50 Best Cafes near Essex

“We had our wedding here. Island View Waterfront Cafe was everything we envisioned for our wedding!! It had that backyard wedding feel with GORGEOUS waterfront views! Jess was absolutely amazing to work with and her love for weddings and desire for you to have your dream day is evident after working with her. She is a great communicator and was a huge help during the different planning stages of our wedding. During our rehearsal and on the day of I came to her with all the questions and she had already had the answers and plans for those worked out and she is a HUGE reason why our day went so smoothly! We love and Cherish being an Island View Couple!! Some cool perks: flexibility to pick our own vendors; chairs and tables were included in the rental; we rented out the the evening before for our rehearsal and hosted an informal pizza party as we were setting up and organizing all the decor which made everything so much easier; you get to work with Jess and I can't say enough good things about her!!“

“First of all the line wasn’t too bad at all! It looks intimidating when you walk up but things move relatively quickly and nobody seemed too bothered to be in line so that’s a confidence builder that the food is good. They have menus available outside so you can prepare what you want to order before you get inside. The options roll out at different times of the morning so the best times to arrive depend on what you’d like to order. We each got a coffee (a Japanese iced coffee and a dirty Horijita latte). Started with the Morning “Queen” which was like a crunchy croissant with wonderful fluffy interior. The almond croissant is definitely one of the best in the city with a great balance of crunchy, soft, buttery, and flaky textures with the classic buttery almond flavor. Finally the coconut chocolatine was the most unique, really beautiful textures and a nice combo of sweet and salty with the deep richness of chocolate binding everything together. I see why people love this place so much. Highly recommended!“

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

“Best chicken salad sandwich on sour dough bread I 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.“

“Very delicious and super accommodating of Celiac/gluten free! They have gluten free toast I subbed for with the eggs benedict. The breakfast potatoes are also gluten free and they offered to cook mine in a separate pan. No gluten free pancakes or biscuits but other than that many things can be made GF. Staff was super kind!

Smaller restaurant so there was a wait but you can get on the list and they’ll text when your table is ready. I must say their coffee wasn’t great.“

“I had a wanderful breakfast, food was excellent and the Service was very good. Definitely I'll be back.“

“Such a unique menu and such nice people“

“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“

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

“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 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.“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“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!“

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

“Stopped here for breakfast, food was good!“

“The food & service was excellent! My son LOVED the hot honey chicken sandwich. It actually made him dance lol! I got the vegetable soup to go for my dad & he absolutely loved it. Now he wants me to go back & buy as much as they're willing to sell me. The drinks & desserts were great too! If you're looking for a cute little breakfast or lunch place, I highly recommend. And if you like hot honey chicken, you have to try it!“

“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.“

“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“

“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.“

“Really delicious offerings on the healthier side and the staff is great. I ate here twice in one weekend because the club sandwich was so good I had to go back and have it again! Lots of gluten free offerings and GF toast and cupcakes. Nice menu and everything tasted very fresh.“

“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“

“I’ll be honest, I was both excited and skeptical about trying Wonder when it first opened. The whole concept seemed a little strange to me, and I wasn’t sure how it would actually work. Since they were offering 50% off for first time customers when I went, I figured it was worth a try.

We ordered a pizza from Alanza, a double cheeseburger from Burger Baby, and a Build Your Own Bowl from El Diez. Funny enough, the burger, which was the item I was least excited about based on how it looked, ended up being my favorite. It was honestly one of the best burgers I’ve had in a long time. The pizza was a little overdone, but I actually like my pizza that way, so no complaints there. The bowl was good too, though I felt like it was missing a little something. Maybe some extra lime or cilantro would have given it more of that fresh Mexican flavor.

I’d definitely come back and try some of the other restaurants they have. I also really liked the atmosphere. It was quiet, clean, and didn’t feel chaotic, which was nice. The kitchen area looked especially clean, which always leaves a good impression.

If you’ve been curious about Wonder and are looking to try something different, I’d say it’s worth checking out, especially while they’re offering 50% off for new customers. There’s a huge variety of food options, so it’s easy for everyone in your group to find something they’ll enjoy. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised and left more impressed than I expected to be.“

“This restaurant is a must! The restaurant popped up on my Google search for Baltimore. We drove down from Pa to check it out. The food was excellent and plentiful! Get there before you get too hungry because you can tell this place stays busy! Although it was busy, the service was great and food came out in a timely manner. Will be dining here any and everytime I get back to visit Baltimore‼“

“Excellent, adorable, no-frills micro cafe within the belly of an office building. Plain and simple in a good way. Classic, homey soups + sandwiches + coffee done out of a tiny kitchen where you can watch everything being made. The service is fast too!

On a personal note, I love dressed-down places like this. I also find humor in how it’s situated within the surrounding office space. The contrast between the cuteness of the place with the stiffness of the environment just outside makes eating here a funny experience.

Excellent humble (classic) cafe food 👍
Whole place is good overall 👍
Service is fine and fast 👍
EXCELLENT value if you’re cheap like me 👍

The only improvement I could possibly imagine would be maybe a mobile app where you can pre-order for pickup without having to call on the phone. But they’re so fast anyway, I wouldn’t mind if they never do this.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“Topside offers a fantastic rooftop setting with stunning city views. The food was excellent overall; the chicken and waffles were a standout, offering a wonderful balance of flavors. My husband enjoyed his quiche, though he felt the crustless vegetable dish could have been cooked a little longer. Despite that minor note, we both thoroughly enjoyed our meals. I also brought home a bacon jalapeño scone, which made for a delightful afternoon treat. I highly recommend this spot for anyone looking for a great dining experience.“

“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.“

“Best lattes on Belair Road“

“This made our Baltimore trip! We would come back just to go to this restaurant! We ended up sitting at the bar,(something I normally don’t like to do) and it was a fortunate happenstance. We ended up sitting with some regular customers and had a blast, everyone was so friendly and it was like being among family. Nino the owner brought our meals out and they were superb! From the appetizers to desert everything was impeccable! The bartender Boulot was SO fun and attentive (we never had an empty glass). The cannoli (hand made by Nino’s mom) was Terrific. When we get back to Baltimore this will be one of the first places we stop.“

“The food is exquisite here!! The employees provide quick and efficient service. The food was packed with flavors and seasoned to my liking. The perfect lunch , was fast and casual. Surprised it’s not blown up with popularity by now. Will definitely be ordering again!!“

“We had our daughters bridal shower their on Saturday March 4th. It was for 50 people. The food and the service was excellent. They went above, what we expected. The chef came out spoke to us and assisted in any way they could. The service was wonderful. If you are looking for a venu to host a party, "Hull Street Blues " is it. Wonderful, wonderful, service and great people !“

“awesome. theyve only had two hiccups. 1 time they put cheese all over my food and i dont eat cheese They remade the whole order. the other time they gave me chicken dried out. the did not fix that. with those two incidents aside this is a awesome place to grab dinner. im glad manna cafe doesnt deliver because they would have all my money.“

“I think this place gets confused with the boba place at the Avenue. They are different. This is the place inside the mall. I 100% recommend. They are better than boba at Avenue and the same price. Run by a family, always nice and super friendly.“

“👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿“

“Because I was in a big big hurry, the Guy behind suggested a list of items that will be quicker to make. I chose Pork Buns. Omg. They r really good. If you’re on the run as much as I am, great food to get“

“My first visit today. Wow! Food and service are excellent! Wish I lived closer“

“The barista answered all of my questions about the coffee. He also asked about the qualities that I like in my coffee, so that he prepared something that I would enjoy drinking.“