526 Best Restaurants in USA

The scent of fresh-baked bread whets the appetite of Liberty Station bakery and café customers seeking rustic scones or raisin brioche cinnamon rolls for breakfast, or one of the hearty lunch sandwiches like almost-grilled cheese with melted Brie and Gorgonzola on warm rosemary-and-olive oil bread. All can be enjoyed inside or on the sunny patio with hot or cold drinks including the homemade lemonade. The bakery turns out 21 different loaves; among them are the popular Pt. Loma sourdough, Gruyère and chive, rosemary and olive oil, and the Pane Cioccolata with Belgium and Swiss chocolate (only available weekends). Box lunches with a sandwich, chips, and cookie, perfect for picnics or other outings, are $15 to $20 each.

"Good food, good drink, good karma" is the slogan of this well-worn, no-frills café in Fairmount Park that focuses on fresh, healthy local food produced sustainably and prepared on-site, and it delivers. Outdoor and indoor seating make this a convenient choice for coffee and fare such as breakfast burritos and egg sandwiches; wraps, smoothies, deli sandwiches, and a good veggie burger; and desserts and snacks. Free parking at Lloyd Hall is convenient, and seasonal bike rentals from Wheel Fun Rentals are steps away.

This low-key, slightly off-the-beaten-path café is worth finding for its delicious breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, or even just for an afternoon coffee break. Inside the industrial space, tuck into plates of huevos rancheros and other eggy fare in the morning, and a mix of Southwestern and Asian dishes later in the day. The dog-friendly, covered patio beyond the dining room has long communal tables and a few smaller, more private ones. There's a good selection of house-made baked goods and espresso drinks as well. It's cash-only and casual—you order your food at the counter. Prices are reasonable for the quality and amount of food served.

This black-and-white-spotted café and ice cream parlor is popular with families. Sandwiches, "cowlossal" all-beef hot dogs, "cowsadillas," house-made caramel corn, and apple pie "à la moo" are served, too.

Stop at this two-story locals' favorite for coffee and pastries, or choose from a long list of sandwiches for something more substantial. Sit out front and watch the crowds drifting in off the beach, or get cozy upstairs in one of the comfortable reading chairs.

If you're seeking a comfy spot serving great local coffee brands and exceptional baked goods—both savory and sweet—consider this light-filled bakery-café in the bustling Burnside and 28th section of Buckman. Drawing young families, laptop-toting freelancers, and hoodied hipsters, the kitchen turns out delicious breakfast sandwiches with candied bacon in the morning, and a wide range of sandwiches at lunchtime. There's a newer branch in Inner Northeast's Burnside Bridgehead development.

In a quiet corner of the French Quarter, you'll have to look for the quaint Croissant d'Or Patisserie. Once you've found it, you'll understand why locals and visitors return to this colorful pastry shop for French croissants, pies, tarts, and custards, as well as an imaginative selection of soups, salads, and sandwiches. You can get your goodies to go, but try to get a table during the busy breakfast hours for great people-watching. During Carnival season they bake a traditional French-style king cake filled with almond paste. The café is open from 7 am to 3 pm.

From Russell Morin, one of Newport's most exclusive caterers, comes this chalkboard-menu café where beautifully crafted light fare is served at surprisingly down-to-earth prices. Breakfast—try the egg- and tomato-topped avocado toast—is served all day (including weekend brunch) and creative salads and sandwiches are the makings of a perfect picnic to tote down the street and enjoy on an oceanview mansion lawn. 

Cheerful two-tone drawings on the walls and blue tile on the counter both evoke the nearby waves that lap at Alki Beach in this multi-roaster cafe, demonstrating its effort to embody the spirit of the neighborhood. Between brewing coffee from a rotation of local favorites including Boon Boona, Dorothea, and Camber, and serving pastries from Seawolf Bakers, this spot brings together some of the city's best. The view from the dark wood tables in the loft make it a great place to watch the rhythm of life in North Admiral.

Open since 2021, this Ukrainian-owned café serves an eclectic breakfast and brunch menu of pastries, burgers, soups, shakshuka, and more.

Breakfast and lunch sandwiches made using house-baked bread, braised meats, gourmet aioli, and premium produce are the most popular items at this airy and amiable café, but the pastry case just inside the front door is the real showstopper. Get there early for the best selection of flaky croissants, delectable cookies and muffins, colorful macarons, and other baked goods. The pickings can get pretty slim after the lunch rush.

Named after the art of the tea ceremony, the new-age feel to this spacious outpost starts with organic teas and coffee (displayed in canisters behind the counter) and extends to hearty meal options such as hot noodle soup, cold noodle salads, multigrain rice bowls, bibimbap, wraps, and smoothies. Linger over free Wi-Fi.

Avocado toast will never get old at this lively coffee shop, which since opening in Charleston has brought its Israeli-influenced menu and healthful beverages to an Atlanta extension of the popular brand.

