Javalounge

why i oughta!!!

actually, it’s the opposite. again.

I only go here for music and it is a cool venue to watch a quick show. They serve beer and coffee along with other beverages. It’s kind of small but once again, the music scene is diverse; anywhere from hardcore punk to alternative rockabilly. That’s dope.

Amazed by the quality of the live music on weekends. Worth the drive from Roseville to hear a great band or THREE in one night. Sacramento also seems to have has some young talented regular singer songwriters who need a stage. This stage is small and at the front window. An interactive crowd with the entertainment is what makes for a super night.

Our 5 and 6 year old daughters were tired and pushed to use the restroom. The restroom was small but clean. The guy at the counter was by himself but he was moving quick. He made an AWESOME Hot Chocolate and he was patient as my daughter decided what they wanted to eat after changing their minds several times. :)
The décor is very artistic but not exactly kid friendly but again the owner was very nice.

I went here for the first time, to support a friend who’s band was playing, and honestly I will definitely be back.
Even though I didn’t taste the coffee, the atmosphere and ambiance was enough to make me want to come back.
Finally, there’s a local coffee shop I WANT to support.

If you’re seriously happy go-​lucky, they’re nice. If you are more sarcastic and lighthearted, totally for you. If you just can’t take it, go pay for more somewhere else.
I can’t do weak coffee, especially if I need a good pick me up. When I ordered an iced mocha I initially thought, well I’m craving something overly sweet so why not! I’m so happy l was wrong! You can taste the caffeine! AND it still has its wonderful hint of sugar! Not to mention the price is good for the quality and quantity.
Nice people too. They gave out a good amount of free coffee to people when they first opened, and didn’t have a credit card system up. So may I suggest going back for some good karma. lol.
They also have shows featuring local artists, and a few out of townies. Now that is what I call some real local enthusiasts.

I am a fan of the risen Javalounge. Stopped in last Friday morning and had a fine Americano that came with friendly conversation from the new owner. Please stop in and spend a little moolah, it’s tough to open a business these days.
PS: Seems like live music is coming back as well.

Formerly known as Java Lounge, 16^th street café is still serving some awesome attitude and delicious drinks. They are still putting on shows and much else hasn’t changed either. I wish their hours were extended but I’m sure if they could, they would.
I’m happy to see 16^th street café back in business.

Apparently this place is now called the «Sixteenth Street Café». This is all very confusing when you’ve been told to go to Java Lounge at 16^th & Broadway. So at 10 PM you’re looking for the place your friend’s band is playing at and the place where it logically should be says Sixteenth Street Café, you begin franctically googling on your cell phone. Did they account for the fact that there is a «Sixteenth Street Plaza Café» at 16^th & R? Ahh.
Anyway, last night was the first time I’ve ever been here. I have absolutely no idea what anything they sell is like, so I can’t comment on that. I love that they are a live music venue and the bands last night were pretty cool. I felt pretty out of place because I had to be the only female in the whole place who wasn’t wearing skinny jeans with hip patches and I most certainly wasn’t wearing Chucks, but whatever.
The place is pretty small for the amount of people that were there, but I managed to find a spot on one of the couches. The couch was suuuper comfortable. The walls have pretty murals. It wouldn’t hurt to have a stronger air conditioner as it was so amazingly hot in there. I hope that it isn’t like that when the hotter-​than-​the-​depths-​of-​hell summer rolls around.
I will definitely be back for another show. I’m not big on coffee or cafes, so I probably won’t be a patron for the normal business. But you never know.

What’s seriously messed up is that unless the coffee is terribly bad, I usually don’t remember it, at least when visiting coffee houses. It’s because I’m totally ADD and the smallest movement or distraction — like a digital clock changing minutes — will need my undivided (I mean completely divided) attention and the coffee is really just serving as my enabler, my crutch.
This, and the fact that I seem to attract the crazies when I go out (and I swear it’s because they have bleeding heart radar … yeah yeah yeah, I know) is why I love the Java Lounge. Never a dull moment here.
Well at least not when I was there. Snapshot:
Barista’s shooing away a drunk woman off the patio at 3 p.m. in the afternoon to prevent her from further harassing customers and demanding that they give her a ride home …
Baristas having to tell old, senile regulars to flush the toilet after using the restroom.
And of course the tattoo parlor next door … where I think the drunken woman must have fled after getting run off from Java.
Come to think of it, this might actually be the heart of Sacramento … in all of it’s faded, funky and crazy glory.

