I am a way station aficionado. Granted, they fucked up one time when they gave me pickles on my cheeseburger when I'm utterly disgusted by the smell and texture of it. Anyway, their sourdough bread with butter and jelly is everything. There was a time that I ordered it religiously. Now, the organic yogurt with granola is my latest obsession. This review isn't to just rave about the food, I want to give a special shoutout to the gal with the dark hair and cheetah top killing it in the kitchen. She has so much passion for ensuring that the orders are correct. Above all, the food seems delicious. As of now, I haven't heard anyone complain. To the owner reading this, give the gal a raise! ~Happy Holiday's read more

Took ages to get my order. Turns out my ticket wasn't printed because the printer is broken (and has been for a while), so I had to wait 25 minutes for a sandwich I ordered to go. Otherwise: good atmosphere, good staff (I would say good food but I'm still waiting!) read more

I am definitely going back to this place. I also tried of their sandwich and it was so good. I keep thinking about how delicious is this place. Staff members were really nice. read more

Way Station Brew - Coffee was delicious! - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

Visited this place on a Sunday morning for brunch. The savory brunch menu items did not look super interesting honestly and needed better presentation. Tried the avocado toast with egg and the cheese burger. The avocado toast was ok, but not great. The cheese burger with added avocado and mushrooms was very good actually, something to come back for! read more

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Went here for Breakfast while waiting for my car to be serviced. I ordered their homemade corn beef hash and eggs. This was delicious! It also came with a piece of fresh sourdough bread. Really hit the spot ! The ambiance is really nice a relaxing. I chose to sit outside as it was a very nice cool morning. The device was friendly and fast. I highly recommend. read more

An amazing cafe! Delicious food, decent prices, fast service, and vibe-y environment. I got the ginger coconut scone, cheeseburger, and cappuccino. The ginger coconut scone was fresh out the oven. I loved that it was not overly sweet or dry. Super solid scone. The cheeseburger came with a side salad and chips. Flavored really well. Super solid cheeseburger. I'm not that much of a coffee person but I enjoyed the cappuccino. They have seating indoors and outdoors. I love whoever is on aux. Fun music selection. At one point, a cute band played live music outdoors. Overall, a lovely atmosphere. The wifi was kinda spotty so I used my hot spot. And they don't have chargers at every seat but do have an area with a lot of chargers. I will definitely be back. I can't wait to try more items on the menu. read more

I've been wanting to try this place for a while! Way Station Brew has an inviting feel, with doors that stay open throughout the day to welcome visitors. For a cafe, they're extremely full-service. They serve drinks, breakfast, and lunch, and I believe they roast their own coffee beans. They have several tables inside and a patio in the back with outdoor seating. Two large windows at the front of the cafe allow plenty of natural light into the space. There is also a small piano inside the cafe, which suggests that there may be live music at some point during the week, although I'm not positive! We ordered drip coffee (free refills), a cappuccino, and a latte. The coffee was flavorful and the portions were large! Honestly one of the largest lattes I've ever been served at a cafe. We also ordered food! We got an avocado toast with a fried egg (not pictured, but the lemon zest was a nice touch), 2 fried eggs with bacon, potatoes, and toast (the bacon was a thick slice and perfectly cooked), and the corned beef hash with fried eggs. Everything was delicious, although I do wish the 2 fried eggs came with something more on the plate. It felt like it was missing something, maybe a small side salad. Way Station Brew is close to the UC Berkeley campus, and there is street parking available! Definitely try this place out next time you're in the area! read more

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Great tasting coffee and espresso and a chill, casual hang-out spot with plenty of seating. I like the baristas, but the service can be clumsy -- for example I had some grains in my drip coffee a couple times. read more

Let me just take a second to rave about the SCONES. I've only tried one so far, but it left me DROOLING and thinking about it more than I should. I was a bit hesitant at first to try the brie and date scone, but the combo is OUT OF THIS WORLD. Try it if you want your life to change. It was so buttery and flaky, AND it was fresh out of the oven. I scarfed it down in maybe 3 minutes, probably less. And the SIZE of it--so generous. I also got a cappuccino with nonfat milk. The espresso was smooth, and the milk was steamed to absolute perfection. One of the best cappuccinos I've ever had. This place knows what they're doing when it comes to coffee. I can't believe I didn't discover this place earlier, but now I'm going to have trouble keeping myself from their scones. read more

Way Station Brew - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Really really awesome spot! We were walking into downtown Berkeley when we saw Way Station, and decided to give it a try. There's no AC inside, so on that particular day it was warm. Tons of seating, free WiFi, so great place to work. The staff is also unbelievably friendly. The store had a ton of unique equipment set up (homemade kombucha, this crazy cold brew machine), and they were super happy to explain all of it. Awesome people! I got a cortado and it was solid. The scones however are truly amazing, the best scone I've ever had. So buttery and flaky, and not dry at all. I started with a apricot (?) pecan scone, and it's not too sweet, with nice pops of fruit. Then got a ricotta scone, and this was great. The savoriness really balances the whole thing. Definitely give this place a go! The scones and vibes are fantastic. read more

