Cafes near Wellesley

“Although part of a global chain, Caffè Nero did a nice job of capturing the distinct history of this Wellesley Hills station designed by architect H.H. Richardson. The building was completed in 1886, and after the station was decommissioned the space was various retail outlets until Nero took over in 2016.

And the food and drink? Relative to other bakeries and coffee shops in Wellesley (there are a lot!) the coffee is good, and the baked goods are workmanlike. An added plus is the large parking lot for the train next door, free on weekends.

I really like the old photos showing the building and interior spaces on the walls. It’s fun to compare “then and now” while you sip a coffee.

P.S. This was the last of nine stations that H.H. Richardson designed for the Boston and Albany Railroad.“

“Very good coffee and nice outside seating. Very noisy and crowded inside, unpleasantly so. Baking good, above average. Very pricey. I go for coffee, never for a meal - for the price of a Tatte meal, many restaurants offer a nicer experience for the same price.“

“Our only go to for breakfast! Great food and the best staff!“

“great food, great service, and very friendly. worked with my nut allergy, which can be hard to find sometimes. Definitely worth check out if your in the area!“

“We knew we wanted Magic Bites to cater our family event and we were so pleased that we did! Atilla and Elif were helpful and patient planning the menu and everything was top notch delicious. They knew we had some allergies in the family and they made an extra effort to create large labels with all ingredients. I highly recommend them!!“

“Best bakery and cafe around!“

“It’s great having a close by GF bakery !! Love the new decor and options.“

“One of our absolute favorite spots in town, we’re so lucky to have this in our community!“

“Extremely friendly service/ Grabbed a coffee and a cranberry-orange muffin today- the muffin reminded me of my grandmother’s recipe- so moist!!! 👍“

“Best butterbeer latte in the world!“

“Stopped in on a whim and had a great meal. I was with my mother and my daughter all of us enjoyed the place. There was a little something for everyone even had a cocktail; we will be back.!“

“This food is BOMBB and the place is so cute. I just picked up lunch from there for the first time and got the tuna and avocado sandwich. It was delicious! There were also so many handmade little gifts in there and I definitely want to go back to try more things.“

“One of my favorite coffee houses in the world; fuses together so many concepts (coffee, dining, co-working, live music/poetry slams, community center, solo seating, round tables, long tables, counter stools) all in a way that just fits and works together. Perfect harmony“

“I love EVERYTHING they make!! Great people!!“

“Every once and awhile you come across a business that has it all - an outstanding product, genuinely wonderful people and an approach to customer service that restores your faith in humanity. Cafe Fresh Bagel delivers on all of those fronts. The bagels are superb and the variety, freshness and flavor of the wares on display is unsurpassed. The people who run the establishment are the kind of individuals that serve as the epitome of what entrepreneurs should be - hardworking, dedicated and thoughtful. Honestly, I couldn’t imagine going anywhere else for my bagels…!“

“Excellent food and service, big portions. Relaxing and friendly“

“Lots of great choices always feel welcome and everyone is attentive!!“

“This was my first time and I had a very good experience. From the minute I walked in, I was greeted with a warm smile. This is very important to set the tone for any business.

I ordered a toasted everything bagel with lox spread and veggies. The bagel was fresh and tasty. The tomatoes actually tasted like fresh tomatoes! The fact that this stands out speaks to other businesses that may not use as fresh ingredients.

The lox spread has a nice texture and is subtly flavored. I would recommend that if you want a strong lox taste to also order their smoked salmon.

I also ordered a large iced coffee. The coffee was delicious and the large was gigantic, which made me very happy.

Accessibility: the staff is very attentive and quickly activated their ramp for customers needing special assistance.

The prices are also very good. I will definitely come back.“

“Truly a hidden gem of Framingham! Very cozy spot, with great coffee and amazing food. I ordered the brazilian “small” plate and was shocked to see how much food was still included, and more importantly, everything was extremely delicious. I’ll be making this a usual spot of mine!“

“Love the shakes, mega teas and my kids are obsessed with the refreshers!“

“I used to come here a lot when I lived in the area. Good, cheap doughnuts and it will now be the successor to their recently closed parent shop Twin Donuts in Allston. Breakfast itself is okay just good value. Only annoying thing is they still use the old school system (signing receipts) so not that good to buy 1 donut with a credit card.“

“I expected more than corned beef out of a can from the description on the menu. The home fries were cold. Good sized portions and the service was adequate. We chose another breakfast place for the next day. Great location, though, in a walkable neighborhood .“

“Caffé Ollo in Waltham is such a hidden gem! The Italian Caprese Toast Sandwich was fresh and flavorful, while the Chicken Salad Croissant and Classic Ham & Cheese Croissant were buttery, flaky, and absolutely delicious. I also loved their pastries – the Blueberry Cheese Danish and Blueberry Mascarpone Slice were light yet indulgent, and the Strawberry Cake Slice was the perfect sweet treat.

