50 Best Cafes in Baltimore

“This place still is the best in Baltimore for baked goods/ pastries. There can be a line depending on the time but it’s worth it. The staff here are so welcoming and friendly. Plenty of coffee drink options. Inside is small but they have covered seating out side so you can enjoy your treats. Most recent visit I got an almond croissant and it was amazing, definitely one of the best I’ve ever had. It was crisp and flaky chewy, right amount of sweetness with the perfect balance of almond flavor. This place is a Baltimore must stop, definitely recommend and will be back for sure.“

“I've been coming to Golden West for two decades but this morning was the first time I came with my kids (4 years and 20 months). They had high chairs, coloring pages, and our server put our kids' order in first so they could have their pancakes quickly. No one made a big deal out of us wandering around a bit with our 20 month old. And the food was delicious! Chef's kiss to the Christmas style breakfast burrito with vegan chorizo and the peaches and creme macha latte! So often with little kids it feels like you have to choose between kid-friendly and really good food. Thanks so much Golden West for doing both!“

“Love this place! The owner and staff are always friendly. The food and drinks are always good. My favorite are the croffles but the the bulgogi sandwich is also great if you want something savory. Sometimes they get a little busy so I have been taking advantage of their online order ahead they have added. 10/10“

“Best chicken salad sandwich I’ve ever had!“

“This place is amazing. Their empanadas are absolutely the best in Maryland. Their Dominican steak bowl is AMAZING. The Korean bbq steak bowl… AMAZING!! My only complaint is their steak sub. While it was TOTALLY delicious, it was very small for $12. It was sooo good I wanted more.“

“such an amazing experience, some dishes are served in a tea pot, tea and dessert are amazing. One of my favorite places to order food from and to dine in person. My favorite afghan spot in the city! they also sell rugs and tea sets which adds to the atmosphere“

“This was a happy surprise! After waiting quite a while at another popular brunch spot nearby, we decided to try this one since they got us seated a lot sooner. Honestly, it turned out to be one of our best choices. We truly enjoyed the delicious food and refreshing drinks. It was a lovely Sunday morning with great coffee and a wonderful family brunch.“

“Randomly ordered this morning through DoorDash, and I found this place. what a gem. The food was absolutely amazing and super quick delivery into the city. sandwiches were still hot and gooey. So thankful they are not right down the street for me as I would probably give them all my money. keep up the good work.“

“Common ground is a great place that is employee-owned and I like to support. Their jalapeno cheddar biscuit is a Divine thing.

The only reason I don't give it five stars for service in atmosphere is because it is so popular sometimes even something simple will take 10 minutes. That's really just a testament how much people love the place“

“Such a unique menu and such nice people“

“This breakfast diner is a gem in Baltimore. Derek is an amazing person with a million great stories about Baltimore then and now. He even dropped us at the rugby game when the uber didn’t show up. Enjoy the best breakfast around (southern style) and have a chat with good people!“

“The coffee is rich and bold. I believe they have house-made syrups which I love to see. The barista and service is excellent. Everyone, especially the gentleman who takes your order is so friendly and welcoming. The cinnamon roll was nice and doughy. A perfect place to get some work done or socialize. The atmosphere is retro and lively. Such a cool vibe overall. My favorite coffee shop in Hampden and one of my favorites overall in the city.“

“When we lived in Maryland I bought all of our coffee from High Grounds. I have now moved to Georgia and wouldn't consider changing my coffee source. The main reason that one would go to a coffee roaster for the 2nd, 3rd or 99th time would be for the quality of the coffee, and any one who would rate High Grounds less than 5 star“

“Been going to Sweet 27 for probably 12 years. My grandson is 6, this is his favorite spot. Friendly staff and great food.“

“1:39 4 ..ll 5G§ 83 < Reviews Koba Café First coffee shop of 2023! Koba is a cozy shop on the corner. The young lady at the counter was friendly. She was familiar with the two customers in front of me. It definitely had a neighborhood friendly vibe. The shop was busy. Most of the tables on the first floor were taken up when I was there. Be sure to take a stroll up the stairs. At the top of the stairs was an adorable little spot for two people to sit and chat. The second floor has a great little area to sit and ready or study. The top floor was full of light. I ordered my usual cortado. It was a solid drink. The cortado wasn't bad but it also wasn't anything spectacular to write home about.“

“My favorite tea, ever. And I am VERY picky about my tea. AND it is very difficult to impress me. AND most tea companies do it wrong. But these people do it Wight 👐 I was initially enchanted when gifted Jasmine tea balls and found out the Jasmine I'd been drinking all my life was trash, haha. Wight changed my life. Since then I have tried a few other varieties including their Marquess Grey which went above and beyond and I completely fell head over heels for. Wow. These teas are so FRESH, fragrant, soothing, and they feel the way tea should in your body: relaxed, happy & fulfilled. I was just gifted their Evening Tisane and am equally enthralled with the product. I can't wait to buy more & gift to my friends & family. Everyone I've ever made a cup of tea for with Wight tea has been amazed by the flavor and aroma. Wight does tea right 🫖“

