
Highest-rated cafes in the Merced area by diners
Highest-rated cafes in the Merced area by diners
From the first coffee houses in the Ottoman Empire to Boston's famed 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 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, cafes regularly entertained the likes of Voltaire, Rousseau, 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 in 1773, tea became a British loyalist's drink, and coffee became a popular substitute.
Boston's London Coffee House, which had opened nearly 85 years earlier, was soon renamed the American Coffee House. Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, Merchants' Coffee House hosted the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Paul Revere.
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. 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 landmarks of our daily lives. But where's the best one to find refuge and that perfect caffeinated cup near you?
Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated cafes in the Merced area based on diners' reviews on Yelp as of February 2025. Cafes with at least 20 reviews tagged as "coffee" on Yelp within a 10-kilometer radius of Merced were included. As a result, some cafes featured may primarily serve other items besides coffee and tea. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 25 locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.
Keep reading to see if your favorite cafe made the list!
#10. Yum Yum Donuts
- Rating: 3.3/5 (86 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2931 "G" St. Merced, California
- Categories: Donuts, Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Bagel Tyme
- Rating: 3.8/5 (211 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3040 Park Ave. Ste D Merced, California
- Categories: Bagels, Bakeries, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Quickly Atwater
- Rating: 3.9/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 1801 Bellevue Road Atwater, California
- Categories: Bubble Tea, Coffee & Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Noah's Vietnamese Fusion Cuisine
- Rating: 4.1/5 (471 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1327 West 18th St. Merced, California
- Categories: Vietnamese, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#6. El Tlahualil Casa del Molcajete
- Rating: 4.1/5 (163 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1277 V St. Ste A Merced, California
- Categories: Mexican, Coffee & Tea, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Joe On the Go Cafe
- Rating: 4.2/5 (143 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2806 G St. Merced, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Coffee Bandits
- Rating: 4.3/5 (220 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 309 West Main St. Merced, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Jantz Cafe & Bakery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (475 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 987 Bellevue Road Atwater, California
- Categories: Bakeries, American, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#2. The Frappe House
- Rating: 4.6/5 (122 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2777 East Nees Ave. Fresno, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Jenny Nicole's Old School House Bakery
- Rating: 4.7/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2649 Canal St. Merced, California
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Bakeries, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Rasha Aly and Carren Jao, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 313 metros.