Following dinner at Ligalis, and a cold night walk around Tremont, we stopped for coffee and cookies. The old-fashioned Iced Christmas cookies were the best we'd had in a long time. Looked like a nice neighborhood hangout with lots of chairs. read more

Civilization - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Civilization is one of my favorite coffee shops in Tremont. You can order a number of different hot or cold coffee drinks and get great service. There are a number of baked goods including scones and croissants that you can purchase to go along with your caffeinated beverage. There's ample seating inside and when it's warm out you can sit on the sidewalk patio. Locals and visitors enjoy this coffee shop. You will too! read more

I've been searching for a coffee shop to host my monthly meetup and I have found it!!!! It's so cute and quaint and located in Tremont so it has that eclectic feel to it. I was impressed that they had seating outside with canopy's so that you don't bake( I've dealt with that before lol) They have the normal varieties of coffee and tea. You can get them both hot or iced and an assortment of pastries and sandwiches to go with them. The baristas were very friendly as well. I'll be back neck month. read more

So I am new to the city and decided to try out this neighborhood coffee shop, not pleased! The service is not very friendly, the coffee is horrible, their pastries are way too expensive. I walked in and the sense of humor of the gal and the guy behind the register was blah! I always like to give the benefit of the doubt to everybody, but don't think I will be going back over here again. Coffee shops are meant to be fun, vibrant, friendly, welcoming.....which this place lacked in each of these categories. read more

This might be my new favorite coffee shop on my way to work. There is always plenty of street parking. The staff is helpful and friendly. The atmosphere is vintage, cute, and cozy. The coffee is delicious as are their pastries. Prices are great as well. Seems like a very neighborhood forward place for people to meet and congregate but service is always fast. read more

See all

This is my favorite place to sit down, read a book or work remotely. The staff is friendly and accommodating and the prices can't be beaten. I'm probably here 5 days of the week...sometimes more. Plus, the locals love to chat with anyone who walks by. You can usually join an interesting conversation. Oh yeah, and if you have a dog, they'll help hold it while you go inside and get a cup of coffee to go! read more

I really, really enjoyed Civilization! They call themselves a coffeeshop "in the tradition of a European cafe" in Tremont. The food is definitely a highlight! I had a croissant (only $1!) that was fresh, flaky and buttery. Mmm. The small coffees are only $1, and I had a great green tea for $1.50. For lunch, I had a turkey panini with veggies and hummus for $5.95. (It came with a small side of nacho chips? That was weird.) Next time, I'm definitely going to try the croissant with broccoli ($2.50)!! The decor is amazing! I love the dark wood "benches" against the wall, and the beautiful tables. I really enjoyed watching the interesting characters that came in and out, including some of Cleveland's finest hipsters. :) The staff was also friendly. Free wifi, and they accept credit. Yay! I will definitely be back, for work, to read, to hang out with some friends for a few hours... Hooray! read more

I have been frequenting businesses in Tremont since high school before it was even trendy, so I suggested meeting some out of town friends for coffee at Civilization. I remembered it being really cool because it's housed inside of an old pharmacy, so all of the drawers and the original counter are still intact. My friend and i arrived earlier than our other friend and ordered drinks right away. When I asked the barista for a recommendation, he told me that he didn't drink coffee, so he really couldn't offer a suggestion. Weird, but ok... Then we discovered they were cash only. Luckily my friend had some cash on her. Our other friend arrived, and we were able to sit and catch up for a while. At the end of our visit, we asked the same guy to take our photo because we hadn't all seen each other in seven years. He declined to take our photo and said that we weren't even allowed to take photos inside per owner's rules. We all found that really strange and left us with a bad taste in our mouths about the place. read more

I'm a long time customer and I am appalled by the way they treated me during my most recent visit. I ordered a cappuccino and even tipped the barista. I went outside and sat at one of the tables and begin to drink my coffee and eat a cupcake I brought with me. The Batista came outside and very rudely told me if I didn't buy it here I can't eat and to leave. I will be taking my business elsewhere from now on. read more

