Saturday, November 14, 2015

Mosley's Cafe

     The Bay Area is full of great cafes and gourmet roasts for the coffee enthusiast. There's literally something for everyone in terms of price, flavor, variety, and atmosphere, and Mosley's Café in Alameda has an atmosphere unlike any other.
     The tiny and new open-air café is located at the back of the Grand Marina Harbor Master's building, so it is literally over the water of the Oakland-Alameda estuary with unrestricted views of the water, downtown Oakland skyline and Coast Guard Island. You order at an outdoor counter and can sit at a two-seat table or at a bar facing the water.
     My sister and I enjoyed our morning coffee while watching rowing teams and sail boats pass. A few loons were fishing nearby, and two sea lions even poked their heads up to say hi. The cushioned stools at the bar were comfy, the staff was super friendly, and the coffee and pastries were delish. I had an almond croissant, and my sister had a cinnamon morning bun, but beyond a good variety of pastries, the menu includes a variety of crepes, gluten-free goodies, and sandwiches. The café doesn't serve espresso drinks, but the pour over coffee is rich and yummy. You can also choose from a large variety of teas, and they have hot coco, Italian soda, and juice.
     What also makes Mosley's special is that it's local, and it's small. According to their website, Cristin Barnes-Shea started the café because there was nowhere close for residents and visitors of Grand Marina to get coffee and breakfast. Barnes-Shea writes that it took two years of permit work to get the café on its feet, and I'm sure glad she didn't give up. Mosley's passes on the local love by serving Semifreddi's pastries and Oakland's Blue Bicycle coffee.
     If you want to visit the café, you can find free parking at Grand Marina. You can also boat there! The address is 2099 Grand Street. Mosley's is open from 7 am to 2 pm daily. If you need your morning cup but you're sick of the overcrowded, corporate sameness of chain stores, then Mosley's Café is your Bay Area Miss-Me-Not.