Highest-rated cafes in the Ithaca area by diners
Highest-rated cafes in the Ithaca 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 Ithaca 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 Ithaca 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!
#16. Kung Fu Tea
- Rating: 3.2/5 (41 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 143 Dryden Road Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Bubble Tea, Coffee & Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Collegetown Bagels
- Rating: 3.5/5 (159 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 301 East State St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bagels, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Ithaca Coffee Company
- Rating: 3.7/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2255 North Triphammer Road Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Beer, Wine & Spirits, Coffee & Tea, Grocery
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Collegetown Bagels
- Rating: 3.8/5 (475 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 420 College Ave. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Bagels, Sandwiches, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#12. U Tea
- Rating: 4.0/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 205 Dryden Road Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Bubble Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Paris Baguette
- Rating: 4.0/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 125 East State St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Bakeries, Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Coal Yard Cafe
- Rating: 4.1/5 (139 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 143 Maple Ave. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Gimme! Coffee
- Rating: 4.2/5 (104 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 430 North Cayuga St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Brookton's Market
- Rating: 4.2/5 (44 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 491 Brooktondale Road Brooktondale, New York
- Categories: Grocery, Coffee & Tea, Beer Bar
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Gimme Coffee
- Rating: 4.3/5 (85 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 506 West State St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Chatty Cathy Coffee & Juice Press
- Rating: 4.3/5 (84 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 327 Eddy St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies, Acai Bowls
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Alley Cat Cafe
- Rating: 4.4/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 112 North Cayuga St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Pet Adoption, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Brewer's Cafe and Taproom
- Rating: 4.4/5 (62 reviews)
- Address: 1384 Dryden Road Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, American, Beer Bar
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Botanist Coffeehouse
- Rating: 4.5/5 (24 reviews)
- Address: 1201 North Tioga St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Dolce Delight
- Rating: 4.5/5 (138 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1080 Danby Road Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Comfort Food, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Sacred Root Kava Lounge & Tea Bar
- Rating: 4.5/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 103 South Geneva St. Ithaca, New York
- Categories: Bars, Desserts, 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.
