I had a little trouble deciding on a rating since I'm not familiar with coffee shops in Nashville. Something tells me this is probably the best, and so I will give it the 5 stars :) First off, so very cute- I loved that as we were coming up the steps, people were eating on the patio in February, dogs in tow. It also helped that we scored a parking spot right in front- that doesn't happen in Chicago, well, EVER. There really was a wide range of people hanging out, particularly for a Friday mid-morning- and we could overhear lots of interesting discussions going on as well. They had some very tasty sounding coffee drinks, and I had a lot of trouble deciding on one- this to me earns a coffee shop high marks right off the bat. While there's not a lot of choices in the food - hey what can you expect at a little cafe right?- what was offered was really good; I had a breakfast burrito dish that came with great hashbrowns, and it was totally satisfying. I wish I could have gone back for another round and hung out a bit, but alas, as I was a tourist, we had to move on. Staff sesemed friendly enough This reminds me of places I loved to hang out and read in my college days. I would highly recommend this to anyone, tourists or locals alike (ok who am I to give recommendations to the locals :)) This was one of the highlights of our trip to Nashville, definitely stood out in terms of quality and ambience (is that bad? oh well!) read more

The service had been below my expectations, I'm constantly having to remind barista/workers that I'm still waiting on coffee or a bagel. Practically every time they "lose" my ticket. Also, barista doesn't even apologize when I told her I haven't gotten my full order after 15 mins of waiting. Instead, she acts like it's a huge inconvenience to HER. Every time I go I tip because the initial service is great but after that it's all downhill. But I guess that's all these guys care about anyway. I rarely feel the desire to complain but this is just inexcusable. read more

Barista asked me what I wanted. I said "To know whether it's possible to live a truly authentic life." They handed me a mocha.

I really wanted to love this place as much as I love Fido.. but eh just about sums it up. food is eh.. vibe is eh.. and it smelled like an odd mix of paint and chilli (????) however the Mochahontas drink I got was deeeelicious, staff was friendly, and theres free wifi, so I'll go here on the days I feel i've exhausted my other options and crave that yummy cinnamon-y drink again. Oh also, it was nice that they turned on the heat.. is it me or does every other Nashville coffee shop keep the a/c running?! ha. read more

I stopped in recently to pick up a 1 pound bag of coffee to bring home. They very kindly ground the beans for me and sent me on my way. After months of Maxwell House, imagine my delight upon the aroma of Bongo Java's Ethiopian blend. The coffee is roasted just right; a bitter cup has never been brewed. It's my new Saturday morning staple. read more

The food was decent, service was mediocre at best. It took 15 minutes to get a simple bagel. The drink selection is decent but the staff and atmosphere is a little tight. read more

We were driving through Nashville and wanted to stop for coffee with our dogs. Even though it was raining, the patio provided enough coverage for is and the dogs. Their coffee is better than Starbucks and their food is fresh and delicious. read more

Eh. College students drowning in homework on one side, layers of paper flyers about the local band playing on open mic night, and not-so-special lattes. read more

Bongo has great specialty drinks and really awesome food. It's super popular, but I've always been able to find seating whenever I go. A great place to work on homework or just grab some coffee. The only drawback is that sometimes service is a bit slow, but nothing so bad that it keeps me from going. read more

Nice place to go. A little overhyped. Good iced coffee and good lunches (the fancy grilled cheese is great). I think the regular coffee is only so-so. Wireless is nice, though they shouldn't have got rid of the communal computer, I guess it let them put a few extra seats in there. I think it's annoying when some hipster artist dude takes up four seats just to do some "scrapbook" or something, but that's life. Baristas have some serious attitude. And yeah, the fly problem is annoying, and weird. read more

This place is the reason that whenever I smell clove cigarettes, I get violent flashbacks to being thirteen.

