This place has a cute bookstore ambience, and the coffee is top notch. The hours are a little funky, but that is no big deal. The one star is only for the rude staff. There are a couple of folks working here that made me feel pretty unwelcome. read more

Cute coffee shop that has like a library theme/vibe! They also have free sparkling water on tap which is kinda great, mostly JHU students, and the occasional odd old man that steals your chair. read more

Bird In Hand - Mango Zesty - Bookstores Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

The cutest coffee shop I've seen in a long while! So hip and cool with great social distancing requirements in place. 1 customer inside, ordering at a time. You can then use hand sanitizer to browse the book selection. I loved the mix of book options! I'm a reader. Everything from Self help to Michelle Obama, Kamala Harris to murder mystery. Oh and the best part the coffee and teas....yum! Delicious! My gf added maple syrup to her coffee and loved it. I had an oat milk Chai Latte, beats Starbucks on their best day! read more

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Bird in Hand is a great little business - coffeeshop, cafe, bookstore. It's small, but it's kind of wonderful. A little seating outside, a little seating inside, a cafe with food, full coffeeshop menu, and a small, but well curated bookstore. I walked around for a few minutes with a friend and pretty quickly found a book that sounds amazing and interesting and that I had never heard of before. I had to have it. It's that kind of bookstore - the kind of bookstore where you'll find something you didn't even know you were looking for. Definitely check it out if you're in the area! Support your local, independent bookstores! read more

this is a cute cafe by jhu homewood campus (and the closest one I think) so it is extremely crowded. it's pretty hard to find a table inside and it feels like a competition to get one when someone else leaves. the matcha lattes (my usual go-to order) aren't the best and the drinks are pretty overpriced for the portion size. i think it's a nice place to chat or study (if you can manage to get a table) but other than that, the drinks aren't too memorable. read more

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Went here to get an after work coffee. Their hours that extend later into the day make it a prime location. The staff was very nice and welcoming. I loved the interior of the shop with the book section. Beware, there still is no indoor dining, if that is an issue. The outside provided a nice place to drink my coffee with a few tables and benches. I ordered a hot americano with oat milk. The americano was very weak and it seemed like too much water had been used. It was hard to discern the espresso taste. I guess this could've been a hiccup in the system. While the interior seemed clean at first glance, I noticed a few huge flies. I know flies happen when the door keeps getting opened, but these were huge. They definitely turned me off quite a bit. read more

Bird In Hand - Fly - Bookstores Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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This place *could* be great. I love that they are a bookstore--such a rare thing to find nowadays brick and mortar style . But the coffee I got was cold (I ordered hot), and the grilled cheese on raisin toast was instead multi grain bread with cheese inside that was clearly just microwaved. Meh. read more

Bird in Hand, is in many ways, the ideal coffeeshop - it's quaint, well appointed with floor to ceiling bookshelves, there's great food, and, as other reviewers have pointed out, there's sparkling water on tap! However, beneath this appealing surface there are several caveats. 1) Because of how great it is, and how close to the Hopkins main campus, it is incredibly popular. By which I mean busy, by which I mean getting a table is a RARE THING. I have been 3 times and twice had to turn away for lack of space. 2) The price is somewhat exorbitant. Not that Artifact Coffee or Woodbury are any different, but it's not a place to go if you on a tight budget. 3) The sparkling water on tap was out the day I went. That being said, they make mean expresso and an excellent breakfast sandwich with some interesting hot sauce to accompany it, good soup, and a great location to get some work done. I'll be back, if I can get a table! read more

Bird In Hand - Delicious bacon mushroom cheese biscuit sandwich - Bookstores Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I really loved this place! Great Covid protocol - one group allowed in at a time and you can place your order from outside and wait. I know everything was made fresh because I ordered a parfait with syrup on the side and it came out wonderful and delicious. My sisters got the egg and cheese on ciabatta and gave rave reviews as well. The lattes were really great and they had unique and tasty flavorings, I recommend the honey or the lavender. Be sure to check out the bookshop inside if you can, it is really fantastic. Cool selection of Baltimore books as well! Make this a stop if you're visiting the area or heading to Hopkins. read more

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I don't get why people like this. Food is okay at best. Staff was fine for the most part, just the guy serving ice cream was in a bad mood or something. A decent amount of options for the food. I didn't want to go, but went with a group and would not go back. read more

