The 17 best coffee shops and best cafes in Princeton

If I could give a zero star I would rem is the most disrespectful supervisor that can exist, Starbucks pls fire her. Walked into this Starbucks was treated with disdain and when the order was incorrect was treated with aloofness. When I spoke in a low tone she said leave - I was not creating a seen but giving feedback in the most respectful way possible - I would request that someone in corporate to look at the video and make your determination

Good Drinks near to the Princeton University. Sadly we had to wait very long.

I’ve never seen a Starbucks run out of cold brew as much as this location does. The baristas are miserable, especially the black haired girl with the glasses. No apron so I didn’t get her name. I asked for a straw and she put it on the mobile order handoff instead of handing it to me. Seen a lot of complaints about that. Seems like the baristas are burnt out and overwhelmed. Usually only 2 employees behind the counter during very busy times. They need to hire more people. The music is vulgar only when the black haired woman EITH the glasses is working. Coming from a speaker where the drip coffee is made instead of their speaker system. DO BETTER!!!

I'm fairly certain that if I saw someone struggling and needed a glass of water I would want to help them. Not at this restaurant. Would not recommend going here if you want to be treated kindly. Quite rude.

Often runs out of ice coffee and cold brew. Severely understaffed and would recommend ordering well in advance.

Good place to work and have coffee. Its right across Princeton University.This place is huge. It got street parking. They have google wifi so you can work and enjoy coffee. The service is quick and good. Kind staff. It can be seen from the main street.

Opens late even on New Year's Eve, when I went. Nice familiar establishment when you want coffee in Princeton. Scrumptious desserts too.

The drink I ordered was a latte with oat milk and caramel, with light hazelnut. I thought the drink was really good, I left the house today with the intentions that I needed a really good latte. I am satisfied with my results. I just wish they had a little bit more variety of flavors for the drinks. No big deal though. Some find simple is best.

Coffee is good (a little strong to me but it tastes great), people are nice, and although sometimes it’s super crowded there are always good vibes. ☕️🥐

I'm so glad I stopped by. This coffee shop knows what it's doing! I ordered the mocha, and it was a masterpiece—perfectly balanced with just the right amount of sweetness. It's clear they use high-quality, fresh beans. You can def taste the difference. Had me up for HOURS

My friend and I was greeted by Beatrice at the counter and she was very attentive and welcoming as it was our first time, she offered us samples, and helped us decide on what was best! Honestly the best customer service ever! The in-home made pumpkin cream is sooooooooo good! Good anything!

Great coffee shop in the heart of Princeton! Absolutely great coffee. It’s a must try. Very welcoming and hip vibes. They make almost everything in house which is a huge plus. Owner seems very welcoming and hospitable. Love a good owner operated small business. I got the NOLA, which was highly recommended

It's a small world but inside it has plenty of seating. A nice selection of chai and coffee based drinks. Has good seasonal drinks as well. Baristas are friendly and

This coffee place is truly exceptional, offering a delightful ambiance. I highly recommend trying their lavender latte; it has a perfect balance of flavor and sweetness.

Very cute spot! Stopped here after small world coffee (can never get enough caffeine) and also got a little cake and it was delicious. The inside is very cozy, bright, light, and lots of two tops to enjoy a little afternoon break solo or with a friend. We sat up front by the window and had a great time sipping on coffee, people watching, and taking a little break from all of the holiday hustle and bustle. Coffee was tasty, piping hot and the chocolate cake was rich, creamy, and delicious. The line moved quickly and the staff was pleasant. I'd return if I pass through Princeton again.

Cute little bakery with good herbal tea and coffee. Croissant was probably not made the same day. It's chewy instead of crispy on the crust. The center is also chewy instead of soft/buttery. But, it's only my personal opinion. Cakes looks delicious and beautifully decorated. Didn't get to taste it. Next time!

I spent the day with my daughters and decided to go to Chez Alice on a recommendation from my cousin. Very charming and good atmosphere. The service was awesome, I wasn’t sure if they had refills on regular coffee so I asked a gentleman who said that he would bring it to me at the table when he did bring the coffee to the table he apologized for what he thought his response to my initial inquiry as abrupt, he was not at all but nevertheless he felt the need to apologize. Great place and the service is outstanding… Service like this is hard to get these days…

If you’ve ever wondered where there’s a bakery that could give you a hallmark level experience in real life? Look no further than Chez Alice. I’ve never had such delicate and delicious cakes in my life. Everything was as moist as could be while perfectly Fluffy and balanced and full of flavor. The customer service was as top notch as their pastries and I most certainly will be returning. 💕

Chez Alice Patisserie in Princeton, NJ feels like stepping into a dream filled with warmth and sweet smells. The atmosphere is cozy and elegant, like a charming café from a fairy tale. The staff is incredibly friendly and treats you like royalty from the moment you walk in. Every pastry looks beautiful and tastes even better—especially the buttery croissants and rich chocolate éclairs. I love this place, and my family will definitely be back next time we’re in town!

