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Royal Ground Coffee

3.6 (126 reviews)
InexpensiveCafes
Closed 6:30 am - 5:00 pm

Royal Ground Coffee Photos

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ROYAL GROUND COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Quiet
Outdoor seating
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Royal Ground Coffee

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Iced americano and hot eggnog latte (delicious)
Cora F.

I live in the area and come here often for the affordable drinks, tasty breakfast/ lunch/ pastry items, and for the lovely gentleman who runs the joint most days (and is truly the sweetest). I think a lot of these reviews are people wanting an expensive, hip Bay Area cafe vibe and that's just not what this place is about - it's a small, cute, local cafe who knows their customer base and offers space to work, chat, etc. I like their traditional coffee drinks most (americanos, lattes, etc.), but they have lots of choices and they partner with local bakeries for tasty treats. It's not the most glamorous or eye catching place, but it has tons of charm and the staff is incredibly hardworking, funny, and compassionate. I also love to come work on my laptop here, as they play quiet jazz music and it's never too disruptive to focus.

Pastries & Breakfast Burritos
Sherri W.

This establishment has been around for 30 years, but the owner 20 years, so kudos for serving the Albany community! Even though I ordered a regular brew of coffee, it was really fresh & strong. They had an assortment of tempting pastries, unfortunately I had just had lunch, otherwise I would have happily ordered a New York Crumb cake. Next visit I'll take advantage of a pastry to accompany my coffee.

Cafe au lait (to go)
Mito I.

Due to the pandemic, I will be removing criteria that I had added to my reviews such as restaurant ambiance, mood, and staff. This review will only focus on the dish. This is around the time, when the restrictions were loosening up, so I decided to go out and eat. Although I only walked a block I was happy to see that the area seemed to be the same as I last visited (which is almost last year). The spotting difference is that many of the stores have outdoor seating, including this one. The sign on the door read that there is outdoor seating and some indoors (with a limited capacity and set of rules on distance). On the floor there are directional arrows and signs that explain where to line up and the place to make orders and pick up. I ordered the cafe au lait, Thai latte, and a sandwich: an egg and cheese There are three bread options to choose, so I picked the English muffin. The wait is at a relaxing pace, since there as only one staff at the counter to do the ordering and cooking. It's not the instant pace one in the working morning life would like, but Solano Ave is not that type of atmosphere, so I enjoyed the peaceful wait. Besides, the wait time was less than 7 minutes for a coffee and a sandwich; it's not that long. I ate outside with the outdoor dining space. The coffee is very delicious and piping hot - my favorite type of temperature for coffee. The Thai latte, on the other hand, was a perfect temperature on the first sip. The sweetness was just right too. The sandwich was so good. The egg was very fluffy, something that it will be difficult to make at home. The cheese was creamy and it also didn't have the strong cheese flavor that I don't favor as much; it blended well with the fluffy and airy eggs. I became a fan of the cafe, and if I visit Solano Ave again, I will come by and enjoy another cup of coffee and a good sandwich.

Jenna T.

The first thing I love about this neighborhood is that there's free 2-hour parking around the area. The coffee shop is quiet and has plenty of tables with outlets. Great lighting and an extensive menu with plenty of gluten-free options. There are plenty of regulars that come through as they greet the staff by their first name and already know their order. They have pastries, yogurt, oatmeal, and bagel sandwiches and plenty of beverages. Wifi was strong and it's protected so ask for the password. It's fast too! There are also some great stores around too before you head out.

Montage of images from Royal Ground Coffee
Ed U.

No two Royal Grounds are truly alike, are they? They're much like fingerprints or episodes of "Shark Tank". I like "Shark Tank" and I have this idea... but I digress. What the cafes do have in common is the availability of room-temperature baked goods and their customer base: preoccupied laptoppers who don't budge from their tables and young mothers who make room for their gigantic strollers. This one was filled to the rim with both archetypes, but I still managed to find a little table for me and my $3.20 Large Cafe au Lait which provided me with enough satisfaction to get me through my brisk walk on a particularly chilly day on Solano (photo: http://bit.ly/2rrCwrX). COFFEE - 3 stars...olé to the au lait?...not quite but warm enough AMBIANCE - 3 stars...study hall with caffeine SERVICE - 3 stars...moved quickly enough TOTAL - 3 stars...another Royal Ground, another au lait RELATED - Looking for something to eat in Albany? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2N4anQA

A partially eaten donut because we couldn't wait to take the picture first. DELICIOUS!

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Review Highlights - Royal Ground Coffee

They're fast, friendly, and the parking is never an issue (surprisingly, being on Solano).

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Roast & Toast Cafe

Roast & Toast Cafe

4.7
(137 reviews)
1.9 mi
$$
Locally owned & operated
Boutique

Perfect brunch place for a group, many menu options and seats! My party got a caramel macchiato,…read morehot chocolate, green tea and a chai latte, all turned out great. Everyone loved what they got, croissant sandwich, egg/avocado toast, bagel sandwich (pictured). So nice to see they have gluten-free toast available! Service was quick especially for the amount we ordered. Everyone was nice, especially the worker that hand scooped our Booza icecream at the end. Didn't even get a picture because we were too excited to try it!

