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    Bedlam Book Cafe

    4.3 (32 reviews)
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    a glass of juice and a plate of donuts
    Nate B.

    Very cute, cozy environment. We sat at the café and got the Energy Balls, and Pumpkin Pie smoothies. We were chatting with our very kind server, Mel, at the counter, over our smoothies. Very nice staff, great drinks, 10/10 would visit again, the building is great with the Seed to Stem Plant and Crystal Boutique, Crompton Collective Antique shop, and so many other great places in the area. I would definitely recommend.

    Robert C.

    This is a great little nook for readers. There isn't much seating but the place isn't too occupied for there not to be any available seats. Whenever I'm in the building, I may stop here for their unique smoothies or juices. I really enjoy their Pablo Neruda smoothie which is a mango, coconut, turmeric based drink. The small size is all the turmeric you really need so a large would be overkill, opinion but I recommend trying this! Another delicious smoothie was the seasonal pumpkin smoothie, it was very good and I could have gone for large on this one. They also serve immunity shots and teas and coffee as well. Some downsides are the prices and also it may take a while as there is only one associate handling the drinks and cashier but I mean the quality is there so it's justifiable. Other than that, there isn't much else to say, it's a very quaint shop and nice to have around.

    Chai tea
    Melissa Z.

    Found my way to Worcester for a friend's wedding weekend and had some time to explore during the day. Stumbled upon this used book store and cafe while on my way to the much busier BirchTree Bread Company down the hall and am very happy I decided to stop in after it got too loud there. If you're someone who loves to hold a book in your hands to read and feel the worn pages you would appreciate this place. The cafe in the back is very quiet and peaceful and just what I needed to get a few hours of work in. Those who know me know that I can't resist trying a homemade chai latte if it's offered and theirs is steeped from real tea and spices. A hideaway spot to escape reality if only for a short time.

    a person holding a cup of coffee

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    4 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Everything! Service food and decor! Knocked us out! Love the historic feel. Hope to be back in the summer!

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    1 year ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great little bookstore that has a great selection and so many good books! My bf and I loved the cafe and picked out 3 books to enjoy.

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    5 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

    I love this store!! It's so cozy has a great book selection and good coffee. I just wish it were open past 5pm.

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    7 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Honestly just go to Barnes and Noble . Similar price point and they are friendly there .

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    6 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Excellent book choices, music, atmosphere and juice bar. So happy to have a place like this in Worcester.

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    Ask the Community - Bedlam Book Cafe

    Review Highlights - Bedlam Book Cafe

    The staff are knowledgeable and kind, and I love the venue (Crompton Place in Worcester's trendy Canal District).

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    Bean Counter Bakery Cafe - Mixed Berry Muffin

    Bean Counter Bakery Cafe

    (259 reviews)

    $$

    Inviting space with a long showcase of treats in several categories, plenty of roomy tables, and a…read morelarge communal table. -- Muffins: I consider their blueberry muffin one of my favorites in Massachusetts, if not my #1. It's got just the right mix of bounce, density, and butteriness, without being too greasy. Big, fresh blueberries (not the shriveled kind). Plenty of crumbly streusel on top for extra taste and texture. Their mixed berry has multiple fruit presence and more of it, minus the streusel. Also very good. Sometimes the muffins are warm. Sometimes a little long in the tooth. -- Cakes: That's their claim to fame, and for good reason. They're more expensive than most, but so dense, rich, and heavy that a small slice goes a long way. My favorite is the chocolate raspberry decadence (pool of raspberry atop a deep, dark chocolate frosting). Or maybe the strawberry snowflake, which is like the best strawberry shortcake you ever had. -- Cupcakes: These often feature some of the same ingredients as the cakes, such as that killer chocolate ganache. Great for the toppings and fillings, though the cake part (especially if chocolate base) is often dry. -- Cookies: Noticeably less impressive, EXCEPT for the Linzer heart. Great flavor and texture in the raspberry and shortbread. -- Coffee: Good stuff. Not elite, but good, in heavy mugs with good feel. Service is a little lacking. Not so much because of rudeness, but because they're perpetually understaffed for the amount of business they do.

