On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: UptownHey All,
We will be open 8am-2pm on Thanksgiving Day and regular weekend hours Friday - Sunday
Mon-Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Loading...
i love farley's east. i am there pretty much every weekday and crystal makes the best soy lattes i've ever had... yummy foamy soy!
because of this place i have gotten into vegan donuts, better then the real thing... well ... with cakey ones at least...who can beat a super fried krispy cream, and frittatas. Oh as well as chocolate chip cookies with sea salt.
after searching far and wide, this is the only cafe my bf and I enjoy studying at.
Reasons it is great for studying:
1) always a table available
2) lots of plugs
3) Free wi-fi
4) great table space - especially upstairs
5) good coffee, of course
6) I like the mugs they serve coffee "for here" in - and you get refills!!!
7) Nice clean bathroom, you don't need to ask for a key and all that jazz
I've never had any of food items, so can't attest to that. Sometimes the music is a bit too loud for studying, but more distracting is the other patrons. I wish there was some sort of unspoken code (is there!? is there!?) that the upstairs is quieter. the majority of people up there are studying, but there is always some loud chick on her phone or a gaggle of book club members chatting away.
probably just wishful thinking that it would be quieter. . .
After visiting the other Farley's link I was very happy to see a new location opening right in my back yard! Yep, they are walking distance from the office which means I'll be walking right by the Bux to get to them but oh well...
The location is small but they still manage to get art work on the wall, have a rather large - 2 sections - magazine selection and tables inside and out to sit at.
Hands down, one of the best coffee drinks I have had in East Bay. Enjoy!
I love Farley's coffee, decor and vibe!
I've been making the trek to Farley's East during the day as I work in downtown OakL. The coffee is good to excellent and the folks who work there don't seem to have the usual chip on their shoulder that seems to be a major symptom of some sort of bizarre ailment that generally effects those who pull shots of epresso for a living - especially in trendy West Coast towns.
I think I was helped by the owner when I was there recently and he definitely is in the right business based on how he interacted with the customers and his knowledge of coffee - which I'm guessing he got from his Dad who runs the original Farley's in San Fran.
1 star off because the chai is as bad here as anywhere else in the Bay Area.
Other than that this is my regular spot for my daily fix.
The first time I went to Farley's East, our building was having an earthquake drill--the third in two weeks. Tired of hiding under my desk and pretending the building was violently shaking, while actually picking up lost pens and paper clips, I decided to run away from the building when I sensed another drill was about to occur.
I chose Farley's East because I had been to Farley's in San Francisco once, and the coffee was good. Plus, Farley's East was the furthest good coffee shop from my building that was still within walking distance. I was trying to kill as much time as I could so that the drill would be over by the time I got back. It worked, plus I got a very nice soy latte.
I went to Farley's for the second time yesterday. When I returned to my car on Tuesday after a day at work, I saw that they had left a menu under my windshield wiper. I brought the menu inside the car and started my drive over the Bay Bridge, which that day had suffered a big structural disaster and I got stuck on that Bay Bridge for three hours, staring at Farley's menu of paninis and salads and thinking about how hungry I was.
So on Wednesday, I went to Farley's, and I ordered a mushroom and provolone panini, and a ginger beer. I learned for the first time that there is upstairs seating, so I sat there. Nice place to sit and have lunch, where you know you will not be bothered during your lunch hour by things like ringing phones, employees staring through your window and tapping at your door hoping to ask a quick question, and of course, earthquake drills.
Fantastico plain and simple!
The food is great, atmosphere is casual cool, magazine selection is bananas, and the staff is friendly and unpretentious!
I am so lucky that a friend suggested this place, as I've passed the area many times without noticing it. The portion sizes are great, a very good simple salad (with a reduced balsamic dressing, tasty!) accompanies each sandwich, rounding out the meal quite nicely.
It was hard to select a lunch item, as many sounded amazing, but I went with the curry chicken and it did not disappoint, in fact, I would dare say one of the better chicken curry sandwiches ever. My friend raved about the lychee black iced tea, I'd be curious to try it hot though. I went in another time, as could not resist, and had a mocha and a chocolate chip and sea salt cookie. Very good indeed!
The staff are really cool, like Cherie B. mentioned earlier, not a chip on their shoulder, which is great. Also, a magazine selection that rivals any local bookstore, plus seating upstairs, but it's such a cool, cozy, hipster-ish vibe, that I am sure to return again.
