Having just finished finals and prepping for a challenge at work, I decided to have a me day and start it at Damask Rose. Having become aware of this place while searching for more interesting coffee spots, I decided to come absorb the atmosphere while enjoying a caffeinated beverage and treat. Upon entering the unassuming store front, the hanging vines, roses and other flowers greeted me. At the register I was greeted and ordered a hot rose latte and warbat to enjoy before moving on to other adventures. The latte was quite good. I could taste the rose but it wasn't overly floral or perfumed, which rose can be. The warbat was packed with pistachios, and was honeyed but without being overly sweet or sticky owing to whatever fat was used in prepping the pastry. The music was lovely, the people watching was relaxing, and I will not only be taking assume treats home, I plan to return again and hopefully often! read more

We came back here again and tried a different flatbread this time. I had the spinach flatbread which has a nice crust with sesame seeds. Unfortunately the spinach in the flatbread was so sour that it tasted like a pickle. Luckily I had a kashmere tea which sweetened it up. We both enjoyed our warbat with tea. The warbats didn't have the rose fragrance today which makes them less special and also older looking as if they didn't make it fresh today so hopefully next time will be better. Last time I will definitely try the other flat bready which we haven't had yet like the cheese and zatar. I believe you can do half and half. The spinach flatbread is only $12 which is a much better deal than a full size sandwich. It is relatively healthy and you do get a good amount of spinach. We really enjoyed sitting in the corner table today with an open window and a Jasmine vine growing right outside of the window with his sweet smell wafting in. I noted a strong Rosemary scent in my Kashmere tea today. The scent apparently comes from the Arabian bay leaf. It was quiet before 12:00 but then got busy after noon. Definitely looking forward to coming back again and trying a different flatbread. I learned from today that coming here before 12:00 noon is the perfect time. read more

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Excellent, Spinach Flatbread (Mana'eesh) $14.40 Flatbread topped with spinach, onions, and typically includes a blend of herbs and spices. Some very creative sweets, maybe a little too sweet for some, but beautifully presented. A lot of emphasis on pistachio. They have a variety of nice espresso drinks, and even rose latte and rose lemonade. A lovely spot with great staff and a very peaceful environment, unless you are allergic to plastic flowers. There's plenty of them hanging from the walls and ceiling. The vegetarian items are epic. The hummus is delicious with olive oil sitting on top. There's sort of a deli case and you can get a variety of items to take home. The desserts are off the hook. They have many with nuts, flaky crust, and pistachio that are just simply divine. I suggest grabbing a box of goodies to take home, or take to the office because they're so unique. IE: Warbat is a sweet pastry filled with cream or cheese, often garnished with powdered sugar, typically served as a delightful treat Check out these pictures..... read more

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I've never been to Damascus, but I've been to other major bustling cities like Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Amman, and Aqaba where cozy, crowded cafes thrive without issue. This cafe had almost the exact same chaotic vibe. The moment Jamie W and I walked in, we couldn't tell how to get to the order counter in the back because a group of constantly chatty senior women sat at a table in the middle. They were blocking access to anyone daring to pass behind them. In fact, people were forced to ask others to shift their chairs to make way. Otherwise the decor had an artificial floral motif with bookcases that shook when leaned upon as we saw one customer experience. We had limited time because we were waiting for the next AC bus to Berkeley, so we scrunched ourselves to get to the counter. Jamie ordered the $5.25 Iced Latte and the $3.50 Baklava (Photo 10), while I took it a step further by getting the $6.25 Iced Pistachio Latte (Photo 9) and the $4.50 Warbat, similar to baklava but with a clotted cream filling (Photo 8). All of it was tasty with authentic Syrian-originated flavors, well worth the stop. Just be mindful that the evocative cacophony is real and an innate part of the ambiance. COFFEE / SWEETS - 4 stars...authentic Syrian flavors prove enticing AMBIANCE - 4 stars...kind of a Middle Eastern bazaar feeling with a lot of energy and fake flowers SERVICE - 4 stars...calm women who take control TOTAL - 4 stars...definitely worth a return when the bus isn't rushing us RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's my collection of places l've patronized and reviewed: https://yelp.to/c7ry2shIjU read more