    What are you craving! For us, actually just me!! It's a…read more"cupcake!" We are about ready to leave the state of Worcester, Massachusetts this was our last place before leaving! Cupcakes for the long drive home, and coffee ! Let's roll the dice and see what Yelp provides! Yelp you know me! This fine bakery it's a local vibe! It's wonderful exactly what one needs. They have not just cupcakes but all sorts of other items too . If you cannot find your favorite treats here you're not looking hard enough. We found what we needed, that special cup of a latte right before we go. The cakes were all on point. Truly a beautiful start to a new day . The service was amazing. Off to the races now. Find some fun and happy with new coffee and cupcake memories.

    BirchTree Bread Company

    BirchTree Bread Company

    (757 reviews)

    $$

    We recently hosted our engagement party at BirchTree and truly could not have imagined a better…read moreexperience. My fiancé and I had been having a lot of trouble finding a venue that could host our crowd at a reasonable price, so we were beyond thrilled when Birchtree not only accommodated our 60 guests beautifully, but we actually ended up under budget. From start to finish, the service was phenomenal. The team was genuinely invested in making sure our night was perfect. They went above and beyond in every way and more than accommodated anything we needed. We had an outpouring of texts the next day from our guests. So many people let us know how beautiful the venue was and how wonderful of a time they had. The space itself truly showed a refined elegance which was the perfect kickoff to our wedding season. If you're thinking about working with BirchTree, Jayne, Caitlin, and the entire staff we're incredibly organized and attentive to detail, helping us set up, pack up, and even ensured all guests had clean tables, fresh drinks, and the bar staff recommended really unique cocktails & mocktails! We are so grateful to the entire BirchTree team, especially Jayne and Caitlin for helping us set the tone for our wedding. We would absolutely recommend having an event here - you will be in the best hands!

    To paraphrase Charles Dickens and also Mary Kate and Ashley, was not the best of times, it was also…read morenot the worst of times. This was the very definition of fine. Space was nice and airy, art was cute, food was solidly mediocre. Everything was missing out on seasoning, except the tomato soup. The soup was solid. Bathrooms were quite dirty. The food cost too much.

    Acoustic Java Roastery & Tasting Room - Roastery tasting

    Acoustic Java Roastery & Tasting Room

    (79 reviews)

    $$

    I really love finding hidden gems like Acoustic Java. I am a sucker for a good book store, AND a…read moregood coffee shop, and Acoustic Java is both! I stopped by to get a couple of coffees to go, and a pastry. The staff was very patient and pleasant to chat with - something I really miss with the larger coffee chains. The coffees were made exactly as I requested, and the pastry was warmed up and wrapped in a foil to maintain the heat. I really love the attention to detail. I'll note that I noticed they use Monin brand syrups (my favorite!). They are not the cheapest option, so it goes to show that the folks at Acoustic Java care about quality over maximizing profit. The location is great - a bit hidden, but the industrial vibe just fits for a small roasting company. I love that the roastery is visible through the glass panels. The packaged beans are all laid out for you to easily read the labels and shop. I love that they carry quality tea for non-coffee drinkers/tea lovers. The merch is also cute, I was very tempted to add yet another coffee shop tote bag to my hoard. They carry a huge variety of used and new books - and they offer the most unique pricing I've ever seen. You can look up the cost of the book online - so long as the condition is roughly the same, that's how much they will charge you for the book (+ tax)! That's amazing, and I don't know how they can possibly even make money with this policy, but with the giant chain and online retailers, it's really the best incentive to get folks to support local. I think one of the biggest highlights here, on top of the great coffee, ambiance, and service, is that they offer various tastings, classes, and live music events. Personally, I feel like this is key in building a community, and I love that they do this. You can look up the different events on their website, some of which are free to attend. I can definitely see this as a place to come read a book over some tea, catch up with a friend over coffee, or take a date to a barista class for a unique experience.

    I owe an updated review here. My past review had been negative but I welcomed to give Acoustic Java…read moreanother chance and I'm glad I did. Their coffee remains consistent and they brew the best bean in town. Truly a hidden gem...literally. They're hidden in the back of Rotmans (old furniture store) and you'll never see it from the main road. I drink coffee on a regular basis and could probably consider myself an amateur coffee snob lol. Lately I have made a purchase for teas and my wife didn't like the selections I've chose so they were welcoming and honored an exchange. I just had to pay the difference which I was glad to. We had good company with us and so there's also ample seating in the next room--you can enter from the front of the building as you enter through the main entrance or go through the back. Cheers

    Bedlam Book Cafe - usedbooks - Updated May 2026

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