My new favorite study spot in Alameda! This place has a very interesting, slightly hipster, slightly old-fashioned, very quaint and homey vibe to it. Lots of tables and places for seating. There's even a picnic-sized table where I've seem people gather to play chess. How cute! Drinks were great and even their food was pretty darn good. Totally recommend the salami panini: salami, dutch crunch bread, pesto, provolone cheese, mixed greens and tomatoes - delicious! A little small for ~$6 but very tasty. They have awesome music here, seriously. Last time I came, it was a mix of 70s - today's music. (Not like the mix106.5 radio station where they *say* they're "mix" but really it's all top 40 and then randomly an 80s song will come up) It was totally nostalgia - N Sync, Backstreet Boys, old school Whitney and Mariah, Shania Twain, Boyz II Men, the Eagles, Journey, etc. - I loved it! One thing I would caution is that I don't think it's the best place for groups. Yes, there is a lot of seating available, but most people here were studying so it's generally a pretty quiet ambiance. The place has high ceilings and hardwood floors so it was really echoey if you wanted to have a conversation. I felt a little bad when my friends and I were talking/laughing. (Surprisingly I did not see any dirty looks though!) I'd try to keep it a little on the quieter side if more than 2 ppl were coming here. All in all, a great coffee shop. I will most likely be here again and again! read more

What happened to Java Rama?? Wow, things went hella downhill since the new owners took over! I liked this place much more when the previous owner and management were running things... But now it's "Blue Danube"..... . . . SO. Where to begin? First of all, I hate the name. Just sayin', gotta be honest. Second of all, the older Asian lady (owner, I believe... kinda looks like a female Kim Jong-il) comes off as faking a "genuine" and "friendly" persona while obviously actually exuding a fake/condescending vibe. She def did not rub me the right way. Here's a recap of my experience: I ordered a Mexican mocha and saw that the espresso machine was being worked on by some sort of repairman. The aforementioned lady behind the counter promised it wouldn't be more than a few minutes till I got my drink so I sad down and began working on my computer. Almost an *hour* later, after her and the repairman had chatted for a good 25 or so minutes, I started packing up my stuff and headed for the door. "Oh, your mocha will be out in just a second!" she exclaimed, and I waited a few minutes till she rushed to make it. She'd obviously forgotten the order completely.... While giving me that lovely blah vibe that I just totally loved. Of course the drink had to be free otherwise we would have had a big problem. I noticed, while waiting the obscene amount of time I had to wait, that their sandwiches (a new addition to what once was Java Rama) looked day old and awfully small for $5. Even more hilarious was the fact that (I kid you not) they had $.25 generic Oreo cookies. Seriously.... Like, each cookie.... Is twenty five cents.... Yeeeah. Ridiculous! I also find the banner hanging outside to look washed up and... cheap. Java Rama to me was a great hang out and while it wasn't perfect it was still real and legitimate. This new business, I feel, is lacking in many ways and is honestly downright tacky. Go elsewhere for all your coffee/food/hanging out needs! read more

My go to coffee house in all of Alameda. I meet clients here as well, and have booked almost everyone of them (photography), though it may be hard to attribute that to the biz. Coffee is always good, though I always opt for the espresso beverages. Sandwiches are yummy, the grilled cheese is perfect. Their mexican hot chocolate is the best in the city, with The Little House Cafe a close second. The help is always super nice, the place is chill, they have couches, and the decor and ambiance is laid back and inviting. Great light if you're near the windows. They also serve beer such as blue moon and Anchor Steam... yum! read more

My short time in Alameda is coming to a close, and I will miss the coffee shops in this adorable town. Blue Danube does well with everything that's important: atmosphere, service and beverages. Mostly I've had latte or tea, but I did try the caprice salad twice and it was spot-on. The counter staff is friendly enough. There are two odd things about this cafe: 1- There are very few outlets and only one extension strip. Since most people sit in cafes to work on laptops, I find it difficult that more provisions have not been put into place. I am constantly switching tables as I jostle to grab one that's within reach of an outlet. 2- The wifi that times out after two hours. This is easy to fix by buying yet another $3 tea and getting a new code for yet another two hours. I don't blame them for having this policy in place since if you can't pay a few bucks for a two hour stay, then maybe you should work at home. But it is unusual and something to be aware of, as certainly some people will find it offensive. And I do take this policy into consideration when deciding what coffee shop to post at, and often the Beanery wins because of it. read more

