Discover the Boston Area's Best Cafes: A Food Tour Guide Part I

By Adam Branco

There are few things better than easing into your morning or wasting your afternoon away at a proper café, and luckily the Boston area has plenty to choose from. Here are some of my favorites: 

A Taste of Saigon at Cicada Coffee Bar

Cicada Coffee – Located in Central Square, Cambridge, this is my favorite coffee shop in the Boston area. They’re from Vietnam, so their salt coffee and Cicada latte – characterized by the addition of condensed milk – are menu staples. They also have rather good pastries and very fun banh mi and noodle dishes by day, and it’s a surprisingly sexy date spot by night. Just be prepared for a line on weekends; this place is a poorly kept secret and only one person making coffee at a time creates quite the bottleneck.

Small-Batch Specialties at Broadsheet Coffee Roasters

Broadsheet Coffee Roasters: Located on the Somerville and Cambridge borders between Union Square and Harvard Square, this sleek, modern cafe is frequently packed with locals enjoying their small-batch coffee drinks. You will see their coffee bags being sold at the cafe, as well as on restaurant menus all around the area.

Copenhagen in Cambridge at VESTER

Vester – Named after the Danish town Brøndbyvester, this is a very cool spot by Kendall Square in Cambridge. It's a great place to hang out, and they have a variety of food on their menu. There’s now an additional location in Southie.

Contemporary Vietnamese Flavors at Phinista

Phinista – Another Vietnamese coffee shop, this one’s a bit more contemporary and by Fenway Park. I enjoyed the breakfast banh mi and the ube latte. They also just opened up a shop in Porter Square.

Only the Finest at George Howell

George Howell – Some of the most acclaimed coffee in the area, the Downtown Crossing location is a great hangout spot frequented by students and professionals. There’s an additional grab-and-go location in the Boston Public Market and a sit-down location in Newton.

A Cozy South End Morning at Render

Render Coffee - A proper, cozy hangout coffee shop in the South End not far from the Mass Ave stop. You will see plenty of friends chatting, students working, and everyone just a little bit more relaxed than usual. They have a larger location in the back of Seaport, but you will soon know my feelings about Seaport.

A Warm Ambiance at Brothers & Sisters Co.

Brothers & Sisters Co. - An incredibly cozy spot in Brookline steps from the Brookline Village T stop. This is very much one of those cafes that sucks you in. If I lived closer, I would frequent this place far too often.

A Coffeehouse for Locals at Caffe Paradiso

Caffe Paradiso - Located on Hanover Street right next to Modern Pastry, Paradiso is my spot in the North End to relax. Known for their espresso martinis and pistachio martinis, they also serve rather good coffee and a variety of sweets. Their gelato is more than worthwhile, as well.

Join Up & Adam Food Tours

A great time to check out the last spot in the North End would be before or after my North End Pastry Tour! Additionally, you can check out the Somerville/Cambridge spots before or after one of my Union Square tours, and the South End spots before or after one of my Back Bay tours. Check out upandamfoodtours.com, and email me at info@upandadamfoodtours.com or message me at (508) 271-7124 for more details.