Cafe Milano

A pleasant location at the intersection of transit lines and the south edge of the UC Berkeley campus. Cold and hot coffee drinks, reliable wifi, and a supply of pastries are the foundation. Ample seating on two floors make it worth the trip across town. This time I noticed Mexican hot chocolate and mocha so will be back for that!

Place is really nice if you wana unplug and work. Not very loud so you could take meetings if you had a nice pair of headphones. Their coffee put me to sleep so some scope of improvement in bean selection..

Great place to study and work, especially the mezzanine which is more cozy. There aren’t that many plugs

Unfortunately the gentleman working behind the espresso machine did not know how to prepare a double shot of espresso correctly. The grounds weren't tamped down and it was served in a large tea cup. It was incredibly bitter, thin, and watery. Took one sip and left it. He also couldn't even answer basic questions about the coffee beans, such as if they were a light or medium roast. He actually didn't even know what kind of beans they were or which company/roaster supplies them. He literally said "I don't know" when I asked. If you are a coffee enthusiast or even just care slightly about what type of coffee you are drinking I highly suggest avoiding this place.

A great place for sitting and studying, and enjoying your fresh pastries, and homemade fresh roasted coffee. I strongly recommend everyone for a good cup of coffee.

worst food quality I found a fly inside of my iced latte. They didn't get my money back only insisted on offering new drinks. Bagel was too hard and dry. Croissant were dry.

The service is fantastic. You get to personally know the staff AND learn a different language through friendlessness and care. The staff is always very happy, kind and prompt. The same amigos everyday! I usually get a latté or peppermint tea with a breakfast bagel: eggs, cheese, onions, tomatoes and pepper jack cheese. And its hour and delicious everytime. The pastries are fresh everyday and the display is beautiful. I could go on and on! 💞💞💞💞💞😍😍😍

Cozy cafe to sit for a book or work on some project. They have very good apple croissants. Get it with your coffee. Hot latte is a good deal that comes in a big cup so it lasts for while if you plan to stay long.

cute place! gorgeous chai latte! amazing people making the drinks at the counter! I'll be coming back for that chai latte

There is always a heard of flies buzzing around here. The coffee is ok, and the sandwiches are too, but the pastries were stale. There are much better coffee shops.

Went into again today and there was a mouse just running around on the table and the ground. I'm not sure if the workers of the cafe saw it, but I hope they remove it. A bit concerning how easily they can get into the cafe.

Got their matcha but didn't realize it was presweetened. The barista was really nice and made me a large latte on the house to make up for it. Came here on a rare rainy day and the vibes were perfect. Free WiFi and lots of seating.

Went here every time, every time got pissed off by the service. I don't know what makes the server guy so angry at making our food and drinks.

Their matcha is not really matcha. If you're a matcha enthusiast (or even know what it tastes like) you probably won't like it. But that's fine, many other matcha places around here. Good smoothies and sandwiches. The place would be an amazing study spot if only their WiFi ever worked, which is tough given their prime location next to campus

I became a regular there the past summer and I believe that it's such a good spot to study and drink a coffee with friends. Food; The drinks are sometimes a hit or a miss but the chai never missed for me. 2/3 stars depends on what you get and I just love chai Ambiance: LITERALLY SO CUTE. The trees and atmosphere here makes it such a unique place in all of Berkeley that even after you leave the city you want to find a similar experience. 2/1 stars Service: Like many places depends on who you get as a worker. I had a person being trained so it was fun seeing them learn. But if it's someone from the kitchen there will be less focus on customer service which makes sense since they're they're for cooking. 1/1 hit or miss tbh but it's fine

Staff kicked students out in midst of an active shooter event not even halfway down the street. Disgusting lack of regard for human life. I'm a Cal alum who frequented Cafe Milano for its proximity to campus. I regret every penny I spent on your lackluster drinks. Your staff doesn't just need training on how to make a Mocha Bianca, your staff needs training on how to be decent human beings. Your bathroom is busted, your wifi never works, you have like -3 outlets, you always have flies and fruit flies in clouds on the 1st floor.

great coffee shop and wasn't too busy in the morning when i went. The white mocha is so good!!!!