Their smoothies are amazing too – you can really taste the difference with the 100% real fruit. The Berry Berry Smoothie was refreshing, the Mango Smoothie was tropical and smooth, and the Harvest Green Smoothie felt both healthy and tasty.

Cozy atmosphere, friendly staff, and high-quality food and drinks make this place a must-visit café in Waltham!“

“Located in an Executive Office complex, Starburst Cafe is a business friendly modern cafe where omelettes and other heated breakfasts are made to order by a chef. After that it's self serve. They DO NOT take cash but they DO take credit cards and mobile payments.“

“Love the fresh produce, they have the best corn and The Farmer’s Porch is amazing. Always one of our favorite spots in the fall!“

“Popular cafe, we sat outside by the road which was fine as the traffic is quite. Lots of food/snack/drink options, clean toilets.
I note their sign about not supporting the proposed 2 lane road and removing the on street parking - I couldn’t agree more, the (very nice) atmosphere driving through Needham would be ruined by this proposal and I hope it fails.“

“Who doesn’t love a good old fashioned cafe-bookstore combo? It’s awesome enough that we’ve got a bookstore back in Belmont Center, and the cafe really sweetens the deal. (Also the bear on the menu is bomb!)“

“Glazed Bite is perfect for a quick and delicious treat. I stopped by for a first time to grab a light bite and was impressed — the waffles with ice cream were absolutely amazing, paired with a refreshing iced coffee. The sandwich I tried wasn’t huge, but it was flavorful and satisfying. Great spot if you want something tasty and fast while shopping at the mall. Definitely worth a stop!“

“I know it wasn’t your normal birthday cake but wanted to let you know we loved it 🥰. From ordering the cake, to pick up, this place is amazing. Thank you for working your magic on my special request of lemon & coconut. 🍋🥥“

“I can't say enough about the Cricket Crew! Amazing staff and Drew (owner) is always available to make amazing suggestions.. we catered lunch in twice a week and it ranged from sandwiches, salads, build your own burrito/greek bowls, Asian fare, bbq and don't forget Karen's amazing pasta salad.
He caters corporate like no other caterer we have used! You simply can't go wrong.“

“Best breakfast place in town! Can’t wait for the reopening!!!“

“The outdoor seating is a big plus. It has a nice atmosphere. It is easy to miss if you are driving by. There is a very small parking lot in the back which is helpful. The staff was very friendly here, more than at other locations. There are alot of sugary baked goods to choose from plus other food choices. Overall, it is nice, quiet place to talk and enjoy a bite to eat. Enjoy!“

“This is a hidden gem! We stopped here randomly while traveling home from Boston. We got zucchini pillows and beet salad for appetizers. They were fabulous and flavorful! For dinner we got gnocchi and chicken parm. Probably the best we have ever had! Delicious and good size portions. We had tiramisu for dessert. It was excellent! Great meal start to finish. Our waitress, the owner's daughter was personable , sweet, efficient and great to talk to. We will DEFINITELY be back!!!!“

“Great food and staff. Worth the trip“

“Everyone here is so friendly, they are like family. The food is delicious and not processed nonsense stuff like some places have..and the coffee is good too, if your a chocolate person like me, I recommend the Iced Mocha Cappuccino I get it every time, I could never get sick of it.“

“This is a laid back place with a country store feel. Some indoor seating and an outdoor patio. Stopped by today for some muffin tops and pastries to go.. Muffins, morning glory and blueberry were excellent... very fresh & moist. My pecan and raspberry pastry was enjoyable but a bit dry. A good place for lunch... salads, soups, sandwiches. Excellent, friendly service..“

“Excellent breakfast sandwiches!“

“I find no problems with the staff here. They are always cheery and helpful. I do think there could be some efficiency improvements and the wait times are a little long and a bit pricey for cafeteria food. But otherwise food is generally decent and selection is variably good to very good.“

“I happened to be in this part of Framingham and was looking for something quick and healthy for lunch. I wasn't sure a protein shake and a tea would fill me up, but I was mistaken. I wasn't hungry after. The shake was delicious, and the tea boosted my energy without the negative feeling of a caffeine/sugar buzz that energy sodas give you. Also, the owner, Mike, is very knowledgeable about nutrition and fitness. I've been back twice since discovering it. I can't wait to try more flavors.“