Gran Caffe L’Aquila

  • Location: Center City
  • Address: 1716 Chestnut Street
  • Highlight: A huge menu of speciality Italian espresso drinks
  • What to do nearby: Enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city via the One Liberty Observation deck
Excellent Italian coffee at Gran Caffe L'Aquila in Center City Philadelphia

For experty made espresso drinks in Center City, look no further than Gran Caffe L’Aquila. This Italian cafe is most well-known for their elegant dinner fare and desserts (they offer over a dozen award-winning gelato flavors!). However, many are unaware that the cafe also opens up shop every morning. For anyone seeking an elegant place to indulge in delicious homemade Italian pastries and fresh top notch coffee or espresso, Gran Caffe is the most classy choice in town.

Coffee connoisseurs will be impressed with the artisanal offerings. A large lineup of espresso offerings, plus 4 artisanal coffee blends, cappuccino drinks, and a selection of American coffee drinks are sure to please any coffee lover.

Red Hook Coffee and Tea

  • Location: Queens Village
  • Address: 765 S. 4th Street
  • Highlight: An abundance of vegan food choices
  • What to do nearby: Play with cats for a good cause at Kawaii Kitty Cafe
Red Hook coffeehouse in Queens Village section of Philadelphia

Red Hook Coffee is a cozy little place to grab your morning beverage if you happen to be exploring the Queen Village/Society Hill region of Philly. This is definitely the place to go if you are vegan/gluten-free as they offer an abundance of choices including gluten-free bread for sandwiches, vegan cream cheese for bagels, and dairy-free milk.

Their fair trade, organic coffee is pretty good, although not quite the best in town. The drip coffee is much more flavorful than the espresso. Love the unique mugs they serve the drinks in – they fit in perfectly with the quirky decor. The cozy ambiance, which includes exposed brick walls, a comfy little nook, and local artwork, makes Red Hook the most interesting choice for anyone seeking an eclectic coffeehouse experience.

Green Engine Coffee

  • Location: Haverford (Main Line suburb)
  • Address: 16 Haverford Station Rd.
  • Highlight: Unique pastries
  • What to do nearby: Brunch at White Dog Cafe
Delicious house coffee and homemade pastry at Green Engine Coffee in Haverford, Pennsylvania

Green Engine coffee is the best local coffee shop in the Main Line suburbs of Philly. Serving coffee from highly regarded local small batch roaster Rival Bros, you can always count a quality cup of coffee here. Equipment is top notch and includes an emerald green La Marzocco GB/5 espresso machine (hence the name) and a Japanese Oji Kyoto drip brewer. Besides espresso & drip, pour over, Spanish hot cocoa, and a variety of high end loose leaf teas are also offered.

Coffee aside, the best reason to visit Green Engine is for the decadent assortment of pastries! So many unique selections are available daily including an amazing homemade pop tart (varies by season) and a delicious vegan crumb cake. Various gluten free treats are available for those following a strict diet. The ambience here is gorgeous, although it tends to get insanely busy on weekends (arrive early to guarantee a spot!).

Gryphon Cafe

  • Location: Wayne (Main Line suburb)
  • Address: 105 W. Lancaster Ave.
  • Highlight: Quiet vibe – nice spacious room for working and reading
  • What to do nearby: Shop & dine in downtown Wayne
Great Americano and house coffee at Gryphon Cafe in downtown Wayne, Pennsylvania

Gryphon is a cute little local coffeehouse in historic downtown Wayne. This local hangout serves your basic espresso drinks, plus a host of specialty drinks including several hot cocoas (try the Rose White Hot Chocolate), apple cider, and kombucha. They also offer numerous breakfast and lunch selections. Breakfast fare includes bagels, avocado toast, pastries, croissants, and yogurt parfait.

This particular coffeeshop is a great choice if you are avoiding dairy as they offer 5 alternative milks. The ambiance is very local and homey with a nice quiet upstairs room for reading/working. Gryphon is one of the few coffeeshops in the Philly suburbs offers a charming local vibe. While you are in the vicinity, check out Main Point Books, a local gem right across the street.

Bodhi

  • Location: Society Hill (near Old City)
  • Address: 410 S. 2nd Street
  • Highlight: Serves renowned Stumptown coffee
  • What to do nearby: Pick up fresh local produce & goods at the Headhouse Farmers Market
Fantastic coffee and a nice historic vibe at Bodhi Coffee in the Society Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia

Bodhi is located in the beautiful historic Society Hill section of Philadelphia. This charming neighborhood of the city is home to some of the oldest homes and priciest real estate. Escape the congestion in Old City with a refreshing 20 min walk over to this under visited local gem. They serve renowned NYC based Stumptown Coffee and also Kansas City’s PT’s, which has been rated one of the 10 best coffee roasters in the US.

This place stays so quiet and relaxing because it sees so much less tourist traffic than many of the other coffeehouses located closer to the attractions. It’s worth exploring the Society Hill neighborhood for the architecture alone, so consider stopping at Bodhi as an extra treat along the way. The cafe’s location on a cobblestone street and brick exterior give it a quaint historic vibe. Right across the street is a fantastic year-round farmers market where you can pick up fresh fruits and veggies.