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    Carma's Café

    3.7 (176 reviews)
    Closed 7:30 am - 2:00 pm

    Carma's Café Photos

    CARMA'S CAFÉ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for working
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Carma's Café

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    Street view
    Jada C.

    I am absolutely blown away! I bookmarked this place over 2 months ago to visit from Yelp and I am so glad that I visited today! Call me crazy but, this place is almost directly across the street from a Starbucks and I am thinking about visiting this place more than that Starbucks across the street... and I have stock in Starbucks! It's not the most appealing place on the inside but it's the cutest place on the outside. The inside perks include, fantastic customer service, a nice variety, and plenty of seating for individuals, intimates, and small groups! This place has so much character that I can't wait to come back and visit again! And you guys all know that I love handwritten things! They have boards that are written on with special markers to advertise the daily specials and other items. Dahlia was there to greet me as I entered and answered all of my questions no matter how tedious they were! I definitely appreciate versatile and fantastic customer service when I see it and I am looking forward for the opportunity to receive it again very soon!!

    Peach Cobbler Waffles ($10) = pretty tasty; taken on Oct 07, 2018
    Mike W.

    Location/the physical store itself = 0/5 Food = 3.5/5 Service = 5/5 Value = 2/5 Total = 2.5 stars Carma's café is a small café that has become a Charles Village institution over the years beloved by many Hopkins students and local residents. As others have pointed out, the atmosphere at Carma's is very basement-y: it is in the basement portion of a larger of building. The sitting area inside is tiny, with only 4 small tables available. To be honest, the place is a little dingy. With such a small space, it can get quite loud in there and is not a good place to stay to get some work done. Because of this, they have many tables and a picnic table outside of the store, most of which are covered by a canopy. Due to the limited seating inside the store, they have blankets available for the outdoor seating in case you get cold. While that's thoughtful and cute, this is just not for me. I don't want to share blankets with strangers. I'd not mind sitting outside when the weather is nice. Now onto the food part! Carma's serves some good food that's fresh and yummy. Cold noodle salad, avocado toast, gluten-free baked goods, and weekend brunch waffles are classic. The staff members are nice and sweet. They bring the food to you outside when they're ready. As others have pointed out, the wait for food really varies. I appreciate the fact that they use real plates and utensils. Prices are a little high for my taste and the portions are small for a grown, muscular man like me. On average, you spend about $10-15/person. Pro tip: Carma's has their daily specials listed on their website at carmascafe.com, their Facebook page, and on the board outside the store. They're updated daily so be sure to see what kind of yummy sandwiches they have for that day before you go in!

    Jayne O.

    Carma's is a staple for Hopkins students. In the mornings, the little cafe is quiet and a good place to read. In the afternoons, it becomes more of a social spot for people to get lunch and dinner. The grilled cheese and tomato soup is a favorite, although their turkey, cranberry, and Brie panini is another contender. They also have the best veggie cream cheese I can find in the area. In regard to drinks, the Twiggy tea latte, the Mayan chocolate mocha; and the caramel cloud are all good no matter who makes them. I give this place 3 stars because of the lack of space, the awful take out time (they always take forever), and the inconsistent service. Sometimes the food will come out quickly, other times you will wait 45 minutes and nothing. That being said, roll the dice.

    Sandy J.

