I like this place a lot. The drinks, the wraps, the desserts. It's a really good place to go for a non-study study session with friends, but the problem is that it's always packed. Always. I have rarely been able to get a seat inside, or even one outside sometimes. But if you can find a place, hunker down and stake your claim. The walls by the register have art about and inspired by the Berkeley Free Speech Movement, and it's nice to read little tidbits of speeches and pictures of significant moments from Berkeley's history. All around, a great place to soak up Berkeley culture. read more

It's just convenient caus it's in the center of campus and easy to go in and grab food, but: a) it's expensive b) there are usually long lines at food-eating times c) there will never be seats because all the studious berkeley students hog them to study Food is okay. read more

As of now, my favorite coffee place in Berkeley! A pretty high compliment when you consider the competition of places like Philz and Peet's. I usually only order their coffee (soy latte = amazing), but I've had their food a couple times and it's equally delish. Also, its location on campus is perfect because it's in the middle of everything: near my classes, right next to the library, near food. My only complaint is that it gets ridiculously crowded at times. If you want to study here (it's a really nice place to study, if you don't mind louder places), you'll probably need to head outside because the tables on the inside are normally full. Also, barely any outlets. Tip #1: Kind of unrelated, but it's extremely difficult to sneak coffee/food into the library. It needs to be completely hidden. Just a warning, because they've definitely made me chug a full cup of coffee before letting me through... Overall: YUMMY COFFEE, close to lots of stuff, crowded but worth it. read more

Likes: soup and sandwiches, outdoor patio to study on a warm day Dislikes: always hard to find a seat during rush hours, pricey read more

This is basically my second home whenever I am on campus. I enjoy studying here since it is a cafe with people in the background talking and a nice outdoor patio to study when the weather permits (but let's just say that is quite rare...) Food: Food is decent. For the price, I'd expect something better but nonetheless it is pretty good. The chipotle quesadilla isn't too bad and the sandwiches are all pretty decent. In terms of snacks, I'd recommend the apple cloud... i could eat that every day and be satisfied. It is campus food, of course it won't be high quality or cheap. Drinks: The hot chocolate here is actually pretty good if you are into that. The white mocha also is not bad if you are looking for a sweeter alternative to coffee but a more bitter version of hot chocolate. Coffee is meh, typical 3 star cup of joe, not bad but not good, gets the job done. If you really need a kick to the face, get yourself a spider. Studying environment: My only problem with this place is that there is a lack of outlets if you can't situate yourself near the wall. Luckily, I usually walk into here and get a spot (PROTIP: i typically come WITHIN 7 MINUTES AFTER THE HOUR since people leave for class during that time) or i have friends hold a seat for me. Usually everyone and their mothers hold seats/tables for their friends so expect to see sometimes 5 tables connected together where people are just talking and be prepared to not find a table inside. There is plenty of seating outside but the outlets outside are inconveniently placed (good area for reading without your laptop). If you need a study spot that isn't completely quiet with some noise in the background, give it a shot! I'd probably recommend the patio of FSM as a great place to catch up with someone either between classes or just because. read more

If you can grab a seat, this is one of my favorite places to do work on campus. I can't attest to their other food, but the cobb salad is really delicious, as is their carrot cake, it's so moist! Only bad thing is that it's really busy and you'll often have to share a table. read more

I don't find a spot to sit here too often, especially after around 9 a.m. But for a cafe right in the middle of campus, what can I expect? The turkey avocado panini is fabulous - get it on foccacia! I crave the espresso brownie every week. More like every day. The chocolate bundt cake is also really moist and delightful. The coffee is god awful, but I'm not a coffee person, so I don't know if my opinion is particularly valid there. There aren't too many outlets, so this isn't the best place to go if your laptop takes longer to charge than it does to discharge. It's also really noisy during the day, so if you need peace and quiet to study, just walk 500 more feet to go to the VLSB library or East Asian Library or something. read more

Terrible Service. The Cashier got annoyed that I asked for the price of cookies and brownies before paying. He thought I was holding up the line, but how am I suppose to know the price if it was not label. He didn't make eye contact and was looking behind me the whole time. They get so many students to buy food from them, but their service is not worth it. Do not recommend unless you really need caffeine to stay awake at moffitt! read more

