Sana'a Cafe
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Wanted a sweet treat after a long day, and sana'a cafe was the perfect place! Me & my friend were craving a late night bite and this was one of the few places open near us at the time. We got the honeycomb to share, and it was so delish! It balanced sweet and savory well with a lovely fragrance. It didn't feel too heavy and just what I needed after a tiring day.
I love this chain cuz they're open somewhat late. Theres 2 other locations I pass daily and stop by frequently. Seems like they've popped up so quickly in the past year or so. I always get their Adeni chai and I looove me some pistachio pastries. Stopped by this location late night. Nice, clean and aesthetically pleasing decor. Great study spot with outlets available. Comfy couches in the back corner. Elias provided great customer service. Very friendly and helpful. My only thing about this location is that my chai was pretty light compared to the others I've had. Pink drink was not my favorite but might be for someone else. Big fan of the milk cakes across all locations. Give it a try !
Late night dessert, savory pastries, smoothies, refreshers, tea, and coffee, open until midnight, even on a Sunday night. Adeni chai was delicious, and the nicely appointed space was quiet and comfortable. Spent two hours catching up with a friend, along with a mix of others on dates, working on their laptops, etc. Love the trend of Yemeni coffee shops opening in the Bay Area.
Came here on a whim on a Friday afternoon and was pleasantly surprised with how pretty and quiet it was inside. Quite different from when this was a Starbucks. The pistachio milk cake instantly caught my eye. My favorite cake is tres leches and this looked very similar in consistency, so I decided to try a piece. Unfortunately, they were out of the iced tea I wanted, but the woman behind the counter suggested the wild peach, which sounded great, so I went with that. The cake was fantastic and the slice was pretty generous in size. If you like tres leches and pistachio, I'd highly recommend giving this a shot. It was so moist and fluffy and wasn't overly sweet at all. However, I didn't care for the tea. It had a bitterness that reminded me of hibiscus tea, which I strongly dislike, so I didn't end up finishing it. The owner was a very nice person and the atmosphere inside the cafe was welcoming, a nice respite for a quick afternoon snack and drink. A handful of people were working inside, others talking quietly. A chill spot overall with a lot more on the menu I'd like to return to try.
Great staff, adeni chai is my go to! Well lit space, lots of seating space, I love meeting friends here for a cup of tea. We shared a slice of the honeycomb, and spinach feta. Both were great!
I met a friend here for coffee. I had an iced, decaf latte with almond milk-no sugar. It was refreshing. There were a lot of people in the coffee shop, if a couple had not preparing to leave we were going to take a drink to go and walk around the neighborhood to catch up. Someone left, so we sat down and enjoyed the coffee shop vibes. They have a pastry selection that looked amazing! I'd like to try one next time I'm in the area.
Service was okay -- it took a little while for the employees to take my order, but overall the experience was still pleasant. I ordered a latte and it was delicious. The coffee beans tasted really good and the drink was well made. The café also has plenty of seating, which is nice if you want to stay and hang out. I came on a Sunday and it looked like there was a chess club meeting there, which was really fun to see. It gave the place a nice community vibe.
A welcoming atmosphere with good seating and open late, I will be back for the ambiance and late night work sessions. I got this pistachio pastry, but was not the most impressed. It wasn't as crispy as I would like, and it was very cold. The flavor was good though, slightly nutty and sweet.
In town for a conference and needed some fuel before getting started for the day. Sana'a was a definite find! I ordered the chicken mukshan and a hibiscus tea with I believe he said dragon fruit sweetener? The tea was very good and will probably be the start to my next few mornings. The mukshan was the perfect bite of spices throughout. Very good! I didn't catch his name but the young man working was really nice and had such a welcoming smile!
This cafe has a beautiful ambiance. I've taken friends and family here for coffee/ tea dates. They're always impressed with how small and nicely decorated it is. The presentation of the way they serve the coffee and tea when you have it there for two or more people is so nice... think tea party vibes, lol. The pastry items are good, but can be pricey when you buy a bunch at a time. The customer service is hit or miss, but for the most part okay. I would definitely recommend this establishment to others, especially those looking for strong coffee.
