For the last 5 years, this has been my favorite coffee shop in Oakland. Great food, great coffee, lovely outdoor space, and the recent renovation has enhanced / opened up the space even more. Great magazine collection, free wifi, plenty of areas to work and designated "no-laptop" areas which is great to have for folks that want to sit and catch up. The best part of this place, however, is the staff. Friendly, helpful, funny, charming, sweet, knowledgeable, passionate (about coffee/oakland/art/music/life). This isn't just one employee - this is all of them. Farley's is doing something right, they are definitely a huge pillar in the Oakland community (and they give back as such, too). Lightning in a bottle. If teleportation ever becomes a thing, I'd like to request that Farley's and the whole staff also comes to Brooklyn. Thx! read more

Awesome community coffee shop and cafe. Great coffee, great food, great people. Love this place, one of the best in the Bay and feels like home no matter where you're from read more

Farley's East is a small cafe in Oakland along Grand Avenue. It's situated close to the up and coming downtown area of Oakland and it has been an anchor establishment in that neighborhood. Off the top, there are more than a few things to like about Farley's East but the one that stands out is their ability to accommodate two types of crowds. First - for crowds seeking deep focus, their second floor offers a quaint ambiance. The seats are desk like and the aroma of the coffee gives a sense of calm and creative energy. And second - for crowds seeking good group conversation, the first floor offers communal tables conducive for lively discussions and meet ups. This by itself is a unique attraction that Farley's East offers. In terms of food and service - both qualities are above average compared to other cafes but they're really secondary to the atmosphere Farley's already establishes with their set up. Overall, Farley's is a great go to cafe either to meet up with friends for great conversations or when you need headspace to get going on work you need done. Farley's is a unique cafe and I highly recommend her for either need. read more

Any other day I have really enjoyed Farley's coffee. Normally I go in and grab a large drip while I make my way to my office. Today I was told that there was something wrong and so they didn't have drip but they could make me an Americano which I accepted. SADLY my americano was super weak! After putting the smallest amount of almond milk in my coffee the situation got even more sad. I attempted to ask the barista for 2 more shots of espresso and was told that I would need to pay for them. I kindly declined and proceeded to turn around and throw my americano away. It just WASN'T going to get the job done. BTWS! Nice face lift through Farley's! read more

i would go back! cute place! full of contemporary oakland flavor, between the decor and the clientele. two floors of seating inside, and some outdoor seating as well. i had the "whole health protein bowl" and the flavors were fabulous. only gripe i have is the $17 bag of beans. expensive. read more

Love, love, love their coffee! I've broken my keto regimen 2 (3?) weeks in a row for that biscuit with the egg in the center. It's so good! Gotta say bye to the biscuit, but I'm all in for the coffee. There's some really nice people behind the counter as well. read more

This coffee taste like they are reusing their beans. More like coffee tea than actual coffee. Maybe I was not hipster enough for this place but it's fucking nasty. I know real coffee and this is not. I told the woman I was not satisfied and she did not care read more

Farley's East - They call this coffee?? Looks and taste like old coffee water? Maybe they want to safe money? Or maybe I should have tipped more - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

5 stars+ They got some good coffee, and let me tell you, you gotta try their coffee bread & their paninis, they taste good!!! Staff is vary helpfull, especially when they noticed that I'm blind. They told me almost everything that they had on their menu, and helped me out by letting me know when my order was ready. During one of my visits, I decided to leave to try and catch my paratransit ride, and one of the staff members went out of her way to bring me my food to where my ride was suppose to arrive. Thank you so much for your courteous service. Try it! & Enjoy! read more

Came here to meet up with a few coworkers on a Friday afternoon. It is in a busy part of downtown, however pretty hip! Parking can be hard to find, and for the most part I noticed people come from everywhere to go here. Apparently they just expanded the cafe cause it used to be so much smaller. At first walking in, I was kinda confused on where the menu was and was looking around to find it. It's on a small sheet on the counter FYI! They do have lots of food options on the left side of the cafe. I ordered an iced organic chai latte, which was priced at $3.50! The chai latte was very spiced and to my dismay, spicer than I thought it would be. However, I can tell that it was real, homey and earthly which I truly appreciated. They had tons of seating for those studying and even had reserved areas for only those that need a place to talk and hang out! I truly appreciate that and put things into perspective that people bringing laptops and whatnot do take away from the cafe experience. BTW, if you need to work on your laptops, go upstairs! There is tons of space there too to do work. Definitely a great place to do work but also a place to hang out! I wished it wasn't as confusing to find the menu at the beginning, but it just makes people slow down and actually look at their surroundings. read more

