Highest-rated cafes in the Norfolk 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 Norfolk 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 Norfolk 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!

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#30. Fair Grounds

- Rating: 4.2/5 (315 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 806 Baldwin Ave. Ste 2 Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

2 / 30

#29. Zeke's

- Rating: 4.2/5 (291 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 800 Granby St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Poke, Acai Bowls
- Read more on Yelp

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#28. COVA Brewing Company

- Rating: 4.2/5 (166 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9529 Shore Drive Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breweries
- Read more on Yelp

4 / 30

#27. Biscuit Belly - Norfolk

- Rating: 4.2/5 (70 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2401 Hampton Blvd. Ste 101 Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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#26. Kung Fu Tea

- Rating: 4.3/5 (80 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 520 West 21st St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bubble Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp

6 / 30

#25. Cure Coffeehouse

- Rating: 4.3/5 (470 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 503 Botetourt St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Salad, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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#24. O's Donuts

- Rating: 4.3/5 (180 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 222 West 21st St. Unit North Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Donuts, Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

8 / 30

#23. aLatté Cafe

- Rating: 4.3/5 (187 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 321 Granby St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

9 / 30

#22. Coaster Coffee

- Rating: 4.4/5 (149 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8418 Tidewater Drive Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

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#21. Town Center Cold Pressed - Ghent

- Rating: 4.4/5 (175 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1902 Colley Ave. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

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#20. Mudita Cafe & Coffeehouse

- Rating: 4.4/5 (92 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9647 First View St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Cafes, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

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#19. Catnip Cat Cafe

- Rating: 4.5/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1611-B Colley Ave. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Pet Adoption, Coffee & Tea, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

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#18. Pale Horse Coffee

- Rating: 4.5/5 (62 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 540 Belaire Ave. Chesapeake, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee Roasteries, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

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#17. 17 Hands Coffee Robin Simmons Bakery

- Rating: 4.5/5 (281 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1830 Kempsville Road Ste 104 Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Desserts, Coffee & Tea, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp

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#16. Tapioca Go

- Rating: 4.5/5 (233 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1434 Sams Drive Ste 106 Chesapeake, Virginia
- Categories: Bubble Tea, Coffee & Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp

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#15. Duck Donuts

- Rating: 4.5/5 (125 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1329 North Battlefield Blvd. Ste 140 Chesapeake, Virginia
- Categories: Donuts, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

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#14. Equinox Coffee

- Rating: 4.5/5 (83 reviews)
- Address: 2800 Colley Ave. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

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#13. C4 Coffee

- Rating: 4.5/5 (73 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4676 Princess Anne Road Ste 120 Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches, Colombian
- Read more on Yelp

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#12. Tamarind

- Rating: 4.6/5 (298 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 415 North Military Hwy Ste 27 Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Indian, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

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#11. Marchese Italian Market

- Rating: 4.6/5 (137 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1700 Pleasure House Road Ste 106 Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Italian, Coffee & Tea, Tapas Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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#10. Firehouse Coffee

- Rating: 4.6/5 (94 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1 Ruckman Road Hampton, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp

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#9. Coalescence Coffee

- Rating: 4.7/5 (136 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 226 West 24th St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Community Service/Non-Profit, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp

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#8. Kobros Coffee

- Rating: 4.7/5 (70 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 419 West 21st St. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

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#7. Mea Culpa Cafe

- Rating: 4.7/5 (94 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2410 Colonial Ave. Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

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#6. Colattao Coffee House

- Rating: 4.7/5 (166 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1115 Independence Blvd. Ste 102 Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Chimney Cakes, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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#5. CLTRE vgn jnt

- Rating: 4.8/5 (121 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1309 Fordham Drive Ste 106 Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Vegan, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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#4. The High Cup

- Rating: 4.8/5 (81 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 117 East Princess Anne Road Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Korean, Art Galleries
- Read more on Yelp

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#3. Project Seed Coffee

- Rating: 4.8/5 (58 reviews)
- Address: 5241 Princess Anne Road Ste 101 Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Desserts, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

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#2. La Vie Always Latte Cafe

- Rating: 4.9/5 (56 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1846 East Little Creek Road Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

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#1. Apelu Island Cafe

- Rating: 4.9/5 (58 reviews)
- Address: 1710 East Little Creek Road Ste 104 Norfolk, Virginia
- Categories: Bagels, Themed Cafes, 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.

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