First things first; great coffee coupled with magazines galore. And they are completely okay with you browsing before buying. Additionally, they support local organizations and artists, employ friendly baristas that play good music, have a clean & entertaining bathroom, plenty of food and sweets to choose from. I love the baked egg basket.
I'd like to see them offer ingredients that were sourced from sustainable farms and hormone and anti-biotic free. At the very least, they should offer an organic milk option. They do "use acme bread and local vendors when possible" but I think they could expand on that a bit.
Welcome to Oakland, Farley's! And thank you!
I love this place!
Nice, bright, open modern space. Menu has good lunch options and I love that they sell magazines. The staff is really friendly and proficient and I love that they have outside seating. At the right time of the afternoon, the sun hits that really ugly glass building across the street and reflects the most beautiful golden light onto the tables at Farley's. It's almost magical.
I recently reviewed Farley's East with 3 stars. Their impression has grabbed me in the past week.
When I first went to Farley's, I was disappointed to learn they had not yet adapted to being open and/or hosting anything during Oakland's Art Murmur. This past Friday, at the Art Murmur, I was pleasantly surprised to find them open and hosting a hip audience to commemorate Oakland's busy Friday evening (fyi, there were HUNDREDS of people out on Art Murmur showing Oakland is bursting, yo).
Since then, I have also sat for a meal at Farley's, gotten a late night mocha, and been offered to sample brownies hot and moist and fresh from the oven. It melted in my mouth. Perhaps my review has also changed that today marked my first weekend espresso from Farley's (note to all coffee drinkers, weekday espressos are forgettable, while weekend espressos are barometers of hangover recovery). The coffee was great, and filled with all of the tender care the espresso agents have offered before.
Farley's East has great character, and it has become more clear that there is a greater desire to connect to the community, and to offering 7 days/week great coffee. They have good sandwiches, and an ambiance that quickly became inviting to myself and several friends.
Thank you for a great new coffeeshop
Farley's East is a great new addition to Oakland's burgeoning art gallery district. The coffee is… Read more »
We went to Farley's after seeing Front Gallery next door on Oakland's Art Murmur Fri 9/4/09. They had a jazz band playing too.
They had lots of photography from Ralph Granich. His stuff is really good!
http://www.ralphgranic...
I didn't get anything from the coffee shop though. Looked pretty good.
There's drinks, breakfast, salads, hot & cold panini.
There's a 2nd Floor to see the action, tables & chairs, & more photos.
Think art gallery + coffee shop + deli and you get Farley's East.
I walk by this place almost everyday and have been curious to try it. Upon first impressions it appeared to be very modern and independent NY chic.
I finally walked in last Sunday with my boyfriend after pumping some iron at the gym. We were greeted by a very pleasant worker who immediately brought our attention to the day's special above the register. All of the sandwiches on the menu looked extremely delicious and simple. It's not one of those I want everything and the kitchen sink sandwich spots, but instead a more "gourmet" cafe, as they like to put it.
I decided on the roasted turkey sandwich (havarti cheese, avocado, honey mustard, and spring greens on a ciabatta roll) and my boyfriend decided on the black forest ham and brie sandwich. Now both of us were hoping to individualize our sandwich a little bit, and the worker was more than willing to do so! So I added cucumber and tomatoes to mine and boyfriend asked for his to be grilled. (They also serve paninis) And - at no extra cost! It was so nice to be able to customize my order without a hassle. Now the sandwiches, although gourmet, are a little pricier than I would have liked, but they come with a spring mix salad and a tasty vinaigrette! Another added bonus is that they put cucumbers in the water so with every sip you begin to think you are spending the day at the spa. Both sandwiches were extremely tasty and I will definitely be going back again. My only criticism is that they forgot my avocado (not an extra item I requested, but on the menu!). I didn't feel like making a big stink about it so I ate it avocado-less. =(
Now the bathroom gets a special shout-out. They converted one wall to a chalkboard and provide multi colored chalk pieces for your enjoyment. It was really interesting to read all of the comments while popping a squat and of course, to add a little pizazz of my own before leaving.
This place is great for lunch and also great for the person who wants to sit in a cafe, drink coffee, and work on their computer. Why? Because they have FREE WI-FI. I live in downtown oakland and it is very upsetting that most places to do not offer this special gift - including the starbucks right across the street!
