Souvenir Coffee

When I think of a sandwich that has the ability to make my mouth water just thinking of it, few…read morecome to mind, but what the sandwiches they make at Southie is definitely one of them. I've had their Spicy Hog, steak with mushroom, a few Cubans, but the one that I always come back to is "The Balls" sandwich. First off, this sandwich is massive, so be sure that you come here on an empty stomach. These beef meatballs are seasoned to perfection and bursting with flavor. The balls are covered in their red sauce with provolone and Grana Padano, which gives it that nutty and salty flavor that pairs extremely well with the meatballs and baguette. All the juices and cheese just get soaked up to perfection. The baguette bread they use is supplied by La Farine, which is just a few meters away from each other. Just putting out there that La Farine is hands down one of the best bakeries in Oakland, so it makes sense that this sandwich would be so dang good. I'll be honest that I'm not a big fan of the chips or those chips in general and could be fine with just the sandwich. If you are going to have any sandwich to eat here first, I would highly recommend you try "The Balls" because I promise you will not be disappointed. I will always say that the dozen or so times I've been here, the staff are always so friendly, and the atmosphere is very down to earth. The price of their sandwiches is in the $20 range, but the quality and portion make it totally worth it.

The spicy hog sandwich I had a few minutes ago was quite messy but good…read more However, my petty gripe is that it was 2pm, there was an open 2-person table on the side, but I was seated 1 foot from and facing the cash register, and told people were coming for the empty table. No one came and instead quickly several more tables cleared out. Rather than see a few minutes of the England-Serbia World Cup match, I saw a bunch of people up close paying lunch bills. Don't come in solo expecting a side table.

1.3 mi•Rockridge, North Oakland

Inside bar and seating.

Meatball sandwich

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Closeup of a half eaten, grilled persimmon and burrata cheese crostini.

Crepevine Restaurants

3.6(887 reviews)

It's been almost a decade since I've been to Crepevine, when my friends got hungry and we decided…read moreto go to the Rockridge location, I had forgotten how much I liked this place. This place has a big menu of crepes, breakfast plates, salads, and more, with generous portions and fresh ingredients. I opted for the El Paso, homemade corned beef hash with bell peppers and onions over potatoes, topped with melted cheddar and eggs any style, served with toast, and it was a standout. Flavorful, well-portioned, and exactly what I wanted for a hearty brunch. One friend got the Tuscany, a savory crepe with chicken, mushrooms, tomatoes, roasted almonds, provolone, feta, and pesto. Good but not as much as my El Paso. My other friend got the Rockridge, a sweet crepe with strawberries, bananas, and Nutella, which never disappoints. Service here is consistently good. Staff is friendly, attentive, and keeps things moving even when it gets busy. The outdoor patio is a nice bonus on sunny days. It can get crowded on weekends, so go early if you can. Parking in Rockridge takes a little effort, but the location is convenient. Reliable quality, solid menu, and friendly service make this a dependable go-to in the neighborhood.

This place is ALWAYS a great idea, honestly the salads aren't the best but go there for crepes and…read morebreakfast food, it's worth it. Fresh food that's often hot and worth enjoying WHILE it's hot. Last time I was here chilling with someone yesterday and ordered the Tuscan crepe, that didn't disappoint at all. Flavorful and authentic. Comfort food to the max and service was friendly. Please come here lol don't go with what others say...it's actually really yummy, I'm a food snob and this is one of the better crepe and breakfast food spots in the Bay Area.

Inside

Blackstone Benedict

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Mezzo

4.2(1.1k reviews)

0.4 mi•Telegraph Ave

This is hands down one of the best roast beef sandwiches I have ever had. The roast beef is thinly…read moresliced just the way I like it and the optional horseradish adds a nice kick. The real star of the sandwich though is the milk bread. Soft and fluffy. The sandwich was a bit pricey but could easily feed two people, so I'd say it's worth it.

Our friends took us here for a light lunch since we were planning to have a heavy dinner later…read more Ended up going with the honey wheat turkey sandwich and added red onions and pepper jack cheese. The sandwich was AMAZING, loved how they packed it with fresh ingredients and one sandwich was more than enough for my husband and I to split. There's also a place next door that allows you to bring your food over so you can enjoy a cold beer with your meal. Wishing we had a place like this in San Diego, will definitely be back.

