THEY DON'T ALLOW LAPTOPS…read more I didn't actually get any coffee here... but putting this review out so you don't make the same mistake I did! I was thoroughly disappointed when I learned this, because it's the cutest shop with the best vibes. I'll try sometime when I don't have to lock in, I guess.

Faro Cafe is a small cafe operating as both a coffee shop and a neighborhood gathering space tucked…read moreaway in Harvard Square. We walked into a cozy, bohemian atmosphere filled with eclectic décor, photos, artwork, books, puzzles, chess boards, and an overall sense that people are encouraged to slow down and stay present. Despite the relatively small footprint, the space manages to feel welcoming rather than cramped, with indoor seating that supports conversation and outdoor seating that becomes especially popular during warmer months. Coffee is clearly the centerpiece here. We ordered espresso based drinks, including a flat white and a seasonal Juniper Latte, both of which were prepared with care and a clear emphasis on quality. The café leans into a more thoughtful coffee program, and that attention shows in the cup. Beyond the drinks, the pastry selection is good, particularly the croissants and scones, which paired naturally with the coffee menu. The experience is helped by friendly, engaged staff who contribute to the café's welcoming personality. Conversations with the baristas and small community touches helped create an environment that felt more personal than transactional. The laptop free policy can catch first time visitors by surprise, but for many regulars it is part of what gives Faro its distinctive identity and helps preserve the social atmosphere that sets it apart from more work focused cafés. For a coffee stop in Harvard Square that prioritizes human connection over productivity, Faro Cafe delivers a warm, intentional space worth slowing down for.

Lowkey becoming one of my new favorite bakeries in Boston! I've been a couple of times now and…read moreeverything I've tried has been so good. The banana bread is probably one of my favorites. It was super soft and moist, and the portion was huge! I also tried the shakshuka croissant and loved it. It was flaky, savory, and really filling. The pastries are definitely a little on the pricier side, but the portions are pretty big, so I feel like you get a good amount for what you pay. Their latte was also sooo delicious and paired really well with the pastries. Definitely recommend coming in the morning if you can because everything tastes so fresh! I went back once later in the evening and noticed the banana bread wasn't quite as soft as when I had it earlier in the day. Overall, such a cute spot for coffee and pastries and somewhere I'll definitely keep coming back to. Excited to try more of their pastries next time!

Several months later, after my last visit, I tried the sweet bread this time, and I still felt it…read morewas overrated. Banana Bread: The texture was firm but slightly coarse. The banana flavor wasn't prominent; instead, the cinnamon flavor was quite clear, but overall it was quite mild. Iced Latte: The latte was very good, rich and creamy, and not too bitter.

I really enjoyed my coffee at George Howell in Cambridge. I know this coffee chain well, but I…read moredecided to go try their Cambridge location - and I loved it! It's located inside an adorable bookstore, giving it a different vibe to other branches. The ambience and the decor is so beautiful, and really makes the coffee drinking experience so much better. The servers were lovely, and the menu had many options to choose from. I'm really glad I decided to come here!

A lovely little coffee shop located inside perhaps the cutest bookstore I've ever seen. I had an…read moreiced coffee and my friend a matcha. She also had a breakfast sandwich and I had a delish glazed pastry with pecans on top. I definitely recommend stopping in and hanging a while, perhaps while flipping thru the pages of your newly purchased book.

Tried out Luxor cafe and it did not disappoint! Really cool vibe in there and a lot of people…read morechatting/working. We got the Biscoff Latte and the Cinnabon iced coffee and enjoyed both of those. Then we got the Harvard Yard breakfast sandwich and the Smokey Sunrise Croissant. The food was great, really loved the chipotle mayo on the sandwiches and came with chips! Only point of feedback is coffee and food are 2 different spots to pick up and it can be confusing to know when your drinks are ready since the pager will go off just for the food. Other than that, would come back!

