No hotel parking street parking only Cute little Boutique & mini Bistro Hotel. Due to no parking, took an uber . 1 night stay for concert at Greek Theatre which I heard was difficult parking also. 30 minute walk / $10-$15 uber/lyft ride Rideshare couldn't find hotel & drove into Andronicos parking lot which was perfect since it's right next to it. Weird Lobby set up, walk past cafe order area, small check in desk in back right corner. Very friendly, informative staff as had questions about Greek Theatre. Room has everything you need, tv, desk, coffee station, fridge, microwave, Plates , utensils. Bathroom stocked with body wash, shampoo- no conditioner. Close walking location to restaurants or groceries again as our room was overlooking Andronicos market. read more

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We stopped for some coffee, and cashier was rude to us when we asked for milk alternatives. Coffee was good and strong, but service not so much. read more

SenS Hotel & Vanne Bistro - Hotels Near Me - Berkeley, California

Comfortable, clean room close to Gourmet Ghetto. Downstairs is a great coffee and sandwich shop. Cons: no parking, brief wait for entry after hours (ring bell on the outside of the building, wait a few minutes if the desk clerk is busy). read more

Easy to find. Not that easy to park as it's street parking 1st come & pay by the hour. But we got very lucky & parked only a block away for free since we arrived Saturday night & left Sunday. The staff is super nice & helpful. The rooms are clean & updated. The bed is comfortable & the bathroom is stocked with everything you could possibly need. The neighborhood is super walkable. & there is an Andronicos next door for late night snacks. The coffee shop downstairs is very popular with the locals & the line gets long but moves quickly. Plus you get free hot/iced coffee tokens with your room. Would 1000% stay here again. read more

When I'm in town to visit my daughter at school, I'm glad I found Sens. Very cute boutique hotel. Close to Cal. Easy parking. They share the bank parking lot next door and it's $8/24 hours. That's a steal compared to the $28 per day that ends at 11:59pm. And it's in a good area vs the last hotel I booked. Not knowing the area, it's been hit or miss. So, I'm glad I found this place. This will be my go to spot so I'll need to remember to book early before it sells out during peak times like parents weekend or move in/move out dates. There's a cafe on the ground floor. We got drink tickets good for a small coffee or tea for each of us, for both days we stayed. If you get a latte or something else, they just charge you the difference. We didn't try their sandwiches, but we got pastries and drinks as we headed out for the day. They offer room service. Due to covid, if you want your room made up each day, they call your room at 9am to confirm and I think to let you know that you have to be out of the room while they clean. I always put do not disturb because I don't like my room to be touched. But this is just good to know. The Housekeepers were very loud in the hallway. We were getting dressed, but we could hear them making all kinds of noise. So if you're wanting to sleep in undisturbed, I don't think that'll happen here. Sens is located in the gourmet ghetto. So, you won't be lacking in places to eat. There's a farmers market on Thursdays nearby, so we walked there too. There's also a coffee house that's open til 11pm where you can play board games for $7/hr (I think). It's a bz spot. But so many good places to go within walking distance. I felt very safe so if there are any ladies on a solo trip, or traveling w kids, you're good to go. I drove to campus and paid for parking. But, I could've easily walked the 1mile to campus as well. Overall, very pleasantly surprised. Fyi, It was $513 for 2 midweek nights. My stay was wed to fri. read more

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Review is just for the coffee shop downstairs. Needed a quick cup of joe for a ride across the bay and this place was conveniently located across the street. Came in and got a cafe au lait which was creamy and delicious. The space is a little tight and can't really fit more than 1-2 people by the entrance and once you order and pay, there are just a few tables indoors that you can choose to sit at. read more

The employees at the Cafe are rude! Unwelcoming, dour expressions and should be fired. This is Berkeley with an abundant amount of cafes that will treat you with respect. Don't waste your time unless you want to be insulted by disgruntled angry employees. read more

We decided not to book a room after getting a tour of the place. The one room that we were shown had that lived in look as the furniture was a little worn. There is no parking provided. They had a couple of guests asleep in the lobby. The whole set up reminded us of a retirement home kinda situation. Weird vibe. read more

