Astonishingly amused to find a Yemeni coffee place in downtown Rochester. Very much reminded me of…read morethe places in Dearborn, Michigan--and in fact, the very polite cashier said they are looking open their next store in Sterling, Michigan. Clean, well lit, lots of windows. Three rooms, separated by arches. The main space, more lively and louder; the second room, with quieter tables and a protected area with separate tables; and a "game room" with billiards tables that they will open on request. Coffee was excellent, as you would baseline expect with a reputable Yemeni coffee place. Pastries had some American nods (bagel and cream cheese) but also had Middle Eastern takes which are fun; "Bee Bites" which are like --uh--pizza wedges with the cells of a honeycomb, each filled with a small filling of something such as a dollop of cream cheese? The scones are sort of "cakey" rather than the more solid crumb of the typical American style. The bagels were smaller (and that's ok) but good! Will repeat when here.

Quick service Original drinks…read moreVery fresh coffee Bright dining area with plenty of setting.

Layali is one of my favorite places to visit when I want to relax or get some studying done. The…read moreatmosphere is beautiful, modern, and has a luxurious feel that makes it a great place to unwind. During this visit, I ordered a hot pistachio latte, a small iced caramel latte with cold foam, and a slice of tiramisu. The presentation was beautiful, but the food and drinks didn't quite live up to the appearance. The iced caramel latte tasted a bit watery, which has been my experience on more than one visit, and the hot pistachio latte was just okay. The biggest disappointment was the tiramisu. It was overly soaked in coffee, didn't taste very fresh, and wasn't what I expected. One thing I really appreciated was the service. The cashier was incredibly kind and accommodating. Since I'm currently pregnant and can only have decaf coffee, she made sure my order was clearly communicated to the team, which I was very grateful for. The café itself is aesthetically beautiful, although we did have to wipe down our table because there were crumbs left from the previous guests. The seating is nice, but the chairs could be more comfortable if you plan to stay for an extended period. My only other suggestion would be to improve customer engagement at the register. On a few visits, it has felt like employees finished conversations with coworkers before helping customers. Overall, I enjoy coming to Layali because the ambiance is one of the best in Rochester. While I think the coffee and desserts could be more consistent, I'd still return to enjoy the atmosphere and give more of the menu a try.

Every time I come here I'm greeted with warmth. The food is amazing, the drinks are well-made and…read morecreative, and the staff is always so sweet and kind. Genuinely so happy this is so close to me (but dangerous for my wallet, as I have to resist the urge to come here everyday). The atmosphere is lovely and there's plenty of seating. The tables and chairs are comfy and inviting, and I have never seen a single thing out of place. I challenge you to find a spec of dust. Definitely stop by here and see for yourself, and grab something tasty, too!

I do really like the Flat White here. The coffee flavor is amazing in that drink with a great milk…read moreto coffee ratio. However, I have noticed that the lattes are a bit weak, and are much better if you order a double shot of espresso. This makes the drink quite a bit more expensive however, when I feel that they could just adjust the ratio for the latte slightly. But the coffee is very high quality, and many of the homemade syrups are delicious. This coffee shop is inside of a craft, gift, and florist shop which is quite fun and unique. The baristas are vey matter of fact and efficient.

Loved our experience Very unique…read more Love plants everywhere Natural lighting The prices are kinda of high BUT the flavors are unique Plenty of indoor seating

I was instantly charmed as I walked into Mercury Coffee Co. The vibes are perfect. Just everything…read moreyou'd want in a cozy coffee shop. Lovely decor and plants surround you. Would be a great location to hunker down with a book or journal while enjoying your drink of choice. We visited on a Saturday afternoon and it was packed. We took our drink to go. Parking was easy. There is a parking lot located conveniently behind the building. The seasonal drink choices were fun. I chose the lake breeze. I was able to remove the coconut. They were happy to do this and just let me know it might take a moment longer to make. The wait was not long at all and the drink was delicious. The dried yuzu was a nice touch. I was so happy to finally visit and will be back.

So I came back recently after a name refresh due to some issue with a coffee spot in the Pacific…read moreNorthwest, and I'm glad I did because this little jewel of a spot makes some fabulous coffee drinks! If you have the opportunity, try the breakfast focaccia -- it's delicious. The one available when we went was egg, cheese and sausage, and it was wonderfully yeasty. It's a big slice, so it's definitely shareable. The coffee drinks are inventive and really interesting flavor-wise. My only wish is that they were available in a larger 18-20 oz. size! They also have some outdoor seating in the back for warmer weather. I came in through the back this time, so I assume they have seating in the front as well. Last time I was here, the weather was cold. Parking is available on the street or in the lot in the back. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area!

So I said I couldn't wait to come back for more and I did! The past three days this has been my go…read moreto coffee spot. Seriously going to crave this when I get back home! Natalie helped me again today and I was happy to let her know her recommendation has become my obsession. Just wish I could take a slice of this coffee shop home with us. My friends were raving about their orders because they nail it every time here. Everything from matcha to the sweet babboo to the coffee slushie was on point. Thank you for treating us like locals and welcoming us to your coffee shop. I'll miss greeting Daphne the plant each morning.

