These cafés offer a range of atmospheres, from cozy hideaways to bustling community spots.
Oakland, California, is one of the largest cities in Northern California, boasting natural scenery such as Lake Merritt and the oceanfront, as well as a few notable anthropological sites, including the Oakland Museum and City Hall. There are enriched cultural themes in the downtown area.
Oakland is also known for its vibrant food scene, including a variety of unique and cozy cafés. Here are some of the great café shops I used to sit around, ponder about, do research, relax a while, and enjoy a cup of gourmet coffee or tea.
Peet’s Coffee: In any city of the world, I always look for one of my favorite coffee shops: Peet's Coffee. They usually open in the very early morning and convey the people-friendly philosophy. Near Lake Merritt, Peet's coffee in Oakland is also very popular, with lots of customers at different age groups. They usually have plenty of seats, people sit alone or gather together, relax and enjoy their cup of coffee or tea; do their things or cultivate their interests, making the day feel more interesting and making life feel better.
Awaken Cafe & Roasting: In the early morning, the city just started waking up, and the "Awaken Cafe" also opened up in the city center area, welcoming customers coming in. I like their drip coffee, truly waking me up, stimulating my thoughts to embrace a fresh new day.
Farley's East: One day, when I walked around Lake Merritt and passed through the long, long grand Avenue, I just felt a bit exhausted. I met this great Cafe shop. It truly made me feel my journey both grand and far, with lots of ideas coming to my mind. The staff were friendly, and told me there was space on the second floor as well. When I sipped their cup of tea, I felt relaxed, either surfing around or studying there, it was both vibrant and warm. It seems they have a lot of old customers visiting there frequently.
Rise & Grind Coffee: Near Lake Merritt, this is also a popular cafe for local people, as I saw groups of people coming here to chat; seniors sit there reading newspapers. Some clients brought their pets to visit here, the staff not only serve drinks to customers, but also give some treats to the pets, very friendly. There were plenty of seats, people enjoyed doing different things there, not every moment was quiet, but overall it was relaxing.
Oaklandia Cafe: It's another charming cafe located in the city center, with great design and decoration. I sipped a cup of tea there, enjoyed the atmosphere. They post some great coffee-making philosophy on the wall, very thought-provoking. It was quiet there in the early morning, so I could sit down and do some study.
Merritt Station Cafe: Near the lake Merritt and Grand, this is another good cafe for both visitors and locals, with a quiet environment with some soft music tones. The decoration here has a theme of Tibet; I enjoy sitting here doing the research after walking across the beautiful Lake.
Tierra Mia Coffee: It's a big cafe shop with some pop music playing around. People there were comfortable chatting around or reading on their own. Either sipping the coffee or tea, sometimes, I looked out of the window, seeing the vehicles or pedestrians coming back and forth, feeling the urban theme.
Sana'a Cafe: It is another charming cafe shop with friendly manner and charming atmosphere, opening early and closing late. I like their tea, it inspires the thoughts and relaxes the mood. Their customers are also quiet, no noise, just sometimes having a friendly chat, many of them sit alone and enjoy their coffee or tea.
Aroma Cafe: Although it's a small cafe, the name is great, and coffee or tea is also not so bad, smells like the aroma. People come and go as they don't have lots of seats, the staff are friendly, I believe the local people love the shop for its convenience.
Bagel Street Cafe: It's another nice cafe shop in the plaza of Oakland. Local professionals stop by often to buy their breakfast or lunch. You could sit either inside or outside. Both coffee or tea are fine, some customers like to read there. It's the cafe brings convenience to locals and tourists.
Cafe Uccello: It serves both drinks and food. There are plenty of tables there. The tea is fine, and I could also concentrate on researching. Overall, it's a quiet environment, and people enjoyed their drinks or breakfast.
Highwire Coffee: Across Broadway Street, the sign of Highwire Coffee attracted me to visit there. There were not so many seats inside, but it was an early morning, and I could still find a place to sit, sipping my cup of tea. So high or low depends on what made us feel good or bad, relaxed or nervous. On that day when I stopped by, it was not so bad...
Sweet Bar Bakery: One day, when I walked through the long, long Broadway street on a weekend day, I just wanted to have a drink. I met this sweet bakery, ordering a cup of tea. I saw people eating their sweet bakery there. The atmosphere was relaxing, people chatted around, and the staff were busy serving customers old or new with a sweet attitude...
Kefa Coffee: This was a convenient cafe near the Bart station. Many locals come here to order their daily coffee or breakfast, and the staff were chatting with their customers friendly manner, obviously they knew each other for a while. Some local workers also come to the shop often, ordering their familiar food. I could still sit, doing something, and enjoy their coffee.
Ultimate Grounds Cafe: This cafe is located on the other side of the city. I like its name, making me feel insightful and solid. When I entered the cafe, the atmosphere was so warm and charming. I sipped a cup of tea, did some research, and shared the insight about ground-up leadership.
Oakland offers a diverse range of cafés that cater to different tastes and preferences. Of course, there are still a lot of cafes I haven't had the chance to visit yet. Whether you're looking for a place to grab a quick coffee, work on your laptop, or enjoy a leisurely brunch, you'll find plenty of great options in the area.
These cafés in Oakland offer a range of atmospheres, from cozy hideaways to bustling community spots. Whether you’re in the mood for a quiet place to work, a lively spot to socialize, or simply tasting great tea or coffee, there’s something for everyone in Oakland’s vibrant café scene. Enjoy your café-hopping!
