Monkey Forest Road

This place seems to always be in a constant state of revamping. Not sure when it’s open or not.

i loved monkey road.
the coffee, the décor, the outside space, whole vibe.
does anybody know why it closed?

Nice environment to be in for coffee — surrounded by lots of expensive imported furniture and decorative items. 3 stars reflect value for money/​quality.
Coffee and pastries are good — taste and quality, but it’s expensive. Like $ 5 for a small mocha and $ 8 for a small pastry.
My other gripe is the chairs just aren’t comfortable at all. It’s a funky place for people to meet but not the place to go if you want to do some work with your coffee or have a more private meeting. With he new outdoor seating there are only a couple of parking spaces remaining — something I used to appreciate on Grand Ave.

Time: 2:38pm
Purpose: Wanted to hit up all the small businesses today and support them.
Ambiance: Nice layout with two entrances parking lot or grand ave. Tables outside patio open air with a small space corner counter for people looking. A window connected to inside were customers can pick up after ordering. Parking lot is pretty hard to deal with a larger vehicle will have a hard time coming out sometimes cars have to back out no 3pt turns here. Inside feels very alive lots of items for sale not related to coffee. There was a marble table with price tag attached a look around more reveal more furniture like mostly these are found in front of peoples home or for the porch.
Staff: 4 people working with one coffee runner if you have special needs. Really upbeat and when I said keep the change they’re even more friendly but I guess that happens everywhere. They seems like pro’s doing the drinks another guy next to me said it’s the best ice coffee he ever had in years. So that tells you how involved the workers take their coffee business here.
Cleanliness: Immaculate!
Eats: I just had a large drip of their coffee of the day $ 2.25 I had my eco-​friendly cup and lid so a discount of not sure how much hand over $ 3 said keep it. There were a section house next to cashier with glass window that display their dessert section most are on a platter some on a pedestal. I was eyeing an muffin like with raisins and candied citrus fruits.
Products: They serve local coffee roaster brand Verve in small batches. Pastries, danishes, wines, whole beans, grounded beans, modern deco furnishings for the home.
Punch Line: Great place to sit, late afternoon snack, wi-​fi, decos, people seeing, lively feel, string coffee, friendly down to earth staff.
Final Thoughts: I can say this was the strongest cup of brew I had this week. I just sat out from and watch people walking, running, jogging, cycling, driving, pushing stroller everyone has something to look at if you’re a people watcher. Me I like the ladies jogging by and some smile at you that’s what make this place and area that I would come back to again and again.

I love Monkey Forest Road. I’m pretty sure I’m a «regular» and I do not even live in Oakland!
This is a great spot for working on the laptop, meeting with friends or business partners, or even taking a book. They even have a great collection of travel magazines and books to check out and get you inspired for travel. Even the décor calls to that side of me.
When the weather permits, they even have a cute patio. Also, this may be the only coffee shop that has its own parking spots. I say spots because there are literally like four.

Am I the only one who thinks it is extremely tacky a gift shop not only pervades the space, but essentially is the décor?
The coffee is excellent.

Serving Verve coffee, wine, and beer. What’s not to like? Open space and very zen. It’s a place to relax and get away from all your worries. If this place had wifi, it would be 5 stars. It maybe ironic but think about a stress-​free studying environment.

I can always count on this place to give me a great pastry and a great coffee to go with it definitely can’t be coming here and NOT get there pastries… It’s pretty pricey there but goodness it’s all worth it. They also have gluten free options and that’s always a plus,
Try the hazelnut Apple Brie pastry it’s amazing! Never had anything like it and who would have thought it would compliment each other so welll especially with a good coffee
I also tried their lavender tea as well not the best thing there it’s pretty bland but the tea itself is pretty refreshing just not a strong lavender taste
Definitely my go to for coffee since it’s so closeby and they use verve coffee! The best haha

I met up with JZ here one Sunday afternoon and I must say, it’s a solid place for catching up with friends. It’s part coffee shop, part furniture shop. I ended up getting tea and a panacotta. The panacotta was pretty good. I don’t recall what JZ ordered now that I think about it. I do remember having a taste of what he ordered and liked it better though.
They have lots of gluten free items so if that’s what you’re craving, you’ll find something here. Prices seemed fairly reasonable.
There are lots of areas to sit and parking was fairly easy. The name seems to escape me but I definitely think this is a good spot to stop before going to the Grand Lake Theater or walking around Grand.