I've visited Sana'a Café twice on Saturdays, and it was a hit both times! They offer a great variety of drinks and pastries. The pistachio latte seems to be a crowd favorite. It personally wasn't for me, but I really enjoyed their Spanish latte! Their fatayers are also delicious. I've tried both the meat and the spinach & feta, which were both fantastic. I also appreciate how accessible they are in Oakland, being open seven days a week and staying open until midnight. Service has been okay with it fairly average during both of my visits. Drinks come out fast though! On my most recent visit, the music was a bit loud, and I accidentally misheard my order (I said the drink wasn't mine to the barista when it actually was). When I realized my mistake, I apologized while grabbing my drink. The barista then rolled their eyes at me, which was a little disheartening. Still, their tasty food and generous hours will keep me coming back despite that small hiccup.
Wow. So many great things. . Fatayer are top tier. Great exterior and filling. Big flavors. Honeycomb is like a really good bagel, texture isn't quite bagel like but still Pistachio milk cake, like a less sweet tres leches. Dubai Cheese cake. Incredible filling, the cheese is so light and not overwhelming in the sweet department. Ok/Good. Adeni Chai. Baklava. Musakhan
Just sweet enough with notes of cinnamon and and cardamomn and honey. Delicious will be back
21 days ago
22 days ago
22 days ago
9 days ago
Wanted a sweet treat after a long day, and sana'a cafe was the perfect place! Me & my friend were craving a late night bite and this was one of the few places open near us at the time. We got the honeycomb to share, and it was so delish! It balanced sweet and savory well with a lovely fragrance. It didn't feel too heavy and just what I needed after a tiring day. read more
29 days ago
I love this chain cuz they're open somewhat late. Theres 2 other locations I pass daily and stop by frequently. Seems like they've popped up so quickly in the past year or so. I always get their Adeni chai and I looove me some pistachio pastries. Stopped by this location late night. Nice, clean and aesthetically pleasing decor. Great study spot with outlets available. Comfy couches in the back corner. Elias provided great customer service. Very friendly and helpful. My only thing about this location is that my chai was pretty light compared to the others I've had. Pink drink was not my favorite but might be for someone else. Big fan of the milk cakes across all locations. Give it a try ! read more
1 month ago
Late night dessert, savory pastries, smoothies, refreshers, tea, and coffee, open until midnight, even on a Sunday night. Adeni chai was delicious, and the nicely appointed space was quiet and comfortable. Spent two hours catching up with a friend, along with a mix of others on dates, working on their laptops, etc. Love the trend of Yemeni coffee shops opening in the Bay Area. read more
Came here on a whim on a Friday afternoon and was pleasantly surprised with how pretty and quiet it was inside. Quite different from when this was a Starbucks. The pistachio milk cake instantly caught my eye. My favorite cake is tres leches and this looked very similar in consistency, so I decided to try a piece. Unfortunately, they were out of the iced tea I wanted, but the woman behind the counter suggested the wild peach, which sounded great, so I went with that. The cake was fantastic and the slice was pretty generous in size. If you like tres leches and pistachio, I'd highly recommend giving this a shot. It was so moist and fluffy and wasn't overly sweet at all. However, I didn't care for the tea. It had a bitterness that reminded me of hibiscus tea, which I strongly dislike, so I didn't end up finishing it. The owner was a very nice person and the atmosphere inside the cafe was welcoming, a nice respite for a quick afternoon snack and drink. A handful of people were working inside, others talking quietly. A chill spot overall with a lot more on the menu I'd like to return to try. read more
3 months ago
Great staff, adeni chai is my go to! Well lit space, lots of seating space, I love meeting friends here for a cup of tea. We shared a slice of the honeycomb, and spinach feta. Both were great! read more
I met a friend here for coffee. I had an iced, decaf latte with almond milk-no sugar. It was refreshing. There were a lot of people in the coffee shop, if a couple had not preparing to leave we were going to take a drink to go and walk around the neighborhood to catch up. Someone left, so we sat down and enjoyed the coffee shop vibes. They have a pastry selection that looked amazing! I'd like to try one next time I'm in the area. read more
7 months ago
