Café Parisien

Amazing cake and coffee, and the owners here are nice and friendly. Would definitely visit again.

Lynn Sande

This place is such a gem, I hesitate to share it for fear it will get too crowded! It is owned by two French brothers who are gracious and charming. The coffee is superb, and the French pastries are to die for! My personal favorites are the lemon “bread”, almond croissants, and the Genoise. I haven’t tried the Croque Monsieur yet, but it looks delicious. And I will order their Bouche Noel before Christmas! Lovely French music plays in the background. You are in for a treat!

Nick Zahariadis

This is a truly exceptional café, and we are very happy we have them here. If you've ever been to Europe you'll immediately recognize the high quality and beautiful presentation of the desserts here. This is truly a great place. We were walking by with my son and stopped in. We knew right away that this café was the real deal. We got a few of their desserts to-go and we were blown away by the taste and quality. The staff are delightfully friendly and hospitable. We picked a few items and then asked them what else they'd recommend we try. The pastry chef was there from their pâtisserie in Paris, and pointed to the chocolate cake. Everything we tried was exceptional.

June Han Wang

This cafe has basically become my second home/office. 😂🥰 I’m here almost every day for my large latte and the best croissants in town. 🥐☕️The chocolate croissant is my forever favorite, but the almond croissant has also been addictive lately. Their cakes, cookies, sandwiches, and spinach quiche are all consistently yummy 🤗😋 I ordered a coffee Génoise cake for my birthday party, and it was honestly the best cake I’ve ever had~~🥳🎂Everything is homemade, thoughtfully balanced, and never overly sweet, which I love!!!❤️❤️ Hocin and Ahce, the twin brothers who run the place, are funny, warm, humble, and hardworking. They’re always improving something, always welcoming, and they treat every customer with genuine kindness. This is the kind of cafe that makes a neighborhood feel like home, and I’m grateful to have it just around the corner. 💕☺️🍀

Lezhi Li

love this place! great pastries great variety all handmade fresh, and it’s a family business the staff are really friendly and devoted ! cozy atmosphere and the facilities are all good. Recommend a lot to go

Samia Himed

A true French treasure in the heart of Berkeley. The pastries are exceptional—light, buttery, and perfectly crafted, rivaling those found in Paris. The café’s warm atmosphere and attentive staff make each visit a delightful experience. Whether for a morning croissant and coffee or an afternoon treat, this shop consistently delivers excellence. An absolute must-try for pastry lovers. Which I would like to call it “little PARIS 🇫🇷 in Berkeley”

E Lee

Friendly service. Not too busy in the late evening on a weekend. I would prefer a shorter Americano. Napoleon was good. It was quiet enough to have a comfortable level of conversation and there were also people studying

Rebecca Banghart

The twins, Usen(I apologize for spelling your name incorrectly) and Ace were a delight! Oakland has many treasures but Café Parisien was the highlight of my food experience. There were many options, all made beautifully and with love. We had the hazelnut croissant, croque monsieur, brownie, orange bread, raspberry danish, café noisette, and a London fog. I have never been so satisfied by pastries and a delicious baked sandwich before! I highly recommend this café to locals and tourists. Thank you! I hope to see you soon. Love from AZ 🤗🥳

