Highest-rated cafes in the Rochester area by diners
From the first coffee houses in the Ottoman Empire to Boston's famed 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 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, cafes regularly entertained the likes of Voltaire, Rousseau, 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 in 1773, tea became a British loyalist's drink, and coffee became a popular substitute.
Boston's London Coffee House, which had opened nearly 85 years earlier, was soon renamed the American Coffee House. Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, Merchants' Coffee House hosted the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Paul Revere.
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. 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 landmarks of our daily lives. But where's the best one to find refuge and that perfect caffeinated cup near you?
compiled a list of the highest-rated cafes in the Rochester area based on diners' reviews on as of February 2025. Cafes with at least 20 reviews tagged as "coffee" on Yelp within a 10-kilometer radius of Rochester were included. As a result, some cafes featured may primarily serve other items besides coffee and tea. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 25 locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.
Keep reading to see if your favorite cafe made the list!
#16. SPoT Coffee
- Rating: 3.5/5 (237 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 200 East Ave. Rochester, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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#15. Silo Brunch Bar
- Rating: 3.5/5 (77 reviews)
- Address: 300 Paddy Creek Cir Rochester, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
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#14. Gusto
- Rating: 3.6/5 (60 reviews)
- Address: Rochester Airport Terminal A Rochester, New York
- Categories: Italian, Coffee & Tea, New American
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#13. Donuts Delite
- Rating: 3.9/5 (201 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1700 Culver Road Rochester, New York
- Categories: Donuts, Coffee & Tea, Bagels
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#12. Bagel Land
- Rating: 4.0/5 (165 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1896 Monroe Ave. Rochester, New York
- Categories: Bagels, Coffee & Tea
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#11. The Mad Hatter Restaurant & Bakery
- Rating: 4.1/5 (483 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 176 South Goodman St. Rochester, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, New American
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#10. Equal Grounds Coffee House
- Rating: 4.1/5 (127 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 750 South Ave. Rochester, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes
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#9. Java's Cafe
- Rating: 4.1/5 (321 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 16 Gibbs St. Rochester, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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#8. Pure Imagination Cafe
- Rating: 4.2/5 (84 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2997 Buffalo Road Rochester, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
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#7. Balsam Bagels
- Rating: 4.4/5 (280 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 288 North Winton Road Rochester, New York
- Categories: Bagels, Sandwiches, Coffee & Tea
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#6. New Roots Coffeehouse
- Rating: 4.4/5 (67 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1273 Long Pond Road Rochester, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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#5. Cafe Sasso
- Rating: 4.5/5 (220 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 739 Park Ave. Rochester, New York
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Cafes, Coffee & Tea
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#4. Pat's Coffee Mug
- Rating: 4.5/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 627 Clinton Ave. South Rochester, New York
- Categories: Diners, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
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#3. Seoul Drop
- Rating: 4.5/5 (75 reviews)
- Address: 1900 South Clinton Ave. Ste 410 Rochester, New York
- Categories: Korean, Desserts, Coffee & Tea
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#2. Sips Coffee & Cafe
- Rating: 4.6/5 (90 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 149 Pattonwood Drive Rochester, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes
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#1. Ugly Duck Coffee
- Rating: 4.6/5 (148 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 89 Charlotte St. Rochester, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Rasha Aly and Carren Jao, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 313 metros.
