Location
33 Grand Ave.
Hours
Mon - Fri 7:00 am - 9:00 pm
Sat - Sun 8:00 am - 9:00 pm
Phone
(510) 835-7898
External link: http://www.farleyscoffee.com/oakland.html
Founded in 2009, Farley's East is an OG hipster cafe on Grand Ave. It is one of the first hipster-targeting businesses on the stretch of Grand immediately east of Telegraph in downtown (alternately, Uptown). As this part of the world was one of the original nodes of the Art Murmur with a couple galleries on that same stretch of Grand, Farley's was one of the pioneers of making this area safe for relaxed hanging out during non-Murmur hours (although Vo's has been staunchly holding the corner of Grand and Webster for millenia, they were unsuccessful in attracting hipsters to the area on a regular basis).
The block around Farley's has blossomed with fancy bars, a couple boutiques, and other things that make the block almost stroll-worthy. They are also a relentless supporter of parklets.
Magazines
Farley's unique "thing" is their big racks of strange magazines, anachronistic in an age when most magazine kiosks are long gone and people read out of smartphones and tablets. The selection is a little weird and not your normal hipster fare--you'll find Foreign Policy sandwiched in-between a gay lifestyle glossy and an esoteric leftwing soul music quarterly.
Food
Farley's has excellent cashew hummus that is very good on their vegan sandwich or on top of one of their salads. They also stock Pepples vegan donuts.
Events
Every month Farley's holds a "happy hour" and donates 20% of the proceeds to a local nonprofit.
Farley's has a permanent parklet in its parking spaces.
Resources
"Farley's East cafe on Grand Avenue in Oakland has roots in the past," Annalee Allen, Oakland Tribune, November 10, 2013