I have the Cubano sandwich pretty regularly. Pretty good and in the middle of campus. Location location location. The four stars is for that sandwich in particular. read more

I am grateful that I have FSM so close to me. The food and drinks are okay, but it is really the wifi and studious atmosphere that I come for. Whenever I need to study I am never torn about going to either a noisy caf where I can get drinks and nourishment or a quiet library where I feel too alone. Personally, I have trouble studying by myself in places that are too quiet. I need some sort of soft background noise to quiet my mind and keep me focused. FSM has the awesome mixture and caf convenience and library studiousness. My only compaint is that there are not enough outlets and indoor seating, but that usually doesn't stop me from coming. read more

The coffee is god-awful terrible, the food ok but way overpriced, and at least 50% of the time your order will get messed up. So why 3 stars? Best place to study/do work on campus that isn't the library. When it isn't super crowded. Make sure you come with your laptop at 100% battery life, because fighting for an outlet can be brutal. read more

It's in the library, and near the academic building in which I live. My hand to God sometimes I go there just because sometimes I need someone to call me "senorita" or "sweetie". Decent espresso drinks, heinously overpriced (but tasty) food. So really based on the above it's more a sad affirmation of grad student life than anything, but that's not their fault. read more

Every time you come you have a term paper or a midterm and you're desperately looking for a place to sit, no seating is to be found. You're forced to join the mass of people hovering in the corner waiting for a seat. Experiencing this one too many times forces me to bump down my review a couple notches. I absolutely love the food here, though. Skip the overrated grilled paninis and stick with the normal sandwiches. The foccacia that they use is delicious. The cobb salad, loaded with fresh greens and actual roast chicken that they shred themselves, is also one of my favorite go-tos. If only they took credit... read more

I would come here for the proactive studying ambiance, but not necessarily for the food. The sandwiches and salads here are so-so; not bad, but I've definitely had better. I tried the turkey panini sandwich which was toasty and had turkey, avocado, pesto, and tomatoes. For $6.25 I expected larger portions and a better side salad, but it was still good. NOTE: Cash or cal 1 debit card NOTE: Bus your own tables! The atmosphere of Free Speech Movement Cafe is wonderful and perfect for studying or group projects. There are several outlets and lots of indoor and outdoor tables and seating. The place is buzzing with activity and is geared towards student use as it is at a super convenient location on the UC Berkeley campus. The cafe is decorated with Civil Rights Movement wall images, and there is a cool little energy bar at the center of the cafe to show the kilowatt usage in the cafe. TV at the back plays news updates. Cleanliness could be a little better. The staff doesn't have time to clean tables between customers, so I found some crumbs and a penny on my seat. WILL I come back: Yes, but for the environment, not for the food WHEN will I come back: When I need to meet for a group project WHAT will I do differently: go with coffee, not food read more

Overview: 3-stars for average food and average study environment Details: The premise of the cafe is awesome. LOVE that it's based on the Free Speech Movement! It's iconic and unique to Berkeley, and I feel a sense of pride whenever I have a chance to take a step back (usually when I'm waiting in line and have nothing else to do) to read the walls and think about how I'm at a historical landmark. That being said, their food is very average at about $7-9 per order. If I'm ever starving and don't have time to go home to eat, the FSM Chinese Chicken Salad is my go-to meal on campus. It was huge and very flavorful when I was a freshman four years ago, but I think it has since shriveled in size and faded in taste. (It's still the only thing I order though.) Their apple cloud pastry is very unique and a favorite among my friends. Aside from those two items, everything else is average to decent. Tips/Notes: - Don't come here if you need a quiet study environment. - Don't sit outside at night because there's not much light for reading. - Whether you will find an indoor seat is completely based on luck (although your luck probably increases at 10 minutes before the hour because people leave for class). - Expect to wait 10-15 minutes if you come after the hour between 11am-3pm because the line usually gets pretty long. read more

I really like their cobb salad and their white chocolate mochas (though the mocha could be a little less sweet...)! This is my go-to place if I'm on campus and want to buy food. There's great outdoor and indoor seating and lots of students like to study here. I personally don't study here because it's a little on the loud side and the outlets aren't really conveniently placed, but luckily it's right next to moffit/main stacks! read more

