Exploring the Bay Area

Dessert N Spice This cute little bakery can be found along University Avenue in Berkeley. The bakery is not large, so there are only about three tables and a few more stools along the bar against the wall. It's a nice place to stop for or pick up a sweet treat. Entering the bakery, you will see sunlight streaming through the big windows and three big glass cases illuminated by bright lights. Inside these cases are premium pastries like specialty cakes, muffins, baklava, croissants, cookies, and macaroons. Each one looks like a work of art.  They also serve caffeinated beverages. They have an americano, a caramel macchiato, a latte, a caramel latte, a dark mocha, a white chocolate mocha, steamed milk, hot chocolate, and chai tea. They also have a selection of canned sodas.  When you have decided which of the pastries you want from behind the glass, you can order and pay at the counter, where they accept contactless payment. The service is very good; the people are polite, and ...

Caffe Chiave Caffe Chiave is a cute and homey Italian cafe overlooking San Pablo Avenue in Berkeley. It’s the kind of place you go to when you’re hungry and leave feeling satisfied.  The interior design, like the menu, has clearly been influenced by Italian style and culture. Its design utilizes warm-colored wood and dark red trim, a color scheme that reminds the visitor that this is an Italian cafe. The speakers play instrumental music that goes with the Italian-inspired theme. The cafe is not particularly large, nor is it jam-packed. It holds about twenty small tables that are spaced apart enough to give each table some distance and privacy. This creates a cozy and comfortable feel. With the nice Italian music to help drown out conversations between other guests, it’s a very nice place to have an intimate conversation with friends or colleagues over food or coffee. Caffe Chiave serves the public as both a coffee shop and a restaurant. The baristas sell coffee (including house dri...