The best cafes in Cambridge

38 cafes we’ve checked and stand behind — with the story on each one. Not a ranking; a record.

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Cafes · 38 places · showing the latest additions first

Casual coffee shop with a menu of light dishes & specially blended hot & cold drinks.

1 Harvard St (Brookline)

Casual coffee shop with a menu of light dishes & specially blended hot & cold drinks.

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Stylish haunt with an old-world vibe serving brunch & snacks, plus coffee, craft beer & cocktails.

58 Batterymarch St (Boston)

Stylish haunt with an old-world vibe serving brunch & snacks, plus coffee, craft beer & cocktails.

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Friendly-owned cafe for coffee and espressos, plus pastries.

1212 Broadway (Somerville)

Friendly-owned cafe for coffee and espressos, plus pastries.

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Casual coffee shop with a menu of light dishes & specially blended hot & cold drinks.

1633 Beacon St (Brookline)

Casual coffee shop with a menu of light dishes & specially blended hot & cold drinks.

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Laid-back chain joint for breakfast bowls, flat whites and burgers, plus espresso.

27 Brattle St

Laid-back chain joint for breakfast bowls, flat whites and burgers, plus espresso.

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Cozy coffee hangout pairing espresso drinks & lots of teas with light bites, baked goods & desserts.

665 Washington St (Boston)

Cozy coffee hangout pairing espresso drinks & lots of teas with light bites, baked goods & desserts.

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Snug cafe with a warm ambiance featuring locally roasted coffee, muffins, sandwiches & pastries.

7 Station St (Brookline)

Snug cafe with a warm ambiance featuring locally roasted coffee, muffins, sandwiches & pastries.

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Trendy nonprofit cafe serving pastries & baked goods, plus cold & hot drink options.

212 Washington St (Boston)

Trendy nonprofit cafe serving pastries & baked goods, plus cold & hot drink options.

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Dunkin'

Cafes

Long-running chain serving signature breakfast items & a variety of coffee drinks.

265 Boylston St (Brookline)

Long-running chain serving signature breakfast items & a variety of coffee drinks.

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Chill, spacious nonprofit coffee shop (plus another location) with espresso drinks and pastries, as well as live music.

173 Border St (East Boston)

Chill, spacious nonprofit coffee shop (plus another location) with espresso drinks and pastries, as well as live music.

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Tiny gourmet espresso bar from a local coffee roaster serving nitrogen cold brews & more.

108 Lincoln St (Boston)

Tiny gourmet espresso bar from a local coffee roaster serving nitrogen cold brews & more.

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Dunkin'

Cafes

Long-running chain serving signature breakfast items & a variety of coffee drinks.

1631 Tremont St (Boston)

Long-running chain serving signature breakfast items & a variety of coffee drinks.

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Worker-cooperative coffeehouse offering sandwiches and pastries in a casual atmosphere.

31 Putnam Ave

Worker-cooperative coffeehouse offering sandwiches and pastries in a casual atmosphere.

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Relaxed Vietnamese cafe offering banh mi, sandwiches, and baked goods, plus specialty coffee.

10 High St (Boston)

Relaxed Vietnamese cafe offering banh mi, sandwiches, and baked goods, plus specialty coffee.

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Relaxed spot offering a large library of board games, coffee, pastries & light eats.

1402 Beacon St (Brookline)

Relaxed spot offering a large library of board games, coffee, pastries & light eats.

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Dunkin'

Cafes

Long-running chain serving signature breakfast items & a variety of coffee drinks.

In East Campus, 330 Brookline Ave (Boston)

Long-running chain serving signature breakfast items & a variety of coffee drinks.

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Ethiopian coffee & rich pastries fortify laptop warriors at this brick-walled, art-filled cafe.

374 Massachusetts Ave (Boston)

Ethiopian coffee & rich pastries fortify laptop warriors at this brick-walled, art-filled cafe.

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Dunkin'

Cafes

Long-running chain serving signature breakfast items & a variety of coffee drinks.

154 Main St (Medford)

Long-running chain serving signature breakfast items & a variety of coffee drinks.

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Breakfast, lunch & fresh specials including seafood are served all day at this neighborhood standby.

35 Harvard St (Brookline)

Breakfast, lunch & fresh specials including seafood are served all day at this neighborhood standby.

