Crave

This time of year if you're visiting Salem Massachusetts, we definitely want to give this place a…read moretry for breakfast. Everything is delicious here. The problem is there's no offstreet pocket so you gotta get there early but it's worth the trip and it's worth the weight. Enjoy your trip to Salem, Massachusetts and enjoy the ugly mug.

I came here on a Tuesday afternoon for lunch. The space is beautiful, adorned with adorable…read morecrocheted eggs and bacon. Our server was prompt and helpful, and our meal came out quickly. I had the vegetarian egg sandwich, which came with a side of sweet potato home fries. The sandwich was delicious and well seasoned on a crispy English muffin. The home fries were good but definitely a bit less to my taste. They didn't quite have the crunchiness I was hoping for and were pretty soft, though well cooked. I enjoyed my meal here and will probably come back!

Wall art

Egg in a basket

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Dueling Hash Benedict

Nathaniel's

4.0(133 reviews)

Went here for breakfast since we were staying in the hotel. My friend ordered a latte and it was a…read morebit dark in color and was very bitter. We overheard another lady complaining about hers as well. So the latte is definitely not very good. Other than that everything was good. Our server was friendly. The breakfast was good. My sausage was actually great and the breakfast potatoes were crispy. Everyone in my group enjoyed what they had. We ate dinner there later that night and it was pretty good. The curry could have used a bit more flavor but it wasn't bad. Very beautiful restaurant with a large painted portrait of Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Menu options weee good as we enjoyed numerous items except the Braised Short Rib It was very tough,…read morenot tender. Additionally, our server Emily was the absolute worst. Didn't take our order for 30 minutes after being seated and when we told her we had somewhere to be in a hour, she cautioned us that she can't guarantee that the kitchen can get the food out on time, in which the food came out on good time. She never came to pick up appetizers plates or even check on us to refill drinks until dinner was almost over. We saw her hanging out much of the time talking with co-workers

Dining area

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Quiche

Red's Sandwich Shop

4.2(807 reviews)

0.2 mi

This was easily my favorite breakfast and coffee we had on our trip. The latte with cold foam was…read moredelicious. I also enjoyed the simple yet hearty meal we had before embarking on our tour of Salem. Our server Raviel was fantastic and recommended everything we ordered. I also loved the homey vibe and would love to return on future trips to Salem.

This place was slightly overhyped. However the clam chowder was the STAR of the show!…read more The sandwiches were okay, the place was SO packed, like bumping elbows with everyone. But service was fantastic and overall good!

Inside

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Restaurant

Gulu Gulu Cafe

3.8(1.3k reviews)

Service was great. Went when they first opened at 8. During peak season it gets super busy to know…read morethat going into it! Hash was great 4/5 - potatoes are heavily seasoned. Banana bread 4/5, iced crème brûlée latte 5/5, waffle 3.5/5. Vibes are great, very chill inside even though it might be madness outside. We went here in October!!

I've been here a few times. The first time was in 2021 and a few times recently…read more I usually get the drinks here, especially warm drinks and a quick bite but their food that I've seen looks delicious. The London fog is one of my favorites and they make this taste so good. If you like London fogs and chai teas I would go here. I'm not sure of the coffee bc I hate coffee but there were a lot of coffee drinkers there. The staff is always very friendly when we come by and the place is clean, cute and cozy. Will come back!!

DIP-HOP take out

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Dog friendly patio.

A & J King Artisan Bakers

4.5(413 reviews)

0.1 mi

So good. Cute ambiance, great service. Tasty lattes. And baked goods worth the walk. (This was the…read moreclosest thing we could find to "Dazzles Bakery" from the Janet Evonovich novels.

We came here to escape the rainy downpour and warm up a bit with some goodies - A & J King Artisan…read moreBakers was the right choice! It was lively bustling atmosphere inside. Service was friendly and prompt. It looked like food is served from another window and drinks are ready at the end of the counter. Looking at the display of treats, so many things looked so good! But as we can't try them all in one visit, we ordered two of the Citrus Blueberry Corn Slices and two Sticky Bun Lattes (iced and hot). Those corn slices I can write home about. Or better yet, post about it on Yelp! They were moist and not crumbly, the blueberries added an extra pop of juicy flavor and paired so well. It was the perfect snack. The Sticky Bun Lattes were a great warm up for the opposing grey rain sky. Sweet hot caffeine, is there anything better?

Bakery selections

Almond croissant, chocolate chip banana muffin, and pain au chocolat

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Pastries

Salem's Retreat

4.3(106 reviews)

0.7 mi

Amazing breakfast and service! Omelets and home fries are great! Highly recommend for anyone…read morevisiting Salem!

Came for brunch while on vacation and definitely not disappointed. The portions are huge. I had…read morelobster cake benny and husband had pastrami hash and eggs. Both dishes were excellent. He got a cinnamon toast crunch martini that was out is this world and I got a Salem Bloody Mary and holy cow best bloody I've ever had. Highly recommend this place. All around nice place great food, drinks and service. Wish I had discovered it sooner.

