40 Best Cafes near East Hartford

“The Spot Café truly lives up to its name it hits the spot every time. You can tell there’s real love and care put into the food, from the presentation to the flavor. The cafe is welcoming, making you feel like a regular from the moment you walk in. It may be a small space, but it delivers big on quality and experience. This place is definitely a hidden gem in East Hartford.“

“This place has been around as long as I can remember. Always a good time. Enjoy the special dinners they have. Prices are reasonable and they have regular Bud on tap.Enjoy the pool table. I did food service for most of my life. This place is amazing cleaned. The owner definitely takes pride in his bar.“

“We had our wedding at The Pond House Café and it was absolutely beautiful. The ceremony and reception were everything we hoped for. Our guests loved the food, the décor, the music, and the warm, welcoming vibe. The staff went above and beyond—Charlene, Diana, and Alissa took care of us with so much care and professionalism. Everything ran smoothly and felt special. We’re so thankful for the whole team. This will definitely be our go-to spot for future celebrations! 1000000/10 experience!!“

“Honestly a GEM of a restaurant and a place that I will return going as long as they are open. Food was superb and a great menu , it will be tough for parking I think because it is in downtown Hartford. But hell I dont care because the food is that good, so the plan is to order food to eat inside and order to take out for next day, great job guys, coming back soon!!!!“

“I went in this morning for a pound of medium roast decaf and a quick espresso. They have an excellent interior that was nice to relax in for a few minutes before rushing off. The staff member was also super friendly. Great neighborhood too. They were carrying a limited edition run of a anaerobic process light roast from Rwanda, so I bought a bag out of curiosity. This is currently the best coffee I have ever brewed. It tastes sweet and like apples! I am really glad that they were carrying this today!“

“I’m literally only giving it 5 stars because the old owner Harvey was a good guy and very business savvy. He knew my name and what I always wanted. And he connected with his customers. And that kept a HUGE clientele.

The new owners don’t know my name and are unfriendly. They are not exactly cheap and I still support. It’s a nice spot in town. Residents in West Hartford frequent there. It would be nice for them to be friendly, adaptable, relatable, down to earth and get to know their regulars who support them.

I personally will try to continue to support.

Let’s hope it’s only up from here! (Please get to know your customers!)“

“Had dinner at Gather 55 last night and it was the most pleasant dining experience and best food I’ve had in months! Crystal’s service was excellent! She is a master at her craft! Not only was the experience worth every penny, the mission and purpose of Gather 55 is wonderful! I wish we had one in TN!“

“Very impressed! Food was amazing! Great atmosphere. Will definitely be going back.“

“Great little coffee shop. Sit down next to the “fireplace” with a snack. The gals that work here are always so nice. 😊“

“I love DoNo! It's the best part of my day when I find time to take a walk or drive over and get my daily latte, espresso, or tea. They also just upped their game with an awesome sandwich menu!!“

“Vernon Coffee Roasters is a welcome addition to Vernon. If you haven't tried their coffee yet, give it a try! The flavor is superb! They offer a poor over which is a must try. Absolutely amazing! Along with excellent coffee is the friendliest owner and staff you could meet.“

“Maui colada was so refreshing“

“Our favorite coffee place in the area!“

“This is an old school greasy spoon diner literally hidden on Franklin Ave. This is cooking from your favorite uncle or granddad. Home style cooking for those who don't want to cook at home. Short order cook on the grill happens to be the owner. The menu is the stuff diner legends are based on. It has nothing gourmet. It isn't long. There's nothing promising to be a new twist on am ole favorite. It is the old favorite, just the way you fell in love with it: with pork, full fat, salty, and all the calories.
Cute place. Aged and tidy. Pleasant wait staff. Quick and good cook.
They only take cash. The entire antique experience is only heightened by that limitation.“

“First timer here. The atmosphere was awesome. Sat at the bar and watched motoGP. I ordered the brisket egg rolls and they FAR exceeded my expectations. Crispy crunch, sweet, salty, umami. It hit every taste bud on my tongue. My husband got the brisket grilled cheese and it was out of this world good. Perfectly balanced. Not too much bbq sauce, right amount of cheese and a nice crisp bread. The tater tots were perfectly fried and salted. They were so good we didn't even need ketchup. We will for sure be back.“

