Cleveland’s Coffee Scene: My Favorite Local Shops
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I love trying out new local coffeeshops no matter where I live or travel. Supporting local business is always important, plus you get to enjoy the benefits of higher quality coffee and a more eclectic setting than you would expect at a standard chain. Since living in the Cleveland metro this past year, I have explored the coffee scene nearly every weekend. Check out my recommended independent roasters and coffee shops for the best cup of joe before exploring great city attractions like the wonderful art museum, the beautiful Metroparks system, or shopping in the suburbs.
Metropolitan Coffee
This cozy coffeehouse serves beans roasted by Rising Star: another one of my favorite coffeeshops in the city. They offer all your usual coffee and espresso drinks, plus lemonade, shakes and blended drinks. Everything is made in house including their delicious muffins (the blueberry cream cheese is my favorite). They also serve a small menu of hot foods including Baked French Toast and a Quiche of the day (both delicious as well). The decor is attractive and the setting very spacious. Out of all the coffeeshops on this list, this one offers the brightest ambiance during the bleak winter season due to the huge floor-to-ceiling windows.
Location: Cleveland (Brooklyn Heights)
Highlight: Bright ambiance and cheerful decor
What to order: Crustless Quiche of the Day, Baked French Toast
Rising Star Roasters
This Lakewood cafe serves the highest quality coffee in the city. I love that they offer Cleveland Bagel Company bagels and cream cheese flavors (my favorite is the seasonal Dill Pickle). Pastries come from Blackbird Bake Shop and GF/vegan treats from Philomena. The ambiance is pretty basic with limited seating although the artwork is eclectic and interesting enough to brighten up the small space (I love the cat pieces!). What I like most about this coffeeshop is they serve each coffee in its’ own minipot so you can pour your own refill. As someone who likes my coffee hot, I appreciate being able to top off my own drink. I prefer black coffee, however, interesting lattes on the lineup include: Cardamom Bomb, Vanilla Bean, and Lavender).
Location: Lakewood, Tremont, Cleveland Heights, Hingetown, The Arcade
Highlight: Top notch coffee beans
What to order: Everything Bagel with homemade cream cheese (I recommend the Dill Pickle)
Roasted
Roasted offers the funkiest, most unique setting of the coffeehouses on this list. It was the first coffeeshop I check out in Cleveland, and the one I come back too most often. The vibe is more neighborly thanks to the friendly decor and location in historic Tremont. I love the low-key relaxed ambiance and eccentric mix matched decor – it keeps things interesting. This is one of those coffeeshops you can linger at with friends, playing a board game or just listening to the music. I love the windowside nooks with the couch and fireplace. I typically arrive early to get this prime window seat! Their bagels and muffins are both delicious and the house coffee is always hot and flavorful. Besides the typical coffee and espresso drinks, they offer seasonal holiday lattes, hot cocoa, smoothies, and homemade masala chai. Bonus points for the frequent visitor punch card.
Location: Tremont
Highlight: Eclectic decor and ambiance
What to order: GF Cranberry Muffin
Civilization
The historic charm of this coffeeshop in the Tremont neighborhood draws me back again and again. I love the old time setting in a beautiful 19th century building and the fact that I see many of the same loyal customers again and again. It has that local charm and vibe going for it which is becoming more rare today. On any given day, the baristas are socializing with the regulars. The inside is really dark with some twinkle lights in the front which I really love as it gives the place a super cozy vibe during the bleak winter months. The house coffee is always excellent and the pastries are delicious. They offer a huge assortment of homemade treats from various bakeries – the danishes, muffins, and croissants are my preferred choices.
Location: Tremont
Highlight: Historic vibe
What to order: Apple danish
5 Points
The colorful vibe and authentic Irish pastries which set this unique coffeeshop apart. While the space is super small, the Ireland based decor is very different, yet eclectic and attractive. You will find a big colorful mural, lots of plants, and Irish based decorations. The coffee is a bit on the dark side (I never need a refill!) and the food is top notch. Celtic specialities include: Irish Cream Cortado, Irishtown Blend (dark roast with Irish steamed cream), and Dublin Fog (Irish breakfast tea with steamed milk and lavender). What really brings me in is the awesome homemade pastries/bakery items. I love the food especially the Banana and Irish Soda Bread, the Curry Cauliflower Pastry, and the Jalapeno Cheddar Quiche. They offer lots of seasonal specialities: most recently I saw a tempting Lucky Charms pop tart on the lineup.
Location: Cleveland (West Park)
Highlight: Irish decor and pastries
What to try: Curry Cauliflower Pastry, Irish Soda Bread
Savor the Moment
This family-owned cafe is located in the West Park neighborhood of Cleveland. The setting is relaxed with cozy seating, interesting antiques to browse, and lively artwork. Lots of funky decor to browse at while you wait for your drinks/food. I love that they display the leg lamp from “A Christmas Story” all year round as a nod to the region’s movie filming history. I love looking around at all the weird thrift shop style decorations – I’ve added many to my list of items to look up! Even the bathroom is decorated price nice! In addition to locally roasted coffee, frappes, 4 types of chai lattes, and blended drinks, they offer the largest tea menu in the metro. A variety of breakfast sandwiches and pastries available daily. The prices are affordable, staff is friendly, and the vibe interesting enough to keep you coming back.
Location: Cleveland (West Park)
Highlight: Eclectic charm
What to order: Bagel sandwich
More unique coffee shops
I love supporting local coffeehouses throughout the country. You can check out my guide to some of my favorites across the US, from Boston, to Charleston, to Tucson.
