Eleven coffee shops that are elevating Boston's cafe culture

Boston Globe

09-07-2025

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1369 Coffee House
1369 Coffee House in Inman Square.
Maura Intemann/Globe staff
There's a reason 1369 remains a fixture of the coffee scene. Since its opening in 1993, 1369 has focused on quality, from carefully selected roasts, to specialties such as the malted cold brew, to the impressive tea menu. Both its Inman and Central Square locations epitomize the quintessential Cambridge coffeehouse: people-watchers will spot plenty of awkward first dates and local authors writing away.
Address:
1369 Cambridge Street, Cambridge
Phone:
617-576-1369
Find online:
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Broadsheet Coffee Roasters
Broadsheet Coffee in Cambridge.
Ev Fox
This sleek, modern Cambridge cafe has become a go-to destination for coffee aficionados. Its deliciously balanced, small-batch roasts — made at its Somerville roasting and training facility — are a favorite among cafe offerings near and far. Ever-changing featured brews, barista specials such as a Nitro Shandy, and seasonal homemade syrups make it worth a weekly — or daily — pilgrimage.
Address:
100 Kirkland Street, Cambridge
Phone:
Find online:
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Caffé Vittoria
Caffé Vittoria in the North End.
Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff
This cash-only cafe crammed with antique espresso machines and faded photos feels like something from a bygone year. And it is: It was established in 1929, to be exact. In the morning, get a whisper-light cappuccino, generously dusted with cocoa. In the evening, order an amaro on ice and watch the crowds outside on Hanover Street, or retire to the hushed cigar bar in the basement for some
Godfather
-esque ambiance. Whatever time of day, try the tiramisu, barely sweet and spoon-ready.
Address:
290-296 Hanover Street, North End
Phone:
Find online:
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Cicada Coffee Bar
Cicada Coffee Bar.
Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff
This Central Square spot is easy to find: Look for the bustling crowd through the ivy-covered windows. The coffee drinks — made Vietnamese style, with condensed milk — come rich and creamy (try the Sea Salt Shaker, with its hint of saline and sweet, thick froth). Don't miss out on the perfectly balanced rice bowls and pho salads, with toppings such as lemongrass chicken confit and charred eggplant. On nice days, head to the back patio for a tranquil urban oasis. Cicada closes at 3 p.m. but reopens at 5 p.m., offering entrées and natural wine.
Address:
106 Prospect Street, Cambridge
Phone:
Find online:
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Flat Black Coffee
Everything about this Dorchester gem screams 'serious coffee': the industrial-sized grinder near the counter, the giant tubs of beans stacked behind it, the sign noting that it 'nano-roasts' everything onsite. In addition to beans from around the world, Flat Black sells gourmet spices and a variety of French presses and frothers. Oh, and lattes, flat whites, and other strong yet smooth – and life-affirming – espresso drinks.
Address:
1170 Washington Street, Dorchester
Phone:
Find online:
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George Howell Coffee
Coffee from George Howell Coffee.
The caffeine connoisseur has plenty to choose from at George Howell's Downtown Crossing storefront, with beans sourced from across the globe and roasted in Acton, delicious cold brews and pour-overs, free tastings, and a shop with quality home coffee brewing supplies. The location in Boston Public Market is a great option for to-go orders; the one in Harvard Square's Lovestruck Books, includes a wine bar. Other shops can be found at Logan Airport and in Newtonville.
Address:
505 Washington Street, Downtown Crossing
Phone:
Find online:
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Gracenote Coffee
Gracenote Coffee
Davina Tan
This isn't your father's cup of Joe. Squeezing into Boston's boutique Gracenote Coffee is a java connoisseur's equivalent of boarding the Orient Express. Perched on the edge of the Leather District, Gracenote roasts beans sourced from countries such as Colombia, Ethiopia, and Kenya. (Its Alpha espresso blend has notes of milk chocolate and lavender.) Find another location at the High Street Place food hall.
Address:
108 Lincoln Street, Leather District
Phone:
Not available
Find online:
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Greystone Café, Bakery, and Provisions
Greystone Cafe, Bakery, and Provisions.
Nestled among the brownstones of the South End, you're likely to recognize Greystone by the line that regularly snakes down the block from the walk-up window. But the line moves fast enough to grab a cold brew for your morning commute. Have time to lounge? Snag a comfy seat inside, or out on the small, shaded patio, and nibble on a homemade pastry. There's a rotation of seasonal specialties to keep even the most devoted regulars surprised.
Address:
123 Appleton Street, South End
Phone:
857-350-4629
Find online:
Related
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Madhouse Cafe
Coffee from Madhouse Cafe.
Adam DeTour for The Boston Globe. Food styling by Sheila Jarnes.
Cozy seating under a canopy of plants. The aroma of freshly pulled espresso. The rumble of a V-twin engine in the air. There's no atmosphere quite like that of Madhouse Cafe in Roxbury. Relax, sipping a sweet tahini latte over a good book. Or, gaze longingly at a custom motorcycle through the large back window dividing the cafe from its adjoining repair shop and showroom, Madhouse Motors.
Address:
24 Blue Hill Avenue, Roxbury
Phone:
617-620-1501
Find online:
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Recreo Coffee and Roasterie
Christie Raymond
Coffee lovers won't be able to walk this neighborhood block without being seduced by the aroma of roasting beans. Inside Recreo Coffee and Roasterie, you'll be struck by the exposed-brick walls and the shop's red and chrome roaster, flanked by bags of beans. Owners Héctor and Miriam Morales import their sustainable, single-origin product from a family farm in
Nicaragua. The result is a uniquely fruity, balanced brew.
Address:
1876 Centre Street, West Roxbury
Phone:
Find online:
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Yego Coffee
Yego Coffee
Silky smooth, bold in flavor, and perfectly balanced. An espresso drink from Yego Coffee invites you in and keeps you coming back, sip after sip. The neighborhood vibe and friendly staff are known to do just the same. Since opening their shop in 2023, husband-and-wife owners Francois and Fatuma Tuyishime have brought new depth to the area's coffee scene, importing beans from his family farm in Rwanda and roasting them to perfection. Even the cafe's name inspires: Yego translates to 'yes' in Kinyarwanda.
Address:
1212 Broadway, Somerville
Phone:
Find online:
Boston Globe Best of the Best winners for 2025 were selected by Globe editorial staff and correspondents, and limited to Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and Brookline. We want to hear from you:
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