I love this place. It got everything. WiFi, plenty of plugs, plenty of seats and tables indoor and outdoor, great location that is accessible from all three of Watertown, Belmont, and Cambridge towns, and most importantly on the list of top 4 cappuccinos I ever had in entire MA. Definitely recommend it if you are planning to take a walk and have a coffee. Oh, and so much for the lovely coffee decoration. 10/10 brightened my days. I am so grateful to the essential workers who put an smile on our face with their arts and hard work. I didn’t go there to study but it was rather a short stop between my morning walk. However, I saw many people studying there. If you plan to study at a coffee shop, this is definitely a great choice.The coffee shop is conveniently located near the BlueBike station by the Star Market so if you are into coffee and rides, this place is certainly for you. The outdoor sitting area is also very great.

October 31, 2021 updateI tried the excellent Avena Latte Seasonal Drink, which is the Black Cat Latte made with Oat milk and spiced with ginger, cinnamon, vanilla, and orange peel. I got the optional sprinkling of cayenne. I was skeptical of the oat milk, but the barista said that it’s a core part of the drink so I excepted it. And the drink was excellent! The cayenne bites hard initially and then becomes a nice background tingle. I love the mix of spices as a nice fall drink, and it’s an unusual and tasty alternative to the typical pumpkin spice latte offerings.They have indoor seating as well as the two nice areas of outdoor seating, and a couple of benches.My favorite is their mocha, which has a nice dry darker chocolate taste and is one of the best mocha‘s in my area.I’m also a big fan of their ham and cheese croissant from Forge bakery which has everything seasoning on top of it. Very flaky and tasty and definitely best shared so that you don’t get all those calories yourself!If you are driving, their driveway is one way flow, northbound, from Mount Auburn Street to Belmont Street. I can often find parking in their 5 off street spots.

A cozy coffee shop. I ordered a oatmilk cappuccino which had a strange taste, but other people had said in other reviews that it’s an acquired taste so I probably wasn’t used to it. My sister tried the hot chocolate and loved it!

It was a great coffee. I couldn’t even take a photo before drinking it!Brownies rich and yum

This place is great! I got the chai which was delicious and the croissant was incredibly good! The outdoor seating was lovely! Would come again!

Awesome place! Ordered a mocha, one of the best Ive ever had. Rich chocolate flavor but not too sweet and espresso was great. Top tier gluten free pastries too, will certainly be back!

Well-made espresso drinks, with artistic foam patterns, good coffee with just the right amount of bitterness. So popular that the parking lot is often full, but there is parking along the streets on either side. Also, all the seats inside might be taken, but if you can grab a seat, it is a quiet place to enjoy your coffee and read the news or get some work done.

Had a great oat milk cortado and a perfect ginger scone. I really liked the space but it was a touch in the small side. I think the design added to tight space feel. The prices were a touch above what I’ve come to expect from 3rd wave joints but I know intelligentsia is a bit of a brand name. I found the staff to be Pleasant enough but busy working. I would for sure visit again, especially when I can enjoy my drink outside.

Cozy spot tucked away off the road. Parking out front. Clean, modern bar with artful coffee and pastries. Of the big coffee chains, intelligentsia reigns supreme, in my opinion. And this may be my favorite spot of theirs Ive tried.

Its a holistic coffee experience and the folks care about the craft. Of course you can take the coffee to go but its totally worth slowing down and enjoying your coffee here.Ive been coming here with my family for years now. The folks are so friendly that my 1.5 and 3 year old kids love coming here too.

Great new find! I did not know about this delicious local coffee place. The croissants are fantastic as well as the coffee.

Friendly staff, Perfect latte, free wifi & a few parking spots. Good place for reading or meeting a friend. Sometimes it can be difficult to find seat but it’s worth it.

Extremely friendly and knowledgeable staff! The manager of the store (I believe it was Christy) passionately answered all our questions about different coffee beans from around the world and the unique flavor profiles. We ordered the two brewed to order coffee from Yemen ($20 and ranked one of the best coffees in the world) and Colombia ($5.50). Both were exceptional quality coffee but you could taste the quality of Yemen beans that brings it to another level - silky smooth texture with a subtle note of acidity. Well be back!

Im a fan on Intelligentsia and was happy when I found their second location in the Boston area. This one is so different from the one in the financial district, yet has such a cool vibe as well. Coffee is good as always, service fast and friendly, they also sell pastries and some merchandising. Theres seating inside and a few seats outside. It can be easily overseen from the street, watch out for the sign (picture). Nice spot to get some caffeine in your system on a trip to Fresh pond or Mt Auburn!

