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    Shapeshifters Cafe

    4.6 (187 reviews)
    Closed 6:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    SHAPESHIFTERS CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Good for working
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Shapeshifters Cafe

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    Patio
    Jwana P.

    Cute little hidden gem in Oakland. Private patio area for a chill day at the cafe. Free WiFi and easy street parking! Enjoyed a cafe latte on the patio area. Nicely shaded in case it gets hot! Staff were kind and inviting! Would recommend!

    Lila L.

    Shapeshifters Cafe is always my go to whenever I'm in the area. The pastries at are out of this world! I tried the croissant, and it was perfection - flaky, buttery, and perfectly sweet. It's clear that they use high-quality ingredients and put a lot of care into their baking. Their lavender latte is a blend of rich, smooth espresso with the subtle, aromatic hint of lavender was both soothing and invigorating. It's a must-try for any coffee lover looking for something special and unique. Shapeshifters Cafe is a gem that I can't recommend highly enough.

    Menu as of 7/7/22
    Kevin W.

    Sometimes, there is nothing better than a good sandwich. When I get that craving, I usually like to go to Autobahn Cafe. Located a good 4-5 blocks away from Jack London Square, it's a nice walk and offers the perfect amount of time to decide what to get. The staff, although rotating a couple of times within these last few years, are always friendly without there being too much pleasantries. They serve very tasty sandwiches, breakfast burritos, pastries, and espresso drinks. I'm not the biggest fan of their dripped coffee, but oh yes for their lattes. They serve their sandwiches with nice quality ingredients and the portions are always just-right, enough to enjoy a beverage and a side of chips.

    Checking out this cozy little Cafe.
    Antonio L.

    It is a nice place. And it is open early in the morning and good for breakfast. Service was quick, and food came out pretty quickly.

    Isaiah D.

    Not a huge fan, they aren't doing bagels anymore - probably to force people to spend more money. Breakfast burritos are a high tortilla ratio. And you'll walk out spending $14. I'll be back for $5 bagel and cream cheese.

    Turkey Pastrami Sandwich, chocolate crossaint
    Loren R.

    I love the Saturday brunch on first Saturdays! The breakfast burritos are great and they usually have yummy specials on Saturday.

    Egg Sandwich w/turkey on whole grain bread.

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Consistently delicious fresh food and drinks. Great salads and lunch specials. Breakfast burritos are deelish.

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    2 years ago

    Really cool neighborhood cafe in old Victorian building. They make their chais from scratch--steamed tea leaves and all.

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    4 years ago

    The portobello sandwich is to die for. Food is fresh, staff is friendly and coffee is very delicious

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    9 years ago

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Shapeshifters Cafe

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    Good Vybes & Brews

    Good Vybes & Brews

    4.4(11 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    This cute lil cafe and the wonderful man behind it is a blessing to the neighborhood and community…read more If you want a delightful start to your morning, this is your spot. Constantine is a true craftsman with his drinks. The staples are great here, but the seasonal specials are unbeatable and can't be found anywhere else. His detailed oriented intentionality shines with them. He's always looking to create something new and I can't wait to discover his next work of art. I also appreciate the creative ways he involves the community, from inviting guests to write each other loving sticky notes to partnering with local artists to bring joy to our lives. Do yourself a favor and stop by soon.

    We feel quite lucky to have Good Vybes so close. It seems like their specialties are "milky"…read moreespresso and tea drinks, which isn't a frequent drink choice of mine, but I have had their shaken espresso and it is my favorite coffee "drink" of memory: still good and bold but also with a hint of sweetness and some other flavor complexity that isn't just coffee. Notably, their drip coffee is really good! This is our go to stop if we have run out of coffee to brew at home and we frequently drop in for a quick couple of cups of drip. Whatever they are brewing on any given day is really tasty! I have to think their pour overs would be fantastic. One thing we sort of wish they had was a comfy couch and some books, and maybe a nice rug or something? A little something to make it feel cozier if we were to stay there with or drinks, but that being said we will continue to make this our go to place for good coffee on the weekends. Don't get me wrong, they do have lot of good seating options, and not the tippy, high barstool types without back support that seem designed to discourage people from staying long. They are already set up as a good place to hang and work or study for a bit! All around, they are a great edition to the neighborhood!

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    Earth Grown Drinks - Detox

    Earth Grown Drinks

    4.6(29 reviews)
    0.4 miOakland Chinatown

    Recommended by a running friend to try this place. I was a bit shock that this is a grocery store…read morethat sells smoothies, chinese herbal drinks, snack, and others inside the store. This is good as it means they use fresh fruits for their smoothie. I got the cantaloupe and strawberry smoothie. It was so good. Their menu explains the benefit of each drink and has lots of choices. This is my 1st time seeing a store in the U.S. that sell order chinese herbal drink. Definitely will be back when I'm feeling a little "hot air".

