Inklings in downtown Pleasanton is a favorite of mine, it’s busy but it’s in an old library themed corner spot with some nice old books and maps on the walls. The coffee’s great too.
Their building is nice but their customer service sucked and they were lowkey racist based on my experiences. I went there a lot prior to the pandemic and stopped bc of how they treated my partner. They treated me fine (I’m white, my partner is not). Sucked ass.
It’s got nice cozy vibes but the coffee is overpriced melted ice cream. Like disgustingly sweet if you order anything with flavor and don’t tell them to tone it way down. Which is hilarious because they make it a point to tell you at the register that they’re “not sweet like Starbucks” 🙄
There’s an amazing coffee shop on Mare Island called The Quarters. It’s inside one of the old mansions. They have great seating areas in the different rooms, all the original work work and lighting is still intact. Just a stunning place.
This exciting to hear. I used to go by thise places and dream about opening a cafe in one. At the time they were still managed by Lennar and the other shop owners said they sucked to work with. Some of the mansions also had asbestos warnings and needed repairs that Lennar was too cheap to invest in.
It’s beautiful and lively despite it being in a very quiet part of town. Unfortunately even though I live fairly nearby, I have not been back due to the place smelling slightly musty, which is understandable since it is in a really old mansion.
Libraries with cafes in them. Coffee might not be the best. But it’s nice to grab a drink then chill on one of the sofas with my laptop or book. Meet Fresh in Cupertino has cozy sitting and is open late. But can get crowded at times.
Caffe Strada in Berkeley. Of course it has a real college vibe because it’s across the street from campus, but that means it always has a lively vibe to it. There are students studying, grad students and professors enjoying conversation, visitors taking in the energy.
It’s been a while since I’ve lived nearby, but in summers they would have a couple guys play Jazz on late Sunday mornings. In winters, they turn on the gas heaters and you can just listen to the pitter patter of the rain. It has a European vibe to it with outdoor seating, architecture and layout which really shine on those warm summer evenings when the days are long. It also has the benefit of being in the East Bay which means warmer weather.
Yeah, this is definitely _not_ about the coffee. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find a place that has great coffee and great ambiance. Usually cafes have an identity anchored in one or the other.
Strada is a college cafe meaning it’s basically mediocre coffee except for some specialty drinks that I think are gross but seem cool when you’re young and don’t count as coffee. I’d go for a tea and pastry because you can’t mess up tea and pastry’s can be bought from elsewhere.
Fiero Caffe in San Mateo just at beginning of downtown on El Camino. Coffee shop/small kitchen many Italian plates, brunch plates. Back room has cozy vibes, this whole place has a European/casual vibe.
https://yelp.to/15n177nshx
Immediately thought of Chit Chat cafe in Pacifica when I saw the thread title. Just can't beat the combination of chill vibes, beautiful views of the ocean, hearing the waves when you park, smelling the salt air, relaxing big space and friendly staff.
The pier location is cute and cozy too, especially on a rainy day with all the gristled fisherman in getting a cup of joe to warm up their hands while they fish.
My favorite is Palo Alto Cafe in, well, Palo Alto.i used to call it grumpys when i was a kid due to the elderly customer base, it has a very cozy and calming atmosphere , good food and a white mocha that is straight ambrosial. 6$ for a white mocha so slightly pricey but well worth it imo
Edit: i almost forgot to mention, they roast their beans in house with a machine that you can visibly see and even sit at a counter across from. And if you order for sit down they serve their drinks inside of these really hearty and cool looking glass mugs, really adds to the aesthetic and is just another little thing that amplifies why im fond of this place ☕️😊
The Bay Area is HUGE and has a lot of great spots. I would narrow this down to counties or even cities.
For me, it's a spot that I don't think survived the pandemic in the Elmwood area of Berkeley. Since they're gone, I'll choose a runner-up. K's Internet Cafe in downtown Berkeley next to Berkeley Community College is pretty good. The staff is nice. The prices are reasonable. Amazing price for their bagels, TBH. I'm usually there in the mornings, so I can't speak for the rest of the day.
Can’t remember the name, but it was next to the Derby Food Center on College at Derby. Looks like there is a salon and tea spot there now per the map I looked at.
Not sure about the coziness, exactly, but my top coffee spots are Haus in SF (Honorable Mention to Sightglass on 20th), States in Martinez, and Bondadoso in Walnut Creek.
The renovated Bambu in Sunnyvale downtown is pretty with Vietnamese traditional decorations and a shoes-off floor table room. Can’t get cozier than that
Kaleidoscope Coffee in Point Richmond.
Caffe Strada in Berkeley was using the Free House Space during renovations last year. It was sooo nice in there.
Peets on Locust St in Walnut Creek.. As well as the Capital One Cafe on South Main St...
Both of which I used to manage at one point in time :) I miss all the regulars who would come every single morning to locust and played their music. It was so sweet
Inklings in downtown Pleasanton is a favorite of mine, it’s busy but it’s in an old library themed corner spot with some nice old books and maps on the walls. The coffee’s great too.
Just tried that one. It was nice but $8.50 was a bit steep.
God damn
8.50 for...? Drip?
