Highest-rated cafes in Madison, 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 Madison 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.
#25. Metcalfe's Local To Go
- Rating: 1.5/5 (11 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 4000 International Ln Gate 7 Madison, WI 53704
- Categories: Grocery, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Barriques University
- Rating: 3.0/5 (38 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 2505 University Ave Madison, WI 53705
- Categories: Cafes, Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Hy-Vee Market Grille
- Rating: 3.0/5 (16 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 3801 E Washington Ave Madison, WI 53714
- Categories: Sports Bars, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Aldo's Cafe
- Rating: 3.5/5 (38 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 330 N Orchard St Madison, WI 53715
- Categories: Cafes, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Sunroom Cafe
- Rating: 3.5/5 (203 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 638 State St Madison, WI 53703
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Four Lakes Cafe
- Rating: 3.5/5 (11 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 600 Highland Ave University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics Madison, WI 53705
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Barriques - Fitchburg
- Rating: 4.0/5 (101 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 5957 McKee Rd Ste 5 Fitchburg, WI 53719
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Beer, Wine & Spirits, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Fair Trade Coffee House
- Rating: 4.0/5 (115 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 418 State St Madison, WI 53703
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Valentia Coffee
- Rating: 4.0/5 (16 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 799 University Ave Madison, WI 53715
- Categories: Cafes, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Lane's Bakery & Coffee
- Rating: 4.0/5 (73 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 2304 S Park St Madison, WI 53713
- Categories: Bakeries, Grocery, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Ancora Cafe + Bakery
- Rating: 4.0/5 (86 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 3256 University Ave Madison, WI 53705
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Crema Cafe
- Rating: 4.0/5 (229 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 4124 Monona Dr Madison, WI 53716
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#13. The Green Owl Cafe
- Rating: 4.0/5 (390 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 1970 Atwood Ave Madison, WI 53704
- Categories: Vegetarian, Vegan, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Barriques - Monroe St.
- Rating: 4.0/5 (72 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 1825 Monroe St Madison, WI 53711
- Categories: Beer, Wine & Spirits, Coffee & Tea, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Java Cat
- Rating: 4.5/5 (100 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 4221 Lien Rd Madison, WI 53704
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes, Gelato
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Teddywedgers
- Rating: 4.5/5 (70 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 101 State St Madison, WI 53703
- Categories: Cafes, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Cottage Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (128 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 915 Atlas Ave Madison, WI 53714
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Garth's Brew Bar
- Rating: 4.5/5 (16 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 1726 Monroe St Madison, WI 53711
- Categories: Beer Bar, Coffee & Tea, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Cafe CODA
- Rating: 4.5/5 (14 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 1224 Williamson St Madison, WI 53703
- Categories: Jazz & Blues, Cocktail Bars, Themed Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Ancora Cafe + Bakery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (145 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 107 King St Madison, WI 53703
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Zippy Lube
- Rating: 4.5/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 2013 N Sherman Ave Madison, WI 53704
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Indie Coffee
- Rating: 4.5/5 (153 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 1225 Regent St Madison, WI 53715
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Cafe Social
- Rating: 4.5/5 (18 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 102 N Bedford St Madison Wi Madison, WI 53703
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Madison Chocolate Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (56 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 729 Glenway St Madison, WI 53711
- Categories: Chocolatiers & Shops, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Roll Play
- Rating: 5.0/5 (31 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 3241 Garver Green Ste 115 Madison, WI 53704
- Categories: Cafes, Tabletop Games, Pan Asian
- Read more on Yelp