One of my favorite coffee shops in Princeton -- a beautiful, elegant and quaint Parisian cafe. I love when I am greeted by Kris (sp?) who prepares my coffee and small bites with such love. I stop by this shop when I'm in town and always feel so well taken care of in her presence. They also have incredible macaroons and cakes. Thank you Chez Alice.

My daughter and I stopped into this lovely bakery today and we were so glad we did! The croissants and pastries were absolutely delicious fresh, flaky, and full of amazing flavors. There were so many tempting options to choose from. What made the experience even better was how friendly and gracious the owner was. I visit Princeton often, but somehow had never tried Chez Alice before now I wish I had discovered it sooner. We’ll definitely be back again soon!

food wise is good, service quick and friendly but it’s falling apart. Chairs have duck tape, cushions with big stains. It’s sad this place can be so much more for anyone.

The ambiance of the building was divine. Let's delve into the culinary experience. I opted for the Goddess Caprese but was disappointed to find it sloppily prepared and lacking ingredients far from its advertised presentation. A dish with the name Goddess should be upheld to the highest standards. After returning the sandwich, I dug into my Goddess salad. I would like to give a shout-out to Andrew Levine, who provided exceptional service, going to the extra mile to ensure my satisfaction despite my declining further offerings. I rated the service and atmosphere with 5 stars, while the food fell short with 3. I would like to thank Andrew for his attentive and caring demeanor, clarifying the discrepancies with grace. I want to express my gratitude for his efforts and encourage him to continue his stellar work. Peace and light.

I ordered a sandwich from the vegetarian menu. It was the Mediterranean sandwich and was supposed to have no meat on it. Instead, I was given the tuna salad sandwich. This caused me immense emotional distress as a vegetarian. I tend to be incredibly skeptical about the food I order from restaurants, but this time I trusted Panera to get my order right. And this time, there was meat in it, causing me to get very upset and distressed. Although the label on the wrapper said Mediterranean, and so did the receipt, the sandwich was a tuna salad sandwich and NOT a Mediterranean sandwich. I am extremely upset and distressed, and will NOT be ordering from Panera ever again.

Panera Bread never disappoints! Whether I’m stopping by for a quick lunch or settling in with my laptop for a quiet work session, the atmosphere is always warm and welcoming. The food is fresh, flavorful, and feels healthier than typical fast food options.

Bagel If you have to apply the butter yourself then that's like getting a bagel from a grocery store :( Panera, wake up please. Give proper bagel with butter to your customer. Don't let your customer become your chef, spreader...lol

We were impressed by the super cozy atmosphere at this Panera!! It’s was such a great spot to recharge after some shopping around the block, and not too busy during a late Saturday afternoon. The cashier was a lil slow ( you can pretty much tell that they are new to the job), but there are self-service kiosk and order from table services so that a plus. The order was quick and the crew at the food station was nice.

lady at the front counter had my order wrong, I ordered 2 full sized strawberry poppyseed chicken salads & a regular drink, it came up to $39+, come to find out they charged me for 2 large drinks and put like a teaspoon of salad dressing in the 2 containers. it was so little, they could have put in 1 container and it still would not been a full container. I would never go to this 1 again, didnt get any bread with my salads and it was my 2nd time ever getting panera bread. I will just stick with going to the 1 in ewing by tcnj college. never again and customer service was terrible, it is a nice store tho but that's about it! very disappointing

Great brunch on weekends. Very friendly service. Outdoor sitting is charming and enjoyable in good weather. Buffet selection is good and includes fruits, cheese, pastries, omelets, eggs, juice, cold cuts, bread and preserves, etc.

All the food is SOOOO good and soooo fresh. Coffee is perfect in giant mugs. Friendly staff

Nice desserts. Best strawberry roll cakes in town! The only minus point is that seats are limited.

Great location, ambience and service. I had an omelet with chorizo. It was delicious.

pretty good omelet! I reccommend the berliner. However, the cheese in the hawaiian omelet was too strong, and my friend had to wait for her omelet for twenty minutes.