    Impression: Came here for breakfast and brunch since I was itching for a breakfast kind of place after eating a lot of Chinese foods and bakeries for desserts. This place serves your omelette, frittata, rockets, sandwiches, paninis, and coffees. It is reasonably priced. Everything was less than 10$. My only tip is that they take a very very long time to prepare foods- that's good! At least all from scratch- but if you're looking for a "quick" breakfast place and you're in a hurry, then this may not be the best place. However if you're wanting to catch up with friends and hang out over a relaxed weekend brunch, this is a great joint! They even provide blankets to cover yourself on cooler mornings since the sun won't get to them until afternoon so it may be chilly if you sit outside on a spring/fall day. Portions were enough for 1 person, so if you're thinking about splitting 1 dish, It may not be enough. Sides include sesame noodles and salads. I would give this place a 3.5/5- good breakfast options- nothing super stellar but still a solid place to go with good prices, overall satisfactory taste, and there are blankets!!! What we ordered i.Meatball Rocket Meatballs were pretty large and well flavored, juicy and tender and came with tomato sauce. Large white roll that you can stuff your meatballs in. 2. Meat Frittata Good for one person unless you order many dishes and you can sample with friends. It's an egg dish with ham, sausage, and something else in it- goes well with a salad i think 3. Virginian Ham Sandwich This reminded me of a Cuban sandwich! Flattened bread with ham slices inside with mozzarella/provolone cheese. This is definitely a filling dish if you're super hungry. I recommend asking for the salad for the side for this one. Sides- We got the sesame noodles and the salad. I thought the sesame noodles were ok- they used spaghetti pasta and flavored lightly with sesame oil and maybe salt. I think this was kind of a weaker dish on their end- A little unflavorful and plain if you're already getting a sandwich as your main entrée. Salad is the better choice- comes with olives and peppers.

    Avocado toast
    Vicky W.

    Really nice cafe with good espresso drinks and sandwiches. Their daily egg frittata is my favourite. They also often have some samples near the counter for customers to try. Cute and warm setting though there aren't too many seats inside. They do have outdoor seating and they even brought out blankets for us. Their avocado toast is also really good!

    Grilled Ham and Brie with Bean & Chicken Chipotle Soup
    Helen T.

    The grilled sandwich was absolutely AMAZING, with a Dijon vinaigrette dressing that perfectly complimented the melted cheese. The soup was okay. However, the wait was very long (more than 45 minutes), so definitely not a good idea for a quick brunch. Not a super pretty interior, but, if you're into that hole-in-the-wall coffee shop vibe, this is the place for you.

    Chai!
    Tiffany D.

    Met friends here for a little chat and some tea. The atmosphere is very "basement"--- as it is in the basement portion of a larger of building. It can get quite loud in here and is not a good place for reading or working. It worked for a girls meet and chat though. The drinks? I got a chai latte, and it had a very funny taste. The price was cheap, but the drink was just subpar. They have a small selection of pastries that I didn't try. Overall, I might come again if I'm in the area, but I'm not raving about this place.

    Latte
    Himali W.

    Surprisingly, there aren't a lot of breakfast/brunch options in the area. This place was decent. I had a latte, with the frittata with tri-color pepper and provolone. I picked this because I thought it would be a healthy option, but it was not. The frittata slice was large, dense with a layer of greasy provolone on the top. I normally like provolone, but it didn't go well with the frittata and I ended up eating around it. It came with one slice of toast and homemade jam (I picked the 3-bees, which was yummy). The latte was good. My friend had the San Pedro sandwich, a vegan sandwich with coconut bacon, avocado, sprouts, and vegannaise, which she loved, along with orange juice, which she also thought was delish. Prices are moderate and they do take credit card.

    TCB w tomato cream soup
    Nicole H.

    One of my favorite spots to eat at near the Homewood campus! The food definitely grows on you. I only came to love this place last fall, after being here for three years. The grilled cheese with the side of tomato soup is to die for. To die for. They also have different variations of the sandwich throughout the week. The Brussels sprout one is great. At first I was deterred by the blue cheese in it, but you can barely taste it! The garlic aioli ones are pretty good too! And you can add avocado for $1 to any sand which! Instead of the tomato soup, I sometimes go for the sesame noodles, one of their specialties. The TCB sandwich is my go-to. It's the perfect version of a grilled cheese with protein! And it's great for all those with sweet tooths! The Xander is another good one if you're looking for a more dessert-y taste. When it comes to dessert, you must try the Pink Dalmatian! Although I am a true chocolate chip cookie connoisseur, my loyalties lie with the Pink Dalmatian. The chocolate chip cookies are a bit too healthy-tasting for me with the nuts. Ooh a second favorite is the molasses cookie! To be honest, it kind of tastes like a gingerbread cookie. But it works. Super cozy environment! Definitely come here! And it's BYOB!! Bonus, they also offer almond milk with their drinks.

    Irish oats with fruit (and part of an iced mocha)
    Jacqueline R.