Love Civilization. Great little hub to get your Cup o' Joe, grab a little breafast item or sweet treat, or just hang out and relax. Coffee sizes are different here than other places. The "small" is in fact a small, not a starbucks large-coffee-chain supersized "small." Some may see this as a negative, but I think it's a good thing. We need to right-size our portions! Coffee itself is good, and I have never had a bad one here yet. I used to stop in for a breakfast sandwich or croissant in the mornings when I was on the way to work, so it was convenient for me. They also have some delectable chocolate treats, one of which is the chocolate macaroon. YUM and oh my what a splurge that is. This coffee shop, unlike many others stands out to me because they serve some actual tasty food items. So, my recommendation? Go. read more

Great little non-chain coffee shop in the heart of Tremont. This is what coffee shops should be... lots of cozy dark wood, killer coffee and melt-in-your-mouth pastries. Oh, the pastries...not sure where they get them, but they are the BOMB. Super nice staff and outdoor seating seal the deal! read more

Love the atmosphere and they have friendly staff and reasonably priced drinks however their coffee was not good and unfortunately will not go back because the coffee is just okay and kinda comparable to McDonald's coffee . read more

Scroll down to the bottom for the review if you don't care about my story. Unfortunately, some larger old lady with a bowl-cut was there the other day with her weirdo bearded husband. Evidently, these folks had never been in a coffee shop. As the line slowly grew, she asked about all the food options in the case. I guess the croissants were pretty confusing for her. Anyway, the employee was very patient with her. She walks over to examine the food for a few minutes. So the next person assumes its her turn and orders, and she doesn't disappoint. Lucille asks how much a shot of espresso is. Then asks how much 5 shots are. What the hell! The guy is so patient with these people. Meanwhile the woman waiting behind me puts her kid down because her arm is falling off because the oldies are turning ordering coffee into a broadway production. So espresso-shots lady gets her order, then starts pulling coins out of her purse for exact change. Awesome. Just as she's finished, indecisive-food lady hops back over in line. ALL I WANT IS A FRIGGIN ICED TEA! The guy asks for the next person, and she looks at me like she's clueless as to who's turn it is. I'm thinking, "You've been in here for ten minutes and don't know who's turn it is, and you have a bowl cut." So just as I'm about to order an iced tea, she begins her order. Sigh. This has nothing to do with the coffee shop service, by the way. It's just amazing how stupid and inconsiderate some people are. So I finally get to order, one iced tea. I get it, pay for it. Then I move down to add some sugar. Well, bowl-cut's weirdo bearded husband is down there blocking everything with his stupid coffees. He waits for me to reach for the honey before moving his cups. I get my lid and head for the door. I'm done, right? Aaah nope. Bowl-cut is standing in the doorway, on the outside, with her foot in the door. I stand there for a few seconds wondering if she's going to open the door for me or move out of the way. Neither. She looks directly at me, and doesn't do anything. I start opening the door. She still doesn't move! She says, "Harold!" or whatever his name was, "Come over here!" So I then pull the door all the way open, say "excuse me, please," and squeeze by her to freedom. I feel bad for her husband. Love the coffee here. read more

Great coffee shop in the heart of Tremont! They always have great coffee flavors available. Great outdoor seating for a morning or afternoon in the sun! Makes for a great spot to pull out your laptop and get some work down while enjoying a delicious coffee. read more

Great coffee, free WiFi, nice people - and great sandwiches (oh and other food options)! Get your sandwich of choice on the croissant - They are wonderful. Whether you want breakfast, lunch, or something for your sweet tooth, this place will satisfy. This place feels like you're hanging out in your friend's living room. I don't feel awkward parking here for a few hours on a Sunday Afternoon - enjoy some beverages and put my feet up. It's a great place to get lost in a book - or in my case, get lost reading gossip on the Internet. I've just started making this a regular spot to visit, but will keep it on the list for quite a while. read more

