Souvenir Coffee

Christopher Chung

A cute and narrow coffee shop serving up good brew, tasty sandwiches and a yummy selection of sweet and savoury pastries. Free wifi, individual tables and outlets. Situated next to an old school butcher and grocery store. A few doors down from shops specialized in comics, upholstery, fantasy and science fiction, Judaica. This coffee shop is on one of the most unique blocks in the East Bay. The Souvenir Special was fantastic (albeit a bit on the pricey side): a light-on-salt pastrami served on warm pretzel bun with melted Swiss cheese, cabbage greens and jalapeño sauce — delish.

Deborah Kuchar

This is a chill, cozy spot. I’ve been here many times and it’s consistent. It’s also popular. Nice outdoor seating. The breakfast sandwiches are good. I always get the Breakfast Veggie.

Wayfarer

Excellent coffee, vegan cake options and great vibes. Really nice cafe where the locals come chill, read books and hang out.

Katie Hatch

Lovely coffee shop. Great classy yet relaxed vibe. Superb coffee. Roasted in house and the care comes through in the coffee and espresso. Milk alternative beverages were well above par - always a great thing to see as they are not always done well. Phenomenal customer service. Top shop for sure!

Quiet little neighborhood cafe that is perfect for reading, studying, working or hanging out with friends. I got a standard breakfast sando. Flavor is okay but it’s soft and warm, comforting. Backyard garden is very lovely. Would come back again.

This is a special spot. I’m a coffee snob and keenly attuned to energy and this is truly a special place. I probably shouldn’t share this. But I don’t live in Berkeley. I spent time in the area over the holidays and still thinking about it. Enjoy!

Gem of a neighborhood coffee shop! Excellent coffee and very friendly staff. Only downside is that seating is limited, it’s always so crowded and hard to snag a table. It’s become my new favorite to walk to in the morning especially if you live in the elmwood/college ave area

I've been coming to Souvenir cafe since it opened. It is a gem in coffe shop landscape of the Bay Area. It small with comfortable seating. I enjoy studying there or seeing friends. The staff is very friendly and the drinks are well prepared. My Oatmilk Matcha latte is always excellent and the pastries and small dishes are fresh and crunchy. They close relatively early at 5pm so I make certain to come early enough to really enjoy myself. Thank you for providing such a wonderful place for cffee/tea and more!!!

A P

Gem of a neighborhood coffee shop! Excellent coffee and very friendly staff. Only downside is that seating is limited, it’s always so crowded and hard to snag a table. It’s become my new favorite to walk to in the morning especially if you live in the elmwood/college ave area

Kirsten Simon

I've been coming to Souvenir cafe since it opened. It is a gem in coffe shop landscape of the Bay Area. It small with comfortable seating. I enjoy studying there or seeing friends. The staff is very friendly and the drinks are well prepared. My Oatmilk Matcha latte is always excellent and the pastries and small dishes are fresh and crunchy. They close relatively early at 5pm so I make certain to come early enough to really enjoy myself. Thank you for providing such a wonderful place for cffee/tea and more!!!

Kate

This is a special spot. I’m a coffee snob and keenly attuned to energy and this is truly a special place. I probably shouldn’t share this. But I don’t live in Berkeley. I spent time in the area over the holidays and still thinking about it. Enjoy!

Amy Chiang

Quiet little neighborhood cafe that is perfect for reading, studying, working or hanging out with friends. I got a standard breakfast sando. Flavor is okay but it’s soft and warm, comforting. Backyard garden is very lovely. Would come back again.

Great coffee and service, pleasant premises, Zen like patio in the back. My rating scale is tough and this establishment which serves a fine latte and cortado with solid roasted bean notes and flavors deserves a solid 4. Souvenir occupies the prior location of Semifreddi’s Bakery, a few blocks West from the Claremont Hotel. Next door is a comic book and poster store that harkens back to the 60s and 70s and well worth a visit on its own. Souvenir roasts its own beans which my readers know by now means a lot to me. The premises were full which is always a good sign. The back patio represents an oasis of tranquility in hectic Berkeley. Service was excellent and the kind young ladies took the time to explain which beans were used for espresso, all with a smile. This establishment deserves your business - and linger a while in the patio.

