Sack’s Coffee House

Great place to study – I’ve been coming most days each week to study, and it’s great. Service is wonderful – everyone’s so nice. Coffee is good, and so are the sandwiches. Lots of space and usually not too crowded – except really on weekends and exam cram periods. Definitely my go-​to study spot. BUT, some times they play this awful awful 80s smooth jazz, saxophone elevator music – it’s awful and can be a wee bit distracting. Hopefully they’ll change their pandora station soon!

Nutella Hot Chocolate. That’s all you really need to say. Staff is friendly and it’s always cozy inside during these cold winter months. I wish Sack’s wasn’t so popular because sometimes we have just a 10 minute break from rehearsals and it’s not long enough to get anything made or even to get a hot drink.
For the owners, it would be GREAT to serve food later. When there are shows rehearsing (almost all the time), the actors/​production/​tech staff are around until 10 pm.

Very comfy and friendly place to come study. Does get pretty crowded at certain times of the day/​year

Sacks is one of my go-​to study spots. There are outlets everywhere and decent wifi connection (although at times there are so many people that the wifi connection gets spotty). The small round tables aren’t always ideal for studying when you have a lot of papers everywhere though. The restroom is also very clean.
I’m not a huge coffee-​drinker so I can’t say much about how good their coffee is, but I HAVE had their Cal panini several times. I love that it’s warm, that the bread is toasted, and that it’s very filling.
Definitely come here during the holiday season! They play Christmas music, which really puts you in a good mood — definitely a must during dead week and finals week.

One of my favorite study spots in Berkeley! It has a cozy, warm feel. The lighting seems a bit dim (yellow lights), but it makes the environment less stressful. Productivity for studying is pretty good here — stable wifi, nice ambiance, okay noise level, good amount of power outlets. Got a lot of studying done here! Also, the chairs are cushioned, and the benches have sacks for seat backing. The baristas are very nice and friendly.
The only problem would be the sun through the windows during the day, and weekends are super crowded :(
Coffee is pretty good here, but the food is pricey.
Music choice is pretty nice (Christmas time) — they play the classical Christmas songs instead of the new rock/​modified Christmas radio music. Also, the music isn’t obnoxiously loud like in some other cafes.

Delicious coffee, perfect study environment. The people working there probably could use a lesson on which conversation is appropriate for work (they were flirting) but my overall experience was good.

Cool deco with mostly grad student crowd. Amazing wifi… but foods a little pricey! Overall solid place to study. Good amount of outlets too.

A great environment to chat in, relax alone in, or study in. Great menu of drinks as well as food. Sacks’ soy chai is really comforting and flavorful. Their paninis are a solid meal option — not overpriced!
Clear menu, clean bathroom (a must for those long chats or study sessions), friendly faces, good food, limited noise. Nothing special.

Very quaint coffee shop with much to offer! I’m not a huge coffee drinker but found this place on Unilocal when I was looking for a place to have a quick bite before watching a show across the street at the Berkeley Playhouse. Sack’s came up in my search. Not only are they a full service café, but they also serve sandwiches and salads. I really did not expect much, but I was blown away. The Julia Morgan Salad knocked my socks off! First, the portion was huge. Second, there were so many ingredients in this salad: Spring Mix, Sprouts, Carrots, Cucumber, Roasted Bell Pepper, Tomato, Red Kidney & Garbanzo Beans, Avocado and Tofu Served with Lemon Garlic Vinaigrette. Third, it was so fresh. The crostini was also this sweet bread that complimented the salad very well. For a full entrée sized salad that cost less than $ 10, it was a steal.
Overall, great place to have a cup of joe or even a full meal. Lots of students seen studying but that’s expected since it’s Berkeley. Place is huge, so there’s plenty of seating. Self serve and order a the counter. Baristas/​cashiers are friendly (most likely Cal students). Street parking available.

For studying, some cafes work for me while others just… Don’t. This is definitely one that works, and might be my favorite option in Berkeley!
The ambiance/​feel is perfect for me. It’s laid back, and there are usually a lot of people working. I find a good balance between working diligently and taking much needed people-​watching breaks (lol). It’s spacious, lots of tables and outlets. I’ve never come during the day and been unable to find a table for myself.
The food is surprisingly great! Love their selection of paninis. I motivate myself to get out of my apartment to study with the promise of a good lunch and iced caffeine.
The only gripe — the lighting is a bit dark at night unless you’re nestled directly under a light! I usually come here during the day, and leave around dinner time when it gets dark.
Ok, writing this review at Sacks was a nice break from LSAT studying. Back to the grind!

What to call a coffee house ringed with empty coffee bean sacks in the window perimeter? Sack’s of course.
eats: sammies, pastries/​cookies (ultimate) of all kinds, expresso/​
brew: italian roast (16oz, 2.45)
–bold on the edge, probably itailian
–gonna keep me awake
–pricey, so is the rent at this locale
crumbs:
–lots of sitdown room for laptopers
–parking not so good here.
–service above average.
3.5 stars.

