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Polaris Cafe

4.5 (228 reviews)
Closed • Closed
Updated 2 months ago

Polaris Cafe Photos

Business Info

POLARIS CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Outdoor seating
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Polaris Cafe

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Caesar salad & pesto sandwich
Joanne R.

I love this place! I love the vibe. I love the space. I love the staff. I even love how diverse the people who eat here are. I've been here twice and both times it was for lunch on a weekday. My friend and I shared the pesto & tuna sandwiches which were both good. We also both got the upgraded Caesar salad which was so delicious! The cinnamon roll is yummy but I'm not the biggest raisin person. If that's your thing, you'll love it. If you also have trust issues because of raisins from biting into "chocolate chip" cookies only to find out they're raisins.. well here's your warning. Pick them out first!

Isaiah G.

I found this place on TikTok and decided to give it a try. There is plenty of street parking. You walk in and ordered. I ordered a white rabbit. They sell a few other things like stickers and syrups. The area where you sit is next to where you order. It's has huge tall ceilings there's a ton of plants with so much lights. This is the most relaxing coffee shop I've ever been to. The coffee is good but not as that strong. The place is absolutely beautiful.

Andy P.

I adore this cafe but it is such a hassle to order drinks for a certain time period online and for the items to not be ready. I understand you want your matcha to taste fresh for the customers, but as the customer I expect my drink to be made on a timely matter and I am aware if I show up late, that's on me if my drink is layering. Also I would understand if the barista were carefully crafting my drink but to arrive later than the expected pick up window to be still met with a "I'll prepare your order right now" and seeing the barista rush to make my drink is quite upsetting. Will I keep coming here? Yes. Do I hope something changes with the online-pick up system? Yes

Gina G.

What is this magical place? While doing a drop off in the area, I Yelped coffee spots in Emeryville and Polaris Cafe came up highly rated. Such a unique spot. The patrons inside also seemed to think so, and this spot also seemed to be the "it spot" in the area..I love a spot that has regulars turned friends! A very fun menu I might add filled with brekky items, pastries, hot & cold drinks, and soup of the day. There's seating within a botanical oasis also..my best way to describe it? But I'll let you come up with your own adjectives :)) I ordered a Vanilla Cream Iced Coffee and Boichik Bagel toasted with cream cheese. They also have breakfast burritos, sandwiches, and deliciously looking baked goods. I also had my eye on the Banana Mocha and Iced Taro with s'mores cloud cream...ummm, yum! One more thing to note..my total came to $15. What a steal for East Bay prices! For a bagel/topping/large drink..I'll take a morning win! As you can tell from my exclamation points, very excited about a new spot to grab 'wake me up' liquid from. Fun staff, sweet environment, parking a bit tricky (there is paid parking if you drive down the street), and a cool menu. They also sell adorable art like candles shaped like food and did I notice a Labubu? Regardless, worth the adventure if in the area and looking for something different.

Inside
Cheri L.

One minute away from Emeryville's Amtrak is this cute hidden cafe! They have a beautiful indoor setting that can get full, but their outdoor seating is just as nice too. While you wait for your order, there are a bunch of local items to shop from. I definitely need to get the flavored syrups next time. From their menu, I tried their cream top flavor of the month, pandan coconut, with a matcha latte and added a toasty bagel with their roasted jalapeño cream cheese. They both tasted great and made for a pretty affordable meal. Be sure to check them out next time you're in the Emeryville area!

Atrium of office building where the café is located, tables and chairs, kind of a cool vibe
Tracy R.

I thought my sandwich was barely OK and to be honest, I threw most of it out. I ordered the chicken cheese pesto, it was loaded with cheese, wet and slimy and the chicken was clearly that frozen pre-prepared stuff. I was not feeling it. They don't sell sodas so you can pretty much only get coffee in there. I don't really want coffee with my lunch. The atrium of this office building where they have tables and chairs is actually sort of cool, very tropical. It's still the atrium of an office building, but it was different. I just came back and stared at the menu and realized there is nothing here I want. If you want coffee and a pastry, I think it's probably fine. I actually went ahead and ordered a small iced coffee and it cost me seven dollars. Good grief.

