The best cafes in Finger Lakes

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

Browse another shelf: all of Finger Lakes’s best · Restaurants · Beauty · Antiques, Thrift, & Vintage · Nightlife · Bakeries & Sweets · Arts & Culture · Home & Garden · Shopping · Hobbies, Books, & Crafts · Entertainment · Parks & Outdoors · Pets · Sporting Goods

Pinned in Finger Lakes today

This spot is open today.

Two pinned places a day in Finger Lakes — $10 here, $25 adds the newsletter. List your business →

Paid placements are always marked.

Cafes · 3 places · showing the latest additions first

Holy Grounds Coffee Shop

Cafes

Whether you’re grabbing a latte before the commute or lingering over a slow catch-up, Holy Grounds Coffee Shop brings bakery-case comfort…

2081 Lake Rd (Elmira)

“Whether you’re grabbing a latte before the commute or lingering over a slow catch-up, Holy Grounds Coffee Shop brings bakery-case comfort with pastries, snacks, and satisfying breakfast sandwiches. Consider this your nudge to make a coffee run here this week, a tiny upgrade to your day.”

From the Chemung County newsletter, August 5, 2026

Website ↗

Coal Yard Cafe

Cafes

Quaint coffee shop using beans from local roasters & offering baked goods, sandwiches & other food.

143 Maple Ave (Ithaca)

“Quaint coffee shop using beans from local roasters & offering baked goods, sandwiches & other food.”

Website ↗

Alley Cat Cafe

Cafes

Relaxed, cat-friendly cafe featuring sandwiches, vegan options, and a separate room for petting the felines.

112 N Cayuga St (Ithaca)

“Relaxed, cat-friendly cafe featuring sandwiches, vegan options, and a separate room for petting the felines.”

Website ↗

Listed here?

You’ve earned the mark — get the BaseLocal’s Best badge for your site →. Want in? List your business →