Looking for cafe near BART, Oakland, quiet for mid-afternoon meeting

[indigirl]

I know many such cafes must exist. I just can't think of them.

The following criteria have to be true on a weekday afternoon 3-5pm:

1) Within a few blocks of one of these BART stations: 12th, 19th, MacArthur, Rockridge, Lake Merritt.
2) Reasonably easy/cheap parking, preferably free street parking.
3) Quiet & uncrowded enough to have a meeting of 4-6 people, but at the same time
4) not so quiet that everyone else in the place would hear everything we say.
5) decent food, coffee, tea, so folks can either eat or just drink

I thought first of Crepevine upstairs, but don't know how quiet it is at that time of day.

Ideas?

Thanks in advance!

[indigirl]

So, we went to World Grounds & my main complaint was too noisy -- kinda cavernous space, the sound bounces around.

Does anybody know if Homeroom is quiet in mid-afternoon (I seem to recall so) & if they would mind a table of people mostly not ordering food?

[l_emily]

I've only been to Homeroom midday on a weekend and it was pretty happening. I get the feeling that it is more of a restaurant rather than a cafe-hangout. If you head on the other side of 40th going towards MLK, there's cafe Dejena, which is pretty mellow. The food is decent, the coffee is ok. It is only open until 4PM though.

[dunstable]

I've only been once, but the one time I went to Homeroom, it wasn't that loud but there were many, many kids. If you've got clients and such, that might not be a great idea.

[l_emily]

I recommend Arbor Cafe, a few blocks from MacArthur- good coffee, lots of communal tables, seems quiet enough, although I have not been there in the weekday afternoon. 4210 Telegraph Ave (between 42nd St & 43rd St). Open until 8PM.

[abstractpoet]

How's the "Lane-e" Kefa Coffee location that's near the Lake Merritt BART, on 8th? Anyone been? I really like the food and coffee and the lowkey vibe at the original location, but don't know what the seating situation is like at this outpost.

[betterbeheaven]

Awaken Cafe just re-opened on Broadway, near 14th. It's very close to 12th St BART station, though parking is perhaps not as easy in that area. It's pretty spacious, lots of tables and chairs, so I think it'd suit your needs.

There's also Cafe Zoe near Rockridge BART that's reasonably large.

[dunstable]

There is a parking garage very close to the 12th st station, like two blocks away. It's cheap enough that my coworkers parked in there (9-5 sort of deal), when I worked in that area.

[shanghaikid]

Awaken cafe has lots of seating whereas bittersweet chocolate has only 3-4 tables.

[indigirl]

Thank you all! That gives me some good options. Meanwhile someone in my group came up with World Grounds at 3rd & Jackson, so we're trying that first...

[GH1618]

World Ground is a small place, and sometimes will have some awful music turned up too loud. I see small groups meet there now and then, so it can work if you are able to get one of the two large tables. If it's crowded, it might not work.

And, it's a pretty good hike from BART.

[GH1618]

Correction: three large tables. And the tables are very close to other tables.

[Rapini]

I don't believe that 3rd & Jackson is within your parameters--its several blocks from BART, and doesn't have extensive seating. But if If you're willing to go to 3rd & Jackson, then should go to Blue Bottle's mother-ship cafe at 300 Webster.

[Robert Lauriston]

Does Blue Bottle have any proper seating? I remember counters with stools.

[Rapini]

Indoors it's the counter and stools. Outside, there are several (bar height, IIRC) tables and chairs, along the Webster Street storefront. Not sure what you mean by "proper", but I've always felt comfortable.

[Robert Lauriston]

By "proper" I mean chairs and tables that would be comfortable for this meeting of four to six people.

[indigirl]

Oh dear, probably too late to change for this meeting... & the person who is on public transit agreed to it... looks like we'll probably change for the next meeting.

Keep the comments coming! Thank you!

[GH1618]

The café at the Oakland Museum might work — it's a block from the Lake Merritt station.

http://museumca.org/blue_oak

Museum admission is not required.

[Rapini]

and there's a reasonably priced parking lot under the museum building...

Another alternative is Oliveto cafe--decent espresso, fairly quiet, and can accommodate party your size. Market Hall has a free parking lot, and the BART lot across the street should be free by the time your meeting begins.

[escargot3]

great idea. i haven't been to the museum cafe in ages.

[Pius Avocado III]

Robert Dorsey left the Museum cafe in December.

A recent review alluded to institutional food service, cafeterias and the like:

http://www.eastbayexpress.com/WhatThe...

[GH1618]

Thanks for the update. I used to like it before the makeover. I hope they fix it. It doesn't have to be chi-chi — just a nice place for a pleasant lunch.

[Mission]

That reminds me when the City of Oakland nixed the idea of having Alice Waters run the Oakland Museum Cafe many,many years ago.

[bgbc]

Off the top of my head -- you'll want to check opening hours, etc. --

Bittersweet (Rockridge)
Cactus (Rockridge). Will get noisy after 5.
Hudson Bay Cafe (Rockridge)

[zippo]

Bittersweet Cafe has just opened another location in downtown Oakland at 1438 Broadway (between Telegraph Ave. and 15th Street) near the 12th Street BART Station. haven't been yet.

http://www.bittersweetcafe.com/store_...

Bittersweet Cafe
1438 Broadway
Oakland, Ca 94612
phone: [phone]