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The world is inching toward normalcy with each passing day, but many of us are still working from home, at least part of the time. (Is that actually the new normal? Maybe!)
If you’re in that position and have been aching for a change of scenery, or are looking for a laid-back meeting spot, many cafes and coffee shops in Philly have opened seating areas and are allowing patrons to once again set up shop inside.
Several of the local outfits with multiple locations — including Saxbys and Ultimo — are welcoming guests indoors. There are also plenty of other neighborhood spots where you can grab an inside seat.
Check them out below, and don’t forget to follow each individual store’s mask-wearing policies.
The Breakfast Den
1500 South St.
Comfort food goes along with specialty drinks like sweet jasmine or Vietnamese-style iced coffee at this South Street West spot. The menu offers breakfast options, plus sandwiches and salads.
Two Persons Coffee
821 Dudley St.
Located in the Bok Building, this ground floor cafe has seating where you can enjoy a coffee or espresso drink, along with a pastry by Crust Vegan Bakery.
Alena’s Cafe
6669 Germantown Ave.
This Mt. Airy spot focuses on espresso drinks made with LaVazza beans. Breakfast and lunch options include quiche and Belgian waffles.
Coffee Creams & Dreams
1500 Fairmount Ave.
The Black-owned corner cafe near North Broad offers a very popular zucchini bread. The women biz partners opened the shop in late 2019, just five months before the pandemic began.
Mammoth Coffee
534 W. Girard Ave.
Owned by two siblings, this West Poplar spot is named after an early 1900s movie theater that was located across the street. Sips made with Brandywine Coffee Roasters beans are complemented by veg and vegan food.
Black & Brew
1523 E. Passyunk Ave.
The exterior of this Passyunk Avenue cafe is a beautiful mosaic, but there’s also art for viewing inside. Sip La Colombe coffee and get snacks on Metropolitan Bakery bread, including many vegetarian and vegan options.
Cafe Ole
147 N 3rd St.
Soak up Old City vibes, and don’t miss the Nutella latte. Great choice if you’re hungry, the menu offers hearty sandwiches, salads and dishes like shakshuka.
One Shot Coffee
217 W. George St.
Don’t miss the second-floor library at this OG Northern Liberties cafe, where you should try the house-baked pastries, including scones made with local fruit and the “Baby Kronuts.”
Adelie Coffee House
6610 Germantown Ave.
Have a bite to eat while you work inside this Mt. Airy shop, where the bagel selections are delivered daily from New York City.
Cake & Joe
1401 E. Moyamensing Ave.
Opened by best friends who grew up together in Beijing, this Pennsport shop is where to go if you want your coffee with gourmet sweets, like matcha cream cake, but there’s also a robust savory menu.
Pilgrim Roasters
4120 Main St.
This Manayunk roastery and cafe sources its beans from farms in Ecuador, Costa Rica and Guatemala. Pastries from My Sweet Gluttony Bakery and Au Fournil are available to go along.
The Bagel Place
404 Queen St.
Grab a La Colombe Coffee to go your order at this Queen Village bagelry, which bakes classic flavors as well as options like french toast, pretzel, and rosemary-cracked pepper bagel.
Chapter House Cafe
620 S. 9th St.
Have your choice of organic fair-trade coffees and teas at this cafe just off South Street. You can also view artwork hung throughout the several rooms of the gallery-like interior.
Cogito Coffee
105 S. 12th St.
This Gayborhood location is the only U.S. site for the Croation coffee chain, which has several outposts in its home country and the United Arab Emirates.
Function Coffee Labs
1001 S. 10th St.
This husband-and-wife Bella Vista shop is for discerning coffee drinkers. Beans are roasted by sister company Vibrant Coffee Roasters, which you can get brewed via Hario V60 pour over.
Shot Tower Coffee
542 Christian St.
Indoor seating is back at this small corner shop in Queen Village, which offers pastries from neighborhood bakeries. Masks must be worn when you’re not sitting at your table.
The Board and Brew
3200 Chestnut St.
This University City shop offers single origins from Ethiopia, Panama, Colombia, Honduras and Tanzania, plus a selection of loose-leaf teas. And if you want a distraction, choose a board game from the well-stocked shelves.
The Monkey & The Elephant
2831 W. Girard Ave.
This nonprofit Brewerytown shop employs former foster youth, who also get programming around communication and self-efficacy. The cafe is also highlighting local artists on the first Friday of every month.