Way Station Brew - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The best spot in South Berkeley to study with a delicious matcha or chai latte- great ambiance with lots of tables and an open patio in the back read more

Very cozy and friendly place. Not fancy, but not pricy and offer good coffee and foods. read more

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What a find! This cute cafe had the best homemade yogurt and granola bowl that I've ever had in my life! It comes with fresh berries and a drizzle of honey. Their coffee is amazing too. So good that I had to immediately post a review (which I hardly ever do). Friendly staff and a laid back ambiance complete the picture. I will definitely be back! read more

I recently visited Way Station Brew on a Friday morning and it was busier than I expected. This place is open seating, you order first at the counter then pick a table. There's also plenty of tables in the back. I opted for the Way Station Egger and it was really tasty, especially the bacon. Believe it or not, I don't like all bacon, but this place makes them crispy with just the right crunch. The potatoes were seasoned well and when I cut into the middle of the egg, the yolk ran perfectly. This place is known for their scones and they didn't disappoint. I had a few bites of the blueberry scone that came fresh from the oven, so warm and fluffy. Don't expect service since this is more of a self-serve place as you'll need to bus your own plates/etc when finished. This place is at the edge of downtown Berkeley so plenty of metered parking or a paid lot nearby. I suppose you can street park in the residential areas, just read the signs. #11/2023 read more

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I go here almost every Saturday, the scones are incredible when fresh. I can't recommend the scones enough truly works of art. I suggest going before 10am to pick one up before they sell out. Coffee and drinks are good also! read more

Great coffee house atmosphere but during brunch rush single diners are easily forgotten my" grilled" veggie sandwich was never announced done/ called out for pickup so it sat getting soggy on the counter til I went in to ask about it. I had asked if it was pressed like a panini and the cashier said yes so I ordered it. Actually ithe bread was put through a toaster but barely browned. Don't say it's pressed if you don't even *have a panini press please! The counter staff offered to put it on the griddle to crisp up/ dry out but then no one did and it sat getting cold. I finally had to leave and just asked for it back. It was tasty veggie filling but soggy bread oh well $15 down the drain. Guess I won't be back unless I hear from someone here. Ok the lady who was at the grill came and apologized for not getting to my sandwich. I really appreciated her sincerity and for this reason I will come back for another try, maybe not during a brunch rush. Thank you. read more

Nice interior with an assortment of games and books if you want to relax a bit. There are both individual seating areas and group seating areas, as well as seating outside, but i can see this place get crowded quickly with groups. I got an Americano and toast since they ran out of scones, and bf got the grilled chicken sandwich. Overall it was all good. The coffee felt like it was on the weaker side and the toast on the avocado toast was a bit thin - but I would come by again to try other coffees/scones and enjoy a bit of downtime. Bf said the sandwich was a bit garlicky but not too strong. Servers were all nice and bring out your food for you :) read more

One of my favorite coffee shops! I absolutely love the ambience of this place as it always has the best music on and people having small lunches. I really love doing work in the outdoor space in the back. My go-to is their Iced Vanilla or Lavender Latte with Oat Milk which is really good. Their japanese drip coffee is also great choice. For food, they have a good Wagyu Burger and Braised beef sandwich! I also love the staff as they're always so conversational. My one con for this place is the outlet situation. There is only one outlet at the bar area, which makes it hard for me to spend a full day working. Make sure to charge everything and get there early! read more

Way Station Brew - Main space - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

Disappointing latte served very slowly at a time when there was no rush for orders. After waiting 20 minutes I go up to the counter and a latte is there. "Hey, is this the latte for Mike?" I ask. Person one: I don't know, I didn't make it. Person two, belatedly: oh yeah, I think so. Me: you don't call the names? Person two: oh yeah, we do, probably. The decor is nice. It would be a great place for a student to set up with a laptop and study all day long. read more

Good cafe with full service breakfast and lunch items. Outdoor patio and espresso drinks, and some baked items from Firebrand. However, their baked selection is inconsistent. The staff taking orders is awkward, but the food is good, and so are the drinks. Loved the avo toast and the breakfast is tasty and filling. Overall, if the staff was friendlier it would be 5 stars. read more

I love this unpretentious cafe tucked away on a South Berkeley side street. It has ample seating (including a backyard patio), decent coffee and food, plus beer if you want to stick around for a while and shift from your morning to afternoon beverage. Way Station seems to be popular with UC Berkeley students, but is thankfully not overrun with undergrads. read more