I was really disappointed with this coffee shop. I ordered a Cortado with alternative milk, and asked for it to be done at a cooler temperature. When I got my drink, it wasn't the milk I had asked for. Which was OK, the barista remade it. When I got it, I held the cup and could already tell it was way too hot. When I tasted it, the milk tasted burnt and the espresso was super bitter. Maybe this is the place to go if you're a student and need to get some studying done, but otherwise don't waste your time. read more

If you're in nashville and you like coffee, then you probably have already been to bongos before. Probably the best coffee shop in town. Great drinks and a friendly place where many a college student come to get their fix. Fido is also great, and is run by the owner of bongo as well. Although the drinks differ at each place. At bongo, i love the icy samoan, and at fido the rollover is like a dream. Get off your butt and try either place if you never had! read more

If you don't mind waiting 25 minutes for a mediocre cup of joe, this is the place for you. Stopped in for what I thought would be a quick cup of coffee before I met someone down the street for lunch. If I went to Belmont and/or smoked a lot of weed, I might appreciate the place more. Just not a draw for me. read more

The first time I ever went into Bongo Java years ago, the customer service was below par. The cashiers/baristas were not friendly at all and seemed to not have any personality. I don't remember the quality of my coffee that visit. I decided to try it again a few weeks ago and was disappointed once again by the taste of the coffee which had no flavor, and the lack of personality from the staff. I had to call Bongo Java today to try and get some information and I was extremely disappointed at the tone I received from the man on the other end of the phone that didn't seem like he wanted to help me. I was as friendly as could be and felt like a bother when I called. I would NOT recommend Bongo Java at all. There are other coffee places in the area that I have had a more pleasant experience with (i.e. Frothy Monkey, Edge Hill Café and even Starbucks) that I would recommend. read more

I should be embarrassed by how often I come here. You can't beat the Bongo Basic - eggs, toast, hash browns, and a coffee for just $6. Best thing for a college budget and a super convenient location! That means it's almost always packed with college students throughout the school year, though, so fair warning if that's not your crowd (one of the reasons I didn't give it 5 stars). Also note that the coffee is VERY STRONG, especially the iced coffee which is my go-to. Take it slow if you're a more casual drinker and not used to high levels of daily caffeine. The hot coffee can sometimes taste a little burnt but I know a lot of friends who have had good experiences as well (my second reasons for 4 rather than 5 stars). Some other great things to try are the Mochahontas and the PC Muffin. Check out the local art on the walls and keep an eye out for shows there as well. read more

Four stars bc of the bongo basic breakfast but the employees ruin any chance of redemption. I've been here well over 30 times and have yet to experience a polite, friendly, or remotely enthusiastic employee. It's fine if you hate your job and the clientele, but that's not my fault so no need to take your disinterest out on me. A "thank you" is always met with rolling eyes, silence, or a shrug. Plus your coffee tastes like it was run through your kitchen staff's butt crack before serving. read more

The food is pretty good and the artwork is always very cool. But everything is overpriced. It's next to a college so a lot of younger people hang out there. I would definitely recommend this spot if you like to people watch. Staff isn't usually that nice though. Kinda give off a coffee elitest vibe. read more

Just stay away, unless you want to be talked down to and treated like you are a second class citizen. The first time I ever went to bongo java I LOVED it, it must have been a blue moon because the staff made my drink without opening their mouths. However, when I went back a second time the baristas were unbelievably rude and wouldn't make my drink the way I wanted it. All i wanted was decaf and when the "manager" got involved they just talked bad about me and acted like I was a huge thorn in their side. It was pretty embarrassing read more

OK, visiting from Seattle, I'd heard about Bongo Java quality. I tried it at Fido and the quality was amazing. However, visited the cafe next to Belmont University. The staff were rude and the quality of the drinks using the same coffee beans sucks especially as it is super expensive. Tried it 4 times and same rudeness with different staff. Owner should hire quality staff. read more

Used to be my favorite coffee joint in all of Nashville. Not anymore. The decor our bland and the drink selection is sparse and boring. I was really sad to see that with all of the new additions to the facility, all of the old flavors and charm were thrown away. read more