This review is for their flat white that we ordered today. Don't expect latte art here - refer to picture. But do expect a smooth unacidic espresso drink. We knew we were ordering from a hotel cafe, so expectations were low. Not having checked Yelp reviews first because today we wanted to be spontaneous and spontaneous we did! Glad we did because the coffee was by far way better than your Starbucks or Peets. Heck, maybe even better than your little stone alone coffee shops. They actually have a La Marzocco brand espresso machines to which I have been noticing more. Maybe espresso drinks just taste better when made with that brand machine? By the way, the price for our flat white was so cheap..only $3.10! Now the only downside was that we felt the coffee quality was so so. They didn't fresh grind coffee beans. It was pre ground coffee. But come on, $3.10 for an espresso drink..can't beat that elsewhere. The flat white would have been 10/10 had they used some fresh ground coffee or just better quality coffee beans. If you are in the area, please do grab a coffee here. It's pretty darn good. read more

SenS Hotel & Vanne Bistro - No latte art here, but drink was well made..smooth flat white - Hotels Near Me - Berkeley, California

Nice amenities. Pretty clean, but the ppl that work the cafe are rude. When you have to be more polite than the pl serving you...? I asked for oatmeal toppings on the side & got a lot of 'tude. Then I asked if the bagel they set on the counter was mine and he said, Idk and walked away! Ahhh, wth?! read more

It is in the heart of Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto, right across from Chez Pannise. It was my adult daughter's birthday and we usually dine at Chez Panisse but due to the lock-down that was impossilbe. Sens Hotel to the rescue! We got our take-out dinner from Chez Panisse, took it across the street to the Sens and ate it on the balcony of our hotel room (we brought table cloth, silverware, wine, candles, napkins and plates). Lovely way to beat the lock-down. read more

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Awful! Dirty, small beds, filthy carpets, shower doesn't drain. You have to lug your luggage through a tiny cafe to get to your room. Inadequate parking. Gross read more

SenS Hotel & Vanne Bistro - Bedroom carpet - Hotels Near Me - Berkeley, California

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SenS is a friendly neighborhood cafe with good coffee and pleasant folks behind the counter.

Great coffee shop and enormously welcoming people. A rarely in the Berkeley community. Simply elegant behavior.

I was happy to see this place opened back up. The best americano and the pastries are delicious. Easy access to parking and nicely located. read more

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i got the taro mt and two other people both got mango. it was what i expected from a store that doesnt primarily sell boba: flavor overwhelmed by milk, old runny boba. Nevertheless it was still good and was especially refreshing on a hot day. read more

Dirty hotel rooms, picked up a friend, there, and was horrified and attempted to stay for coffee, but the cafe staff was rude!!!! Can't imagine these obnoxious baristas would have a job anywhere else. They are service with a grimace and were nasty to each other. The average age of the customer was 80 years old, so maybe the hotel has been converted into a convalescent home?? read more

Discovered this place for the first time when we drove by on Christmas. We went to Saul's first, which is known for being open on the holiday, but left after seeing the crazy line at 10:30am. We knew SenS must be open after seeing people walk out of there with coffee. We had to wait a bit, but it was worth it. I got the lox and cream cheese bagel (no onions) and it was the non-greasy breakfast I was hoping for. I also got the chai tea latte, which was tasty. Service was good, and I was pleased to find a lot more seating in the back area. read more

SenS Hotel & Vanne Bistro - Lox bagel - Hotels Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I think they serve the best cappuccino in Berkeley. I don't know why it took me so long to give them a try.

I love me some burnouts. (Leighann F thinks I should add some kind and colorful adjectives so people know I'm not a judgmental neo-hippie dickhead.) If you experienced the conversation we did, the entertainment factor alone would make that evident. Cast of characters: Sunken looking, white haired gent peering over his spectacles, hunched over. Petite earded Latino fellow in a flannel shirt leaning against... Gangly brown man dressed in all black with a decorated candy cane actually supporting him, bling on every finger, pins adorning the flap of every pocket, captain's hat. In other words, total George Clinton awesomeness. Bespectacled: "I was born in '33 but I got sick a few years back so I look like death now." Flannel: "No, no. You're still thumbs up." Captain: "Well, I don't like red beans, or pinto beans." Bespectacled: "Do those make you look old?" Captain: "Baked chicken ain't the same as fried chicken." Flannel: "I'm getting hungry." (stands up) Captain: "If I don't see you tomorrow, I might have to stomp on your face." Thank you, French Hotel, for your sunlit seating, ample dinginess to satisfy the real Berkeleyans but not to deter me, for your solid drinks and munchable pastries, for your open outlets and free wi-fi, randomness, and obliging staff. (I am however, still too scared to touch your restroom key.) It's refreshing to see that a place like this exists in the chokehold of gentrified Gourmet Ghetto yuppieland. Yes, I understand I am contributing to this, so all we can do is support the establishments that maintain this local flavor. I hope the spirit of this city never dies. read more