So drop by, enjoy the art, leave your mark in the bathroom, read your emails, and devour a panini at this trendy, modern gem.
Lake Merritt is getting too big for its britches. That's right. I said it.
See, I have this thing about needing to spend a couple hours every weekend morning in a coffee shop to read, study, write, or just not bother talking to people. This was a habit that I picked up whilst living in Berkeley and I have not been able to really take it to Oakland. The Lake Merritt coffee shops get too crowded and too busy. This is ok; in this economy, we need that. However, I like to step outside my bubble and take my loitering ways elsewhere. (I also like to have to walk a bit for it so as to get a little exercise...I walked A LOT when I lived in Berkeley.)
Therefore, Oakland, I am pleased to announce my new favoritest coffee shop. Once a gem of Potrero Hill; now also a gem of our own. Step inside, sip on the most amazing espresso you've ever had, buy a magazine, have a seat, munch on goodies made of local ingredients, chat with the kind baristas behind the counter, indulge on the samples that they hustle on you, write on the chalk board in the bathroom, and avoid Lake Merritt crowds.
Urban Socialite Approved.
Broadway and Grand has come a long way since I watched the fire trucks pull up to the Hofbrau. Still, it's a quiet and windswept walk from the last Adams Point storefront to Luka's and Franklin Square. Vo's was closed for years, it seemed, and the elegant storefronts along Grand stayed empty. But now things are filling in, and the walk is a little less uncomfortable. Once you get past the evil, horned beast that looms over Grand and Harrison after dark (Really...Catholic guys, do YOU see that thing projecting onto the windows? It scares children.) it's only a block before the street shows some healthy life.
Farley's fits in with the new neighborhood attitude and fits nicely in among the restaurants, art galleries, and bars (OK, not sure about Subway). The space is narrow but airy and bright, the window seats are excellent, the reading material is actually worth picking up, and they know that a macchiato is not a tall dessert drink. I walked past expecting to pick up a paper cup on my way home, but the atmosphere convinced me to stay a bit, check the news (good AT&T data reception), and watch the neighborhood pass by. And coffee tastes better in glass or porcelain, anyway.
I've never been to a coffee shop like it.
As soon as you walk it, you know that you're not at a Starbucks, Coffee Bean, Peet's or any chain coffee shops. The place is 2 story high and the upstairs is a loft that has a sofa and boardgames. Downstairs has 2 HUGE magazine racks which features every magazine you could possbility imagine! If you're not a coffee/tea drinker, they serve breakfast, panini-style sandwiches and desserts. Whether you just want a cup of coffee, or a quick lunch, there's definitely something for everyone.
My boss took 2 of my co-workers and I here for lunch and we ordered their paninis. The food is simple and portions are small, but the paninis were still pretty good. This is definitely ideal for people who want a quick bite for lunch and still want to watch their weights without the food coma afterwards.
TIP: Get the "limonata" if you like a non-sweetened, sparkling and tangy lemonade type drink.
I love local independent coffee shops done right, enriches every neighborhood. Love the atmosphere at Farley's East. The food is absolutely delicious and the vegan donuts a great new addition. Staff is really friendly. Definitely a place to hang out, drink coffee, meet interesting people and feel connected to the community. Walk past Starbucks and go to Farleys!
My buddy and I went for a dessert run at Farley's today after lunch. Cute place, very chill and relaxing.
This is what we ordered:
1. Red Velvet cake - meh, I've had better, the frosting was too sweet.
2. Lemon Zest cake - this one was yummy, really lemony but not too tart. I would order this again.
My buddy said she had the apple sausage panini for breakfast which she said was crispy, hot and delicious. I saw a nutella and strawberry panini on the menu, that's what I'm gonna try next time...
So almost everyday for the past several months at 7AM on the way to work, I'd sometimes have to switch lanes to avoid their hazarding truck posted in front of this soon to be chill coffee shop which at that time, was an empty space I had yet to discover.
..Finally, one day, while I was on my way to grab my daily 6 inch sub right next door.. a black & white "Farleys East" sign caught my eye, peeked in & saw a new, cozy, welcoming little coffee shop that I immediately mentally bookmarked for myself to come back and visit soon thereafter.. As of recently, I decided to skip out on the "eat fresh" sub & finally see what all the buzz was about.. Ordered their turkey sandwich which was a pretty good coffee shop sandwich which came with a side of mixed greens.. kinda pricey though but I actually didn't mind.. Their barista/cashier, which I didn't catch her name, seemed real chill, down to earth..They've got a nice selection of magazines, a few great outside seating tables on warmer days to people watch (which notably have almost always been occupied everyday when I walk by), free WiFi, & a bunch of event posters posted up..