I loved my coffee latte but my friend didn't like his matcha. It was too sweet. We both loved the flaky apple turnover. I love the big plants inside and the vibe! It makes you feel you're in a tree house. I can see why people hang and do work here I didn't get to take pics of our drinks and pastry. As I stepped out someone was playing the piano :) Service was fast. The staff was really nice, more so the barista. Parking can be challenging.

I would come back for the grab and go egg and cheese burrito! It is a great price (3.95) for what you're getting, with lots of egg and cheese! It is more of a mini burrito but that's also what I love about it because it is so convenient to eat and you don't have to commit to a full one. A lot of other convenient typical cafe foods such as pastries, bagels, and salads and sandwiches. The coffee is very okay. The ambiance is alright - I would say it is enjoyable in the early mornings, when it is quieter and you can easily find seating. But after that it can get very cramped and stuffy in my experience, especially in the upstairs seating area. I have also noticed there are a lot of flies inside so it does take away from the experience too. Wifi is not the most reliable and can be spotty sometimes.

It's a great place to sit and chat with your friends. As a matcha lover, I got the matcha latte here. Warning, they use a premade matcha latte powder. Nothing wrong with that, but I prefer the traditional way. Would definitely come back to enjoy the ambiance/seating and just stick with their fresh squeezed orange juice.

It's a decent cafe. I went with my boyfriend and we ordered sandwiches. The sandwiches weren't that special. After taking a couple bites, the sandwich wasn't really calling me to take more bites. However, my boyfriend enjoyed the sandwiches more. It's a great study area if you don't mind background noise. However, the wifi wasn't too great in my memory. It's also a nice meeting location or cafe to catch up with friends. The distance to Berkeley campus is also nice. If you have class later in the day but want a different scene from the libraries before class, it's a good alternative. There's also interesting photos that capture UC Berkeley's history on the second floor. I recommend checking Cafe Milano out, it has cute vibes with the greenery, photography, and overall design. Just keep in mind that the food isn't mind blowing.

This cafe is reliable for early morning meals & the staff have been here for years. I've ordered delivery via yelp & pick up including today when I showed up at 9:30 am needing 8 sandwiches for lunch. In 15 min, they made delicious focaccia paninis to go. I was staring at the breakfast pastries while I waited & got the carrot muffin which was really like carrot cake without frosting. It was moist and delicious. The panini had pesto and simple ingredients but it hit the spot. Support local businesses & this iconic Berkeley cafe!

Cafe Milano is a spacious cafe with a 2nd level for laptopping. offerings: pastries, cafe, sandwiches, salads, soups... drink: dark roast covffee (m. 2.50) -pre-brewed in a big coffee canister. -robust flavor with little bitterness, smooth, easy sipping. -quick service post noon, -plenty of seating thruout cafe....

My boyfriend wanted me to try this place since his dad used to take him here many years ago. Maybe it was better back then but it was just okay to me. The interior was nice because it had two levels which made more room for people to study. It gets very packed though. Since it's so busy, I think the staff have adapted to making orders really fast. Usually this would be nice but they had my drink done before I could fully finish my order. I wanted an iced latte sweetened with honey but they kind of just added the honey on top after so it didn't mix well.

One of the best places near the Berkeley campus to get work done. It's super spacious - with seating both downstairs and upstairs. There's a large food selection and a great place to grab breakfast. There's an assortment of drinks from blended coffees to teas. The blended drinks are bit watery. Also, the wifi is pretty bad here so I'd recommend using a hotspot if possible .

Came here on a busy Saturday morning before a football game. Their posted hours say they open at 7am. There were at least 8 of us standing around outside at 8:20am and waiting for them to open. BIG attitude from the employees. It was very cold inside - uncomfortable to hang out kind of cold. The space is nice and open and lots of seating. The person that rang up our order was rude and slow. Our food was cold. Coffee was good. Meh. No reason to come back.