This is an Egyptian coffee shop; I came to buy some bread…read more Sticky Bun: The caramel and pecans ensured it won't be bad, but the syrup coating and the crispness of the crust were uneven. It felt a bit perfunctory. Almond Croissant: I didn't expect it to have a sugary filling inside! A light cinnamon flavor, not too dry, not bad. Chocolate Croissant: A simple and straightforward croissant with a chocolate stick inside. Using dark chocolate prevented it from being too sweet, which is a plus. Plain Croissant: Surprisingly, it was still delicious even after being refrigerated for two days. The bread was very soft and had a subtle peppery aroma.

Yummmmy pastries…read more Almond croissant was really good, I liked how the almonds were glazed and not plain. Pear tart was fire, it had a real pear in the middle. Crunchy overall. Pistachio cherry was good, loved flavor combo. Sweet but what I needed after a long day Matcha lemonade, honestly didn't really taste the lemonade or matcha but was refreshing Service was quick! Drinks came out fast and pastries was instant. Chill atmosphere to have a chat and pretty loud

Review is just for the service 15 people in line and 2 cashiers. Unbelievable how slow the line…read moreis moving. Young kid waited on 2 young white girls instead of my black wife who was next in line. WtF? Her cinnamon coffee cake was quite good.

Black sheep is exactly what I was looking for for breakfast in Harvard Square, breakfast…read moresandwiches!! The space is pretty tight and it was really busy when I showed up but absolutely cleared out as I sat down to eat. I ordered a cold brew, which was a bit watery, but I like it super dark so it's probably just my taste preference. They put the milk/cream in for you and you pick the coffee up in a separate spot from the food. They call your name for both pickups. For food I got the devilled egg open face bagel that has bacon on top on a whole wheat everything bagel. Eating it was intense. I couldn't put it down once I picked up each side and had to be very careful not to spill the egg mixture off the top. It took a while to eat but was amazingly delicious and exactly what I wanted. I would eat it everyday if I could. If it came with micro greens on top, it would be even better. The mixture had red onions which gave it a punch and crunchy texture. I considered adding salt to the mixture on top but I'm glad I didn't because the bagel itself had sea salt so each bite was salty enough. When I ordered I asked if I could also get 2 bagels to bring home and I was told the limit is 1 on weekends and 2 during the week. The manager (I assume) stepped in and said I could have 2 so I chose the rosemary sea salt, which the only have on weekends. I made breakfast sandwiches on them the next day and it was heavenly. This is a spot to check out!

I came again, this time for my parents to try…read more Favorite: I arrived a bit late, and the Everything Bagel was sold out, so I chose a similar Whole Wheat Everything Bagel, but it was extremely, extremely, extremely salty. Everything else was still delicious; the tomato, poached egg, and avocado were a perfect match, refreshing, clean, mild, and smooth.

Everything looks delicious…read more I tried the guava cream cheese pastry, it had a generous portion of cream cheese and the guava jam was delicious I paired it with coffee no sugar to balance the sweetness of pastry. Looking forward to trying a few other items.

Just a couple of blocks away from Harvard square…read more - Quiche was one of the best we had. Kids loved the smooth flan like texture. - Chicken salad had amazing baby kale bits. Daughter loved it. - Lemon meringue was delicious. Coming back for sure

Delicious coffee, super cute space, and refreshing food…read more It's a bus yourself restaurant with an unassuming outdoor space in the back for additional seating. They generally require you to order before sitting given the small space so keep that in mind when you arrive. Service is friendly and very quick. Their food is delicious and refreshing, however I'd say the star of the show is their coffee. I really enjoyed the Saigon latte especially paired with the DELICIOUS pastry. Definitely want to come back to try their dinner menu!