The staff is wonderful here but the limited menu and the lack of precision in the coffee making process make it just an okay place to eat. The inside seating is very crowded and pretty close. I want to like this place more but this is an honest review. The coffee service would be easy to upgrade - Cleveland is full of great roasters - including Duck Rabbit which very closeby. I wish them well but won't go out of my way to return here. read more

Civilization, I love you. It doesn't hurt that you're a whopping 20 steps away from my front door & that your large iced coffee is a meager $1.85. Civilization's coffee is pretty darn good, & they have a lot of drink options, plus soy & almond milk, & a bevy of great pastries, soups, & sandwiches to keep you fully satiated in the food department, too. I'm partial to their sundried tomato bagels.They've also got a nice outdoor patio that's often filled with crotchety but kind regulars & a lot of cute dogs, perfect for reading a book on a sunny summer day. Most importantly, its staffed by lovely, knowledgeable baristas who are just as kind to newbies as they are to the regulars (though if you come in often enough, they'll start to remember your order). I'm forever singing Civilization's praises to anyone looking for a good local spot. It's definitely worth checking out if you're in the area. read more

GREAT place for eavesdropping. Coffee house conversation is hilarious and this place tops them all. There aren't really any other options to sit and meet for a cup of coffee in Tremont, and it is actually very cute and quaint inside. Ss go get on with your bad, pretentious self, here at Civilizations. Also, I do stop in frequently to get coffee & a croissant, so I'm not totally dissing it. But god it's entertaining. The outside seating is also a great location for people watching. read more

The atmosphere is relaxing, the coffee and tea are delicious and the prices are incredible. The service is pretty poor and I can echo the other comments about the sandwiches being cut off at an unreasonably early hour. Some times, they run out of the ingredients to make the sandwiches before noon on Saturday. Don't let the sign about credit cards not working fool you. This place doesn't take credit cards. The free WiFi works about 10% of the time, possibly less. If you need to get something done, don't chance it here. In short, if you want a cup of coffee or tea and no frills and you brought cash, this is your place. If you're expecting anything else (like a sandwich or the internet) commonly associated with a coffee shop, keep going. read more

Nice place to hang out, but seemed a little too disorganized inside for me-- at least when we visited in the afternoon? Maybe in the evening it would be better. Outside seating is limited but suited our mood (and dog). read more

I'm not a coffee person but got a chance to try their iced mocha and it was delicious! I would say it one of the best I've ever tried!

Civilization is a cool, cozy, coffeehouse I really enjoy coming too. On the corner of 11th, Civilization has that warm, cozy feel to it. I believe the coffee place used to be an old apothecary, or, it at least looks like one (yay for pharmacy related things!). I've been here multiple times, and usually get a soy latte or one of the mochas, all which are good. Today was definitely different though- the coffees were the same, and I got my nicely foamed medium soy latte, and sat down at one of the round tables so I could reach an outlet (I do wish there were more outlets...) before 9am on a Sunday morning. What surprised me was that the place was pretty full already- full of locals, just sitting around, chatting, and drinking their cup of coffee. 45 minutes later, I'm still sitting here, but every table is full, even with a large loud middle aged men table behind me, cackling about life and stories. The fact that a coffee shop is packed before 10am, with bad snowy roads, definitely says something, yes? It's cozy and I feel that the locals feel it too. I like it. And the owner is super friendly- she greeted individuals by name as they walked in...which says a lot, in my opinion. Kudos to a cozy cafe, with good coffee, free wifi, and some outlets. Score. :) read more

Why do I try? I went back again. Glutton for bad service. Great food, great atmosphere, but lazy and disorganized staff. Ordered a panini. Waited 25 minutes for it to be done. They called my name. I went up and they said "We are out of turkey." Great. It took them 25 minutes to let me know I could have what I ordered on my lunch break - a lunch break that was spent waiting and not eating. Got a refund, tipped them, and left. What incredibly disorganized service. Too bad, as the place is otherwise great. read more