    A staple during my time at Hopkins. TCB's are the ultimate comfort food. The ginger cookies remind me of home and Christmas. The Irish Oats were a favorite Sunday morning tradition - make sure to get the fruit with it. Waits for to go can be long, but I recommend grabbing friends and shooting the breeze eating at their picnic tables. There's usually even blankets to keep you warm at night. Go to Carma's to feel cozy and content.

    Vegan sandwich with stuffed ingredients
    Prisma T.

    I often pass by this lil underground cafe on my walk to the BMA and I'm so glad that I finally decided to enter. The shop inside is very quaint so thank goodness they have a good seating outside of the shop.the interior design and atmosphere was really cute. The cashier was very kind and patient with the newbie I was and made great recommendations. I saw chai and vanilla ice latte so I was excited. But unfortunately the taste and flavor was lacking. I think it just needed a lot more pumps of vanilla and chai flavoring because the milk and ice just really drowned away any taste. As for the food, I got a vegan veggie sandwich and it was very filling and delicious. There was caramelized onions, avo, lettuce, and a jam that really harmonized with the food. The sandwich has cool ingredients on the inside with a warm toasted bread so it is great for the summer. It is hard to hear your name called out for your order from the outside for drinks. But I'm glad they give a spoon number pager for food and delivered to you at your table. Great overall experience !

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    Carma H.

    Our yogurt IS available by the quart!

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    Kanom Cafe - Cookie Croissant

    Kanom Cafe

    4.7(49 reviews)
    0.3 miTuscany - Caterbury

    If you haven't come here yet idk what you're doing because every pastry I've gotten here has been a…read moreHIT. Matcha crookie was so gluttonous, I'm glad they only do it on weekends otherwise I'd be getting this all the time. Their pineapple coconut croissant is so fresh (summertime pastry). Love their matchas too, always very balanced. Great vibes inside, always people chatting or working. Definitely one of my favorite bakeries in Baltimore.

    I had my weekly coffee shop Saturday at Kanom Cafe. I'm from Baltimore and was visiting over the…read moreweekend, and chose Kanom because I'd never been there before. It's within the Johns Hopkins college campus & a neighborhood, so parking is really horrible. I ended up parking in a non spot and putting my hazards on. It's a cute little, but spacious place located next to an airport building. It's on the corner and has a nice little outside seating area with about 5 tables. Inside is bigger than it looks and has a nice amount of seating as well. Since my time was limited, I didn't really get to explore the menu like I wanted, so I ordered a hazelnut latte and a ham & cheese croissant. Their croissants looked so good, I wanted one of each. They also had several toasts on their menu. I'll have to go back for sure! Th service was regular, you order, they tell you how much you owe and you pay. I got in my car and couldn't wait. My first bite was like a bite into heaven. Every bite was the same way, so delicious & delicate. I wish I had two. The latte was perfect, just the right amount of hazelnut. Kanom Cafe is a must try!

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    Llamas’ Corner - Llama Sunrise Breakfast Panini -- smoked paprika aioli sauce, fluffy eggs, bacon jam, creamy guacamole, mozzarella cheese

    Llamas’ Corner

    4.2(88 reviews)
    1.6 miBolton Hill
    Minority-owned & operated
    Eco-friendly

    Llamas Corner is such a gem in Bolton Hill. The café is beautifully decorated, with art from local…read moreartists covering the walls, and the music sets a really vibey, welcoming mood that makes you want to linger. This was my second visit, and it definitely lived up to the first. On my first stop, I had the ham and Swiss panini with a cookie butter latte. The sandwich was grilled perfectly, crispy on the outside, melty and satisfying inside, and the latte was absolutely delicious. I was honestly bummed to learn the cookie butter latte was seasonal because it deserves a permanent spot on the menu. This time around, I tried the breakfast panini and added ham, along with an iced sugar cookie latte (another seasonal drink that was so good). The food was pleasant and comforting, and once again, the drink really stole the show. Overall, Llamas Corner nails the combo of great atmosphere, thoughtful food, and creative drinks. I'll definitely be back... just crossing my fingers that some of those seasonal lattes become regulars.