    I drove by this place a few times but parking is bad because it's in Chinatown (only street…read moreparking). I finally tried this out since we were eating at a place nearby and got lucky and parked right across from this shop. They not only have juices and teas. They sell other items, fresh veggies, fresh fruits and California Lottery Tickets. ----LOCATION---- - Located in Chinatown - Street Parking, plan accordingly or drive with someone and have a friend hop out of the car for order pick up ---HOW TO ORDER/PAY---- - Order/Pay in Person or on a variety of food apps like Uber Eats but also you can order through YELP. - I recommend ordering on YELP or another food app so that pick up is quick and efficient. ____DRINKS____ ----CANTALOUPE & STRAWBERRY JUICE---- - I created this using their "3 Choice" Juice option - Super refreshing! Especially on a hot day - Keep in mind that they are no added sugars, it's straight up fruit and not so sweet - Super healthy! ---- VITMAIN C TEAM---- - This is one of their pre-made juices that is ready for purchase. - They make it themselves - Great for if you're feeling sick, around sick people or for before/after a trip and you need that extra vitamin c boost! - A heads up, the ginger taste is strong in this ----DRAGON FRUIT SMOOTHIE---- - This is was refreshing and tasty. I liked how it wasn't too sweet. My boyfriend originally ordered this but didn't like it so much because it tasted like "Earth" but that's the whole point for it to be no additives and straight fruits and no artificial flavoring... more for me because I drank his smoothie LOL ---SERVICE---- -Service is amazing. They are very kind and grateful. If you have any questions regarding their drinks, they will explain them to you. ---RESTROOMS/INTERIOR--- - No restrooms - It's a small corner shop - This is a more of a grab and go type of establishment ----REASONS FOR MY 5 STARS---- - Variety of fruits and veggies for drinks - Great customer service, they were/are very patient and kind to everyone that they interact with while I was waiting for my drinks

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    Lane-e Kefa Coffee - BLT

    Lane-e Kefa Coffee

    4.5(154 reviews)
    0.7 miLake Merritt
    $

    Look, I'm a man who respects the process - so I know what it means to apply yourself and deliver…read morequality. That's exactly what Lane-e Kefa Coffee does with their food. I pedaled my bike over there this Wednesday morning, aiming to secure a proper breakfast that would actually carry me past 11 a.m. The shop is cozy, definitely on the smaller side with a few seats inside, giving it that familiar, neighborhood spot feel. It's not a sprawling, antiseptic café, and I appreciate that. I ordered the Laney Breakfast Sandwich, which features egg, fresh spinach, sliced turkey, and Swiss cheese on a toasted English muffin. What impressed me was the intentionality--this wasn't something sitting under a heat lamp, looking defeated. It was clearly made to order. The egg was seasoned right, the turkey wasn't flimsy, and the spinach added that necessary fresh bite. It was a damn good sandwich, simple as that. I paired that with the Berry Lovers Smoothie. The original recipe calls for banana, but I asked if they could swap that out for mango. My people know that mango adds a different kind of sunshine, and they executed the substitution flawlessly. It came out thick, perfectly blended--a rich mix of blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and that mango kick. It was super refreshing and didn't taste like I was drinking melted ice. The service was quick and friendly, which is key on a weekday morning. Everything tasted clean, fresh, and intentionally prepared. If you're looking for high-quality breakfast fare that feels less commercial and more like something someone actually cares about, stop by. The short bike ride and the intimate seating are worth it for what comes out of that kitchen. They earned this review.

    I walked in at 7 am for my first time and I asked for a bagel with cream cheese. As in REGULAR…read morePLAIN bagel , nothing in front of the word. He handed me my food and i walked out. As I get to the corner to eat my food I notice he gave me an EVERYTHING's bagel. I walked back inside and say excuse me you gave me an everything's bagel. I only wanted a regular bagel.He states you didn't ask while going in the register to refund me. I said oh okay that's how you do business and left. Idk what his problem was but it was hella rude and i warranted! Don't recommend this place at all.

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    Sweetheart Cafe - Highly recommend the jasmine green milk tea

    Sweetheart Cafe

    3.8(260 reviews)
    0.4 miOakland Chinatown
    $

    You can order at the tablet screen but I ordered at the counter for the $1 off if you get a combo…read more(drink and snack). I got the boba milk tea large size and a spicy popcorn chicken. The milk tea quality honestly was ok. I am not sure why I tasted a hint of thai tea lol but I did not mind. The boba quality was great. Perfect texture and I love how chewy it is. Plus they gave a good boba proportion! The popcorn chicken was not spicy enough for me so I used the powder they had near the seating area. I think they try to not make it too spicy because a lot of families and kiddos order it so they probably don't want to make it very spicy. You can sit here too as you wait or as you eat. Staff are typical - not overly friendly but not cold. They are ready to work and hustle! Many childhood memories associated with this place. It has remained a place I will always come back to.

