Royal Ground Coffee — Restaurant in Berkeley

Spend your money somewhere else! I used to come here and study every week because it is the closest cafe to my apartment. Overpriced coffee that tastes like water, old pastries, and rude staff. The lady behind the counter is disrespectful, I've seen her harass a man who walked in to charge his phone. He ordered a drink, minded his own business and yet she felt the need to direct him where he was allowed to sit. The poor man just followed her as she directed him to the corner of the cafe! I was with a friend and we were disgusted by this disrespectful woman. Today, I came in to study. This cafe does not sell matcha green tea and I had wanted some so I decided I'd bring my own and ask for hot water. I ordered a cup of almond milk and was willing to pay the 3 dollars they charged for the measly cup they poured me. But when I asked for a cup of hot water she told me to pick a tea. I replied that I do not want tea because I want to drink a tea they do not sell, so I simply need a cup of hot water. Now, as far as I understand it is illegal to require customers to purchase tap water because IT IS TAP WATER. But perhaps I'm wrong, or maybe this law is complicated when it involves boiling water. So, I was willing to pay for a 3$ cup of almond milk and explained to her "Yeah, I just want to drink the tea I brought because you don't sell it, but I will pay for the almond milk if you can just give me hot water, if you want I can pay for the cup you put the boiling water in and the almond milk," so she tells me that a cup of boiling water and a separate cup of almond milk will cost me 6$. So here's why I'm mad: I don't know if she's disobeying the law, but regardless how can you really charge me 3$ for a cup of water hot water EVEN WHEN I SAY I WILL BRING MY OWN CONTAINER. Anyways, all I'm saying is this woman valued making money over customer experience and I guess good for her at this moment because she made the little three dollars she charged me for the almond milk but I am NEVER spending my money here again and I hope that those of you who took the time to read this decide to spend it elsewhere. And even if you don't care about my tragic water story, just think about that poor man that was harassed, even after he paid just like everyone else in here. Do you really want to support a business that openly harasses...

Good place that caters to student needs - ie sit and study and caffeinated and eat a lot. Very nice people. Solid cafe good for a quick bite or to sit and work, good for a reasonably priced cup of coffee but not specialty/3rd wave. Coffee was good with more milk and sugar than I usually take, but I didn't have to drown out any bad/burnt flavors. Ordered a Denver omelette sandwich on a bagel. It hit the spot, which is to day it filled me up. First of all, I'm from Colorado and the guy at the counter who seemed like a manager said he'd lived in Denver - but a Denver omelette is bell peppers, onions, and ham - this was avocado, sprouts, and bacon. I don't like an actual Denver omelette, but I love me some sprouts and avocado so it worked for me, but they should re-name that one. There was SO much egg on it. Probably 3 eggs worth by volume (presumably stretched with cream) - classic breakfast sandwich style. Again, they need to rethink their naming system. All their sandwiches are called "omelette sandwiches" but they are plain unseasoned unsalted huge chunk of bland egg with generous toppings. They are regular very big and filling breakfast sandwiches....

This is your corner bagel shop and cafe.

The decor is spare and the chairs are slightly worn and comfortable to sit in. Surrounded by windows, it’s a good place to sit and watch people and traffic. Not too loud with good background white noise- it’s great to work, and seating is flexible for medium sized groups.

Coffee is decent. Bagel sandwiches are good. Prices are average for Berkeley. Also pastries and stuff.

The friendly owner is ALWAYS there and if you come in a few times he’ll probably remember your order. The clientele is an eclectic mix of Cal students, construction workers from nearby projects, locals, and an “eclectic” Berkeley crowd. Also occasional families with young kids.

Basically, Royal Grounds is the kind of unpretentious place you can drop into, come-as-you-are, for a coffee, bagel, and chill for awhile. A kind of stoic non-judgemental sanctuary to refuel, recharge, and go about your day.

Your regular corner stop...