Collegetown Bagels

Didn't get to try the kava, but honestly? The vibes alone were worth the trip. The music? Solid…read more The person at the front? Super nice. The energy? Just the right amount of weird. We went on a Monday, so it was completely empty, which only made it feel more like a secret hideaway for people who appreciate a little offbeat charm. Definitely the kind of place you stumble into and think, "Yeah, this is where the interesting people hang out." Would I come back? Absolutely -- preferably on a night where there's more life, and maybe I'll finally try the kava :)

I came here looking for tea, ended up learning about and trying kava!…read more If you haven't had kava before, it's a root that's powdered up and served as a drink. It has calming properties that help people be more social similar to alcohol but without the negative effects. It does taste pretty bitter and it has a numbing sensation (similar to sichuan peppercorns) so their flavored options are recommended for first-timers. The apple cider version was pretty good. I did feel the effect, but did I love it? Honestly, not sure. It felt a bit weird. But even if I decide not to try kava again, their tea was also really good and the owner is a super nice and interesting guy. People who come here are looking for something different, so give it a shot! The inside definitely looks like it used to be an elk's lounge or something. But overall, it's a chill and relaxed space with good vibes.

Cleverly concocted mocktail elixirs!

Couches

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Black light event

Collegetown Bagels

3.8(499 reviews)

0.5 mi

Well, my wife and I always enjoyed their bagels when living in and around Ithaca, and last year we…read moreordered a few dozen to our present home here in Kentucky and, as always they were great. I would like to place another order: 6 plain, 6 sesame, 6 poppy, 6 cinnamon raisin, 12 onion. I suspect you have my info, but it may be credit card info has changed, so get in touch with me.

Stopped by a couple of times to this popular place right at the edge of Cornell. Had the 6 Mile…read moreCreek, West End Melt and the Zabs - all good. Friendly service but there can be a bit of wait for the food (we waited about 20 minutes each time)

Hazelnut oat milk latte

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Order counter

Coal Yard Cafe

4.1(150 reviews)

1.0 mi

To start the breakfast croissant sandwich I got was was AMAZING ! The bacon was the best part but…read morelike all of it was so so so good. The place is really cute but pretty small, it was crowded when I went but our food and drinks came out incredibly quickly so I was satisfied.

Just arrived 32 minutes before closing time and told they were no longer taking orders. Put the…read moreright time on your online advertising- don't close half an hour before you say you are going to and make people walk through the pouring rain only to get turned away.

This is the dining room facing the kitchen and serving area

Falafel and Egg @ Coal Yard Café

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Croissant (left) & burrito (right)

Botanist Coffeehouse

4.5(28 reviews)

1.0 mi

Best cinnamon roll in ithaca! Good coffee too and cute interior…read more Ambiance is nice- pretty spacious, easy parking, fun plants. The cinnamon roll is so good! Love the cream cheese frosting! The bottom is also caramelized which just makes it so much better! The cotija jalapeno scone was okay- I probably wouldn't get it again. I'm not the biggest fan of cotija in general- it's too mild for me... overall not a bad scone, just not for me. A very foamy latte- yum! Overall, I would highly recommend! You must get the cinnamon roll!

I'm a coffee snob from Houston and this is the best coffee shop in Ithaca, period. (Followed by a…read morereal period.) The aesthetic feels like an escape into a quiet city coffee shop with plants and natural light everywhere. Staff was friendly. Iced and hot lattes are both great. I'd never had a Tasty pistachio latte...until I came here. Ithaca is an incredible place, truly. But if you ever want a little escape or find comfort in city-level coffee shops, check out Botanist.

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Our botanista making our lattes.

Gimme! Coffee

4.1(109 reviews)

0.4 mi

Great coffee spot and got myself 2 bags of coffee beans…read more They mainly have medium roast but they still taste very bold

Parking is street. It was busy when we arrived with 3-4 in line and 3-4 waiting for drinks…read more They were churning them out tho and the line moved pretty quickly. As I saw online, they were already sold out of banana bread around 1pm. Bummer. I chose an oat milk latte ($1.50 up charge for oat milk) which was pretty good.