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I got an espresso. It was a med/dark roast with a thin layer of crema and medium body. I tasted dark chocolate bitterness and very mild acidity. The shot wasn't burnt but there wasn't much nuance in the flavor or texture. 2.5/5. read more

Damask Rose Coffee - Espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

This place is a hidden gem . A small hole in the wall on a busy street but 100% legit . I got the Turkish coffee which was easily top 5 best Turkish coffees . This also came in such a nice fancy set of dishes . I also got the muhamara mankish which was just excellent . Such a perfect crisp dough . Incredible . Can't wait to come back to try out more things ! read more

Damask Rose Coffee - Turkish coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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This was such a cute little coffee shop. We stopped by for a quick to-go drink before heading to an event. The cafe is beautifully decorated and very Instagrammable. The owner greeted us warmly and took our orders. I ended up ordering the iced rose latte ($5.25) and it came out beautiful with the rose at the bottom, milk in the middle, and espresso on top and tasted delicious once I mixed it all together. I snapped a few photos and we took our drinks to go, but this would be a great cafe to hang out in. They also had a great selection of snacks and desserts. They were beautiful. So glad we stopped by this spot for a quick coffee. read more

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My friend suggested we meet at this cafe today, and it was so lovely. It happens to be International Women's Day and on this Sunday afternoon there were women behind the counter and 6-8 women in the cafe. The crowd and the vibe felt like I'd traveled somewhere far away from Shattuck Ave. in Berkeley--but for the price of some coffee drinks and desserts. I'll be back! read more

I came back and ordered a rose latte, which was $6.25. It was done within a few minutes. I like that you can taste the rose flavor, as I personally prefer the flavored part of flavored coffee to come out strong. They made some cute latte art too. I just wish the cup was bigger for the price. They also sell chai (kashmiri or masala style), matcha, and pistachio lattes so I'd like to come back and try some of these other drinks. The bathroom has pretty pink painted walls and roses around the mirror, I appreciate their commitment to the aesthetic. They still usually keep two small outdoor tables right outside the shop. read more

Damask Rose Coffee - Rose latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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I love the aesthetic of this cafe! Pink walls with white chairs and tables and LOTS of greenery and artificial flowers everywhere. Don't let that scare you from coming. It's a very welcoming environment, and I can see myself spending an afternoon working here. Got a chai cup, rose latte, and a regular latte. The chai was creamy, and the fruit was a nice contrast. The rose latte was unique. I have tried other floral lattes before but never rose. Not quite as floral as I was expecting, but it was a nice surprise. I will say it is better than the regular latte. The regular latte tasted a bit watered down. Average latte at the normal east bay price point. Would come back to try the rose lemonade. read more

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Super cute cafe right at the border of Oakland and Berkeley. I came by Friday afternoon around 2 pm and it was pretty empty, but over the course of the time I was here chatting with a friend, it filled up and was completely full at one point. Seems to be a pretty popular spot! The first thing you notice when you step in is that it's beautifully decorated with flowers on the walls and hanging from the ceiling. Definitely a girly type of spot. In addition to drinks, they also offer mana'eesh (Mediterranean flatbreads) and other small snacks as well as a large variety of baked goods. I haven't seen some of the pastries before! I got the rose lemonade ($4), which was absolutely beautiful. I liked it because it wasn't as sweet as most lemonades. I also grabbed some baked goodies to go. I wasn't sure what to get, so I got the safe option (baklava) and another item as well. I ate them later for dessert and both were delicious! I definitely want to come back and try more of their baked goods. read more

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I tried Damask Rose a couple of months ago with a close friend after having had this place bookmarked for a while. I felt like it had the perfect amount delicious homemade food and cozy, feminine charm. I'm not much of a tea person, but my friend and I LOVED the Kashmiri chai!! Also these flatbreads were so reasonably priced, delicious, and filling. They're made fresh to order, which is a big draw in my book. And, pro tip: you can order the flatbreads to be half and half (split flavors). And I believe it doesn't cost any extra to split, but I could be wrong. If I lived in the east bay, I'd be here much more often! Can't wait for my next outing here. read more

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ooooh, zesty mocha! seems like a relaxing place to hang out w plenty of seating, inside and out.

