I want to like this place. It's beautiful and close to my work. Sadly, it features bad food, bad coffee, and bad music. I wish I had been around when the old owner was there. The new owners need to do something -- hire a manger with cafe vision, spend more time seeing how other successful cafes do it, or just let it go. A quick failure may be the best thing for the neighborhood, but it is likely to become a zombie cafe, attractive to those who don't drink coffee but need quiet place to work. read more

the chai latte is nothing but milk and little bit spice. But that's ok. What is not ok is the middle age guy at the counter was super rude. When I asked for wifi code and the bathroom key he was unhappy and knocking at the counter with his finger nail. Loudly. read more

I first read it on Dwell Magazine. It's a creative establishment with living units on top. And it's a respectable effort to revitalize a neighborhood corner. But I have to say I am underwhelmed. It's probably because I came in a rainy late afternoon and waited half hour for the restroom (1 only). And then there were no seats, so my friends and I moved things here and there to make ourselves comfortable. I ordered the pesto mozzarella sandwich and cafe mocha. The food is good. But the lighting and the ambience could be improved. read more

i love to hate this cafe. food is very expensive but pretty good. pastries are not so great and neither are smoothies. coffee is fine. service is slow, and one of the baristas is seriously cranky at me every time i see her - and i try very hard to be nice to no avail! why is she so mean? also, everyone here is on their laptops, and some on their cell phones or ipods or whatever. ambience is weird and you often have to share tables with annoying yuppies with babies or other strangely unfriendly people. Also, this place is a perfect example of gentrification. BUT still i come here because i don't feel like a total jerk sitting on my computer for hours because everyone else is doing it and i don't really like the cafe anyway. does that make any sense? i come here because i don't feel guilty that i'm contributing the downfall of the coffeshop concept with my laptop since it's already screwed here. i should really stop going. they're recycling/composting scheme is good, at least in theory. read more

This is one of my favorite places in Berkeley. Not only does its have great sandwiches, the staff is great. Always with a welcoming attitude and great service. read more

The staff is so friendly here! The porkchop banh mi is delicous! So convenient that they carry CBD infused drinks, Kombucha, and coconut water. Those are my favorite drinks. In the mornings i love the almond croissant or the blueberry cheese danish. read more

free wifi, cozy space, convenient to bart, alright coffee. i do love that they are green though! read more

Popped in today because I heard they had good veggie friendly fare. I asked for something that wasn't on the menu and not only were they happy to oblige they made me a damn good sammy! For a Vegan sandwich it was tasty and filling and not full of fake meats. Seemed like most of the patrons were students or were on a working lunch, the dining room was nearly full at 2:30 so they must be doing something right. I'll be back for sure. read more

The Nomad is back in my good favor. They have expanded their menu and have gotten better at making coffee. I am glad I came back to give them another chance. read more

Oh, Nomad. I used to live in the neighborhood, and this was my husband's default place to go to write in the mornings. Of course, you'd have to get there in the morning to get a table (if you're lucky). The place is always cramped and crowded, and the music is often too loud. There are one or two baristas that are nice and cool, and the rest seem like hipsters who want to exercise their newfound power as coffeehouse workers. Baristas uber alles! Nomad overcharges for everything. I mean, everything. I'm surprised they don't charge you to use the toilet. They don't charge for wifi, but try to have a table to yourself so you can spread out some books or save a spot for a friend, and they will yell at you that you MUST share a table with whomever comes in to sit down next to you. I don't mind sharing a table, but being yelled at or jeered or guilt-tripped before I'm even given a chance to explain that I'm trying to save a seat for my husband is just plain awful. The place is overcrowded, service is extra slow and often rude, the tea is ghastly (especially with what they charge for it), the seats are uncomfortable, and they will nickel and dime you to death. The Toasted Roasted is a very good sandwich, if you actually receive it before you pass out from hunger. There are plenty of outlets, if you actually find a place to sit down in their uncomfortable seats. Overall, not worth it unless you want to sit in a slick cafe, pay too much for your drink and have your thoughts drowned out by blaring music. I'd say skip it, and try one of the other establishments throughout Berkeley. read more

