31 Best Coffee Shops in New Haven

“Best place to sit in town and enjoy coffee and pastries. Beautiful ambience and friendly staff. Love going here!!“

“I came the other night to check out a show there, and had a Dirty Chai and a Muffin. The Dirty Chai was the best I've had in New Haven so far. It's a nice place, but I wouldn't say it's an easy place to see a show. It's a very narrow space and it crowded badly enough that I got uncomfortable after the 2nd set and left, but if I came back for a show I know to come early.. the regulars pack the place out!“

“This is my 1st time coming here and it won't be the last. The bagels are extra fresh and the staff are amazing. I was greeted with a smile and awesome conversation. The only thing is that it's small and not much room to move around. But I still love this place.“

“We tried the Adeni tea and the sanaani coffee. Both were pretty good! the milk cakes are also delicious. The place is beautiful and spacious. The service can be improved a little bit, I was just handed the mugs without any trays or saucers.“

“Good coffee and pastries, and good people. Great place to relax.“

“Was in the area and I heard about this place so wanted to give it a try. I tried the Ube Latte never had Ube so wanted to see what it tasted like, I don’t know if I’m a fan of it I should have gotten the cookie butter but it was ok. We always got the tuna melt and the steak and cheese which were good.“

“Best cannoli I've ever had. And wonderful pizza, quiche, and pastries. My espresso place every weekend morning.“

“It’s a very small coffee shop. The muffins were very good, DH liked his cheese danish. My latte was great. We sat outside and listened to the jazz band from the local high school play. They were raising funds for senior day. We were lucky to hear such good music“

“they have coffee and stuff“

“such a nice cozy restaurant. love going there for brunch in Sundays. everyone is so friendly“

“This restaurant has so many options to choose from and they have collaborations with brands that really draw in more customers. I love boba so much already and I like to try the new collections, like Strawberry Shortcake! I even got a free set of strawberry scented stickers. Definitely visit here if you are in New Haven!“

“If anyone went to Jepson school in the 90s this is Cheryl from Carol’s classes place!! The food is so good!! it’s made with love and tastes like it’s made from your mom’s kitchen. It’s definitely a go to breakfast/lunch spot in New Haven! <3“

“Was tons of fun! Definitely will be going back!“

“Best coffee shop in the neighborhood. Friendly but fast service, yummy food, good music in background. Cozy. It's a keeper! Ps: their lavender lemonade is the ultimate summer drink)“

“I enjoyed my crepe today and the pricing is great.“

“Tucked in the back of the beautiful Graduate Hotel, Poindexter Coffee has become my go-to spot. The lobby’s cool furniture and big communal tables make it feel stylish but relaxed, and the space itself is great, high ceilings, tons of natural light, and plenty of room to spread out. The coffee is consistent. The staff is genuinely kind, especially to pets; my dog is always welcomed with smiles and a treat. Between the pet-friendly vibe (hotel included), friendly service, and comfortable setup, it’s the perfect place to post up with a latte and stay awhile. Highly recommend.“

“i love this place!! it’s a great setting for reading, and the coffee and pastries are delicious!! the barista with the nose piercing is my favorite. he makes the best iced oat cortado in town!! all the other baristas are also lovely and friendly. highly recommend if you’re in east rock!!“

“I always get their skinny lattes. ☕️☕️☕️ Delicious! Plus bagel with cream cheese & lox! Looking forward to trying various wines! 🍷🍷🍷“

“Great atmosphere. Delicious ginger cookies. And refreshing drinks.“

“Great food and great customer service my favorite restaurant ?? never disappoint me Regi was so helpful thank you“

“In a red brick building on what feels like every New England main street ever written about, Ground Up Coffee has carved out the kind of space that makes you almost forget you're in a shared cafeteria complex rather than some Brooklyn-wannabe independent joint. And that's not a bad thing.

The industrial-chic interior, with its exposed ductwork and concrete floors, could easily have felt like another soulless attempt at urban cool. But there's something genuine here, maybe it's the way the snow piles up against those massive windows, or how the baristas actually seem to care about the golden-brown croissants arranged meticulously behind spotless glass.