Souvenir Coffee is the real deal, they are very passionate about coffee and it shows up in every cup. They love talking about coffee too, if time allows. Be sure to ask all of your questions and take some time to try some of their de-lish snacks!

Matcha and cappuccino were decent. Nice area to sit and work or socialize with a good bustle

Ordered a single-origin cappucino. Tasted really good despite the milk foam being a little sloppy. The drink was too expensive, $5.25, hence loosing a star.

Gary Cole

Great coffee and service, pleasant premises, Zen like patio in the back. My rating scale is tough and this establishment which serves a fine latte and cortado with solid roasted bean notes and flavors deserves a solid 4. Souvenir occupies the prior location of Semifreddi’s Bakery, a few blocks West from the Claremont Hotel. Next door is a comic book and poster store that harkens back to the 60s and 70s and well worth a visit on its own. Souvenir roasts its own beans which my readers know by now means a lot to me. The premises were full which is always a good sign. The back patio represents an oasis of tranquility in hectic Berkeley. Service was excellent and the kind young ladies took the time to explain which beans were used for espresso, all with a smile. This establishment deserves your business - and linger a while in the patio.

Mike Nolan

Souvenir Coffee is the real deal, they are very passionate about coffee and it shows up in every cup. They love talking about coffee too, if time allows. Be sure to ask all of your questions and take some time to try some of their de-lish snacks!

Sophia D

Matcha and cappuccino were decent. Nice area to sit and work or socialize with a good bustle

Adnen Mez

Ordered a single-origin cappucino. Tasted really good despite the milk foam being a little sloppy. The drink was too expensive, $5.25, hence loosing a star.

Coffee is great but they don’t listen to special requests like removing cheese from avo toast. Had to throw out the top of it since I was in rush.

Unfortunately, there is usually nowhere to sit because too many customers have settled in on one little drink for a long time on their computers.

Veronika Fox

Coffee is great but they don’t listen to special requests like removing cheese from avo toast. Had to throw out the top of it since I was in rush.

Bryce McLean

Unfortunately, there is usually nowhere to sit because too many customers have settled in on one little drink for a long time on their computers.

Cute place. Good coffee. Breakfast sandwiches are bland. Asked for at least hot sauce. They don't have any. Makes sense looking at their patrons. No single person of color except the workers. This shop does not even try to make it a welcoming and inclusive place. Probably won't come back.

Hinga Buga

Cute place. Good coffee. Breakfast sandwiches are bland. Asked for at least hot sauce. They don't have any. Makes sense looking at their patrons. No single person of color except the workers. This shop does not even try to make it a welcoming and inclusive place. Probably won't come back.

Ok but the music is really bad for a coffeeshop ‐ acid rock. Just want to mellow out in the morning. Can't sit there and chill. They need to manage what bariatas play for relaxing ambiance.

I want to preface by saying my low rating is *not* a reflection of the latte (which was good) but more the pastry (blueberry and banana loaf) which was bad and the service which was worse. The loaf was very greasy and tasted synthetic- not a fan. But what really soured it was the young woman at the front who was borderline standoffish. Coincidentally, this occurred right after I declined to give a tip - which I feel like at a coffee place is not the “standard” as it would be a sit down restaurant. Immediately her demeanor changed - she got curt and looked bothered. Not cool at all and it made me leave feeling like I had been treated poorly. Also, there was a *very* long wait despite there being ONE person ahead of me because a different employee was chatting away with the person before me as if they were friends? Even after she rang them up and saw me waiting.

Juan P

I want to preface by saying my low rating is *not* a reflection of the latte (which was good) but more the pastry (blueberry and banana loaf) which was bad and the service which was worse. The loaf was very greasy and tasted synthetic- not a fan. But what really soured it was the young woman at the front who was borderline standoffish. Coincidentally, this occurred right after I declined to give a tip - which I feel like at a coffee place is not the “standard” as it would be a sit down restaurant. Immediately her demeanor changed - she got curt and looked bothered. Not cool at all and it made me leave feeling like I had been treated poorly. Also, there was a *very* long wait despite there being ONE person ahead of me because a different employee was chatting away with the person before me as if they were friends? Even after she rang them up and saw me waiting.

Filiz

Ok but the music is really bad for a coffeeshop ‐ acid rock. Just want to mellow out in the morning. Can't sit there and chill. They need to manage what bariatas play for relaxing ambiance.