Hal's Office Coffee

Hal’s Office Coffee smelled heavenly as soon as I walked in on a Saturday morning. I judge a coffee shop based on the quality of its cold brew, and theirs did not disappoint. The pastries looked and tasted scrumptious. The ambiance was lofty, friendly, and coastal.

To me, it’s the jam of dawn that makes this place very special. It spills over the toast of clouds; and you have about 10 minutes to catch the moment, on your retina or phone. A cappuccino takes as much time to drink. And here, it tastes dawn delicious.

This is one of my favorite coffee shops in the East Bay. The overall vibe is very small town, neighborly, friendly. The parklet right in front means great people watching. I mostly go here to write, when I need to get away from my computer. HAL'S never disappoints and I have not encountered unprofessional staff, just the opposite in fact. The coffee is really high end, and the quiche is always good... I just like how they have created a really nice place to be. It's teeny tiny, and feels cared for. Solano is such a vibrant neighborhood and Hal's is a big part of it.

Charming little coffee shop that makes some of the best latte I have ever had. Now to make it even better, a cute little parklet is opened right in front of it. I can imagine coming here on a warm summer day, sipping coffee and enjoying the weather!

It’s a hard to find a good cafe with a gorgeous coffee these days! Thanks Hal’s crew for your business.

The drip coffee has some subtle flowery notes. I can't tell what it is, but very addictive tastes. I had it with oat milk ..It was soooo good. FYI, L-cup 12oz is $4 now.

They just opened today. I had an excellent muffin. Friendly staff. Very clean. They are still getting set up but they seem poised to do well. Updated for 2023: they have indeed done well! Hal's has become the beating, highly caffeinated heart of Albany! Their evening wine bar selection is Excellent!

Nice outdoor seating area.

Cosy neighborhoodly cafe. Great pastries and plenty of outdoor seating on a sunny day. I'd prefer my coffee darker but glad to have avoided a French roast

Absolutely delicious lavender latte! Probably the best coffee in Albany. However, don't expect to being your computer and work/study here, as there are no outlets by the seats.

Excellent coffee and pasteries in this Albany institution. Just a great spot for a coffee and a break on Solano Ave. The barrista is friendly and the vibe good. Not much space inside but with tables outside and the public parkette right there you can linger. Enjoy it!

Some coffee shops just hit different - Hal’s knows how to do a latte. Simple, but the vanilla here was just ✨BETTER✨

Great mocha, friendly service, nice outdoor seating for reading or socializing on a sunny day

Great place for really good coffee! I’ve gotten their cinnamon and star anise latte a few times and it is delicious. I asked for the recipe to make the syrup, which they gave me and were really happy to hear that it was one of the best coffee drinks I’d ever had. Highly recommend this place!

Have been to Hal's Office on Solano Ave about a million times with my wife. We love the great quality of coffee and also the barista's expertise, which indeed makes a difference. Their empanadas and quiches are also delicious. It'd be awesome if they opened until a little later into the early evening. This is one of the best cafes in the East Bay in my opinion.

Really good cappuccino!
Nice place to sit outside!

I was in the area on Superbowl Sunday and since I'm hardly ever in Albany, I decided to take advantage and grab some coffee. I came into Hal's after having lunch and was surprised to see the amount of people working on their laptops. It's not a big space so it seems like it can get small quick, but it's so charming. I see why there were a number of people in there. I ordered a mocha (like I do at a cafe I haven't been to yet) with oat milk. I didn't have to wait long for it and it was delicious. I loved it. I want to make it a point to come back here because it's a really nice spot with a nice staff and great coffee.

I have not had a better latte than here. I've been to many coffee places local and around the world, and for some reason their star anise oat milk lattes always taste so rich, creamy and just the right amount of sweet. If I could drink them every day I would, but then I would really be lacking in self control.

This will always be my local go to for lattes.

I adore everything about Hal’s: their staff are all lovely humans, and of course the beverages and snacks are all excellent — I get several dirty chai lattes a week (and their chai is house-made and spicy: no sugary boxed concentrates here.)

I also appreciate that I can bring my own mason jar so I can avoid creating waste with my little caffeine habit.

Plus, the location right next to the little “parklet” is perfect.

You order coffee from the sidewalk and they have a good selection of pastries. The nice part is the seating area along the sidewalk as you wait. You can social
Distance while you wait pretty easily. A contrast from the enclosed area at Highwire up the street.