    I recently stopped by Llamas' Corner for a mid afternoon treat. The inside is cute with some quirky…read moredecor and a good amount of seating for the small size of the place. There are two kiosks where you order. I got the french toast matcha latte which was ready quickly. The matcha wasn't the best quality or wasn't prepared properly, imo. It tasted very soapy and the french toast flavor wasn't very noticeable. I've definitely had much better matcha in Baltimore and wouldn't recommend Llamas' if you're particular about your matcha. Maybe their coffee is better? I also noticed a section on the menu labeled "gluten free" but the only option listed was a bag of chips. Would be nice to see some other offerings for GF folks.

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    Llamas’ Corner - Biscoff Cookie Crunch Latte

    Biscoff Cookie Crunch Latte

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    Bird In Hand

    3.9(139 reviews)
    0.5 miCharles Village
    $$

    What an amazing day to have an amazing iced ginger tumeric latte made with oat milk…read more The relaxed hippie spot is calling you to endulge in a peaceful drink specially prepared by the friendliest people. Stop by and make a cool selection of your choice of drink whether hot or cold. You wont be disappointed unless your tastebuds are off

    This review is solely based upon an event I attended here, not the actual bookstore itself. Bird in…read moreHand is a really cute cafe, bookstore, which I plan to return to try the coffee and pastries I stopped for their Community Dinner event called Eat with Me. It was a community dinner party with Chef Char. You had a choice of a ticket with or without wine pairing. Me and my friend chose the ticket with wine pairing. The ticket included two glasses of wine. The menu was not printed online so we went in kinda blind on what was served. The first course was a roasted vegetable dish which consisted of broccoli, fingerling potatoes and pears with a Greek yogurt sauce. The second course was chicken thighs with risotto in a tomato sauce and the third course was a granola strudel with pears. There was also an arugula salad with grapefruit segments and parmesan cheese. I can be brutally honest, none of the courses were seasoned well. The first course was cold, the vegetables were wilted and did not mesh well. Was not expecting pears to be with my roasted vegetables. The second course was underwhelming as well. The food did not have any flavor and the dessert was not my favorite at all. I only ate the fruit out of the dessert. The chef did come out and let us know what each course was, however I felt that she really wasn't too personable with the guests. A few of the guests at the table were her friends so she only engaged with them, and of course they hyped her up, however the food was bland and underwhelming and the majority of the guests including myself did not finish their plates. If there is another community dinner, I hope it will be with a different chef in mind As I stated before my review is of the event, not the business as a whole.

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    Bird In Hand - Orange, Cranberry, & Chocolate Oat Cookie from Ovenbird Bakery ($3) and Large Iced Coffee ($3.75)

    Orange, Cranberry, & Chocolate Oat Cookie from Ovenbird Bakery ($3) and Large Iced Coffee ($3.75)

    Bird In Hand - Mishmish mango sticky rice popup

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    Common Ground - Powers (hummus, red onion, cucumber, tomato, avocado and spinach on toasted rye.

    Common Ground

    3.9(243 reviews)
    0.3 miHampden
    $

    I'm so happy to see common ground still exists in Hampden. This coffee shop has gone through it…read morefrom operating a different location in Hampden to opening at this current spot and then closing and then now becoming employee owned. Common ground is really why I love Hampden. They are so community and employee driven. The line here is always very long, people love their biscuits. I usually come here just for their coffee - the most popular being their drip. I always forget they have expresso here and always regret my coffee au lait as its drip with milk. Common ground is always bustling and they have a lot of tables and main sitting area. The bathroom here is super cute with a giant pink flamingo mural and for how busy it does they maintain it really well. They offer their bathroom two customers of Maillard Pastries, which is across the street which I love. Super solid choice for coffee I know it's a very popular neighborhood spot and beloved for 25 years!

    My wife and I have been to this coffee establishment at least 3 times. Each time we have tried…read moredifferent coffees and breakfast items. The employee-owned staff are delightful people. The wait can be a little long but the coffee and food are scrumptious. The seating inside is a little tight and the outdoor seating could use better chairs, but it's just a small gripe, nothing to pass up on visiting this place again.

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    Common Ground - Inside

    Inside

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    Pistachio Honey

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    Carma's Café - coffee - Updated May 2026

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