Booth seating against the wall looking toward the front door. There are a row of tables to the right, and a bar to the far right.

Eggs Benedict three ways?!

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The lunch menu

The Red Line Cafe

3.9(283 reviews)

0.2 mi

The chicken crepe was delicious! The chicken itself was a little bland, but overall the crepe was…read morereally good. The bagel was soft and had a generous amount of cream cheese filling. But the smoothies stole the show! The peach smoothie tasted like pure peach puree, it was so good that I didn't even care that I was suffering through brain freeze. The strawberry smoothie was just as delicious and tasted fresh and natural, without that artificial flavor you sometimes get from smoothies. The smoothies were easily the highlight of the meal. 10/10 -- I'd come back just for those!

What a cool and tasty coffee shop…read more We had the Ham and Cheese and Bacon Pastry. Both were delicious. We also enjoyed the Chai Latte and Carmel Macchiato. Both were delicious and flavorful. The service was prompt and quick. No complaints! The ambiance is what you would guess for Salem, MA.

Inside

Nutella crepe

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Interior

Hawthorne Hotel

3.9(384 reviews)

It's a neat historic hotel with a GREAT location. We had 5 in our group with a double queen room…read moreand they brought up the roll bed and extra towels before we had barely opened the suitcases. The room was nice, no complaints. I loved the lemonade in the lobby. Bonus: free parking. Here's the kicker... I accidentally made the reservation for the day prior, so we didn't have one when we got there (we were on a 10 night trip in 5 different hotels so things got scrambled). To make a long story short they found us a mostly comparable room and credited the charges for the previous vacant night. That's pretty amazing and basically saved this working-class family's vacation from being a downer.

My family stayed here in May 2024, and overall, we had a wonderful experience. Unfortunately, our…read moreexperience with the nighttime employee was a significant exception. The individual working the nighttime shift was consistently rude, harsh, and unprofessional in the way they interacted with guests. I witnessed them speaking loudly, yelling at people, and using inappropriate language. Their overall demeanor made the environment uncomfortable and did not reflect the level of customer service I would expect from this establishment. I had originally planned to return this May because we enjoyed our previous stay so much. However, I was disappointed to discover that this individual is still working there. When I called to ask about room availability and rates for weekends in May, the conversation was extremely frustrating. I asked whether the property was booked every weekend in May. I was asked which dates, and I explained that I was interested in the weekends throughout May rather than one specific date. I was told that they could not look at the entire month at once. I explained that I understood and was simply asking about the weekends in May. I had also just been on the website, which instructed me to call to check availability. Instead of assisting me, the employee became increasingly short with me and repeatedly demanded specific dates in a raised voice. I finally said, "Well, you're a lot of help, aren't you?" The response was, "Yeah," followed by the employee hanging up on me. I understand that employees may be busy and that availability inquiries can take time, but there is no reason for a guest to be spoken to in that manner. Hanging up on a potential returning customer was particularly disappointing. I had every intention of coming back because of how much my family enjoyed our stay in 2024. Unfortunately, this interaction has made me reconsider returning. I hope management will take this feedback seriously and address the customer-service concerns surrounding the nighttime employee.

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Scraped paint

Dotty & Ray's

4.5(120 reviews)

0.7 mi

Visited in Dec 2025, Absolutely loved this little diner and i always think back to it. We had…read moreissues finding parking at first and I came in to ask and not only did the people working help direct me but the others eating also offered to help! The hospitality was so incredible I felt so welcomed and at home here. The food was delicious and portions were big!! I loved the amazing home-y feel we got here and would love to return someday, everyone was amazing, plenty of space to sit and eat.

Great breakfast and wonderful service! Typical diner environment. The portions are large and…read moreeverything is tasty. Mary, our waitress, was the best. I kidded with my friends that I should take Mary home with me and she'd definitely get my life in order.

Blueberry pancakes

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Double Bacon Cheeseburger with perfect egg on top

Fountain Place Restaurant

3.4(257 reviews)

•$

If you're navigating the beautiful chaos of "tourist trap central" while in Salem, MA, do yourself…read morea favor and skip the overhyped, crowded "Ugly Mug Diner" down the street. Fountain Place Restaurant is just a few blocks away and had zero line. It's definitely got the "tourist trap price" as we walked away spending a little over $100 for a breakfast for three after tax and tip--but honestly, for the quality, the location and speed of service, it felt worth the splurge. The food was well-seasoned and not super greasy (which is usually the typical "diner food" struggle). We went all in on a spread: the Big Breakfast with a pancake, a savory crepe, the hash grilled cheese, a blueberry muffin, and a side slice of French toast. Everything was so good that our group of three actually finished it all! Skip the french toast and go for the pancake. This spot has that classic, cozy vibe without the "greasy spoon" after-feel. If you want a delicious, reliable meal away from the massive lines, this is your spot!