“Everything was fantastic. The service was top tier (especially for Valentines Day), and the food was delicious. We got the bruschetta and meatballs for an appetizer, followed by the chicken piccata and gnocchi for our main dishes. The best part was the dessert, which was a homemade tiramisu (and it was the best tiramisu I've ever had). The atmosphere was cozy and you can tell that the owner and staff really care about creating a fantastic Italian meal. I will definitely be back.“

“We loved our meal here! Their BLTs have a good ratio of tomato to bacon, and the tomatoes are thinly sliced which I appreciate. Their bulgogi is also delicious! The atmosphere is friendly and light and the cashier/server is very friendly. Their sandwhcliches are very reasonably priced too. I recommend this place!“

“Still in soft opening until 1/26 but the pastries are delicious, attentive baristas, affordable price points and has a very cozy vibe for coffee dates :)“

“Good place to stop by whenever I'm in town“

“Everything is fantastic! From breakfast sandwiches (and plates) to lunch specials. The food tastes great, you are usually in and out very quickly, and they have fantastic memories and will greet you by name. I ended up with Covid, my last day of work was Nov 17th, and I did not come back until Jan 4th. They still remembered my order! "I" didn't even remember it!!! Always excellent. Highly recommend.“

“I love the 50's music that plays and the really nice photos on the walls. Be prepared to experience a completely different way of flavors. The menu is diverse and very interesting. This was our first time there and we have decided to make it our place to go after a DR. visit nearby. There is parking on the street as well as behind the building. We were unaware of the parking behind the building so I thought a heads up to others was needed. The menu online is the same as the actual menu. The difference is the online menu printing is extremely small. We were thoroughly impressed with Ms Shirley's Cafe. It is well worth the trip!!!!“

“Enjoyed the food and atmosphere! Customer service. They took the time to explain the drink options and answer any questions that we had! Great customer service, great food and great atmosphere! I saw customers of all ages here! Elderly to elementary school student!
students!
*The tomato pesto pastry was OUTSTANDING!“

“Food was AMAZING, tea was super sweet, and everyone was super nice. highly reccomend and I will be back again!“

“A huge thank you to the folks at One World Cafe for coming to the Hopkins football tailgate crepe tent rescue. We discovered post game when it was time to start cooking for the team that we left our cooler of eggs and milk on the 7th floor of the Marriott parking garage. We had all the toppings but no crepe ingredients! Remembering all the great breakfasts I have had at One World (as a regular customer we have always received stellar service and food) I dashed across the street to see if they could spare some eggs and milk. Everyone was so friendly and kind and happy to help and saved the day with 8 eggs and a gallon of milk! Thank you so very much. Your kindness was much appreciated and helped our team celebrate our win! 5 stars for quality service and kindness and generosity as a bonus!“

“I recently moved offices from DC to Baltimore and needed place for coffee in the morning. This charming little shop has easily become my go-to. The standard drip coffee is exactly what I want and so much better than Dunkin or Starbucks. This place is a gem and deserves all the hype!“

“What a lovely, friendly and delicious afternoon! The place looks beautiful, the tea divine and the food spectacular! Thank you for the fun experience!! All should go!“

“Amazing food. Impeccable service. Relaxed ambience. Great conversation with the well travelled owner/ chef. I highly recommend.“

“Stopped here for breakfast, food was good!“

“Ordered two pies for delivery after seeing pics of a charred sourdough crust on Reddit. It’s a bakery so of course the crust is GOATd. The pizzas are huge and the Peruvian chicken one really stood out. Juicy, smoky, earthy with a fruity spiciness. Truly top tier stuff from Baltoz.

Only complaint is that they don’t sell any of those bomb as pastries for delivery. To be fair, many of their pastries look delicately laminated (very flaky, buttery, crispy) so they might not survive the trip with a Baltimore driver behind the wheel. I’d still risk it though 😂😂😂“

“Went by today for the first time and the employees could not have been nicer or more informative. They took their time to describe the different teas they had available and made recommendations based on my taste. The tea was delicious and service outstanding. It’s great to have this new small business in the area.“

“My husband and I stopped in as we went for a walk in our neighbor and were throughly impressed by the food. Everything was fresh and hot. The grits are making its way back to my thighs lol but totally worth it ! Everyone was extremely welcoming“

“beautiful space, delicious eats, i love that you can get coffee or alcohol, depending on your mood“

“I love this place! It’s right by my work, so I order from there pretty often. I love their coffee—I always go light on sweetener, and somehow they always get it just right. Just a touch of sweetness without overpowering the coffee flavor. The blueberry muffin is amazing, too. I’ve tried almost all of their sandwiches, and they’re all great. You definitely can’t go wrong ordering from this place.“

