Nefeli Caffe
Categories: Coffee & Tea, Greek and Mediterranean [Edit]
Neighborhood: UC Campus Area1854 Euclid Ave
(between Hearst Ave & Ridge Rd)
Berkeley, CA 94709 (510) 841-6374
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Wi-Fi: None
- Good for: Lunch
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
170 reviews
Neighborhood: South Berkeley
"We've been here twice so far. The second time I ordered not one, but 2 desserts. These desserts are like what you'd get if you went to…" read more »
63 Reviews for Nefeli Caffe
Fantasia and Alpino paninis both pretty good. They often have really good soup which is great when its cold and rainy in Berkeley. I really like the lentil side salad that comes with the paninis but they dont have this everyday (and with my luck i tend to come on days when its just green salad mix on the side). The iced tea is not good here though, i think they dont make it daily so it gets kind of funky, you're better off getting tea across the street. However their espresso is really good and for the few short months I was a cappucinno drinker (coffee hurts my tummy) i did love me some nefeli caffeine.
Somebody please tell this manager: You're location is amazing! You have fantastic food! You're coffee keeps me up! BUT! All this matters not when I open my mouth to laugh in between bites and fruit flies fly into my mouth! YUCK! Also, if you sit outside to avoid the fruit flies, it just smells like sewage. At least they accept cards.
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Absolutely without a doubt the best espresso in Berkeley. The cappuccino is practically perfect in every way and the sandwiches (I'm partial to the eggplant) come with a delightful lentil salad if you eat at the cafe. The food is a bit on the expensive side, but enough for a meal that is delicious and satisfying. They are open until 9pm and offer a nice assortment of wines, desserts and appetizers in addition to the coffee and sandwiches.
The people are nice and it really is the anchor of all the Euclid establishments. It is always crowded at lunchtime, but when you can find a table inside or out, it's almost as if you've been transported outside of berkeley to a small european bistro where the coffee is strong and the dolmas provide a perfect flavor contrast. Just bring a good book and you'll be set for a lazy afternoon of people-watching (and Euclid is the perfect place for that sort of activity).
Love Nefeli. Love that it's a block away from my house and love that it takes cards (which, I've discovered, is a major accomplishment for many small establishments in berkeley). I dislike their lack of free wi-fi and lack of outlets within the shop (minus 1 star)
Yummy tuna salad, a little bit pricey for it's size, but still yummy. The interior was small but had a nice feel to it; seems like the perfect place for a lunch date
There are many reasons to make your visits to Nefeli more frequent. People often cite their espresso as some of the best, and they certainly provide an appealing atmosphere for lunch or a biscotti. To my discredit, I have not yet tried their espresso though I believe they use that popular Italian brand Lavazza. What I can tell you about is their Alpino Panini, my favorite reason to visit Nefeli.
Prosciutto, havarti cheese, and spinach are interestingly matched with walnuts and thin slices of pear on a baguette. The result is just the right amount of salty, savory, fresh, nutty, and fruity. The predominant flavors are the prosciutto and havarti but the walnuts and pear slices liven up the panini with their own very distinct flavors. And the juiciness of the pear is an unexpected way to add some moisture while maintaining the dry textures of the meat, walnuts, and baguette. Right as you're noticing a mild thirst from the saltiness of the meat, it's quenched by a slice of pear.
The Alpino isn't something for twice a week, but I've always been happy when I've ordered it. It might seem strange to combine meat, cheese, nuts, and fruit but think of one those fancy party trays. The ingredients work well together while maintaining their distinct flavors, kind of like a party in your... baguette.
And if you're lucky, the side you're given will be lentils which I somehow only enjoy with an Alpino Panini. Their side salads are also good, which leads me to believe that you will like whatever else shows up on your plate. I always order their iced tea with my meal, which just seems right. With all the other flavors vying for my attention, a nice subdued refreshment is all I need.
It's important that you eat your lunch there. Otherwise you'll miss out on the possibility of lentils and the experience of a lazy meal in a cafe with some character. Next to you will certainly be students silently trying to consume their books with their eyes as well as pairs of people having some intriguing conversations you can eaves drop on. The people watching is also worthwhile as traffic to or from campus or North side is fairly consistent. No one in Nefeli appears to be counting the minutes left in their lunch break before rushing back into the world. Many are actually having an afternoon glass of wine, something I'll have to try with my next Alpino Panini.