After a long day of donating blood at O.Co Coliseum (for free Raider tickets), I needed to feed my baby, since he was the only one who gave blood. I was rejected because my iron level was too low. So sad. Maybe it wasn’t the iron level; maybe my blood was just too sweet. Haha.
Anyways, we wanted to come here once before when we ate at Star pizza down the street, but we were already full. Luckily we were able to try them out before heading to dinner. Parking is difficult. I felt like I was in SF. They have a private parking lot which is cool but it’s not very big, probably can fit 3 cars. Nonetheless, when I entered this café, I was surprised by the interior design. Almost like a modern eclectic atmosphere. From the wood benches, massive tropical center piece in the middle of the café, the large wooden globe and metal/​glass sculptures for sale was all beautiful. I forgot for a moment I was in Oakland. This is a café, I would see in Danville or Lafayette.
Thanks to Nique F. tip we decided to order the Black tea sweetened with lavender simple syrup. By jolly, we were happy we ordered it. Nique was right «ohmigaaaawd! Amazing» I’m not the kind of girl, who orders an ice cold drinks at a coffee/​tea café but we had to try it out and we are glad we did.
We also ordered the CAFÉ LATTE which was good but I wouldn’t say it is great. This place also serves baked good but at the time they only had one vegan dessert which was a Vegan Oatmeal almond cookie $ 1.90. It was so good and super soft, but for $ 1.90, I think it’s over-​priced. The cookie is probably only 2 ½ inches in diameter. They provide a variety of Gluten Free items. This place caters to all dietary restrictions which is a plus one in my book. I just wish they had more vegan options, they said they had more but ran out. I seem to hear that a lot at many coffee shops. I don’t understand if they sell out every day, wouldn’t you think they would make more since it’s in high demand… just sayin. *shrugs shoulder* or maybe they are just sayin that cause they didn’t make any. Who knows! Call ahead if you’re coming here for Vegan treats.

Ooooh me so scone-née.me so so scone-​née. OOOh me so SCO-​neee me so so sco-​NEE .ME love you long time.
What can I say? Their scones are quite orgasmic. That’s all she wrote.

Come for the drinks, stay for the chill environment and intriguing artwork.
What beats good drinks at a museum?

Monkey Forest Road is one of the few coffeeshops in the country that I’ve immediately felt at home in. It was the mix of the art, the sculpture, the friendly staff and the excellent tea.
They do everything right.

My man and I have been meaning to try «Monkey Coffee” – as we have nicknamed it, for quite some time now.
A lazy Sunday seemed like to perfect time to stroll over for some java, rest in the sun by a parking lot fountain, and look at high priced home décor.
My man had a cappuccino ($ 3.75) and I had an iced coffee ($ 3.50) and a lavender vanilla shortbread cookie ($ 2).
The ambiance is really pretty and one-​of-​a-​kind for Oakland. I felt a bit uneasy indoors because something about coffee and an expensive gallery of jungle home-​décor make me nervous that there is a «if you stain it, you buy it» policy. As for having wine here? I’d be equally as nervous about a «if you stumble over it tipsy and break it, you buy it» policy. But like any artfully done gallery, It is really lovely to walk around (after any non-​alcoholic drinks have been consumed and prior to alcohol ingestion). I’m notoriously clumsy ok? At least I’m aware of the problem! The parking lot oasis seating had a fountain and sun kissed benches. On a perfect and warm Oakland day, it was absolutely lovely
The actual coffee and cookie were just ok to me. Perhaps it is the fact that «Monkey Coffee» has been so hyped to me that I was expecting something really spectacular on my taste buds. I was disappointed that my ice coffee only came in bottled form. I felt that my shortbread lacked the oomph of buttery floral richness I have been spoiled with from some other pastry shops. The cappuccino was probably the best item we had. It is the traditional small cappuccino model, not the gargantuan Starbucks model.
For now, I think this is a nice place to get coffee but I’m not a die-​hard fan yet. However, the ambiance will be taking me here for a few more attempts to change my mind. Many a Unilocaler friend rave about this place so maybe «It’s not Monkey Coffee, it’s me?»