Such a lovely little spot! I came by after getting a tattoo nearby and their baklava brought me back to life. It was so delicious, packed with filling and flaky! The birds nest was okay but not nearly as good as the baklava. I wish I got a drink too but I had already had my coffee for the day, but my friend did get a coffee here and loved it. The workers here were sweet and friendly. It truly feels like a gem of a neighborhood spot! read more

Damask Rose Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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Went here for the first time with friends and family and loved it! Palestinian-owned with a nice selection of beverages and snacks. The rose latte is amazing and the baklava was delicious. Next time, I am definitely trying to Turkish delight! read more

I brought a Lebanese friend with me and she was delighted. "I have driven past and keep meaning to stop. I definitely will make sure to stop from now on." We had amazing chai - Kashmiri and Masala versions - at the Damask Rose Coffee near the Berkeley Bowl on Shattuck. We also sampled date mahwa and nougats, several of which are gluten free. The cafe is owned and run by Syrian women, and their service is warm and on point. We will definitely be back. read more

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Really enjoyed our visit here! The women running it are friendly, and they have thought of everything - great Wi-Fi, power outlets at every seat, and super comfortable chairs. We saw many folks enjoying a nice latte with their laptops out working. They have a variety of lattes including rose and pistachio as well as many types of Syrian pastries. We went with the rose latte and lamb flatbread. I absolutely loved the rose latte - the rose didn't overpower and it was not too sweet. The lamb flatbread was delicious and filled with meat - the flavor profile was on point! The interior is Instagram worthy! There were gorgeous pink faux-flowers everywhere. They have both outdoor and indoor seating and parking was street parking - wasn't hard for us to find a spot at the time. Overall, loved this spot and can't wait to come back to try the pistachio latte! read more

Damask Rose Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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Such a cute cafe with fantastic staff, yummy rose lattes and the best pistachio filled dessert options. Parking looks tough but isn't too bad on the street. The cafe is small but there are always seats available. Love love loved my rose latte with almond milk, lentil soup and cheese flat bread. Will absolutely be back soon! read more

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i love it here. cafe for the girlies. drinks are great, treats are great. good place to people watch. mix of students, people getting work done, people making art, friends and regulars. i don't have kids, but it's family friendly if you do. i'm always torn whether or not to tell people about damask rose because it's my quiet crochet spot. read more

This cafe has such a charming environment. My oat milk latte was good and I tasted my friend's rose latte which was incredible, but too sweet for me. Also we shared some mana'eesh with za'atar which was tasty. The case at the counter is full of sweet treats but if you look on the menu they have savory options such as hummus, lentil soup, flatbreads, etc. The ladies at the counter were friendly and helpful. It was a rainy day and it was kind of cool inside with the front door open, finally once the cafe got full someone closed it. There's also a cooler with cold drinks and hummus to go. Easy street parking. read more

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I got the iced rose latte with oat milk and stayed to work a while. Lots of folks with laptops and a few meeting for coffee chats. Beautiful decorations and tables and I spotted a few outlets. Coffee came out quickly and was delightful, not too sweet. read more

I came here with my friend. It's a quiet little coffee shop. Beautifully decorated. My friend ordered a latte and the warbat. I ordered the rose lemonade and baklava. The lemonade was interestingly tart, with chia seeds. I've never had it with chia. The baklava was not good. You could tell that it's not fresh and most likely had been made and sitting there for a bit. The shop while small, is very aesthetically cute. read more

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This is one of my favorite coffee & pastry shops of all time. The competition for great food, drinks, coffee and take out in the SF Bay Area is steep. Bay Area Natives get to grow up in a region known for some of the best food in the US. In a competitive field, Damask Rose sets itself apart with fantastic food, coffee, tea, service and atmosphere. Casual enough for a solo stop in, but romantic and cute enough for a date. Don't miss this gem! read more