On the pricier end, but tastes great. Would recommend their chai.

Great cafe. The staff are very nice, parking. Give them a try.

This is by far the best coffee shop in Boston area! They are very meticulous in selecting coffee beans, so their espresso is absolutely out of this world! We even started purchasing their beans for our coffee machine at home. Ham & Cheese croissants there are also very good!

Exceptional modern coffee shop. I’m not the biggest fan of their brewed coffee but their espresso is phenomenal. The space is cozy but offers lots of seating. Pastries aren’t made in house but always fresh and delicious. Small parking lot but easy to find spots on Mt. Auburn.

Finally got to check out this coffee shop. Spot on with the espresso and pourover service. There limelight is interesting for sure with an acuired taste. A little on the steep end for prices but right in line for being a major city coffee shop. Worth the detour. Went home with two bags of beans and bunch of gear and an empty wallet, but totally worth it supporting a local and expanding coffee shop.The only reason I give this a 4 and not a 5 is because of the higher pricing. Ive been to some excellent coffee roasters in major cities with competitive pricing.

Coffee is always great. Staff are friendly and informative.I come here often.

One of best coffees I had in a long time. Great service and the coffee is just amazing.

I have been to Intelligentsia twice now and both times the coffee shop has been fairly busy. I’ve been able to find seating both times, but it seems to be very popular. After tasting the coffee, I can tell why! I get an oat milk latte and theirs might be my favorite that I’ve had. I also really appreciate the music they play- it’s not too loud, but creates a great atmosphere for working. Intelligentsia is a great place to get work done or to go for a coffee date. There is a small parking lot but also easy to find 2 hour street parking close by.

Good quality coffee! I got a mocha latte with oat milk. Wish they had bigger sizes as I wanted it to last longer. Friendly staff and quick service.

Cute little place with seating outside

Everything here feels like there’s a bit extra effort into them. Extra love and attention and in the coffee and pastries!! So fresh. Love the laid back vibe as well.

Niko, Christina and Nina were so helpful in recommending roasts for home brewing and finding the *just right* grind for our brewing method, all while balancing their morning traffic. I took a few pastries home with me and was absolutely floored at how delicious they were! Thank you so much for the help.

Really like the coffee here. For this native NWerner theres Intelligentsia, Curio, and Loyal 9 for coffee in the Boston area.

Nice ambience. Good place to unwind with a slow cup of coffee

Delicious coffee. A quiet place to do some work.

Nice and little cozy place. The coffee, croissants and muffins are good, but a little expensive.

Great little coffee shop

The coffee is expensive, but tastes great, one of my favorite coffee shops.

Good coffee, great customer service and fantastic ambience! Highly recommend this place for anyone who loves fresh brewed coffee/tea. Pictured here is the black tea and it was really smooth and tasty.

Great coffee and a cool little cafe. Their Avena seasonal latte is so good. Not too sweet at all.

Wow! Simply put.. they got the coffee to taste how it smells. Amazing

Coffee was stellar,good attitude from staff

Good fresh coffee and chocolate drink.They also have Began muffins. Price is reasonable.

Coffee and treats, no sandwiches. If you live in Cambridge the prices will be normal to you but if youre an outsider, the prices may be on the higher side.

Delicious, artisanal coffee. Such a wonderful treat. Friendly baristas, very covid safe!!

Very quite place, is good spot to people work for a few hours but the cappuccino was too strong and the espresso wasn’t very good either besides food selection is very limited.

This is one of the best coffee shops in the area. I like their cappuccino and latte perfectly. Great and smiling staff.

Great location. Croissants are superb

Fabulous coffee at reasonable nice coffee house prices. Had a great pastry as well. This location has extremely limited seating, there were more than five folks actively hovering trying to get a spot. Theres also three doors in, so on a cold day it was chilly as any given door blew in cold air. Lovely spot, available parking, I will be going back.

This is such a gem! Ive been waiting for the intelligentsia to open in boston area for so long. My wish has come true!

Friendly service, great coffee

Ive been here a few times to meet up for knitting lessons. If you can snag a table, it is a beautiful space with lots of light, accommodating staff, and a great playlist. If the tables are all full, expect a long wait - once people settle in they tend to stay. Parking is limited, but as a cyclist I am grateful they have nearby bike racks. Also - they offer a discount if you ride your bike!