A solid, old school cafe. I got an Italian soda that was perfect, sat by the window using the WiFi and did a pleasant few hours of work.

I ordered a quad espresso with a little almond milk and got the dirtiest look and he just stood there glaring for a second. They were having issues with payment so I waited a few minutes and they turn the iPad over to me and the price was FOURTEEN DOLLARS. I have been a barista and traveled across the US trying coffee and with the same order and I have never been charged 3$ per extra shot. They didn't even put almond milk in my drink and he had me walk over to pour my own straight out of the carton. Not steamed. 14$ for a drink I had to help make. He had me try the espresso to explain that it was stronger than most but it was just burnt.

What happened? Haven't been in for a long time. Maybe it was Monday morning issues after the weekend? Cashier: "currently cash only." Bagels: only jalapeno (but I just saw someone put a tray away of a mix). Tea: 3 choices: chai spice, black currant, and some fruity herbal blend. Disappointing.

This is one of the very few spots where one can find an average breakfast in the area. I'm talking about burritos, sandwiches(?), and bagels. My plan was to get the breakfasts burritos but they were out around 10 in the morning. I was offered an alternative and got the bagel with egg, cheese, fresh tomatoes, and fresh red onions. The sandwich itself was really good and fresh. Everything is made on the spot. It only lacked some flavour which the pepper did its job but I had to add some ketchup and some tapatio sauce and it did the trick. Sat here for in door dining and it was a pleasant atmosphere. Nice view of campus, nice foliage, an interesting clock, and got a little balcony but closed at the moment. The service was nice, they are always friendly and up to make you anything they have and as you wish. The one who did our food welcomed us and ask if we were going to eat on the spot and he was more than happy to assist us.

Had a great experience with my first coming here on a weeknight. The staff approached me and asked if I needed help. They helped me chose my drink and there was really nice flow in conversation. I ordered the suggested tuxedo Mocha, it was delicious! Environment: Tables are very sturdy. The large tree inside adds a refreshing indoor outdoor element to the space.

There's a good amount of diverse seating at this coffee shop. Booths for comfortable sitting and tables if you want to find a place to study. I got an iced latte. Nothing too special about this drink, but it was good for the price. I would come here again if I needed a reliable place to study.

Overpriced bad coffee The red flag was when I saw the barista steaming different milks: oat, soy, and dairy without cleaning the wand - but used the same wand. I guess he doesn't know that he could literally kill ppl with allergens by doing things this way. Not to mention the milks are BURNT onto the wand from lack of cleaning. The other red flag was when he asked me what size I wanted for my cappuccino... um what?? So he doesn't know the difference between a cappuccino and a latte. I ordered an oat milk cappuccino and paid like $6.50. That's about $1.5-2 more than most other artisanal shops in the East Bay. And good ones, to which I would give 4.5 stars or more. Btw my cappuccino was rly just an oat milk latte with a little bit of cheap espresso. It was seriously terrible and I felt sick halfway thru. 1 star for the building ambiance and 1 more because it is like the one coffee shop open in the area, and I was desperate. But I would never go back.

Something about this spot really irritates me, and I can't quite figure out why. I ordered an iced coffee, which they gave me as a hot coffee though they did fix it when I asked. The coffee itself didn't taste that great, and the seating here is really cramped. It almost feels impossible to get things done since the chairs are so close together and there's constantly people trying to scoot by you. There are also none or very limited power outlets, so you can't even stay that long to study if your battery dies fast. I've not tried the food, but the pastries in the display case do look somewhat decent.

Came here to read and grab a quick brunch during a quiet Sunday morning. Although it was fairly quiet and not the busiest, they were understaffed with only two employees taking everyone's order. While I ended up getting an iced coffee and pastry, I only ordered those because they don't have a drink menu, which I found to be really strange for a coffee shop. In addition, the line situation inside was way too confusing, and my order ended up getting mixed up with someone else's. While the cafe lacked a distinct drink/coffee menu and I was confused about what I could even buy from them, the ambiance is pleasant, and what keeps me coming back.