Damask Rose Coffee - Three different Turkish Delights and a Pistachio Mamule. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

This is the cutest spot and I've been wanting to come here for a very, very long time. It is a destination spot for me. I just wish that I liked it more than I do. They have roses everywhere on the ceiling and they have rose syrup that looks like it is made there, and so what could go wrong. The woman who took my order was fine. The woman who made my drink was fine. I lost a coin or two after getting my change and no one offered a replacement. I never found the coin and figured that could be part of their tip. I liked the ambiance, but my rose latte was meh. I am inspired to make my own rose syrup and try on my own. But, should you take the time to come here for a drink? Probably not. There are better places around. read more

An IG lover's DREAM! The aesthetics go absolutely crazy up in here! Talk about floral arrangements! The decor is absolutely fabulous. It'll def make you feel fancy. But aside from the ambience, the coffee is actually really tasty here too. Found this place on Instagram a few months back and noticed that it was located in my regular stomping grounds. Decided to stop in for an early lunch and I was instantly blown away by how beautiful this place was! It's completely decked out in the prettiest floral arrangements. There are beautiful roses everywhere! The ceiling details are just immaculate. I'm a sucker for some good decor and this place tugged at my heartstrings. The cafe isn't the largest but they definitely made great use of the space. I'm not a big coffee drinker, but I'll indulge occasionally when I feel like it. I had to try their rose latte since I was here because... well, why the hell not?! It's what they're known for and rightfully so. Lemme tell you something... let me... tell you... something! That rose latte... was damn deee-lish-us mmkay?! Something about that rose. As a wine drinker, I've come to love the taste of floral drinks. The rose latte was absolutely perfect for me. Not too sweet but not too strong. Just a really enjoyable rosey flavor that I so enjoyed. The latte art added the icing to the cake. So soothing and enjoyable. They don't have a huge food menu, but they do have some nice light bites. Since I came for lunch, I decided to try their Mediterranean flatbread. They have a few different flavors to choose from and will allow you to get half and half for most flavors. Went with half cheese and half muhammara which ended up being the perfect combination of cheesy and spicy. The cheese was definitely my favorite. It's not your typical kind of cheese and it was actually quite pungent but in an enjoyable way. The muhammara is great flavor and I loved the spiciness of it. It was a great way to spend lunch. Later when I was leaving, I noticed that the entire place was packed. It was pretty quiet when I first arrived with people mainly studying and working. But when the clock struck 12, it seemed like the spot to hang out with friends. Really chill environment here. I also can't forget to mention the sweet staff! They were so helpful in answering all of my questions and they did an excellent job of keeping everything clean around the clock. Damask deserves all of the praise that it gets because it really is THAT place. Can't wait to return again. read more

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While I was visiting from Australia a foodie friend who lives in Berkeley took me here and it is HEAVEN. The za'atar flatbread was soooo good I dream of it... hot, chewy, soft, perfectly seasoned I never wanted to stop eating it. I can't wait to go back &'try everything on the menu. Also good to know if you call ahead they will also do platters for catering for parties or family dinners. The decor inside is also charming & setting sun pours thru the windows -- good place to work on computer or get some homework done. Can't wait to come back. read more

Damask Rose Coffee - Flatbread hummus & soda in this beautiful little cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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In between jobs I have driven past this little coffee place, but I think was a sign from my late mother. She loved the scent of damask rose. So one morning was early for work and stopped in. The thing about small businesses, especially coffee places they tend to have unique items and flavors. As the name implies they definitely carry a rose coffee latte as well as a pistachio latte and one of my favorite tea, kashmiri masala tea. I prefer the rose latte as I found the pistachio a little too sweet for me. But what I love about this little shop the colors and decorations. pink walls, hanging rose flower garlands and they also have a case of middle eastern items. Love that I found a place that sells date mamuls, and different varieties of Turkish delight and other middle eastern sweets. They also serve light snacks like lentil soup and flat bread with cheese or walnut red roasted paste, which smellls so good. Staff is friendly as well and they have a frequent drink card. Buy 10 get 1 free. I love supporting this small business. read more

