Here's my interaction on walking in: Me: "Hi, I'll have a 12 ounce latte." Barista: "Iced latte?" Me: "Hot is fine. Thanks." Barista: "16 ounces?" Me: "12 ounces is still good." **Another barista hops in he conversation.** Barista 2: "For here or to go?" Me: "For here" Barista 2: "We close in 30 minutes, so we are only serving 'to-go.'" Me: "Okay...I guess I'll have it to go?" Coffee is okay. There are better places around (that actually want your business). Too bad, it's a great spot on the lake and has plenty of potential. Also, where was the last coffee shop you went to that was playing rap music? Just a side note, I would never mark down for something like that. read more

Cafe Lakeview - Inside view - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

First - they did not honor their Groupon, the manager flat out rejected the deal. No worries, I wanted to try their food anyways. FYI - my rating is not based because of this... Got the Ethiopian veggie combo, the injera bread was legit, but the 3 veggie toppings were average...something about the flavor was lacking. Also tried the deviled eggs, nothing spectacular. Inside atmosphere is kind of sterile, the food & drink display cases were half empty and employees were pretty nonchalant. When I have a craving for Ethiopian again, I'll go to Ensarro which is walking distance from this place & never disappoints! read more

I been meaning to try this place because it's one of the few places close to Lake Meritt that doesn't have a line going out the door. I understand why now. Terrible food, terrible service. Eggs were served raw, Coffe was cold, and when I tried to explain it to the waitress she tried to explain to me why I was wrong. First and last time trying this place. The cashier also rinsed my water glass in the sink without washing it, and went from register to barista, to food runner without changing gloves or washing hands. read more

I'm surprised by the average rating here. I've been an occasional customer for the past couple years, everytime I walk around Lake Merritt I find grabbing a coffee and sitting outside across from the Pergola to be one of the best coffee spots on Lake Merritt. It's also family run, they serve delicious coffee, and have really good food (just be patient, they make it to order). So, I'm writing this rating not to share my favorite coffee and work spot with a view. But to let people know to support small businesses in Oakland paying a living-wage to their workers. It's expensive, so grab a coffee and sandwich next time and enjoy it by the lake. read more

See all