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When my parents come to town, they sometimes "don't want to be a bother" and decide to stay at a local Hotel. I've learned to protest for a couple rounds and then let them do what they want. The best I can do is to help them find a place that is comfortable, safe, a decent value, and located in an interesting neighbourhood. The French Hotel meets all of their criteria and they're still talking about their experience and the "colourful" locals. I simply tell then that I've lived in the Berkeley area so long that I don't notice anymore. Mom and Dad's room was nice and they enjoyed breakfast by the the attached Cafe. They also had a great time on their long walks enjoying the Gourmet Ghetto, exploring the architecture (like the Hillside Club), and even making it to Campus and back. Best of all, it makes a son proud when he does well by his parents. read more

I was skeptical of a hotel that was behind a bakery but I was very pleasantly surprised. The staff were very friendly., The bakery had a good selection of baked goods and add ons to make some tasty combinations and, as hotel guests, we got some free coffee vouchers. The location was wonderful with great restaurants, a supermarket, a drugstore, and other merchants nearby. The room had all the amenities along with a safe and a balcony with a table and chairs. read more

As we walked by on our way to Cheeseboard (which was closed) the boys I was with saw some whipped cream topped hot chocolates on an outside table. "That's for after pizza", they said. It ended up being before pizza. We waited in line and the gentleman in front of us ordered a muffin by pointing at it through the glass, and then asked the guy working what it was. His response made us all laugh, "it's a taco". The gentleman looked at him quizzically and said "but there's raisins on it". We smiled and then it was our turn to order. Two hot chocolates with whipped cream, and one iced tea for me. I also ordered a side of jalapenos (I saw that you can have them on your bagels, and it sounded good to me). The barista thought I was joking (cuz of the overheard taco remarks) but I was serious. He brought me a cup with a pickled jalapenos that were probably homemade. They were very good and definitely spicy! Perfect with my iced tea. I enjoyed them for the rest of the day, and even put them on my pizza when we finally got some from Sliver. ($5.55 total) read more

SenS Hotel & Vanne Bistro - Iced tea - Hotels Near Me - Berkeley, California

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There are always native Berkeleyans spilling out of this brick-and-cast iron cafe on a sunny weekend morning. Maybe it's the location, or the black iron tables placed invitingly on the sidewalk between Andronico's and Cheeseboard... but I'm not convinced it's because of the food or drink at the cafe itself. Standard cafe beverages with standard prices. Lots of bagels ($1.45) and pretty pastries, although if Cheeseboard is open I would probably go there instead. It's a bit dark, with some flies roaming on a hot day, and dingy, but that just contributes to the "French Hotel" ambience. Friendly service. Free WIFI, decent # of plugs (you can even loop your AC adapter from the counter to charge it while sitting outside). Some bike rails outside. Definitely a nice addition to the neighborhood, and a nice laptop workstop for me. read more

The "Living Room" of Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto. Bohemians of all ages gather to discuss everything. Anarchists, Buddhists, Com- unatarians, munists, to Zoasteranians save the world every day. Angel's crew gives great service to smiling customers. Check out the foam art on your cup. read more

The coffee/milk balance sometimes is not quite right, with too much bitterness and too much hotness (like when you microwave coffee that's been sitting at your desk). Note: the best barrista is a large man with a moustache and a thick head of hair. He makes good drinks and whips out twee foam art 100% of the time, in my experience. This is where to go to be surrounded by Berkeleyites of a certain age, often lingering over cooling cups while chatting about philosophy and politics. The problem is that the outdoor seating tends to not have vacancies, and the indoor seating does not have a consistently pleasant odor (like the inside of a bathroom) or ambiance (lots of flies around the trash and pastries). read more

