It brings me no pleasure to write this. I have been a very regular customer and I will drive half hour to get my coffee here. For the last few months I have continued to burn my tongue on a latte that is too hot and burnt. It compares to Starbucks now which I try to avoid at all cost. Please please fix this! read more

Fun wine bar with a great outdoor area to enjoy delicious natural wine and bites. Rhubarb pie is yummy too.

Dropped in for the first time and ordered a cold brew coffee. Very good service, very good coffee.

I love dropping by this cafe! It's quite small but I have studied there before. I would recommend this place to any coffee drinkers!

Nice little place! Staff are super friendly and it's got a cozy, take-your-time vibe. But what really got me were two things, each of which are hard to find on their own: 1) the chai doesn't come pre-mixed with milk, meaning you can get it lactose free! (And they have OAT MILK WOOHOO), and 2) they have *decaf* cold brew coffee. Yes, that's right, no need to settle for a sad iced Americano when you're already jittery but want coffee anyway. Not much indoor seating, but there's a cute little outdoor area that's perfect for people watching on a sunny day. read more

I've become beyond addicted to coming to this cafe! I love their lattes, scones and quiche. Definitely recommend coming.

I really enjoyed the outdoor seating available and the iced latte was great! The people at the counter could have been friendlier, but they were not rude by any means--just would be nice to have approachable baristas! read more

Very cool, hip little hang out. Good espresso, tea and baked goods. Nice parklet in front. read more

Hal's Office - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, California

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One of the best spots in the neighborhood, my go-to! The folks that work here are always wonderful and the espresso drinks are great (I usually get an oat cappuccino). read more

ATTN 3/2021: CURBSIDE PICKUP NOT AVAILABLE EVEN THOUGH THEIR WEBSITE SAYS OTHERWISE I chose this cafe knowing it has solid coffee and because their website indicates curbside pickup as an option during COVID. I pulled up to the cafe with 2 small children in my car and called. The man answering the phone told me in a perfunctory manner that they "don't do" curbside pickup. Ok, I am not clairvoyant. How was I supposed to know this when their website clearly states otherwise? I informed him the website states they do and I had 2 young children in my car and was parked right in front. He had nothing to say. Didn't offer to come out, didn't give me any other options. He simply repeated they don't do curbside. I had to do what I have NEVER done in my life and leave my 2 babies unattended in my vehicle and sprint to the window to pickup my order. Dear Hal's Office, please correct your website so it accurately reflects your services. It is extremely misleading and caused me grief. Also strongly consider training your staff so if there is a goof-up and the establishment is at fault, to make it up to the customer in some way. I was offered zero recompense for the trouble your error caused. I will not be returning. read more

Pretty good coffee. i got the iced coffee with almond milk and it was decent, probably a 8/10. Almond milk just wasn't amazing. my friend got the iced coffee with oat milk and rated hers 9/10. we all agreed the oat milk was best. My other friend got the iced coffee with whole milk and rated it 7/10, didn't find the coffee that great. however great service! read more

Love this place! A friend suggested we meet here for coffee and it's fantastic. Polite and friendly service. Great coffee and presentation. Warm and welcoming atmosphere. What else can I girl ask for...? Oh, I know, student discount- yup, they offered. Get over here today and get your stamp card going, you'll be back again, trust me. read more

Hal's Office - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, California

Really liked this coffee!! No real inside area to sit, but nice benches / seating outside

I came to this cafe the Sunday before finals to study and get some work done. Bad idea. Maybe my stress biased me, but I had a fairly negative experience. First off, I called them to make sure it wasn't too busy and I could get a place to sit. They said it was very slow and there would definitely be a place to sit. So I walked there with my laptop and when I got there only one seat was available at their exceptionally narrow bar counter. I was unsure what to order and asked a few questions--the cashier answered them but seemed irritated and acted like I should already know everything. I asked if the almond croissant had marzipan in it, she said yes, so I got that and a latte. The croissant did have some sort of sweet filling, but NOT marzipan and I was very disappointed. The latte was good. Then I sat down to work. This was the worst part. It was incredibly noisy and difficult to concentrate. The two girls working had very loud conversations with the customers and each other. I tried to put in headphones and listen to some music to drown them out but they also were playing 80's hits very loudly in the tiny space so it made it hard to listen to my own music. I did not get as much work done as I wanted. Overall -- good drinks, bad service, not good studying environment. read more

