Located in the heart of Boston, near the head of Newbury Street, you will find the lovely Jonquils Café & Bakery, who roast beans right on the premises. On the north side of the street, step a few stairs down to Jonquils, a bright and modern café with a pleasant feel. There are four levels of Jonquils, akin to a Star Trek chessboard. Weather permitting, you can enjoy the outdoor, ground level seating on one of Boston’s major streets or step inside and head downstairs to the coffee bar, There is more seating in the basement, but I enjoy the little alcove on the mezzanine level. Besides the great self-roasted coffee, the unique pastries and cakes set Jonquils apart from its peers. The cakes are gorgeously designed to resemble a leaf, a rose or a piece of fruit and are backed up with a delectable taste. The delicious and beautiful cakes are rich and light at the same time. Coffee and pastries are served to you by a very friendly staff, who makes your return not even a question.
Take a rock and throw it as far as you can and you are bound to hit a Tatte: a wonderful café with an exquisite menu and mighty fine coffee. Well, when you use Stumptown coffee, it is hard to go wrong. The original café on Beacon St. in Brookline is on the smallish size, but the al fresco seating doubles the capacity in the warmer months. Once they perfected their system the sister cafes doubled the size. They are wide open with a bright ambience. The menu is robust, featuring bowls, salads, sandwiches, tartines, and pastries, and if you want something exotic you can try one of the shakshuka delicacies, a traditional North African dish. Along with the daily fare of breakfast and lunch, Tatte offers freshly baked pastries, cakes and bread. A diverse culinary experience stabled by a great cup of coffee. Place your order, sit inside or out, and let Tatte do the rest. They will bring your freshly made order to your table, the old-fashioned way.
Simon’s Coffee Shop is a quite café a few blocks from Porter Square in Cambridge—a perfect neighborhood place to enjoy a lovely espresso drink, delightfully presented in a simple ambience of paneled walls, mounted lamps and a dozen small tables. If you can, sit in the window.
I’ve been going to Simon’s for years and it never disappoints. Coffee is the central theme at this café, but the menu has just been revamped with a few additions. You can have a pastry or sandwich from either their breakfast or lunch menu. You can enjoy that with your Gracenote roasted coffee. Gracenote has a couple of cafes around Boston, also recommended. (That was the review within the review.)
As with many small cafes, Simon’s is involved with the community and often hosts a curated art exhibit. They still have an old-fashioned bulletin board with community events, tying the locals together. Throughout the years the staff has always been friendly and accommodating. This is a destination café that you should not miss.
The Thinking Cup is the benchmark of cafés. First and foremost, the coffee from Stumptown Coffee Roasters is exquisite. Stumptown started out as an independent roaster in Portland, Oregon and grew until it was bought out by Peet’s Coffee. Fortunately, Peet’s did not change a thing and still produces high quality, delicious coffee.
A hallmark of “The Cup,” as I affectionately call it, is the consistency. Every espresso drink is delivered with beauty and mouthwatering taste. The food is prepared and served to the same high standard as the coffee, whether you choose to snack on a lovely pastry or cake, or enjoy a meal for breakfast or lunch. The range of food options will satisfy every hungry customer. The newspaper covering on the tabletops and the soft lighting creates a warm and intimate atmosphere, complimented by a carefully curated playlist flowing throughout the day.
If you are going to meet someone in Boston (two locations in the Back Bay and one in the North End), whether it is business, catching up with an old friend or a first date, The Thinking Cup is an excellent choice. It is often busy, but no matter what, a table always opens up.
The first time I came to the Kohi Coffee Company, the aroma enveloped me a block away. I knew I was heading in the right direction. I was greeted by a friendly barista and ordered my usual latte. Kohi uses guest roasters from time to time, but Tandem Coffee Roasters out of Maine is their primary.
Kohi, which is Japanese for coffee, has its roots in Provincetown, but have since opened three locations in Boston. The cafes are on the smaller side, offering a communal feeling with shared tables or counterspace. The atmosphere is bright, modern, and offers fresh home-baked goods.
Because of the easy parking the Brighton location is a destination place for me. It has a neighborhood feel within the industrial transformation that is taking place there. I also enjoy the Revolution Hotel local. It has a quiet lobby with a wonderful couch on which you can kick back and enjoy our friend Joe!
Lenny Manzo
Writer