Updated update - Big changes at the Nomad. The menu is reduced, and prices have risen. Raising prices is to be expected, but it's sad to see some yummy sandwiches gone. The coffee itself is different. As the latest salvo in his ongoing war against the Evil Computer Patrons, the owner has covered all power outlets, and removed the computer stations. Take that, paying customers! However, it would've been nice to know about the outlets before I spent $6 on a cup of brewed coffee and a pastry. The Nomad has been slowly trying to become a different kind of place and distinctly less friendly to laptop users. That's their prerogative; no doubt some people will appreciate this, and others will find somewhere else to go. It's not a good or bad thing, just good to know. ... UPDATE - Nomad has recently started to turn off the wifi a half-hour before all events (open mic night, some guy playing guitar in the corner, etc.). If you plan on using the network, check their calendar first, or give them a call. Whether this is either encouraging ("We're building a community!") or annoying ("We value your business... until 7:00, that is, then scram.") is up to you. ... Nomad is around the corner from my apartment, and being one of those computer yuppies the other reviewers are complaining about, I come here all the time. This place has many moods, according to day, time, who's working, and what event is going on. Music can vary from soft indie folk to loud-ass house music. The interior is more new industrial than warm and cozy, but in a good way. Prices reflect stereotypical Calfornian self-appraisal. I'm OK, you're OK, and it's OK to charge to $4.50 for bottled beer or $8 for a grilled cheese sandwich. That said, the prices aren't that crazy, the coffee's good, and the Roasted Toasted is like crack. Seats are hard to come by, but people are more than willing to share tables. If there's an event, you can count on all the seats being taken by people who mostly aren't buying anything. Power outlets are plentiful. read more

Great coffee, plenty of seating, easy to park, friendly staff, free wifi, a nice variety of food to snack on.... Gonna be five stars every time in my book! read more

Every drink I've tried from them has been really delicious and great quality! The atmosphere is also very calm and relatively quiet for a cafe, which I like. read more

This place is mission control on steroids...I mean man I think we are going a little too far with the laptops does anyone socialize anymore? The free Wi-Fi is great the coffee does what it is suppose to do give me a major buzz and I live like right down the street so it's oh so close for my growing caffeine addiction. I think that the prices are highway robbery but I continue to go. I have only had a bagel with cream cheese here it was good but you can't mess that up too bad. I really like that it's a certified Green Business it makes me feel like I'm doing my part for the environment and all that good stuff. I will continue to to patronize my neighborhood cafe cause all in all it's a place trying to promote something positive. read more

What a cozy spot in a not so cozy part of town! I went here before The Typographer's Dream at Ashby Stage (go see it!) and felt right at home. They even had a copy of my favorite magazine, Bitch: Feminist Response to Pop Culture, sitting among their reading options. Yummy smoothies, yummy prosciutto mozarella sandwich, yummy olives, yummy vegan pastry thing. read more

Great service! Yummy food fast! Love getting a quick bite here. Chicken salad sandwich is really tasty, and you can never go wrong with one of the breakfast sandwiches! read more

I finally found my new internet cafe! I really like QUIET places to study/work. I hate when internet cafes blast music!! This place is totally chill and has great snacks. read more

This is a nice cafe, ideal for studying with room and sockets for your laptops. I ordered a Mocha which was pretty good, but I gave this 3 stars because service matters a lot to me. The barista was unfriendly and really turned me off from coming here again. Besides that , everything else was pretty good! read more

Do not go here, their customer service is terrible. I ordered a smoothie today, and it was Gross! I nicely asked the guy working there to remake it for me, and he refused saying I should have known it would taste bad! REALLY? I tried to reason with the guy, but he continued to be rude. I walked out, figured arguing over $5 wasn't worth it. Nomad Cafe won't get any more of my business, it's a shame because its in my neighborhood, but they definitely aren't neighborhood friendly... read more

This coffee shop has all the charm of an operating room at a major American hospital and the good thing about it is it's a lot cheaper than having to end up there if you are hurt crossing the street on Shattuck Ave. Bravo GREEN stainless steel! read more