This little cafe and book store combo is cute and comfy - with delicious food! My first trip there I only had tea and a scone to go - both were quality so I returned for a quick breakfast. We ordered tea (many options), a ham, cheddar, and egg breakfast sandwich, and a bowl of cold noodles. The food was very good. A great add - they have both sparkling and still water taps with small pitchers and glasses for you to take to your table. The place was a mixture of people there for a quick breakfast, having coffee meetings, and a few folks studying. It seemed cozy and welcoming enough that it would be ok to post up there for a bit of time to do some work. The reason for only 4 stars, purely price. Our sandwich, noodles, and 1 cup of tea was over $20. It is quality, so I'll be back - but there are a few other options that can save you a few dollars in the end. read more

Bird In Hand - Cold noodles! I am def. a fan! - Bookstores Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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This was my second visit. The first was with two friends for lunch and I ordered the vegan wrap, which was delicious, but this time, I went solo for a to-go breakfast. I noticed that the breakfast menu only had one vegan option: oatmeal, which I wasn't particularly excited about, so I asked the cashier what he'd recommend as a hearty breakfast for a vegan. He offered to veganize the breakfast platter, subbing the eggs for tofu and adding steamed veggies to replace the meat. And voila! He surprised me with a scrumptious and filling breakfast platter with toast/jam, tofu, steamed veggies, and potatoes. It was all perfectly delicious and filling! Great staff, lovely bookstore. Highly recommend visiting! read more

Bird In Hand - A veganized breakfast platter to-go - Bookstores Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Right across JHU. Chill spot to enjoy a hot steaming cup of joe. Decent foodstuffs. Ample indoor & outdoor seating, you're surrounded by books, and if you're lucky, depending on the baristas, you may hear some good shit on the speakers (metal, punk, new wave, etc). read more

Love love love the ambience! Love that it's a bookstore and coffee shop, and it's the perfect amount of hipster-y. The chai latte was good but not the best chai latte I've ever had. Would definitely return to study and try their food. read more

I keep coming back to Bird in Hand because of the bookstore vibes, long hours compared to other nearby cafes, and location near campus -- but it isn't the first place I'd recommend to a cafe lover. You won't be able to get much work done here as the cafe is very small: Seating is limited both inside and outside and it can get very loud. There is also an insect problem where dead bees and flies are trapped between some of the merchandise and windows. My favorite drinks were the Golden Milk, which is no longer offered in person although it remains on the website, and the Ginger Cardamom Lemonade. The Matcha Latte has grown on me and is probably what I purchase here the most; I've tried a few other drinks but found the pour over coffee quite bitter and the tea weak -- definitely not worth their high prices. read more

The place was small, tight and crowded. I'm not communal. I need space. The menu is very limited

I got the peach ricotta toast, and that's literally all it was. Peach, ricotta, some honey, toast. Bread was fine, but man is this toast disappointing and deeply underwhelming. Even at home I'd put cinnamon or cardamom or SOMETHING to elevate the flavors. Maybe whip the ricotta or mix it with the honey first? Go crazy and add some olive oil or basil leaves or pistachios or even a bit of balsamic. Grill the peaches! Sprinkle some lemon zest on top! There are various low hanging ways to make this toast actually taste good. Do some kind of additional processing than assembly or add some thought/care to its contents. Maybe I just deserve it for being willing to pay $6.36 for a toast? Oof. read more

Initially, I was drawn to this place for its values of sustainability and providing a safe space for all people. Bird in Hand is a cool coffeehouse that has great aesthetics. It reminds me of the hipster coffee shops I used to frequent in Oregon. The place has a variety of options for pastries, tamales, and sandwiches. At night, there are sometimes book readings hosted here. I took three stars off because the menu is overpriced, and the coffee shop gets loud, which makes it a difficult place to read/study/work. I tried the chai latte and thought that it was too sweet for my taste. read more

I really love the general space and aesthetic of Bird in Hand. My partner lives in the area so we come a lot and sadly every time I am here it genuinely looks like the employees are not happy customers are there. So rarely have I been met with a smile or pleasant eye-contact, aside from one girl who seemed new. Today I asked the barista for a small change in my order, and it seemed like such an issue, and they slammed my drink on the counter and didn't make eye-contact. Otherwise, the food and coffee are great, I get so much work done when I'm here and love looking at the books but after having worked in coffee shops for five years, customer service and a friendly demeanor can make or break an experience somewhere. read more