Entrance

Veggie delight salad

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Combination (Half Sandwich and Cup of Soup)

Humbowl

4.8(261 reviews)

0.4 mi•Elmwood

This review is based on an order that was delivered. Delivery was punctual and smooth!…read moreWe had humbowl for lunch and it was delicious. Everyone enjoyed their bowls. The ingredients were fresh and I am looking forward to having their food again soon. In particular their pesto was amazing! I will definitely have to get the pesto again next time. I also liked their Miso Chipotle dressing. For our lunch we had spinach and or quinoa for the base. We had options of chicken, vegan legumes which was chickpeas, potatoes and miso veggies which had a good portion of broccoli in it. Hearty and wholesome bowls! Check them out!

I contact Humbowl to cater a 130 person event for my job. We have a lot of dietary restrictions and…read moreneeded someone who accommodates vegan/gf. I'm telling you, Eric and his team are a dream to work with. They took incredible care of us, went above and beyond to ensure every detail was perfect. They literally even added table numbers to the labels, delivered the food, and helped us set it up. They were perfectly on time, the food stayed warm as they promised, and everything was seamless. The care they put into every step of the process made the experience sooo much easier. Truly a game changer. This was the most smooth catering experience I've had in 6 yeats of throwing this event at my job. Fantastic company, great food, 100% recommend! I only downside is that I was running around all day so I didn't get pix of the food

Inside

Vegan Hash + Tofu & side of Togarashi Cauliflower

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New collaboration bowl with Integrate Nutrition.

Kitchen Story

4.0(1.4k reviews)

1.5 mi•North Oakland

Great food and excellent service. Very crowded on Sunday lunch and noisy. But food compensates!read more

I stopped on a whim for breakfast and it was a happy surprise. The Kitchen Story scramble was…read moredelicious. My only concern was that it was too plentiful for me to finish. Service was friendly and helpful, just attentive enough. My seat on the sidewalk made for great people-watching. One other thing, very important. I am a disabled older woman on a mobility scooter, and this morning I was alone. I often get less-than wonderful service under those circumstances in places where I am not a regular. The service and attitude here was warm; I had no doubt that I was welcome. This is an extraordinary place and extraordinary people staff it.

Chicken and waffles, very good. Waffles so sweet, syrup was unnecessary.

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Mascarpone Stuffed Deep Fried French Toast

im Moment Kaffee

4.8(118 reviews)

1.7 mi•North Oakland

Came here after working out for 2 hours and man was I hungryyyy…read more The lady was super nice and you can tell she loves her job. Very welcoming. This cafe is pretty decent size! It has lots of tables and seating for those that want to do some work while having coffee/match/snack. I got the tuna melt and boy oh boy it was so delicious. My friend got the egg panino and we split it. I liked that as well. The jalapenos in there gave it a nice spice to it. I got a protein smoothie which was really filling and enjoyable. My friend recommended this place and maybe we will come back again!

first class espresso is found here…read more staff are exceptionally welcoming with indoor and outside tables offering a comfortable space to relax. the owner often serves a home-made cheesecake which is always our choice when visiting. the street parking can be a challenge but rarely a show stopper!

1.3 mi•Rockridge, North Oakland

Large seating area

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Rockridge Market Hall

4.1(378 reviews)

•$$$

I have been delighted to shop here during the pandemic and cannot express how pleased I am that…read moreMarket Hall limits entrance to 10 customers at a time max. Everyone has been super polite, customers and staff, and the management watches the line closely, as soon as the queue builds up, another register is opened. Thank you Market Hall for such a pleasant shopping experience and for your delightful, high quality foods. * I am so weak for your fresh pappardelle and prosciutto tortellini, learned today that the meat pastas are made with house cured Belotti meats!