First, the docked star is just for FSM's consistent lack of seating. Otherwise, I come here almost every day on my lunch break while working at Moffitt. The people who work here are great, it's actually really impressive how quickly and easily they get orders out. Even on the busiest days, I've never waited more than 5 minutes for a freshly-made sandwich (so don't let the afternoon, out-the-door lines scare you!) You have to buy somewhat smartly here, as it's easy to spend over $10 for a meal (and I do so more often than I should). Their house coffee and their tea are cheap options, and they have wraps, pasta salads, occasionally onigiri, and other cold-case items that don't cost as much as the sandwiches and paninis. Like I said, my only gripe with this place is its inability to accommodate ridiculous amounts of students. Napolitano and the regents just approved a tuition hike and they can't afford two more ikea tables inside? Embarrassing. read more

Just get the white mocha and expresso brownie. It'll actually make readings more enjoyable. Hands down the best white mocha I've had. Bring cash. read more

Go to place for a quick coffee or bite, especially if you are studying in Moffit or Stacks.

I used to go to the FSM quite a bit as a student because the atmosphere is unbelievably serene by Berkeley standards. And wouldn't you know it, I got a job downtown Berkeley. So, I'm back! I typically just get a bowl of soup, which is a bout 4 bucks. They have two different soups ever day. You never know kind of soup it is going to be, but you can always guarantee it'll be very good. Besides the soup, their antipasto salad is a favorite of mine. read more

I thought the coffee here would be more expensive since it's on-campus, but a small latte (16 oz, which is at least a medium at other places) is under $4. I had mine with soy milk and it was great. The manager here said business has been up and down over the past year, so come out and support them! read more

Okay, so this place is amazing when it comes to final, midterms, or taking a break from the library. I really like the paninis cause they always taste good. But the vinaigrette dressing can be a bit acidic at times but it's still good nevertheless. Their black bottom muffin, biscotti, and espresso brownie bar are my stable. The only reason why I took away 1 star is because the Italian soda is not that great and it's always crowded with a bijillion people during normal school year. read more

The food at FSM is absolutely delicious. I've tried just about all their vegetarian options, all of which were reasonably priced and delicious. Their veggie sandwich with the pickled onions is to die for and was a weekly treat for me in between my two toughest/longest classes. It made my 10 hour class day manageable and almost...dare I say it....worth it? -1 star for the seating. Finding seating inside is nearly impossible, but if you can deal with the sun/wind/rain/heck, all the natural elements outside then there's usually room. It's more likely that the weather elements will disappear before they make any huge changes to this building, but it wouldn't be so terrible for them to convert some of the outdoor space into more indoor seating. They say they only take cash---under $10. It's a well kept secret but you can use a credit card if you buy a gift card or if your order is over $10! Organic & tasty food, reasonable prices, great location, quick service...I'm a fan! read more

Somehow this has become my de-facto "need-caffeine-five-minutes-before-class-starts" place. Probably because of its convenient location (quick walk down the hill from South Hall). The fact that it's run by the same folks who open Strada probably helps a lot, too. Yes, there is going to be a long line, especially if you are gunning for a drink right before all the morning classes start, but I've found that in-between sections, like for me would be b/t 10:30-11am, the line is much shorter and it's less chaotic inside the cafe. I always get a white mocha to-go, and one day I'm going to actually sit down and eat a pastry as well (because dayum, they look good). read more

I love everything about this part of Cal's campus. There is a great view of the clock tower, there is a pleasant amount of tree coverage (for those warmer days), and the concept behind this cafe in particular is so cool. It's perched right on the side of the library, and actually lives up to its name and has murals of historic free speech movements put up on the walls, and has the tables set up to talk to one another, rather than having a bunch of TVs posted to the ceiling, playing some sports game... Intellect and caffeine being celebrated in one place--its as close to heaven as I've ever found on a college campus... read more

It's an ok place on campus for sandwiches, salads, soups, and drinks. It's on the pricey end for what you get- I pay around $12 for a pretty small turkey panini and orange juice which does feel like a stretch. Also, their service is pretty rushed and kind of messy during rush hours- during lunch rush, orders seem pretty haphazardly thrown together. However, it is one of the more decent spots to get food on campus. read more

