Highest-rated cafes in Rochester, according to Yelp
From the first coffee houses in the Ottoman Empire to Boston's London Coffee House, cafes have always been an egalitarian place to gather, sip, and share ideas, many of which have changed the world.
During the Enlightenment, cafes would regularly entertain the likes of Voltaire, Rousseau, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Isaac Newton. Later, Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre would spend hours in cafes, pondering their works and holding court alongside other intellectuals.
Needless to say, coffee and cafes beget some revolutionary ideas; sipping a cup may even be a political act. When settlers dumped tea into the Boston Harbor to send a message to the British empire, tea became a British loyalist's drink, and coffee became a popular substitute. Unsurprisingly, Boston's London Coffee House opened in 1689, was soon renamed the American Coffee House. Later on in Philadelphia, Merchant Coffee House, also known as the City Tavern, would host the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Paul Revere, as well as witness an early reading of the Declaration of Independence.
Many other coffee shops steeped in history abound in the United States, including New York City's Caffe Reggio. Founded in 1927, it was the first to serve cappuccino in the country, as well as one of the first to use a La Pavoni espresso machine. New Orleans' Cafe du Monde, founded in 1862, is a fixture in the French Quarter for its coffee and beignets.
Whether it's for a cup of Joe, a heady conversation, or simply a place to start the day, cafes have become part of our personal landmarks, so where have others gone to find their refuge or perhaps their perfect dose of caffeine? Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated cafes in Rochester using data from Yelp. Rankings factor in the average rating and number of reviews. Keep reading to see if your favorite spot made the list.
#25. West Winds Cafe
- Rating: 2.5/5 (10 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 2453 Dewey Ave Rochester, NY 14615
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Ludwig's Center Stage Cafe
- Rating: 3.5/5 (26 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 25 Gibbs St Ste 116 Rochester, NY 14604
- Categories: Delis, Cafes, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Root 31
- Rating: 3.5/5 (104 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 3349 Monroe Ave Rochester, NY 14618
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch, Pizza
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Pellegrino's Deli Cafe
- Rating: 3.5/5 (66 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 1120 Mt Hope Ave Rochester, NY 14620
- Categories: Delis, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Magnolia's Deli & Cafe
- Rating: 3.5/5 (284 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 366 Park Ave Rochester, NY 14607
- Categories: Pizza, Cafes, Delis
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Village Bakery & Cafe - Armory
- Rating: 4.0/5 (205 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 145 Culver Rd Rochester, NY 14620
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Soho Bagel & Cafe
- Rating: 4.0/5 (93 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 1510 W Ridge Rd Greece, NY 14615
- Categories: Bagels, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#18. The Gate House
- Rating: 4.0/5 (640 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 274 Goodman St N Ste B116 Rochester, NY 14607
- Categories: Burgers, Pizza, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Village Bakery & Cafe - Pittsford
- Rating: 4.0/5 (296 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 5 State St Pittsford, NY 14534
- Categories: Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Baldieri Café Italiano
- Rating: 4.0/5 (12 reviews)
- Address: 441 Stone Rd Rochester, NY 14616
- Categories: Italian, Sandwiches, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#15. 1872 Cafe
- Rating: 4.0/5 (39 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 431 W Main St Rochester, NY 14608
- Categories: Cafes, Pizza, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Tree Town Cafe
- Rating: 4.0/5 (92 reviews)
- Address: 745 Penfield Rd Rochester, NY 14625
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Java's Cafe
- Rating: 4.0/5 (282 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 16 Gibbs St Rochester, NY 14604
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Melo Coffee & Kitchen
- Rating: 4.0/5 (68 reviews)
- Address: 696 University Ave Rochester, NY 14607
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Equal Grounds Coffee House
- Rating: 4.0/5 (111 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 750 South Ave Rochester, NY 14620
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Open Face at Eastman Museum
- Rating: 4.0/5 (18 reviews)
- Address: 900 East Ave Rochester, NY 14607
- Categories: Cafes, American (New), Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Oriens Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (119 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 1100 Long Pond Rd Country Village Plaza Rochester, NY 14626
- Categories: Italian, Cafes, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#8. RoCoCo Coffee Co
- Rating: 4.5/5 (11 reviews)
- Address: 240 E Main St Rochester, NY 14604
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Desserts, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Coffee Connection
- Rating: 4.5/5 (26 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 681 South Ave Rochester, NY 14620
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Coffee Roasteries, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Little Theatre Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (16 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 240 East Ave Rochester, NY 14604
- Categories: Cafes, Bars, American (New)
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Cafe Sasso
- Rating: 4.5/5 (195 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 739 Park Ave Rochester, NY 14607
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Cafes, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Orange Glory Cafe and Catering
- Rating: 4.5/5 (83 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 480 E Main St Rochester, NY 14604
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes, American (Traditional)
- Read more on Yelp
#3. SoBol Rochester
- Rating: 4.5/5 (15 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 1635 E Henrietta Rd Rochester, NY 14534
- Categories: Juice Bars & Smoothies, Acai Bowls, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Caramel Bakery and Bar
- Rating: 5.0/5 (108 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 647 Park Ave Rochester, NY 14607
- Categories: Bakeries, Bars, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#1. CRUMPETS
- Rating: 5.0/5 (47 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 441 Monroe Ave Rochester, NY 14607
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp