Vines Cafe & Gallery

When I’m on a deadline, I have to seclude myself. Typically, a few writers and I will rent a cabin and go «to nature.» This time, however, I didn’t have the funds. But, I have the deadline. How could I «go to nature» in my own backyard? Vines Café. It seemed perfect: no wifi, a deck overlooking plants, the sound of water features. A perfect mimic of a retreat in Russian River for the cost of cheap coffee and pastry. It was everything I needed to get out of my head and into my script.
Except for one thing: assholes.
As I sat outside by the window, I hear, «Someone’s here with a laptop. We don’t see that here very much.» And devolved from there into the apparent inevitable downfall of civilization. Because being immersed in work on an electronic device is evil. It’s everything that’s wrong with the world. And if we aren’t engaged in conversation at a coffee shop, we are pariah’s. As one thoughtful customer started to explain to another, «When I was in Italy, they didn’t…blah, blah, blah.» If engaging in conversation with another person at a coffee shop involved this kind of vitriol over another person peacefully, quietly, non-​disruptively creating, then I why in the hell would I choose that incivility over my work?
The sheer ignorance of the comments (one woman actually said that she had seen someone in a coffee shop writing in a notebook and she «respected that.» Writing in a notebook = respect. Writing on a laptop = end of the world as we know it.), knowing the sheer stupidity of the comments, wasn’t enough to hold me in anger. Instead, I felt it in the gut. Regardless of how calming the water was, how soothing it was to look out among all the plants, regardless of how this felt perfect in every other way, I had to leave. Why stay where you’re not welcome?
I packed up after two sips of coffee and stood at the counter, unable to say a word. I held out my drink and pastry to the guy behind the bar, which he packed up. I couldn’t look at him. I couldn’t speak. I was holding back tears. Fucking tears. Seriously? Yeah. I cried the whole way home.
I’m writing this review even though it won’t matter to them as they’ve sold the business and will close in October. The new owners aren’t carrying on the coffee end of the nursery, which is a shame.
So, yeah. I almost found nearly the perfect place. But they don’t want my kind.
EDITED: I forgot to mention, I had intended on buying some plants for my den, too. :(

Coffee at this place is delicious! The pastries are good as well. It’s really nice décor (you can sit outside by the garden and if you get there on a weekday morning there aren’t that many people and it’s really relaxing).
The only downside is there’s no WiFi. But then, at a place as peaceful as this, maybe that’s an upside.
Wish it was closer to Webster St, I’d b over there all the time.

One of the best soy vanilla latte’s I’ve had in Alameda, and the pastries are dangerously good (if you’re lucky enough to grab one before they’re gone). The Vines has become a weekly routine for my husband and I, who are borderline coffee snobs. The ambiance is warm, the merch is well curated, and John (owner) is welcoming and conversational. This place is a bit hard to spot from the street due to its location upstairs within an old victorian, but once inside you’ll quickly realize you’ve discovered one of Alameda’s hidden gems.
$ 15 CC minimum.

Time: 2:38pm/63°F partly sunny
Purpose: I’ve known about this hidden gem located inside a house like environment for a while just had to til business name shows up on my list of possible account alert.
Ambiance: The window out front had the blinking sign of café/​espresso. One would never think of going upstairs to a house like area to have coffee. Turns out the bottom half was all garden, plants and nursery business. In order to get to café part one must walk up a flight of stairs open door walk past first room til you see second room on your left. Standing at the doorjamb to your left is were the porcelain household decos are for sale to the right is were the café part is. Looks small til you walk a little further there is outside seating wooden balcony. Another little room with about 3 tables for in front of café counter, use it when weather gets nasty.
Staff: Met a gentleman about late 50’s-early 60’s could be the owner. Seems pretty busy with another customer asking to look at items behind counter. I was about to introduce myself but something inside me tells me forget it, not worth it. When he finally wrap things up he was free so he ask what can he get for me. I was thinking nervously again yes or no to intro myself. Made up mind decided no, and ask what brew he has. Man answer Mr. Espresso a coffee brand that I really hate so much. Since I’ve found parking took all my business materials out with me I had about half hour to kill.
Cleanliness: Clean for what is it. There are new and used household items here along with café. Think of it like going in your grandparents home.
Eats/​Drinks: 16oz drip $ 2 and a biscotti $ 2.35 coffee was weak as I expected the biscotti was kind of hard when it comes to biscotti I know how it should be. So with boh items on hand I rush over to outside area just to soak up the sun and views of backside. Since this place is hard to find sitting outside looking around seeing things at birds eye view is very pleasing.
Products: Coffee (Mr. Espresso), Stash Tea, beans per pound, pastries, danishes, biscottis, muffins, strudels, cookies, porcelain goods, necklaces, earrings, kitchen utensils, cookbooks, drawings, american literature, potterys.
Punch Lines: Easy street parking, plants, 40 – 50’s house, browsing, café, hidden patio, free lemons. Nearby hardware store (Pagano’s), taqueria, vietnamese soup/​sandwich, produce market.
Tradeoffs: Come for nursery items end up spending time upstair café browsing around. Café part is to calm you down have refreshments before making purchase downstairs.
Final Thoughts: Who would’ve known a place like this existed. Wait, I take that back this place reminds me of a place in Berkeley call Flowerland only difference is Vine’s is located in a house with other products/​items to see. Flowerland café is located inside a trailer also hard to see. I can see one common goal between these two businesses and that both are hard to see a from a moving vehicle.

You will likely never encounter another place like this café. It’s so peaceful and quiet you’d think you’re out in the country somewhere. The folks working were super nice and the coffee was tasty. GO HERE!

Vines’ combination of a plant nursery and coffeeshop is nothing short of brilliance.
Yes, there is a $ 15 minimum on credit card purchases.
Yes, there is no Wi-​Fi.
Yes, the coffee is a little watered down.
But the setting is what sells it! The back patio is absolutely serene, and the family-​run vibe beats the sterile, corporate look of the Starbucks and Peet’s on Park.
Bring some cash, tether your phone, and enjoy.

What a lovely little place! I can’t believe i didn’t notice this place!
Here they sale all different types of seasonal plants and flowers and all very carefully taken care of so when you go home it’ll still be beautiful. Very organized with little description here and there with the name of the plant and explanation of how to care and what type it is.
The owner is also very nice and very nice to talk to. with a big grin and smile to greet you and very patient. He was very patient while he showed me some of the vintage jewelry that he had for sale and the story behind them. He also had artworks from rare artists that was definitely worth to check out.
with seating here and there in this what seemed like a remodeled victorian house grab a cup of coffee (which he makes is very delicious) and just sit back and relax and listen to all the sound come together of the fountains birds and breeze. such a peaceful place.