Hal's is such a nice spot off of Solano. It's a small joint, but definitely serves up a good cup of coffee. A tiny spot at the end of Solano towards San Pablo, it's pretty easy to access by car or foot. DRINK: A set variety of options on the wall to be expected of any solid coffee shop. SERVICE: So pleasant, especially with their outdoor seating area and the sunshine, what more could one ask for? read more

I love this cafe! The best neighborhood spot with delicious coffee and friendly service. I enjoy my cappuccino most at the community table in the back or in the beautiful parklet outside on a sunny day. Support your local businesses! read more

Obviously this place is aweful. The barista's make small talk with you & try to get to know you. The space is tasteful without being pretentious. The coffee and food selection is good, local and fresh. Who the hell wants a coffee shop like this? ;) read more

Ok coffee. Tried the oat milk latte. Cute, cozy interior. Lame hipster service. Not the neighborhood cafe I was looking for.

The best best best best best. This is why: 1. The staff are very smart, caring, hard working and most of all make me laugh! 2. I'm a coffee snob. This is real coffee. The right temp, the right foam etc... plus they have oat milk which I love now. 3. Good music. 4. Social: my friends here in the neighborhood come here 5. Outdoor parklet in the front is a great hang out - plus the wifi reaches it so I can have online meetings outside 6. The decor is spot on. Cute and hip. Plus they keep this place CLEAN which I love. 7. Hal's makes me happy. I'm here at least 4 times a week working on my laptop, taking breaks to have funny conversations, or doing handstands outside in the parklet read more

great coffee, ambiance, and customer service. the shop is small but they have plenty of outdoor seating. our favorite little spot in albany. :) read more

Hal's Office - latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, California

Decent coffee, and excellent pandemic protocol. No customers are allowed in the store in keeping with precautions one would take given an airborne pathogen. I strongly recommend, just on their good sense alone. Also, excellent cookies. read more

We were out for an afternoon stroll and stumbled into this marvelous little coffee shop and what a wonderful surprise !!!....The server was so awesome, so sweet and bubbly, which set the stage for such an enjoyable and relaxing atmosphere. Ordered a decaf cappuccino it was sooooo yummy... the best coffee I have had in a long time...we will be back again soon. If you are in the area, give this place a try, you won't regret it!!! read more

Hal's coffee shop is hands-down the best coffee around, and everyone who works there is an absolute gem. Whoever is doing their hiring deserves an award. Lovely boutique feel, with coffee to match. Don't miss this place. read more

Clearly a neighborhood anchor. Kids, dogs, painters, outdoor seating. The coffee is top notch, too.

Let me start off by saying I love Hal's office. I'm in here at least once a week and love the space and friendly staff. (I even backed their Kickstarter). I've noticed over the last few months a change over in staff. And my question is this: are they now allowing dogs inside? I'm a dog owner and I also have spent most of my career working in food. So unless it's a guide dog, animals are generally not permitted in food service spaces. So what's the deal with now allowing in dogs, letting them wander around off leash, and barking at other dogs in the area, just because you're friends with staff here. Does this mean I can start bringing in my adorable, and very large dog? read more

Handed my card over to the young barista & was about to tip with real money in a separate jar when I noticed she had tipped herself without asking. So I asked for a receipt and I wasn't incorrect. The two staff members of course deny giving their manager/owners number & the young barista claims she thought she heard me asking her to tip. (This was never in the conversation & as a worker who likes to tip, & at time's have worked two jobs to be able to pay for common things, I couldn't help but notice it seemed glaringly weird) read more

Yaaaay! My wife and I have been waiting for a serious coffee shop on Solano for years. We even considered opening our own. But, thankfully, somebody else took up the effort and delivered Albany a great urban sit down coffee shop. Now onto the review: Coffee is wonderful, they source well and I expect them to keep up with the everchanging quality of roasters. They rely on what looks to be a mostly automatic La Marozocco. At present, the machine is in tip top shape, and with it the staff make a great cappuccino. For those not interested in coffee, they make their own in house chai and have a variety of teas. But best of all is the warm and engaging staff behind the counter. They are already gaining regulars after only a few weeks. This place is great! Yay! read more