Service was okay -- it took a little while for the employees to take my order, but overall the experience was still pleasant. I ordered a latte and it was delicious. The coffee beans tasted really good and the drink was well made. The café also has plenty of seating, which is nice if you want to stay and hang out. I came on a Sunday and it looked like there was a chess club meeting there, which was really fun to see. It gave the place a nice community vibe. read more
A welcoming atmosphere with good seating and open late, I will be back for the ambiance and late night work sessions. I got this pistachio pastry, but was not the most impressed. It wasn't as crispy as I would like, and it was very cold. The flavor was good though, slightly nutty and sweet. read more
In town for a conference and needed some fuel before getting started for the day. Sana'a was a definite find! I ordered the chicken mukshan and a hibiscus tea with I believe he said dragon fruit sweetener? The tea was very good and will probably be the start to my next few mornings. The mukshan was the perfect bite of spices throughout. Very good! I didn't catch his name but the young man working was really nice and had such a welcoming smile! read more
This cafe has a beautiful ambiance. I've taken friends and family here for coffee/ tea dates. They're always impressed with how small and nicely decorated it is. The presentation of the way they serve the coffee and tea when you have it there for two or more people is so nice... think tea party vibes, lol. The pastry items are good, but can be pricey when you buy a bunch at a time. The customer service is hit or miss, but for the most part okay. I would definitely recommend this establishment to others, especially those looking for strong coffee. read more
I've visited Sana'a Café twice on Saturdays, and it was a hit both times! They offer a great variety of drinks and pastries. The pistachio latte seems to be a crowd favorite. It personally wasn't for me, but I really enjoyed their Spanish latte! Their fatayers are also delicious. I've tried both the meat and the spinach & feta, which were both fantastic. I also appreciate how accessible they are in Oakland, being open seven days a week and staying open until midnight. Service has been okay with it fairly average during both of my visits. Drinks come out fast though! On my most recent visit, the music was a bit loud, and I accidentally misheard my order (I said the drink wasn't mine to the barista when it actually was). When I realized my mistake, I apologized while grabbing my drink. The barista then rolled their eyes at me, which was a little disheartening. Still, their tasty food and generous hours will keep me coming back despite that small hiccup. read more
Wow. So many great things. . Fatayer are top tier. Great exterior and filling. Big flavors. Honeycomb is like a really good bagel, texture isn't quite bagel like but still Pistachio milk cake, like a less sweet tres leches. Dubai Cheese cake. Incredible filling, the cheese is so light and not overwhelming in the sweet department. Ok/Good. Adeni Chai. Baklava. Musakhan read more
28 days ago
Just sweet enough with notes of cinnamon and and cardamomn and honey. Delicious will be back read more
*******A Minority Owned Business Alert*****************+******** My good friend and I tried Sana'a Cafe. This place was busy with constant foot traffic. Some people were able to find a table some left with the goods. We were fortunate to get a table and catch up. Since having Yemeni Coffee in Dearborn, MI; I have been on a quest to find it in The Bay. I kinda found but not quite, what I have found is said to be it, but not it. I will keep looking. However, if you're looking for coffee that will give you a shake when you're fading. This is your place. Don't sleep on the dessert, it all looked tasty. read more
11 months ago
I saw this online and I thought, hidden gem! I showed up, opened the door and immediately thought, 'why haven't I heard of this place'? Lol. I've been out of the loop. This place was buzzing with activity. In fact there were only a couple seats available. I went on a Tuesday morning around 11am. The inside is beautiful! The place is decked out in Yemeni decor. Lots of golden accents. Couches in the back, tables and window bar seats in the front. The place is small so I wouldn't suggest a large meet up. Unless you can figure out their down time. We were there for some hours and the door was revolving. This place is popular! This is an ideal location to catch up on work, being that they have charging ports throughout the cafe. Other than coffee and teas, they serve both sweet and savory pastries. read more
1 day ago