Macchiato

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Work space

Gimme Coffee

4.3(92 reviews)

0.6 mi

Good tasting coffee, Ever-changing origins, Delicious fresh baked goods…read more Another morning, another alarm-clock of coffee :-). "Gimme! Coffee"! We got some black and some with oat milk or dairy to-go. We got one Leftist espresso without dairy or sweetener, and one of their current special-origins. The espresso was deep, rich, and smooth, with dark fruit or chocolate overtones. Mighty nice. While we were there, July 2026, their special origins included Ethiopian Sidamo Washed and Colombian Caficauca. The one we chose, Burundi Turihamwe, had a sweet, slightly floral or citrus flavor, with a vanilla overtone. It was very bright and smooth, and blended nicely with oat milk and a little sugar. I think that would also be the case for the Ethiopian and this particular Columbian. Both of ours tasted fresh and freshly ground. We had a lovely fresh-baked scone, too, from a selection of nearly 20 pastries. Gimme! specializes in distinct coffee varieties we don't see elsewhere. This is a whole world of fine-tasting morning fuel and sublime leisure-sipping. We bought some Turihamwe whole beans to take home with us. Aaaah.

Gimme has some of the best coffee in Ithaca, and the State St. Cafe is a great place to set up shop…read moreand get some work done while enjoying the public WiFi. The staff is always friendly and happy to answer questions, and the baked goods, especially the scones, are a must-try!

Honey Matcha Latte and Honey Apple Scone

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FairPour Coffee Roasters

4.7(17 reviews)

0.5 mi

The coffee was sooooooo good. We got an iced cortado w/ salted caramel syrup and a pumpkin…read morecheesecake latte, which had a thick pumpkin cheesecake cold foam that was creamy and tasty. For food, we got the high protein avocado toast & the autumn goat toast. Both were delicious and toasted nicely with a nice amount of toppings. I was just disappointed that the eggs for both were not fried eggs as described, otherwise it was a nice blend of sweet and salty for both. The cashier was patient and friendly. The cafe itself is clean and very quiet, every one seated was working on their devices. There seemed to be lots of street parking outside and there were 2 clean bathrooms. The coffee was amazing and a must try for plain coffee and fun seasonal options too!

I live on the west side of town and so was thrilled when I saw that FP was coming. The reason for…read morethe two stars? The majority of their tables are two or four tops or larger, and on weekends they're dominated by lone customers on laptops, sipping their drinks at a snail's pace (or obviously done consuming) avoiding eye contact and staying in their seat as they gaze intensely at their laptops. ‍ As a result, I've never been able to sit and enjoy this new contribution to the West End. Once I got a cup to go, and it was really good. Would like to try the food and sit but, sadly, my schedule only allows weekend café going. I cannot compete with the laptop lingerers. Owners of FP, if you're reading this, here is something I'm seeing when I travel around to cafés lately. Maybe something to try on weekends?? Unless you're fine with people lurking with one drink for hours on end and, taking away large tables from new customers?

Inside

The FairPork

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Burrata & Fruit Salad (Summer 2026 Menu)

Forty Weight Coffee Roasters

4.6(10 reviews)

0.9 mi

Delicious coffee!! Loved the medium dark roast latte here…read more They're located inside a local supermarket too

Best cortado and cappuccino ever! In Ithaca area for a few days and needed good espresso drinks…read more Shop is located in a grocery coop with nice indoor and outdoor seating. Tried both a cortado and cappuccino and both were outstanding! Service was also excellent! Highly recommend 40 Weight!

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The Lattes and Mochas are awesome!

Alley Cat Cafe

4.4(56 reviews)

0.2 mi

Went here with my parent and had an amazing experience here! We booked our spots online (highly…read morerecommend you do that before coming in) to see the cats for one hour, at the cost of 10 dollars. (They charge 5 dollars for every 30 minutes.) We paid at the front, and the worker guided us to the car rooms and made sure we signed in and sanitized our hands first before entering. The cats seem to be decently well-cared for. Some were lively, others seemed lazy, but overall they appeared to be in good health and spirits. They were also very interactive. The moment the two of us stepped into the rooms, the cats immediately came over to us and played. I unfortunately forgot to try out the food/drinks at this place, so I cannot say anything about those... but overall, a great experience!