Avoid this place. The customer service is horrible. The Spanish short cashier with tattoos is just scarily rude. They are insulting and there is no mean of civilization in their behavior toward customers. Their menu has no variety, and food is crappy and not fresh at all. They overcharge you too for bad quality food and small portions. Also sometimes they just refuse to give you your food or drink so be aware of the waiting, if it's too long be prepared for a fight with employees as you need to prove that you have actually paid for their Sh't and not trying to steal. read more

I'm a big fan of freedom of speech and I think the coffee was really good. Apparently, the ameriboys.eu spent a good 20 mins here in early May - incredible! read more

Free Speech Movement Cafe - The temperature was really good. EU'nt believe it! - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

I'm absolutely in love with FSM! It's a great spot to study on campus, and it's fun to see what the soup of the day is. I'm never disappointed by the service, as the employees are helpful and also very apologetic when they have a long line of orders. Try the tuna melt- you won't regret it! read more

The food here is actually pretty good. Here are the things I like -cake-like cookies -Mediterranean Salad -Coffee, Chocolate & Almond Croissant -Tuna salad wasn't bad, needs more of the tuna salad -Soup. Soup is the best thing here or anywhere. They give you bread. And I love to soak it in the soup and just eat it. It nearly killed me when I saw my clam chowder had actual pieces of clam in it. The bad -No credit or debit card. That is just extremely primitive and annoying. -This cashier on the weekend never smiles. She said hi to one of the people in line in the worst way possible. Monotonic yet somehow very aggressive. This takes two stars away. Its just very unpleasant! I just want to leave tip for the other cashiers out of spite for her. a faint smile at least? -Caesar salad. Just don't. read more

The people working here are friendly, the coffee is okay, the pastries are adequate, but the food they prepare in the kitchen is a problem. About a year ago, they shifted gears on the kind of food they offer, limiting themselves to organic, locally grown, seasonal produce and meat. That's fine and all, but it pretty much jacked up their prices on everything by about a buck. The seasonal availability thing has wreaked havoc with their menu. It is, right now, a lot smaller than it used to be, plus about four things listed have "not available" signs posted on them. If that wasn't bad enough, the menu items are more cause for reflection that enjoyment or satisfaction. If I want art, I'll go to a museum. Between the price and the lack of choice, I'd say use this place to get coffee when you have to, and pastries in a pinch, but skip the food. read more

Free Speech is not generally a good place to get laptop work done because the ratio of indoor tables to Berkeley students is ridiculously small and the sun is too bright outdoors. Also, you need to be able to get on the Berkeley network to use wireless, I think, so if you aren't a university affiliate it's no good. The food and coffee are both reasonably good and reasonably priced, although I have learned two important facts about the prepackaged sandwiches that are ubiquitous on Berkeley campus: 1) Roasted vegetables = zucchini 2) Yellow tofu != eggs One day over the summer (fewer students!), I did manage to get a table inside. I guarded it with my life for hours and hours until I was so hungry and so cold and so ... um ... needing-to-use-the-restroom? ... that I finally had to vacate. I pulled out my cell phone to check the time, used the facilities, hurried down to BART, tried to find my cell phone, and discovered that it wasn't in the usual spot in my bag. I suddenly had that terrible sinking feeling you can only have when you realize something that is basically an extension of your brain, like your computer or cell phone or hippocampus, has been lost or destroyed forever. I had left my cell phone in the bathroom. My brain: YOU HAVE TO GET IT BACK Me (to brain): It's probably gone. My brain: WHY WOULD ANYONE TAKE A CELL PHONE THEY ALL HAVE CELL PHONES ALREADY Me (to brain): Hmm. My brain: WE HAVE TO AT LEAST TRY Me (to brain): So we'll go back, and look in the bathroom, but it probably won't be there, so then what? My brain: MAYBE SOMEONE TURNED IT IN Me (to brain): And then we're going to go up to the guy at the cafe and be like Hi uh okay so I'm retarded and left my phone in the bathroom don't ask questions but did anyone like uh find it? My brain: EXACTLY Me (to brain): What if he thinks I was using the vibrate function of my phone for unspeakable purposes? My brain: EW NO ONE DOES THAT EW Me (to brain): Okay well what if he thinks I was calling someone in the bathroom, that is also weird. My brain: IT DOESNT MATTER WHAT HE THINKS IF IT GETS THE PHONE BACK MUST GET PHONE AT ALL COSTS EVEN DEATH SHUT UP AND GO NOW As it turned out, though, all the worrying about how awkward it would be to try to explain that I had left a phone in a bathroom was for naught because it was still on top of the toilet paper dispenser. Thus, at least one of two things is true: 1) Berkeley students are not thieves or 2) Things left in bathrooms are too potentially gross to steal. I haven't tried this experiment somewhere other than Berkeley to see which is the case, but maybe someday. read more