Banana matcha
Rachel T.

Adorable little cafe tucked in a non descript building in emeryville. Baristas are quick and kind even for pick up orders. We got the banana matcha one with tiger stripes and one without-(brown sugar syrup) they were both good but I think next time I'll get without so it doesn't overpower the banana. Yummiest matcha I've had in a while

goddess melt
Ashley S.

they're only open on weekdays and it's hard to find parking. parking was $2/hr for first two hours, then $7/hr... the vibes are so good though, it feels like you're studying in an indoor garden. they have wifi but it didn't work. the food/drinks are lowkey not worth the price. the syrup overpowered the white chocolate matcha. the goddess sandwich was good for me to get my greens up

Breakfast Burrito
Izzie L.

Polaris Cafe was one of the loveliest places I've studied in a while. Came here on an early weekday morning and stayed until closing because it was just that nice. :) What we ordered: + Breakfast Burrito [3.5/5] + Oatmilk Latte [3/5] + Matcha with Raspberry Cream Cheese Cloud [5/5] + Green Juice [6/5] (would highly recommend) I thought the oatmilk latte tasted mostly like earthy milk. I enjoyed everything else a lot more. The matcha with their seasonal raspberry cream cheese cloud top was so well-balanced and I would definitely order it again! The matcha itself was okay but the cloud top was heavenly. The breakfast burrito was also a bit dry and had very little meat, but the portion size of crunchy greens was delicious. The Green Juice is amazing. I would've ordered 2 more to-go. It's creamy and not too sweet, but tastes both sweet and "healthy" at the same time. Would highly recommend! On the day we came, they had this scavenger hunt amongst the greenery with hidden bear bottles for free labubu figurines. This was definitely the highlight of our experience and we were 2 of the lucky 8 who found the bottles in time!

Chicken Cesar wrap w/ croutons added. Oat milk matcha with banana biscoff cream.
Raja A.

Literally one of my fav cafes! So cute! Great food! They sell cute goodies! And everyone who works here has always been so kind and helpful! I love coming here on my breaks! I wish they were open on weekends!

Caramel iced coffee
Emily B.

Adorable little coffee spot in Emeryville. Got a caramel iced coffee with a splash of pistachio milk. Highly recommend. Pricey, but worth it. The cloud cream was a yummy touch too. The staff was super friendly too. So glad I stumbled upon this cafe!

Eating area right in front of cafe

This place is amazing and is such a vibe. The breakfast burrito was delicious and so was the matcha. The service was also outstanding. The staff were able to accommodate dietary restrictions without losing quality. Five stars!

Iced banana biscoff matcha and hazelnut latte
Estefania R.

Glad to have found a new study/work spot! Got an iced banana biscoff matcha and hazelnut latte which were both very yummy. There was lots of seating and free WiFi. There was a parking lot down the street not too far from here. Can't wait to come again!

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breakfast burrito was packed with eggs and sausage that kept me full all morning. The coffee was hot and the barista was very friendly.

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Ask the Community - Polaris Cafe

Does this coffee shop and/or sitting area have WiFi?

Yes, we have we have free Wi-Fi, an indoor atrium seating area, outdoor seating, and limited power outlets available.

Does this place have its own parking? Relatively easy to park?

I had find street parking but I do think there's a parking garage near by.

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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2.0 mi•West Berkeley
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Beautiful cafe shop!…read more Coffee was super good! I've gone to bu ch of spots so I'm super pleased with the service, the place being so clean and friendly. Highly recommend to visit.