I've gotta admit, after years of being a Starbucks addict & giving up coffee for the past couple years or so, this place is the one place that has me feenin' for a cup after so long.. maybe soon.. & maybe even bump em up to a 5.. we'll see
Its a cute lil cafe shop with a small menu. I'm guessing this place was opened to target the clientele from the art collection room that is next door. There were quite a few photographs and random pictures hung about in the place. It was clean and fresh with plenty of seating. For a large group of 6 or more I'm not sure about.
I went during lunch which had a few people in line ahead of me. I did not try their cafe, but I must say their panni was quite delicious! They use acme bread baguette which are sliced and then the sides are toasted. It comes with a bed of salad for only a little over 6 bucks. I thought that was reasonable for what you get. I would defn come back here again.
So nice to have a place to buy decent magazines and get a good iced coffee right around the corner from my work. The staff is incredibly nice and accomodating. Didn't give it five stars because so far the sandwiches have been pretty subpar.
okay, i'm a regular at Farleys on the hill, so i was very excited about farleys east as that's where i spend my working life - in downtown oaktown. Had lunch there last friday - lunch! I was happy to see an eclectic tasty food menu. We tried the egg basket and hot portabella mushroom panini. Both very delicious and reasonable, I might add. The lunch crowd was eclectic as Oakland gets which is a good thing. The zine selection as good as you can get - there's really no comparison in the East Bay. I mean, don't get me wrong, I think Delauer's is a great institution - but not really the vibe I want when I'm perusing my art and fashion.
I still favor hanging out on the hill, but... when on this side of the bay....
Convenient to the YMCA around the corner on Broadway. Opens early. We hand sandwich and salad. We'll try breakfast at some later date. There's a few tables and chairs inside and out. Staff seems friendly and cleans up fast.
There's also an upstairs but we didn't view.
I have come here three times now, each one of them special in its own way that it was high time I actually yelp a review.
While a longstanding fan of Farley's West (as I will now refer to it), I awaited the Oakland branch with great anticipation. Could they match the original's warm neighborhood feel, in a totally new space no less? Would they fit into the developing Uptown scene in good 'ol Oakland? Would they have hard-to-find magazines?
Yes yes and yes. While I will still patronize my 504 and my Rooz for their original Oakland roots, Farley's is more than welcome to join the gang. They've done a sweet job with a small space (upstairs area to come) and constantly surprise with the beverages and food on offer. They have the magazines. They are putting up the art. They have a steady clientele and a good location.
Hopefully they will extend their hours to past 7. Once Art Murmur gets going around there, they would be foolish not to take advantage of the willing hipster caffeine addict contingent. Maybe stay open to at least 10? Heck-I'll work the front.
Cheers on a job well done, Farley's crew. Keep it up.
Great sandwiches and the magazine selection is makes it a really nice place to have a solo lunch.
A great addition to the neighborhood!
OK, LOVE Farley's. And LOVE Farley's East. Could you please push it even farther east? Concord (where I live) would be marvelous, but even Walnut Creek would be way cool.
Love your vibe. Bon Chance!
Farley's East is my new favorite cafe. As a writer and self-employed person, I'm always looking for sweet cafes where I can get good chai, food, and atmosphere. Farley's East is definitely that. I've been 5 times since it opened. The first time I was there I met and shook hands with the manager and her husband, who were both very friendly.
As a newly opened cafe, they are still working some of the kinks out, but even the slower service and changing menu items, it's worth the wait.
I love the frittata with potatoes and the iced chai.
Oh and the best part is the upstairs loft where there is a comfy lounge space, skylight, and a big table with sketch paper and crayons.
Looking forward to the success of Farley's in the East Bay!
The new morning ritual....
The best coffee shop in Uptown. I'm so glad I live across the street!
I live across the street and work in development at a large residential project a bit further down… Read more »
We have long been looking for a friendly, sunny, modern cafe in Oakland to rival the ones that we used to love when we lived in San Francisco. We paid a visit to Farley's East today and we were impressed.
We shared a couple of sandwiches (a pork one and a grilled cheese one) which were both very good. The service was quick and friendly. It was quiet when we first got there a little before noon, but there was a brisk business as we got into the afternoon.