Met friends for lunch. Parking terrible... My egg and cheese sandwich was wonderful...i asked for sourdough bread instead of white.... as good as I make at home The other meals were good too...very filling read more

Great coffee, pastries, and friendly staff! It has turned into my new go-to coffee shop. Only downside is that wait times have increased since offices are reopening. read more

Go-to for meetings. Outside seating, indoor seating that is somewhat secluded, and a mezzanine. Excellent display of literary magazines for sale. Good vibes overall. read more

The tuna melts are off the hook good! Very nice establishment with a welcoming ambience!! A little pricey but worth it!

I come here pretty often for lunch, or occasionally for breakfast. It's a little pricey, and sometimes the wait is long..... but it's in downtown Oakland, what can you expect? The coffee is great, and they've got firebrand pastries which is awesome. For lunch, I usually get the veggie sandwich, which is great. Love the dressing, love that avocado. I appreciate that there is cheese.... a thin and flavorful slice, not some waxy slab. And the bread..... alll the hearts for eye emojis. read more

An excellent local coffee shop near the 19th Street Bart station. They have plenty of hot and cold food items for breakfast and lunch as well as an excellent espresso and coffee selection. I sampled the breakfast egg sandwich and added mushrooms and gruyere; it wasn't too heavy which was perfect for a morning meal. The lox bagel was great too and decently priced for the amount of lox they give you. Their iced coffee was tasty and strong. Service was fast and polite. Their seating areas are well lit with natural light from big windows and they offer both indoor, outdoor, and upstairs areas. Would definitely return! read more

High quality delicious food and the best coffee ever. Seriously, what more is there. Okay... the staff is pretty great too. A truly great spot!!! read more

This place is totally great. The food is excellent, the coffee is outstanding, and it's got a great vibe. Loved it!

Not only does this place have tasty food & coffee, supports local non-profits, and offers a nice place to work, but I have to commend the staff for how they handled an unpleasant customer today. There was a homeless man asking for money who clearly had some mental disabilities, and as a staff member was gently trying to escort him out, a customer got up from his chair, grabbed the homeless man by the arm and literally threw him out the door. Obviously everyone was in shock, but after a few minutes a staff member went and talked to the violent man... and then he packed up and left. And then a fellow customer went outside, brought the homeless man back in and bought him coffee. Kudos to all for keeping this a friendly community spot! (And getting rid of the jerks.) read more

Love their coffees. Their sandwiches are delicious, especially their chicken club and hoagie. For awhile they were offering a special salad of the month and each month the special salad was outstanding. An added plus of supporting this family owned small business is that they are so wonderful in supporting the community. You will love their food! read more

Always friendly, consistent and clean. The food is well prepared and the the atmosphere is very comfortable. I come here almost every day and love it! read more

I've been coming here for four or five years, happily. This morning I was told "we can't make that sandwich" in response to which it asked if their menu had changed. When I told her I had probably had this sandwich no less than fifty times she told me " somebody screwed up". I guess the little hipster decided she didn't want to serve someone who wasn't wearing ironic pants and didn't have stupid manic panic colored hair. She just cost you a loyal customer. -- Update. I was walking by today and decided to give them another chance. A girl looked at me, gave me the evil eye then I heard her talking to the other two girls there "oh my god it's that guy! The one who left the bad review. Why is he here? I wish he would leave.. Don't go over and say anything".. I think they thought they were being quiet and whispering. Way to make a customer fee welcome. Yeah, this place is still too hipster for me. read more

Yeah, I won't be back. Between the woman taking our order basically mocking my wife's name & telling her she should change it to something less ethnic, 'cause "no one would remember" that, and the server dude scowling at me to not stand in his space (in the tiny hall where everyone who was waiting for their food was standing), the jerks running this place can bugger off. If your criteria for a great place to hang out is a bunch of people wearing Generic Hipster Uniform with a fixie locked to every pole in sight, then maybe this is your joint. But if you actually want to have a nice lunch and not have the people running the joint actively be obnoxious to you, it's probably not for you. And hey - I *like* casual. I like a neighborhoody, laid-back place. I don't mind a bit of salt in my service. But condescending, [EDIT] comments aren't really my bag. And frankly, it shouldn't be acceptable for anyone. ----- * The [EDIT] is in response to a polite request from the owner of Farley's East, who personally vouched for the integrity of his employees & asked me to reconsider the particular turn of phrase. I gave this edit a lot of thought, because if I had to describe the comments in simple terms, "vaguely racist" is, I think, still how I would describe it. Ultimately, it comes down to either that, or "staggeringly culturally insensitive". While I'd allow for the fact that the person in question really may have been utterly thoughtless instead of racist, I can't go back and remove mention of it from the review entirely, because that experience was the defining part of my experience with Farley's, and one of the reasons that I left as offended and angry as I've ever been with an establishment. read more

Great coffee and love the larger space! Food is yummy too.