Best coffee shop in town. It is fairly pricey, but they have a great dirty chai. Also, I recommend they get a microwave or something to heat up their pastries.

I adore this cafe for a cup of coffee! Im happy they opened in Watertown even though I moved from there a while back, I still come back here once every so often because they always have vegan bakery items and they are VERY health conscious. They have signs posted everywhere against straws and they try their best to be environmentally friendly. Not to mention their lattes are VERY good. Creamy and strong. Just got I like them.

Good coffee in a good atmosphere

Great coffee at perfect temperature! Super friendly staff. Definitely a new favorite for me :)

Great quality espresso drinks. Im a huge fan of the oat milk latte. The vegan muffin is also 👌

Their coffee is some of the best I’ve ever had. They make a delicious iced coffee. Really nice people who are on top of it.

Staff was great. ABSURDLY over priced. 5.50 for a small regular coffee?! No thx.

Excellent ambience and delicious coffee.

Delicious coffee, nice staff. Even a tiny parking lot.

Great coffee and service! Love coming here 😁

Nice place for coffee and something more. They have a good selection of pastries.

Good coffee. Certainly a cut above Starbucks but still just a little too chi chi and expensive.

The story begins in 1995 - a story not so different from many other entrepreneurs and dreamers. At the time, finding great tasting, fresh roasted coffee was surprisingly elusive. So, Doug Zell and Emily Mange decided to do something about it. They didn’t set out to change the world, just a small corner of it.Relocating from San Francisco, they opened their own coffeebar and retail store in Chicago’s eclectic Lakeview neighborhood. Roasting their coffee in-store, with equipment that was more antique than state-of-the-art, they honed their craft, seeking nothing less than perfection in every aspect of the experience. Little did Doug and Emily know that what started as a way to connect with people and the community in an intimate, personal way would blossom into something that would help shape an entire industry.

I love the coffee . However the setup is less than ideal with one window to pay & another for pickup.

After just having been to Italy, I remember what a good espresso tastes like. As this shop seemed to celebrate coffee, my hopes were up! However, what was served, I would describe best as a very bitter and quite watery hot drink, placed at an absurdly high price - anything but an espresso.

Best matches latte.... just wish it wasnt $7 and tiiiiiiny

Still only takeout at the time of this review but really cool indoor seating.

Great coffee, with excellent service and well-handled brewing of all types. Nice staff without pretense. Many folks come and sit on their computers for quite a while, so dont expect a seat.

The other day I dropped by to pick up a bag and had legit the best cappuccino Ive had since covid hit. It was superb and it made me feel an ounce of hope in these desolate and cafe-less times

Coffee by Karens. All of them.

Good high quality coffee products. The place is neat and clean. Employees are good and in tune. It is pricey though.9/9/18 Again. Great quality. Coffee tastes so much better than DD or Starbucks. Croissants are just so so.

I was so pleased when this new coffee shop opened across the street from my Cambridge home. I quickly became an everyday guest. Christina, Art, Chris and the many other professional baristas have always made feel welcome and an important part of their workday. I happily recommend Intelligentsia, Watertown. They have a second location in Post Office Square which I was warmly invited to try. I’m a fan.

Expensive. Outside seating on blacktop.

Good place to grab coffee and people...

One of my favorite coffee shops in the area. First - the coffee is excellent. Service is on the slower side, but nothing intolerable. They have a good amount of seating and decent wifi if you need to work, along with a bit of outdoor seating when it isnt cold AF in New England. They offer some pastries and other goodies if you need a bite with your drink. Parking is extremely limited, but you can get parking on Belmont Street if there isnt any available in the teeny tiny lot.

Mm Mm Mm. Yes.I used to mail order this Midwest based companys coffee and Im so happy they are now local. They really know their coffee and the optimal roasts to bring out the features of each type of bean. They have great pastries. The cafe has a cool vibe with a good mix of people, young and old.

Love the coffee and the laid back vibe. This coffee isnt over-roasted like so many places, meaning you get smooth, sweet espresso. Also highly recommend the carbonated cold black tea. Trust me.

Coming from the Midwest this was a very welcomed surprise to come upon! To top off the phenomenal coffee Intelligentsia always has this location has at least one phenomenal barista in Christina! She was not only extremely friendly and helpful she actually likes her job. Come in here and get some great coffee and meet this great staff! Great indoor and outdoor seating! Great selection of drip or hand pour coffees! Espresso drinks will also be sure to make your coffee hopes comes true.