I've been looking for a cozy coffee shop a la Friends and thought I had found my place. Close to homeCouches Charming/shabby decor Then I ordered a latte and sat down. The latte was not good. Mostly just milk partnered with a very weak and small shot of espresso. However my drink was not the worst part of my experience... I sat on a couch that smelled like a homeless person had been crashing on it. I guess people like the woman who decided that resting her dirty bare feet on the coffee table right next to my latte gave the couch its memorable scent. After being so grossed out by this woman, I looked around for another place to sit. That's when I noticed that she wasn't the only person who had decided to kick their shoes off and get comfy. This couple at a near by table had their shoes sitting to the side of them as they put together a puzzle. There was no where to go that I didn't feel completely disgusted to sit at. I threw my drink away and walked down to Peet's. People, I get that this place is meant to feel like home but it is NOT your home. Please keep your shoes on. read more

Cool enough place to hang out, but I rarely come here because when I do, the staff always seems surprised that they actually have to serve people. No "hi," just a look of "what are you doing here- oh yeah." They give you dirty looks while you're waiting at the counter, while they hold your drink hostage and move reeeeally slowly while chatting with their co-worker. So, for now, I'll limit my stops to times like today, where I just need a quick bite before I head elsewhere. read more

Customer service was weak at best, the iced latte was good and the ham and cheese croissant was half ass made. Would I go back? Mehhhh read more

Blue Danube - Ham and cheese croissant, with an iced latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

I love coming here! When I go to a coffee shop, I really just want a quiet-ish place to sit and read and mind my own business and not be bothered, and that's exactly what I get here. Oooh, plus a really comfortable couch to sit on, if I'm lucky :P The coffee is better than Starbucks, the juices are absolutely delicious and the grilled cheese sandwich is to die for. Also, a shout-out in particular to the tallish girl with blondish hair who works there. She's cute AND friendly :-D The only reason I'm not giving it five stars is because the prices of some things do seem just a little on the pricey side, and also not every staff member is super friendly. I dunno... when I smile at someone and behave in a very pleasant, friendly and happy manner, it really makes me sad when I don't get a simple smile in return, or a "have a nice day" or even just a "thanks" as they're handing me my change. You know, something like that. But overall, very awesome place :] read more

Good large coffee house with reasonable prices for coffee, smoothies, sandwiches, soups, wine, etc. But: I'll do you and them a favor and report: the WI-FI is SLOW.... Unfortunately, I needed to fill out an online form. It was almost impossible with the slow Internet. So I wrote this instead. read more

Very, very weird vibe from this place, mostly due to the young girls behind the counter (and sometimes a random guy who I don't think works there but is a boyfriend of one of the girls). I tried to order a sandwich and drink and was ignored. Two girls were behind the counter, standing directly in front of me, and didn't acknowledge me. When I asked again, the girls turned to me, visibly annoyed, and took my order. When I finally received my food and drink, my iced coffee felt like it was put together haphazardly--watery, tons of milk, little coffee. The sandwich, however, was pretty good. Not sure what it is about the girls, but my sense is that their hurting this business. read more

Very nice decaf cappuccinos and range of baked goodies. Too bad the couches and seats are way beyond their useful lives and there are not many outlets for devices. read more

Blue Danube - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Atmosphere: comfy and laid back place to enjoy a book. Drinks: so far, just okay. Food: so far, pretty bad. But I want to see them stay in business so I will keep trying different things until I like something. So why 4 stars? Really, it's a good place to chill. read more

Pros: Not overcrowded like Starbucks and Pete's down the street. Cons: Slow and overly-complicated wi-fi setup, music selection is...uninspired. read more

They no longer serve McLaughlin coffee.... This coffee house serves my favorite coffee, McLaughlin Coffee which is a long time local family own roaster in Berkeley. I found Blue Danube while looking for a spot in Alameda serving McLaughlin and the place is adorable. It is cozy with couches, board games and internet and the staff is sweet and friendly. Great location and a good respite from Peet's and Starbucks. Only place I go for my cup of Joe when I am on the Island. read more

Ok so don't come here at 7in the evening hoping to get HOT coffee! Tried to order a large Americano, and it like they didn't know what I was asking for. Change my order to something simple, like a cup of plain old coffee from the pot. Guess what: it's not even hot... And they still served it! Chick behind the bar was nice enough to make a fresh cup but c'mon! It's coffee: it's supposed to be hot! read more

The service is nice. The coffee is okay. The food is bad. I had a bacon wrap with fruit cup and the wrap was bland and chewy, and made with poor quality ingredients. The melon in the fruit cup was underripe. The wifi was just awful, making it impossible to work there. With incredible competition like Julie's Coffee and Tea Garden just a block away, this place really needs to step it up. read more

