I've only gotten coffee at Civilization a few times. The coffee is great - I'll give them that. They make a good brew (both iced, and hot) and they know how to make espresso drinks. My main gripe with Civilization was the vibe the baristas gave off. Each time I went, the barista was either a short brunette woman or a taller blond guy. Both took their time before acknowledging me, were very short with me, and generally unhelpful when I asked for recommendations. The time they close is also incorrect on Yelp! **They do not take credit/debit cards** The atmosphere of Civilizations is nice. It's quiet, it looks like they have a lot of good baked foods. There are a few weird vents under some of the tables, making it very chilly to sit in a few places, so be on the lookout for that. There are some nice chairs on the front patio read more

A hidden gem in the Tremont community! I went here for the first time a few years ago (2005) while campaigning for a Cleveland mayoral candidate and really enjoyed it. Since then, I've made two other visits and the high quality of the beverages has remained consistent over time. If I lived in the immediate area, I could see myself visiting this place on a regular basis. This is a really small detail, but I really appreciated the fact that they had hand sanitizer at the counter...I hate having to run to the bathroom to wash my hands right before I eat when the food is hot and ready to eat! The decor is really distinct and unique--it's a far cry from the anonymous decor that's found at Starbucks. The prices of the food are quite reasonable as well--I think we made it outta there for under $15.00 for lunch (coffee and sandwich for two, and we split a dessert) My only complaint about this place is that the seating is a bit limited and cramped. I thought for sure that I was either going to spill my wife's drink or someone else's when moving in\out of my booth. I'd suggest going here after having dinner at Fahrenheit or one of the other great restaurants in the neighborhood, or after attending an event at Lincoln Park (there are several cultural events there in the summertime!) read more

Hands down, my favorite coffee shop in Tremont. And to be honest, although I love coffee and pastry in a variety of places (The Root & Rising Star are my other two tops) - the COFFEE here? At Civ? is..THE BEST. I am in love. And the fact that you can get a refill in your mug and a KILLER Raisin Oat Scone for $2.95? I mean...really? EPIC. The building itself is unique. An old drug store, and the era shines through on the interior. With the dark thick wood work, and abundance of apothecary drawers, it is so warm and gorgeous inside. Not a lot of seating, but that's ok. The seating that is there is made of age old wood that screams SLOW DOWN, have a cup. Read the paper (vs. your iThing) and have a great cup of joe! (and a scone) read more

We stopped in at Lucky's down the street and, after being told that we should wait for table service to get our coffee and then waiting over 15 minutes for one of those service to even look at us, I gave the inevitable "Fuck this" call and we went off to one of the ridiculously many coffee shops in the tiny, enclosed Tremont area. Civilization is well-placed and has a very cute interior. Stuck on the corner of a park, it's got a good location for foot traffic watching, and it's in an old house, which gives it a ton of character. Long bench against the wall with various tables, but definitely lacking on the plugs. The outside had several umbrella tables strewn about the sidewalk. The wifi, on the other hand, was fantastically fast. It was called "Attorney" this or that, which was weird and made me feel like I was stealing from another business, possibly a poor old Tremont lawyer who allowed someone to talk him into getting a wireless router without really understanding what it was, and now can't understand why his "high speed" is so slow. Coffee is cheaply priced but refills come at $0.75, which is high for Cleveland. Staff are nice and the place is friendly. They serve a small breakfast and lunch menu, prepared in-house, and have a delicious looking assortment of dessert items. The crowd was light on a weekday afternoon. The staff knew most of the people coming in, which only made me feel better about the place. It got a little busier as it got later, but it still definitely was not full. I don't really get the Civilization name either. Are they trying to say that their shop is a strip of civilization in an otherwise uncivilized hipster gentrification-fest of an area (don't get me wrong: I like Tremont, but let's be honest and straight about it)? That doesn't really match for me, but I'm sure they have their own ideas. read more

Civilizations in Tremont is a cute spot for a causal date or just enjoying your surroundings. This coffee shop is located in the main part of Tremont and is walkable to any restaurant or park nearby. Lots of free street parking 7 days a week and reasonably priced coffee! read more

Great spot to walk your dog, read a book, pull out your laptop and sip on a drink and people watch. Simple neighborhood coffee shop with good food and great conversations happening. read more

I've recently moved to the 'hood and have to say that I love being this close to a great local shop that serves the community well! I have found most of the staff to be great, I'm assuming the standout one is the owner from the interactions I've seen her had. Civilization is a great place to hangout, there are always interesting people coming and going. I've only had iced coffees and iced tea so far.. They have been great! Once it gets cooler I'll get more "handcrafted" drinks and I'll be sure to update then! read more

This spot is so cute! I love how they have kept so many elements of the old pharmacy around! Enjoyed a delicious chicken and dumpling soup there and the latte was amazing!! read more

I like! Gorgeous furniture, good deals on coffee, hot chocolate, and pastries! read more

Love the staff. Great soup and croissants. Cool atmosphere and old ceilings. They also have coconut milk for drinks! read more

