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    Polaris Cafe

    4.5 (217 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 2:30 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Polaris Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    POLARIS CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Polaris Cafe

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    Atrium of office building where the café is located, tables and chairs, kind of a cool vibe
    Tracy R.

    I thought my sandwich was barely OK and to be honest, I threw most of it out. I ordered the chicken cheese pesto, it was loaded with cheese, wet and slimy and the chicken was clearly that frozen pre-prepared stuff. I was not feeling it. They don't sell sodas so you can pretty much only get coffee in there. I don't really want coffee with my lunch. The atrium of this office building where they have tables and chairs is actually sort of cool, very tropical. It's still the atrium of an office building, but it was different. I just came back and stared at the menu and realized there is nothing here I want. If you want coffee and a pastry, I think it's probably fine. I actually went ahead and ordered a small iced coffee and it cost me seven dollars. Good grief.

    Banana matcha
    Rachel T.

    Adorable little cafe tucked in a non descript building in emeryville. Baristas are quick and kind even for pick up orders. We got the banana matcha one with tiger stripes and one without-(brown sugar syrup) they were both good but I think next time I'll get without so it doesn't overpower the banana. Yummiest matcha I've had in a while

    Isaiah G.

    I found this place on TikTok and decided to give it a try. There is plenty of street parking. You walk in and ordered. I ordered a white rabbit. They sell a few other things like stickers and syrups. The area where you sit is next to where you order. It's has huge tall ceilings there's a ton of plants with so much lights. This is the most relaxing coffee shop I've ever been to. The coffee is good but not as that strong. The place is absolutely beautiful.

    Inside
    Cheri L.

    One minute away from Emeryville's Amtrak is this cute hidden cafe! They have a beautiful indoor setting that can get full, but their outdoor seating is just as nice too. While you wait for your order, there are a bunch of local items to shop from. I definitely need to get the flavored syrups next time. From their menu, I tried their cream top flavor of the month, pandan coconut, with a matcha latte and added a toasty bagel with their roasted jalapeño cream cheese. They both tasted great and made for a pretty affordable meal. Be sure to check them out next time you're in the Emeryville area!

    Caesar salad & pesto sandwich
    Joanne R.

    I love this place! I love the vibe. I love the space. I love the staff. I even love how diverse the people who eat here are. I've been here twice and both times it was for lunch on a weekday. My friend and I shared the pesto & tuna sandwiches which were both good. We also both got the upgraded Caesar salad which was so delicious! The cinnamon roll is yummy but I'm not the biggest raisin person. If that's your thing, you'll love it. If you also have trust issues because of raisins from biting into "chocolate chip" cookies only to find out they're raisins.. well here's your warning. Pick them out first!

    Gina G.

    What is this magical place? While doing a drop off in the area, I Yelped coffee spots in Emeryville and Polaris Cafe came up highly rated. Such a unique spot. The patrons inside also seemed to think so, and this spot also seemed to be the "it spot" in the area..I love a spot that has regulars turned friends! A very fun menu I might add filled with brekky items, pastries, hot & cold drinks, and soup of the day. There's seating within a botanical oasis also..my best way to describe it? But I'll let you come up with your own adjectives :)) I ordered a Vanilla Cream Iced Coffee and Boichik Bagel toasted with cream cheese. They also have breakfast burritos, sandwiches, and deliciously looking baked goods. I also had my eye on the Banana Mocha and Iced Taro with s'mores cloud cream...ummm, yum! One more thing to note..my total came to $15. What a steal for East Bay prices! For a bagel/topping/large drink..I'll take a morning win! As you can tell from my exclamation points, very excited about a new spot to grab 'wake me up' liquid from. Fun staff, sweet environment, parking a bit tricky (there is paid parking if you drive down the street), and a cool menu. They also sell adorable art like candles shaped like food and did I notice a Labubu? Regardless, worth the adventure if in the area and looking for something different.

    Judith D.

    Absolute gem in Emeryville. Despite being located in an office building, this cafe has such character and an amazing ambiance. Right outside they have a beautiful sitting area full of seats and greenery. The women working there were all lovely. I wasn't sure what to get and they gave me a few recommendations and I ended up going with the Matcha with Biscoff Banana cream. IT WAS INCREDIBLE. I will be back! It's a nice spot to get work or studying done, the woman at the front was kind enough to let me know there are power outlets available along the side if needed.

    Breakfast Burrito
    Izzie L.

    Polaris Cafe was one of the loveliest places I've studied in a while. Came here on an early weekday morning and stayed until closing because it was just that nice. :) What we ordered: + Breakfast Burrito [3.5/5] + Oatmilk Latte [3/5] + Matcha with Raspberry Cream Cheese Cloud [5/5] + Green Juice [6/5] (would highly recommend) I thought the oatmilk latte tasted mostly like earthy milk. I enjoyed everything else a lot more. The matcha with their seasonal raspberry cream cheese cloud top was so well-balanced and I would definitely order it again! The matcha itself was okay but the cloud top was heavenly. The breakfast burrito was also a bit dry and had very little meat, but the portion size of crunchy greens was delicious. The Green Juice is amazing. I would've ordered 2 more to-go. It's creamy and not too sweet, but tastes both sweet and "healthy" at the same time. Would highly recommend! On the day we came, they had this scavenger hunt amongst the greenery with hidden bear bottles for free labubu figurines. This was definitely the highlight of our experience and we were 2 of the lucky 8 who found the bottles in time!