I first discovered Civilization while exploring Cleveland to look for an apartment. This place was (in part) my reason for living in Tremont. I would love to say that this place has a "no-airs" feel, but that's not entirely true. It is, however, a place that TRIES to make their customers feel as though they are in a place with no airs. If that makes any sense. The coffee is really good, although I'm a bit peeved that they never refill their flavor syrups (yes, I admit, I'm pretty much singlehandedly responsible for using up all of their almond flavor syrup). They suggested Amaretto to me, and then, I used that one up too. Now I'm on Vanilla. Hopefully they won't run out, because they still haven't refilled the other ones. I like to come here and study or read, although at times, loud-talkers make that harder. The thing that makes this review 4 stars instead of 3 is their selection of mouth-watering scones. I love a good scone, and Civilization does it the way I prefer: a bit flaky and dense, not at all too sweet and "dessert" like (like the ones at Lucky's), but more of a mid-morning or late afternoon treat...and it goes great with the coffee. read more

Stopped by after a visit to the Christmas Story house. Great coffee and croissants! Wish we lived closer because I would enjoy hanging out there! read more

Great local (read: not a bit corporate) coffee shop. I'd really love to give it a 5, but... In my memory, this place was super cute and the coffee was delicious and I could have sat here forever. But...I drove like an hour to see two friends, so my positivity is possibly spilling over into my review. So the coffee was great (cash only!). The place was really cute and decorated with a ton of small antique Christmas trees around. The bar and tables and such were also cute, and there was the lamp from "The Christmas Story" in the window!!! (Its in the same neighborhood as where the movie was filmed.) It got a little weird towards the end. When we got there the place was almost empty. By the time we left, the tables were filling up, mostly with friends and family meeting up for Christmas (so cute!). Just as we were leaving we asked the barista to take our photo....and he said no photos were allowed inside (???). I had just taken a picture right in front of him, another girl was taking a photo, a mom took a picture of her kid.....? Really? read more

I stop here for iced coffee before work- its literally the best coffee ever. I don't need to add any syrups to make it taste better. Wish they had bigger sizes but they are cheap and I just order 2!! The staff are welcoming and nice and the place is clean and neat. read more

An interesting and cozy little coffee shop and bakery in the heart of Tremont. They serve sandwiches and wraps, salads and lots of baked goods. They have many varieties of coffee drinks and can make just about anything to order. I ordered a tuna wrap which was delicious served with a side of nacho chips and a pumpkin latte which was delicious. Priced right too. Lunch is under 10 bucks. Perfect neighborhood spot if your in the area for a festival or art show or a great Saturday neighborhood stop. Civilization is a great addition to the Tremont neighborhood! read more

Civilization - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Eh. I was so excited to get a great coffee, but this was a total let down. Double espresso was four ounces. I'm sure the giant muffins and bagels were good, but it's a coffee shop! Have good coffee for christ's sake! Admittedly the decor was super cool. read more

I worked in Tremont for 4 weeks, and this cute little coffee shop became a part of my morning ritual from day 1. To truly appreciate Civilization: -Embrace the hipster atmosphere -Bring cash, not credit (though, they have an ATM. And if you can't use that, they'll write down your name and you'll pay next time. Pretty cool) -Try the shortbread cookies (!!!) -Notice the sizes (the small is very small. Not necessarily a bad thing!) -Love the prices! If I lived here, I think I'd be at Civilization ALL the time. It has a great community-centric atmosphere, delicious coffee, free WiFi, free nearby street parking, and doesn't break the bank. The staff have been nothing but friendly. I'm really going to miss it. So check it out if you get a chance! :) read more

Worst cup of coffee I've ever been served. I was served a completely luke warm cappuccino this morning, and was then treated rudely after coming back in for a new cup. I've been like living in tremont for years and will be telling everyone I know to chose a new coffee shop. read more

Started coming here right after they opened decades ago. I love their Cold Fusion. Iced mocha with toddy. It's a historical Pharmacy and the dark wood and little drawers make it feel special. I can't say enough about it. I have spent many hours of my life with friends and alone enjoying this place. read more

Great coffee/lattes and pastries. The people working are always friendly. Their breakfast sandwiches and paninis are also pretty good.