Ordered a vegetable omelette today, and I will say I was impressed. So much better than PJ’s pancake house (their omelettes are not good). Although I like my vegetables cooked into the eggs, the omelette here was very good... probably the best I have had in a long time. Somebody there knows how to cook. Vegetables and eggs were seasoned perfectly, and it came with a nice small salad and good quality toast. The owner is also a friendly, nice man. A little pricey in my opinion, but I will definitely order here again when I am in the area.

Had breakfast at Cafe Vienna on Sunday morning, apparently there are new owners and they were very welcoming. The fresh squeezed OJ was delicious. The food came quickly and my omelette was great. I would definitely recommend this place nice atmosphere and a great location. Looking forward to coming back and checking out the lunch menu.

I enjoy a good grilled cheese sandwich, so when I heard one was in Princeton, I had to check it out. My son and I stopped in for lunch on a Monday. The place isn’t actually facing the road. It sits behind the Thomas Sweet Ice Cream Shop, so be aware of that if you go looking for the restaurant. If you’re facing the ice cream shop, go to the left. Upon entering the building, I didn’t think it looked like much. There were only five or six stools and not much counter space to eat at. It’s definitely not a place to go if you want to sit and eat around a table with others, although some picnic tables are available outside. The menu looked straightforward enough if you wanted to make your own sandwich. Pick a bread, up to two kinds of cheeses, and one option from a limited selection of veggies, and then add a sauce. Everything else is extra, including proteins. Then we discovered a menu on the counter. The sandwich price was a little more than what appeared on the TV screen, but it was only 25 cents, so no big deal. The menu also had other pre-created sandwiches, but we decided to make our own. Once we had ordered, I decided to keep the receipt, and I was shocked. The bread added an extra 10 cents, the mozzarella added another 10 cents and that pepper jack cheese cost an additional 35 cents, even though the displayed menu didn’t show any extra costs. Now those aren’t big increases, but that’s not what the menu said the cost would be. So with the extra 25 cents for the sandwich as noted earlier, that adds up to 80 cents more than what the TV screen showed, more than a 10% increase. On top of that, I noticed they didn’t have my cheese order correct, so I went back and corrected it. But after eating half my sandwich, I realized they had now taken out the more expensive pepper jack completely and just replaced it with mozzarella. So how was the sandwich? I enjoyed it. The bacon I added had nice flavor, the tomatoes and lettuce seemed fresh, and the bread was soft even after being grilled. Personally, for me though, I don’t like surprises on cost. Fix the menu. Adjust the pricing model. But don’t advertise one price and then literally nickel and dime me while I’m placing my order.

One of the worst experiences I've had eating out. I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and try it again in the future, but everything was either mediocre or disappointing. First, I waited 25 minutes with no lunch rush for 1 empanada and 1 quesadilla (I will say that the staff member was gracious in his apology). Second, the beef empanada was very underwhelming. The type of dough they used for the empanada (tasted like cornmeal) was not crispy at all and there was too much of it. The beef was decent but could barely taste it. Lastly, the salsa for my quesadilla was sour and spoiled. I don't think I'll be coming back soon.

Revisiting after almost a decade. The owner was at the counter. Push to order drinks was quite obvious. Couple of things bothered us - when ordering, we’re not asked of bread preference. Have to self advocate, otherwise the cheapest option is assigned default. And having ordered a vegetarian meal, got served a chicken item. Very disagreeable and stressful experience. Note - seeing a vegetarian empanada (a unicorn if you will) , ordered it only to be disappointed majorly. It was bland and soaking in oil. Even the tiger fries are horribly oily.

I had a below average experience. The Mac and cheese in sandwich was cold and when I complained I was offered another one. It was extremely oily and was not good at all. The second grilled cheese arrived cold as well. Taste was average or below average as well.

Nice little cafe style sandwich shop. I wouldn't come here expecting to get a cheap grilled cheez, but what you get is quite delicious. I got the farmer (goat cheese, spinach, and roasted beets) with a dipper of tomato basil soup. I even had enough of the soup leftover to eat by itself. You can build you own but they have more than enough to satisfy a unique flavor itch. Likely that I won't be a regular (due to the expense) but will absolutely come back.

Did a make my own grilled cheese with pepper jack and cheddar on rye, with marinara sauce as a dipping sauce. Overall tasted good, but I wish the cheese had been just a little more melted

Wonderful service, quick and accurate order filled for six people, and amazing selection of sandwiches. I will definitely be back!