Harnoor Gill

This café is genuinely one of the cutest spots I’ve studied at. I’m writing this review because I was searching for a new café to try between classes, and after some exploring, this one popped up. I checked Yelp for reviews on the space, drinks, and pastries but found little information online. Still, since I had already been to most cafés in Berkeley, I decided to give it a shot—and I’m so glad I did. The moment I walked in, I smiled. The cozy lighting, bright red balloons, and beautifully displayed pastries created such a warm and inviting atmosphere. I ordered a café latte (solid 4/5 for taste and well-priced for Berkeley) and easily found a spacious three-person table to study at, as it wasn’t too crowded. Right away, I noticed how attentive the staff was—one of the owners (as I learned later on) quickly cleaned up a nearby table and even set aside a forgotten water bottle in case the customer returned. Sure enough, when the customer came back looking for it, the owner immediately handed it to them. The hospitality here is unmatched. The owner personally brought my drink to my table and even gave me a free pastry to try! I later learned that this is a family-run business owned by twin French-Algerian brothers, which made me appreciate the café even more. The sense of community was evident—one customer in a wheelchair came in for their birthday, and the owner helped them pick out the perfect cake. It was also great to see that the café is wheelchair accessible, making it a welcoming space for everyone. I love the ambiance, the kindness of the staff, and the study-friendly setup. For students and employees, it’s a great spot to work, with affordable house coffee refills. My only critique? The brownie is a bit pricey at $6.50. But overall, I’ll definitely be coming back!

Helen L

I almost didn’t want to write this review because it is truly a hidden gem! The pastries are amazing, fresh, and baked in house! The people are always warm and welcoming. Best cafe around!

Lucas Y

Nice coffee and pastries! My friends recommended me the delicious bagels, but I was full so I will try the next time. Moreover, the managers are hospitable and courteous🥰. Il aussi parle français🇫🇷. To sum up, this is a wonderful place for pleasure, you can enjoy your brunch, afternoon coffee and relax.

Karen Chin

WONDERFUL cafe along Shattuck. Great selection of beverages (hot and cold) and pastries. Service is attentive and friendly. A really commendable perk is that THEY CLEAN THE TABLES and really keep the place welcoming and comfortable. After a couple left their table, someone came by to spray and wipe the table (I’ve never seen this happen at any cafe). Definitely on the list when I’m in the neighborhood!

Espresso is consistently amazing, never bitter, never burnt. The two owner brothers bake everything themselves overnight!! So every morning you’re greeted with cases full of fresh, beautifully crafted pastries. Don’t miss the coffee noisette, the horseshoe pastry and the petite four cookies. Get there early – their croissants are truly exceptional and often sell out! Thank you, guys!

This is definitely favorite cafe in Berkeley! Good coffee drinks and sandwiches with a very cozy atmosphere, but the can't miss standout is the fantastic selection of pastries that could rival any French bakery. Everything I've had here has been absolutely fantastic and the experience is bolstered by the service from the two twin brothers who run the shop. Some of the friendliest folks around, they will welcome you in and make you feel completely at home.

I got Diabetes but idc! It’s our second time here and I can really say that their food and warm service will make u really come back here. OZ and his brother are really nice and have good recommendations. Now, I got pastries for another 4days (cause I got good self control with sweets lol) We were also able to get a free chocolate cake from OZ!!! Come & visit Cafe Parisien! Parking was easy by the time we came.

this is my favorite local cafe! there's a fantastic rotation of pastries every day, it's open until the evening, and the brothers that run the cafe are so friendly and personable. it's an amazing place to sit and draw, people watch, or read with a warm drink beside you.

My new favorite café in Berkeley! As soon as I walked in, the ambiance was warm and inviting, with charming decor and cozy lighting. They have a great selection of drinks, pastries, and sandwiches; I tried their café au lait and turkey pesto sandwich, both of which were incredible. But the absolute best part was the service—both brothers are so kind and friendly to all their customers. I can’t wait to come back :)

I had a wonderful iced coffee and “horseshoe” chocolate croissant this afternoon. The owners were legitimately glad to see us, something more and more rare these days. I’m actually glad I don’t life closer as I would be big as a house. I’ll be back whenever I’m in the neighborhood, though!

Joey Somes

I got Diabetes but idc! It’s our second time here and I can really say that their food and warm service will make u really come back here. OZ and his brother are really nice and have good recommendations. Now, I got pastries for another 4days (cause I got good self control with sweets lol) We were also able to get a free chocolate cake from OZ!!! Come & visit Cafe Parisien! Parking was easy by the time we came.