It literally took me years to warm up to this place. My first impression of Nomad was one of an overpriced cold yuppy cafe with uncomfortable looking seating. I say "looking" because now that i've actually sat down in them rather than "coffee to go" i realize they actually are comfy even for short little me. Plenty of seating outside, which is great for when i walk Coconut to the Nomad (and some of it is always in the sun and some in shade-- brilliant!). When i want to sit inside, im never shy about sharing a table, and there's always one to share. And as far as overpriced? Well, yes. But even my beloved Peets has raised their prices of coffee and teas, so it's not that inflated. And the food is very expensive, but shit, all i ever want is a bagel with cream cheese and that isnt overpriced at all. So save a couple of bucks on an organic sandwich by going to the B-Bowl first. No one is forcing you to order food at a COFFEE spot. Speaking of which, the coffee is good. Even my dad, the ultimate coffee snob, likes the coffee. No, it's not Peets, but most Peets (except the newest ones) are retail/to-go spots and one size doesnt always fit all when it comes to going out for coffee. I like to sit, usually outside, with my coffee and pup. As far as yuppies are concerned, i have news for you. theyre everywhere all over the bay and we just need to learn to share "our" space with them. no really, this isnt a yuppy spot.. actually everytime i go the clientle is always very diverse. Also, i feel good knowing that this place is pushing green business. Good in the way that i feel when i buy 7 generations toilet paper instead of the soft oh so nice Charmin. Yes Charmin is better and cheaper, but i dont want to cut down a tree just so i can wipe my arse with softer tissue. So maybe other spots are out there that are better and cheaper, but Im an in the closet tree hugger. I was surprised by some of the other reviewers scathing comments on the pace of the service. Ive never experienced long line/slow pace at the Nomad. Not that im saying it isnt real, im sure it probably happens alot, maybe during peak hours? I dont work the conventional m-f 9-5 so im probaly not there when the crowds are. So maybe people should keep that in mind. Nomad isnt McDonalds, and no matter how big of a hurry youre in they are going at there own pace. Regardless, the service is always friendly, and they always play great music, so no complaints from me. Only four stars because I'll never be able to afford any food item there other than a bagel. oh well. read more

I was up early, had an evening meeting, and needed a jolt. Most of the local coffee houses close at 3 or 4 (unless you go downtown where it is crowded). Nomad was close, and open until 8pm. I had a very good cup at about 5:30 p.m. There was no line, and a table available. However my pumpkin bread was meh, and I don't do this enough to know if I got a good price or not (though it seems much cheaper than Starbucks). But I won't hesitate to go back when I need my next caffeine fix. read more

A great place to get a quick tasty snack, sit on the rug in their tiny chill out corner, or use their free wireless. I like it because it's so community-oriented, promoting local artists and cultural everything. They're good people. Also, a green-certified business. btw, their ricotta bruschetta is sooooo good. You can get it breakie style, with strawberry jam on crusty toasty bread. Or savory style, with fresh roasted garlic on that same toasty crunch. Mm. read more

I'm all for sustainable and green...I just wish I could find a non-vegan cookie there. And a place to sit. People, please...if you've been fiddling around on your ibook for several hours, maybe it's time to go home or go somewhere else, instead of making this miniscule cafe your home office. read more

The best sandwiches in the bay! I swear I've never tasted anything so divine as the red bell pepper/mozarella grilled sandwhich (not its actual name). Crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. They use a lemon dill butter on crunchy ciabatta bread. Its making me hungry, I will make my trek to Oaktown very soon! read more

when did I become one of those ibook, macpro, powerbook people? like 10 minutes ago, I think. It is hard to get a seat here and once, I sat in my car for the free wifi like an internet-stealing Facebook-addicted freak. the coffee is good and makes me wanna vomit from the jitters. good times! I really think this should be in all the girl-on-girl travel books because there are a lot of them here whenever I visit. and though I hate lesbians, they don't bother me here. Bring on the lesbos. I love Greece. read more

One of my favorite coffee shops in the East Bay. Great food, good drinks, a very conscious and positive environment.

Boo hiss! I drop you two star for covering up all your outlets so I can't plug my computer in when the battery starts to die, for getting rid of your little computer internet rental station so I can't use that either if/when I dont' have a computer or it's dead, and for turning off your internet 1/2 hour before you close and other weird changes in service that I find out *after* I've purchased my food and beverage and planning to slam out some work in a nice atmosphere. Really I want to drop you 2 stars, but the severe cutback in my business and sending my friends elsewhere when they ask where to go makes me feel less brutal in my ratings. read more

I'm a fan! If you watched the news in the last week and saw how Chris's the owner dealt with the robberies you can tell he stands behind what he sells. If your a band play it. If your a coffee lover come here! read more

I went here a few times when I lived in this neighborhood. Never mind the coffee. The guy that works here with the sweet fro is a fox.