“I get my coffee here all the time! I am at the buckland hills mall just about everyday for my store and getting a coffee from here is my favorite part of the day! I love visiting with the owner when she's there. She is so nice and lovely to talk to. The coffee is exceptional. She has tons of different varieties as well.“

“This coffee shop is so much more than a place to grab a drink. It is like a community living room. Warm, creative, and welcoming in the most genuine way. There are art supplies to sit and create, free books to borrow, and games to play. It’s a place that invites you to slow down, connect, and stay awhile. The cold brew I had today was absolutely amazing…..smooth, rich, and clearly made with care. Even more meaningful was the experience with the owner. Her kindness, authenticity, and passion shine through in every detail of this space. You can feel how much heart has gone into building something that truly serves the community. I’m so grateful to my son and his girlfriend for encouraging us to stop in after a UConn game, what a gift that recommendation was. Places like this are rare, and they matter. If you love small businesses, creativity, connection, and spaces that bring people together, please show up and support this one. Bring a friend. Stay for a while. Make it part of your routine. Convenient to the XL Center, Yard Goats, downtown, and right off the highway. Closed Mondays, open all other days — plan your visit and don’t miss it. Support this local gem. Our community needs places like this. ☕️📚🖌️🥰“

“Such a great place for so many things. Breakfast, lunch dates, coffee, family date night, kids art class, date night, birthday parties, etc. The food is delicious and the staff are always helpful, polite, and professional. Highly recommend.“

“Really good, quick food. Got oxtail curry , vegetarian tofu type of dish (That had a little bit of spice) , cabbage (so yummy!), and rice and peas. The guy that helped me was very nice. (In case you’re looking , they don’t have roti. Not many places do ☹️). And reasonably priced. Would definitely go back.“

“Excellent service and delicious food👍🏼“

“Cupcakes were great. Only got 1 left and its about to be gone“

“Good cold beer 🍺 Good people“

“good bar and good people“

“I tried the garlic parmesan chicken tenders, yum! My co-workers got an Italian Grinder, but for the faint of heart. it was HUGE! and my other did the Chicken Cesar Wrap again HUGE! Very friendly staff!“

“Chef's table is always delicious and they change their menu's weekly if not more often. Wide variety, wonderful staff, and great vegetarian options.“

“The place is amazing!! Never had omelettes like that anywhere. Everything is excellent. And the service was great. You will NOT be disappointed. Great little spot.“

“Was there last night. The ribs and pulled pork grilled cheese was amazing! Good beers and the bartender was attentive and charming!“

“Your standard Panera, if you've seen one you've seen most, and thats a good thing. Food was good, bread was fresh, soda options were decent. Food came out pretty quickly.

Parking: Standard lot, very easy to park

Kid-friendliness: Panera is definitely kid friendly, with booths and high chairs to make it easy. Kids menu makes it simple to order, although my kids will go through a full sized mac and cheese with no problem.“

“Atendimento bom, ambiente agradável, cardápio variado e os bolos recheados são maravilhosos! Super recomendo!“

“I'm new to Hartford Connecticut I've lived here less than a year. I also don't really drink ever. Lately I've wanted to be social so I check this place out. The people I've met here for the most part are really great people easy to talk to and it's a laid-back place. I really like it here I think you might too. 😁“

“Excelente es mi lugar favorito para comer. Loco que hagan uno en PR.“

“First time going to Stryker’s - came to see the fabulous duo/ band- had a wonderful meal with fabulous service- honestly not a place I would have normally gone to but everything was wonderful and we will definitely be back- great food, amazing service and fun night of music and really good food“

“The service is what you would expect at any fast food restaurant, nothing exceptional. I ordered the greek chicken salad. Unfortunately, there was more greens than chicken for the price, they could add more chicken to it, seeing that it is a chicken salad after all.“

“Great service and great food 🇯🇲♥️“

“relaxed but European vibe, more variations of espresso drinks than I've encountered in the area. A place you want to sit and stay a while. Today, awesome Andorran music playing.“

“Delicious 🤤 coffee y And Breakfast 🍳 and more“

“Awesome best around!! Great service and large variety!!“

“Great bagels but my local big y never puts them out with the other bread , they hide them in the freezer, I have to ask the bakery person to get some for me , very odd can’t see how they are going to make a sale that way , Danielson ct big y“