Ficus is offering a refreshing mix of classic drinks and exciting new Spring specials, including: - Puppy Love - Strawberry n' Lemonade - Rose Coconut - Passionfruit Americano - Mango Cloud - Rosey Sakura Current Oolong Specials: - White Peach Oolong - Orange Oolong - Pineapple Oolong - Lychee Oolong My husband ordered the White Peach Oolong, and I went with the Rosey Sakura. Both were very sweet but the Rosey Sakura stole the show. It quickly became our favorite. Made with carbonated water, it was almost like a fancy flavored soju mixed with Sprite. The bubbles gave it a bougie twist that I loved.

Lovely dining enviroment. We tried the chicken, which had great flavor but was unfortunately overcooked. The burger had the same issue—tasty, but a bit too dry. On the bright side, the salad was absolutely perfect. We also ordered a few small plates, all of which were thoughtfully prepared and delicious. Despite a couple of missteps, the overall experience was enjoyable, and the friendly service and inviting setting made it worth the visit.

I stopped by around 1:10pm during lunch and was pleasantly surprised to find a parking lot behind the building, which it a lot easier, it's not typical to find this luxury in Princeton. Ficus was busier than I expected, with a steady flow of people coming in and grabbing their drinks to go. A lot of customers placed their orders ahead of time for pickup, which is probably what I'll do next time I stop by. The first floor of the restaurant could use some tiding. The person at the register was kind and helpful. After asking what they normally recommend, I told them I that was not a fan of tapioca or milk-based drinks, and they recommended the Mango Hibiscus Tea. I went with that, asking for less mango jelly to cut down on the sweetness. It ended up being really refreshing and light. I liked that the mango jelly had a texture close to real fruit, which I enjoyed. It had me wishing that I ordered the regular amount of mango jelly. I ordered the Ficus Beef Burger with a side of waffle fries. The burger was delicious, the patty was nicely seasoned, the brioche bun was soft and nicely toasted, it had the perfect amount of secret sauce, and the cheddar cheese was nicely aged. The waffle fries were lightly seasoned and nicely crispy. I would definitely order the burger again, I am so happy that I mistakenly said burger when I repeated my order out loud to the person taking my order. The food was packaged nicely, with two rubber bands to secure the lid to the food. The only downside with that I waited a total of 31 minutes for my order. I waited 16 minutes for my drink order, and another 15 minutes for my food order. It's not convenient when you want to just run in and at least quickly grab a drink. I would definitely visit again, and order the mango hibiscus drink and ficus beef burger again, along with trying other menu items.

The decor and mood is very vibey, although I wish there was a bigger sign or somebody to instruct you to go upstairs for the restaurant. Our server was really sweet. The food wasn’t bad per se but it definitely needed better seasoning.

We had dinner on the second floor. I saw wine listed on the menu and I didn't realize they didn't have hard liquor. My bad, but definitely something you should know. The server was nice, but didn't realize he had given us a menu that was no longer accurate and after we placed our order he had to come back with a different menu and we made other choices. Once the food arrived, though, we were quite satisfied. The fish special was yummy and the beef in the taco appetizers was melt in your mouth delicious. The shrimp chili dumplings were just ok, I wouldn't get those again. The sangria was pretty tasty and you get a decent amount in the pitcher for $34.00. Overall it was pleasant.

Extremely long wait, took me 30+ minutes on an avocado bacon sandwich for take out. The customer behind me got her order before me. I was the first customer there and the only thing that required light cooking was the bacon. Yet it took 30 minutes. I can make this at home in 5 minutes. And it’s not even fresh avocado, it’s just avocado spread with a chunk of bacons, tastes only salty and nothing else.

Food was alright. We had pork belly tacos (fatty and full of gristle), potato croquette apps (very good) 2 steak frittes (good) and tiramisu (covered with an inch of cocoa powder and we all choked inhaling the powder). Our server was very nice but disappeared about 45 mins before we left. Most of that time was spent waiting for the check but nobody checked in on us in her absence. We asked someone else and she said she’ll take care of it but she walked past us 4 more times so we asked again. Doubting we’ll be back

It took some serious self-restraint from my devilish side to leave this review—I almost wanted to keep this place a hidden gem all to myself. But here I am :) This cozy, quiet spot was such a lovely surprise. We tried the apple turnover, fig and ricotta toast, and goat cheese toast—everything was delicious and reasonably priced. The sourdough bread was especially good, with generous toppings that really hit the mark. The pastry shelves were also packed with an impressive variety of beautiful, tempting treats. Can’t wait to go back!

We’ve had a share of some baked goods brought to our coworking space! Best sourdough and delicious desserts! Some of our members are coffee enthusiasts and really love the beans they sell at House of Ihsan! Based off our members feedback, we will definitely go back for more!