I like Farley's a lot. They've got good coffee, plenty of breakfast options, nice seats and solid wifi. There's tables downstairs for meetings and more secluded ones upstairs. My personal fav are the bar stools upstairs that look out over the cafe and outside. Only downside? This place fills up EARLY. Show up in the afternoon, or on the rare rainy day, and you might not be able to find a seat. I also had a few VPN troubles, but that may have been an isolated incident (or related to their router settings). read more

this reviews been revised to include Chris Hillyard (Amy's wife) response & info. about Farley's ADA violations. In the photos, the blond's Amy Hillyard, the owner of Farley's East. With no introduction, Amy marched up to a table where I sat & ordered me & another customer (also queer) to move. when I asked why, she pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket & said, "Because that's what the sign says! Go upstairs!" Problem 1-4: upstairs is technically a storage space, stairs are hard for me to climb (Farley's East upstairs isn't ADA compliant), there are pigeons flying up there, and it reeks of paint & vermin poop. Problem 5: the bathroom's are disgusting, no b.c. of the staff who are great, but the customers who leave bloody needles & crack pipes in the overflowing trash bins. This is Chris Hillyard's response sent as a private message: Hello Tomas, Along with my wife Amy, I am the co-owner of Farley's East. I know you had an unpleasant interaction yesterday at the cafe and am sorry to hear that. As a longtime/regular customer, please know that we do appreciate your business. Further, we hope that you will continue to enjoy the cafe, and do so within the new seating arrangement (laptops at the large rectangular table downstairs or anywhere upstairs). We put this policy in place to maximize space for everyone in the cafe and ensure the cafe is inviting to people who wish to be there for a variety of uses. We hope you understand and will continue to visit the cafe. Kind Regards, Chris & this is an shorter version of my response: Chris, the fact that Amy cannot reply says everything. The big problem with your new "policy" is multifold: when Amy approached the table, she seemed confused, did not introduce herself & started reaching around / rummaging around my physical space. The command that Amy presented ("Go upstairs") doesn't work for me because I am disabled. There is, according to this new seating, limited availability for those like myself who have mobility issues; I also have neurological & hearing issues that make upstairs, if I can get up there, really hard to tolerate. Based on Amy's grotesque insensitivity -- we had a really long conversation about this afterwards but she remained adamant that she was right and that I could basic GFM if I didn't like her vague and inchoate rules -- leads me to believe that there needs to be outside intervention. read more

See all

Farley's is slipping. It's still a nice place to go but the hipster mentality of the staff is unnecessary. I remind them that they aren't the only game in town, especially for those of us on a bike. We can ride much farther for much better service. 1) Giving your customers an attitude and yelling at them with a crowded line behind them is uncalled for. This is a failure in customer service. 2) Eating scraps off of your cutting board or wiping your nose on your hand and then going back to prepping my food is discusting. You sure you have someone on staff that is food safe certified? It just doesn't seem like they care now that their the cool kids on the block. read more

It pains me to write this review because I really don't like spreading negative energy but I've been working in the area for over two years and have given Farley's a decent amount of tries. I just can't seem to catch a break here. The two stars for the Salted Choco Chip Cookies which are mind blowing (undoubtedly NOT baked in-house), for the magazines available for perusing while waiting for your order or hanging out, for a general cozy atmosphere and interesting clientele to observe. Now, I've been a cashier, a server and a sandwich artist in my day so I know what it is like to be on the other side of the counter, but one thing I learned was to always show a positive attitude and try and help satisfy your customers. A smile and a little flexibility can go along way. This morning I ordered an almond milk latte and the woman who started making it "scoffed" at me when I said I wanted it "non-fat." She snorted, "It only comes one way." I am aware that it might have been an ignorant question, but she could have been less abrasive and more respectful. My total came to $4.10...I handed the gentleman my debit card, and he said "unfortunately we can't process orders on cards less than $5.00. If it was closer to $5.00 I would have let it go, but its not. We have some item's you can purchase in addition to your latte." I said, "well I don't want anything else." He said "sorry." I kind of hung for a second, then he started to say something which I couldn't really hear because I was already outta there. I couldn't handle it and left and took my business elsewhere. This is just one incident that i'm disclosing among many over the years. I understand that the rule is $5.00 minimum but I just felt that burning sensation in my chest that said, this is the last time. A little flexibility would have been the push I needed to bring my business here again. On top of that (and most importantly), I find the coffee and food to be average. It's not bad, but lacking seasoning and flavor. I don't question the quality and freshness of the ingredients, I just don't think the flavor is on par with other establishments in the east bay. I can't justify spending $4 for an average latte and $8 for an average sandwich, with poor customer service when there are cheaper or better options in the nearby vicinity. read more