Coffee was lukewarm and tasted burned. Staff were rude. No redeeming qualities in this place. Stay away, plenty of other options nearby

Nice little Café right by Johns Hopkins University! Came here while visiting the campus and decided to try their coffee and it was amazing! This is a relaxing little café where people can come get some work done. Their ice coffee was super good and it comes in a big cup that I've never seen before! Perfect spot for students to come to study! read more

Bird In Hand - Bookstores Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Really cute coffee shop/book shop right across from Johns Hopkins. Ordinarily, there's apparently lots of students sitting inside and out studying and hanging out, but on this hot, muggy, drizzly morning during the pandemic, we were the only ones there. But, the service was very friendly, they wiped the rain water from their beautiful outdoor wooden picnic table, and we enjoyed some really good iced lattes. We also each ordered a breakfast sandwich which were really good - egg and cheese (we added sausage on one, bacon on the other) on a nice ciabatta roll - very tasty. We really enjoyed our visit, and our walk around the neighborhood after. read more

Bird In Hand - Bookstore, coffee shop - Bookstores Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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A sweet little shop for every book and coffee lover. They have a sweet variety of drinks and food items (sandwiches, parfaits, pastries, etc.). I came here for breakfast and got a mint matcha latte with oat milk (they didn't have almond milk, which is my usual choice). I also got a parfait (yogurt, granola, apples, and honey or syrup to sweeten it up). The mint matcha I had was great! My friend had ordered the same mint matcha latte with regular milk, but she said hers tasted too strongly of mint. I tried a sip and hers was a little bit much on the mint... I liked my parfait too, as it was a perfectly satisfying mini-breakfast. My friend had ordered a breakfast sandwich with bacon, egg, and cheddar, although they left out the cheddar. Browsing the bookstore was lovely! This is one of the unique qualities of this shop. They have a large selection of new releases, with recommendations from the employees posted in the shelves. Super cute shop! It also has outdoor seating, and the service was super friendly. It seems to be a popular place, as the line started growing as soon as we'd left!! Parking situation: street read more

UNDERRATED! such a cute study place or cafe / date place. the books being there is such a nice touch as it's fun to look through. vibes of some of the mugs are very homey. read more

Very cute interior and great menu options. While you're waiting you can look around at all the cool books and items they sell. read more

Bird In Hand - Inside - Bookstores Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Sparkling water on tap. Let me repeat, there is sparking water on tap! That alone just makes my day each time I come here. But beyond that, what's better than two local businesses coming together to create an inviting and unique experience? You can't go wrong with the menu since it's courtesy of Artifact Coffee - so naturally there are delicious beverages and baked goods. I love their iced matcha, it's my go-to beverage. As for the book selection, I live around the corner from The Ivy Bookshop and love to support them. I'm a sucker for holding a physical book and there's no place better to pick one up. It's such a lovely place to do some work, meet with a friend, or just escape for a bit of time. My only two minor gripes - there's not nearly enough outlets, especially when it's packed with JHU students and sometimes their picture pretty dishes make for a great 'gram but not to practical when you go to eat it. Case in point: the yogurt parfait in a narrow opening jar piled high with granola. You can't get the spoon in without all the granola spilling out on the table. #fail read more

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I heard a lot about Bird In Hand before coming to Baltimore, so I was initially really excited to try it out. It unfortunately did not meet my expectations. The chicken pesto sandwich I got was satisfactory, but the pricing was atrocious. It added up to a total of ~$12 for a medium sized sandwich without including tips. The overall decorum was alright, but I was let down as I expected the store to be slightly larger and allow for more indoor eating/studying areas. The staff was polite enough, but the ongoing traffic disrupted the environment. Overall, the place was mediocre, and you can find better options literally right down the street for similar pricing (e.g. Bus Boys and Poets down the corner). read more

Bird In Hand - Outside dining area - Bookstores Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Cool spot near Hopkins University, seems to be a HUB for students because every time I come in, I walk out after I order because every single seat is taken. Which is the only problem, which technically isn't even the cafes fault. The coffee is good, but nothing too special, but its good. It does the job and its tasty. The staff is friendly and I do enjoy the almost-library theme it has going on. I've seen some books I would like to take home and maybe I'll come back for them another time. Great place. Good coffee. read more

