42 Best Coffee Shops in Charlottesville

“Such nice people and delicious ice cream and milkshakes with an awesome selection.“

“The earlier reviews for the chai lured me in, and they were the honest truth. The chai is fantastic! And the Hand-held pies are wonderful too. Plus sweet and helpful staff! If I lived here, I would be a regular. If you are a regular, I envy you deeply.“

“Great space. Large and open. Family atmosphere. Softly played background music. Highly recommend a visit.“

“I took a weekend trip to Charlottesville and wanted to try out cafes. Reddit recommended JBird as one of the best in the city. The baristas were super friendly, welcoming, and ready to explain the menu! I ordered an oat milk latte and a medialuna (Argentine style croissant, shaped in a crescent moon and brushed with vanilla bean simple syrup), which totaled $10.95. The latte was smooth and had a distinct tasting note, I’m not great at identifying them but it was yummy. The barista told me they just moved into this space 3 weeks ago. It was large and light filled. Seems like a great place to sit and chat with friends.“

“Awesome little local spot working closely with The Pie Chest. Awesome espresso, awesome coffee. They just started roasting/selling their own coffee and so far, it's nothing but gold. Try the Ethiopian! Straight blueberries and one of my absolute favorite coffees.period.“

“Taste of Paris! Confused? Buenos Aires, Argentina, is known as the Paris of the Americas. These brothers have brought their home to us. Enjoy!!!“

“The food is delicious and if you're looking for the best Cuban coffee in CVille, this is your place!“

“Kudos to Katie for the inspiration and her staff for fulfilling her dream. Everything about Kindness cafe feels good. 👍👏👏👏❤️“

“We came here on Sunday morning, and there were plenty of seats. The service is good. The environment is chill and nice. The coffee and pastries are pretty standard. We also walked around this area to see the bridge and the river. It’s pretty nice in general. Would recommend if you happen to be in the nearby area.“

“I have been trying a lot of coffee shops around Charlottesville recently SK stood out. The overall shop is great for extra seating and space to work in. The employees are friendly and the coffee is better than any other coffee shops close by far! My only complaint was the bathroom was absolutely disgusting to be in. I loved the place they just need to get a regular cleaning in there as it unfortunately made me want to leave as soon as possible.“

“So yummy! The best people work there as well. Awesome place.“

“If I could give Grit a 6/5 stars, I would! The coffee was AMAZING, such good quality coffee compared to where I live (Chapel Hill) and a great vibe! All of the staff were so kind and friendly, especially one girl (I think her name was Amelia). This is a must go to coffee spot!“

“If you live in Charlottesville (or are just passing through) and don't dine at Bar Tomas, you're missing out on our region's finest chef. Every item on the menu is a work of art. And the service is impeccable. A near perfect dining experience.“

“My husband and I woke up Saturday morning and decided to head into town for a cup of coffee. If you live in Charlottesville, you know there are plenty of coffee shops to choose from. We ultimately decided on Shenandoah Joe’s in Ivy—but our decision had very little to do with the coffee or convenience and everything to do with Ian.

From the moment we walk in, Ian always greets us with a smile. He knows our names, remembers us, and genuinely makes us feel valued and welcome. Even when we bring our dog along, Ian makes sure he feels like a regular too—always greeting him with the same enthusiasm and making sure he gets a special treat and a pup cup!

There are a lot of places in Charlottesville where we could grab a cup of coffee, including several that are more convenient for us. Ian is the reason we choose Shenandoah Joe’s in Ivy. That kind of customer service and genuine human connection is something you simply can’t manufacture.

Ian is truly a gem of a human being, and I hope Shenandoah Joe’s recognizes the value they have in team members like him. Employees who remember your name, care that you came in, and make you feel valued are the people who turn an ordinary business into a place customers intentionally choose to return to.

And because we do enjoy coming here, I also want to mention one concern I hope management will address: the floors really need attention. There are areas that are significant trip hazards, and covering them with rugs does not feel like an adequate or safe long-term solution. I sincerely hope ownership will invest in fixing them properly.

But when it comes to the people, you have an absolute star in Ian. He is the reason we keep choosing Shenandoah Joe’s in Ivy.“

“A delicious lunch today at Cou Cou Rachou. The staff was helpful and croissants mouthwatering.“

“This coffee shop feels like more than a cafe - it's a community gem. I spent every weekend for a year going here to write my dissertation. Their lattes were always solid, but my favorite parts were the chocolate chip cookies and the Italian sandwich. Appreciated the friendly staff.“

“This is my 2nd visit to Camellia’s, and I am hooked. Their coffee is VERY good. I basically want to guzzle my latte. Their baristas and cashiers are super nice. Their pastry selection is insane. I’ve now tried three different pastries (no, I didn’t get two although I wanted to. I tried a piece of my friend’s lol), and all were delicious. The atmosphere is cozy, and they have lots of different searing options. You can sit at tables, in armchairs, on couches etc. This is now my new favorite coffee shop, and I spend a lot of time in coffee shops - so they’re about to get to know me really well!“

“Gearhart offers a selection gourmet chocolates that are vegan friendly. A rarity but what a delicious treat!“

“Whenever I come to Charlottesville, I make it a point to stop at Grit for a mocha. Their mochas are outstanding! The other thing I appreciate is they have places for people to sit and work or read. It seems like so many commercial shops have gotten away from being that 3rd place for people. Besides the coffee being good, Grit is just a comfortable place to be!“

“Nice folks, super welcoming! Very cool vibe.“

“Cute little coffee shop nestled in a shopping center. The breakfast sandwich was actually really great. We got the sausage, egg and cheese. I’d get it again!