Cool chic vibes! Middle Eastern flare coffee shop with middle east music playing. It's cute coffee date spot and a great spot to chill with your laptop. They also open late wich is rare for a coffee shop. There are yummy pastries from cake to baklava and bread. We had the rose milk cake and it was simple and not overwhelmingly sweet. It reminds me of tres leche cake but with a hint of rose. Light and refreshing. Ill be back to try theirs signature drink. Dirty Chai! read more
I love this place, my absolute watering hole before my shifts in the neighborhood. I'll tell you, it's kinda dangerous to have a coffee place this good practically next door to you. Not a bad problem to have. I haven't tried their desserts (which look fire) but I'm a deep connoisseur of their yemeni latte, hot or iced is just divine. If I'm feeling extra, I'll get the pistachio latte (again hot or iced, good either way) their adeni chai latte is wonderful as well. They also do a dupe pink drink like Starbucks here (because ew Starbucks) and it's so much better and very good when you're not feeling caffeine so much. Support this business! They're awesome. read more
Place has a unique vibe I really liked it. I do believe the place is small all tables were taken. Staff friendly & super helpful too. They do have pastry and cake slices, I did not try them, but they looked yummy. Downside for me is the parking very limited on the street. read more
3 months ago
I was looking for a coffee shop that was relatively close to my hotel and this place came up. I'm so glad that it did. This is such a cute spot and the customer service was top tier. I ordered the pistachio cheesecake and an iced cinnamon dolce latte. The cheesecake was so creamy and delicious. My coffee was made to perfection. I will definitely be returning if I'm ever in the area again. Highly recommend! read more
6 months ago
Beautiful place to chill and they open late. Tried couple of their desserts and their drinks but it wasn't for me. Maybe their ice drinks are better. I would come back again and try different stuff. read more
9 months ago
I came here to support fellow middle easterners and really wanted to like the place. I was disappointed in the rose latte which didn't taste like rose and didn't have good flavor in general. Many of the fatayers had more bread than meat, so they could have used for filling. Also, if you get any of them, DO have them warm it up, don't they're not good cold/dry. The Dubai milk cake was okay, but was hoping for a stronger pistachio paste flavor. The decor is nice and similar to many of the Yemeni/middle eastern coffee shops popping up in the bay. Service was fine. read more
Great chai, great honeycomb bread, fantastic place to hang out with friends late at night. I was in oakland for a trip and came here two nights in a row. Staff are super friendly and ambiance is nice. Definitely recommend! read more
It's finally review time! Sana'a Cafe (a newer Yemeni Coffee Chain taking California by storm) took the place where a former Starbucks Coffee Chain used to reside. It has been opened for a bit over a year, but I discovered it after a contractor offered me two pastries that he purchased from Sana'a Cafe during lunch and he realized that he couldn't finish them all. He informed me that it was a Yemeni Coffee shop off Broadway around 8th Street and that I needed to check it out. Well, since then, I have visited it 3-4 times within a span of 6 months. During that time, I think I have finally found my espresso drink - the Iced Spanish Latte. Unfortunately, over the span of those 6 times, the drink has been inconsistent with the flavor, milk, and intensity of the drink varying significantly depending on who makes the drink. My most recent visit - 8/11, I noticed that after tax, I paid $7.38; which meant that it was another $1 more expensive than the last time I visited. Not only that, but the drink also lacked the espresso I was expecting (photo included that showed the color being a light beige). Pretty much, it meant that this latte wasn't prepared correctly, as if you googled a latte, it would be a beautiful caramel color (with that leaf foam). My friend also purchased their milk cakes. Unfortunately, and this may just be a cultural/palette thing, but he didn't enjoy the texture of the cake and found the taste to be a bit underwhelming. Their cakes, depending on what you get, vary from $8-$14, which is quite expensive for a slice. In terms of service, it's always been hit or miss. They have never been outwardly warm and friendly, but they do serve you when you are in line. The lady (who I have not seen in a while) used to be very helpful in offering suggestions when customers were trying to decide what to get. Unfortunately, I have not had that experience with any of the male staff. They have been distant and seemed to feel bothered. With so much inconsistency with their drinks, mediocrity and lack of value with their food items, and not much hospitality, I would not recommend Sana'a Cafe. There are countless other coffee shops within a 3 block radius of this location. Blue Bottle (which actually originated in Oakland) and Bicycle Coffee (which also originated in Oakland) would be my top contenders). read more