The coffee, including lattes and the like, isn't the only thing that's wicked good at this local café; homemade pastries, pizza, and rich soups are prepared daily, the hot chocolate and chai are worth writing home about, and the smoothies are great. There are nice murals on the walls, too.

This two-level gourmet shop has a dazzling array of prepared foods, mouthwatering pastries, and creamy gelato. Sampling the wares can make for a good snack, but if you require something more substantial, grab a sandwich or something from their hot bar, or sit down in the café upstairs.

Known as Somerville's "refueling station," this bright, window-y spot just got a new look but still boasts a retro vibe, bold local artwork, and spacious tables that draw in Davis Square hipsters, Tufts students, and LGBTQ+ sets. Be part of the rebel crowd over veggie-friendly fare, crafted salads, soups, wraps, house-made pastries, and gourmet coffee with tasty house-made syrups in flavors like pumpkin, caramel, and vanilla. Shoot pool, chill out, or take selfies in a photo booth.

By blending geometrical shapes and horizontal lines in an airy place with big windows, Dinosaur Coffee has utilized its space well, bringing a touch of modern into an older section of Silver Lake. Yet it’s more than just the interiors that draw people in—the coffee is excellent, as are the pastries. And in a neighborhood where independent coffee shops are a dime a dozen, that’s saying a lot.

With its quiet vibe and speedy free Wi-Fi, District Coffee welcomes remote workers along with anyone who enjoys a good cup of coffee or espresso made using locally roasted beans. An eclectic menu of pastries, bagels, and New Zealand–style savory hand pies offers food choices while you work and sip.

Slovakian transplant Annamaria O’Brien's bustling bakery and brunch spot is as bright and crisp as her food. The menu borrows a bit from the chef's Eastern European roots with favorites such as paprikash, langos, and goulash, but also features regional American dishes like cornmeal waffles with buttermilk fried chicken and a surprising bone broth "morning soup." The quiche of the day is always delicious. Nearly everything served at Dolina was either grown on the Dolina farm or sourced as locally as possible. After your meal, be sure to peruse the goodies in the bakery case—tarts, pastries, and tvaroh (a ricotta-like fresh cheese) await, best accompanied by a macchiato or Mexican mocha. Make sure you wear your walking shoes as it's nearly impossible to find a parking spot in Dolina's tiny lot.

Sunshine fills the small dining room and outdoor seating area of this airy, contemporary downtown coffee bar that serves fine espresso drinks as well as local wines and craft beers. It's great for light snacking—there's a nice selection of baked goods and fine chocolates—but there are also substantial grilled panini sandwiches, salads, and soups.

This neighborhood café-newsstand sells fancy coffees, various snacks, and sumptuous pastries as well as one of the largest assortments of newspapers and magazines in town. The shaded patio is a fun spot to people-watch and a great place to fuel a Canyon Road stroll.

If bubble tea is your thing, this is your place. Eye-catching three-color drinks and "designer blend" smoothies show off creative combinations of fruit, boba, syrup, and ice cream. For the full experience, get yours in a bear-shaped takeout bottle, or order soft-serve in the bear-shaped waffle pastry, called "bearyaki." And pick up some merch—the store sells sneakers and streetwear, 

Books and coffee collide at this café and roastery, where the beans are sourced from women-owned farms in Central and South America and the espresso drinks are always on point. In the stacks, Antidote Books stocks a highly curated selection that leans literary; the shop also hosts frequent readings and author signings.

A coffee concept by the owners of The Fox Bar & Cocktail Club, Elegy is a tiny shop with bold flavors on offer. Pop in for a seasonal latte or one of several rotating burritos, like the autumnal Witching Hour burrito with black forest ham and Havarti. And you can't go wrong with the shop's signature Honey Bear cold brew, which you can also purchase in family-sized bottles. Elegy only has outdoor seating, making it more of a to-go spot than a place to hang out.

You could easily while away an entire day at this cozy spot. Enjoying Elements' own Biddeford-roasted coffee is a great way to start the day, to fuel an afternoon of reading, or to perk up in the early evening, especially on nights when there's crafts or a silent book club meeting.

An enjoyable stopover between Westport and the Long Beach Peninsula, this airy café with three walls of windows has panoramic views of the Willapa River and is decorated with colorfully painted chairs, hanging plants, and potted flowers. First-rate espresso drinks, chai teas, and light snacks—black currant scones, lavender-honey toast with goat cheese, bacon-tomato-avocado sandwiches—are offered.

This is the prime spot for a pick-me-up over a picturesque view of downtown Mill Valley and Mt. Tam. The owners are as serious about coffee as they are about social responsibility, from their fair-trade single-origin beans and organic loose teas down to the locally reclaimed redwood in the decor. With all this plus delicious gluten-free waffles, shakeratos (a cold espresso drink), wine, and beer, it's easy to see why locals go out of their way to make this a regular part of the day.