Sure, you can order lots of other sandwiches and salads at Nefeli and I'm sure many of them are good. But where can you order a panini with walnuts and pear on it? While you're thinking that over, head to Nefeli and try their Alpino Panini. And give yourself time so you can nurse your iced tea, chill out, and contemplate the flavors going on in that little panini of yours.
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Nefeli is, clear and simple, the cultural stronghold of the Euclid Strip.
Of course, the Euclid strip is no Gourmet Ghetto or Elmwood. You probably don't even know what I'm talking about if you don't live a UC-centered life. But I would at least compare Nefeli's status to that of a national hero in some lame island country.
When somebody says they like Northside, it means they like Nefeli. And that's why I rate them so highly - not necessarily because of the food and drinks they serve, but because they fathered a microculture.
For the price of a cup of coffee, you get to experience a region.
You know when you go to Mexico, and sit somewhere at a counter and order a taco, and you look around and everyone has straw hats on, and there's a jukebox playing mariachi music, and then you hear the whack of a meat cleaver, and suddenly there's a paper plate buried in cilantro in front of you and a really skinny dog sniffing at your feet? You take one bite of that taco and think, "Man, I am SO in Mexico right now." It isn't really possible for that taco not to taste good. It simply tastes like the experience you're having.
So that's how it is with Nefeli. You could get stuff to go there, but why would you? You can't pass up grating your own nutmeg (seriously, with a cheese grater) into your polka-dotted mug of coffee while sitting at a marble pedestal table and listening to Manu Chao. Throw in some tapas served in a cazuela (a cylindrical clay dish) and you've got a genuine North Berkeley stamp on your passport.
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First pineapple on pizza and now pears on my pannini.
The world is going C-R-A-Z-Y!!!!!
Damn . . . I liked it.
Curses you Italian good food makers!
The best part was sitting outside on a sunny Friday afternoon just watching people/students/slackers scurry down the sidewalk like little ants, while my lazy butt was thinking, "Yeah, I am a pastor . . . and this is part of my job!"
Life is good my friends, life is good.
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Yummmmmmy Fantasia Panini: turkey, arugula, orange chutney, avocado, AND bell peppers: such a wholesome combination! ALthough i'd like a bit more chutney, it was bit too subtle.
I love that they give you a side of lentils w/zuchinni and carrots which I wasn't even aware of! And to top that off, it was ready w/in minutes of ordering- I barely sat down and got comfortable!
Reasonable price, as well....but they were out of most desserts when I went at like 5. oh AND any restaurant/cafe that takes plastic in Berkeley is already on my good list =D
Hand's down the best espresso in Berkeley. I challenge you to find better! If you do drop me a line.
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My first Nefeli experience was a little disappointing because I was foolish enough to get my sandwich to go. But now I know the secret. If you eat there, along with your sandwich you get a delicious warm lentil salad. Lentils rock my world, it's as simple as that. And anywhere I can get a delicious eggplant sandwich with feta AND a lentil salad? That's golden.
I am surprised that this place is ranked so high.
I tried two of their sandwiches so far: one with turkey and a vegetarian sandwich (Atheno I think). I was very unimpressed. I barely finished the second sandwich - it just did not taste good to me.
I also feel the place is pretty overpriced. We talked about it with my friend the other day, and she told me the same thing - she ate there once and was very unimpressed.
I did not try any drinks there, so can not comment on these.
10 Reasons Why I Will Walk Uphill For Nefeli Caffe
1. I'm too impatient to wait for a bus.
2. Their small cups of coffee are actually small. Like "tasse a cafe" small, made for the few people left who prefer not to have 24 ounces of coffee sloshing around in their stomachs or making 5 jittery trips to the toilet. The lattes are also nicely done.
3. Though their seating is limited and slightly cramped, the table by the window makes me feel like I have my own breakfast nook.
4. The menu is decently priced. You'll see a good deal of 6s, 7s and 8s, but just look at what is being offered! All of their panini are worth trying. (I have to try not to visibly salivate when someone near me is eating one.) They have tapas after 4 pm and cute little wine selection if you feel like Europeanizing your evening. Their idea of fruit salad is a far cry from a maraschino cherry half perched on a pile of unripe cantaloupe: strawberries, pear, walnuts, and honey make an appearance, as does the miracle that is Greek-style yogurt. Even the croissants seem better than usual.
5. They have croque monsieur. They have croque monsieur. They have croque monsieur. To anyone who wants to tell me that this is just a glorified grilled cheese sandwich: well, yes, but how often do you find just a good grilled cheese sandwich on the menu when you need one? Almost never. And of course I'm always craving one.