Love stopping here for coffee and a quick bite to eat. The staff and clients are very friendly. The space is very warm and inviting. The drinks are inexpensive and delicious. I love stopping here on my way to work to start the morning off just right! read more

I like this place a lot, great place to study and get work done or hangout. Also has a variety of foods and desserts (vegan and GF) and lots of great coffee and caffeinated drinks all at a pretty low price and the quality and quantity is great! Only draw back is that the AC is always blaring in the shop even when it is fall and winter so it is VERY cold in here! read more

Cool place, where you can actually just read your book while sipping your coffee. Which reminds me: great cappuccino. If the weather's good, you can sit outside and stare at the park until everything turns green. Or at the LEMKA building which is exquisite, architecturally speaking. Cool, down-to-earth crowd. read more

Periodically get up to Cleveland, and this is the favorite place for an early Americano and a pastry. A wonderful setting in what was a pharmacy. It's You see a lot of the old woodwork remaining with huge store windows in front. It's as if you're a turn of the 20th century dry goods store, but this serves coffee drinks. Well made beverage and the pastries are a cut above without the precious $6 desserts. Inviting service and customers all seem to know one another. Sunday paper put out for anyone to read. Tremont institution for good reason. Local realtors can use this place and Lincoln Park across the street as big selling points for living here if all the trendy joints aren't enough. read more

This is my favorite coffee shop in Tremont. Cheap, friendly, and delicious. It can be crowded on Sundays and has a bit of an older crowd, but it is worth the wait every time. read more

As a Tremont resident with lots of choices on where to get my coffee - Civilization rises above! It's such a cozy place, with super delicious, yet, affordable coffee. We've also started buying our coffee beans here for when we decide to brew at home. I've had a few of their bagels and sandwiches which have also always been good. Whether you're a Tremont resident or just in town to grab a quick, hot drink, I suggest checking this place out. read more

Other than not taking debit/credit cards this place is awesome!! Their chili is amazing and their lunch croissants are delicious. Great atmosphere. Highly recommend! read more

Such a comfy coffee shop. Outdoor seating is wonderful in the warm months, view of Lincoln Park, stream of dogs walking their owners by, etc. Baristas are always courteous. Stopped in today after the garage sale rush had cleared out and had a sweet conversation with Marvin. A place like this makes Tremont feel even more like home. read more

The only reason this place is still open is because there's no Starbucks or Phoenix Coffee in Tremont. I'll add my voice to the issues already raised by other Yelpers: - Cash only. C'mon, it's almost 2014 and you don't take credit/debit cards? My pot dealer accepts credit/debit for goodness sake! (not really - I wish). - Surly 'baristas'. It's not like these people are crafting Mocha Valencias IN Valencia, they're human Keurigs making $9.25 an hour to serve auto-drip coffee to cops and mostly blue-collar workers. The least they could do is smile, or promptly take my order, or act like it's their job to steam my milk and not a personal favor. Good grief. - VERY mediocre coffee. You want good coffee in Tremont? - try Loop just up the road, you'll pay twice as much but the coffee will be 25% better. Civilization's mochas taste like they're made with powdered hot chocolate mix. Pity that this place isn't better, as the space is gorgeous. I guess if I have to contend with surly baristas and pay with cash (despite hardly ever carrying it) only to receive mediocre coffee, the saving grace is that it's cheap. Life's too short to drink bad coffee, though. read more

Happened upon this little coffee shop while waiting for the Tremont Tap House to open up for Sunday brunch...originally we were going to head over and grab a coffee at Lucky's but we checked Yelp for something else in the area that would probably have a shorter line at the counter. Well, bless my lucky stars, I've finally found a place that can make a good hot chocolate in Cleveland! I'm not a huge coffee drinker so I usually wind up with tea, chai or hot chocolate in "Coffee Houses". This place has four different kinds of hot chocolate to choose from and I wound up going with the Mexican spiced variety....great balance of spicy and sweet. When I don't feel like making it at home, I'll be heading over here for my chocolatey fix! read more

Civilization still doesn't really make great coffee. It's good, but not great. The reason I come back sometimes is that the atmosphere is nice. read more

really cute coffee shop with great sweets (the brownies are out of this world) and fun flavors for coffee and cocoa drinks (chocolate malt syrup!!). a great four star experience. the extra star, however, is for the service. i was here for about 30min but left my purse with digital camera, phone, and wallet on my chair. not only was my purse kindly returned to the barista, he went ahead and texted a friend of mine (the last one to have texted me) to let her know where i'd left my phone. when i called the shop, they were about to close, but they kept my purse safe until mid-day the following day when i finally had the time to come reclaim it. not a cent missing! read more

