Champorado Cold Brew
drink
the interior of the cafe
Beautiful mural done by local artist
London fog and tasty biscuit pastry
the entrance to the cafe
interior
interior
interior
Inside
the entrance
interior
outside
shelves with plants
The space
a table and chairs
Seating
interior
Inside seating
interior
Menu 09/19/2024
Alberto P.
Feb 2, 2025
A cute, cozy coffee shop with an origin story of love and family. I got the Latiya Latte which was deliciLatiya is a Chamorro (the people of the Mariana Islands- like Guam) dessert made with vanilla custard and cinnamon on sponge cake. The flavor of the drink is just that. However, the vanilla flavor was different from that in the vanilla latte.The staff, which I assume were the sisters were kind and knowledgeable. Despite the challenges that come with a business you can tell that they are still passionate about their cups of coffee and the stories they tell. They definitely are making their grandparents proud.
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Joey T.
Jan 7, 2025
Cute coffee shop in Oakland! Super tucked and a great place to work or have a meeting in! Tried their champorado cold brew with almond milk. It was a little watered down but I'll try with oat next time! The chocolate croissant was super flaky, fluffy and warm! The mushroom empanada with the chimichurri sauce was my most favorite thing! Loved all the plants and decor too!
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Jasmine Y.
Dec 6, 2024
Had a quiche, black coffee for a quick catchup! The quiche portion size is huge! It was rich, cheesy, and fluffy. I highly recommend for a hearty breakfast. The baristas were very kind and helpful with making recommendations. The space was very open and simple, not cluttered or busy. There was a great couch for getting comfy and lounging. There's also an outdoor patio with benches for groups to sit. I just wish the parking spots were more available, sometimes hard to find parking on Sunday with church next door
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Max K.
Jun 15, 2024
It's a local coffee shop with plenty of seating indoor and outdoor. Very neat clean cut decor and seating. Great for gatherings, groups, study, meetups, kids and quiet romantic date!Good selection of coffee drinks, pastries and small bites.Like many coffee shops, it's a self service.Baristas don't seem much friendly though or at least according to our experience they seem serious; perhaps tough day or tired. Will try more often to confirm.There are plenty of parking in free parking lot with wide path for accessibility.
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Stuart B.
Jun 8, 2024
Charlie May is perfect for me because it's tucked away in the Oakland Hills, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. This café really caters to the local community, and it feels great to be surrounded by trees and nature. It's quieter and calmer up here, which I love.My review is still in progress since I need to visit a few more times, but so far, I'm impressed. They have good Wi-Fi and plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors. They even allow dogs, which is a huge plus. The customer service has been pretty good, and it looks like they have a lot of regulars.One thing I really like is their meeting area. It's like a little conference room you don't need to reserve, perfect for study groups or team meetings. Towards the back, they have these comfy armchairs with outlets nearby, so I could easily plug in my laptop and phone.Overall, Charlie May is a cool spot worth checking out. Enjoy!
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Jessica D.
Oct 1, 2024
This coffee shop is such a hidden gem! They have a private parking lot with plenty of parking. When you walk inside, you're instantly greeted! They have a lot of drinks choices but their Guam inspired speciality drinks really stand out. I had their Latiya Latte and it was so sweet and had lots of cinnamon which I really enjoyed. I also had their chicken empanada which came out so warm and it came with a chimichurri dipping sauce. This coffee shop is the perfect spot to meet up with friends, study, or if you need to get some work done. Definitely will be back for their Champorado Mocha. Thank you Ari and Annie!
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Deborah M.
Jan 17, 2025
The coffee is delicious and the ambience is great. Parking is easy and plentiful. The service is awesome!!
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Darryl W.
Jun 27, 2024
This is my go to spot high up in the hills of Oakland, secluded with great coffee, great ambience, great food, and snacks! Sometimes I'll sit outside in the beautiful garden area and have a meeting on zoom or in person or just enjoy an empanada or a cup of coffee. This is a very convenient location! The owners are very nice. I Highly recommend this establishment.
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Tony U.
Jun 30, 2023
Not far from Chabot Golf Course is this precious find. They serve an excellent Latiya Latte that is perfect for my palette. Just slightly sweet with hints of cinnamon. (5/5)The savory chile verde empanada is as good as empanadas can get (5/5).The vibe is gentle calm and meditative. Introverts will love this place because of the space as will people with bad hearing such as me. Love the outdoor patio area as the air is fresh and it is a quiet spot away from the noise you run into in other parts of Oakland.The staff here are also super friendly, efficient and professional. Great place to hold office meetings for a small group of 8 or less.Outside, this place can be hard to find as the building looks to have once been a supermarket like Safeway that has since been partitioned into a nursery and this place.Was here today for my first time and look forward to stopping by here again just for the coffee which is worth every penny.Oakland has a new coffee oasis and Charlie May should get more buzz as their popularity gets out by word of mouth.
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John R.
Sep 12, 2024
This review is pretty biased, but I have to say that here at Charlie May, I've discovered more than just a cafe. A scenic commute through beautiful green landscapes and a comfortingly nostalgic ambiance makes for a relaxing setting both inside and out. I love the elephant decorations - my favorite animal to see at the zoo when I was a kid. Coincidentally, this place also neighbors the Oakland Zoo, an integral part of my childhood.But it's not just the surroundings that are captivating. There is culture found in every sip and bite. Menu options like champorado, calamansi, and empanada make me feel connected to my roots in a delicious way. The champorado mocha is my tried-and-true, and is now my absolute favorite way to drink a mocha (which is a drink I never order at cafes, by the way). In spite of comments from others, service is good too. No overstaying of welcomes, no overstepping boundaries, yet fosters the genuine and mild-mannered nature a customer deserves, devoid of the sometimes disingenuous facade of "customer service tone" that I guess some people expect to be sugarcoated with.And while all these things may seem simple and barebones to some, I don't hesitate to romanticize the experience anyway. I believe there's a good reason behind why this place sits comfortably at a 4.9 star rating (at least at the time of writing this review). For me, that reason is because I find a sanctuary where nostalgia, my culture, and my love for coffee all find a way to converge. Visiting Charlie May is a holistic experience that nourishes both my body and soul, leaving me eager to return time and time again.
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