Sacks has a special place in my heart because it was always there for me in my most sleep deprived architecture studio days. When I was surviving on an average of 3 hours of sleep a night, the depth charge/​red eye coffee was somehow able to penetrate my high tolerance for coffee and give me the kick I needed for another productive allnighter. For those of you with normal caffeine tolerances and sleep schedules, beware of the lattes — they’re quite potent (in other words, I’m lovin it!).
I still remember the day I was feeling adventurous and asked the barista to recommend a drink. On that fateful day in 2012 (it ranks on my list of memorable college moments alongside graduating and the time I hibernated for almost 24 hours after finishing my studio class), she introduced me to the almond soy latte. It’s quite sweet and I’d only order it when I’m having a «treat yoself» kind of day, but oh sooooo good. You can thank me later. The chai lattes are also consistently delicious, not all watered down.
If you’re hungry, the bagels are great — I’ve witnessed many price increases over the years but still think the everything veggie bagel with sundried tomato cream cheese is worth getting. I typically don’t get bagels, but when I do I get this!
Sure there are a lot of fancier, more hipster cafes in the area but Sacks has achieved a balance in the elements of a great café that most others lack — good food, good prices, strong and cheap drinks, decent amount of space, chairs, and outlets, and most importantly, friendly staff.
Some minor gripes I have about sacks are that it gets really busy on Sundays and during finals season and chances are you’re gonna see everyone and their moms when you least want to (aka when you’re scrubbed out — hair tied, sweatpants, chillin with no makeup on), the outlets seem to be older and my MacBook charger will not stay plugged in for certain ones (somehow especially when my battery is on the brink of sudden death), but none of these factors are enough to keep me from coming back. It’s busy because it’s a great place to study, so come early and come prepared to take care of some serious business.

I like that this space is big, coffee is decent, and bathrooms are clean. The wi-​fi drove me crazy, and as I was there in order to get out of the house and do some internet-​related things, it was rough going.
Lots of light, lots of space, and fun décor with gunnie sacks in the windows/​for your leaning-​against pleasure. I didn’t try the food, so that’s still a mystery.
The good: good coffee, prominently displayed wifi network and password.
The bad: wifi intermittently cut out, and that, my friends, was a big bummer.

This review is really more about the ambience than the drinks or food. Everytime I’ve been here I’ve ordered tea, so it’s hard to mess up a tea bag in water. I do like that they serve you a teapot… makes me feel very british.
So the ambience is perfect. I’ve spent several productive afternoons studying here. Other patrons also tend to be students so they are respectful and quiet. There’s plenty of seating and the music is never distracting. Just be careful you don’t sit along side the College Ave windows or you’ll start to roast on a sunny day!

Availability of places, quiet atmosphere, nice service.
You can grab a cup of coffee and work on your nuclear warhead project, nothing’s gonna bother you.
Menu’s also great, my favorite is bagel with cheese.
One con though — Internet is sometimes down and that’s a big disappointment.

My place to come in and get some work done surrounded by people~. Tables easy to work on, plenty of outlets to plug in, good atmosphere and nice buzz keeps me motivated :)
Food good, coffee decent, would give 5 stars if food was served a little later, and price was a tad bit lower.

Rejoice! The wifi gods are strong within this establishment, but may abandon thee if there’s too many freakin people. Use caution, download important stuff before coming, and pray to the ever fickle wifi gods.
But really, this is café pretty bomb. I love how the noise level occupies the happy medium of being able to quiet conversations or studying your ass off without interruption.
I always order the Americano, because it’s cheap and I’m cheap, but it’s always been consistent and never fails to give me the energy I desperately need. I honestly can’t find too many major faults with this place.
Seriously. This place is blessed with more than just decent wi-​fi.

Such a great study spot! Granted, its always usually filled with students but if you get there early enough on a weekend you can get yourself a spot too!
Treat yourself to a black and white cookie!

Located a little ways from campus, this place is themed with coffee sacks all over the place. The good is free wifi and lots of seating with plugs. A big plus for college students looking for a spot to study. The place gets busy on the weekends with students.
Overall the coffee, I get an americano every week is okay. Not sure about the beans they use but its not gourmet or anything. It’s just coffee and if you accept that its going to just do its job to give you caffeine then its a-​ok.

I originally came here around 10:00 am on a Monday morning to get some work done. The place was almost full at that time of day, but there were still s couple of empty chairs and tables left. I started off with a large coffee and then decided to order the Popeye Salad after 3 hours of doing work.
The coffee that I first ordered when I first got to Sacks was pretty good. I like the fact that they freshly drip brew their coffee, but because the two people ahead of me in line also ordered large coffees, it took 10 minutes before I got mine.
Fast forward to to around 1:00PM when I started getting hungry and decided to order a salad. Since it was my first time here, I asked the cashier which of their salads was the most popular, and she responded saying that all of them were popular. I expected her to be a bit more helpful with helping me decide my order, but for the sake of being courteous to those who were behind me in line, I just quickly decided on the Popeye Salad and went back to my seat.
Now on the board, the description for «Popeye Salad» reads «spinach, red onions, FRESH BEETS, fried onions, orange, goat cheese, served with honey mustard vinaigrette.» This is a bit misleading because when I got my order, there was no sign of beets anywhere on my salad (as seen in the picture I took before I ate my salad). Not only that, but there was so much honey mustard vinaigrette on my spinach that it felt that I had ordered dressing with a side of salad, instead of the other way around. Sadly, I didn’t recognize their mistake until I already finished half of my salad, and rather than having them remake my already half-​eaten salad, I just quietly forced down the rest.
I realize that many cafes in Berkeley get away with mediocre food by providing their customers with a great ambience and fast wifi, but I still expect good and consistent food along with a nice place to work. Seeing as how Sacks has relatively high reviews for a café, I was expecting more from my first visit. My first visit to Sacks definitely did not leave a great impression on me, but considering as how many of my friends love it here, I probably will be back to give Sacks another try. Hopefully then, it won’t disappoint.