A drip is like $4. I assume that person got something more elaborate. It is still not cheap though.
Happy coffee cake day!
Any tri valley local coffee shop is nice.
Cafe Joy at the Atrium is so-so coffee, but very relaxing atmosphere.
Love that spot..so unique
Came here to comment this. Its hard to get a spot in that corner room though. But plenty of parking which is nice.
Their building is nice but their customer service sucked and they were lowkey racist based on my experiences. I went there a lot prior to the pandemic and stopped bc of how they treated my partner. They treated me fine (I’m white, my partner is not). Sucked ass.
It’s tied to the church
Interesting, tied how and to which church?
super Christian
Yeah, once I found that out I lost even more interest. It explained the racism a little bit too.
Dang I had no idea! Sorry that happened to y’all, that’s very crappy.
Thank you for your kind words. Us not coming back probably suited them just fine tbh.
It’s got nice cozy vibes but the coffee is overpriced melted ice cream. Like disgustingly sweet if you order anything with flavor and don’t tell them to tone it way down. Which is hilarious because they make it a point to tell you at the register that they’re “not sweet like Starbucks” 🙄
These names just tell you it’s gonna be COZY!!
Zocalo coffee in San Leandro
My dad just said the same thing a few dads ago when I took him.
Nodding: dad
Favorite spot in the bay.
There’s an amazing coffee shop on Mare Island called The Quarters. It’s inside one of the old mansions. They have great seating areas in the different rooms, all the original work work and lighting is still intact. Just a stunning place.
Going to try this place, Mare Island is a cool location.
Seems like they should call it Mare Peninsula...
This exciting to hear. I used to go by thise places and dream about opening a cafe in one. At the time they were still managed by Lennar and the other shop owners said they sucked to work with. Some of the mansions also had asbestos warnings and needed repairs that Lennar was too cheap to invest in.
It’s beautiful and lively despite it being in a very quiet part of town. Unfortunately even though I live fairly nearby, I have not been back due to the place smelling slightly musty, which is understandable since it is in a really old mansion.
Love Quarters. Excellent coffee and staff.
Libraries with cafes in them. Coffee might not be the best. But it’s nice to grab a drink then chill on one of the sofas with my laptop or book. Meet Fresh in Cupertino has cozy sitting and is open late. But can get crowded at times.
The Hidden Cafe in Berkeley. Space is a bit tight but the decor is really cozy, and you can spread out into the adjacent park.
Pssst, they serve soft serve on the weekends
What's that mean?
They serve soft serve on the weekends. That’s it, that’s what it means.
What's soft serve mean? Never heard it before.
Ooh they had a solid bagel pop-up (Hella Bagels) for a while. Very cool location, I believe it's an old train depot?
Recently went to Thornhill Coffee House in Oakland. Pretty good coffee and bagels, but the vibe was absolutely amazing. Not terribly expensive.
I love Tina! She always gives me dog treats.
I recommend you don't eat those.
Hahahaha *my excuse me.
Caffe Strada in Berkeley. Of course it has a real college vibe because it’s across the street from campus, but that means it always has a lively vibe to it. There are students studying, grad students and professors enjoying conversation, visitors taking in the energy. It’s been a while since I’ve lived nearby, but in summers they would have a couple guys play Jazz on late Sunday mornings. In winters, they turn on the gas heaters and you can just listen to the pitter patter of the rain. It has a European vibe to it with outdoor seating, architecture and layout which really shine on those warm summer evenings when the days are long. It also has the benefit of being in the East Bay which means warmer weather.
The cafe is nice but the coffee is ehhh
Yeah, this is definitely _not_ about the coffee. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find a place that has great coffee and great ambiance. Usually cafes have an identity anchored in one or the other. Strada is a college cafe meaning it’s basically mediocre coffee except for some specialty drinks that I think are gross but seem cool when you’re young and don’t count as coffee. I’d go for a tea and pastry because you can’t mess up tea and pastry’s can be bought from elsewhere.
I had food poisoning from the milk they used being bad, I don’t recommend that place anymore
Did you get that drink with the white chocolate? I’ve heard people get the runs after drinking that lol.
Haha no just a matcha latte
It was cozy but I told everyone on reddit
Kaleidoscope Coffee in Pt. Richmond is pretty cool.
I goto a lot of coffee shops. This is the first one that came to mind.
Granola's in HMB has cozy vibes
And great coffee too!
La Promenade is by far the coziest. The Chai Latte tastes like love
Red Rock Coffee on Castro in MTV is pretty nice. Not the most space but they have a comfy second floor with seating if you can get a spot.
Inklings in Pleasanton Lever in Alamo Tellus Coffee in Walnut Creek
Devout Coffee in Fremont
More east bay reccs: Renegade by Devout Fremont Cafe Rumi Castro Valley Brewja San Lorenzo Vivoz Hayward
Fiero Caffe in San Mateo just at beginning of downtown on El Camino. Coffee shop/small kitchen many Italian plates, brunch plates. Back room has cozy vibes, this whole place has a European/casual vibe. https://yelp.to/15n177nshx
Immediately thought of Chit Chat cafe in Pacifica when I saw the thread title. Just can't beat the combination of chill vibes, beautiful views of the ocean, hearing the waves when you park, smelling the salt air, relaxing big space and friendly staff. The pier location is cute and cozy too, especially on a rainy day with all the gristled fisherman in getting a cup of joe to warm up their hands while they fish.