3.5 Stars - better than just "OK," but not enough to make me a fan. We went on a sunny weekend afternoon because we didn't want to go to the corporate chain Peet's, which is pretty close by too. So we chose this "indie" coffee shop with an exotic name "French Hotel." You know what, with a name like "French Hotel," I really wish that their decadent Bohemian index could go up higher. But no, besides its brick wall, it's a pretty ordinary, unimpressive little café. In fact, it was a bit disappointing to us when we saw the inside, which was stuffy and dingy. Fortunately it has plenty of outdoor seating, and most seats are shaded. It was nice to sit outside in the sidewalk, just lazed and chill, read a newspaper, enjoy the breeze and people watch. Lots of people walked by. Diverse crowd. Lively atmosphere. Heard 3 different languages spoken during my one hour there. Ordered Ice Blended Mocha ($3.20 before tax). Well, it tasted alright, but didn't blow me away. Comfortable iron chairs. Restroom is plain, industrial-looking, functional. Not dirty but not terribly clean either. I'll give credits to its location though. This brick wall café is located in the midst of great restaurants and shops in the yuppiest part of north Berkeley - the Gourmet Ghetto. It's right next to Cheeseboard pizza and opposite of the famed Chez Panisse and the Epicurious Garden. Lots of eateries around. Andronico's supermarket is one block away, while Safeway is a few blocks down the street. On Thursdays, the Berkeley Organic Farmer's Market is right down the road on Shattuck and Rose. There's also a small grocery shop selling fresh produce right next to Cheeseboard. Nice location, pleasant outdoor seating, but unimpressive coffee and interior deco. read more

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I've been staying at this hotel once a week for several months. I expect to continue coming weekly for many months ahead. The renovated rooms are nice and include a small frig and an electric kettle for morning tea, which I love. The bathroom is great with a large walk-in shower. The staff at the front desk are friendly and very accommodating. The Bistro makes great sandwiches and coffees. They also have very fresh morning pastries and croissants. It's a little quirky, and a little inconsistent but also a little charming with nice and welcoming people working here also. It's a good value and a supper great location. read more

I've checked in here so often now that I figured I should stop putting this off and give a review. So yeah; why 5 stars? Because they're quick, friendly, and tasty--case in point I've never gotten bad mocha yet, especially when they're always so generous with the whipped cream (and one time even drizzled with caramel!!) I always try to time my visits so that I can get my drink and then catch the 18 bus just before it arrives at the Cedar & Shattuck stop, and I've always gotten there just in the nick of time so far. Even when I see a line, I'm not worried, because the baristas are fast and they can just whip out your drink in literally a minute, give you change and you're on your merry way. I also really, really appreciate how the staff always greets you with a cheerful smile and 'good morning', and just make you feel good about getting your caffeine fix for the day. Lots of regulars abound, I think I'm slowly making my way up...maybe one day they'll see me and just know to make my drink the second I step in :) Note that I've never actually stayed here, nor gotten their food, but it looks pretty good and many of the locals stop by for a coffee and bagel in the morning. (The fact that I can get a mocha for under $3 doesn't hurt either.) read more

SenS Hotel & Vanne Bistro - Mocha topped with a generous amount of whipped cream and chocolate syrup... - Hotels Near Me - Berkeley, California

Stayed there and was satisfied. Design cues were nice in the room. Coffee in the morning down in the lobby was excellent. Price was good for Berkeley. There were some issues. The room had cobwebs and dust under the bed, desk and nightstand. There were crumbs of granola on the floor under the bed, desk and nightstand. Just like it says in the other reviews here. It was harmless, but it may annoy some people. There was also a big spider living on the wall outside my door. Again, didn't bother me but others may not be so amused to see him every night. Basically the person vacuuming doesn't get into all the corners. The bed was clean, the bathroom was clean and the desk and nightstand top was clean. That's what counts. And no bed bugs. I have to say as a traveler today that is a big win for me. Walls are a bit thin. Air freshener smell is too strong. Overall the place did the job. I needed a comfortable place to stay in North Berkeley and that is what I got. Price was good enough. I'll be back since I have regular business there now. read more