The drinks are fantastic, but not consistent. I had the most delicious Chai tea with maple. The first one was not very maple forward at all, in fact I didn’t taste it at all. The second (I got one to go also) was incredibly maple forward, almost too much. Their chia tea base is delightful though! My husband said their Americano was yummy.

The first barista was amicable but not overly friendly. The second was a very personable young woman. It was a pleasant experience.“

“Our favorite brunch location in Cville. The fried green tomatoes are amazing. Excellent service and selection.“

“I am from Washington state and desperately miss good coffee. Imagine my delight (and no surprise) to learn that the owners are from Seattle. No wonder this is the best cup of coffee that I’ve had in 6 years!!! It was delicious, it was fast, it was the right price for an americano which means they actually do know coffee!!
Now I’m trying to figure out how in the world I can stop there for a coffee when I am going to my a Dr office up the road!“

“I had a reservation as part of a group for my mom’s 60th birthday. Unfortunately, the morning of the celebration, I tested positive for Covid 🙁 the reservation I made was nonrefundable, but I figured I would call anyway to see if we could get some money back. The woman I spoke with was very nice and said she’d pass my name along to her supervisor who would get back to me. I didn’t hear anything for a couple of days and was going to follow up once I felt better, and then I got a notification that they gave us a full refund! So easy, which I was so grateful for, considering how I was feeling. So, unfortunately I never got the opportunity to actually stay at the hotel, but my experience with them was great and I will absolutely book a room there the next time I need to stay in Charlottesville!“

“Best almond croissant I’ve ever tasted. Highly recommend.“

“I always really enjoy ordering from this starbucks. They always get my order right and the drive thru is easy to get thru. The workers are always very kind and my drinks are always yummy. I love the outside of the building. I have no complants at all and will continue coming here in the future.“

“Cynthia is the BEST!!! I recently visited Charlottesville for the first time and decided to stop by this coffee shop. I was immediately greeted by the staff and it made me feel welcomed. I was having a hard time choosing what to get off the menu and this super sweet person named Cynthia didn’t make me feel rushed at all but instead helped me decide what I wanted and I ended up LOVING it. Amazing staff wonderful food if you want the best coffee make sure to ask for Cynthia!!!! 10/10 all across the board I will definitely be stopping here again when I am back in Charlottesville.“

“Devon goes above and beyond every time I visit Starbucks at 5th st. The entire staff there has the best customer service no matter what time of day I visit. Sending a big Thank you to the 5th st Starbucks staff for the best service with a smile. Happy Holidays!“

“Stunning new space in Charlottesville!“

“Delicious food, great service, fast food preparation, cute ambiance, nice and cool air conditioning, and high-quality ingredients. Overall, I love it. No reservation is necessary; we got a table right away. Usually, breakfast restaurants don't require reservations—first come, first served. That's just proper breakfast restaurant etiquette.“

“Great staff ambiance and delicious food and drink“

“Enjoyed a cortado & scone and was looking to try a pour over as well. Olivia the barista was very knowledgeable and helped guide me to an amazing coffee for the pour over. Had to pick up a bag of beans. Highly recommend if you're looking for great coffee.“

“A nice cute trendy and classy...coffee shop...great stop after walking the outside mall...dessert was delectable...tea was excellent...tea served in nice coffee mug...not a paper cup...which added a nice touch...atmosphere was nice and casual...great experience!“

“We hosted our farewell breakfast here the morning after our wedding, and it was the perfect way to end such an incredible weekend.

We reserved a private area of the coffee shop and kept an open tab for our guests, and everything was handled so smoothly. The staff was incredibly accommodating, kind, and attentive from start to finish. They made everyone feel welcome and went above and beyond to ensure everything ran seamlessly.

They even had our reserved area roped off for our group and were so gracious in helping when other customers accidentally wandered into the space. It was clear they genuinely cared about making the experience special for us and our guests.

The coffee was absolutely incredible, and the breakfast pastries and sandwiches were the perfect way to kick off the morning after the wedding. Everything was fresh, delicious, and exactly what everyone wanted after a weekend of celebrating.

We couldn’t have asked for a better place to gather one last time with our family and friends before everyone headed home. Thank you for helping make the final chapter of our wedding weekend just as memorable as the rest of it!“

“I Just Don't CARE what STUPID people say about Starbucks!!
I dont go for the corporation s Garbage!! I go for there coffee ☕ And Starbucks Coffee is WONDERFUL!! This country would Not have Coffee shops!!
It would Not have fair competition of coffee shops!!
If It Were Not For Starbucks!!
Im not interested in Starbucks politics. But I Absolutely Love there coffee ☕“

“Excellent variety of beer, ciders, seltzers from local breweries. The food was awesome too!“

“We were thrilled to work with the Carpe Donut team for our daughter's recent wedding. Needless to say, that cute little truck and the amazing donuts were a hit with all our guests! They packed up some leftovers for our bridal party's morning-after breakfast, which was such a nice touch. This was just the "something unique" touch that we were hoping for at the reception. Thanks for such a great experience!“

“Great Nitro on draft that changes every few days“

“Maple bacon with the Carmel drizzle will have you dreaming of it day or night“

“I had a great experience at Playa Bowls Charlottesville! Meme and Shawna were super friendly and really helped me choose the perfect base and toppings for my smoothie bowl. The bowl and my cold brew were both delicious. The restaurant is very clean with cute decorations and a great atmosphere. I’ll definitely be back!“

“Quick service and great espresso can't go wrong.“

“This Starbucks is awesome, especially if you're on the go. It's super close to the interstate, so it's an easy pit stop.

The staff was really nice, and they made our drinks perfectly. Everything tasted great, and our order was ready in no time.

The place was clean, the bathrooms were well kept, and there was plenty of seating inside to chill and enjoy our drinks.

All in all, it was a great experience, and we'd totally stop here again!“