WHITE HOT CHOCOLATE. That is all. (Quick tip: add honey, cinnamon, and some cocoa powder -- near the lids -- to create a cheap + warm horchata.) read more

When I want to protest something on sproul on a cold day I hit the fsm for a hot cup of soup first. Inspirational pictures of Mario, good cheap soups, and a supply of potential sign holders. Just another way uc berkeley helps me stick it to the man. read more

FSM Cafe brings back somewhat traumatic memories. I discovered this cafe after graduating from law chool, and while studying for the CA bar exam. To get away from all the freaks at the law school, I'd go study at the undergrad library. For lunch, I'd go to FSM Cafe. I would meet my lil' bro there, who was two years out of Cal and studying for his 1st year Medical Boards. We'd meet for lunch and eat our food silently. FSM Cafe's food is nothing to speak of. Bland sandwiches, salads, and other desserts made by some vendor and sold to you by college students. But I think the decor/theme is pretty neat. Cool posters on the wall depicting the women's rights movement, civil rights movement, and the free speech movement, etc. Anyway, back to the traumatic. We'd eat our food, outside, on these hard ass cement seats, quietly. I contemplated how it would feel to fail the bar exam. The bro contemplated how how it would feel to fail the medical boards. We both passed. But it felt miserable that summer of '03. Fast forward 4 years later...the H and I returned to FSM when we took a walk through campus one night, and it sure was hoppin'. We came right around finals and the students were typing away on their laptops, freakin' out about this or that. All I could think was, "Wow, I sure am glad I'm done with all of that!" Anyway, if you want to be at the center of student central, FSM is it. It's not quiet enough to actually do hard core studying, but it's a nice place to take a break and observe a bunch of people try to study. read more

This is a pretty nice place to study if you manage to snag a seat. I'm not a fan of studying in Mainstacks because it's too quiet and makes me sleepy. The smell of coffee and the faint sound of people chattering in the background is the perfect environment for me. In terms of their food, it's a bit pricey but if you think of it as you're also paying for a nice study spot then it doesn't seem so bad. Brownies are good, hot chocolate is good (could be sweeter). It really depends on whether or not you arrive at the right time. Early mornings and late afternoons FSM is usually pretty empty but if your goal is to grab a snack in between classes you'll be sorely disappointed when you see the long line. read more

Free Speech Movement Cafe - Hot chocolate :) - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

They changed their menu!!! They no longer have their Asian Chicken Salad that was very decent. They've substituted it with an unhealthy carbo-loaded and VERY small noodle "salad" with little salad in it!!! So disappointed! read more

Whatever you do, stay away from the BLTA. After paying $6 I was expecting a glorious sandwich filled with crispy bacon, fresh produce, and toasted bread. I got none of this. I did get a lot of mustard and mayonnaise, some discolored tomatoes, and the same thin, cheap bacon they put on bacon western cheeseburgers at Carl's Jr. read more

One of the most popular coffee, eating, studying, and hangout spots on campus; I can never find sitting area here, especially during lunch/early afternoon peak hours. The coffee here is definitely mediocre; you need to make sure you get what you ordered. Mix-ups happen easily when they flush out drinks every 30 seconds! Some of the pastries are good, such as the chocolate croissant, but it's definitely a little pricey at $2.00+. In terms of food, the quality of the salads has declined over the years. Definitely don't get it to-go: it comes in a tiny plastic box that looks grossly prepackaged. The line is always long but moves very quickly, but as some have mentioned, it is pretty sad and pathetic how robot-like the cashiers are. However, they are very, very efficient. And finally, yes, cash only! read more

Ya know the drill. All about the location. Only complaint is that their definition of "large" changes each time I come. I always pay $3.50 for a cappuccino but the size I receive is never the same... read more