Common Grounds

Location

2171 Cowell Blvd. #D

(Davis Oakshade plaza in South Davis, by Safeway.)

Hours

M-F 6:00am-9:00pm

Sat-Sun 6:30am-9:00pm

Phone

(530) 792-1781

URL

http://www.commongroundsdavis.com

Common Grounds is a coffee shop. They provide couches and comfy chairs, as well as free wireless internet, and tiny rocking chairs for kids. The place looks a lot like "Central Perk" from the TV show Friends, kinda. They serve good coffee, and yummy smoothies, though their chai is not the greatest. People are less inclined to share tables than they are at Mishka's Cafe when it gets packed (as it often is). Though it does have a nice study environment, it closes at 9, so it's not the best place for the night owls.

Common Grounds also has a good selection of eatables including macaroons, madelines, brownies, and truffles - the same kind that you will find at Mishka's, made by Vevey Confections, and they accept debit and credit cards for payment unlike many coffee shops around town.

The shop is often nice and cozy, which is awesome for relaxing in the chairs. Big windows make it pretty bright.

They have a bunch of magazines and some books in case you forgot your reading material, but they tend to be limited to 50 copies of "Fit Pregnancy". This is also a Crossing Zone for bookcrossers, so some of the seemingly abandoned books on the shelf are hoping to go home with someone. Check for the label/sticker to see if you've found a traveling book.

The restrooms have been noted to be spacious, clean, well-stocked and well-maintained.

They have a monthly drink special which they offer throughout the week between two and six.

Reviews and comments

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2005-08-19 01:28:33   Is it just me, or is this place under some sort of housefly plague? I love going here for the coffee, free reliable wifi and close proximity to my job, but everytime I go here I get bloody swarmed. —LeightonHinkley

2005-08-30 15:15:20   Hallo. Just wondering if this is an independent or chain. Not that I actually drink coffee or anything... —JeremyNewton

2005-10-14 12:17:37   Good place for some ice coffee. A good place to sit back and read. Flys are bothersome. —EdYap

2005-10-14 17:21:11   Really good white mocha frappe... real whip cream! Mmmm... Nice people too. —ChristyMarsden

2005-10-15 11:42:32   Coffee good. Chai bad. —ArlenAbraham

2005-10-22 07:06:41   best freakin' sugar-free non fat vanilla latte that i've EVER tasted...and the couches are comfy for studying! =) —TereseSantos

2005-10-24 01:21:44   there is one in Portland it was on of the only all night coffeshops in town lots of fun drunken chess games to be had after the bars closed.. or was that coffeetime damn i hate it when my memory goes bad..there is one called common grounds on se hawthorne i dont remeber it being open all night but it was ok

2006-01-28 16:52:16   The owner of Common Grounds was my neighbor for several years and I can assure everyone that he's neither a Nazi nor a bastard. I've bought coffee at Common Grounds literally hundreds of times and *never* had an issue. I'm no expert when it comes to coffee, but I know what I like and I like both the people and coffee at Common Grounds. —GrumpyoldGeek

2006-01-28 18:01:45   The chai here is bad. But otherwise, I like this place. The internet is a bit slow, though. —ApolloStumpy

2006-02-13 09:08:52   This is a great little coffee house in a suburban shopping center (Safeway, officeMax, RiteAid). Great atmosphere, with friendly attractive staff (the females plus the occasional guy behind the counter). Coffee is great, can't comment on chai, never had it. Downsides: in the late afternoon the sun blasts directly into the windows and makes it really hot, even in winter. Hard to see your laptop screen when it competes with solar rays. The couches are not comfy, old springs that swallow you up. The crowd here tends to be older than downtown coffeehouses, some suburban housewives and professionals plus your usual Davis students. Great place overall, one of the best in Davis. —HT

2006-09-08 09:14:31   I'm sad I won't find myself in South Davis as much now that I've moved, and won't be able to frequent this place. It's one of my favorites, Toffee Frappe is awesome. —ChristyMarsden

2006-09-13 08:52:52   Common Grounds has some of the worst music I've ever heard. I've often been driven to ear plugs or ipod while sitting there and once I walked in, heard the music, and walked out figuring Dos would be easier than sticky sweet pop-ish country. —AmyGoogenspa

2006-09-13 15:22:50   My favorite cold drink is the White Mocha Frappe (fra-pay). I like this place a lot. It's one of the only South D coffee shops. Lame that it's only open until 9 though!! —RachelCakes

2006-09-29 17:16:44   I know flies in Davis are generally bad this time of year, but the flies here in this cafe are particularly FEROCIOUS! They start to swarm, chase each other, and mate even, right on your table, hair, book, or computer. Ownership needs to put up fly traps. Or gets some of door blower thingies. They become particularly wild when the sun starts to fade, like they're trying to grab that last little bit o' sunshine. —AnnieSirrah

2006-10-27 10:35:40   i am so glad that picture includes kalie's car, which she probably abandoned at dukes the night before —KailaGlassburner

2007-03-18 11:59:07   Their coffee is absolutely terrible. It was extremely watered down and bitter. They also don't have a refund system, so they offer to "make you another drink". Ew, I'd rather not take a chance with something from your espresso machine, especially after I tried my friend's mocha. It's such a shame that the only coffee shop (sans Sbux, which I don't support) in South Davis is so terrible. —ElizabethAbinante

