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    Carma's Café

    3.7 (175 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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    Lana K.

    I've only stopped by here two times now. I thought it sounded nice that they bake some of their own pastries like scones-- it's just overpriced. Instead, I opted for their egg, cheese on a bagel which was very basic for ~$5. Actually I made the mistake of asking for a multigrain bagel (which they will charge you EXTRA for) and had to ask for that $1 upgrade back since it will come on a plain bagel. The quality of the bagelwich was really bad. Reminded me of a comparable version at Dunkin. The egg part definitely was microwaved/re-heated since it was rubbery and dry. The plain bagel was as expected- plain, standard grocery-store quality, and bland... Really lackluster and not an enjoyable bfast item. Had a hard time finishing it. It also took an oddly long amount of time for me to get the order. I wish I could say the bagel place down the street is better, but it's really not.

    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.

    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.

    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!

    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.

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    Our yogurt IS available by the quart!

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    Kanom Cafe

    Kanom Cafe

    4.7
    (49 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    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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    I haven't been to Llamas' Corner in a while, but I stopped in specifically for the brisket panini…read moreand a coffee. When looking through the menu, I noticed the brisket panini had been removed. I asked the staff about it, but they weren't sure why it was no longer available. That sandwich was actually what I originally knew Llamas' Corner for after seeing it on TikTok, so I was really disappointed to see it gone. Hopefully they consider bringing it back! I also ordered two iced lattes, one with oat milk, boba, and caramel, and another with oat milk and pumpkin syrup. When I received them, both drinks had boba even though only one was supposed to. When I asked for the pumpkin drink to be remade, one of the baristas (the women in the pink long sweater) initially poured the same drink over and attempted to hand it back to me instead of making a fresh one (the bar was not busy or backed up btw.) When I asked for it to actually be remade, there seemed to be a bit of attitude. She did make a fresh drink after I specifically asked whether new espresso shots had been pulled. That part of the experience was disappointing and concerning because if someone asks for a drink to be remade due to an ingredient that wasn't ordered, simply pouring the same drink into another cup doesn't actually correct the issue. While boba wasn't an allergy concern for me personally, it made me wonder how a situation involving an actual food allergy would be handled.

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    Llamas’ Corner
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    Catalog Coffee

    Catalog Coffee

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    0.5 mi
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    What a great cafe in Hampden. It was busy over the weekend when I came. Waited in line for a while…read morebefore I was able to order the Honey Bunches latte and a Morning Bun pastry to go. The latte was delicious and the bun tasted similar to a Kouignaman. It was full of cinnamon and flaky - a great pastry! Service seemed friendly at this casual place. I will enjoy coming back here on a weekday when it's not so busy to try more of their menu.

    Catalog Coffee has a major advantage: the location and the look. It fits Hampden well and looks…read morelike the kind of coffee shop you want to discover. Unfortunately, the atmosphere, food, and counter service didn't fully match the setting. Right when you walk in, the large menu is on the wall to the right. I had my daughter with me, the sun had just been in my eyes, and I missed it. When I asked whether they had a menu, the worker behind the counter just looked at me instead of pointing it out. I eventually noticed a paper menu, but it didn't seem to include the coffee drinks. There may have been another menu for specialty drinks, but getting basic guidance felt harder than it needed to be. I ordered a cortado and the house sandwich. The sandwich needed more cheese and more flavor. Hot sauce probably would have helped, but the sandwich should not depend on me fixing it. The cortado was easily the star of the visit. It was served with a small glass of mineral water, which was a classy touch, and the coffee itself was very good. Overall, this was a 3-out-of-5 experience for me. Great location, good-looking shop, excellent cortado, forgettable sandwich, and counter service that felt either checked out or purposely unhelpful. I'll probably check it out again, but I'm in no rush

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    Coffee bar and cashier station.
    Coffee bar and cashier station.
    Pop-up specials today! Mollete "La Eva": open-face salsa, avocado, egg, etc.--messy but yum!
    Pop-up specials today! Mollete "La Eva": open-face salsa, avocado, egg, etc.--messy but yum!
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    Can't help this morning work break! Remington Scramble and capuchino.
    Bird In Hand

    Bird In Hand

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    When I was craving good coffee and good vibes while in Baltimore, it was Bird In Hand that…read moredelivered on almost every occasion (pretty much all the time that I didn't switch things up by going to Blueprint, with their review coming later)! On top of being a solid coffeehouse, Bird doubles as a great local bookstore filled with plenty of good reads. But I was craving caffeine and their seasonal lattes and Vietnamese iced coffee proved to be sweet revelations! they also have a full espresso bar and even have a good selection of spirits for when you need to kick back and imbibe on a cocktail. For food I saw a lot of temptng options on the menu,which included breakfast options like avocado toast and egg & cheese sandwiches, and seasonal salads. But it was hard to turn down the spicy ham banh MI which delivered a savory salty burn in the right way! Toss in awesome service, and a water refill station that serves still and sparkling, and you have the perfect pick me up!

    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

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    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)
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    Mishmish mango sticky rice popup
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    Carma's Café - coffee - Updated August 2026

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