Their menu hits all the contemporary coffee shop greatest hits, your matcha lattes (mine was decent, if a bit timid), your nitro cold brews, your fancy flavor shots that thankfully don't taste like liquid candy. The prices won't make you wince, which is refreshing in an era where a cup of coffee can cost more than lunch.

Let's talk about the elephant in the room, that missing health inspection rating. Look, I'm not saying they're hiding anything sinister. The place is cleaner than many professional kitchens, but in this business, you post that shit proudly. It's like showing up to a job interview without pants, technically you might be qualified, but people are going to have questions.

The space flows into a larger shared area, which could be a mess but somehow works, like a good jazz ensemble playing off each other's rhythms. The pastry case suggests someone in charge actually cares about food beyond the obligatory sad muffin offering, and the whole operation runs with a quiet efficiency that's becoming rare in the age of Instagram-first cafes.

Is it perfect? No. The winter draft from those picture windows could probably use some attention, and seriously, let's get that health rating up where we can see it. But these are quibbles in what's otherwise a solid operation.

Four stars out of five. It's not going to revolutionize coffee culture, but it doesn't need to. Ground Up knows what it is: a pretty well-run coffee shop that respects its customers enough to do the basics right while adding just enough flair to keep things interesting. In a world of over-hyped coffee experiences, sometimes that's exactly what you need.

Just remember to wear a sweater if you're sitting by the windows in January. And maybe ask about the health rating, if only to watch them do that little dance that every manager does when caught without their paperwork in order. Trust me, it's more entertaining than whatever latte art they're serving up.“

“Always warm and welcoming!“

“Enjoying my Papua New Guinea brew this morning. Thanks Willoughby’s for bringing superb coffee to New Haven County!!!“

“This was my very first time in this one particular and I was very much impressed with its cleanliness, elegance, and a majority of the presentation of their baked goods. 4 out of 5!!!! I’m terribly sorry that you lost a star but that matcha brownie tasted absolutely disgusting. Never again will I buy it!!! Sorry sweetheart but it’s lacking sugar. However I do love the sweet cream filled bread you sold me. Thank you very much for helping me figure out what I want for breakfast tomorrow. Lastly, the cream green tea cake was absolutely divine. All this from being served by an incredibly gorgeous and really cashier/manager who I had to tip handsomely. I’ll definitely stop by on payday to give their specialty caffeinated drinks a try.“

“During lunch break from having to serve jury duty I found this coffee shop down the street and decided to pop in. The two behind the counter were very friendly and inviting, and the special grilled cheese with tomato or bacon with soup was PERFECT . the chicken corn chowder came out piping hot and didn't even need any salt or pepper. I'm usually skeptical when someone has to make my coffee instead of me doing it, but unlike dunkin donuts the gentleman made it just right! they seem to have a familiar and friendly customer fan base, and I would definitely go back again.“

“I never thought I’d be a person who had a favorite Dunkin’ Donuts, but look at the freaking situation I’m in now. I’ve been going here on and off for years, and for whatever reason it is, like, the best every time. They decorate for holidays, they dress up in silly outfits. Everyone is friendly and funny and kind. I honestly look forward to coming here on the rare occasion I’m craving Dunkin’. This place rocks.“

“best cardamom lattes, beautiful pastries, lovely interior!“

“Loved the atmosphere, the fantastic customer service, the food, and the coffee. Would absolutely go back.“

“A creative community of welcoming individuals. The space is an inspiring and unique place to co-work—really the only one in the Westville area. They also put on events monthly from gallery openings to artist talks. Coffee bar is a perk, and I stop in often just to grab some espresso.“

“Wanted some authentic Puerto Rican food today, so went to Fabi's restaurant coffee & shop for the first time. Their food is well seasoned and so delicious!“

“I’ve been coming here for a year almost every day for my morning coffee. The baristas are incredibly friendly and professional, even during their busiest hours, where other businesses often fall short in kindness and professionalism. The coffee is great, and their chocolate croissant (get it warm!) is indulgent and delicious! They also have a nice selection of prepared foods (pasta salad, wraps, etc) that taste great! The atmosphere is a bit bland at this location, so it doesn’t necessarily invite coming in to sit down and hang for a bit, but all in all it’s worth a visit!“