Cute cafe, pleasant service and really nice herbal iced tea. They have wifi and plenty of seating.read more

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Gimme! Coffee

4.4(17 reviews)

2.2 mi

As a lover of Gimme! Coffee, this is one of my preferred locations. It's quite small but it's…read morebright and feels quaint. They have the usual assortment of coffee and non-caffeinated beverages, pastries and snacks. Their espresso is always my favorite while my husband loves their cold brew. However, it's really sad that the locations in Ithaca are no longer doing pour overs. I guess it's been some years since they stopped. Try their Queen Bee seasonal espresso drink if you like cinnamon and local honey!

This is a great stop for a good cuppa. Reasonably friendly staff (busy but quick) often a 5 minute…read morewait in the morning due to a line. Does have a nice buzz of activity while you wait. I love all of the clever 20 or so live plants in the decor ( as a plant guy). Location is great with plenty of parking to be found. Only negative is that the place isn't bigger with some sit down seating. My hope is that they will bust down the wall to the right and get the laundry mat out of there so that there is more room for seating or the line.

Pastries

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Take Home Coffee

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Ashley S.

Elite 18

330

273

122

12 years ago

We saw Collegetown Bagels while out to dinner and vowed to return for lunch the following day. The giant chalkboard menu is very impressive, although slightly intimidating. After taking quite a few minutes to choose just one item, I opted for the Michigan Hollow ("A warm balsamic-marinated portobello mushroom with roasted red peppers, parsley-garlic dressing & melted Provolone cheese, on our Multi-grain roll."). My sisters ordered the Javi (toasted; "Roast turkey breast, goat cheese, spinach, sprouts, sun-dried tomatoes & balsamic vinaigrette, on our toasted Sourdough bread."), the Milanese (chicken breast, roasted red peppers, pesto), and a Frost. Unfortunately, the Frost only comes in large so even though it was tasty, it was quite a lot of sugar to stomach. The Michigan Hollow was quite good compared to other portabello burgers I've had, although I wish it had another vegetable like spinach or something more than just red peppers. The Javi tastes very fresh and feels lighter (no oozing cheese), although it's very filling. The Milanese had a classic combination of ingredients that's prepared in the right proportions (chicken's thinly sliced, not too much of any one part). Overall, Collegetown Bagels is a little pricey (maybe just the Frosty), but it's a relaxed, fun environment. I'd almost certainly return if I'm ever in Ithaca again. FOOD: 4/5 ENVIRONMENT: 4/5 SERVICE: 4/5 VALUE: 3.5/5 OVERALL: 4/5 read more

Jen B.

12 years ago

this place is run by disgruntled teenagers so here is the type of service and logic one can expect - one example: if you order just a bagel with nothing on it the bagel costs 90cents; if you order the bagel with a small side of cream cheese the bagel now costs $2.55 - but if you pay for just a bagel with nothing on it and then stand in line and buy a side of cream cheese - the cream cheese rice now drops to 60 cents. do the math. this procedure was explained to me that the bagel store wants to prevent customers from spreading their own cream cheese. apparently there is a great thrill in the naivety of this procedure that the teenage line workers can not live without, and they are more than willing to exploit an extra dollar to have this cream cheese spreading excitement. the reality is that pettiness such as this can be expected from a store operated by disgruntled teenagers, and it reallly is the customers fault for not making this assumption before standing in line for 1/2 hour to confront such base contemptuous logic that defies even the lowest iq. also the place has routine dirty counter table tops, a child-like menu, and microwaved scrambbled eggs. but if you are a snotty college brat this place is perfect for you, you'll fit right in. read more

Eric H.

7 years ago

This new location is great! Thoughtfully decorated and laid out with cool seating - bleachers, tables, and a bar. Tons of good food to satisfy any craving. If you're a breakfast sandwich lover and you like egg salad, try the queens sandwich or urban toast. The people who work there are really good at what they do, especially considering how many menu items there are and how busy it gets. I love the amazing assistant manager Mattie and I'm hoping yelp removes the hateful personal attack by another reviewer. read more

Godoya Z.

13 years ago

I love that place. It has been there for years and nothing is going to take their customers way. The customer service is nice ,and patient . To find a table available can be a pain sometimes , but once one find a place to sit, it is all good , the food is 1th Class , the sandwiches are perfect. The breads are always fresh and of high quality. read more

Carol W.

330

13 years ago

love this place and it is busy.

Collegetown Bagels - coffee - Updated October 2026

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