    Caramel iced coffee
    Emily B.

    Adorable little coffee spot in Emeryville. Got a caramel iced coffee with a splash of pistachio milk. Highly recommend. Pricey, but worth it. The cloud cream was a yummy touch too. The staff was super friendly too. So glad I stumbled upon this cafe!

    Vietnamese Coffee w Banana Caramel
    Joanna F.

    Super cute! Very little signage since it's at the bottom floor of what appears to be an office building. The inside is beautiful and luscious w plants, and the storefront itself has cute goodies and awesome menu items. Staff was sweet and helpful even when I was being annoying.

    Karina G.

    Ultimate cozy coffee shop vibes, combined with fun and tasty drinks and delightful staff. Great for working, catching up with a friend or settling in with a book. My only wish is that they'd trade in the brick benches and hard metal chairs with softer seating for a leveled up experience.

    Corn grilled cheese, Hong Kong milk tea with black sesame foam (yum!), Elite salad (regular size)
    Jessica T.

    Can't believe I haven't visited sooner but have definitely found my second favorite Asian drink place . Too bad it's only open on the weekdays! Food is pretty good as well. Love how they have food specials and the plant filled atrium.

    Angela T.

    I can't believe it's taken me until now to write a review.. because Polaris is such a treat!! Their aesthetic just makes you happy to be there Their staff are friendly and very helpful in helping choose a drink/customization. Their drinks are creative and always picture worthy. They tend to land on the sweet side but can be adjusted. I've got a sweet tooth so I don't mind My favorite part is they're always coming up with new concoctions. I wait eagerly every month to see what their new cream of the month is. I love their matcha and it usually goes with their special cold foam/cream. I also recommend the white rabbit drink if you're into sweets or Hong Kong milk tea. Honestly you can't go wrong. It's also a great place to shop for a gift for the tea/asian food lover in your life.

    marshmallow vietnamese coffee and banana matcha

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Polaris Cafe

    Does this coffee shop and/or sitting area have WiFi?

    Yes, we have we have free Wi-Fi, an indoor atrium seating area, outdoor seating, and limited power outlets available.

    Does this place have its own parking? Relatively easy to park?

    I had find street parking but I do think there's a parking garage near by.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    MLK Café

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    I was visiting from Texas and happened to get a hotel down the street from MLK Cafe. They were the…read moreonly place open relatively late (Yelp says they close at 10:00 on weekdays, but I think I went in there around 10:15 or 10:30??), so I decided to walk down there and get some food. I was a little confused as to where to order upon first walking in, as there were people hanging out all around the bar and restaurant but no one behind the counter. Eventually I figured it out - they have menus at one of the counters and as I was looking one over, a man came up and asked what I would like. I decided to keep it simple and just ordered a small cheese pizza to go. It wasn't anything mindblowing, but it definitely hit the spot (and for a good price too). The next night I find myself in the same late-ish night predicament, so I walked back over there and decided I'd try one of their Ethiopian dishes. I had only eaten Ethiopian once before and I thought it was great, but nothing to write home about. I ordered beef kelwa and boyyyyyy was it fucking good! It blew my first Ethiopian experience out of the water. Atmosphere is super laid back. Second night I was in there everyone was watching the Warriors game, cheering, and what not. The guys cooking your food and taking your orders are very friendly. Highly recommended spot. I will definitely be back next time I'm in Oakland!

    I had some down time between an afternoon meeting and dinner, so I looked on Yelp for a cafe to…read morework in with wifi and lunch because I hadn't eaten yet. MLK Cafe was perfectly located and exactly what I needed. I've never had Eritrean food before, so I was pretty excited. I ordered the foul meseleh ($13) from the breakfast menu (available all day though I had to ask for it), which was a bean-based dish, and chai. It kind of reminded me of shakshuka in terms of spices but the beans almost tasted meaty. I liked it so much that I brought it home, and my partner said it tasted like refried beans (though he did have them cold). The crusty warm bread was perfect for dipping, and I ended up not being able to finish it. The chai was pretty milky; there was a tea bag and the spices weren't very strong. Then again, I'm used to Indian chais. I would pass on the chai. There was basically no one else there on a Friday afternoon during off-peak hours. It was dimly lit and kind of chilly because the door was left open, so it wasn't the most comfortable cafe ambiance. The wifi did work well though and I would come back to try more Eritrean and Ethiopian food.

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    Injera breakfast plate
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    Inside
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    Savory French Toast tastes awesome when you break the egg yolk over the toast.
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    Polaris Cafe - coffee - Updated June 2026

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