There was a time (a *dark* time, mind you, one that makes you grit your teeth and get that steely look in your eyes when people ask about it) when I spent more time on the porch at Bongo Java than in my living room. That was, like, three years ago, though, so the useful bits of this review have to be sorted out of the larger legacy of secrets and shame. Let's get the boring stuff out of the way first: Bongo Java is a perfectly competent coffeehouse. They serve a very nice sweet iced tea (get the fruit tea if they have it), an excellent "basic breakfast" for a reasonable price, and some kind of insane coffee that I suspect is spiked with PCP or goofballs or Guatemalan Insanity Peppers or something because whenever I drink it I feel like I need to get into a shouting match with a hobo or wrestle a raccoon for ham scraps or something (no, I'm not a coffee wimp, you jerk, I drink the stuff as if the cold hand of Death itself was tugging at my laptop bag--but I swear there's some sort of bad juju in that coffee). They have wifi and places to sit and terrible music and snotty baristas, so yeah, it's a coffeehouse. Don't go on Saturday or Sunday mornings unless you're fond of waiting in line forever. What sets BJ (lord that's an unfortunate acronym) from other coffeehouses is the massive and well-populated porch, for which I forgive them most of their offenses. As others have noted, the patrons are mostly college-aged hipsters, as you might expect, but there's actually much more variance than that. There's a significant population of chess players who show up every so often to chain-smoke and punch the clock, providing a hypnotic ballet of strategy and vicarious nicotine intake. There are Vanderbilt grad students staring at their laptops in a concerted psychic effort to make their dissertations write themselves. There are off-duty baristas slouching about. And there's always one or two old guys hovering over the whole business. Given the general youth of the clientele, it's a bit strange to see them there all the time. Which leads me to my final point: Bongo Java, despite seeming to be an innocuous, inoffensive coffeehouse, is actually more similar to some kind of monstrous, kelp-besmirched sea creature that, krakenlike, winds its horrible tentacles around you and drags you down into its inky lair. Bongo Java doesn't want your money; it wants your SOUL. It wants you to remain on the porch forever, swilling coffee and talking about obscure movies. The signs are all there: Exhibit A) The business primarily serves an addictive substance (coffee) Exhibit B) This substance is commonly consumed with an additional addictive substance (nicotine) Exhibit C) The coffeeshop is a self-contained unit: since it serves food and drink, and since I suspect that the second floor of the converted house that contains it is still... a house, you could theoretically remain there indefinitely Exhibit D) You can find the same cast of characters there on any day of the week, at any time of the day or night Exhibit E) I strongly suspect that the old folks who can be found at all times on the porch are people who were lured in by Bongo Java and NEVER LEFT So anyway, yeah. You should probably still go here, because the porch is nice and sunny and sometimes the cats from the neighboring houses come and visit. But don't fall for it if someone offers you some low-protein gruel and a place to crash while you're there. read more

to be honest, pretty cramped and people are always too loud. The students from belmont crowd this place and slow down the internet. Bongo java has decent coffee but there is just way too many people here. hours are bad too read more

owned by the owner of fido. it's greatest asset is a large wooden porch. the staff can be nice or surly, apparently without rhyme or reason. mixed crowd includes the quasi-elfin, latte-philic belmonters, teachers, locals and a heavy dose of scruffy loafers of no apparent origin or occupation. the art is usually of the naive artsy girl or blind hippie variety which should appeal to art-moms on break from running their shops on 12 south. the line at the counter is often inexpressibly slow. anything with a drop of espresso in it will take 10 minutes at least. however, this place is great for hangover mornings when you are least likely to notice anyone or anything around you and just want some greasy food (egg mcbongos) and mediocre coffee. the wifi is sketchy (often have to reset the router) but there is a free-use net computer whose 15 minute time limit regularly gets ignored. Update: Someone just wrote about flies in their review. I couldn't agree more. What, was Bungled Java built on top of a sacred fly mecca? Maybe it's just that everything is covered in a sticky fly-attracting patina of hippie muck. read more

the strongest espresso on planet earth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! a bit overkill, i know. but dang is their coffee strong. read more

Before I begin I'd like to note that the coffee is very good here. Now that being said, it isn't mind blowing good. The real issue is the line, it moves so ridiculously slow that it quickly becomes frustrating. I realize people are ordering food and it takes time, but the wait is just too long. read more

