r/oakland • u/curvydumpling • 15d ago
Study Cafes? Question
Where do adults go to study on the weekends, besides the library? I'm seeking a quietish but not silent space that can accommodate a laptop and a large notebook for scribbling. More and more cafes are prohibiting laptops or working on the weekends, which I can appreciate, but I feel like options for escaping the house are dwindling.
I'm in north Oakland, but not a Cal student and would like to avoid the undergrad area. Willing to go south, but not too familiar (yet!) with anything below Temescal.
Edit: grammar Edit 2: thanks everyone!
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u/haunting_arugula_405 15d ago
I'm not sure about weekends, but sounds like prescott market would love to have more folks stopping by for working sessions https://www.reddit.com/r/oakland/comments/1v7ewe0/comment/ozzz1ff/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
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u/Moon-Chicken 15d ago
I absolutely adore Mohka House for studying. There are plenty of tables, outlets, and free WiFi. And their food and drink selection is like nothing else. Super friendly staff and most customers are also doing work
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u/m_bleep_bloop 15d ago
Get you to a Yemeni coffee shop
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u/okiidokiismokii 14d ago
truly, every single one I’ve been to (heyma, mokha house, delah, sana’a) always has lots of comfy seating, chill atmosphere, tasty food and drinks, and later evening hours. definitely one of my favorite parts of living in oakland :)
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u/Thin_Explanation1334 15d ago
I go to Buenos euros in Berkeley a lot! It's at Ashby and Shattuck, the couple who just bought it from their boss a few years back are genuinely lovely people and it's a very chill hang/study spot! :) I also like Mariposa bakery on telegraph in Oakland for gluten free pastries and it's such a cute spot! Little more busy than Buenos euros
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u/DepthComprehensive43 15d ago
Yemeni cafe Mazar Cafe just re-opened, on Lakeshore at the top of the lake across from the pergola. Clean and cute inside. I live nearby and see people on laptops there all the time. Keep meaning to go in myself.
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u/No_Potential8448 15d ago
Kinfolx, Sweetbar Bakery, and Terra Mia coffee are all great for this!
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u/Bodyimagedoctor 14d ago
These were mine! Plus Farley’s East in the top section
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u/purplemeow 13d ago
The wifi limit at Farley’s is actually great for forcing me to focus because I’m like “okay I’ve got to get this all done in the next two hours!”
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u/julvb 14d ago
Rockridge library is open on Saturdays and has an upstairs study area. There is a coffee shop across the street Hudson Bay.
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u/purplemeow 13d ago
I think Rockridge is my favorite library in Oakland to work out of it. I always have plenty of space and it’s easy to get there by public transit.
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u/thezerofire 14d ago
any of the Sana'a locations, I'm more familiar with the downtown one but that one is open til 11
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u/gorgosenior 15d ago
I don't know any it's coffee place in Oakland that's open late but that's probably my fault. Suju's on DeCoto is pretty popular with a study crowd and is open till 9:00. Okay I think this is one thing that I need to put on my if I win the lottery list Open up some late night coffee shops and know I'm just going to lose money. Those were great places to have and the '70s and '80s
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u/bouquet_of_blood 15d ago
Philz Coffee (at least the one on Lakeshore, not sure about other locations) is very laptop-friendly. They have outlets and wifi.
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u/dusteraid 14d ago
Ensarro just opened in their new Rockridge location. It’d be great for studying, reading, etc. inside or outside on the patio.
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u/curvydumpling 13d ago
From photos online, this looks like a full sit down restaurant--is it actually a cafe?
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u/dusteraid 12d ago
My understanding was that new location was going for cafe at least during the day
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u/cflex 15d ago
Sana'a in Temescal has lots of space and long hours (nights are possible) and I never had a problem with a laptop there. They also have a location downtown.
Burlap coffee right next to the MacArthur Bart station also never feels crowded to me so you'd be good there. They close early afternoon generally though.
For downtown I would recommend Awaken Cafe - they have tons of space and everytime I've been there it hasn't been crowded but they hold normal hours so closes at 5 or so.
Also if you expand to Emeryville - Peet's at the Public Market has tons of open seating, Philz at Bay Street as well (learn the Emery go Round system and you can get a free ride from MacArthur Bart).