Josh Jacobs

This is definitely favorite cafe in Berkeley! Good coffee drinks and sandwiches with a very cozy atmosphere, but the can't miss standout is the fantastic selection of pastries that could rival any French bakery. Everything I've had here has been absolutely fantastic and the experience is bolstered by the service from the two twin brothers who run the shop. Some of the friendliest folks around, they will welcome you in and make you feel completely at home.

Andy S

this is my favorite local cafe! there's a fantastic rotation of pastries every day, it's open until the evening, and the brothers that run the cafe are so friendly and personable. it's an amazing place to sit and draw, people watch, or read with a warm drink beside you.

K K

If you are a fan of Danish Pasty built with a yeast-leavened dough, you might be challenged with this comestible. This gorgeous Viennoiserie offering is tiered so that the layers of flavors present their profiles in a complementary way that is not at all overwhelmed in sweetness. Flaky on the periphery, dense at the center Mille Feuille, fine chop Marzipan filling at the bottom (this was a PLEASANT surprise), pastry creme and a gorgeous dollop of Apricot jam on top. This offering is HUGE and enough for two to share. You can be selfish and keep it all to yourself, too.

srishti

My new favorite café in Berkeley! As soon as I walked in, the ambiance was warm and inviting, with charming decor and cozy lighting. They have a great selection of drinks, pastries, and sandwiches; I tried their café au lait and turkey pesto sandwich, both of which were incredible. But the absolute best part was the service—both brothers are so kind and friendly to all their customers. I can’t wait to come back :)

Paulina Bermejo

My family and I ordered a cake from Café Parisien and absolutely loved it! The flavor was incredible, and we enjoyed every single bite. The people there were also so nice and welcoming, which made the experience even better. We’ll 100% be ordering again and coming back for more. If you’re thinking about trying it do it, you won’t regret it!

We tried a basic caramel iced coffee and it was good. Staff was friendly and fast. Pastries looked yummy but we didn’t try anything since we had another place in mind. Will definitely go back to try some sweets. Street parking is hard to find in general in Berkeley. We went during the week and it wasn’t busy at all and found parking in a nearby lot across the street.

Nancy Padilla

We tried a basic caramel iced coffee and it was good. Staff was friendly and fast. Pastries looked yummy but we didn’t try anything since we had another place in mind. Will definitely go back to try some sweets. Street parking is hard to find in general in Berkeley. We went during the week and it wasn’t busy at all and found parking in a nearby lot across the street.

The staff is very friendly and professional. The quality of coffee here is lower than a coffee aficionado expects and is used to now from Third Wave coffee shops. The milk is steamed too hot (burnt), they don’t pour latte art, and the flavor of espresso is not great. My Coffee Roastery(one of Berkeley’s best shops) was closed for 2 wks so we tried this place today. The quality of pastries is also a few notches down. But they are very nice and work hard to serve you fast.

I had an apple tart and macarons at this place. The apple tart was quite good, but on the pricier side. The macarons, however, were not good. I wouldn’t recommend it. The atmosphere looked quite pleasant, though not very spacious. There were outdoor tables where people could enjoy their pastries while soaking in the sunlight.

J P

I had an apple tart and macarons at this place. The apple tart was quite good, but on the pricier side. The macarons, however, were not good. I wouldn’t recommend it. The atmosphere looked quite pleasant, though not very spacious. There were outdoor tables where people could enjoy their pastries while soaking in the sunlight.

Amy Murray

The staff is very friendly and professional. The quality of coffee here is lower than a coffee aficionado expects and is used to now from Third Wave coffee shops. The milk is steamed too hot (burnt), they don’t pour latte art, and the flavor of espresso is not great. My Coffee Roastery(one of Berkeley’s best shops) was closed for 2 wks so we tried this place today. The quality of pastries is also a few notches down. But they are very nice and work hard to serve you fast.