The place was not clean. Service was horrible, food was blend and overpriced, coffee was ok. The person who served me was Warren. Absolutely worst attitude I've ever experienced. Came in to have a good meal and I had asked questions about the food I received because I refuse to accept that I paid for something that was over $30 that shouldn't have tasted that awful and flavorless, and he continued to give me a nasty attitude for it. Do not recommend this place at all. read more

Rude people, waited 30+ mins for a simple coffee and it was trash never coming back don't recommend for real coffee lovers to come either

I love the coffee at Way Station Brew, but I can't say the same for the service. Two weeks ago, I ordered a breakfast plate and paid extra for a slice of toast. When my food was served to me, my plate didn't have any toast. So, I kindly asked the male cashier -- with black facial hair -- if I could be served the side of toast that I paid for. He said yes, and that he would put in an order. I waited for half an hour, but the toast never came. I decided to let it go and not say anything; it was busy and I didn't want to interrupt their workflow. Last weekend, however, I experienced a similar problem. On this visit, I ordered avocado toast and paid extra for two eggs. Again, my dish came incomplete, with only one egg instead of two. I decided to kindly ask the cashier if he could serve me the side of fried eggs that I paid for. This was the same worker that forgot about my toast order just a few weeks prior. He responded by saying that I might've received the wrong plate, and he would put in another order for me. After waiting for half an hour or so, I still had not received the eggs that I paid for. I went up to the counter once more to politely inquire about my order status. That same male worker and his presumably female coworker -- with black hair and dark clothing -- were very rude in response. In particular, the female coworker rolled her eyes and gave me a lot of attitude. When handing me the food after waiting for another 15 minutes, the male cashier told me: "Here's your one singular egg, buddy." I'd like to believe that he didn't intend for his comment to sound rude, but it definitely felt spiteful and condescending. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be going back to this cafe anymore. The service is simply unprofessional and impolite. read more

I'm very disappointed in this establishment. The first time coming, I had a great experience and perhaps the owner was there that day. Then, my second time also my last time ever coming. It was absolutely ridiculous. The staff this time were horrible, not aware and slow. I waited more than 35 minutes for my order of food which was long enough but I was patient. Then when I went to ask the blonde worker who by the way was literally sipping on coffee and texting on her phone at the front the entire time!!!! She said our order was taken by someone else with a "oh well" type of attitude. At least I got a refund but was not offer any incentive for making the situation better. I would not come back here or recommend this place to anyone. They don't even make their own pastries here but charge the amount like they did. read more

Great service, good food. Yummy coffee, great vibe! Reasonable prices. Nice spot to hang out.

I used to really love the brie and date scones, but when I got one today I could not taste the brie nor any chunks of date aside from the one piece up top. Really bland and tasted like baking soda. I do love this gem of a cafe, but wish they would tighten up their food to its previous glory. read more

Love the ambiance! Their coffee is always good. Staff is very friendly and helpful. Must try the scones!!!! Yuummm

Came here today for a coffee lunch break. Right away I could tell the ambiance and decor was slightly dated but I figured that was part of the charm of the place. I ordered an oat milk mocha latte and later ordered a smash burger with gluten free bread. I ordered my drink first and I received a number. I figured the drink would be brought to me so I waited a while to receive it. When I went up to the counter to order my food about 15 minutes later the barista told me that my drink was the one that had been sitting on the side counter. By the time I got to drink it it was luke warm. It also had zero flavor and tasted like it was regular milk. When I got the burger, the gluten free bread was fine but slightly softer than I hoped considering it was suppose to be a "smash" burger. The beef tasted like any regular diner burger. As I was eating it my stomach started to hurt. And about an hour later I couldn't tell if it was the extra dairy from the latte they messed up or something else about the burger but it wasn't enjoyable. I definitely wouldn't come here again considering food and drinks felt like a waste of money and made me sick. read more

Overall, I think this is a good cafe to grab a bite or coffee, but I do not recommend coming here to work. After ordering our food, we found out there was only one singular outlet in a very inconvenient spot. After trying to join the wifi network and not being able to, we asked and apparently there were too many people on the network already. (but the cafe was barely 1/2 full with around 15 people) The ham and cheese croissant was nice and the iced latte was pretty good, but overall I could not work here. I recommend coming here with a book or a friend because the vibes are quite nice and they have a pretty patio area, but don't bring any technology if you don't charge your computer or need any wifi. read more

Way Station Brew - Ham and cheese croissant - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Found this little gem whilst on a trip to Berkeley Bowl and needed a coffee fix before it. Staff were so friendly (I think the British accent helped!). Even got a scone on the house! Will definitely be back. read more

