50 Best Cafes in Baltimore

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

“Spoons is a wonderfully inviting place to enjoy a fabulous brunch served by great folks who provide an incredibly comfortable and lively atmosphere along with great food and a real good cup of house coffee. The Eggs Benedict at Spoons is served with a perfectly made hollendaise sauce and compliments a beautiful plate and fulfilling brunch.“

“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!“

“First time we came here we were lucky there was only a moderate line. Second time was around the block but worth the wait! We love this place and they showed compassion about our dog's recent passing. Cannot wait for more baked goods the next time we go!“

“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“

“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.“

“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.“

“Atmosphere is what you want- warm clean and feels lived in and loved. A great mix of people coming in and out. The food looked yummy but lacked interest- we got two bagels, a bagel sandwich, avocado toast, muffin, and the special sandwich - all was bordering bland. Drinks were not memorable. I would pump up the flavors a bit, but based on the vibes I’d come back here and trying other things.“

“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“

“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!“

“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“

“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!“

“We went in with limited knowledge, so we did not have expectations…and our food, our coffee, the staff, the atmosphere? Nothing shy of complete perfection. If you have not treated yourself to trying them yet, especially if you are vegan, you should make plans to do so ASAP :)“

“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.“

“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!“

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

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

“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.“

“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.“

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

“Stopped here for breakfast, food was good!“

“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!“

“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 🫖“

“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 :)“

“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!!!!“

“Came here for brunch with some friends out of town and the food is so good!! Honestly it's better than Miss Shirleys but less touristy with a cute neighborhood vibe. I loved my veggie burrito and my friends loved the biscuits and gravy, and the burger. They have Zeke's coffee which is a plus.

I will be honest and say I was a little apprehensive at first, seeing the prices for what I thought was diner food. But this is so worth it! Definitely upscale, Southern inspired food. Will definitely be back“

“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.“

“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“

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

“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.“

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

“We had a delightful meal at Cafe Gia Restorante in Baltimore's Little Italy. It was a weeknight and rather quiet but the food and service were superb. Great value for your dollars. We purchased the hand made Limoncello and took it home to sample with our neighbors.“

“Just incredible all around! Robust selection of non coffee items that are also very unique to the cafe. Pastries and toasts are excellently made, not to mention the cafe’s quiet atmosphere for studying/working. These are all factors that are rarely found in a single cafe which makes Kanom stand out!“

“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!“

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

“Etouffe and Grits as well as the Lobster Mac and cheese were some of the best dishes I’ve had in a while. Portions are HUGE! Drinks are strong as well. The restaurant is packed - so come with a reservation or patience. Wait staff were all lovely and accommodating. My only beige flag was that the appetizers came out about 90 seconds before the entree but we didn’t mind much. Even slammed, foods and drink came out in a reasonable time. Warning for parking at the garage: it is public, but DONT pay until you get to the restaurant - they have a special QR code. Otherwise it’s $22/2hrs“

“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“

“Actually it was the gentile half of the hospital cafe. I was impressed with the selection and quality. Hot, tasty food done pretty quick. And the price was right. I had a Cuban sandwich and my wife had a delicious looking salad she made herself. The dining area was roomy and filled with natural light.“

“Really wished this business would open again. It provided a great community service to the business park. Best food! Best prices! Best staffing of peoples with disabilities delivering phenomenal service and quality food. Please open again! I miss the fried chicken most of all!“

“Such an amazing experience! The crab omelet was FULL of real jumbo lump crab! Crab doesn't get more real than from the Atlantic Ocean itself! The Cinnamon Raisin Oatmeal pancakes are to die for! Sevice was exceptional! Ask for Ester. Manager also asked how things were. Platters are huge! Only order one thing if you're coming by yourself. I'm going to be full for the next 3 days! Definitely want to be a regular here. Best breakfast place in Baltimore, so far!“

“You don’t expect an amazing experience at a museum cafe, but we got one. Danny was amazing, she made each sandwich extra custom for each us with dietary restrictions and even helped my picky kiddos find some good food to eat. 10/5, extraordinary service when you least expect it is a beautiful thing.“

“5-stars but with caveats. The sourdough crust on the pizzas are phenomenal — structurally strong enough to support the toppings without being floppy, nice taste, simultaneously crunchy and soft — a great middle ground. For the effort they’re putting in on the crust alone, it’s a 5-star pizza. However, I tried the supreme and the chicken and felt both could use some balancing when it comes to the flavors of the toppings. I’d buy again, yes, but not in a rush.

Editing on 9/28/2026:

Visited again, this time to try their cookies. They’re totally delicious, highly recommend.“

“The jitter machine is awesome and the place has a very cool layout“

“Student run productions that are entertaining and well polished! 3-4 production a year!“

“This is THE best tea shop on the East Coast. They have wonderful selections of rare, beautiful, fragrant teas. The green tea is delicate and aromatic. The black teas are delightfully full & perfect with, or without a meal. This shop is a GEM, & is located right here, in the Mnt Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore City.“