Article updated in August 2024
Accessible from Anywhere
If you’re feeling hungry on campus, don’t worry! There is always a cafe that’s just a ten-minute walk away. UC Berkeley’s campus cafes offer everything: soups, salads, hot-pressed sandwiches, lattes, burritos, banh mis, and so much more. Read on to find which cafes meet your palate!
Northside Cafes
Yali’s Qualcomm Cafe is a great place to get some work done given its plentiful indoor and sunny outdoor seating. Located right outside Sutardja Dai Hall, Yali’s serves coffees, juices, and smoothies to perfectly complement a wide array of pastries. If those aren’t your style, they also sell sandwiches, soups, salads, and bagels galore. It’s the ideal spot for the early risers and the brunch getters as they open at 8 a.m. and close by 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.
V & A Cafe can be found next to Soda Hall and Etcheverry Hall and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, V & A sells pastries, paninis, pasta, and salads. Many of their dishes even include vegetarian options.
Yali’s at Sutardja Dai Hall
East Campus Cafes
If you’re heading toward Haas or studying in the Environmental Design Library, the cafes on the east end of campus may be perfect for a quick bite.
Cafe Think is located in Chou Hall, vegetarian friendly, and full of fresh, high-quality food. This is the perfect option if you’re nearby from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday or 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays.
Caffè Strada is one of the only campus cafe options that is open seven days a week and, arguably, the most aesthetically pleasing of them all. With sunny outdoor seating and greenery to boot, this is the ideal spot for a latte, sandwich, or pastry. Stop by if you’re headed to Berkeley’s Law School or the Anthropology Library.
Caffè Strada
Central Campus Cafes
Maybe you have class in Dwinelle or Wheeler, or perhaps you’re simply walking through Sproul. If that’s you, some of the cafes in the center of campus might be the right pick.
Flex Dollar Friendly
Golden Bear Café (GBC) serves coffees, burritos, and endless snacks while conveniently located in the center of Sproul Plaza. Open every day except Sundays, GBC accepts both Berkeley Dining meal plan meal swipes and flex dollars for its tasty breakfast, lunch, and dinner options.
Ladle & Leaf is one of campus’ healthiest options thanks to its menu of various soups and salads. Located inside the Student Union, it is my go-to during Berkeley’s cold, rainy days.
Golden Bear Café
Other Options
Goldie’s is the Student Union’s classic cafe option, serving coffee and snacks to help get your weekday started. If a caffeine kick is what you need, stop by here anytime between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Free Speech Movement Café is located inside Moffitt Library and, much like Yali’s, it serves hot sandwiches, pastries, teas, coffees, and more while offering both indoor and outdoor seating. Open every day from morning until as late as 10 p.m., it is the ideal spot for a quick break after grueling Moffitt study sessions.
Free Speech Movement Café
Learn More
This concludes our list of on-campus cafe options! Next time you find yourself hungry on campus, look back at this list to find the right option for you.
Article updated in August 2024 by Hosea Chen, a recent graduate of UC Berkeley majoring in cognitive science and minoring in creative writing and data science. The original article was written by Lucas Yen, a recent graduate of UC Berkeley majoring in political economy.
Want More?
- Check out Berkeley Dining’s Eateries, located in the Student Union.
- Discover study spots in Elmwood.
- Extend your cafe exploration to Northside.