Broadway and Grand has come a long way since I watched the fire trucks pull up to the Hofbrau. Still, it's a quiet and windswept walk from the last Adams Point storefront to Luka's and Franklin Square. Vo's was closed for years, it seemed, and the elegant storefronts along Grand stayed empty. But now things are filling in, and the walk is a little less uncomfortable. Once you get past the evil, horned beast that looms over Grand and Harrison after dark (Really...Catholic guys, do YOU see that thing projecting onto the windows? It scares children.) it's only a block before the street shows some healthy life. Farley's fits in with the new neighborhood attitude and fits nicely in among the restaurants, art galleries, and bars (OK, not sure about Subway). The space is narrow but airy and bright, the window seats are excellent, the reading material is actually worth picking up, and they know that a macchiato is not a tall dessert drink. There's a food menu with some excellent Italian-style snack choices (try the grilled cheese panini) made with quality ingredients and served with style. I walked past expecting to pick up a paper cup on my way home, but the atmosphere convinced me to stay a bit, check the news (good AT&T data reception), and watch the neighborhood pass by. And coffee tastes better in glass or porcelain, anyway. read more

This is a really great little coffee shop/cafe in a busy area of 'Uptown Oakland'. It's very open and airy with huge windows, there is lots of seating downstairs and upstairs and the baristas are nice. They have a great selection of salads, sandwiches, beer/wine, coffee/tea and non-alcoholic drinks. I came here to read a book I'm currently obsessed with and I just got a glass of wine and went upstairs and read for a few hours. It was very nice, quiet, comfortable. Will definitely be back to check out their food options! read more

I work in uptown Oakland near many coffee establishments. My coworkers and I walk the extra couple of blocks almost daily to go to Farley's for a coffee fix - it's the only decent coffee place in the area that isn't constantly running out of the basics like coffee lids or cream (I'm looking at YOU Cafe Madrid), and stays open late enough for that extra boost of energy toward the end of a long work day. But after today's experience I won't be back. The coffee just tastes awful. I can't figure out if the coffee went bad, or the cream they had out had gone sour but either way it is undrinkable. I asked my coworkers and they all felt the same way about their cups. I've put up with the rude servers. I've tried their sandwiches and find them to be greasy and the bread gum-cuttingly hard. I've tried their stale pastries. And I've paid the rip off prices every time. But a cup of coffee that tastes bitter and sour all at the same time? No thank you. You can keep your hipster-than-thou attitudes and your over-priced & subpar goods. read more

Don't show up unless you rode your bike, have one pant leg rolled up above your ankle, have your beard/mustache on fleek and have an eclectic leather satchel strung across your body. I kid, kind of. This place is hipster paradise, and I'm ok with that as it really sets the bar for the pleasant aura this place exudes. The baristas outshine other baristas found at big chain coffee joints and the coffee they serve is a testament to that. read more

If you're a millennial hipster, this is your breeding grounds. If you're a Bay Area native who despises the pretentious swarms of idiots that have taken over the Oakland and SF hangouts... STEER CLEAR from this establishment. Let's start off with the cashier. Gave her my order. She made a "nice" comment about liking my nails and I jeered back and said "Oh, thanks.. they're Easter themed!" because of the pastel colors. She responded with, "If you had Zig Zags on them, then they would be Easter themed!" ....... Okay? I absolutely CAN'T with the inept social skills of this presumptuous wannabe. My friendly remark back was nonsense banter to her ill-attempt in order to receive a tip. Welp! She freaking blew it with her criticism and her arrogant "fashion sense." The order: $9.50 Veggie sandwich. Sure, simple as it is, I was expecting the dressing to be a little more liberally coated in order to avoid my sandwich being dry. Took two bites of it and was sorely unhappy with the order. Not to mention it took them about 10 minutes to figure out the difference between a Vegan sandwich and a Veggie sandwich. Told them that I was waiting for a "VEGGIE" sandwich and one guy finally decided to open it up to check wtf it was. Get your sh+t together and pay attention. Maybe then you'll have the decency to produce efficient orders. This place is a sham if you're a normal human being, just trying to get a bite to eat. read more