6. The counterpeople are decent human beings. Really.
7. The walls are painted with that heavenly Greek blue with touches of tomato red and yellow. Awfully cheerful.
8. Sometimes they play bossa nova. (Though, sometimes you can't hear yourself think.)
9. They have Limonata.
10. Who doesn't enjoy a tree-lined street named after an ancient mathematician?
While waiting for the hubby to finish his PhD qualifying exam in the nearby Etcheverry Hall, I stopped in on this cold, windy, rainy day for some espresso. My double latte was delicious, freshly steamed milk with the perfect amount of dense creamy foam served in a tall glass mug, for only $2.50. I grabbed a seat by the window, overhearing faint conversations of Berkeley students and professors on the first day of classes. Reminded me of being in college again. It's the kind of place that's quirky, like the town in which it resides, but homey, comfortable and capable of fielding varying philosophies and life's tough questions because it knows who it is and where it stands in life. It's nice to be good at what you do and provide the space for others to make the same discoveries of themselves.
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The espresso here is by far the best around Berkeley. Sure, it's not Ritual or Blue Bottle, but it is pretty good (especially compared to the crap they try to sell on southside / any of the espresso roma's). They don't have any power outlets or wireless internet, which I'm pretty sure is purposeful, but it is a great place to come read or hang out with friends. I've definitely spent way too much money here over my 4 years at Cal, although my caffeine addiction thanks me for it.
Also, they have some of the best food on Euclid. Which isn't saying much, but it really is quite good (the mousaka really hits the spot on a cold rainy day).
A pleasant cafe with delicious, refreshing panini. I had the alpino with proscuitto, anjou pears, and walnuts, which was an interesting, good mix. The cosmos is bomb and never a failure! I suggest the alpino if you are more adventurous and cosmos for definite satisfaction. Though it is a bit pricey, the quality of the bread, meat, and other ingredients is of superb quality. The employees are also friendly!
I should come here more often, except, you know, money. The panini here are the best sandwiches on Northside, quality bread and fresh deli meats. Sixish dollars a panino is only a little high for the area, but I keep thinking about better sandwiches I've had in Oakland for two bucks and change (not to mention the ones I make myself when I manage to wake up an hour before classes, which is never). On the other hand, some months ago I had a fennel salad here that I thought cost way too much, but the fact that I still remember that salad suggests it might've been worth it.
Summary: Good place for your prof to take you to.
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I felt like the food came with attitude and, although it was decent, I paid too much for that to be okay. My meal was close to $11 for a (*small*) greek salad and a bowl of flavorless black bean soup. Are the professors keeping this place alive? Because I certainly can't afford it too often. I'd definitely like to go back and try something else, maybe the lasagne or panini.
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I work up the street so I come here every day, the greek yogurt is the best, the sandwiches are better than anything else on northside, and the owner and employees are the coolest. If you go on the weekends they have a poached egg thing that's really good.
I could go for a cappuccino w'/fresh nutmeg right now. Berkeley is keeping me up late at night studying my tired booty off and this is a quick fix to stay awake. I remember getting my warm, sweet, cappuccino deliciouness and staying up for hours.
They have yummy looking treats for your belly too. I didn't try any but I definitely will the next time I visit. The cashier was super nice and took the time to explain what goodies they have at the cafe.
They have fresh nutmeg that you can grate yourself. So enjoy your java and have a seat outside and take in Berkeley.
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Now I finally understand why the untamed Kurt Vonnegut reading hippie sits at same nook every time I walk by. It is a cafe that both fills your tummy with great tasting food that requires cognitive appreciation. For example, the Kosmos panini features apple creamed with goat cheese, smothered with this sauteed mushroom concoction- all sandwiched between two toasted French baguette.
It is important how you eat there. You can simply grab a quick energy boost- I highly recommend the chocolate Frappe on a hot summer day. If you are lactose-intolerant, they also can substitute soy milk for cow milk. A decent full meal can cost around $15, but you will be nourished with the finest Greek food.
Try the dolmas, the rice and pine nut combination is a killer. It's all cooked in some curiously tangy sauce, I craze for more after the first bite.
If it is solitude you seek, you can go early and catch the corner in the back room. If you like people watching, there is nothing better than the outside spot, you can enjoy the meal while pondering the life of Berkeley academs.
I live a block away. It's very tempting to go there every morning.
The only good coffee in all of Berkeley. And by "coffee" I don't mean soya-mocha-latte-cino, I mean espresso. The nicoise salad is quite good and the rest of the food is just decent but the quality of their coffee still puts it head and shoulders above every other cafe around campus.