Definitely love this place, so many coffee, food, and Pastry options. I love coming here for a quick bite and a place to charge my laptop. They have many plugs on the bottom floor and a lot of seating. I definitely love the fresh OJ and Jalapeño bagel if I don't get the panini with pesto. 10/10 recommend.

I used to love this cafe when I was a student. It's been about five years and I was saddened to see how downhill it's gone. They're BLASTING dad rock at 10am on a weekday, so it is not a comfortable place to study, as evidenced by how few people are here (it used to be PACKED around the clock). It's also so hot upstairs I couldn't sit for more than ten minutes. I asked for a tuna sandwich, which is on the menu, and they said we don't have it. Okay, so what do you have? Ham and turkey. I order the ham, and when a guy hands it to me wrapped in paper his boss taps him and says it needs a salad. During the exchange he checked it was my order and I said, ham sandwich? And they both nodded. Well I open it up and it's turkey. Coffee is bad, owner(?) is walking around talking on his cell phone. I don't want you touching your phone then my food. I'm just super turned off, I was looking forward to a few hours of working in one of my old favorites and I will definitely never be back.

$6.75 for a vanilla latte and they can't even pull a fresh shot for it. Watched the man pour leftover espresso from a cup that had been sitting there for who knows how long, and it tasted old and soured. Didn't say anything because they already seemed like they did not want to talk to me.

The food and caffeinated drinks are decent, and their interior is really grandiose. The service is also quite speedy, especially if you order in SnackPass. Their prices are typical for Berkeley-- that being about a $15 meal with a ~10% tax (). Furthermore, the inside has so many flies it's hard to feel apatized.

My friends and I come here to study. I'm not a fan of any of their drinks. The hot latte is okay. Matcha latte very sweet with no matcha taste. Not the cleanedt place but definitely a vibe.

This is a decent study spot conveniently across campus with okay food options and good coffee. There is a lot of seating on the first floor and second floor which is perfect for study groups or talking with friends but limited power outlets. The wifi personally is always hit or miss when I come to Milano. It's fairly busy throughout the day so sometimes the wait can be longer but for coffee usually no more than about 5 minutes. I almost always get an Americano and it has been strong as I like them. Occasionally, I've gotten mochas from here which I also recommend. They have a ton of pastry options but I would buy them in the morning when they are fresh.

Their caramel and vanilla lattes are always perfect. I love that the coffee is freshly made and is affordable, unlike some of the other stores around. Usually you can find seating inside to do some work too though their wifi connectivity is questionable.

I was never a fan of this place back in my undergraduate days and now that I work nearby I'm even less inclined to like this place. The service here is hit or miss but mostly miss. They don't post the prices of drinks at all and they're pastries taste like they come from Safeway - because they do come from Safeway. Most importantly they just hiked up their tea about 50% - from $2.35 to $3.50! Even after working in hipster Mission, no spot would charge that much there. I feel bad for the undergrads that end up going to this place. Just try to avoid if you can.

I haven't tried much from their menu, which is pretty large, so I can't speak much on the food. I've gotten a few of their baked goods (pretty good), their bagels (pretty good but they're frequently out of them, and I've randomly gotten an oddly tiny and shrunken bagel...), and their iced chai latte (fine but literally just a premade mix with a lot of oatmilk poured in. Overall-- the food has not been worth the price, in my opinion. My real issue with this place is the service, as several of the people who work there are quite unpleasant to interact with. Most importantly, it could be a really nice place to study, as it is quite pretty and very close to campus, but they 1) have little to no outlets to charge your devices, 2) are constantly filled with Berkeley business people doing "coffee chats" (which stress me out greatly to listen to lol), and 3) frequently close up wayyyy earlier than their listed hours (e.g. the owner has started kicking people out if it's not that busy around 8pm, when it says that they close at 10pm...). Overall, it's a pretty cafe in a great location, with food that is definitely perfectly fine for a quick snack, but it is not a go-to place for me to return to...