This market sells all kinds of things- produce, spices, fresh meat/ seafood, a wine shop, cheese,…read morerefrigerated already made food, and a bakery. Pretty pricey though. Bought some sausages from the butcher and it was $13 for a little package of 4. At the bakery, we bought a slice of chocolate mousse cake, a slice of princess cake, a slice of lemon cheesecake, mini fruit tart, a loaf of sourdough bread, and challah bread- total was a little over $50+. The service was amazing. My husband was inquiring about how an almond cookie tasted like and they took one out of the case and cut it so we could taste it. Everything else we ordered though was delicious. Cheesecake was rich and creamy, the princess cake was moist, the mini fruit tart was fresh, and the chocolate mousse was rich. The challah bread was soft and you can't taste the good quality olive oil that was used. Added bonus is there is a free parking lot in the back. Free parking in Oakland?!? Heck yea!

1.3 mi•Rockridge, North Oakland

Place to buy food and snacks

Flower shop

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Beautiful flower shop

Market Hall Foods

4.1(135 reviews)

I LOVED the Berkeley location! But they closed :( this location seems a bit larger and in a more…read moretransit area next to bart. Still offers same high end food and snacks. A variety of groceries and prepared food are both found here and you can't go wrong. No pets allowed either. Fun place to buy Christmas gifts. The Berkeley staff was super friendly, I can't say I know the Oakland staff but I'm assuming some of the same people transferred over which means same friendly staff as always.

Conveniently located right on College Avenue, across the street from the Rockridge BART station…read more This small and cozy grocery mart has a nice selection of specialty foods snd pantry items that are either made locally/on-site (like fresh pasta and hot deli foods), or imported from Spain, Italy, etc. Prices are at midrange to higher premium because of this. I love their cured meats and cheese sections. Both have a quality selection and solid varieties to choose from. I also like how they will cut fresh pasta for you too. The hot foods in the deli section also looked really good, and there's a bakery with freshly made sweet/savory goodies as well as a changing pizza special every other day. Every section seems to always have a line in their cozy space, so it can sometimes be hard to navigate around to shop. You will need to take a number ticket at each station that you want service from (bakery, hot deli, butcher, etc). The bakery has their own cashier, but the other sections all seem to be paid at 2 registers at the end of the small market hall.

Great Wine Selection

Hot deli, prepared foods

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View while I waited to pay

Kitava

4.4(280 reviews)

2.4 mi•North Oakland

It's nearly impossible to eat out and eat REAL FOOD. I…read moredon't have the motivation, time or patients to cook at home a lot. Kitava is bringing you whole, real, and healthy choices you don't have to feel guilty about. Love it.

If you're looking for a healthy alternative for fast food, this should be top of mind…read more After spending the afternoon training at Witterfield for a 5K, my friends and I decided to find a healthy option and stumbled upon Kitava on yelp. We ordered... Sesame Chicken 4/5 Chicken was crispy. Broccoli was cooked perfectly. It could use a little more seasoning on the chicken and broccoli but the sauce was there to elevate it. Reminds me of panda express haha Miso Salmon Bowl 4/5 Salmon was cooked flaky and moist. Really enjoyed the jalapeño lime sauce. Brussel sprouts were roasted to perfection. Very light and tasty meal. Fish & Chips 4/5 Crispy fish and chips. Simple dish but it was fun and tasty! Evolved Caesar Salad + Paprika Chicken (Protein) 5/5 Absolute favorite. After mixing everything together it was the best healthy salad I've had in a while! Chicken was tender and flavorful! Enjoyed this dish the most. Service 5/5 Ordering is very quick, Staff was very friendly and our order came in timely within 10 minutes or less. They do serve your orders right to you but water and utensils are self served, as well as cleaning up after yourself. There is a 5% mandatory fee for employee health, so be aware of that. Ambience 5/5 I loved the vibes inside. It's very bright and homey. Made me feel good to be there. Seats are comfy and tables are clean. Parking was a breeze. Definitely adding this to my diet rotation if I forget to make a meal prep

Inside

Hummus w/ Soft Egg & Sesame Togarashi

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Banana walnut pancakes

Organic Greens | Elmwood

4.1(103 reviews)

0.3 mi•Elmwood

great outdoor patio, large portions, good clean food makes you feel healthy, full, and restedread more

I randomly came across this establishment. The name intrigued me because of organic obviously. It's…read morelocated in the Elmwood neighborhood, directly on College Ave. Service was great, really nice workers who took my order and prepared it. The cashier was very patient with explaining on how I can order my food since you can customize your salads there. She also told me the differences between the salads that are on the menu. They definitely do give you a lot of food so the price makes sense. I got a chicken salad along with a decaf cappuccino. Love that they have decaf cappuccinos, I might just become a regular just for that option. The food was delicious, very filling. The spot gave very hole in the wall type of vibes but seems like they have plenty of space so people can dine in.

