
Highest-rated cafes in the Iowa City area by diners
Highest-rated cafes in the Iowa City 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 Iowa City 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 Iowa City 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!
#13. Tspoons
- Rating: 2.7/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 201 South Clinton St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Caribou Coffee
- Rating: 3.2/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2445 2nd St. Coralville, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#11. The Java House - Mormon Trek
- Rating: 3.5/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 713 Mormon Trek Blvd. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Coffee Roasteries, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#10. The High Ground Cafe
- Rating: 3.5/5 (68 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 301 East Market St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Coffee Emporium
- Rating: 3.9/5 (30 reviews)
- Address: 925 East 2nd Ave. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Sidekick Coffee & Books
- Rating: 4.1/5 (48 reviews)
- Address: 1310 1/2 Melrose Ave. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bookstores
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Soseki Café
- Rating: 4.3/5 (94 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 227 South Dubuque St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Prairie Lights Books
- Rating: 4.4/5 (88 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 15 South Dubuque St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bookstores, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp
#5. The Dandy Lion
- Rating: 4.5/5 (191 reviews)
- Address: 111 South Dubuque St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: New American, Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#4. The Encounter Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (185 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 376 South Clinton St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Press Coffee - Iowa City
- Rating: 4.6/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1120 North Dodge St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Aspen Leaf Yogurt Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
- Rating: 4.7/5 (20 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 125 South Dubuque St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Desserts, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Wild Culture
- Rating: 4.9/5 (31 reviews)
- Address: 210 North Linn St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Beer Bar, Cocktail Bars, 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.