Had some pretty great coffee and pastries at breakfast. In the morning this place gets busy but…read morethat's to be expected. Ugly Duck has a pretty simple menu. A lot of the classics. There's pretty great plant based options for all preferences. Coming in here there was a crowd. It's got the counter to order at and they bring it out. The majority of people get it for takeout. A good thing because it makes more room inside. It's about $6 for a specialty coffee, and I got The Snug. A ton of flavor in it. This is made with bitters, espresso, maple syrup, milk, and molasses. A few small pastry items. It's about $5 for the Apple Cinnamon Muffin. This one happens to be vegan. Just know there's no chargers. Keeps people moving it seems. They have a few tables. Got to say it's a great place for starting a morning. It's located on Charlotte at Pitkin. The inside has tables but no chargers so it's not good for working or whatever.

Top notch service with the baristas attention to detail. The coffee is excellent, my go to is the…read moreiced uncle marble with chocolate milk! This is my all time favorite coffee shop in Rochester.

I'm not a big coffee drinker but this place is incredibly cute and everyone is so friendly. Located…read morebehind Geva Theater it is so quiet, the vibes are immaculate. Definitely a try for the coffee drinker!

Yummy! Delicious coffee, friendly staff! Was able to get work done…read more WiFi easily accessible They even had mimosas yes to all! Thank you!

Eclectic spot on Park Ave with food options. I ordered a smoothie which was only $5 and was super…read morerefreshing. Drinks didn't take very long to be ready but the food did take a bit more time on a busy Sunday morning. There's inside and outside seating. I appreciated the heating lamps outside as well!

Oh yes. Just when one has despaired about the fate of the once-great downtown Rochester, stumbling…read moreacross the utterly fabulous Java's gives one optimism for the future. It benefits greatly from basically being embedded in Eastman, both for the business and the vibe. Super cozy and funky place to hang out. We limited ourselves to coffee and sweets while visiting our friends, and Eastman was out of session, but the place was still hopping on a Saturday afternoon and that is literally the only place in downtown and environs one could say that about.

Food 4/5 Service 4/5…read moreAmbiance 5/5 This is a very busy and lively café in the heart of downtown Rochester right across the street from the Eastman school of Music. You've stepped into an art museum of sorts, as this is not your usual café. It's a lot to take in. But it's very interesting. Lots of artsy people on laptops. Several friends enjoy enjoying time together. I had a cup of coffee. $3.50. The gentleman taking the order was not especially friendly. I think he was overwhelmed by all the customers or just not happy with his job. Had a separate counter I ordered sandwiches for my girlfriend and I. I had the roast beef with cheddar. She had a chicken with pesto. Both the sandwiches were pretty good and I like that they use the hot press, as a sandwiches appeared then to be like a Panini. Prices are fair. Parking is not easy in that area, but we managed to find street parking that was walking distance.

Great service and selection is amazing. Friendly staff and very knowledgeable about the products…read moreand processes.

I don't drink coffee, so I suppose my opinion about coffee places is a bit under-seasoned, but…read moreUnion Place seems like a good one. Super high ceilings, local art on the walls, comfortable seats, and friendly folks behind the counter. While I don't drink coffee, I was purchasing nine pounds of coffee (it's a stocking stuffer in our family) for other people. It seems like Union Place typically has an excellent and varied selection of different beans, but it was too close to Christmas and they were running low on it all. My friend came out from behind the counter, and helped my navigate what was still available. I got a lot of beans, they ground them for me for the right filters (while I sat in a very comfortable chair), and I was out of there. If you actually drink coffee, I bet you'll like this place even better than I do.

Very beautiful place. Everything seems handmade, they have a small and concise menu. As a chess fan…read moreI especially appreciated the sign asking patrons to take care of the sets and not to use greasy fingers. Best of all- no overdistracting music. Quiet place, will definitely be returning.

This place was literally right next-door to my hotel, so I walked over for breakfast. It's a…read moreTurkish restaurant, that has things such as pastries, sandwiches, coffees, etc..... The gentleman who helped me was very friendly and helpful. I decided to tthe borek. It's a pastry that can be made either savory or sweet, I decided to have mine with. Spinach and cheese. I also ordered the baklava, and a little cup of the Turkish coffee (whoa!!). The Borek , I didn't look that big in the case spoiler alert, it was.... The dough was wonderfully flaky , and the filling was amazingly savory. I liked the spinach, and I'm not sure what type of cheese it was. But it played with the spinach perfectly it reminded me very much of a spanakopita, which I also love. The baklava was also excellent. It was perfectly flaky on the outside, and the honey, and the nuts inside were just fantastic. It is one of the better baklava that I have ever had. Now let's talk about the Turkish coffee. I've had Lebanese coffee, and I loved, and Ithought was strong.... the Turkish coffee makes Lebanese coffee taste like decaf that you would get from a cheap corner diner. With just a little bit of milk and sugar, it was perfect it was rich, and it was strong! At this point, I could probably make it to six hours to my destination without a car :). All of this great food, and I was only roughly out the door 20 bucks. For such high-quality food, it was worth it. I hope I'm back in Rochester again, because I would easily stop here again.