What in the wild heck. This place is unacceptable. I'll be brief, but please know that I am urging anyone and everyone who likes to sleep at night to avoid this place like the plague. I can't believe I paid $200 for this. 1. Biggest problem with this place: adjacent rooms have a locked connecting door which is allows ANY and EVERY sound made by your neighbor sound like it came from inside in your room. I heard every word, every yawn, every snore, every cough, every fart, every bathroom trip, I could even hear him flip through pages in his book. This alone is enough for me to never come here again and urge you to do the same. 2. Dirty. See other reviews: soap and shampoo is shared between guests. Dirty towels and shower. 3. No parking. I was told to park in the Safeway lot, despite it says 1 hour parking or risk getting towed. The other option is a $28 per day lot on the other side. 4. Internet doesn't work. It takes 5 minutes to load a page. Was on data the whole time. The single pro: coffee from downstairs cafe was delicious. read more

The coffee here is excellent, and there are tons of tables, but what I really like about this place is that it's full of aging hippies. Eavesdropping on Aging Berkeley Hippies is one of my favorite daytime activities because they are so confident and yet so incorrect. Today, for example: Hippie Man 1: The Bellagio was really classy. Hippie Man 2: Yes, Very upscale. Hippie Woman: Mmm. I've always wanted to go to Dubai. Hippie Man 2: That's a lot like Vegas. Hippie Man 1: I used to go to Dubai. I met a man there who introduced ... what's that food ... fried, with chick peas...? Hippie Man 2: Falafel. Hippie Man 1: He introduced falafel to the United States a few years ago. In Berkeley. All: Mmm. Hippie Woman: ...but... I remember eating falafel in college? At Eat a PIta. Hippie Man 1: Well...uh...that was his place! Eat a Pita on Telegraph was the first falafel in the United States! Hippie Woman: Ohh. It was really good. Hippie Man 1 (apropos of nothing, as far as I can tell): I was a Fulbright Professor! Conclusion: Don't question Hippie Man 1's authority on the history of ... whatever that fried chick pea food is called ... because he was a Fulbright Professor and you will be wrong. read more

So, I stayed in the hotel, and actually never drank the coffee. It was a decent hotel to stay in, I have no huge complaints. The location was really convieient. I was attending a workshop in El Cerrito, and walked to the BART each day to commute there. The area is gorgeous, there are lots of places to eat and get supplies. The fact that it's right next door to Andronicos is awesome. The room itself was clean, but very worn, and not at all pleasing to the eye. It's a bare-bones hotel. Also, it was really pricey for what it was ($109 a night! $20 more than the price I saw on the internet), I suppose one is just paying for the location... But if there had been a better alternative in the area, I would have stayed there instead. I don't regret staying there, but I wouldn't do it again. read more

Love the hotel and cafe'. Its small but quaint. The service is fabulous, the rooms are beautifully appointed. My go to hotel and cafe in the Berkeley. The Boba tea is awesome as well. read more

