Photo courtesy of Jon Bilous via Shutterstock.
While planning a recent trip to Baltimore, I was disheartened when I did a quick Google search for coffee shops and received recommendations for Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts. But that Google search was misleading, for my expectations were greatly exceeded once I arrived in Charm City. Baltimore may not have the reputation of a fine coffee city, but in reality there are plenty of excellent places to recharge in this historic town.
Here are five of the best coffee spots in Baltimore:
Photo courtesy of Zeke’s.
1. Zeke’s Coffee
Zeke’s supplies coffee to a few of my favorite cafes in Richmond Virginia, like donut haven Sugar Shack, so I knew the coffee would be great as I headed out to their flagship location. What I didn’t expect was a charming little white-panelled house to be the site for its cafe and roastery. Free wifi and a simple menu of bagels, pastries and sandwiches top off this Moravia-Walther spot.
Photo courtesy of Dooby’s.
2. Dooby’s
A trendy, open dining space in the heart of the city’s Mount Vernon arts district, Dooby’s is a restaurant and coffee shop rolled into one. Open from breakfast until dinner, they serve Korean fusion dishes (try the miso salmon and wasabi crema rice bowl) alongside coffee-friendly pastries and desserts, and excellent espresso. It all makes for an unusual but wonderful mix. They also often run a food truck down at the harbor; check their website for times.
Photo courtesy of the author.
3. Lost City Diner
If you’re looking for espresso coffee, a diner is probably not for you. But if you’re after a piping hot Americano and a hearty breakfast, then you can’t go past Lost City Diner, a stone’s throw from the city’s central Penn Station. Lost City has all the retro charm of a fifties diner, with a science fiction comic book theme, but serves decidedly modern diner food, with lots of vegetarian and vegan options. Cozy up in one of their booths with one of their vintage comic books and a cup of joe.
Photo courtesy of Artifact.
4. Artifact Coffee
Housed in a beautifully-rendered, reclaimed industrial building, Artifact Coffee is a rustic cafe delight. Serving up fresh and local fare, their breakfasts are simple yet scrumptious and their espresso coffee (from North Carolina provider Counter Culture) is some of the best brewed in Baltimore. Located in the north-west district of Roosevelt Park, Artifact’s exposed-stone walls and soaring rafters will make you feel like you’re sipping your latte in the coolest farmhouse in the world.
Photo courtesy of Koffee Therapy.
5. Koffee Therapy
Koffee Therapy may not be quite as chic and polished as spots like Artifact and Dooby’s, but it is a central Baltimore gem. Located on Franklin just off Charles Street, near the Walters Art Museum, Koffee Therapy feels like your best friend’s living room. Full of comfortable couches and spots to read or work, this casual cafe serves organic and fair trade coffee and delicious French pastries.
What’s your favorite cafe for Baltimore coffee? Please share in the comments below.
By Gemma King
Jessica Festa is the editor of the travel sites Jessie on a Journey (http://jessieonajourney.com) and Epicure & Culture (http://epicureandculture.com). Along with blogging at We Blog The World, her byline has appeared in publications like Huffington Post, Gadling, Fodor’s, Travel + Escape, Matador, Viator, The Culture-Ist and many others. After getting her BA/MA in Communication from the State University of New York at Albany, she realized she wasn’t really to stop backpacking and made travel her full time job. Some of her most memorable experiences include studying abroad in Sydney, teaching English in Thailand, doing orphanage work in Ghana, hiking her way through South America and traveling solo through Europe. She has a passion for backpacking, adventure, hiking, wine and getting off the beaten path.