The drip coffee here is really good! My friend got the chai latte and thought it was foamy and delicious. If you are planning to stay they serve your drinks in mugs! They have a large array of magazines to read, and really nice decor with wall art that is for sale. read more

Farley's East - Drip coffee and chai latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

We are always willing to try a new coffee spot in our hunt for the best mocha in the East Bay. This weekend we tried Farley's and I wish we hadn't. The woman at the register was rude. Not sure why. But this seems to be her general attitude from other people's comments. The barista working this Sunday was exactly the opposite - warm, friendly, and smiles for everyone she was helping. In a nutshell, it's too bad she can't be the only one to interact with customers. Oh yeah, the almond mocha was unfortunately not good. If you're in the area go to Tierra Mia instead. Better service and coffee. read more

This place is everything I look for in a coffee shop: - variety of seating (indoor, outdoor, and an up stairs) - enough seating to not have to worry about being out of luck when you want to stay - cozy atmosphere - a place I could stay a while and not worry - good coffee, at a good price, with free refills - nice array of pastries & desserts that are all tasty - good food in case I get hungry (and vegan options!) - a decent amount of outlets for you plug in your laptop/electronics Bonus: They have well curated magazines you can just look at. Or buy. read more

Yes please. I love a good coffee shop. You know the kind with food and ample space for us freelancers of the world. It's crazy how hard it is to find a place that exists like that. But Farley's is that place. The food is delicious as are the drinks. There doesn't look like there's tons of seating at first but oh are you wrong you lazy explorer you. Head to the back and then cruise on upstairs. I approve of this place so hard. read more

Farley's East, you are a distraction from my studies! I came for the first time recently to study on a Saturday afternoon, and there were a few reasons that my attentions were wandering from the pages of my physiology book towards far more beautiful and interesting things. The beautiful: there were lots of gorgeous men at Farley's! Is this where they all congregate in Oakland? They all happened to be tall, dark, and handsome. I'm sure they were all turned on by my slides of GI physiology I was unfortunately studying. The interesting: There's a great magazine selection, almost as good as Issues' on Piedmont, so the urge to thumb through Vogue Italia, Monocle, and Cat Fancy was becoming stronger with each slide of intestinal disorders a patient may have. The WiFi is free but it was pretty wonky when I was there. I would have been more frustrated but the aforementioned distractions cushioned my crankiness. Their coffee was good, though could have been better (less acidic.) There was a delicious apricot crumble that I devoured and then kept finding crumbs on me throughout the rest of the day. The complimentary water was delicious! It has cucumbers and berries and I could have consumed the whole carafe but I didn't want to get water bloated in front of all those cute guys. The GI problems ought to remain with the patients, not me! read more

Espresso drinks are always on point. Food and sweets are also always on point. Chocolate chip cookie sprinkled with coarse sea salt: get it. Quality assortment of loose leaf tea: finally, someone serves more than just that Tazo BS. Customer service is sometimes super sweet, sometimes dismissive/gruff. Ambiance and pricing is hipsterific, meaning I have to consciously try to find the cheapest things on the menu when I go so I keep my spending under $10. Meaning I went there to get some writing done this morning and literally had to leave before I wanted to because I couldn't bring myself to get ripped off for lunch, but I was hungry, so I went somewhere else. Meaning I sometimes go to the bagel shop on the corner to get a nice filling breakfast beforehand so I don't have to spend more than I have to at Farley's. read more

After a long meeting, my co-worker and I were famished. We tried going to Bakesale Betty but it was closed!(?) Thankfully Farley's was just around the corner!! I ordered a turkey and mozzarella hot sandwich with pesto. It was delicious but a little greasy. The side salad was a nice touch too. My co-worker had the chicken sausage sandwich, she really enjoyed it. This seems like a great place to grab a drink and chill out for a bit with your laptop. They also have a location in SF! read more

Lots of staff acting demanding and impolite to customers. Also, be ready to wait longer than other stores take. Good espresso, though. read more