Bongo Java is a great place to hang out, study, smoke a cigarette and enjoy a great cup of coffee. When I say great cup of coffee, I don't just mean that by my own personal taste. When coffee is evaluated, it's given something called a "cupping score". The perfect cupping score is 100 and most great coffee is a 90 or 85. Bongo scored a 95. Not to mention, the price is great! It's a lot cheaper than Starbucks and they have just as many frilly drinks on the menu. There can be a long wait at the busy points of the day when music industry people and Belmont students line up to try and grab a cup of coffee before the next meeting or class. Once you get your coffee, you can enjoy it outside on the fantastic wooden porch and enjoy Belmont Blvd or inside and enjoy the local art that's hung on the walls. Bongo is home to a lot of Nashville artwork. Every few months the paintings on the walls change to showcase another local artist. Even the tables inside were painted by local artists. Besides coffee and a great hang-out spot, Bongo has a little theater upstairs. It's small and quaint. Unplugged shows, stage play readings, etc. are held there on the weekends and sometimes throughout the week. Bongo is easily my favorite cafe in Nashville. read more

So the coffee sucks, it's really loud, and the service is sub-par, BUT: the cider is AMAZING. My personal favorite is the Summit County Cider which is a pear-based cider that sends your taste buds to Narnia and back. I feel the need to tell everyone about this cider. It is so good. read more

I prefer Bongo Java over Fido's because of their deck - the sparse tables outside Fido's are always filled up. And not as hipster-y, in my opinion. read more

Nice place to relax. Coffee tastes a little strange and for some reason coffee in the south is weak even with double and triple shots.

5-star coffee, 4-star food. today, i'm rounding up! the ethopian here is amazing. highly recommended. read more

Love the laid back, come as you are vibe here. I only had coffee here - no food so I can't comment on the food, but the coffee, the people, and the atmosphere here are super. You can opt to sit inside or out. Would be a great place to sit and get work done....love it! read more

I love Bongo Java, it's my favorite place for coffee in Nashville. I like the East side location better than this one (different atmosphere, seems more laid back), but I stopped in to this location because I was on that side of town. The only thing that weirds me out about Bongo (my one and only complaint) is they only offer cappuccinos in one size. REALLY SMALL. Any other coffee shop has 3 sizes to offer. What gives? Anyhow, great coffee, great place. read more

Good coffee, a bit pricey, slow internet, but a great porch area for nice fall afternoons!

The place is conveniently located as it is right across the street from where I live. If I need a hot coffee before this is the best place to go. If you are meeting someone for work this is the place to go. Their drip coffee is decent, their food is really good especially the bongo basic including hashbrowns that will blow your mind. The staff are all really cool and have made friends with a few of them. Great place to hang, eat, and especially get coffee read more

Love this place! It can get crowded sometimes due to Belmont being right there (tons of college students) but it's a great spot. One thing that makes it unique is their amazing menu because it changes regularly, their drinks are so unique! They have such interesting flavor combinations and the don't rely on sugar to make their drinks taste good. Great balance. Also they have a lovely space upstairs for theatre/live shows. Check it out, and if you're in East Nashville, they have a location there too! Parking is sometimes a challenge in the area, but they have a lot in the back. Sometimes you can find street parking, it may just take a bit of time to walk there. read more

Great chocolate cake and cappuccino. Perfect place to study for hours on end.

Poor customer service. Called ahead to ask if they had one of their bags of coffee beans in stock on location. Drove 20 minutes across town only to discover the employee we talked to on the phone mis-informed us. read more

I've been going to Bongo Java for about 11 years. Great place to grab coffee and sit on the porch. Food's nothing special but it's not expensive and it's not bad. The major drawbacks are that it's a coffee house, so everyone who comes wants to camp out and it's often impossible to find a table, and the crowd of patrons can be annoyingly pretentious. read more

Good coffee, lots of hanging art, loosely pinned papers indicating music events and a snobbish Mac toting crowd that is absently pecking on their keyboard, sipping and flipping open their iSomethings every now and then perfectly defines Bongo Java. It's an offshoot of the main one in E. Nashville, but a much needed addition if one is going to thwart the Starbuckification of the city. More power to local coffee shops! read more