Inside

Chopped Salad to-go

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Thai Girl salad to-go

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Martin D.

128

4 years ago

Sacks closed back in Nov 2020. This space was shut down for over a year until sometime this June 2022. Place was remodeled, cleaned out, but unfortunately made smaller. I lived in the area for over decade and this spot was a favorite for neighbors and students. Been here twice and twice they didn't have any food left (and it's just pastries). A lady asked for decaf and young lady told her politely that they didn't have any, only drip coffee? Offered her an Americano. Ok. I asked for a mocha, took sometime to make, yet there was no other orders in front of me. Mocha, unfortunately was quite sweet. Didn't drink it. Stopped by last week, but they were already closed; there were 4 other students with backpacks surprised the place was closed so early. I can tell you that folks in this area were accustomed to the 7am-7pm hours from before (and sometimes opened up to 10pm, even 11pm during midterms/finals- this place was always jammed packed with students). Just sad to see this place shut down by 5pm daily. After 5pm it returns back to the unopened/unused space people lived with these last 2 years. If you visit, you know you're at Souvenir by the scribble made on their window (they used a marker and wrote their name + hours); it just comes across as of they're not being serious about their business on College Ave. this is too bad. Additionally, they're missing out on the other clientele- the Berkeley Playhouse just across the street. They have shows throughout the year and students at practice- they all came for coffee, snacks, food and hanged out--before and after practice and shows, but Souvenir is closed after 5p daily. Really hope they catch up with what seems to be a long soft-opening and adapt to this neighborhood. read more

Souvenir Coffee - coffee - Updated September 2026

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(502 reviews)

This is a wonderful little cafe near the UC Berkeley campus. The barista who made my latte was such…read morea delightful presence in my day! There is ample space to sit and chat while you sip your drink. They also have a full food menu with a ton of options ranging from snacks to meals. They have burritos, breakfast plates, and pastries all priced very reasonably. Definitely an older place with not as upscale of a vibe, but that's part of the charm. The coffee isn't the strongest but it was serviceable.

Came with my boyfriend to study for finals. The gentleman at the counter was super friendly, we had…read morea great conversation about being from Mexico. He worked diligently and we had our match in our hands before we knew it. The matcha was great as well. I would highly recommend if you are looking for a cute, quiet place to study.

Cafenated Coffee Company

3.7

(408 reviews)

This spot is so easy to miss since it is on Vine and not on the Main Street but you'll be missing…read moreout if you don't go looking for it! I dropped in on the weekend for a quick recharge and had to try one of their specialty matcha drinks. I ordered the matcha coconut cloud with mango and it was perfect. Sometimes cloud drinks seem a bit watered down but they perfected the ratios here. The matcha cloud was smooth and every sip had the sweetness from the mango. Also, their backyard patio space is amazing! I have to come back one day to try their brunch menu.

This place is good for the aesthetics. The cafe is beautiful, with a nice, spacious interior, and a…read morelarge, beautiful exterior with ample seating. There are two large restrooms and some seating out front on the curb as well. The food and drinks look nice, are plated well, and the baristas are very talented at latte art. However, the coffee was not great. I wanted to like it, but the espresso was very watery and almost imperceptible. I get that a cappuccino would be milky, but it just wasn't good. They get bagels from a local restaurant (Boichik Bagels), and it was fine. I honestly don't think it's worth the price though. I really wanted to like this place. It's very well designed and they have good branding, aside from the AI matcha sign, which looked pretty unappetizing. The workers are very efficient and nice, so I was hoping the food and drinks would match the quality. I think this is a good place to go and take pictures or for events, but if you're going for the food or coffee, there's much better cafes around.