I went here with high expectations about their coffee after reading the many raving reviews about it. Perhaps I shouldn't have gotten myself all hopeful because I was surely disappointed and a bit embarrassed since I told my fiance that they were known to have really good coffee.
I ordered the soy chai latte. I liked the fact that we were able to grate our own nutmeg over our own drink. But, I felt as though my drink had way too much soy that it took away the flavor of the drink. My fiance also said the same thing about his cappucino--just too much milk.
I did order the infamous greek yogurt that everyone talked about. I agree with the majority-- it is good. The portion size was more than enough, too! It had honey drizzled in it, sliced strawberries, whole walnuts, pears, and grapes all on top of the yogurt.
Charming Greek-style coffee hideout on Euclid, perhaps best known for their use of Illy brand coffee beans. I was recently enlightened by several people to the fact that coffee need not be the bitter, ulcer-inducing elixir that I have known it to be for years. In fact, the bitterness is as result of coffee beans burnt during the roasting process. Much of the coffee sold these days (*cough* Espresso Roma *cough*) come from beans roasted by machine, which results in many a bitter cup as the burnt beans are not sorted out. At the Illy plant in Trieste, Italy, the beans are hand-roasted and hand-sorted for the perfect blend. It costs 25 to 50 cents more for Illy coffee at Nefeli, but I gladly pay the price for the sake of my stomach lining. As a result, the coffee is sweet and rich and does not cause me to cringe while drinking it.
I also frequent this place for the sweet, pulpy fresh-squeezed orange juice and the Greek-style yogurt (plain yogurt topped with honey, walnuts, and an assortment of chopped fruit - strawberries, pears, grapes, apples, etc.), which is usually sufficiently filling as a light lunch.
I've had several of the sandwiches here, and while good, they're usually quite small. The interior of the restaurant is also quite small, and more often than not I get my coffee and food to-go.
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They get 5 stars for their coffee and 2 for the food. The cappuchino is the best you can buy around campus. The food doesn't taste bad but it is over priced and way to small.
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This place is a little expensive, but it is worth it for their soy chai lattes. At the little bar where this is sugar, milk, lids, etc. they have a plate of whole nutmegs and a little grater so you can grate fresh nutmeg into your drink. I tend to go crazy with the nutmeg grating in my drink, but i don't care because drinking my nutmeg soy chai latte makes me feel happy inside.
When you finally get sick of the semi-grimy south side and it's high school kids trying to be school/ hobo esqueness head to the North Side for some quality campus side digs. I just started going to Nefeli this year and don't know why it took me so long.
The Illy coffee is superb, and the food is good for a cafe but the service is hit or miss. The 1st time I was there I ordered the tortilla espanola (a tick slice of Spanish omelet with patatas and herbs) and the guy behind the counter pointed out the time (it was 1pm) and the prominent "TAPAS ONLY AFTER 4PM" sign. Didn't I feel sheepish. Then he leaned in and whispered "But for you, anything. Just don't tell anyone".
Gush
And the omelet was wonderful, like one you'd actually taste on La Ramblas or something. Which is kind of silly since it's a Greek restaurant. Good enough to skip class and sit on one of their outside tables for hours.
But once, I waited at the unmanned counter for about 5 minutes just to take my order because the server (different person) was on the phone. OK, I'll let it slide, you guys hooked me up last time.
Go Now! While the weather is beautiful. Life is at it's best on a breezy summer day sipping coffee while random strangers make conversation with you on the sidewalk next to the Nefeli Cafe.
Oh, Nefeli. I always sigh now when I think of Nefeli.
I worked at Nefeli for a little over two years, on and off.
THE ATMOSPHERE: convivial mediterranean bar-cafe (not for studying: you hear me, Cal and GTU students!?)
THE FOOD: high quality sandwiches and salads, with daily Greek-inflected specials. Best sandwich: The Alpino, with prosciutto, pear slices, provolone, spinach, and escordalia (walnut/honey spread) on a small baguette. Best salad: the tombo tuna salad, with shredded, fresh-cooked tuna mixed with red onions, green onions, and capers on a bed of mixed greens. Also, try the tapas every day after 4 pm (just ask what's freshest).
THE COFFEE: Now, I have to pause here a moment. Used to be, this was THE place to get the best cappuccino in Berkeley, bar none. We always used Illy espresso, and the owner were militant about the art of the perfect foam (not dry at all, more like Guinness foam), and with none of this American obsession for big cups with tons of milk.
