SFoodie is predicting swords drawn at dawn — or at least fierce barista competitions — with the opening of Philz Coffee in North Berkeley yesterday (pictured above).

The store — its seventh — takes over the Cafe de la Paz space at 1600 Shattuck at Cedar and is within a few feet of Guerilla Coffee (which serves Blue Bottle), and not a million miles away from the original Peet’s.

Co-owner Jacob Jaber said Philz was already pulling in the crowds, despite not having hung put up its shingle yet, and they plan to install a large-screen TV for UC Berkeley games.

Pastries come courtesy of Berkeley cooperative baker Nabolom.

See more of the opening day photos at Philz Coffee’s Blog.

Tracey Taylor is co-founder of Berkeleyside and co-founder and editorial director of Cityside, the nonprofit parent to Berkeleyside and The Oaklandside. Before launching Berkeleyside, Tracey wrote for...