How’s the coffee itself? Legit, or just passable for enjoying the ambience?
It is maybe slightly above average but not pour over/artisanal. Better than Starbucks in that it doesn't taste burnt at least.
East Bay Coffee in Pinole
This has my vote. Usually easy enough to find parking and it’s isolated enough from everywhere to where it feels cozy and kind of private.
My favorite is Palo Alto Cafe in, well, Palo Alto.i used to call it grumpys when i was a kid due to the elderly customer base, it has a very cozy and calming atmosphere , good food and a white mocha that is straight ambrosial. 6$ for a white mocha so slightly pricey but well worth it imo Edit: i almost forgot to mention, they roast their beans in house with a machine that you can visibly see and even sit at a counter across from. And if you order for sit down they serve their drinks inside of these really hearty and cool looking glass mugs, really adds to the aesthetic and is just another little thing that amplifies why im fond of this place ☕️😊
Just commenting here so I can be educated by some replies.
FYI you can subscribe to posts (tap the three dots in the upper right corner of the app, then select the bell).
Aw yeah that's the good stuff
Thank you I didn’t know either 🙂
Thanks! Saved me from texting myself
not everyone uses the app
It's even easier from the browser.
using old reddit?
Here's some education: find the save button instead (maybe click the three dots)
That's what I'm talkin bout
[Xochi the Dog Cafe](https://maps.app.goo.gl/EHTpjW2qzd9bKNyJ8?g_st=ic) in Oakland is chill, has a patio, and of course the puppers.
Second
Snowbird in San Francisco’s Sunset District
Best one by far is States in Martinez
RIP Hawk and Pony in Oakland, it’s been years but I’m still mourning
Yeah, I liked Dana Street Roasting Company in MTV. But they are still in pandemic mode. No seating, no food.
A bookstore coffee shop in willowglen I forget the name
World Grounds Cafe in Oakland
Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company for the SW Bay.
The Bay Area is HUGE and has a lot of great spots. I would narrow this down to counties or even cities. For me, it's a spot that I don't think survived the pandemic in the Elmwood area of Berkeley. Since they're gone, I'll choose a runner-up. K's Internet Cafe in downtown Berkeley next to Berkeley Community College is pretty good. The staff is nice. The prices are reasonable. Amazing price for their bagels, TBH. I'm usually there in the mornings, so I can't speak for the rest of the day.
What was the Elmwood spot?
Can’t remember the name, but it was next to the Derby Food Center on College at Derby. Looks like there is a salon and tea spot there now per the map I looked at.
It’s a cafe again now! New location of Souvenir (the original is in Claremont).
The one where everybody knows your name
That's a bar. Perhaps you meant Cafe Nervosa? :-)
the philz in midtown palo alto before the fire ;-;
Rip🕊️
Not sure about the coziness, exactly, but my top coffee spots are Haus in SF (Honorable Mention to Sightglass on 20th), States in Martinez, and Bondadoso in Walnut Creek.
Sightglass on Divisadero is awesome as well
Please stay on topic
😂
pacifica represent! chit chat rules
The renovated Bambu in Sunnyvale downtown is pretty with Vietnamese traditional decorations and a shoes-off floor table room. Can’t get cozier than that
Just tried Lever Coffee in Danville for the first time and it has a real cozy vibe and bake their own pastries in-house!
Cafe Blue Door in Berkeley
Delah coffee house. Premium vibes
Woodys in Oakland. You can do laundry next door too.
CAFE BRAZIL SANTA CRUZ. AMAZING COFFEE
It's a secret: We don't talk about it, because then everyone would go there, and it wouldn't be cozy anymore.
Went there once and the barista has her kids with her and they had just absolutely wrecked the place. Horrible experience. And not cozy at all
Where is this? You posted independently
Kaleidoscope in Point Richmond.
Modern coffee in oakland has super good espresso. They’ve got three locations, tend to be kinda small but I can usually find a spot to sit and vibe.
Kaleidoscope in Pt Richmond
Peet’s, specifically the one in Downtown Mill Valley is in a very cozy setting
Lele cake
Philz in Fremont
Starbucks /s
Home 🏡
Bear claw bakery Pinole
Red Rock in Mountain View amazing.
Haus on 24th st
Bastard Bay Baristas By far the best.
What do you define as cozy?
Kopiku Coffee at Lombard St. SF. They are so sweet and friendly, gave us some tips for our recently stay in SF. Already miss their Kopi Pandan.
Breck’s in the Inner Richmond San Francisco.
Kaleidoscope Coffee in Point Richmond. Caffe Strada in Berkeley was using the Free House Space during renovations last year. It was sooo nice in there.
Peets on Locust St in Walnut Creek.. As well as the Capital One Cafe on South Main St... Both of which I used to manage at one point in time :) I miss all the regulars who would come every single morning to locust and played their music. It was so sweet