However, the owner had one baby, then another, and instead of putting more effort into quality control, he cut corners to save money: Illy is still available, but you have to ask for it and it costs $0.50 more. The default roast is from a local roaster, and is good, but doesn't set it apart from the rest. The art of the pour and the foam is lost on the new kids who work there, as is the art of making you feel at home.
THE SERVICE: There is an art to the service at Nefeli that I miss; the baristas are trained to be friendly and get to know your name and favorite drinks---even discounting your drink a bit if you come in regularly---all the while handling long lines with grace, speed, and efficiency (see my review for Nomad Cafe).
People would congregate here---it is the expat hangout for Greeks, Spanish, French, Iranian, Argentine, Mexican, Swedish, and just about everyone else who loves the atmosphere---and become fast friends. We never exchanged phone nu8mbers, since we always knew to just meet there.
They also serve wine (good Greek wines!) and beer, and desserts: tiramisu, gelato, cake.
All in all, despite the never-changing menu and money-saving corner-cutting, the place is still the best little cafe in Berkeley.
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I love Nefeli. Their coffee is nice and rich and thick; they serve exclusively Illy espresso if you are a coffee follower. It's not for the timid.
It was on the way to Soda Hall, so you can imagine I went here a lot.
100 Yelp reviews. Finally. I've reached this benchmark.
I didn't yelp for a while because I had to think about my 100th. But after talking to the hubby, who told me I was overthinking it, I decided to Yelp Nefeli Caffe. It's a simple and brilliant choice.
Nefeli has the best coffee. They use Illy, from Italy, and the coffee shop is exactly how you'd imagine a coffee shop should be. Quaint, cute, decent service, and on one of the most beautiful streets in Berkeley. Euclid Ave. I like the expresso or the cappucino. Both are strong, but smooth. I also drink my coffee with a cookie or small dessert. Salads and sandwiches are okay, but I'd come here for the coffee not the food.
Still, Nefeli gets 5 stars because it's a 5 minute walk from my house. And the hubby and I end many of our Sunday afternoons with a cup of coffee from Nefeli. There's nothing like a truly good cup of coffee and a good conversation to end my weekend.
One sip, and I feel like life is good (which it is).
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I've lived around the corner from Nefeli for almost a decade and it's consistently been the best cafe I know of in Berkeley. I've been to Royal, I've been to French Hotel, and I've done my time at Brewed Awakening - none of them are as good.
Why? Well, pull up a chair and I'll give you three good reasons to go.
First of all, they use illy coffee, which is one of my favorite commercial brands, and they bang it out FAST. I pull in there on the way to work and they're usually asking me for money with the drink done before I'm done rolling a smoke. That means under a minute. Their fixin's are raw sugar, nutmeg w/ grater (fresh nutmeg powder!), non-fat and low-fat milk, and cinnamon. I don't think these things are ever not available or empty, and I've been there thousands of times.
Second, they have fresh-squeezed orange juice. That may not sound like a big deal, but I challenge anyone to show me a place that consistently delivers a top-grade glass of OJ like theirs. Get it once and you'll remember why OJ is f'in delicious. I get a small and down it at the counter before I head out with my coffee to go - that's how good it is.
Third, all the food they serve there is made fresh, from excellent produce, and is delicious. I appreciate places that pay attention to their entire selection and Nefeli doesn't disappoint. The sandwiches, the hot plates, and the often-mentioned yogurt-fruit bowl are all teh yums. My only disappointment is that they're all a bit too European-style, which is to say small.
So there you have it. Why didn't I give it 5-stars, you ask? Good god you're an inquisitive sort! I took off one star for the relatively expensive prices - it ain't cheap - and the occasional lapse in service. Sometimes the "Euro" atmosphere means that the server's phone call or casual discussion with someone takes precedence over getting your order. Not often, but irritating when it happens.
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The espressos are perfectly made with excellent beans (Illy Caffe) that are imported from Italy in vacuum cans. I was somewhat skeptical of Illy Caffe after Mr. Espresso (the person: Carlo) told me that his coffee always wins out over Illy Caffe in the Bay Area because Mr. Espresso is fresher. However, I was won over by R. W. Apple's October 24, 2001 profile of Andrea Illy in the NY Times ("Discovering La Dolce Vita in a Cup"), which was quite affectionate. I appreciated Mr. Illy's comment that a good cup of espresso is made with a 25-30 second pour. Lots of people on the Net tell you that 25 seconds is the longest pour you should tolerate, but I go to 30 seconds quite frequently.
