Local 123

This minimalist cafe opened up just a week or so before I moved in down the street in Berkeley. When I first mentioned it to my roommate, she had no idea what I was talking about. I spent some afternoons studying here, but never found it quite as conducive to studying as the open, isolated feeling of Cafe Leila’s sunny, enormous tables. But since becoming post-boards and being too unmotivated to walk a few extra blocks to Leila, Local 123 has become a staple caffeine fix.

Their niche offering in this strip of pseudo-gentrifying/hipster-fying San Pable Ave seems to be their single-cup drip coffee, a la Philz coffee, albeit with a fraction of the coffee bean selection. They also offer a homemade, well-spiced chai tea, crafted by one of the owners’ brother who spent some time in India.

They offer a small selection of baked goods (often fresh), sandwiches and other cafe-like fare. I’ve only tried some of their baked goods, which have been quite satisfying (I quite like their pear-ginger muffins).

My only quibble about local 123 is the occasionally faulty service (they’ve forgotten about my coffee a couple of times) and a weird phenomenon where their caffeinated beverages never seem to wake me up quite enough. Either that or I am consistently extra tired when I come here for my morning jolt. I still prefer Leila’s atmosphere, but if you’re a San Pablo Ave local, it’s an easy pop-in for coffee.

Single cup drip coffee $2, lattes $2.25-$3.25, teas $2-$3, baked goods $2-3

Local 123, San Pablo just south of University