I came here with some friends to study. The cafe is very hipster like with wooden seatings and tables. Kind of old type of vibe. There weren't many outlets available in upstairs seating area which was where we sat to study. It was inconvenient to us. It's a college cafe and they can do a better job adding more outlets to accommodate students. The WiFi password info was written downstairs on paper, there are 2 WiFi network they used, use the ATT network because the other network doesn't work. They should of taken out the other wifi info. The drinks are overpriced. The price for a chai latte was $4.50 for a small cup, which was a total ripoff. The chai was literally made from powder and added milk and foam to it. I don't recommend the overprice chai latte there. My friends had ice coffee and it was more reasonably price. The vibe at the cafe was chill and studious. A lot of Berkeley students went there to study. Cafe was quiet most of the time. I don't think I'd go back to this cafe again, i was very disappointed by it. Could be that I'm not fit for older cafe layouts and a lot of things didn't accommodate me.

In the days when I was a college student: Yummy sandwiches, good ambiance, great place to meet TAs, coffee is good, and barista does latte art on the lattes.

I will never go back to this place again. I don't usually write reviews but I think people need to be made aware of the blatant rude behavior of the old racist man with the long grey beard at this place, I haven't seen him before at this place, when I've come there before but this time he was there. Today I entered the cafe and I saw a lot of people there, normally when a coffee shop is packed I will look for an open table put my notebook on a table to keep it and go order, from the counter. I saw some tables open and I went by the crowd at the counter and was going to put my stuff down and go back to order, I hear someone say "hey sir you can't be in here" I'm like "huh?" The guy behind the counter was talking to me and I was like "what? I don't understand what I did?" he said "you can't be in here with that food you have to go" I said "oh my bad I can put it in my backpack, I wasn't planning on eating it" he said "I don't care, you have to go!" I was taken aback by the fact that he just wouldn't let me put my leftovers in my backpack and let me stay in the cafe and I understand establishments wanting people to buy from them, that's why I told him "I am going to order something from you, I just wanted to put my things down first so that I can get a table but for sure I am going to order something" I haven't had any coffee that day and specifically needed some so that I could study. I always order from coffee shops when I'm going to study because I know I wouldn't sit there and not purchase from the establishment. He says "I don't care, I don't care you have to go!" gesturing for me to leave as he talks. I said "So i can't just put my food in my backpack? These are leftovers I just ate this and I'm going to order from you, what do you want me to do put them outside?" he said "I don't care I don't care you have to go!" I'm thinking this makes no sense like literally he isn't listening to what I'm saying and I'm really starting to think it is racism involved in his inability to listen to what I had to say and just assuming I was trying to not buy anything. I told him "ok then I won't be coming back here again and I've been here several times before and I always order something." he said "I don't care, I don't care you have to go!" again gesturing for me to leave. So I left because I don't want to ever give money to a business who would treat any customer that way. Im very reasonable and he could have handled it way differently. I was willing to not have my food out if he was worried that I would eat it in the cafe, I was already going to purchase drinks from him due to how long I had to stay there, I would have gotten at least two drinks in my stay and maybe a dessert. Now I won't be going back to this place. The only reason why I started to go here was due to Cafe Strada being packed most of the time. But I would rather try to wait for a table at Cafe Strada because they treat people with kindness and they don't trip off of outside food, because they know people will be purchasing their items too. I recommend Cafe Strada or any other place besides this cafe. From this one racist guy, I don't think they deserve any business and I feel like if i wasn't a POC that he would have treated me a lot differently and he would have let me put my food in my bag. All he had to do was say, "ok purchase your items from me and put your food up, if I see you eating that outside food, you will have to leave." I would have 100% agreed to that, but to kick me out and not even listen to what I was saying, is just plain rude. Yeah, everyone take your business elsewhere, especially since cafe staff will kick students out during an active shooter event. They obviously don't care about their customers and they obviously don't want any customers. I hope this business loses every customer especially POC people because one day it could be you and your friends with your leftovers, getting kicked out, and rudely addressed by this old racist man. If i could give this place negative stars i would.

