When I worked in Cincinnati, the thing I missed most was a café culture. Caffe Strada is the epitome of the café I missed. It’s right across the street from campus. The clientele consists almost entirely of students and professors. There is a ton of studying, discussing, and debating going on at all times. If you ask a Cal alum to name a café in Berkeley, they will probably name Strada. My favorites are the mocha Bianca (made with white chocolate) and any flavor of Italian soda. They also sell desserts in a glass display case, but it’s the coffee people come for.

Cuisine:	Cafe Culture
Price:	Drinks are $2-4.
Dress:	Casual. The faded 501s and shorts are OK.
Noise:	Students study here, so it can’t be that bad, right?
Reservations:	None taken—it’s a café! There is a huge outdoor seating area. You just have to be patient or take away. On nice days, it’s pretty easy to find seating inside.
Payment:	Cash only.
Parking:	Street parking so close to campus is challenging, but there are a few paid lots nearby. Otherwise, try circling for 5-10 minutes or parking further away, then walking.
Date place?	Sure, but when I was a student, no one wanted to bring a date here because they were bound to run into friends.