My brain chemistry have permanently been altered by the crème brûlée, dark chocolate mousse, and tiramisu cake here. Got the tiramisu cake for my mom as a birthday cake a while ago and have been getting special occasion cake from them ever since. every bite was delicious and the texture is really fun. It might feel like a small cake, but it is so creamy and complex it can easily be shared by 8 people. I Love how they use solid chocolate to do their letters when you order ahead. As a big pudding/custard fan, there is just something really unique with combing all these components into these beautiful cakes. I will say if you have allergies, definitely ask, I was once surprised by delicious hazelnut component.

House of Ihsan, formerly known as The Pastry Room, has undergone a transformation! With a cozy, vibey, and effortlessly chic ambiance, it's now a full-fledged cafe. They serve single-origin espresso drinks, artisanal teas, and delicious open toast/tartines sandwiches crafted by Chef Aliia, the talented owner and baker of The Pastry Room. I've tried all the options: smoked salmon on pumpernickel, avocado on sourdough, and my personal favorite - 🤩 ricotta cheese and figs on sourdough. Don't miss the egg drop sandwich as well! All the breads are baked right in this cute cafe on Spring Street. The house chai is a must-try, and the mini cakes and pastries are absolutely top-notch. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

I was incredibly surprised to see how well-rated this cafe is. Very inflated ratings that are not at all reflective of reality. My experience below: Spent $26 on a coffee, toast, and small tart. They don't tell you before bringing you the tart they bring it in the back and dump confectionary sugar on it. It lacked flavor, the crust was stale and impossible to bite into, and the entire dessert was just lackluster and nothing to write home about. The salmon on "sourdough" came out on a non-toasted, stale thin piece of wonderbread (see photo) looking bread, and the salmon was rancid. Finally, there were flies flying around everywhere and it wad disgusting. Easy to get rid of flies with a fly trip in the back of honey and vinegar. Don't let them land on people's food and drinks. Very much a turn off. Do NOT recommend. Will not be coming back. Again, absolutely SHOCKED at these reviews. I do have to say the service was very good, the people that work there are very kind. But everything else was very disappointing. Changing my review of this place to less. Looking at other reviews the quality of food they serve seemed much better. If they run out of good ingredients for a dish then don't offer that on your menu that day. Instead of artisanal sourdough I was served wonder bread. And one thin slice of salmon.

I had an affogato and it was delicious! 🤤 All staff are super nice, friendly, polite and efficient. This is such an small great place to get a coffee. 👌😊

i went last minute for my brothers birthday & she made the napoleon & dark chocolate mouse cake with haznut (both incredible) in under 24 hours!! amazing service and great cakes

Ordered here on two days back to back and both days they messed up my drink even though the drink tags was right. One day was a ice drink and they gave me a hot. I show the girl that made it and she says “O you want light ice”. Light ice??? There was no ice to begin with. The next day asked for no whip and look what I got. They seem sweet but sweet clearly doesn’t pay attention to the over priced order of flavored milk I am paying for. So be sure to make sure they make it right.

Best customer service.

I ordered a strawberry refresher with water it tasted only like water. I went back and asked nicely if they can remake it the guy poor half of the purée added water and ice now it taste like medicine. So disappointed the guy seemed mad making my drink.

Went here first time with my friend and ordered the Chestnut latte.It tastes so good,and probably will be my favorite drink at Starbucks.The staff here is friendly as well.

The tables were dirty and not clean. Three to four employees working still items didn’t got in time and store not clean. Visited in non busy hours still the store does not look clean.

My triple iced expresso was great! Thank you!

I love the staff here. The parking lot is kinda small but there is a larger lot behind the store. Not ridiculously busy unless it's the lunch hour.

Delicious food.

It's a cafeteria

Dissapointed. Colombian the empanada doe was over fried, tasted bland, the sauce was terrible and they charge for sauce. it's not showing on menu. The beef empanadas were bland and dry. The chicken was a pulled chicken...with 0 latin flavor. If your not latin it may taste interesting. If you have latin roots you know its missing the full of latin robust flavors in the original empanada.

Waited for 2 hours to get my food delivered to me just to be disappointed. Food was nasty! With no seasoning

Amazing service and great food!

Quick, tasty empanada!

Brilliant service and the most pleasant staff! The Empanadas are brilliant. Large selection of other items as well.

Not worth the money. Overpriced empanadas!! $5!! Lol that’s a joke. Not good either, stay away trust me!

not worth the money I got a beef empanada that was dry chicken tenders that had gristle in the chicken and it all look like a kids meal