Yay! Finally a coffee shop for a coffee snob :) Gourmet Counter Culture coffee and delicious hot chocolate and Shrubs, grapefruit, ginger and sage-yummy! Artisan baked goods are from Firebrand, your sweet tooth's best friend. The vibe is chic and cozy, the perfect place to sit solo and contemplate life or meet your friend for a chatty catch-up. So excited to be a regular at this new neighborhood gem! read more

A good cozy coffee shop in the Albany area. Coffee is solid. A nice little workspace inside and outside. There's only a couple outlets.

OMG we finally have AMAZING coffee at the bottom of Solano Ave- delicious caps, mochas AND INCREDIBLE pastries!!! Beautiful inside with really fine finishings. Such a lovely space to sit in and enjoy the coffee. LOVE IT read more

Hal's Office - Mocha & lemon curd scone - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, California

Hal's Office and the shack at Flowerland tie for my current favorite hipster coffee spots on Solano Ave. Cold brew is my usual at Hal's, but they have so much more. It's cute, cozy, and has both some indoor and outdoor parklet seating. I've never been able to score a spot inside however, so I usually just get my cold brew to go. Not a spot I can reliably go to get work done since it's so popular, but from a business standpoint that is a good problem to have! read more

Hal's is the truth... Not only do they serve delicious coffee and pastries, but the staff is friendly, service is quick and the interior is beautiful. The shop also pays homage to Hal Hoffman, who was a fixture on Solano Ave for decades. I walked by this location countless times to and from middle school, Discount's Unlimited and Dave's Dougout as a child and I think that preserving this space and history is an awesome testament to the city of Albany. Also, my wife has a slight addiction to their almond milk lattes and pretzels. :) read more

A small coffee shop with beautiful light. The coffee is great, and they have good cold brew. I believe they use Heath Ceramics, which is already amazing. Not too many seats but they're not too busy so I've always found a seat. Probably not good for big groups. Only downside is no discount for bringing your own mug, otherwise I would rate a 5 star. read more

Hal's Office - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, California

I love this wonderful spot. Well situated, lovely outdoor seating, friendly and accommodating staff. And really good coffee! I prefer a medium roast coffee - Peet's always tastes too strong/burnt for me. This place has my heart! You can also buy their beans there - only two choices at a time, I believe. read more

I come here at least once a week, could not love it more. First of all, the manager is a total bad ass and sweet as can be. The rest of the crew is incredibly hospitable and they all pull great shots. Great location, great story, great coffee, great company, and great pastries. An easy 5 stars read more

They did a great job on my espresso. It's a wonderful little cafe right by the G transbay bus line. You can stop by while you wait for the bus! read more

Hal's Office - Outdoor seating! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, California

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What an amazingly welcome and much-needed addition to the hood! It's a great sunlit space, and they serve well-made Counter Culture coffee drinks plus superb pastries. read more

Hal's Office - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Albany, California

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I'm a fan of their dripped coffee and pastries. The shop really is cozy, with their friendly baristas, fast WiFi, and coffee art that makes you think. Easy non-metered street parking nearby is a major plus too. The music is a tad loud for my liking so it's not too conducive of prolonged work, but you very well will be less bothered. Worth a stop whenever I'm on Solano! read more

This is the premier spot in the East Bay for coffee! The coffee is delicious Counter Culture Coffee is my favorite and worth the extra price that other Yelpers are complaining about. The decor is lovely, great art and really talented and sweet baristas. and the pastries are incredible not the run of the mill. Parklet, coming soon will allow for more seating, parking on street is plentiful. ENJOY! read more

Coffee is great! The cold brew is citrusy and slight mocha flavour. Only down side is service is horrible. I've worked in many coffee shops through the years. I've never had such unfriendly& pretentious service. I wouldn't mind paying the extra money they charge if the service was good. Next time I will just keep walking up the the hill to flowerland. Thank you very much. read more