Don't stay here! It's disgusting. I consider writing this review a public service because it's really, really bad. The only reason The French Hotel has an average of 3.5 stars is that the French Hotel Cafe is veritably fantastic, and a lot of these reviews are for the cafe (or are skewed by loyalty to the cafe). In fact, besides location, the only good thing about the hotel is that guests get free coffee. Service, atmosphere, pastries, and drinks at the cafe are great, no argument. If you're a Berkeley local, please don't put your folks up here when they visit just because the cafe is one of your favorites, so you assume the hotel must be quality, too. The people who raised you deserve better than this! The husband and I really wanted to stay in North Berkeley on our recent visit to UC Berkeley because we're thinking of moving to the neighborhood. The price ($105/night) seemed decent, and we love all things funky, vintage, independent, and European. We were wondering why their website was all about the neighborhood and barely about the hotel. Now we know. We opened the door to our room expecting cozy old European charm and instead found depressing, outdated smelliness on the level of a gas-station bathroom. The carpet was torn and stained, the bed was covered in one of those nasty old comforters that glows under blue light, and the bathroom linoleum was ripped and moldy-looking. Our balcony was filthy and overlooked the very noisy Andronico's supermarket parking lot, but we were grateful for the sliding door, which we kept open the entire time because of the stuffiness and stinkiness. We had reserved for 2 nights, but after a minute in this room we went downstairs and cancelled the second night. At least they didn't give us any problems about it (though since it was well over 24 hours in advance, they shouldn't have anyway). In fact, the clerk seemed not at all surprised. This must happen a lot. On closer inspection, the room was reasonably clean (no sticky surfaces or anything); but when things are very stained and torn, they need replacing. This hotel could be so much better with a little updating. I've stayed in Motel 6s that were less depressing. In fact, despite being exhausted from the day, we stayed out in town as late as possible to avoid returning to the room. Because of loud noise coming early from delivery trucks at Andronicus, the (hopefully psychosomatic) constant itching, and the freezing cold night air (we had to keep the sliding door open in order to breathe), we didn't sleep well. I do really think we would have been better off sleeping in the car. To be fair, there was one last positive thing: they gave us a free permit for parking in the B of A parking lot, and unlike another reviewer, we didn't get a citation. Bottom line: a lot of good hotels have yucky coffee. This was a yucky hotel with good coffee. We've already been back for the coffee, but you'll never, ever find us staying here again. read more

We had lunch in the area and wanted to sit at a cafe to study/read. This place has good amounts of indoor and outdoor seating and decently made coffees. Our other option was Starbucks and that's so blah. I particularly enjoyed the over 40 (even over 60) native Berkeley Saturday regulars crowd. UBER intellectual conversations, Birkenstocks and crocs, greying hair and unusual instruments being played with fringe musical tastes. This was definitely a fun people watching experience as you can observe everyone who walks down Shattuck on both sides of the street. People watching: 5 Bathroom: 3 Coffee:4 Seating:4 read more

I really really wanted to love this place. Great location in gourmet ghetto, easy walk to campus. Nearby coffee shops galore, including one in the hotel. But come on! Spruce the place up a bit. Room was dark and dank and outright depressing. An ok place to rest your head, but heaven forbid that you want to spend a few hours chillin in your hotel room. This hotel could be hip and happening if they just invested a bit in paint and decor. Price is very reasonable, however. read more

The room at the top rocks! My parents stayed here when they visited me, back when I lived in Berkeley a couple years ago. We got ripped on beer, before taking a jaunt around the neighborhood. The rooms are totally vintage, the service is impeccable, and of course you're in the freakin' gourmet ghetto. And the price is right, very inexpensive. They've also got great coffee -- it's nice to sit down below, chatting with your friends, on an Indian summer morning or afternoon. I would recommend this hotel to anyone who needed a place to stay in Berkeley, that didn't need wheel chair access. That's the one thing this hotel doesn't have. read more

Located on the ground floor of a small boutique hotel sits this friendly little coffee shop. Use the door on the left or else you'll find yourself lost in long dark hallways. While not as popular as Philz down the street, French Hotel Cafe still serves up great coffee at great prices! Easy parking: Plenty on the street or sneak in the huge lot next door. Large drink under $5: Yes Friendly staff: Yes Indoor seating: Comfy tables scattered around, perfect for studying or getting lost in a good book. Outdoor seating: Small metal tables give off a community setting filled with locals. Decor: Large mirrors, lots of natural light, and some artwork hanging on the walls. People with laptops: Yes Hipsters: No Famous Faces: No Foam Art: No People watching: Great! In & out quick: Yes The challenge continues! read more

I was walking down the street, decided I wanted some coffee and ducked into the first coffee shop that came across my path. I was surprisingly impressed with the coffee! I love my coffee and I won't spare harsh words if I think that they are justified. But, you know what, the coffee here was pretty good! The barista seemed a bit overwhelmed because he was the only one working that day, but he made my coffee quickly and I think I spent all but 4min in that shop. It was really efficient. Furthermore, the milk was steamed well, and the grinds were pulled well. Not bad at all! What I really liked was that, unless you ask for the coffee to go, they are going to give you your coffee in a mug. I really love that. It's the way that coffee is supposed to be had! I would definitely go back to this place, grab an outside table and watch the people walking around Berkeley. read more