Java Lounge is a colorfully painted space w/​equally comfy colorful couches and chairs, with a nice guy behind the counter. Sometimes thats all I need… But more than just being aesthetically pleasing to the eye, they serve OLD SOUL coffee and good iced coffee.
One thing you want to remember is, its Cash only. Be sure to try the Mexican Mochas. their drink sizes are small, medium and large, not short, tall, venti and grande. free wifi, fun night-​time line-​up,
we had a great time.

Strolled over to Javalounge, on a whim, one early Sunday afternoon. When I got there they were closed. I thought to myself «self, maybe you should check their hours.» So I did. I was there during their opening hours however the door was locked. I thought that was odd, so I peeked in and I could see people in the back.
I called them, using my cell phone, and the guy on the other end said «we’re closed» and hung up. I suppose I didn’t deserve an explanation and assumed I failed their cool test.
screw them.

I was only able to be in here long enough to use the bathroom Friday night, but just walking through the place made me feel good. There was a band playing and a pretty young crowd.
I’ll definitely have to come back during the day sometime with my computer, order some coffee, and chill.

I had coffee there and it sucked. I go there a lot and see bands play. I’ve played there myself and know that it’s hard to run a coffee shop. I’m friends with Eric the old owner. I wrote a review complaining about undrinkable coffee that I tossed out. I know they get their coffee from Old Soul AT THE TIME*, which I love. I don’t know why the coffee I got at Java Lounge was undrinkable crap. It can’t possible be that bad all the time or they would’ve gone under. Anyway, Jake, the owner, threatened me so I removed my review, but he just sent another angry email. I removed my first bad review about 9 months ago. I’ll post his threat here. It was a back and forth bit but it was way too long to post it all here. I should change my name to «undercover douchebag».
jake a.
this message is actually from jake, the owner. don’t bother coming back, you chicken shit. i bet you were one of those customers who eric would have shot in the face if he’d had half a chance.
there won’t be a next time, if you have the balls to put a face or a name to your opinions, you chickenshit. it must be pretty easy to go around talking shit anonymously, being the undercover douchebag that hates a venue and its owners, but will still see/​play shows there. you, my friend, are the pathetic one with no integrity. and if i catch you here, i’ve got a lot more than a kick in the nuts for you, my friend.
I replied:
I don’t hate the venue but the coffee I had was the worst coffee I’ve EVER had and I’ve had instant heated with hot tap water.
I think the proper response to a bad review is, «Hello, I’m sorry about your bad experience. Please come back and I’ll give you a coupon for free coffee. We’d love another chance».
Yes, that is one of those things that businesses do. «Customer service» I’ve heard it called. Telling me you wished I was shot in the face certainly doesn’t help your reputation.
You took on a huge risk by having live music. I think that’s great. Sacramento makes it very difficult for places to have live music. I don’t understand your anger at a bad review. It was an honest opinion. I’m guessing you’re stressed out from not realizing how hard it is to own a business.
Next time there’s a live band, and someone is laughing, and you don’t know why, it’s probably me. I’ll be the one without a cup of crap coffee.
*Edited to say, I got email that says, «Old Soul has pulled their coffee and pastries from Java Lounge». I wonder if that’s because Java Lounge doesn’t understand «quality control».

My original review of Java Lounge did not do them justice. Since writing it, this has become my regular coffee shop. In part because it’s one of the closer independent coffee shops to my house, in part because the owners and their staff are all awesome, friendly, free of pretension but still enviously hip people, and in part because the coffee is great.
They serve Old Soul coffee and pastries, along with some other food stuffs, beer and wine.
Seating is ample and comfortable. They have free wireless and a computer for general use if you don’t have your own. There is a toy box for the kids (the owners have two of their own). Art changes monthly, and they have lots of events.
All in all a great coffee shop that could use your support!