Anyway, I come here for lunch occasionally and usually order the tombo tuna special -- the tuna and a double espresso come in at a tad less than $10. The portions are not large; I'm still a little hungry when I walk out.
When I'm done eating, I do walk out -- I don't get up from an outdoor table. Tommy S. thinks that he was sitting next to a plant that was recently fertilized, but I say that there's a sewer problem more or less in front of Nefeli's front door. It has been there for years, by the way, and it's especially bad in the summer.
After Nefeli was up and running, the owner(s) opened a place called Odyssia at the location that's now Liaison. Odyssia was problematic, but Nefeli has always been a winner.
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Believe me, Nefeli is but a shadow of its former self: it used to be at least 5 times better. My feelings toward Nefeli now are like those toward an ex-lover. This is where I met many of my friends; three of whom worked here; we knew the owners; I can't recall the countless hours my buddies and I spent here studying, hanging out, reading the paper, cracking jokes, talking nonsense while ordering the 2nd, 3rd, 4th cappaccino. It was the default location to meet. We ended up calling it "the office".
Alas, rumors had it that, about four years ago, the partners that owned the cafe had a little falling out. Then my two favorite people working there left. After that, I noticed that the business has not been well maintained. The coffee quality has degraded and prices gone up. Two large bins of trash outside keep sitting there and smelling bad. :-(
Nefeli, I really hope you would return to your former glory. I want to come back.
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Avoid the double armpits of La Burrita and La Val's and head here for the best food on Northside. It's basically a little coffeehouse with a painted blue sky ceiling, but their salad and sandwich offerings are quite good. I like their caesar in particular. Nefeli has a very relaxed and European feel, like you might want to linger over a coffee here in the afternoon while you read a book.
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The coffee is excellent. And it's as cheap as any place else around. And the service is quick. And extra shots of espresso are just 50 cents. And the guy behind the counter seemed genuinely concerned I might have a caffeine problem.
The food I've had here is tasty too, but it seems a bit price by Euclid standards.
So far I have only had the Tombo Tuna Salad from Nefeli, but it was very close to a religious experience--on top of the freshly shredded tuna (onions were involved too), it came on a bed of arugula tossed with olice oil, three slices of tomato, and three small slices of baguette. It was the perfect lunch, and didn't leave me feeling heavy afterward whatsoever. It was a bit pricey for my receptionist's salary ($7.75)--but it was worth it.
I don't know about you guys but I like their Greek-style yogurt. Their other food is only mediocre. I'm not entirely sure what I had but I know that I tried a few different selections in my desperate attempt to find something different to eat on Euclid.
Best expresso in Berkeley! I know a few people that won't go anywhere else - its either Nefeli or they make it at home/in their office. I am not quite so picky about coffee but I must admit they make superior coffee.
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I spent half my law school career studying in Cafe Nefeli's back room with the bright blue ceiling dreaming about everything but the contracts textbook in front of me. Amazing espresso, the best affogatos this side of Europe, yummy sandwiches and a constant cast of characters that made even the dullest study sessions palatable.
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I went faithfully to Brewed Awakening across the street for 5 years before actually discovering Nefeli. It's a decidedly different atmosphere; for one, you don't have the hordes of people studying or pratting away on laptops. In addition, the cafe doesn't have the...approachability of Brewed Awakening. Strange words adorn the menu, which is probably why I felt intimidated for years and contented myself to furtive glances through the glass as I walked by from La Val's.
Yet I finally found the courage to go, and I'm glad I did. The illy espresso served here is superior to any other coffee product I can ever remember tasting, and the sandwiches are tasty and healthy-looking, even if they are a bit expensive at ~$6. If I had more money to blow, I think I could live happily on the food on a regular basis.
The atmosphere is decidedly different--for one, there is no wireless, and there are no available laptop outlets. Yet if your goal is to cozy up to a book by yourself, or possibly cozy up on a casual date to the person across the table from you, I'd say that Nefeli actually provides a superior venue than Brewed Awakening. The place is quiet(er) yet has an intimate feeling. Alas, as an engineering major, that wasn't my case, but it's a fun little shop that I wish I could take with me from Berkeley.
A note: there's a bathroom here, but it's hidden. You actually have to go behind the counter, through the saloon-style doors, and past the dishwashing area to your left. It was a bit intimidating at first, but you'll get used to it.
Street parking is terrible during peak times, but what else did you expect from campus?
The sandwiches at this place rock. I eat here a couple times a week. I recommend the alpino!
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