Exploring the Bay Area

Dera Cafe There’s a new coffee shop in downtown Berkeley that has been winning hearts. It’s called Dera, and it is a place that many people are starting to discover. Dera is a new, aesthetically pleasing, and impeccably clean cafe that brings an unparalleled Pakistani flair to your classic local coffee shop. Offering chai, matcha, lattes, coffee, lassis, plus pastries, waffles, and cakes, as well as savory options, including fries,omelets, samosas, and chaat, this menu has something for everyone, whether you are a picky or adventuresome eater. The interior has clean white marble tiles with deep brown wooden and leather accents that exude simplicity, cleanliness, and elegance. Soft instrumental music offers a soothing touch, and the chairs are soft and comfortable. It’s a place you will want to stay for a while. The tables are spaced just far enough apart for privacy, making it a great place to come with friends, colleagues, or family. It’s an appetizing and inviting ambiance. The servi...

Qahwa Time Qahwa Time is the relatively new coffee shop in Berkeley that takes a unique spin on the traditional notion of a coffee shop. While it serves up quality espresso and coffee drinks and a selection of pastries, like many cafes, it takes the idea of a coffee shop to the next level with its beautiful and serene lobby and its delicious, Yemeni-inspired menu. It’s not just your standard coffee stop; it’s a chance to truly experience something that will move you, satiate you, and inspire you with its exotic and impressive flavor and decor. It’s a quiet and relaxing place to work, meet, or simply savor. I like to come here for the lovely mugs of hot coffee, particularly the lattes, which come in an attractive mug, steaming hot with carefully done latte art. My favorites are the Biscoff latte and the salted chocolate latte. There’s something about this Yemeni blend of coffee that is both mild and powerful. And the milk and sweetness balance this subtle strength to create a pleasant d...

Roast and Toast This café is decorated in an exotic emerald green with gold and brown highlights, and the design pays tribute to the Islamic world. The Arabic music playing on the speakers adds to the ambiance.  The chairs are comfortable, and the space offers free Wi-Fi and a television for watching Arabic music videos or sports. It’s a nice place to stay and sit for a while. Roast and Toast offers a variety of coffee beverages, refreshers, bagels, toasts, croissants, sandwiches, as well as ice cream and pastries. You can order and pay at the cashier counter or use the electronic kiosk.  The prices align well with the quality of the coffee shop and its pleasant environment; they are only slightly higher than those of similar coffee shops. I think that the prices were very reasonable.  The caramel macchiato latte had a good amount of strong coffee and just enough sweetness to temper the bitterness. The end result is a milky beverage that is complex and deep.  Overal...

Espresso Roma Cafe Open daily from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm, this cafe is a great place to start your day or stop by and grab a bite. There is an impressive coffee menu and an impressive food menu. It is a cross between a coffee shop and a casual dining restaurant.   When you walk in, you might be overwhelmed by the number of options, which include eggs, sandwiches, soups, burgers, breakfast burritos, and salads as well as a variety of coffee and tea options. They also have a juice bar and an assortment of sodas.  When you finally choose, you can place your order at the counter, where they will ring you up and accept your payment. They will either prepare your order on the spot or give you a number to put on you table. After that, you can be seated. This cafe has lots of seating. The majority of the seating is outdoors, most of which is under a veranda. There is also a small lounge and eating area inside. The vanilla latte (pictured above) was fabulous. The coffee flavor was deep a...