I've become a regular at Roasted and Toasted because it's a great place to grab a coffee, get some…read morework done, or just relax. They have plenty of seating, and one of the biggest advantages is their excellent Wi-Fi speed, which makes it a reliable spot for remote work or studying. The atmosphere is enjoyable as well. There's usually music playing or a sports game on the TV, creating a comfortable, laid-back environment without being distracting. Their food selection is also better than you'd expect from a coffee shop. In addition to coffee and pastries, they offer cakes, breakfast items, and a variety of other snacks and treats, so there's always something to pair with your drink. Their hours are convenient, making it easy to stop by throughout the day. The only area where I think there's room for improvement is cleanliness. I've noticed on several occasions that when I arrive shortly after opening--sometimes within 30 minutes to an hour--there are still crumbs on the chairs, tables, and floor, even when there haven't been many customers yet. First impressions matter, and the café should be fully cleaned and ready for guests before the doors open. Customers shouldn't have to wipe down their own tables before sitting. Overall, I really enjoy coming here and would absolutely recommend it for the atmosphere, Wi-Fi, seating, and food options. With a little more attention to cleanliness before opening each day, it would be an even better experience.

Photos
Original Knafeh Nabulsiyeh
Original Knafeh Nabulsiyeh
Arabic booza with pistachio/phyllo dough & rose petals topping
Arabic booza with pistachio/phyllo dough & rose petals topping
Arabic booza witb pistacho topping

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Arabic booza witb pistacho topping
Sweet Potatoe's Up Beet Cafe

Sweet Potatoe's Up Beet Cafe

4.8
(41 reviews)
0.8 mi

I was at the post office, so I figured--why not stop in and grab a quick snack?…read more This is a very local, very friendly coffee shop offering baked goods and sandwiches. It's the perfect example of what a neighborhood spot should be--warm, welcoming, and feeling like an extension of someone's home. If you're already stopping by the post office, it's an ideal place to hang out for a bit before heading back to work. BB

What a cute little cafe! I work nearby and was looking for something light to eat and found this…read morecafe on Yelp! There are a lot of options on their menu to choose from; sandwiches, bagels, smoothies, teas, pastries, lattes, etc. I got the cream cheese bagel which came with arugula, avocado, and strawberries on the side. The menu states it comes with cucumbers, but mine didn't have any. It was only $7 and filled me up right away! I ordered the iced horchata latte; it didn't taste much like horchata, but it was still good! Sweet and cinnamony! I also grabbed some empanadas to take home to heat up myself (they also offered to heat it for me too). I got the jalapeño hatch chicken and the potato curry empanadas. Both were very filling and delicious! My favorite was jalapeño hatch chicken! The outside of the empanada was crispy and had a subtle sweetness to it, while the filling was creamy and cheesy! I will definitely be returning and trying their other items.

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Sweet Potatoe's Up Beet Cafe
Cream cheese bagel
Cream cheese bagel
Outside patio

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Outside patio
Cafe Parisien

Cafe Parisien

4.7
(87 reviews)
1.8 mi
$

They have some of the best customer service I've ever seen, and they care about the food they give…read moreyou. Let me tell you, the workers always have a smile on there face which gives a really nice welcoming feel! Mom works not far from here and when I come to just sit down and work/study, there always so kind to me and everyone else. I might go to this school just to come here I'm glad places like this exist! Come try it out

La présentation est magnifique /superbe. Que/Comme c'est…read morebeau. Que/Comme la présentation est belle. C'est vraiment appétissant. J'en ai l'eau à la bouche. ‍‍---------------------- The lovely, gorgeous, succulent, divine pastries are showcased behind glass as if displayed in a museum or fine jewelry retailer. Flour, water, and fruit jewels painstakingly prepared and crafted like sculpture. It should almost be a crime to stick your fork in them! The shop is always very clean and has the whole French vibe going on with the decorations, etc. Café Parisian is run by a pair of twins from Paris: HOCINE and AHCE. "Les rois de la boulangerie" I believe they share duties at their other shoppe in Paris and rotate locations from time to time. Even if you're not hungry, it's worth a trip to stop in to say bonjour and of course grab a box of pastries to go! It is indeed a joy to speak with them and today Hocine was attending the front counter. He genuinely is a very friendly man with a quick wit and a humorous personality. The service is second to none and a rarity in many places these days. Like a Traiteur HOCINE is catering to your every need and explaining anything that you need to know. If you ask what ingredients are in something he will lay it all out in a succinct manner. I was just taking a peek to see what was new because I haven't been in there for a minute and I just had a lousy empanada (from a tree that bears fruit) down the street that was close to being inedible! I was thinking about having a burrito up the road a bit until we started chatting and I just couldn't leave without having lunch. I opted for this "round sandwich" or savory pastry stuffed with many vegetables including mushrooms, brussel sprouts, and more. A large portion and truly magnificent. It was cut into to four pieces, served with some nice hot sauce packets and could've been shared. My lunch partner had a similar sandwich, but his was with chicken. His assessment? "SUBLIME". Well, Mr. HOCINE lives up to the origin of his name, which can translate to pride and identity. Also, somewhere not really lost in translation is also "good" and "handsome", but I wouldn't say that because it might go to his head! ------------------------------ Merci pour ce délicieux repas, votre excellent service, vos connaissances, la présentation soignée et votre personnalité remarquable.

Photos
Absolutely epic French pastries!
Absolutely epic French pastries!
Photo 5: Pastries
Photo 5: Pastries
Photo 10: Front of the cafe

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Photo 10: Front of the cafe

Royal Ground Coffee - cafes - Updated July 2026

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