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.“

“Adorable and quirky cafe that is 100% worth all the hype, the long waits, and the hard-to-snag reservations. I visited Golden West Cafe on a Sunday afternoon with a moderately large group (7 people). We were originally hoping for a brunch reservation but could only snag a 3 PM slot -- a testament to how incredibly popular they are -- although we ended up being ready at 2 PM and called ahead to ask if they could seat us earlier. They, very graciously, were able to make space for us to come a tad earlier.

The food was absolutely incredible -- it was some combination of American comfort and Mexican / Latin American, with classic Mexican items like huevos ranchos, fish tacos, and enchiladas right next to traditional American brunch selections like chicken and waffles, hot cakes, and so forth. Their menu is also remarkably vegetarian / vegan-friendly, and it features their own house-made vegan chicken!

We decided to split a few items, including the zucchini brie hot cakes, fish tacos, and vegan hot honey chicken and waffles. All three were outstanding, but my favorite had to be the zucchini brie hot cakes. The cakes were remarkably soft and fluffy, and I loved the bit of sweetness from the zucchini (and maple syrup, of course), and the extra hit of rich creaminess and savoriness from the brie. It was the perfect sweet and savory combo, and it was easily one of the biggest surprises of the meal.

The rest of the items were also delicious, although not quite as wowing.The fish tacos were well-fried and flavorful, and I was quite impressed by how crispy and thin their accompanying fries were. I really enjoyed the flavor of the hot honey vegan chicken and waffles, but I was, admittedly, a little bit thrown off by the texture of both. It's very possible that the waffle had just gotten a bit soggy because I ate this dish last and it wasn't quite at its peak freshness. Either way, I really enjoyed my time here, and it's 100% worth I try. I can't wait to make my way back to Hampden to sample the rest of their menu!“

“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“

“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.“

“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 :)“

“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!“

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

“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!!!!“

“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.“

“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 😂😂😂“

“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“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“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“

“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 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.“

“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“

“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“

“Dependable. Friendly. Relaxed.“

“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.“

“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!“

“We stumbled upon The Nook upon accident, having a little bit of extra time before an appointment. The service is great, and the food is even better. As a family that is next door at Hopkins far too often and always disappointed in the food and service, this was a breath of fresh air.“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“