LAFAYETTE, CALIFORNIA – Lots of restaurants and cafes have folksy names (“Bob’s Steaks” or the like) meant to convince you they’re owned by some hardworking local, when really they’re national chains.
Abe’s Cafe, which just opened in downtown Lafayette, California, isn’t like that at all.
How do I know? Abe told me. He’s a very real person, and he’s indeed working very hard to bring tasty, low-key breakfast items, coffee and sweets to Lafayette.
We first broke the story about Abe’s Cafe back in October of 2024 when we saw a sign go up in Lafayette. At the time, we thought the cafe would open in a few months.
In reality–between big plumbing updates and the need to build out a full commercial kitchen–the process took almost a year. Abe’s is now open, though, and I stopped by to check it out about three days after the grand opening.
Abe’s is right in the middle of downtown Lafayette, at 3572 Mount Diablo Blvd, across from Amarin Thai and the Breakfast Club at Midtown. It’s a small storefront, which Abe and his team have transformed into a low-key, casual cafe.
Abe’s got its start in Berkeley, where the cafe became a beloved stop for engineering students–literal rocket scientists who would grab an inexpensive breakfast burrito or coffee on the way to class.
Abe wanted to bring that same vibe to Lafayette. And as a local, I must say that it’s badly needed here in our town.
Lafayette has plenty of fancy breakfast places where you can get a sit-down meal–again, Breakfast Club is a great one, as is Tutu’s over in Fiesta Square. But at these places, you can also expect to drop $100 for a breakfast for two people, and to spend at least an hour.
Lafayette needed a casual, fast, delicious breakfast place with tastier treats than Starbucks (and shorter lines than La Chataigne or Sideboard), and that’s exactly what Abe’s Cafe delivers.
Abe serves all kinds of breakfast items, from bagels with lox to granola bowls, fruit salads, breakfast croissants, pastries and the store’s famous breakfast burritos.
The store also specializes in empanadas. These come in a variety of flavors, and are literally “branded” with text that shows what’s in each one–a cool feature I’ve never seen in a breakfast item before.
I got a carne pacada, as the label clearly shows!
It came served with a delicious and pleasantly spicy bit of green salsa.
Abe’s also specializes in fantastic coffee, served without the pomp and pretention of many local cafes. The menu includes classics like cappuccino and lattes, as well as more exotic items like matcha horchata, a dirty chai, thai iced tea and more.
Abe’s has smoothies and agua frescas, too, as well as teas and seasonal items like hot apple cider. I got an oatmilk latte, and it was delicious and nicely presented.
You can finish off your breakfast with treats at Abe’s, too. The team bakes fresh baklava each day.
They’ve also got classic Mexican and Latin American sweets, like jam-filled cookies dusted in powdered sugar.
Overall, Abe’s offers a range of tasty items, served fast and at much lower prices than many surrounding breakfast spots.
My whole meal (empanada, latte and cookies) cost under $20–less than a single plate of eggs at most Lafayette breakfast spots–and was filling, delicious and clearly freshly made.
The food is good. But the best thing about Abe’s Cafe is Abe.
Abe personally greets each customer who walks in the door of his cafe with a warm smile and a friendliness that makes it clear he’s genuinely happy you’re there. He’ll walk you through the menu, make coffee recommendations, and tell you candidly about the journey he went through to open his restaurant.
On my visit, I chatted briefly with Abe at the start of the meal, and he remembered my name when I went to leave almost an hour later. When I got cookies to bring back for my kids, Abe threw in an extra so I could enjoy one, too.
Abe also seems genuinely committed to the community. Even three days in, he already displayed a Lafayette Chamber of Commerce plaque proudly right next to his food when I visited.
Locals have told us that the art in his cafe is chosen specifically to support local female artists, and that Abe has been a longtime friend and supporter of the local artistic community.
In short, Abe seems like a great guy who’s genuinely devoted to bringing a casual breakfast option to Lafayette–and getting to know every customer who walks in his door.
That’s a commitment that the 925 community should return. And when supporting a local business comes with a side of empanadas, a skillfully made latte, and a raspberry cookie for dessert, it’s an especially easy choice to make!
Stop into Abe’s, and tell Abe we say hi!
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