During our annual road trip to Salem, we decided to try this brunch spot we hadn't been to before…read more I needed to use the bathroom, and since this was the closest place to where we parked, it thought it was convenient. We waited in line to get in, but when we got confused because the hostess wasn't around, a couple of older lady workers started accusing us of not waiting in line, with a pretty rude attitude. Not the most welcoming first impression. The bathroom was downstairs, accessible by a narrow staircase that definitely isn't handicap friendly. The downstairs area was cluttered, too, but the biggest issue was what we saw walking past the kitchen. There were containers of cut fruit sitting on a wet, dirty floor, and the kitchen looked so unclean that once we got back to our seats, we decided to leave immediately. My sister had been craving a chicken wrap, but they didn't have that anyway, so we weren't missing out on what we came for. Also, the fountain outside the restaurant had no water in it. A small detail, but it added to the overall impression. We came in hoping to try somewhere new for brunch, but after seeing the kitchen, we weren't comfortable eating there. Definitely not the brunch stop we had in mind for our Salem trip.

Halloween

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3 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Jennifer M.

182

738

1 month ago

Loved my experience at Crave! The food was absolutely delicious, fresh, and full of flavor. The breakfast sandwich was amazing, and the coffee was the perfect way to start my day. The staff was friendly and welcoming, which made the experience even better. Definitely a great stop while visiting Salem I'll be back! read more

BB N.

145

1 year ago

Way overpriced small portions very cold ambiance they charge for everything add up what you spend here a month it's a car payment

Matthew L.

1 year ago

Their breakfast sandwiches were great, fresh made, and the coffee was amazing as well.

Crave - breakfast_brunch - Updated October 2026

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LOTS OF GLUTEN FREE OPTIONS!!!!!!…read more That is so nice to see! Not many places have gluten free pastries. We got the brownie. It was super fudgey and rich. A little rich for me but there were a ton of options! It was pretty quick services even with a big line. There were also cute decorations all around.

I don't like to give bad reviews to local businesses, but I have tried Lulu's several times now and…read morethere is no reason those seeking a coffee, sandwich or sweet treat in a highly-touristed block of Salem can't find a better option. Everything I have ever had there is ok at best, and the prices are exorbitant. My experience is hit-or-miss with the service -- there is one woman who works there who is hostile and insulting, very weird. Other times, the counter staff is just inept (friendly is nice, but friendly and inept is not). They do things like pack savory items with bakery goods and more than once I have opened the bag to find a complete mess from an exploded donut or from icing all over the packaging of a sandwich. Speaking of sandwiches, the bread has been burned on my order more than once and the filling is so skimpy you can barely tell its there. I know we're all shocked at rising food costs but charging $11 for a small sandwich with barefy any filling is not fair. Other local shops are not fleecing customers this way. Do not recommend.

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coffee is always amazing, and their monthly specials are always so unique and fun! staff is so…read moresweet and quick, even on their busier days :) i also love all of the local event flyers, art, and silly things covering the walls. definitely take a look around the shop while you wait for your order!

One of my regular go to's for coffee and sandwiches. Love the fact that if I have my dog with me…read morethat they are allowed to come in for me to order. Most coffee shops and other similar establishments wouldn't even allow that. Thanks to that awesome policy I don't have to skip my coffee or other items if I have them with me and I'm on my own.

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Great quite atmosphere, friendly family run, great coffee, pastries, mornig-lunch sandwiches and…read morepersonalized hearts on cappuccinos if requested. Love the sincere service and welcome smiles of the staff. A Cafe to serve good food/coffee and make your stay a good one, not just business as usual. Every order has been a good one. Recommend the avocado toart with a chopped egg and cappuccino pairing. Comfortable seating at a table or on a couch by the fire. Love the whole staff, highly recommend if your tired of the same old service of corporate coffee shops.

Went with my family over the weekend was very satisfied loved everything about it , my kids enjoyed…read moreit loved the food very happy gave us a memory of back home .

Ledger Restaurant & Bar

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This is my third or fourth time dining at Ledger and it was definitely my favorite. Our server was…read moreso nice and friendly (the woman working outside for brunch on October 3rd). She really made the experience incredible! The outdoor patio dining was incredible people watching for October in Salem. We had the brussel sprouts, the tuna tartare and the steak frites. We also had some fun Halloween themed cocktails. You don't want to miss this place but definitely make a reservation - especially during a busy month like October!

Services was great! Food was delicious and perfectly cooked. Out of all the dishes, I'd highly…read moresuggest the pan seared salmon. Salmon was cooked to perfect and all the flavors mixed together paired amazingly! My daughter got the clam chowder and the bowl was the measurement of a 1 cup size. She definitely was slightly still hungry afterwards. The bolognese was a lot of food and definitely a shareable dish too. Restaurant is clean and dimmed lighting.

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