Anybody know if Trivia Night is still happening every Monday?

My husband and I love this place! They always customize your order and it is perfect every time. They have breakfast, lunch, snacks, and any caffeine you might want. Don't skip the breakfast bagel with cream cheese and veggies or the tofu bahn mi. They have a second location over by the ash you bart station. Great neighborhood spot. read more

This is my spot... this will always be my spot- when I sit somewhere else and order coffee, every sip I take I am thinking of Nomad... hell, even when I am not doing anything remotely similar to drinking coffee I am thinking of Nomad- like playing tennis for instance- but seriously, this place is awesome, everyone is super friendly and always says "hi Brian" when I walk in; a real neighborhood place where everybody knows my name... like if Cheers didn't come out the year I was born I would have more references to that effect because this place is my Cheers... I'm just drinking coffee instead of beer and I'm pretty sure I'm the Woody Harrelson character- so alas, I digress, Nomad is the stuff dreams are made of, love you guys, keep up the good work! read more

3 stars...here's why: - they get points for their drinks...good selection of the typical coffee house drinks, reasonably priced, and good quality. They also have juices and smoothies to choose from as well. They also serve BEER!!! - It's always nice to have food at a coffeeshop; something more than pastries anyway. there is a decent selection of sandwiches and snacky stuff. - Free wifi is always a plus, but of course this attracts lots of laptop users, which leads to another problem: SEATING! The seating at this place bothers me...there are 7 round tables here, which really feels like an inefficient use of their small space. There's also a small area of pillows and bean bags (which a guy sitting over there is picking his nose on...gross!!). There are tables outside too...but sometimes it's not all that fun sitting outside on a windy day. -there is plenty of street parking, it's easy to find, and there is also internet access for anyone who doesn't have a laptop. If I didn't have to wait for a table to open up everytime I come here, this place would get 4 stars. This is a decent place, but it does feel more like a cyber cafe than a coffeeshop. read more

Don't drink coffee, but I think if I did it would be good. Free WiFi. That's reason enough for me. Also, across the street...Flint's! That's also enough for me. Anyway, I've lost my train of thought, but it has free WiFi, that's what I wanted to say so when you're looking for a coffee shop and you're in the area, you should go here. read more

Looking for a free Internet cafe in Berkeley is harder than you would think! So, here I am sitting in one in Oakland instead. I seem to be one of the only non-students working off their laptop (Mine is a PC, theirs are all MACs). Been looking for an Internet cafe to work from when I'm working virtually...so I have a feeling that this place will become one of my regular spots away from home and the office. Being a single mom, of course, I noticed the 'kid's corner' that they set up here with books and a few toys to occupy any child while their parent enjoys an organic cup of java and vegan cookies. read more

coffee beans - 3 stars espresso machine skills - 2 stars other drinks - 3 stars pastries - 1 stars food - 3 stars customer service - 2 stars seating - 3 stars internet connection - 3 stars Pros: Central location Cons: surrounded by better coffee shops. check my other posts. read more

Bright, airy and open coffee shop. Plenty of power outlets for nerding out on your laptop. Decent latte. When the doors are open, you do get a little bit of street noise, but if you're wearing your headphones it shouldn't be a problem. read more

I really enjoy this place. Good drinks and food (nothing special), nice ambiance- open w/ lots of light. It's great for doing work on the computer or meeting up with a friend. I live right around the corner so, this is my choice neighborhood cafe! read more

I finally went into this place after passing it a million times and I was absolutely delighted! The menu is quite more extensive than I expected for a cafe and everything sounded so good I just couldn't decide what to order. Although I was intrigued by the greek yogurt egg salad sandwich, I ordered the chicken salad on the French bread which was really very good. It came with a house salad which, to my pleasant surprise, had a delicious teriyaki-flavored dressing. The staff was very friendly and kind, as well. I will definitely be going back for future lunches! read more