Sonya Hu
Google
Delightful Turkish cafe in the heart of downtown Palo Alto! I was originally just planning on popping my head in for a quick caffeine pick-me-up before heading to a library to work, but I loved the vibes (and treats) at Oklava so much that I ended up staying almost the whole day. I started off with an americano and slice of their triangle baklava, which were both fantastic. The coffee was rich and nutty, with just the right level of brightness. It went perfectly with the sweet, decadent baklava, which had beautiful layers and all the right balances of textures and flavors. It was certainly a sweet treat but not overly so — I’ve definitely had a few baklava that felt almost sickly sweet, but this one was perfectly balanced. They have a wide array of different types of baklava in different shapes / styles or using different nuts, so I’ll definitely have to come back to try the rest!
I was feeling a bit peckish later that afternoon (as delicious as baklava is, it doesn’t quite count as lunch) and ordered their spinach spiral bourek. It was outstanding — super flaky and buttery, with a generous helping of flavorful sautéed spinach. It was especially tasty after they heated it up, and it was the perfect mid-day savory treat.
Beyond the food, the staff is super friendly and accommodating. They won’t even *let* you pick up your own food / drink and are very adamant about delivering it to you. They’re extremely knowledgeable and willing to answer any and all questions, and all around very sweet. The space is also lovely; there’s plenty of seating, speedy Wifi, and cute although relatively simple decor. It can get quite crowded and loud in the afternoon, but it was pretty empty in the mid / late-morning period; if you want to settle in for a long time, I’d recommend getting there earlier rather than later.