LAFAYETTE, CALIFORNIA – Lots of people come to downtown Lafayette, park in one of the lots behind Mount Diablo Blvd (or find parallel street parking, if they’re brave!) and then visit the town’s shops and restaurants.
But people more rarely go a block or two back from the main shopping district, unless they’re walking to BART or they live in one of the nearby apartment complexes.
If that describes you, then you (like me) may have overlooked a little cafe in downtown Lafayette that sits back behind the main downtown. It has tasty cookies, coffee, and even a full menu of casual sandwiches.
The spot is called Oasis Cafe.
Oasis Cafe is at 3594 Mount Diablo Blvd in Lafayette. It’s basically right by the BART connector to downtown, if you go to Barranco, walk back to the parking lot, and then keep walking towards BART.
It’s really only a block from downtown. Yet despite living in Lafayette for years, I only recently got a chance to stop in and try it.
Oasis was originally run by Imran Alam, who operated it as a Mediterranean shop (think hummus, kebabs, falafel, and other dinner-focused items).
After health issues and a long pause, the cafe came back with a new direction — led by his daughters, Niala and Yasmin, who reopened it with a simpler, cafe-style menu and a big emphasis on fresh ingredients and warm service.
The cafe now specializes in grab and go style food. There’s limited outdoor seating–just a few tables–and my best guess is that Oasis does much of its business selling food to people on the go, headed to BART for their morning commute or coming back from work in the city.
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For breakfast, Oasis has portable things like breakfast sandwiches and grilled paninis. The cafe also has a surprisingly extensive sandwich menu, with classics like a BLT or club sandwich, all served on local Acme bread.
There’s also a nice selection of flatbreads and wraps–again, think portability!
On the cafe side of things, Oasis brews Equator coffee, a delicious local brand, and high-end tea. They also have a little pastry case with chocolate chip cookies.
When I stopped in, I grabbed some chocolate chip cookies for my kids, which they thoroughly enjoyed.
It’s always interesting to wander through your own town and try out a spot that’s clearly serving a need, just not one that you’ve had before. Again, Oasis seems geared towards commuters and people in the nearby apartment buildings (although it’s not owned or affiliated with the buildings themselves).
It appears to have been quietly serving this crowd for years. But if you’re in need of a sandwich to go (a relative rarity in Lafayette) or a nice latte or cookie, check Oasis out.
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the problem with Oasis Cafe is that it feels like it is never open. I have been there many times and it’s locked.
Thanks for checking out this place I’ve always wondered about it. How about Ramona’s Kitchen on Mt Diablo, right before you hop on 24. That’s another hidden spot I’ve wondered about.