Amongst all the cafes near campus packed with studying students and sugary drinks, Way Station Brew is a more refreshing, sophisticated option, unobtrusively tucked away in a corner of Dwight and Shattuck. I've been a casual visitor of this place. Matcha lattes are my go-to. They're not particular stellar, but as reliable as any other coffee shop. Try it with their house-made lavender syrup! Their food is a bit on the pricier side and pretty standard cafe quality as well. Their scones are apparently popular, but after trying the apple-cinnamon scone and blueberry scone, I'm not sure if I can share in the enthusiasm. The apple-cinnamon was the better of the two, but not worth the $5. While the food and drink are unquestionably average, I especially love the ambiance of Way Station Brew, with marble tables, large windows, and a neighborhood coffee shop feel. The wifi isn't the fastest and there aren't outlets, but this is a great place for light work, reading, or to do nothing but romanticize your life in a cute cafe. read more

Way Station Brew - The perfect aesthetic - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

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THE BEST SCONES EVER!! I would honestly come here just for the scones. They do sell out though so try to come as early as you can. I've had both the blueberry and apple cinnamon. Both were buttery, flaky, and just crumbled when you ate them. So delicious. I've also had the iced matcha. You definitely need to mix it up a bit to make sure you're getting the matcha flavor as it can be a bit subtle if you don't. I love the music they play and ambiance is nice overall. I've also had good experiences w service. Just keep in mind that it does get crowded and that can cause a bit of a wait in the kitchen. read more

Way Station Brew - Iced matcha latte - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I got a pecan apricot scone and... frankly, was discouraged to order other items that I would usually complement my breakfast grabs, like coffee. It's been a while since the last time I felt bad about asking more info for an item (I wanted to know what's inside the scone, since I am no where at the level of knowing which brown specks are what). Maybe the staff at the counter wasn't feeling it that day. I am reminding myself that it's COVID and so I'll blame it on COVID. And I also was slightly on the fence about coffee anyway coincidentally but rarely am I persuaded away from it. There's a very low bar I need to meet (as in, "Is that all for the order?" trigger) I need to slip that into my order. BUT hold on! If anything the the scone itself was bomb - just the right amount of crumbling and full of butter flavor. Honestly anything could have been in it besides apricots and pecan and it still would be have been tasty. Yums!! read more

Way Station Brew - Drink Menu - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

Love their BLTA Sandwich! Highly recommend it. Service could be a bit faster, but other than that, great spot. read more

I was having a very hard time finding a location in Berkeley to host a networking event, until I connected with Way Station. They were amazing to work with and made it super easy to plan for a 40 person event. Warren (owner) was extremely responsive, trustworthy, kind, and accommodating. We congregated outside on the back patio which was perfect for our group. The food was excellent and they had great variety of drinks that were appropriate for our get together. Thank you Warren and Team for a wonderful evening! read more

The house made scones are absolutely amazing! I'm partial to the ginger coconut or the apricot pecan but have been very happy with each one I've tried. Get there early as the scones are limited and go fast. The coffee is very well done and has incredible flavor. The house made sandwiches (both breakfast and lunch) and salads are good and I highly recommend a stop here if in the area. read more

I just moved to Berkeley around the corner from Way Station, and my girlfriend and I eagerly waited for the cafe to open again because it had such great reviews prior to closing for a bit. Totally worth the wait!! -- I really like the coffee and americanos. Lately when I've come in, they're just brewing a fresh pot. My girlfriend is a coffee snob, and this coffee has her stamp of approval. -- I don't drink alcohol, but I love being able to enjoy a fresh flat white at 7:30 pm on a Friday night while my partner sips an ice cold IPA out on the patio listening to live music. It makes me feel included in nightlife "with the young folk" without being surrounded by alcohol everywhere. A+ for the inclusive vibe. -- You can buy great medium roast (my fave) coffee beans here, poured into a bag straight from the container they use for in-house brew. Super convenient when you guzzle as much as we do and run out after Berkeley Bowl closes. -- The smashburger last night was delicious, especially with an added fried egg. Hit the spot, and was the perfect size for the price if you're not into the obnoxiously huge burgers you get at other places. -- Scones and pastries are also super tasty. -- The people are super nice. read more

Way Station Brew - Smashburger with a fried egg and arugula, and a flat white that I couldn't resist drinking before taking the photo - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This place is hip. I asked for a cold brew with an added shot. The guy who served me up said the brew was strong enough I probably wouldn't need a shot(very transparent) and I saved some cash because he was right! The cold brew is top notch and very friendly service. Highly recommend this place. read more

An office colleague suggested we meet here for lunch. It's convenient for me being two blocks from my gym. When I arrived I was pleasantly surprised. The store front used to be a dry cleaners my childhood friends owned. To be honest, there wasn't much that interested me. Kinda of a Berkeley bougie menu. The scones have received raves. Actually, all the pastries looked bomb! The coffee was questionable according to Stephanie Y. I had a scone and a black drip. The patio is lovely and made nice backdrop for our meeting. The staff are very kind and helpful. read more