“By far one of the best Italian restaurants my husband and I have ever visited. Great atmosphere. Super friendly staff. Delicious food. Will be back during our next visit to Baltimore.“

“beautiful restaurant, but the food and service was amazing! highly recommend!!!“

“Best catfish and Mac and cheese I have had in years. Very friendly service“

“Best food on campus, breakfast and lunch. Pre-made breakfast burritos are toasty, warm, and ENORMOUS. Not for the faint of heart (me) unless you want to be sent into a food coma (which I was) and sleep through your afternoon class (worth it). Don't even get me started on the sandwiches at lunch. I get an egg salad sandwich (hummus if they're out of egg salad) on toasted rye with all the fixings -- and I mean ALL of them. You can get a mile-high stacker that's caving in on itself for a single meal swipe here. What do you get at Chick-fil-a? A single piece of chicken on soggy bread. The service here at the Coffee Shop is amazing, too. Workers are super nice and fun to chat with. If you've just finished working out at the RAC, swing in here to cancel out all those calories you burned because you earned it, champ.

Vegetarian options: Good stuff“

“After an amazing game at Camden Yards the night before, we went to Miss Shirley’s Cafe for breakfast, which came highly recommended and I can absolutely see why! Our breakfast really hit the spot, and the service was excellent, especially our server, who was so kind and attentive. The atmosphere was fun, yet upscale casual and such great energy from everyone enjoying their food. It was the perfect place to grab a delicious breakfast, mimosa and soak in the atmosphere after the game. They also offer outside seating with a beautiful view of the harbor. Definitely a spot I’d recommend and would happily visit again!“

“Best French Toast I have ever had. The potatoes were really amazing too. I cannot recommend the French toast enough!

Our server was a one-woman show, and I believe she said she was also the owner and the cook. Truly amazing. If I am back in Baltimore, I will be back!“

“I Love this place!!!! Everything I’ve tried is delicious!!! The fresh juices , the salads and wraps are amazing. Trying an açaí bowl today and I love it too“

“I had the best BLT of my life here (one summer when I was 16, I would only eat BLTs. I had them everywhere we stopped on a road trip from San Francisco to Ohio to San Antonio). The gentleman behind the counter asked if I wanted to add a fried egg and cheese (which I've never in my life considered, nor had anyone ever asked me this) and my life is forever changed. Say yes. Add the fried egg and cheese. Do it.“

“If you're coming to Kennedy Krieger for any reason other than work, you probably aren't going to be in the best of moods.

Bit if you believe that food can truly be comforting, you MUST stop by The Nook!

Everything is FRESH, MADE IN HOUSE and DELICIOUS!
The menu changes with daily specials and seasonal items, though there are some permanent fixtures.

This is a small business owned and operated by local WOMEN. I've had the chance to chat with both lof the owners, Jane and Lindsay, and their passion and thoughtfulness is genuine and heart warming. Jane, even teared up as she described her desire to be a safe, comforting place for the patients, their families and the staff of KKI.

If you are in the area I would encourage you to stop in, you will not be disappointed.

And if you happen to be at KKI for not the best of reasons, and need a little uplifting, stop in and just have a chat with Jane. I promise you will leave with a smile on your face!

I can't say enough about the quality and creativity and the utter deliciousness of everything I've tried at The Nook; from the Harvest Salad with crispy chickpeas to any of the variety of chicken salads (my favorite is the Curry chicken salad on a spinach wrap!), to the banana pudding and French toast. Every bite is a treat to the senses.

I've been to their downtown, UMD-Bio Park location as well and it's also amazing. Plus at the Bio Park you theres patio seating and you can even get a glass of wine or cold local beer with your lunch 😉.

If you want to support local, women-owned, small businesses in Baltimore, try The Nook. You won't be disappointed! 💯“

“I stopped today for the first time and I will definitely be back! I got a snickerdoodle latte, chocolate croissant, and some sort of caramel apple pastry. All three were SO GOOD! The chocolate croissant was so flaky and buttery! Highly recommend! Plus the lady running the cafe was so sweet and friendly!“

“Usually good food, but ordered the cauliflower soup this week and it was inedible and overpowered with rosemary. Even my friend who will eat anything wouldn't eat it. I hate food waste, but there was no way I could eat more than one spoonful.“

“Dependable. Friendly. Relaxed.“

“I eat here every time I visit the area.“

“Bit cramped BUT def a cool cafe vibe. I think the girl at the register was Kendall! SOOO PERSONABLE and she made a horror movie reference no one got lol Had the Cachapas with the Plant-based Chirizo. Looks a bit meh but OMG TASTE AMAZING! Definitely will be back!“

“Amazing food and decor! Staff was extremely friendly and helpful. We had the opportunity to visit with the owner, she was absolutely one of the coolest people! We also purchased some art right off the wall!“