Cafe Milano is amongst the best cafes to study. You're not a Berkeley student unless you've met up with someone here, studied here, or had a "coffee chat" here. Pros: outlets, lots of seating, upstairs seating, bathroom (not the best) Cons: drinks and food are decent and do the job TLDR: the reason you'd find me here is probably fro a space to study :

I got a small latte and it was burnt to the point where my friend next to me mentioned that the latte smelled slightly burnt without mentioning anything.

Milano is great because of its location right across from campus, but the coffee is mediocre. They have a good variety of soups, salads, and sandwiches for a decent price considering the proximity to campus. Their service is okay, mostly a hit or miss. They have a minimum card fee of ~$2. This would be a great place to catch up with a friend, not best for studying because of the spotty wifi and noise during peak hours. If you're lucky, you might be able to get onto Airbears2. The seats and tables look and are kind of dirty, though I see the staff regularly cleaning. Don't use the bathroom unless it's an emergency. The best seats are upstairs, especially on sunny days. TLDR; okay coffee, good food

The barista was nice but this place is pretty unsanitary. That said, if you're a college student who just needs a place to study other than a library and you don't mind sticky tables, this might suffice.

Came here to grab a drink on my way to campus to study. The guy at the counter was extremely rude and unfriendly. I ordered a smoothie, but what I got was some premise slush thing mixed together with water. I honestly can't tell if the guy got my order wrong or this is really just their "smoothie". Don't think I'll be back; only giving 2 stars because the ambience was nice and I like to save my 1 star reviews for places I reallyyyyy hate.

Cool shop with vibez. Simple menu for entrees and coffee/beverages. Very cool interior and food that hits the spot. I got the pastrami sandwich on mexican bread which included salad. Both were refreshing and solid in portion.

This place has the essence of a well-established, home grown cafe rooted in an activist past. The walls are decorated with resistance photos -- images of protest, standoffs with police, a bare chested woman in the midst of what appears to be a demonstration, direct action, etc. You will commonly find copies of The Daily Californian strewn about. And you will also find folks sitting in small circles, openly discussing issues related to emotional and mental anxiety, Islamophobia and coalition building on campus. It also serves as a reprieve for folks who do not have housing. It's raw. It's real. It's unimposing. I enjoy Cafe Milano for its simplicity. Its re brick walls, weathered wood benches and marble top tables -- all posed askew across the ground floor -- lend the feeling of being warm and cosy and worn in. There's an ample amount of seating -- but, yes, it gets very busy here. It appears one of the busier cafes on the strip. There is an upstairs lounge that offers additional seating, and a bit of a reprieve from the busy and noisy downstairs. Coffee is OK and fairly consistent, and there is a sample of offerings: Greek and Italian salads, soups, sandwiches and a pretty decent breakfast sandwich on a bagel. During my time at Berkeley, this became my regular working spot. Though loud and busy, the WIFI is free and reliable, and it is directly across from campus. Only major problems: Busy and loud; bathroom is a tank and there are consistently tiny bugs about later in the day. Other than that, it's a fitting spot to get some good work done.

Dropped a star because of the limited amount of outlets here, but overall, I really like Cafe Milano. Location is convenient since it's right across the street from Cal. Prices for food and drink are decent too -- I enjoy the iced coffee, mocha glacier, breakfast bagels, and pesto pasta here. When I attended school at UC Berkeley, I would come here after hiking up the Big C some mornings around 8am, and the ambience of the cafe would be just perfect. It doesn't get too loud either (unless it's peak hours like lunchtime), so I used to hold interviews and meetings here.

Great atmosphere, terrible internet. I love their decor and plants. They have relatively large space which almost always lets you find a space to sit.

This place is really whatever, from being right across the street from Cal you would think they would step their game up. My croissant was okay, and coffee over priced. I probably wouldn't go here again, I rather go to a on campus coffee shop or Petes.