2007-05-25 12:38:50   The coffee is good, and it is a nice place to study. Bring an ipod, the music is worse than starbucks music. It is just bad, but that and its early closing time are the only big downsides. —BenjaminRosenstein

2007-08-24 10:28:21   Great place. And the girls are hott. Esp. that cutie with the short hair. Smokin'. —Rodrigo

2007-08-24 11:36:19   Rumor has it they might be eyeing another location downtown. —HakonHope

2007-09-16 18:23:17   I like Common Grounds... except for the flies in August/September...except for the Italian Sodas and the flavorless syrup they use...and I daren't use those couches... who knows what lurks therein! Overall, a good place to study. Sometimes I feel sorry for casual users who can't find a seat during midday in the height of exam season. —AnnieSirrah

2007-09-20 21:49:03   Now serving pastries from Konditorei....mmmmmm..... —DonShor

2007-10-23 17:17:02   The people here are all incredibly sweet. Lovely white mochas! —Casey

2008-01-30 20:55:52   I really like their low fat pumpkin muffin. —QS 2/25/08 Update: Sad to say, their service is quite lacking. Last time I was there, the counter girl was very unfriendly and wouldn't even muster a smile. She gave me a pumpkin scone instead of a muffin and when I went back to let her know, she didn't even say sorry and made it seem like I was hassling her. My mocha was watered down and tasteless. I brought my own mug and she wrote on it with the pencil they use to write on their paper cups and now it won't wash off. I didn't say anything at the time because I thought it was removable. It wasn't like the place was even busy. I've worked at a restaurant before and I never gave any customers an attitude no matter how busy or frazzled I was.

2008-02-03 23:28:58   Are they hiring? I need a job! —CourageCowardlyDog

2008-03-04 10:41:07   This place is hands down fabulous!!! They have great drinks and great service along with a relaxing and comfortable atmosphere. They are the ONLY place that remembers customers names and orders which is remarkable especially at 6am. I wouldn't count on trusting the reviews that say they offer service that is lacking, you have to try this place for sure!!! —JessieShen

To say that my review regarding the service can't be trusted is rather antagonistic on your part. I know what my experience was like and I am only describing it as it was. -QS

2008-03-08 16:33:16   I LOVE this place! The service is fast, the staff are great, and the owner does of a good job of making people feel like "regulars". The study area rocks...I don't know of a comfier place in town. The one major bummer= 9:00 closing time! How about some extended hours...at least during finals...please! —AllyAnaheim

2008-03-12 22:33:40   Yeah, they definitely need to stay open longer! —at86

2008-04-18 21:08:58   The owner is a really nice guy and makes sure his customers are happy —DavidShapowski

2008-06-20 17:37:39   good service but the internet is slow and there a to many flys as i swat one from drink my head and plate —timlane

2008-07-11 13:45:53   I really love this place for studying and doing work. The environment is pleasant - the music is never too loud or obtrusive, the entire staff is really nice and chatty, and the drinks I've had are good (admittedly, mostly just mochas, a few other coffees, and a lot of their teas). The place is comfortable, even if not in the sofas, and has tons of natural light. It also mentions above that the place gets pretty crowded. I have been here at all sorts of times, and even when it has been at its most crowded, I have always been able to get a seat too, so it has been worth coming. I definitely recommend it if you like studying in coffee shops —NickSantos

2008-07-24 13:59:12   This is my favorite coffee shop in Davis. I find Mishka's too crowded, but I've always been able to find a seat here. The couches are super comfy, the coffee is delicious (though I'm no expert), and despite what some others have said, the music is not bad at all! As I sit here now, they're playing classical piano music, and when I was studying for finals, it was mid-century jazz. Nothing wrong with that! But yes, there are lots of flies. If you're the type of person that gets that tickle-y feeling when you think about bugs, you might want to sit outside instead (fewer flies, no joke). Otherwise this place is ideal. —WinButler

2008-08-14 02:47:59   Do you think they would buy any of my prints? Photos:www.flickr.com/Anders_Young —AndersYoung

2008-08-21 10:41:08   The flies are annoying, but the staff and the coffee are great. Later hours would be nice. —Janet

2008-08-22 22:29:11   You MUST try their KONA MOCHA!!! —Terry

2008-09-02 13:20:10   I think I've tried all the non-hippie/Hoopie off-campus coffee places in Davis now, and this is my favorite place to work. The atmosphere is very conducive to study/work and I do appreciate the choice between table or comfy chair. Somewhat surprisingly, the place is not constantly packed, although that may change when classes get under way. The staff has always been professional - no problems there. My only complaint, shared with others, is that the fly problem is real. It's really unappetizing to see a fly crawling over the pastry I'm thinking of ordering. —DataPoint

2008-09-05 11:33:29   I was here last night. I've always wanted to like this place, but I didn't like the coffee. I ordered just a regular coffee and it was undrinkable. Too bitter and. . . something. It wasn't good. It's a good study spot and I love the free internet, but the coffee was disgusting. I don't know about their espresso drinks, but I don't know that I'm willing to try it after last night. —CurlyGirl26

2008-11-16 20:43:11   The internet is slow because half the time there's 20 or 25 people all on their laptops in one place. the coffee is...maybe a 3.5 out of 5 not bad. —Chrissapher