Just across the Charles River from Boston sits Cambridge. A seat of academia, the area fills up each fall with college students. To cater to this regular influx, the city is full of amazing places to eat, drink and socialize.
Coffee shops hold a special place in the heart of residents whether they're swinging in to start their day or desperately trying to stay awake for an all-nighter. If you, like many, need coffee to get through it all, head to some of the best Cambridge neighborhoods for coffee lovers and take your pick from the variety of options.
A little less known than some other areas of town, East Cambridge is full of hidden gems for the savvy explorer. A heavy Irish and Portuguese influence gives this neighborhood some of the best fish markets, bakeries and bars.
Stop by the Cambridge Antique Market for some special finds. Sip your coffee alongside a plate of deliciousness at Curio Coffee and Wine.
Bordered by the Charles River, the primarily residential neighborhood of Cambridgeport draws a lot of families with younger children. You're also not far from Magazine Beach Park, a beautiful green space right along the river.
When it's time for a coffee break, head into the Whole Foods Market on River Street. Hidden inside is Allegro Coffee Company, and it's worth a visit.
With a hot restaurant scene and the iconic MIT, Kendall Square is a place where innovation happens. A big draw for the tech community, students and young professionals alike can find plenty to do and places to eat when not working or studying.
Set up a casual coffee date at Flour Bakery + Cafe to enjoy a cup, some company and a little snack. Living in the area means competing for apartments with students. Rent averages around $4,021 per month for a one-bedroom apartment.
Claiming a portion of Central Square, The Port is so much more than a residential area between MIT and Harvard. Pubs, record stores and late-night eateries give this area a little something special.
The funky vibe also appears in its local coffee offerings. Check out Gypsy Place Coffee and Juice Bar to sample Bohemian coffees and espressos.
The lure of Harvard Yard can be hard to resist when visiting Harvard Square, but there's so much more to this neighborhood. Grab movie tickets at the Brattle Theatre before checking out one of the many cafes, restaurants or bars.
Get a coffee before heading out to share a scorpion bowl, with at least three friends, at Hong Kong for a fun night. Tatte Bakery and Café will give you the energy boost you need with their Red Eye coffee. Drink those double shots hot or iced. Living in this popular part of Cambridge can make it hard to find an apartment quickly.
You're never far from a good coffee when exploring all there is to see and do in Cambridge. Whether you're walking or navigating by mass transit, carry a cup of coffee everywhere you go.
Check out the other cities that make drinking coffee this enjoyable. Even if you aren't a Cambridge native, your home may have made the list.
To determine the best neighborhoods for coffee in Cambridge, we scored every neighborhood on Apartment Guide by business density (coffee shops divided by land area) and coffee shops per capita (coffee shops divided by population). Each score was weighted at 50 percent and combined to come up with an overall coffee score for each neighborhood. The neighborhoods with the highest combined score were determined to be the best neighborhoods for coffee in our quantitative study.
Neighborhoods with fewer than two coffee shops and 500 residents were excluded.
Coffee shop totals come from commercially licensed business listings and my not reflect recent openings or closures. Population and area come from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Rent prices are based on a rolling weighted average from Apartment Guide and Rent.com's multifamily rental property inventory from June 2019 to June 2020. We use a weighted average formula that more accurately represents price availability for each individual unit type and reduces the influence of seasonality on rent prices in specific markets.
The rent information included in this article is used for illustrative purposes only. The data contained herein do not constitute financial advice or a pricing guarantee for any apartment.
Lesly Gregory has over 15 years of marketing experience, ranging from community management to blogging to creating marketing collateral for a variety of industries. A graduate of Boston University, Lesly holds a B.S. in Journalism. She currently lives in Atlanta with her husband, two young children, three cats and assorted fish.