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A lovely atmosphere with friendly staff and patrons! I tried their hot Matcha latte with rose syrup and a Creamy Pomegranate Pistachio delight, both were good. Pros: - delicious matcha & fun pastry options - plenty of 2 person seating - reusable tableware for "for here" orders - picture-worthy decor Cons: - not well suited for large parties read more

Damask Rose Coffee - Matcha Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

There is a lot to like about a Damask Rose, but i'd be amiss if I didn't make a special shout out to the folks who work here. A neighborhood gem. I ordered the: Cheese flatbread Turkish delight Kashmiri Chai read more

Damask Rose Coffee - Cheese Flatbread (mana'eish) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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Damask was on our radar after a big lunch, this was just the place for a quaint dessert spot w/ friends and delicious pastries. I wish I remembered all the names of the delicious Syrian desserts we ordered...my most favorite was the biscuit filled w/ dates. It was so buttery and perfect. We loved their Turkish Delights and baklavas and birds nest. All of it were so delectable and satisfying. Service at the counter was very friendly and staff was extremely patient explain their menu. We can't wait to go back and try more scrumptious items! read more

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Nice cafe to hang out and socialize or work. Lots of light. Service was quick. Lots of unique drinks to try, like rose and cardamon chai. Turkish delights and dolmas were good to pair with the drink. read more

Damask Rose Coffee - Dolmas, Turkish delight and chais - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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Amazing local gem. Quiet large bay windows. Friendly staff and costumers. Plenty of outlets to charge up read more

Damask Rose Coffee - Rose and pomegranate - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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For those of you social media fanatics, get your smartphone cameras going and be sure to take as many pictures of "Damask Rose Coffee" as possible. Because from a photographers' perspective, this place will have you covered from the ceiling to the floor. Located directly on Shattuck Ave in the North Oakland area, this place has been serving delicious coffee, smoothies, baked goods, and Açaí bowls dating back to the spring of 2022. I had the opportunity to check this place out as I was on my way to go window shopping in Berkeley and actually stumbled upon it unexpectedly. This place is tiny with limited seating but don't let that deter you from visiting. I arrived here during the afternoon of Saturday 5/13/2023 at around 3:00pm. Since this part of Oakland doesn't have a whole ton of neighboring businesses, parking wasn't much of an issue. However, the inside was rather crowded with a ton of people enjoying the day sitting at the tables as well as ordering food/drinks. Since I needed a little pick-me-up to get me through the later afternoon and evening hours, I went with one of their iced vanilla latte drinks. Service was quick, attentive, and the overall experience was above average. This is a family owned and operated business where the employees go the extra mile to assure a memorable experience. As far as the iced latte, it was on point; not too much on the bitter side and not too sweet as well. In addition to their coffee and tea drinks, this is a Middle Eastern bakery (as the founders of this place are of Syrian descent). This brings a ton of unique, ethnic baked goods including Baklava, Mana'eesh (a form of European) Flatbread, Bird Nest, and Warbat. You will also find more traditional baked goods including cookies and muffins as well as slices of pies and cakes. It truly is a colorful arrangement of foods that I had not ever seen before coming here. But let's go back to the interior of this place. This place is decked out in pink walls while a flowing amount of floral displays is graced from the ceilings and beyond. The amount of color that is presented really makes you feel as if you're in a magical garden oasis in a fantasy land. You really got to see it to get the full experience since the photos don't do any justice. With that said and done, I am giving "Damask Rose Coffee" a perfect five stars. Great ambiance, excellent coffee, and stellar customer service. read more

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This place is very cute! Love the decoration. The drinks are good. We were really excited for the Syrian style pizza but it was very thin. Very nice owners read more

Lovely place, with the best rose latte I've ever had! I visited three times in eight days. read more

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Food and service is amazing. I loved the place. I ordered cheese and Zatar fatayer, yummy food. read more