Great! Civilization is close and convenient. Cute little coffee shops like this are rare these days. The food (desserts, lunch croissants, and (especially) chili) are delicious. Coffee isn't bad, either. The mocha here is made with Mexican chocolate and is probably the best I've ever had. read more

My goodness!! Your coffee is spectacular!! I mean, I've had good coffee, but this was beyond good! CLE is definitely moving in up! I ordered the malt mocha and so did my husband. I believe he burned his mouth because he couldn't wait to let it cool off. Really, if you're looking for a good cup of coffee. Check this place out. Sure, you could go to the same coffee shop. But, why not try something different? The atmosphere was great and the service was awesome! I can't wait to return! read more

We were recently in Cleveland and stayed in the Tremont sections about 2 blocks from this super cute cafe. Good thing we don't live there because we would go broke!! We visited every morning- we had sandwiches, muffins, apple bars and shortbreads- all delicious! But the real winner is the Mexican Mocha. Wow! The employees were all super friendly and you can tell this is a real neighborhood staple! read more

I want to love Civilization. I really, really do. As a native of Cleveland who left for the Northeast for college, I'm always on the prowl for unique (okay fine, hipster) coffeeshops back home that aren't Peet's. Civilization is BEAUTIFUL. When I went, tinsel, evergreen branches, and snow hero sculptures canvassed all sides of this small, cozy flat. I love the original woodwork and the furniture to match, and yet, the staff does an amazing job of keeping the "vintage" look reserved for decor only. The pastry tray and machines all look as if they'd been installed and shined yesterday! The bathrooms are immaculate. The baristas there could tell it was my first time and were patient as I scanned the menu. I went during an off-peak hour, though, so best to know what you're getting so the line doesn't snake out the door. There's only so much standing room here! I was helped by two younger looking staff who seemed to be having a good time, but not too good of a time the way super hipster baristas sometimes evoke--the kind that turns into espresso-side gossip and a drink that takes 10 minutes to make. They know what they're doing. I ordered a mocha - 2.50!! for a small - and the shortbread cookie. Both were decent. The mocha tasted a little flat for some reason. They add some flavoring to it that detracted from the decadent, how-is-this-coffee, chocolate-ly feeling I usually get on first sip. The cookie was perfectly buttery and tasted as fresh as could be. So why only 3 stars? Well, I sensed a distinct "squat" culture here, which is great if it's brimming with students or professionals putting in some work after hours, or even if it's clearly friends catching up over many hours, but these squatters were card-playing, honestly pretty creepy men who just stared ruthlessly at every patron who entered the door. What's that all about? Also, as has been pointed out in other reviews....it's time to get one of those iPad credit card swipes. They'd save themselves the frustration of having to explain, and people would probably tip even MORE. Those apps can be programmed to take you directly to a tip page, after all. And lastly, it did get pretty loud when I was in there, which detracts from the coziness and potential to be a study spot. But still, for hipster vibes in Cleveland, and a quality product to go with it? Minimal snobbery and fair, fair prices? I'll be back! read more

Civilization is a nice neighborhood joint for lazy Sundays. It also serves the distinct purpose of somewhere to continue hanging out when you have to give up your table at Lucky's to make way for the hordes in line. The inside is dark and cozy, which is lovely in winter. But in summer I suspect you'll want to sit outside. Seating is cramped, but it isn't too hard to find open seats. Had a latte and red velvet cake, both of which were delicious. I liked watching everyone reading the Sunday paper and I imagine a lot of local Tremonsters who know each other hang out there. I'm an admitted Starbucks addict, but once in awhile, it is nice to go places like this with character. Time just seemed to melt away as we sipped our coffees. read more

Love the old drug store wooden shelves. So cool inside! Not busy at all so I could study. & my cappuccino was as good as it gets (you forget when you go to so many mediocre chains). read more

Civilization - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Good for price. The atmosphere and design of the place isn't to my liking. Meant to order soy chai but got regular milk. It's not the best but it's not bad. read more