Highest-rated cafes in Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia 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.
#30. Waterfront Gourmet Cafe & Deli
- Rating: 4.5/5 (46 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 5 N Christopher Columbus Blvd Philadelphia, PA 19106
- Categories: Cafes, Delis, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#29. CK Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (10 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 1506 Federal St Camden, NJ 08105
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Istanbul Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (11 reviews)
- Address: 301 Market St Philadelphia, PA 19106
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Queen & Rook Game Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (90 reviews)
- Address: 607 S 2nd St Philadelphia, PA 19147
- Categories: Vegetarian, Cafes, Tabletop Games
- Read more on Yelp
#26. The Garden
- Rating: 4.5/5 (15 reviews)
- Address: 121 N Columbus Blvd Philadelphia, PA 19106
- Categories: Cafes, Beer Gardens
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Persimmon Coffee
- Rating: 4.5/5 (18 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 11 W Girard Ave Philadelphia, PA 19123
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Coffee Roasteries, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Two Eagles Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (72 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 1401 S 20th St Philadelphia, PA 19146
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch, Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Amsale Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (15 reviews)
- Address: 4817 Walnut St Philadelphia, PA 19139
- Categories: Ethiopian, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Bison Coffee
- Rating: 4.5/5 (18 reviews)
- Address: 1600 Callowhill St Philadelphia, PA 19130
- Categories: Cafes, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Torch-Wood Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (129 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 303 N 3rd St Philadelphia, PA 19106
- Categories: Cafes, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Cafe La Maude
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1728 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 816 N 4th St Philadelphia, PA 19123
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Dolce & Caffè
- Rating: 4.5/5 (118 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 708 N 2nd St Philadelphia, PA 19123
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Vineyards Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (212 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 847 N 16th St Philadelphia, PA 19130
- Categories: Creperies, Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Batter & Crumbs Vegan Bakery and Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (99 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 1401 Reed St Philadelphia, PA 19146
- Categories: Cafes, Bakeries, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#16. LesbiVeggies
- Rating: 4.5/5 (91 reviews)
- Address: 112 W Merchant St Audubon , NJ 08106
- Categories: Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Carangi Baking
- Rating: 4.5/5 (38 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 2655 S Iseminger St Philadelphia, PA 19148
- Categories: Bakeries, Italian, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Harvinskins Seafood Market & Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (47 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 3401 Federal St Camden, NJ 08105
- Categories: Seafood, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Tuscany Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (61 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 230 S Broad St Philadelphia, PA 19102
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Gilda Cafe and Market
- Rating: 4.5/5 (13 reviews)
- Address: 300 E Girard Ave Philadelphia, PA 19125
- Categories: Portuguese, Cafes, Specialty Food
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Mood Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (495 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 4618 Baltimore Ave Philadelphia, PA 19143
- Categories: Cafes, Pakistani, Halal
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Rival Bros Coffee
- Rating: 4.5/5 (40 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 1100 Tasker St Philadelphia, PA 19148
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Coffee Roasteries, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Yellow Bicycle Canteen
- Rating: 4.5/5 (30 reviews)
- Address: 930 Locust St Philadelphia, PA 19107
- Categories: Vegetarian, Cafes, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Maria's Bread Sandwiches
- Rating: 4.5/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 685 Haddon Ave Collingswood, NJ 08108
- Categories: Cafes, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Forin Cafe
- Rating: 5.0/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 2041 Coral St Ste 2 Philadelphia, PA 19125
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#6. A La Mousse
- Rating: 5.0/5 (83 reviews)
- Address: 1622 South St Philadelphia, PA 19146
- Categories: Desserts, Coffee & Tea, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Alif Brew & Mini Mart
- Rating: 5.0/5 (29 reviews)
- Address: 4501 Baltimore Ave Philadelphia, PA 19143
- Categories: Cafes, Convenience Stores, Ethiopian
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Café Tolia
- Rating: 5.0/5 (18 reviews)
- Address: 26 N 3rd St Philadelphia, PA 19106
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Bold Coffee Bar
- Rating: 5.0/5 (42 reviews)
- Address: 1623 Ridge Ave Philadelphia, PA 19130
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Santana's Bakery & Cafe
- Rating: 5.0/5 (11 reviews)
- Address: 3205 River Rd Camden, NJ 08105
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Guardhouse Café
- Rating: 5.0/5 (10 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 2275 Bridge St Bldg 101 Philadelphia, PA 19137
- Categories: Cafes, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