I went here yesterday during my work break and asked a staff member how long a soup would take to be prepared, since I had a limited amount of time. She assured me that it would only take a few minutes, so I paid and sat down at a nearby table to wait. After about ten to fifteen minutes, the staff not only had forgot to prepare my soup, but even glanced over at me a few times without a word. I finally went over and asked to cancel my order, as I had to get back to work. The cashier nonchalantly returned my money, without even apologizing for their mistake. I was not happy when I left. I wish I could say this was an isolated incident, but I have been here a few other times before, and Blue Danube's service never fails to be unfriendly and painstakingly slow. I will not be returning here again. read more

Not great. I've been here twice now. First time I was there, I ordered (if I remember correctly) a mocha of some type. It came out, I kid you not, in a pint glass. Like, one of those glasses you'd use to drink a beer out of, with no handle, which of course makes it too hot to hold. Second time I was there, I asked for a regular mug and the barista was really quite rude about alleging that I must be wrong because they would /never/ serve a coffee drink in a pint glass, which left me wondering if the person behind the counter was trying to call me a liar. Either way, the coffee both times was marginal and the service was lackluster. read more

I liked Java Rama but Blue Danube has done a decent job replacing it. They kept most of the old staff (which I like) and have cleaned the place up a bit although they took down most of the artwork (which I don't like). The drinks are decent but the food is a bit much... $6.50 for a breakfast bagel?? There is a limited timeframe for wifi with a purchase but that's fine and makes business sense. What I'd like to see the new owners change is to put some artwork on the walls (support local artists and add some character) and provide some extension cords for laptop users who want to plug in. Other than that, welcome to Alameda! read more

Spacious place. I was looking for a place to study, although I cannot say anything about their meals since I didn't have any, their fresh carrot orange juice is very tasty. Only problem I had with the place was the f* army of flies by the entrance and the very poor wifi connection. Every three seconds I would lose connection and sometimes it would take a life time to connect back. Hope it gets it fixed soon. read more

I really want to like this place and have given it several chances as it is on my way to work. Employees are not friendly or personable. I also decided to try the BLAT sandwich with no tomato. It was a sad looking little sandwich which barely any avo, bacon or lettuce on it for $6.95 and didn't even come with a side salad or anything. Very disappointed. read more

This place is so cute. Cozy vintage couches. Good coffee made exactly how you want it. No complaints at all about this place.

Their beverages and snacks are alright. However, if I want coffee, food, & somewhere to study, this place would not be my first choice. read more

I agree with some of their reviews about how the workers seem a little surprised when they actually need to help someone but I haven't experienced any problems with the staff. I wouldn't say anything at Danube tastes particularly great but they are extremely accommodating by providing comfortable seating, lots of outlets and free wi-fi for the people who will be here for hours. It's low-key and open relatively late (for a cafe in Alameda) and offer enough of whatever in the world it is I'm looking for when it comes to a sit-down-I'm-going-to-work place. Parking is horrific as it is on the self-esteemed Park St. Prepare yourself, park far and enjoy the silence. read more

WORST WAIT TIME EVER. Waited forever for someone to help me, even though there were 3 or 4 employees standing by the sandwich station who could have taken my order. So I stood there and waited till the woman behind the counter finished making hot chocolate and talking to a bunch of kids. She finally took my order and I waited 12 minutes by the counter and still no sandwich! I thought the guys at the sandwich station were making my sandwich but then I saw then clean up and come to the counter for a chit chat. Finally I gave one of them the "wtf are you doing? Where's my food?" stare and he was like "are you waiting for something? NO SHIT! MY TURKEY SANDWICH FOR OVER 15 MINUTES NOW! 3 minutes later my sandwich finally came out. No apology for the wait...nothing. By the way, the sandwich was poorly assembled and did not taste all that good. Bland. Wilted greens.... read more

1. there are about 20 flies hovering in the place. 2. the coffee is definitely not as good or strong as the original place. 3. i ordered my sandwich and she forgot i ordered it. they seemed busy doing busy work but um, no customers = no busy work. fill the water jug, don't forget my order. i would love to support this place but can't because of the lack of service and quality of the product. sandwich was ok. grilled onions cold, really? i'd rather go to starbucks, thank you read more

Where the big name coffee places excel in mindless drone customers packed into their tiny location, Blue Danube makes up in space and ambiance. This place is huge, open and spacious. PLENTY of seating to kick back, play a game of chess or read a book while sipping some joe. Nice crew, late hours, wi-fi, large menu, great prices. And cucumber water. read more

Don't waste your $1.00 ordering cheese on your sandwich. The amount they put on is a sad, cruel joke. That being said, everything else here is just about how you'd want it if you want to sit at a cafe for a while and not be bothered. That no one bothers you is probably the biggest appeal here. The drinks are pretty good (definitely better than they were when it was Java Rama). The food is decent, but the cheese thing is so sorely disappointing. It's happened to me twice. I should have written a review the first time, so I'd remember not to order the cheese the next time. What a waste of what could have been a great sandwich. Such a big deal for me, I'd probably be giving them 4 stars if it weren't for this. Oh well. read more

Way better then Starbucks!! Great drinks and smoothies! Sandwiches and pastries! Carrot cake and cheesecake! Everything is fresh! Fresh squeezed orange juice! Friendly people! Great atmosphere! I love coming here rather than Starbucks or peets! And they serve BEER! How can u go wrong with a coffee shop like this! Seriously?!? read more

Blue Danube - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

The atmosphere is really chill here. I came here for a staff meeting and the noise level is really low. I had the Salami Provolone Sandwich and I am in LOVE. I love the dutch crunch bread. The bean wrap looked really good too. Definitely better than Starbucks. Im planning to come back soon. read more

Blue Danube - My almost half eaten salami provolone sandwich. Yum - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

A great little coffee shop on Park St. in Alameda. It's generally not as busy as the Starbuck's and Peet's down the street, but every once in a while you might have trouble finding a spot to sit. They have a lot of tables, as well as some couches, with several places to plug in a laptop if you should so choose. Internet access is free with a purchase of food or coffee, (with a two-hour time limit for each access code you get,) or you can log in with a ZRNet account. The coffee is pretty good, as to be expected with a smaller shop, and you can always find something to munch on if you're hungry. However, as with all coffee-shop food-fare, it's probably a better idea to stop off and pick something up at one of the (many) local restaurants or eateries nearby before you settle down with your book/laptop in the shop. The service is excellent, the staff is generally very friendly and outgoing. Much like other businesses in Alameda, it only takes two or three visits before they recognize you and begin to remember your usual drink. read more

Very good soy latte, the quality beats what you'll get at Starbucks or Peet's a block away. The prices are almost as high so I'm not sure if the $ listing is accurate. Nice atmosphere and decor with lots of natural light. Edit: the $ listing is a because it's less than $10 a person... just like every coffee shop. Expect to pay $2 for coffee and $4 for espresso drinks. read more

I have never ordered more than a double latte with skim milk here. But the consistency is great.. I always get what I'm expecting. It is never loud, which makes it a great place to study, get work done, or to meet a friend. I have yet to try the food, but the menu sounds delicious and they offer more than you'd except from a coffee shop. The fact that they sell beer and wine is also enticing.. After you finish your midterm paper you can treat yourself! read more

I was walking around, looking for a coffee place to check out and this place caught my eye. It reminded me a lot of the cafes in Seattle! I ordered a loose green tea (which they served in a pot) and sat on one of their couches by the front door. A lot of customers here were working on their laptop.. and I was just people watching. It felt nice, and it was a very comfortable and laid back Cafe to be in. read more

They made a really good latte, had a good selection of food (bagel dog...yum), good music in the background (the Cure on this particular day), decent wi-FI, easy parking nearby, any no hipsters in sight. I may have found my new "Satellite Home Office" read more

This is a cool little coffee shop in Alameda. It has some decent breakfast options like the Bagel Melt - bagel with sliced tomato and lots of melted chedder cheese on top, yum. It's also the kind of place that you can grab a bottle of beer im the am and not feel guilty about it on a Sunday. I know...gross. But hey it happens sometimes. The inside is cute, and the people working there are really friendly. It has a comforting feel, and had plenty of tables inside. They also have a couple outside tables, which was great b/c it was super sunny. read more

Free wifi and some of the same coffees that Cole's in Oakland has. The breakfast sandwich was pretty tasty too. Sit and read your book/magazine of choice, work or play on your laptop/iPad, or just people watch and let your mind wander. read more

This is an old-school coffee house. Reminds me of the independent coffee houses I'd frequent in the various cities and college towns I lived in years ago. I enjoy the independent vibe, comfy couches in the front and the "neighborhoody" feel. read more

Blue Danube sells Oreo cookies for twenty-five cents a piece. Perfect portion (and pocketbook) control.

OK, my faith is restored! I came much earlier today still in hopes of a great americano, the way it once was. Finally. The espresso was strong and smooth, rich and velvety!!!! :) the man who helped me was very nice and friendly--opposite of the girl in the afternoons. All I want is a delicious espresso drink, made with a friendly smile and that's what I got :) read more