I went here last winter when my father was in the MetroHealth Cardiac Department for a quadruple bi-pass. It was a beautiful time of year it was in January and I walked in the store and was greated with a warm welcome. The coffee was delicious and the atmosphere made you feel like you were in a past time of the 1940's. Very nice and clean and delicioso! read more

if you're looking for a nice spot to sit with friends, do some work, have a meeting or a date. this is the place. great atmosphere with coffee, pastry and food. WIFI and plugs around you can bring your laptop or tablet and enjoy the day. there is also outside seating to enjoy the weather. you won't be wowed by the coffee but it isn't bad. i ordered a cappuccino which was more milk than anything else. i'm not an expert on cappuccinos but i tend to judge the quality of it before even tasting it on whether or not there is a picture in my foam. there was no picture but it tasted not so bad. their pastry and desserts are pretty good. giant slices of cake for just over $4 seems ridiculously amazing when compared to the $3 cupcakes sold these days. i also love their macaroon bar that is actually a bit too sweet but is perfectly balanced with a cup of coffee. they are a match made in heaven! Giant cookies also looked delish but didn't get a chance to try. read more

Decent coffee shop set in an old pharmacy. The space is really historic, though quite dark, so maybe not ideal for working. There are some tables and chairs outside where people were enjoying coffee with their dogs. I had a scone and it was awful, dry and poor in flavor. My husband's muffin wasn't much better. The coffee was alright, nothing better than I would make at home. So while I'm glad I tried it, I likely won't return. It's worth a visit for the ambiance and coffee if nothing else. read more

first time here today. The environment is cute and cozzy. I got the pumpkin chai latte. It was great!

My favorite weekend coffee spot hands down. Great for posting up with a friend or just grabbing something on the go. Try their iced mocha! It's just sweet enough for the sweet lovers and bitter enough for the black coffee folk. read more

Civilization has the best pastries of any cafe in Cleveland. I've been to all of them. Though the coffee isn't my favorite. The iced mocha is good and the scones. It will make you want to live longer just to enjoy it again. read more

Good selection. Right across from my house.. Always good people watching. My daughter loves the little cookies. Some of the staff acts like theyre too cool for school but most are super nice.... Can be a bit pricey... Also, people drive crazy and park wherever they want around here...even the police. BEWARE when crossing, especially with children. read more

the atmosphere is great. nice people, not too crowded, and one of my favorite parts of this city. the mocha i had there tasted like the mochas i used to get from the local coffeehouse in high school that has since closed. not too bitter, but the perfect blend of sweet and strong. ..and the cookie bigger than my head didn't hurt either. read more

A charming local coffee shop. The old-world feel is very apparent. The dark and wood interior makes me feel like I'm in some turn of the previous century shop that has not changed at all. I've only had regular coffee from this place. Seems like a great spot to catch up with friends, set up shop to do some work on your laptop or people watch from the sidewalk tables placed right outside the front doors. It really is a great location with Lincoln Park and a thriving neighborhood surrounding it. read more

I'm live in Tremont and Civilization is my first stop every morning. Great people, great atmosphere, great coffee.. You'll love it!

I love hanging out with my cool townie friends and perfecting satirical retorts, and while sipping a cup of joe? Who could ask for more..... I been frequenting Civ since the Cravings days of years ago when one could rent a two bedroom pad for less than four bucks. Times have changed in the neighborhood but Civ has remained relatively unscathed. Homey atmosphere, hot and cold drinks, lunch time eats, and townies that can give little moments of Tremont history in passing conversation. read more

Cute and cozy. Tasty and yummy. A nice end of the day treat. I just wish they wouldn't pack away the pastries so far in advance of closing time. Open till X should mean that. read more

I love this coffee shop! Its super cute and vintage on the inside but it also has tables outside where you can sit and have your coffee and pastry. Super quiet so if you are looking for a place to study this is a go go. The cookies there are so big and super delicious! Also the hot chocolate is a must in the fall and winter time! Also the people there are really friendly which is a plus! read more

I love this quaint and comfy coffee shop so much I was hesitant to spread the word for fear I would never be able to find a seat again! I'm not a coffee snob by any means, but I know what I like, and you can count of Civilization for a solid (and strong) cup of joe for a reasonable price. Typically I visit just for the coffee, but the make your own sandwich option, bagel choices, and fresh croissants are a perk. I will often find a seat in the shop for a few hours while completing work because of the ambience and pleasant patrons. Parking is never an issue, which is the cherry on top. read more

Great neighborhood coffee shop. Welcoming atmosphere and delicious coffee. Rotating flavor coffee offered daily and beans available to take home. read more

Civilization - Beautiful detail on the ceiling - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

This place was a hassle payment wise since it is cash only but there was an ATM around the corner. I got the spinach croissant which wasn't bad but became a little too greasy. I know, I know, what do you expect--its a butter croissant, shouldn't it be buttery? This was a little too much for me though. Ambiance evokes 1920s speak easy with its dark wood furniture. I'd come here to get a cup of coffee and do some work but not necessarily come here for lunch. read more

Happened upon this coffee shop adjacent to Lincoln Park in Tremont on our morning walk on a weekend. Great find for a fine cup of coffee or you special brew with a weighty scone or raspberry cheese croissant. Outside seating with plenty of friendly folks, some neighborhood regulars and those not, with cool inside seating if you choose. read more

Delicious coffee and mouth-watering napoleon-- not to mention cheap! I only wish they were in St. Louis. :)