Adorable café with great breakfast! The tea selection is wonderful and the baked goods are really delicious. The interior of Monkey Forest Road is really nice too — very peaceful, airy, and open. The staff are awesome too. Nothing but good things to say about this place!

Impeccable coffee in the modern jungle.
When I imagine a typical coffee shop, I think of smelly leather couches, old wooden chairs, and the overpowering smell of coffee beans. Got that image in your head? Okay, now crumple it up and throw it in the trash.
Monkey Forest Road is a haven for the coffee connoisseur, hidden gem treasure seeker, and the plain ol’ customer with high expectations. Now, imagine gorgeous furniture made of salvaged exotic wood, plants that immerse you in the jungle atmosphere, and high quality coffee in well balanced form. That is Monkey Forest Road.
I first had coffee from Monkey Forest Road at Oakland Art Murmur. It was almost a year ago, but I distinctly remember notes of chocolate that definitely satisfied this sweet tooth. While I was walking around Grand Lake (Lake Merritt) a few weeks ago, I realized that this was the same place. How can you really forget a name like Monkey Forest Road?
Overall, I would say any East Bay resident, must must must try Monkey Forest Road. That’s three musts, so I definitely mean business. It’s an excellent coffee experience that will have you rethinking your morning brew routine.
FOOD & DRINKS
Black tea iced tea — Brewed to order. Refreshing, plain and simple. You could say, it’s quali-​tea.
Iced mocha ($ 4.50) — This was one of the best iced mochas I’ve ever had! The perfect touch of sweetness from the chocolate, richness from the espresso, and balance from the milk.
Blackberry sesame financier — I got this to accompany my tea. It was light and well-​complimented the strong, full-​bodied iced tea. A little pricey for the size. I believe in the realm of $ 2 – 3, but it was noticeably made to accompany the drinks (and obviously made with love).
DECOR
Fierce! It’s like a modern day jungle. Monkey Forest Road began its life as an Indonesian Art Gallery and boutique, while also selling coffee on the side. Now it’s well-​known for its brews. Art and furniture can still be purchased. While I was there, at least three customers came specifically to buy furniture, not coffee.

After ordering my tempeh-​poblano soup ($ 8.50) at the counter, Monkey Forest Road presented me a unique dilemma: am I supposed to eat at the tables or am I supposed to purchase the tables? Same for the benches and chairs. I took a chance and sat at a stunning wood table with long wooden benches on which I saw no price tag. Just in case though, I was extra careful not to spill. Though this would be a beautiful place to linger, I was too anxious to get up and see all the enticing things they’ve arranged for sale, all from the island of Bali and «arranged» being the operative word.
Monkey Forest Road is a cross between a coffeehouse/​café and curated gallery/​store. They have many seating areas surrounded by lovely things to look at and to purchase. Just sitting amongst them is serene. They also have an outdoor, street facing seating area which looks less precious but equally inviting. This would be a great place to linger over a conversation and espresso.
Prices of the Bali goods — furnishings, decorative items, jewelry, sculpture — run from reasonable to high. Prices of food and drink are the usual, which means that there’s really no extra charge for the opportunity to hang in such an elegant setting. They mostly serve coffee drinks and pastries (gluten free too) but they have a couple of daily specials that look more like real lunch. The tempeh-​poblano soup, a special that day and more curry than soup, was tasty and filling. Their second special that day was a bison sub sandwich. Metered parking is available on the street but the Monkey Forest also has a little attached parking lot. Very pretty place; despite there being no monkeys nor a forest, I liked it.