Baker & Commons

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(317 reviews)

Coffee and service and ambiance of sitting outside were all lovely…read more The biscuit sandwich I'm sorry to say was overrated. The biscuits fell apart, and as a sandwich it was a little dry and missing something, maybe a savory jam would've helped? Next time I'll try something sweet instead - the pastries look great.

Food was cold (wasn't supposed to be)…read more Coconut cream pie was heavy and not fabulous.

K's Coffee House

3.4

(78 reviews)

I go here all the time for a quick stop for a snack, sandwich, pastries and they are always so kind…read moreand perfect spot next to the college. Great place for studying too.

I've had matcha from many places, but I've never had matcha that tasted this bad. It was honestly…read moreawful. On top of that, the staff treated me very poorly. When I asked about the issue, instead of helping me, they laughed and made fun of me. ‼I will never come back to this place or spend my money here again.

Detour Cafe

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(9 reviews)

their espresso was solid and croissant was buttery. service was friendly remembers regulars. place…read morehas relaxed neighborhood feel. good spot to hang out.

coffee was solid and pastries were fresh from their bakery. staff is friendly remembers regulars…read more place has chill vibe good for working or just hanging out. decent neighborhood spot.

Poindexter Coffee

3.0

(3 reviews)

Wonderful little gem of a cafe offering light bites and great coffee. Located just off the south…read moreside of campus and attached to the Graduate Hotel, Poindexter Coffee offers a lovely environment for some quick studying, catching up with friends, or grabbing a quick treat. There is limited seating indoors but they do offer some small tables outdoors. Their baked goods are from Starter Bakery and their roasts are from Saint Frank Coffee. Service was amazing! The barista who helped me was very friendly. I was also in and out in less than 5 minutes. I stepped in at 11:50am and was out the door with my latte at 11:53am! Every time I've walked by, it hasn't seemed too busy, and I was the only customer at the time I went (albeit, Poindexter closes at 12pm daily so I was lucky to get in right before closing). I love the interior; it's beautifully decorated, spacious, and airy. I personally love the fact it's not too busy -- some peace and quiet is nice, especially since Southside of campus is usually so crowded. I do wish Poindexter had more customers though -- they have some of the best coffee I've had on Southside. I ordered a large iced latte (comes with 3 shots of espresso) with oatmilk and my total came out to be $5.44 with tax. I believe a large iced latte is $5 before tax, which is very very fair consider how other cafes in Berkeley are priced. I was also pleasantly surprised I wasn't charged for milk alternates!! They do close early in the day, 12pm, so I'd highly recommend getting there early to grab coffee and snag some of their baked goods. By the time I went, 11:50am, the kitchen was already closed and their baked goods were already packed away in the counters. Would def be back!

Ridiculously understaffed and under supplied!! No hot breakfast food and out of basic things like…read moreyoghurt and granola at 9 am on a Sunday morning! As a Diamond guest at the Hilton hotel next door - this is unacceptable.

Sana'a Cafe

3.8

(6 reviews)

***** Wonderful café with such kind and welcoming staff! The…read moreowner was very generous and even gave us a discount and extra pastries on our first visit. The cashiers are always smiling and friendly, especially the lovely cashier who wears hijab. Her kindness really stands out. Highly recommend this place

New coffee spot on Telegraph that took over the Peet's location. Beautiful interior, lots of cushy…read moreseating, and quick service. There were plenty students already stationed and studying so I presume they have wifi. Drink wise, the mocha latte I got had a bit of middle eastern spice flare to it that I wasn't expecting but to be expected, and it was very nice. I didn't get any of their dessert/food offerings but there are quite a bit of options to choose from.

Qahwa Time

4.7

(49 reviews)

