"Awaken Cafe ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Vibe & Workflow: Awaken hits all the marks: consistent service, great atmosphere, and serious coffee. If you’re working on a laptop (especially with a glossy screen), you’ll appreciate the thoughtful lighting and tinted windows—no glare here. The charcoal interior is a vibe, and the tables are heavy and stable (no wobbling coffee spills on your tech). Food & Drink: Coffee: I haven’t bought the beans, but the drip coffee is easily some of the best around. Food: A thoughtful mix of bakery items, snack plates, and house-made sandwiches. The portions are surprisingly large. Logistics: Location: Smack dab between 12th St and 19th St BART. Easy hop in, hop out. Parking: Decent amount of metered parking in the surrounding area. Seating: Great mix, from outdoor Broadway seating to conference tables and bar spots with hooks for your bags. The Verdict: A no-brainer for coffee, food, or a workspace in the Town. My only knock? I wish they were open later."

"amazing coffee is downtown oakland. the store manager should definitely work little bit more training people for customer service. (a tall white guy was working there. he was very much unfriendly) besides that everything was great."

"Amazing coffee! Just around the corner from the BART station which is super convenient. The staff are really friendly. Highly recommend checking them out.u favorite was the lavender latte."

"I’ve always loved Awaken since moving to downtown Oakland. The espresso is top notch, there’s plenty of space to sit inside, and the Adirondack chairs out front are a sweet place to sip and people watch. Recently they upped their bagel game and do yummy egg and cheese and salmon bagels."

"Awaken Cafe is a gem in Oakland! The space is clean and thoughtfully designed, with different seating zones that make it perfect for both getting work done and just hanging out. The ambiance is warm and inviting, and the coffee—made from their own roast—is excellent. We had bagels with cream cheese for breakfast, and they were just perfect. Based on that, I’d bet their patties and other baked goods are just as good. The staff are friendly in a way that feels genuine—Oakland-style friendly, meaning they’re not putting on a show, just real and welcoming. If you’re looking for a solid cafe with great coffee and good vibes, this is the spot!"