Great coffee stop. With unique blends and great food pairing options. Loved the modern look.

I’m willing to pay more for great quality coffee and bakery, but for the stuff I get here, it’s overpriced. Croissant is old and coffee is very small, and it takes FOREVER to make the coffee even when there were not so many people.Shop is sitting areas are pleasant, so I would still go occasionally for the atmosphere.

This place has a great vibe... The Vietnamese tea is great! Also the golden tea!

Excellent quality. Perfect beans and exceptional baristas make for consistently great coffee. They even took the time to chat about brewing techniques with me, to ensure I was getting the best brew. I love coffee and intelligentsia has earned my respect.

I got a cappuccino and chocolate croissant on a weekday morning. The coffee was good but the croissant was sadly stale and not flaky and light like a croissant should be. I mostly liked the ambiance and plenty of bright natural light in their seating area. They have outlets, WiFi and about 15 tables which became busy into the morning. The staff are friendly and I plan to go again for the ambiance and drinks.

This is my new favorite coffee shop in the area. Im certainly a coffee snob (in a good way) and this spot makes espresso and other beverages to excellent standards. On par with George Howell and Barismo for coffee, but with a nicer more open atmosphere. Great for Vegans as well due to oat milk options.

Delicious pour over decaf.

At first I was exited to finally have access to Intelligentsia locally as I had been ordering their coffee online for a few years. First, they dont sell the 5lbs bags they have behind the counter and could not actually give a reason for it. Second they rip you off selling 12oz Black Cat espresso 19$ instead of honoring their own online price of 15$.Never going back there. Zero star.

The coffee is to die for! I got a latte and the barista was able to swirl the milk into a beautiful design. The menu was short and sweet but included everything from coffee and tea to locally sourced cider and sandwiches. It is not spacious and there were many seats occupied by people with laptops. Still it was bright, modern, and sleek.

A really cute place to hang out and/or work on your computer. And they have outdoor seating!

This place is cozy with lots of nooks and crannies to sit in. The coffee is all hand made to order. This is not the place for a quick cup on the run but is a place to sit back an enjoy a craft coffee. There is plenty of parking and seating!

If you love coffee this is not the place for you. The staff is very pretentious and treats their customers like they should have all the knowledge in the world when I just want a cup of coffee. I gave them the benefit of the doubt and tried them a few more times. Its very expensive and the coffee tastes burnt.. do NOT recommend. I am in support of all local owned places but really... theres a Starbucks around the corner that sells better coffee then they do.

Very good coffee...the Americano I had was flavorful, robust and one of the best Ive had. My cup of coffee was also brewed and served very thoughtfully. Highly recommend for an interesting coffee experience.

My Sunday morning ritual is a pour over and pastry at Intelligentsia. The staff is knowledgeable about everything they serve and take great care to make the perfect cup every time.

Intelligentsia is a nice local coffee shop. The wifi was strong, the seating was comfortable, and coffee was pretty good. Only been there once so far.

Excellent, first-rate espresso. One of the few top-notch coffee shops in the Boston area.

I wont be coming back here. The coffee is OK, but not really worth the money, and definitely not worth the fuss the people who work here make of it. Some of them are weird, some are annoying, others are just plain rude. Not one of them actually makes you feel welcome. Like another reviewer said: its like theyre robots. Id rather go to the lame Starbucks in the supermarket across the street, where at least I feel comfortable.

Tasty espresso, friendly staff

Beautiful little modern Chicago-based cafe that utilizes the perfect blend of espresso beans. Definitely the best in Cambridge

This place is nice, always a good recommendation.

Great coffee. Pastries from Forge bakery are never a bad thing. Lose a star for only offering oat milk as the alternative milk choice, and the weird energy this place has.

Great tasting coffee. They used to be more full service, now they dont bring you cream when you get a coffee, you have to get up and go to the bar. Seems silly and lacking in customer focus.

Coffee was alright but the place seems really passionate coffee and granted I got a more exotic coffee for my tastes. Also a really nice atmosphere for small groups.

Best latte in the Boston area. Great pastries as well, especially the sticky bun.

Get the iced mocha!

On the edge of Cambridge, a handsomely designed place for coffee, to meet with people, or to work by yourself. Staff are very pleasant and welcoming. Coffee is excellent, if pricey. Parking in their lot or on Belmont St.