At first glance, this seems like a piss-​poor place to have an all ages show. And you know what? It kinda is. Strangely enough, though, my band has had some mind-​blowingly awesome shows there, so I guess outward appearances can be deceiving. Either way, I appreciate what they’re trying to do and hope they can continue.
Minus one star because I ordered an italian soda (coffee makes me horf) and they put the tiniest amount of syrup possible in the cup. Really, Javalounge? Is raspberry Torani really that expensive?
Minus one more star because the poor ventilation has led to the smell of crusty punk ball sweat semi-​permanently bleeding out of the walls.

I am from San Jose and was kind of stranded in Sac last weekend. hadn’t been to downtown Sacramento in about four years, so I explored randomly and tried a few different coffee shops. javalounge was way above the rest for coffee, service, atmosphere, and price — how often do you get that winning combination? The funny thing about a shop that has good value is that I’ll spend more there than at another place because I am more satisfied.
At javalounge, I did not for a second get the feeling that I had walked into a private club where I did not fit in or was not welcome, as happened at another spot that shall remain nameless (maybe). I never wondered if I had the wrong beliefs or came from the wrong culture. The coffee drinks i tried, brewed and espresso, were not bitter but not too «sweet», rich but not heavy — just like the vibe of the place and the service.
Did anyone mention the free WiFi? I could spend an entire day or evening there with my laptop if not for the music. Super comfy.
For those complaining about the customer rules: how would you like it if you had to clean up the bathroom after and pay for people who weren’t your friends or customers? do you like it when you have to pay fees you don’t believe in, like the b.s. ones from credit card companies? Maybe you can give them another chance.
javalounge is a place where the owners are doing their best to stay true to themselves, run a business and provide what *we* want, and they do a damn fine job. Besides, they have a GREAT logo. };]

Things I love about Java Lounge:
Artwork — both what is a part of the fixture itself, and the local changed out stuff. Always so many interesting things to look at.
Music — Only been there on Sunday mornings, but the acoustic guitarist plays beautiful music
Independent
Beautiful comfy orange couch — I miss that couch.
Milk — lots of choices for your tasting pleasure, they even carry Almond Breeze
Kids-​They have a Sunday morning kids playtime that seems fun. a movie on the screen and a great toy-​box for the kiddies
Why I will not be returning
They ONLY accept cash
My iced mochas tended to taste powdery
The owners have un-​posted terms as to who they will allow in their shop. Yes there’s a typical sign about refusing service to anyone, don’t remember the wording but I know it was a bit harsher.
DO NOT bring food/​drink product in that they didn’t sell you (2 previous reviewers mentioned this one)
DO NOT bother if you don’t intend to buy something.
DO NOT expect negative reviews to hang out here for long.

so. many. thoughts. rushing!
I LOVE YOUUUUUU!
YOUR CHOCOLATE CROISSANTS ARE SO AWESOME!
[they have chocolate chips in them, instead of the choc. croissants that look like dough with TURD FILLING!!]
BOARD GAMES?! are you trying to make me move into this place?
OPEN MIC?! you’re really pulling out all stops for me baby AND I APPRECIATEEEEEE!
why aren’t you in New York? we could make it work, and i would so happily share you with all the NY hipsters.

Sure, it might be a little off the beaten path and near the whir of the highway, but in the Broadway/​Midtown stretch this is the one.
Java Lounge, I love you for:
–Free Wi-​Fi and places to plug in.
–A great selection of blends, mostly from fair-​trade growers
–Non-​hormone dairy and organic soy milk
–Occasional readings and live music
–Built to Spill on the hi-​fi
–The Greek god battles wolf-​monster murals.
Java Lounge, I love you but our relationship would be better if you worked on:
–The baked goods, especially the somewhat runty bagels.