    This review is long overdue! I grew up going to sweetheart for boba and small treats! It's across…read morefrom the Chinese school (that I used to attend over 10 years ago). I really liked all the candy/snack options there! Their coconut smoothie or jasmine tea with boba used to be my go-to! They used to have these curry fish balls that I was obsessed with! I'm not too sure if they have it now or not, since I forgot look for it when I came. Overall, sweetheart gives me nostalgic vibes. I'm so glad they are still open till this day!

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    Cafe Da Fonk! - Breakfast sandwich

    Cafe Da Fonk!

    4.8(14 reviews)
    0.2 miJack London Square

    Friday 13th is usually associated with bad omens but for our March 13th, 2026 I had the good…read morefortunate of grabbing brunch at Cafe Da Fonk! Unseasonably warm for this time of year, I sought a refreshing matcha and brunch with my partner of 3 years. Cafe Da Fonk had a lovely ambiance that calmed my nerves and adrenaline after our trip to the gym. The rustic feel of the cafe partnered with the soft natural lighting made me feel welcome. The staff was very kind and took our order. I ordered a Halal Zadies Breakfast Sandwich with a tiger matcha while my partner ordered the Mulberry Lemonade. The food came out in a timely manner. We enjoyed our brunch greatly and look forward to our next trip to Cafe Da Fonk! We wish you the best in all your ventures.

    So...this is my third time at Cafe Da Fonk in a week, and I am not ashamed! My first time was…read morelast Wednesday on a fluke. My friend and I had seen the breakfast sandwich on Instagram almost two years ago (I know!) and it was on our "places to go for brunch or lunch" list. When we saw the post on IG they were still in San Francisco and I don't get over to that side of the Bay often unless it's for something specific. I happened to be over there last Wednesday morning and thought about the sandwich, looked them up and saw that they were now in Oakland! So I grabbed my daughter from school and we went to try it for the first time. I had the brisket biscuit, she had the spam bowl and both were delicious! I'm very picky about lemonade, and theirs is one of the best I've had in a long time. Not too sweet or sour and very refreshing. Everything was so good that I came back the next day with the friend I made the list with for a lunch we'd already planned but hadn't decided where to go. He had a brisket biscuit and enjoyed his food so much he said he would also be back. I had the breakfast sando and it was as good as it looked on the post I saw. We also both had the adaptogen coffee with ashwaganda and enjoyed it very much. My daughter and I decided to eat out for lunch today and when I asked where she wanted to go, she immediately said , "No question, Cafe Da Fonk". So we're back, her for the second and me the third time and it most certainly will not be our last. If it's on the list, just go. The owner Yasmeen is super sweet and has created a cute, vibey space with great food and drinks, please support her!

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    Brad's Beanz Enterprizes

    Brad's Beanz Enterprizes

    5.0(2 reviews)
    0.2 miJack London Square

    This place is probably the most amazing spot ever. Not only is the coffee crazy strong, like give…read moreyou the jitters, profuse sweating, seeing visions, speaking in tongues kinda strong, there is also a place to work on your Harley Davidson with all the parts and cobbled together bits imaginable. I mean I don't own one because I wanted to buy a motorcycle that started and runs when I want it to. You know, a functioning motorcycle that is fast, great for riding that doesn't draw the attention and ire of everyone around you. Or doesn't require constant maintenance and parts that are sourced by one company who artificially inflates prices. Anyway.... The coffee is good. Better than Starbucks, who sucks.

    I have to say I was pleasantly surprised when I first walked in and became a customer of Brad Beanz…read moreEnterprises. The owner was very gracious. He provided me with multiple tokens to enjoy his delicious coffee FREE. It kind of reminded me of how crack dealers lure their customers in, free sample, you are then hooked and next thing you know you are selling your grandmother's television set for another cup! I do have to say that the barista is not very friendly. On one occasion I had been partaking in a few tasty adult beverages and mustered up the courage to ask her out on a date. She never said a word, I reached down and grabbed my coffee and was given a cold blank stare. It might be my fault, she may have seen me go to the Starbucks a block away the day before, it's not like I went to Peet's. The decor is awesome, there are multiple television sets, over twenty chairs to choose from, wild animals running free and always good conversation. Brad you are the man, keep it up and please put a good word in for me with the coffee maker. She's a hard one to crack!

    Shapeshifters Cafe - coffee - Updated May 2026

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