In the spirit of pilgrims and shared cornbread and gratitude… I am deeply thankful to have Monkey Forest Road a short jaunt from my doorstep. And thankful to live in America circa 2012 rather than 1621; in the Soy Latte Era, as opposed to the Acorn Mush Era.
Visit for yourself, the gratitude will come easily. It’s a beautiful thing they’ve done here with the textured wood paneled exterior, indoor-​outdoor café lounge with leisurely Oaklanders reading their papers and sipping from non-​to-​go cups at all hours of the day. Monkey Forest Road encourages the slow food, or slow life, movement. It’s not the kind of place you want to rush in and out of, or if you must, you’ll at least admire the art gallery atmosphere and promise yourself you’ll stay longer next time. It’s inspiring and grand (and obviously an expensive venture), while still being welcoming and relaxed. Not every neighborhood is as lucky as Grand Ave.
Their pastries are unique, gourmet, and mostly delicious (except for the occasional bland muffin), with a hefty assortment of gluten-​free options. I’m obsessed with their soy latte — something about the soy they use, or the light-​bodied espresso makes it the perfectly balanced morning bev. Again, don’t come in a hurry because the drinks are made with Portlandia-​esque precision, not Starbucks assembly-​line efficiency, in mind.
If only they had some more protein vs. carb options (egg sammies, or yogurt, or such?), this place would make the ideal weekend morning ritual. But even with their lack of virtuous breakfast fare, Monkey Forest Road will cast a spell.
Note that they don’t have wi-​fi, which is probably why this place feels so luxurious and calm and different than any other café I’ve been to.

Some times, the demands of a frantic day warrant a speedy yet tasty latte to reboot one’s ebbing vigor. Other times, the same day suggests escape to a zen-​like refuge to zone out and contemplate one’s navel.
If you’ve reached a fork in the road and can’t decide between the two paths, Monkey Forest Road offers both. Piqued by Jimmy D.‘s award-​winning review, I hit MFR for a noontime latte in between driving errands. What followed were a series of «oh cool» moments:
— Seeing their dedicated (albeit unplentiful) free parking spots, unfortunately discovered after already paying homage to the Oaktown parking gods.
— Café/​furniture interplay: excellently structured and juxtaposed. A sun beam from the central ceiling window shines down on a central exotic greenscaping, with items from tabletop curios to large-​scale tables surrounding it. The café area both straddles and connects to this furniture area like the yin fin to its yang counterpart.
— The ordering of the latte at the café: MFR’s website mentions the service of coffee «without the attitude» (hmm, who do you think they might be referencing?) and it’s so true. The people behind the service radiate comfort, positivity and knowledge.
— The baked goods: An area where my gluten radar would normally bleep «danger,» Monkey’s offerings of the day included three full-​fledged G.F. goodies. Feeling like savory versus the two sweet muffin choices, I opted for the scone of Point Reyes blue cheese with scallions. Perfectly textured, arousingly aromatic and quite easy on the taste buds.
— The latte: pretty as a picture (see picture; link above) with its Blue Bottle-​like heart. The first taste of Verve also beckoned comparison to BB, but with more than a hint of the smoky charred notes I attribute to Bicycle Coffee. While I liked my first sip of latte, each successive taste seemed to grow on me, until, at the end, I could not say if Monkey or Blue Bottle makes the better latte.
— The too-​quick post-​latte furniture scouring: the tables, of which there are several, are truly amazing looking — and almost as amazingly expensive. Statues, knick-​knacks and everything in between, which are festooned in and around the tables, are quite lovely too. And, after seeing a $ 20K table, these items became positioned in my head (or by their clever marketing folks) as practically affordable. Still, even for the confirmed window shopper, it’s worth a stroll around the offerings.
4.5 stars. Monkey Forest Road: I’m looking forward to my next excursion with you.

A ONE OF A KIND — unique, fashionable, zen and home made pastries baked daily to include premium top grade coffee — what more can I ask for.
As a coffee achiever — MONKEY FOREST ROAD gets a 5 stars, but I would give it 10 stars since am picky when it comes to coffee and they hit the spot for me! I ordered a cappuccino that was dangerously so good and possibly one of the best I have had in a very long time — it put a big smile on my face just savoring and taking in all that aromatic flavor. I also ordered their BAKED FRESH DAILY MUFFINS. It was so good it literally melted in my mouth. And so good in fact, I bought four more to give to my neighbor (originally planned) and even wrapped up in a beautiful one-​of-​a-​kind BALI TIN CAN (purchased from Monkey Forest Road) but in the end: I ate them all! Try their «ORANGETTE» MUFFIN and THEIR BLUEBERRY both were out of this world!
Check out their one of a kind FURNITURE FROM BALI. They are beautifully hand crafted and lots of attention to detail. This is a wonderful place for a morning outing too especially with their outdoor benches — you can enjoy sipping your coffee and enjoy the beautiful day with your dogs too if you are a pet owner. I would imagine since they have a great space you can ask the staff for a special event gathering such as meetings and social gatherings. Great for clubs too!