Arrived to Cicada right before they opened the kitchen for lunch so I was able to place a drink…read moreorder for their Hibiscus cold brew tea, but they didn't allow lunch orders until after 11am. The tea was refreshing and the hibiscus was prominent. There was a line trailing out the door so I was expecting some tasty bites! They have a few small tables inside, and a larger backyard patio area for outdoor dining. I ordered their Lemongrass Chicken Confit Black Rice bowl and it was delicious! The rice was crispy with a good chew to it still. The chicken was succulent and flavorful with all the fat and flavor dripping onto the rice. I wanted to savor every last bite as I scraped the bowl. Service left a little something to be desired. I understand they are regularly quite busy and the space inside is small, which explains the line going out the door. I know it can be overwhelming for the staff sometimes. However, my friends' banh mis were not delivered after 20-25 minutes of waiting. I had gotten my bowl and was already partway through finishing it before we asked someone behind the counter about the banh mis. The workers were a bit frustrated saying they weren't missing any banh mi orders, but my friends definitely didn't get their food yet. By the time they gave us the missing sandwiches, I was pretty much done with my meal. I always want to support local small businesses so I'm giving them grace. The food and drinks are amazing. But maybe it was just an off day for the staff.

TLDR: You can't go wrong with a warm, freshly made waffle…read morehere, but people definitely have their individual preferences. My recommendation is to go with the Liege waffle with berries and your pick of any other toppings. With a cozy atmosphere and the smell of warm waffles, this is an especially good spot during the colder months, but still a favorite in the warmer months too. ------ FOOD: THE LIEGE (5/5) The Liege waffle is the classic here and the one I'd recommend. Sweet, thick, and a richer snack (i.e. the satisfying treat you're probably looking for if you're stopping by a waffle shop). All of the topping combos are classic, and the berries they use here are high quality. Waffles come out hot and fresh after just being made, so if you order ice cream or whipped cream, know that you'll have to eat quickly if you don't want it to melt into the waffle. THE BRUSSELS (4.5/5) Besides the Liege, the Brussels waffle is an interesting choice and very different from the Liege. As the menu describes, it's definitely significantly lighter, and it's crispier in a different way (not from the caramelization of the pearl sugar but from crisped up batter similar to an Ego waffle). It's extremely delicate, so I'd recommend just doing some powdered sugar and maybe a chocolate drizzle or some whipped cream. ------ ENVIRONMENT / AMBIANCE: * Small shop on the edge of Harvard Square. Some window seating and a few small tables best for groups of 2 - 4. * Given how small it is inside, finding a seat during peak hours can be particularly challenging, and lines can be out the door too. ------ SERVICE: * Order at the kiosk and then find a seat (if you can). When a waffle is done, they'll call a name and come to you once you indicate that it's for you. * Water and utensils are self-service, and the expectation is that you put your plates, utensils, and cups away in a bin inside by the counter.

Perfect for sitting quietly on a sunny afternoon, especially when you're feeling down…read more Gourmand Waffle: Liege waffle/banana/whipped cream/caramel. The ultimate sweetness is evident from the ingredients. The waffle was light and crispy on the outside, soft and moist on the inside; the sweetness of the banana and caramel is mellow and rich, the pearl sugar was slightly caramelized, and the sweetness of the cream was natural and light. Every bite offered a different layer of flavor. But most importantly, it was really sweet, and sweetness is the most soul-stirring enjoyment. It was sweet enough to bring peace, allowing you to temporarily escape the world and focus on this plate of beautiful fairytale. Café au Lait (Latte): Beautifully layered, with a natural milky aroma. But what does the menu mean by confusing café au lait with latte?

Great service and food, came back several times during my visit to Harvard. Will get back next time…read moreI'm in town.

Felt like I was having fresh food from Australia again but found myself in Cambridge! Cute and…read moreaesthetic designs inside and staff is great. The coffees are great and I absolutely love the Australian iced latte--sweet so don't say I didn't warn you! As for the food, absolutely loved the sauces that each thing we ordered, however, when it came to the meat (chicken) and potatoes wedges portions, I do think that that it was not enough. Especially when the price is above $15 for these items, I think that it's not unreasonable to have a grilled chicken inside of my sandwich that's only half of the size of the sandwich. I loved the potato wedges so it was very disappointing to have such little quantity. Still, I look forward to coming here soon because everything was genuinely good just a few things that were amiss.