8 months ago
I've wanted to try this place for quite some time so when I had the opportunity to schedule a work meeting in an Oakland coffee shop, I picked this one. It was surprisingly busy when I went around 1 pm. Folks were working, eating alone, gathering as friends, you name it. It was lovely to see such an eclectic group of people; felt like a community gathering more than a coffee shop. The coffee and pastries are expensive; I got an iced latte and two pastries for 20 bucks. However they were delicious. There is free WiFi so I will definitely be back! read more
The service was excellent! Beautiful cafe with lots of seating. Unfortunately the Sanaa latte I ordered tasted burnt, the cardamom was very bitter. Usually if the spices aren't cooked through the flavor can taste "raw" and off putting. Nonetheless, I will be back to give them another try, as the service was great. It was late night and I forgot to ask for decaf, but the staff asked me and I thanked him for being so observant! They also are welcoming to dogs (I couldn't find a place to tie him outside as I was ordering to-go) and offered my pup a treat. read more
Want something a little different for your caffeine fix in Oakland? Then look no further than this place. I came here at 7am before work meeting and had the chai tea and honey waffle bread which was filled with cream cheese. The staff was super friendly and the ambience made me feel like I was on vacation. Highly recommend! read more
Cozy spot with great Arabic music and delicious tea, coffee, and small bites. I ordered Sana'ani coffee and it was so so good! The prices are very reasonable for the quality as well. The staff were patient and friendly. I enjoyed my stay here and would absolutely recommend for anyone looking to enjoy a coffee break. The inside is really beautifully decorated and elegantly set up. read more
1 month ago
Free chocolate baklava on the house. It was so delicious! The staff were friendly and place was clean. Enough chargers and seats to go around for a Friday night read more
Didn't really enjoy my experience here. I got the iced Mofawar and it wasn't good at all to me. I drank maybe 3 sips of it and threw it away. They have a strawberry tres leche cake that was pretty good though. My other complaint is that the wifi was very slow and eventually just went out. I sat around waiting for it to come back online and it never did so I had to go somewhere else. read more
Their pistachio latte is so yum! You can taste that they use real pistachios to make their syrup. The pistachio nicely balances out the coffee, nothing overpowered each other. However, it was a bit on the sweeter side. Definitely recommend lowering the sugar level. Plenty of street parking. Great coffee and friendly service. read more
After having come here multiple times, it's time to review them. This is a nice place and well maintained. Most all of the sweets & food items are good, but some are a miss. They are on the pricey side and I'd never noticed until the other day. I've always gotten the chicken muskhan and one other item...the Chicken muskhan is about the size of 2 taquitos and close to $7, along with a regular drink is $6.95 and relatively small. The Mushkan has been a bit charred on the ends the last few times I've gotten it and it's pretty dry. I had a chocolate chip cookie here that had a meat flavor to it somehow (I had another try it & they said the same without my telling them it tastes like meat). I generally come here because my coworker loves the honey bread and I usually grab something because it's a good 10 minute walk from the job. Overall it's a good place to try, but it's pricey for the quality of items I've had so far. read more
Great, quiet cafe for studying. Tables are clean and spacious. The workers are super nice and gave me an extra slice of honeycomb since the original slice was on the smaller side. Would definitely recommend trying their Adeni Chai and the honeycomb pastry! read more
10 months ago
Solid pistachio latte. My friend from Kazakhstan tried adeni chai for the first time and loved it! I liked the artsy interior. My other friend has a baby and there is enough room to bring in your stroller, so this is a family-friendly spot. read more
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More info about Sana'a Cafe
801 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94607
Old Oakland, Oakland Chinatown
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(510) 817-4399
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https://thesanaacafe.com
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