Visited: Saturday, August 15, 2026 -- around 3:30 PM…read more HYPER-HOT COFFEE, FLYING CARPETS & THE DEATH OF DRIVE-THRU MONOTONY Had a late-afternoon coffee craving while wandering Berkeley and landed at Qahwa Time. "Qahwa," appropriately enough, means coffee in Arabic, so nobody here is hiding the ball. First impression: friendly service, casual atmosphere, and just enough energy to make the place feel fun without someone trying to convince me I've joined a movement. I ordered the Modawar, a Yemeni-style coffee with evaporated milk, a touch of sugar and cardamom. And sweet caffeinated Moses -- this coffee arrived HYPER HOT. Not "wait two minutes before sipping" hot. I mean HOT hot. The kind of temperature where weaker men begin blowing frantically across the lid while quietly researching personal-injury attorneys. Perfect. I like my coffee served somewhere between volcanic and OSHA investigation, and this was excellent. Rich, aromatic, lightly sweet, with the cardamom coming through beautifully without kicking down the door and taking the entire beverage hostage. I was also stranded in that bizarre 3:30 PM jurisdiction where lunch has already left town but dinner hasn't been sworn into office, so I ordered a beef fatayar. Now THIS thing was fun. Warm folded pastry stuffed with beef and potatoes, carrying these wonderful curry-flavored undertones. Soft, savory, hearty, slightly doughy -- comfort food with just enough spice and personality to make you sit up and pay attention. About three bites in, I felt like I should have been sitting cross-legged on a carpet, flying directly into a genie lamp at full speed. I realize this may not be the traditional Yemeni dining experience. But it was mine. There was something almost pierogi-ish about the warm potato-and-meat comfort of it, except somebody apparently handed the pierogi a passport, introduced it to cardamom and curry, and told it there was a much larger world outside Cleveland. And speaking of that larger world: I am absolutely stoked that Yemeni coffee houses keep popping up all over the Bay Area. Bring them on. Yemeni coffee. Ethiopian food. Salvadoran pupusas. Korean barbecue. Burmese noodles. Filipino breakfast. Afghan kebabs. Georgian dumplings. Give me cuisines I can't pronounce correctly on the first attempt. Because when it comes to food, the more the merrier. A world where 95% of your culinary decision-making consists of Wendy's, McDonald's or Chick-fil-A isn't technically a human-rights violation, and I doubt The Hague will be opening an investigation anytime soon. But good Lord, what a dull existence. There are only so many times a grown adult can stand beneath fluorescent lights contemplating whether tonight represents a Dave's Double moment or a Spicy Chicken Sandwich moment before the human spirit begins requesting asylum. So yeah. Give me the Yemeni coffee house. Give me the nuclear-temperature Modawar. Give me the beef-and-potato fatayar that launches me across Berkeley on an imaginary flying carpet toward a genie lamp. Qahwa Time made my afternoon substantially less boring. And these days, that's worth celebrating.

Wow. Just wow. Talk about a NICE refresher…read more If you like juice/refreshers and have been looking for a good spot outside of Starbucks, please definitely give this place a try. Their service was very quick and nice. The ambiance was very nice as well, with a lot of nice decor.

Artís Coffee

4.1

(788 reviews)

Love Artis Coffee!…read more My wife and I haven't been on Fourth Street Berkeley in a long long time! Thankfully while doing some shopping and after a great meal at Divan Restaurant a few block away we popped into Artis Coffee. Wow! It was after 4 pm but what the hell, I ordered a cappuccino and my wife order a defca cappuccino, several pastries and took in the HUGE space! Our cashier was very friendly and appreciated our humor and debate on whether to have a "decaffeinated" cappuccino or not. I convince my wife to order one and she loved loved loved it! My "hi test" cappuccino was spectacular, smooth and perfect! Honestly, It took me back to Roma where we had aour honeymoon 22 years ago! Bella! If you find yourself on Berkeley's Fourth Street and looking for a perfect roasted coffee make sure to hop into Artis Coffee and I know you will love it too!

Artis Coffee was okay…read more I had an Ube Latte, 12 oz, iced, with matcha and oat milk ($8.50 plus $2 tip) and it was good. Artis opened on December 7, 2013 and is located on the northern end of the Fourth Street Shops (a.k.a. Fourth Street Berkeley). This is a fairly spacious cafe with an industrial/warehouse, minimalist look. During my afternoon visit, it was busy inside and out on the covered patio. Lots of people on their laptops. Artis roasts their own coffee. Service was fine. I got a side eye from the cashier/barista when I asked where the water station was (it was my first time and I was unfamiliar with this place), but they were nice and polite otherwise. The water pressure at the self-serve faucet was too strong and sprayed water everywhere. Good for a coffee fix if you're in the area.

Caffe Strada

3.8

(1k reviews)