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    Bench

    4.9 (55 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Order Bench Takeout or Delivery

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    BENCH ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Bench

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    Reviews With Photos

    Austin Z.

    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 :)

    Counter
    Sara L.

    In between errands, I stopped by Bench to try a latte and baked goodie. In this early afternoon, the place wasn't crowded. And has the feel of an art deco loft. After reviewing a range of options, I decided upon a Golden Latte and chocolate chip cookie. Each was @$5 with tax, decently sized and absolutely yum. The latte tasted like a perfect blend of espresso, steamed oat milk, and turmeric. Major kudos to the barista. I've found most not to be blended well at all nearby. The chocolate chip cookie had just the right amount of sweetness. All in all, this place is a great weekend stop!

    Banana cream iced coffee
    Maggie W.

    I was intrigued by the banana cream iced coffee. It certainly seems like this is the summer for ganan coffee drinks. They use fresh bananas in the cream and you can definitely taste the difference (compared to creams that use banana flavoring). I think the cream flavor is really good and the coffee blends well with it. I took off 1 star because there is a bit of a sour undertone, which I'm not sure if from syrup or from the coffee itself. Service was very quick! There seems to be two stories with a spiral staircase to the upstairs. Some chairs and benches to study or read on on the first floor. Didn't check out 2nd floor.

    Dog friendly cafe and a homemade pastry and the best coffee.
    Yalda A.

    Lovely Dog friendly cafe and the best coffee and nice home made pastry. Sweet owner sun is creating the atmosphere for community.

    Bar area
    Mia B.

    Had such a good experience at Bench! It is such a quaint shop with relaxing vibes to match its lovey menu. I got the date latte, and it was so tasty! The flavor was a nice balance of sweetness and nuttiness that made every sip taste so so good. Would for sure come back here.

    Cute decor
    Amanda L.

    Me and all of my coworkers' go-to spot for amazing coffee and solid matcha! They have fun flavors if you wanna change it up, but my basic vanilla latte is always great. Their house made pastries are all super good too and serve as a the perfect treat. Staff are very friendly and accommodating and the space is very cute! Definitely recommend.

    Latte
    Sherry Z.

    Small coffee shop along MLK near trader Joe's. There is not too much seating, so don't expect to be able to sit and do work while enjoying your coffee and pastries. Service was fast and friendly. It would be nice to have some placards saying what pastries were in each display, but being told in person was fine! Got a latte and a spinach and mushroom handpie. I really enjoyed the handpie. It was filled to the brim with spinach and mushroom and had a lovely buttery crust. The latte was enjoyable, with no complaints here. Plan on coming back to try some more pastries!

    Menu - didn't get pic of coffee but their banana cream was awesome!!
    Angie G.

    Super cute and great coffee!! Don't forget to try their pastries! Their customer was awesome i don't remember their name but they were so sweet and amazing!

    an ivl and banana cream latte
    Dina A.

    The vibes in the cafe is great! Definitely go here if you like calm and relaxed environments. From the coffee to the decor, everything was great and beautiful. I tried their ivl (iced vanilla latte) and it was sooooo good. Service was amazing.

    Chocolate Raspberry Cream Cake

    This past Valentine's Day I bought a piece of Chocolate Raspberry Cream Cake from Bench and my partner and I loved it and couldn't stop raving about it. For her birthday this year I wanted a custom cake made for her. I asked the owner of Bench she could make the Chocolate Raspberry Cream cake for my partner's birthday. It came out beautifully. Delicate, delicious and the perfect sweetness. My partner and her family were very impressed. The cake serves 8-10 people and when I opened the box we were greeted by the soft exquisite scent of roses. It was a WOW moment for sure.

    latte art inside a coffee coffee mug, framed photography in the background
    Marissa M.

    Yummy pastries, beautiful space, and (most importantly) great music! Incredibly kind staff. Nice shop to chill at and enjoy my own company.

    Persian rose tea

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    7 months ago

    Very yummy Macha and pastries. The environment was also very lovely inside inside. Nice and fast service with good recommendations.

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    1 year ago

    Bench is truly a gem! Everything is delicious: homemade scones, cookies and meat turnovers. Wonderful selection of teas.

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    3 years ago

    Best cappuccino in town. Amazing homemade pastries. Even Persian cookies and tea. Brand new place so still a hidden gem. Highly recommend.

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    Ask the Community - Bench

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