Damask Rose Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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Cute little cafe with unique drinks and big selection of tasty pastries! I usually am not a fan of fake flowers, but Damask Rose managed to go so over the top it's a total vibe and I'm here for it! The place is small and very cute, came here on a weekday morning with no wait, staff was friendly and very helpful in my decision making on what treats to get to go with the rose latte. read more

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This cafe piqued my interest when my school's MENA organization featured its opening on Instagram. I am a sucker for "la vie en rose", and knew I had to visit this little gem. I walked down Shattuck from campus, and immediately knew I found the right place when I saw bright, sunny windows revealing a gorgeous rosy interior. It was only a few blocks south of Berkeley Bowl, which made it an easy, safe, and convenient September stroll through a quiet neighborhood. This woman-owned Syrian business was clearly family run; a young man took my order with a big grin and offered samples of traditional West Asian treats, like baklava and Manaeesh. His mom joined us at the counter, and warmly introduced herself as the owner. We chatted for a while, and before I knew it my drink and full order of Manaeesh was ready! How do I begin to describe this dish? It's a fresh-baked flatbread covered in meat, grilled onions, and dusted with citrusy Zaatar seasoning. Damask Rose Coffee strikes the perfect balance between soft and crunchy in their Manaeesh, and it pairs so nicely with the Rose Lemonade I ordered. The acidity of the drink balances and complements the hearty dish beautifully. The cafe itself is absolutely gorgeous and feels very spacious, with white leather benches and open windows letting in a soft summer breeze. Reminiscent of the hanging gardens of Babylon, roses and lilac hang from the ceiling, framing the cafe in a soft pink light. The Bay Area boasts many cafes, but very few have all three of these essential traits: high quality, instagram worthy, and study friendly. Damask Rose Cafe is a rare example of excelling in both categories. It has ample space for laptops and schoolwork, tons of outlets, and has a very tranquil and calm atmosphere. Its patrons are mainly students and young professionals who stumbled upon the perfect little spot to get work done in peace in a spot relatively close to campus (but not so close that it's super busy). I spent many, many study afternoons at this little spot, and can't wait to visit when I'm next in Berkeley :) (Edited for typo) read more

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Every time I drove by their bright pink storefront on the way home, I'd tell myself: "I'll just check it out over the weekend!" and then the weekend happens and I don't ever find myself in this part of Oakland lol. Unless you live right nearby, you really have to go out of your way to actually eat here. Located off the highway on Shattuck. My bf and I finally remembered to try Damask Rose after a Berkeley Bowl run-- definitely see the appeal! Adorned with garlands, flower walls, and pink everywhere, it inevitably attracted a lot of Instagrammers... Particularly the left hand wall where the lighting is good LOL (we literally saw people waiting to sit there). Service is a bit slow, seating can get backed up. We were lucky to grab a less-photogenic corner for our party of 2. CHEESE FLATBREAD: Mixed with what I think is parsley? So fresh & toasty! Tasted more like cheese-bread than pizza. Very filling. ZA'ATAR FLATBREAD: So... much... za'atar. Acidic, earthy, savory-- just a punchy layer of spice on fresh pita. No sauce. Crunchy & delicious! Their lattes are ok. Also have small desserts available in their fridge & display case. Worth visiting for the pretty atmosphere and unique eats. read more

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It's a cute coffee shop, but it's very small inside and when I came on Tuesday the wifi wasn't working work me when I tried to log in. The wifi name and password is on the way right before making a right to head to the bathroom. It was a slight bummer since I came there to get some work done - working remotely sometimes can be a drag. Lucky for me, my phone is a hotspot. I ordered the rose lemonade with chia seeds and coffee with a shot of espresso. I must have been tired because I didn't bother to ask for cream or sugar and just drank it Black. The rose lemonade was good, refreshing even and tasted just as I expected. The service was customer approved. I'll go back, but maybe it will be a lot earlier in the day, like 8am. They were pretty crowded around 2, but this is definitely an "internet" cafe. read more

Damask Rose Coffee - Rose Lemonade - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California