Hello, my fellow café junkies…read more I LOVE little cafés. I will happily spend my hard-earned money on an overpriced chai latte while sitting somewhere cute pretending I have my life together. So when I say I'm definitely not coming back here, just know it pains my café-loving heart. First, let me give credit where credit is due: the atmosphere is GREAT. Super cute. Super cool. Great little hidden spot. The service, however? SucKs--with a capital K. ‍ Here's how my first--and probably last--visit went: 1. We ordered THREE chai lattes: two hot chai lattes and one iced chai latte with oat milk. Pretty straightforward. Nobody was ordering a 14-step potion from Hogwarts. 2. We received only two drinks. So, channeling my inner Karen from Boyle Heights, I politely went back and said, "Excuse me, we ordered THREE chai lattes." 3. They told me they hadn't charged me for the third drink. Okay! No problem. I work my ass off. I don't mind spending money. Charge me, hermana. Let's get this chai flowing. 4. I took a sip of my supposedly hot chai latte and immediately my taste buds sounded the emergency alarm: NOPE. THAT'S COFFEE. 5. I looked at my husband suspiciously and asked, "Is yours chai or coffee?" He took his first sip and said, "This is coffee." At this point, the chai lattes had apparently entered the Witness Protection Program because nobody could find them. 6. I went back. To their credit, they were perfectly willing to remake the drinks. Thank you! And when we finally received the two hot chai lattes, they were actually GOOD. Crisis temporarily averted. 7. THEN I looked over at my friend holding the supposedly iced chai latte with oat milk and thought, Wait a minute... "Taste yours." He takes a sip. "This is coffee." GIRL. THREE chai lattes ordered. THREE chai lattes misunderstood. At that point, I wasn't ordering beverages anymore. I was participating in a listening-comprehension assessment. ‍ The person taking our order seemed rushed, distracted, and all over the place. And listen--mistakes happen. I teach for a living. I have patience. But when every single drink in one order is wrong, we've moved beyond "oops" and entered performance art. No manchen--venimos a gastar, no a pendejear. ‍ So here's my recommendation: If you're particular about actually receiving the beverage you ordered, you may want to try another café. Or, if this place has an app, USE THE APP. Let technology translate "chai latte" into "chai latte" because apparently the spoken version is giving everybody trouble. Better yet, buy your drinks somewhere else and bring them here. Then you can enjoy the cute atmosphere without participating in Chai Latte Roulette: Will It Be Chai? Will It Be Coffee? Nobody Knows! The place is called Hidden Café, and after today's experience... I can see why it's hidden. Cute environment? Absolutely. Would I trust them with another three-chai-latte mission? Esta mamona la cosa. Hard pass. ‍ Come for the atmosphere. Bring your own drink. And may the odds of receiving what you ordered be ever in your favor. Signed, A recovering Chicana Karen from Boyle Heights who just wanted her damn chai.

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4.7(170 reviews)
2.3 mi

Amazing, and I wish we had one of these shops back home in San Diego. I love the vast selection of…read moredrinks, including a seasonal menu with inspiration drawn from Palestine. We tried several of the specialty lattes and were into them all. Particularly memorable to me was the Jaffa Orange latte. I had to order a pourover here and loved the experience. The barista was very precise in brewing and explained a bit about the coffee before serving it to me in an elegant glass. I got the pink bourbon from Palestina, Colombia that had notes of pink lemonade and rhubarb. It was well brewed and tasty but my sense is that the beans for pourover could be roasted lighter to get more of the fruit flavor out. I was really looking for a juicier pourover and feel like they have the right bean and the right brewers, just need to roast the coffee a little differently. It's a bit nitpicky though, because honestly, it was the best pourover "experience" I've had in the Bay Area, by far. I think this is also one of the most beautiful coffee shops I've visited. The art is very thoughtful, and the shop is clean and organized. It feels cozy. I can't wait to come back here.

Lovely, brightly-lit, and cozy cafe. Beautiful murals throughout the store. Decent amount of…read moreseating and the baristas were all really friendly and patient. The menu is pretty extensive, and everything sounded so delicious. We settled on the "Blackberries in Napa" summer mocktail, which they were able to make with oat milk (although whipped cream was still made with regular). It was the perfect cold beverage for a hot day in Berkeley. Right mix of bitterness from the espresso, creaminess from the blackberry whip, sweetness (and the slightest pinch of earthiness) from the blackberry-sumac jam at the bottom, and refreshing from the mint leaf at the top. The dried black mulberries were a nice touch also. Would love to come back and try everything else and support this Palestinian-owned business more often!

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4.3(257 reviews)
1.6 mi•West Berkeley
•$$

Service and baristas on bar were…read more Good coffee selection and always bringing in fresh flavors.

This place had a pretty long line out the door around 2:30 on a Sunday. Apparently this is normal…read morewhich I found wild. I will admit that the coffee was pretty good. Worth waiting in that line? For me personally, no, but it was a well made latte and quite smooth. Was it the best latte I have ever had? No but it was a good one and I think it would be easier to discern the true quality with a straight espresso shot or even a cappuccino. I like my lattes to have a little more character from the beans but well made. My favorite thing about it was actually the temperature. It wasn't crazy hot so you could actually enjoy it instantly. Some may want it hotter but for me it was ideal. They do have seasonal drinks including a pumpkin spice latte for fall and solid selection of non coffee drinks. The almond croissant I had (not baked by them I don't think) was good but a bit too crispy and over baked . I think I have been spoilt by the very excellent croissants of San Francisco and have yet to find an amazing one in the East Bay but it was clearly made with good butter and lots of almonds. Plenty of seating although every inside table was taken by people; some outside tables were open. They also have a solid selection of local beans for sale. Overall, a solid shop but don't come if you're in a hurry.

Photos
CoRo Coffee Room - Coffee date with my love

Coffee date with my love

CoRo Coffee Room - The seating area

The seating area

CoRo Coffee Room - Latte and cappuccino

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Latte and cappuccino

Masterpiece Coffee - Lattes

Masterpiece Coffee

4.5(76 reviews)
2.3 mi•West Berkeley
•$$

This place is fairly nondescript in the side alley or accessible from the front through a…read moreclothing/gift store? That, however, shouldn't detract from the personalized experience you'd likely receive with how small the coffee bar is. If you're expecting something more permanent this coffee shop is more like a temporary coffee cart that has roots in the back corner of this gift shop On the whole this place despite the hidden location has folks very much eager to bring specialty coffee to anybody interested. They have a large selection of relatively high end coffee in the likes of Geisha from Panama and Ethiopian coffees. Additionally, they're the only place I've ever seen across the US that is showcasing any coffee grown in China which is nice to see as that allows more exploration into how the terroir affects the taste of coffee For my first time here I came with a small group of coffee enthusiasts so we tried a selection of their Alo Main Station (notes of Sweet Orange, Bergamont, and Peach Oolong Tea), Finca Santa Maria (notes of Cherry, Mango, and Berry Jam), and Lerida Loma Washed (notes of White Floral, Mandarin Orange, and Longan) Each cup was uniquely different from each other but arguably the most enjoyed was their cheapest option in the Alo Main Station at $9. Each cup seemed completely different and may seem pretentious to say but they did have sweeter notes that you'd be very unlikely to taste from your well known coffee chains. This place definitely caters to the coffee enthusiasts in a way where even my group wasn't quite near the level of but it had a great atmosphere, nice outdoor seating, and staff who were very passionate about their craft If anything, I would probably come back as they do elevate coffee for those who are unaware of coffee coming from China but that coffee doesn't need to taste bitter, burnt, or chocolatey. The cups here were more like tasting a mellowed fruit juice but it just happens to be coffee. That said, unless you are eager to try specialty coffee this place may seem overpriced as their pour overs are between $9 - $25 which heavily differs from most other coffee shops. Having Masterpiece provide a glimpse of the specialty coffee scene within the Bay Area is still a welcome blessing as it has a similar vibe to specialty coffee shops you'd experience in Asia

I'm old fashion and typically love a classic latte or black coffee but decided to be adventurous…read moreand try the Kuro. Since my husband was doing an iced Shiro, I went with a hot version of the Kuro. We both got whole milk rather than oat milk. While I loved both options the Kuro was definitely my favorite and did not disappoint. There's some seating options outside to enjoy your coffee and tons of vintage items to browse through inside while you wait for your coffee.

Photos
Masterpiece Coffee - Slow bar counter seating

Slow bar counter seating

Masterpiece Coffee - Kuro (barista recommends getting the Kuro iced & Shiro hot!)

Kuro (barista recommends getting the Kuro iced & Shiro hot!)

Masterpiece Coffee

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Polaris Cafe - coffee - Updated October 2026

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