We sat at a large communal table near the front of the shop and used the free Wi-Fi on our laptops while enjoying the abundant sun in the building. Several people were sitting outside as well.
My partner loved the magazine collection -- they have them for purchase but they said it was OK to read them while at the cafe "as long as you don't spill something on them".
We will definitely be back!
I love that this kind of coffee shop has finally come to Oakland. By "this kind", I mean the kind where you can sit down (plenty of tables!), read a book, chat with a friend, or just take a load off (and not a Starbucks). Not to mention the coffee and food are good and reasonably priced. Before them, there was really no coffee shop you'd WANT to go to to partake in said activities.
That said, I had to give them 3 stars because god damn, their music is loud. I love coffee shops for their bustling nature, but holy crap, I couldn't even finish my work because the music was that distracting.
Anyway, despite the loud music, I'll still be somewhat of a regular, just with some noise-canceling headphones.
The Prosciutto Fig Arugula & Balsamic panini - truly heavely. This is my fave sandwich so far!
I up my star ratings to 5. I love Farleys. Since opening I have been there numerous times. I love… Read more »
This cafe is a great independent business than going to starbuck nearby. You have to appreciate Farley of providing good coffee and relax environment. I usually go after work to stop by a drink with my husband, it's a quiet place when is not lunch time.
It's open. I've been watching this for months and don't know how I missed it! I am so glad this is here. I am a big fan of the SF location and happy to have this as my new neighborhood joint. They don't sell the Chronicle. It would be 5 stars if they did.
Dear Farley's East-
I love your San Francisco location! I am so so excited to have you come to our Uptown neighborhood. Oakland is an amazing place and with you there, it just got a little more amazing! I cannot wait to come in, sit down browse a few magazines, sip on some yummy coffe and eat a delicious Australian cookie! See you Monday!
What's with the pre-opening reviews? It's not a review if there's nothing to review, right?
Happy to have an outpost of the venerable Potrero Hill Farley's half a block from work (right by the future location of Bakesale Betty's--OH BOY!).
Very good tasting sandwiches, but a bit stingy on the fillings for seven bucks, especially when you consider that you can hike 9 blocks down Webster and get a fantastic, spicy, meaty Vietnamese Sandwich for $2.50.
Delectable side of olives, really friendly staff, great, airy space. Looking forward to the shelves fully stocked with reading materials.
There are lost of places to get a decent espresso around here, but not many places to sit down and enjoy it.
That 'We only have one kind of milk" and "We only have one size cup" admonitions that happen so often at Farley's Potrero don't happen here. They've sold out their Berkeley-style self-righteousness and are offering CHOICES! I'm pro-choice when it comes to milk.
Farley's will be popular in the blossoming Oakland Uptown neighborhood. Hope they participate in Oakland Art Murmur, and I'd like to see the sandwiches grow, and turn on the WI-FI!
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! I no longer have to cross the bay to get a cup of the best espresso on the planet!! The small lunch menu is a great addition as well.
This is exactly what Uptown Oakland needs! There is a serious dearth of good coffee in downtown Oakland. This shop offers great coffee from a proven purveyor (see: Farley's Potrero Hill). The vibe is pleasant and upbeat. Love the outdoor seating and the window bar. And, like their flagship shop, there's a newstand! What's not to love?
I, for one, will be trekking the few extra blocks in the morning.
My coworker and I traveled from our downtown office to Uptown, intrigued by the lure of a panini and espresso. It was a cute storefront, with quirky tables/chairs, outdoor seating, and shelves with reading material. There was a menu on the counter that appeared to have some food items, but we initially couldn't find the drink menu until the barista/counter person explained that it was written on the wall to the left of us. (OK, that was helpful) I ordered the roasted turkey panini and a piece of red velvet cake. My coworker ordered the roasted pork panini with a side salad. He thought he roasted pork was OK, not great, OK. I thought my turkey panini was OK. The red velvet cake had too much cake, and not enough cream cheese, so it was a bit less than OK. With Luka's serving one of the best burgers in Oakland right down the street, I can't say we'd truck back to Farley's East, but I'd be willing to give it another shot.
It's Grand Lake, Lakeshore, Lake Merritt, maybe…
If only it was as easy to banish hunger by rubbing…
Deli meats, fresh bread, and mustard. Need I say…
I moved here a year and a half ago and love that…