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Coffee shop selling house-roasted beans to go or within the cozy cafe that also serves sandwiches, bagels and pastries; the eatery also…

1520 Tremont St (Boston)

Coffee shop selling house-roasted beans to go or within the cozy cafe that also serves sandwiches, bagels and pastries; the eatery also sells houseplants.

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Top-notch coffee & sandwiches draw local creative types to this coffeeshop featuring a gallery.

Central Square, 757 Massachusetts Ave

Top-notch coffee & sandwiches draw local creative types to this coffeeshop featuring a gallery.

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Casual cafe, bakery and lunch spot offering Turkish pastries, espresso drinks and baklava.

3 Kendall St (Brookline)

Casual cafe, bakery and lunch spot offering Turkish pastries, espresso drinks and baklava.

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Charming coffee shop featuring breakfast tacos, lattes and pastries, along with a cozy atmosphere.

589 Washington St (Brighton)

Charming coffee shop featuring breakfast tacos, lattes and pastries, along with a cozy atmosphere.

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Trendy coffee joint that also serves tea matcha, lattes, cold brews and croissants.

1380 Massachusetts Ave

Trendy coffee joint that also serves tea matcha, lattes, cold brews and croissants.

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Dunkin'

Cafes

Long-running chain serving signature breakfast items & a variety of coffee drinks.

315 Centre St (Jamaica Plain)

Long-running chain serving signature breakfast items & a variety of coffee drinks.

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Top-notch coffee & sandwiches draw local creative types to this coffeeshop featuring a gallery.

Inman Square, 1369 Cambridge St

Top-notch coffee & sandwiches draw local creative types to this coffeeshop featuring a gallery.

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Laid-back stop offering fair-trade coffee, organic espresso & tea plus baked goods & sandwiches.

25 White St

Laid-back stop offering fair-trade coffee, organic espresso & tea plus baked goods & sandwiches.

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Casual cafe offering breakfast faves, empanadas, coffee and other treats.

37 Woodbine St (Somerville)

Casual cafe offering breakfast faves, empanadas, coffee and other treats.

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Small-batch coffee roaster serving espresso drinks & pastries in an airy, modern space.

100 Kirkland St

Small-batch coffee roaster serving espresso drinks & pastries in an airy, modern space.

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Premium coffee & craft beer, made on-site, coexist at this trendy cafe-slash-taproom.

328 Broadway (Somerville)

Premium coffee & craft beer, made on-site, coexist at this trendy cafe-slash-taproom.

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Barismo

Cafes

Easygoing java joint featuring hot & cold coffees from a local roastery, plus pastries.

364 Broadway

Easygoing java joint featuring hot & cold coffees from a local roastery, plus pastries.

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Quaint cafe offering gourmet coffee, homemade pastries & sandwiches for breakfast & lunch.

278 Highland Ave (Somerville)

Quaint cafe offering gourmet coffee, homemade pastries & sandwiches for breakfast & lunch.

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Snug stop for breakfast & lunch bites served from a counter in a space with a friendly vibe.

356 Beacon St (Somerville)

Snug stop for breakfast & lunch bites served from a counter in a space with a friendly vibe.

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Locally sourced light fare & coffee are served at this cafe in an old bank with a vault & patio.

11 Bow St (Somerville)

Locally sourced light fare & coffee are served at this cafe in an old bank with a vault & patio.

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Dunkin'

Cafes

Long-running chain serving signature breakfast items & a variety of coffee drinks.

220 Broadway (Somerville)

Long-running chain serving signature breakfast items & a variety of coffee drinks.

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Casual coffee shop with a menu of light dishes & specially blended hot & cold drinks.

1868 Massachusetts Ave

Casual coffee shop with a menu of light dishes & specially blended hot & cold drinks.

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Relaxed spot for coffee and house-baked pastries, plus lunch fare.

125 Cambridgepark Dr

Relaxed spot for coffee and house-baked pastries, plus lunch fare.

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Need a little serotonin with your caffeine this week? A Sanctuary Cafe blends an extensive coffee and tea menu, a pastry case stocked by…

80 Charles St (Boston)

Need a little serotonin with your caffeine this week? A Sanctuary Cafe blends an extensive coffee and tea menu, a pastry case stocked by local makers, and a cozy bookstore vibe, plus a reservation-only cat lounge of friendly permanent residents you can watch from the café or visit for purr therapy.

From the Somerville newsletter, August 7, 2026

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