Bird In Hand has a cool ambience, friendly staff, good service, and outdoor seating (great for the pandemic!), but I was unimpressed by my drink ($4 chai latte). At the shop, there is a table set up inside right in front of the door where you can order, but only one person is permitted inside at a time. After you order, you can wait outside, and someone will bring your food/drink right to you. The inside of the store itself looks really neat -- it's also a bookstore, and has shelves upon shelves of cool looking books. I'm sure it would be a really cool place to hang or study not during the pandemic. Everyone I interacted was very friendly, and the seating outside was spaced really nicely. There are tables, high tables, and chairs. I'm giving 3 stars mainly because I wasn't a big fan of my drink, and my friends didn't really love theirs either. The chai tasted very milky, like it was mostly milk, and the taste of spices or tea did not come through very strongly. I'm not a tea/coffee expert or anything, but I would say I prefer a Starbucks chai latte to the one I had. I didn't try the pastries, but they did look solid. read more

I got a matcha latte that was great, but my breakfast sandwich was just okay. I wanted a little more flavor on it since it was pretty pricey for an egg sandwich. Also, not too much seating inside so it was packed... not the worst thing since there was also a long shareable table read more

on my cafe journey, stopped by here :) 5 stars! had a great matcha latte and a very good sized cookie. fair prices and cute seating! lots of available room and supplies and water on hand. will definitely be back! read more

this place is cute I really like that it's also a bookstore. the staff is really nice and it's pretty convenient for students as it's right next to JHU campus. i've gotten a mint match latte which id never tried before which was interesting, it mostly tasted like matcha I didn't really taste any mint. read more

I so wish I could've come here before Covid (and I'm hopeful that this place will be back to normal at some point "after" Covid) because it's SO cute. The bookshelves are large and from what I could see while briefly looking around and waiting for my drink, they seem to have a pretty wide selection of books. On top of this, the drinks were really good - I got the chai latte and my friend got a hot chocolate, and you could tell Bird in Hand knows what they're doing. They have some alcoholic drinks too that I didn't get to try but seemed reasonably priced. Also the host/cashier/barista at the front was really sweet. I'm wishing this place the best of luck for the foreseeable Covid future! read more

Stay away from this place! The employees not only look miserable, they are rude to many of the customers for absolutely no good reason. The food and coffee are mediocre, at best and definitely not worth dealing with miserable people like this. Stop serving burnt coffee and horrible grilled cheese sandwiches. How can a grilled cheese sandwich be that bad! read more

Very cute outdoor seating (looks great for hanging out and studying) and a cool shop with lots of books. Unfortunately found the coffee to be underwhelming. Between my friends we tried the golden milk, honey latte, and chai. All three we found to be a bit lacking in flavor. The chai was very rich and milky but without much chai flavor at all. Also the golden milk was a bit on the sweet side. I would still come back here for the atmosphere since it really is cute but the coffee itself was alright! read more

Bird In Hand - Bookstores Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

wonderful outdoor seating with tables for those who want to stay awhile to do some work! i saw a few laptops out. enjoyed the lavender latte with oat milk (only 25c extra!). what a lovely lavender flavor that comes through without trying! and, never leave this place without a Bramble pastry! read more

Bird In Hand - apple cheddar handpie - Bookstores Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Nice little coffee/bookshop near JHU campus. Good for an afternoon coffee with friends.

This place is awesome. I had the green tea with jasmine and rose and the chicken tamale - both delicious. The Sosu hot sauce is a MUST for the tamale. I bought two bottles of it. Very welcoming environment, and they have sparkling water on tap for free. read more

Bird In Hand is a great coffee shop and bookstore. Plus, it has a pretty cool set up. There's a modern open feel to it, although it's not a big space. It simply feels that way. At the front is the coffee shop area. It's where you order foods and drinks. The drinks are good. The price point is like other similar places. They also have pastries that were good, not great. They also have assorted bottled drinks. Toward the back are some books. The shelving and height catch your eye. It's not a super large selection of books, but they do carry some great titles, including those from Baltimore authors. There are kids' books, too. Staff were helpful and kind. There is surrounding street parking. Also, because I went during a private event, there wasn't a problem with the lack of space and availability. read more

Bird In Hand Date of visit: 6/1/19 Food Ordered: coffee, latte, hot chocolate, tomato toast Wait time: No wait Service: Good read more

Bird In Hand - Tomato toast, latte - Bookstores Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland