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Emeryville, CA

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Polaris Cafe

4.5 (228 reviews)
Open • 8:00 am - 2:30 pm
Updated 2 months ago

Polaris Cafe Photos

Business Info

POLARIS CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

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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.

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.

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

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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Reviews are largely positive. People highlight the beautiful ambiance, friendly staff, and unique drinks. Food, especially the fresh breakfast burritos, is well-liked.

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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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