Bench Café • Pâtisserie

Austin Zhuang 5 months ago

Both hands up for this wonderful coffee place I happened to stumble upon, right outside the skirts of Downtown Berkeley. They're located right on the intersection of MLK and University, right behind the Indian restaurant. This coffee place is honestly a little bit small, so please proceed with caution at all costs. But it really makes you feel cozy at home. They do have upstairs seating, but rather really limited. It will be full at times, and at times, not at all. It depends on the time that you go. They have a wide assortment of sweet and savory pastries available as well. I got their ham & cheese scone, as well as their speciality drink, their banana cream iced coffee. I love how balanced their iced coffee is with the banana cream, which surprisingly, is made with ACTUAL banana puree made from actual bananas. The barista who made my drink was very nice and very chill, and served it rather quick. That's what's up! If you're looking for a locally-owned coffee shop right here in Berkeley, look no further than Bench Coffee! Trust me, it will be a trip worth it :)

Julia Hansen 7 months ago

Bench is an outstanding cafe!! I just got a lavender cappuccino and oh my goodness it was delicious!! Look at this coffee art!! Carson was my barista and he was so kind and welcoming! The chocolate chip cookie is a perfect combination of soft with that perfect crisp edge! So delicious and really made my day! Thank you Bench!

Katia 8 months ago

Lovely place- would come back and recommend! Good spot to read or work with plenty of outlets, free wifi, open bathroom, and table space upstairs and downstairs. I got the cheese/green onion scone and a warm date latte and enjoyed both. Service was great and atmosphere was calm & relaxing. Came in on a Tuesday from 12:45-2:45pm and was very quiet and not very busy. I essentially had the whole upstairs table to myself for a couple hours. Note: it seems like oatmilk substitute costs an extra 75 cents.

Mayra Reyes a year ago

I just love this local Berkeley gem. Friendly, warm vibe where everyone is welcome. You can tell a lot of thought and care went into the place. The coffee is THE BEST, the pastries are amazing. From the coffee made with care and the super nice baristas to the comfy/welcoming/inclusive atmosphere, Bench Café has it all. My go to breakfast items are the Spinach Feta Empanadas and the Date Latte. P.S. the music adds a nice touch to the place.

Ricky Alexander a year ago

Bench holds such a special place in our hearts and in our community! It is our favorite spot to enjoy a delectable, freshly baked pastry, cake, cookie, or scone along with a coffee drink or matcha latte prepared just perfectly. The aesthetic is perfect — welcoming, light, bright, airy, with touches of greenery and color. The music always sets a lovely backdrop too. And most importantly, the owner Sanaz and her husband, along with all of the incredible baristas including Norah, create an utterly wonderful vibe for the café. The space promotes productive work both downstairs and above the spiral staircase, but also conversations and connections in a welcoming community setting. From the Persian cookies to the unbelievably soft fall-apart blueberry scones, the food is only matched by the cheerful and warm atmosphere that permeates Bench. It is always so fun to see what the baked goods will be — it’s like a delicious little surprise (unless one takes a peak on IG where they are sometimes revealed ahead of time, hehe)! Thank you Sanaz and team for an incredible community space. We absolutely love coming to Bench and leave this review in order to share with others the cozy little gem on