In the search for someplace to squat while I waited for a cake I ordered at a nearby bakery to be ready, I found Kickstand while cruising down Mass Ave. First win - a parking lot! In addition to a sprawling menu of coffee, tea, treats, and sandwiches, Kickstand offers a fairly large sitting area (which quickly filled up on this Wednesday morning) and free Wifi. Prices are reasonable and baristas are friendly and efficient. And instead of payment via the traditional register, the Kickstand team uses Square installed on tablets. After ordering a large cup of Hojicha Tea, I found a small table to set my workstation up, and spent a few hours working and people watching. Families, entrepreneurs, writers, friends having coffee, the one random guy who's reading a book but can't keep off his smartphone - I've observed it all. And we're all getting along just great. I'm coming back on my next day of working remotely - enjoyed the background buzz. read more

Great place to have coffee/tea, read and have roasted portobello sandwich. If you love to sit and read at a place with lot of natural light, along with cup of coffee/tea/soup this is the place! Only cafe with many Indian vegetarian options :) totally recommend! read more

Kickstand Cafe - Roasted Portobello and lentil soup - Cafes Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

Upgrading my review once more. I guess they read these reviews and respond to their customers! Props to them for that! They brought back the option of the multiseed bagel which brought the salmon bagel back from inedible to delicious. Sadly the Gazpacho is still off the menu, and it's still a bit of a stretch to call the pre-made fresh rolls "fresh." The organization is still hit or miss - every second time or so they forget to put something I ordered in the bag. However, they are very nice and they seem to be trying. read more

I'll take the grilled cheese, add tomato, add avocado, add bacon. Every damn day. Whaaaaat? I stopped in today because I didn't bring a lunch to work today. Uh oooh. I went in here when it was previously something else and the changes are welcomed. Pricey, with that being said. Like adding a dash of almond milk to coffee for the cost of Starbucks.. yeeeah I don't know about that. I'll certainly be back when the weather is nice again. I had been on a stroll since it is super nice out today. read more

Oh my, the beet reubens. Yes, "beet," not "beef" (Kicstand makes a traditional reuben with beef too, but why, when you could have beets instead?). I'm kind of addicted to these as the perfect lunch. Kickstand is an easy walk from my house, and has become my go-to place to meet a friend for a quick lunch or spend a few hours getting work done. The vibe is great (music, decor, people-watching), the wireless is fast, reliable, and free, and they bring in darn good pastries from the Danish Pastry House, and they have good drinks both hot and cold. Best of all though (yes, maybe even better than the beet reubens): Kickstand is a real coffeehouse, with open mic nights and occasional (interesting!) concert nights in a cozy, convenient spot. Definitely try: beet reubens, love buzz coffee, sticky buns, mint lemonade, grilled cheese with onion jam, fresh rolls (i.e. Vietnamese summer rolls with peanut sauce). read more

Kickstand Cafe is a great example of new Arlington compared to Jam'n Java's old Arlington. The place is still super convenient to bikers, mom groups and laptoppers, but now it's a tiny bit more expensive with better food. I don't usually go in for grilled cheese sandwiches, but when it's fancy cheese on 5-grain bread perfectly toasted and served on a beautiful plate, I can't resist. My husband is a fan of the peanut butter, honey, banana "happy bee." And we both like the coffee and pastries. One thing I don't like is the hot tomato that comes on all the egg sandwiches. Sometimes a fancy menu comes at the cost of losing basics like egg, ham, and cheese on a bagel. But I understand they're trying to set themselves apart from the competition by adding their own twist. (I just wish the twist wasn't tomato) Overall, a good place. Great for meeting up with friends or hanging out for a few hours with a book. read more

Very expensive, horrible coffee and rude staff. Avoid at all coasts. read more

Whoever said "the spring rolls are to die for," must have very little reason to live. They're fine, sure. But also curiously devoid of what the rest of us live for: flavor. Plain rice, plain tofu, plain lettuce, bland sauce. Would kill for an herb or spice. BUT, the cafe is otherwise delightful. Nice spot, good coffee, fine pastries and muffins. Just not to die for. Or even put yourself in harm's way. And perhaps not to risk a mild scrape or abrasion. read more

Pretty much the perfect cafe/lunch setup, especially during a pandemic. Super easy online ordering and outside pickup, spacious and clean outdoor seating, nice staff, fast service. And the food and drinks are all fantastic. Try the iced thai tea (and take home some concentrate) and the caprese sandwich, and be grateful for places that make things as nice and easy as possible. read more

I go here almost everyday! I love it. The staff is friendly, and the atmosphere is relaxed. Get the deluxe egg and cheese breakfast sandwich with veggie sausage! It's a great place to chat with friends, read, or catch up on school work. read more

I used to stop here quite frequently for breakfast when it was Jam n' Java and so I figured since I was in the area I would swing by for an iced coffee after lunch. I like a variety of different coffee...I can do D n' D all the way up to Flour or (the ultimate!) 1369 in Cambridge. I went in to Jam n Java for the flavored iced coffee..it wasn't coffee snob stuff, but its tasty sometimes. I was immediately disappointed to see that the flavored iced coffee was gone. They did have a sign saying the iced was cold brewed, though, so that was definitely a good sign. I stuck it out through an excessively long wait and a couple of children literally screaming as though someone were torturing them to death and running around the place wrestling...the usual for the new generation of ultra-entitled Arlington folks...common courtesy and politeness is not to be found anywhere near the center anymore. Coming soon to the heights. Anyway, I got my iced coffee, ran out the door and got into my car (peace and quiet!) to head back to work. I tried the coffee and.....uuuuuuuuuugggggghhhhhhhhh....no good! You know that ultra-bitter smoky tasting garbage water that every pseudo-mid-tier-wanna-be coffee shop in the Boston area buys? Yea, that's what this place serves now. If I wanted coffee that costs more and yet tastes worse than DnD and nowhere near the league of Peets or 1369 I'd just go to starbucks. I definitely believe they are cold brewing. The flavor was just as monstrously bitter as every other crap coffee shop in the area that serves this swill, but the cold brew brought out a note of citrus that was disturbingly easy to pick up on. It made for a beverage which did not go well at all with the copious amount of milk and sugar you need to add to it to make the bitterness not burn your tongue off. It's just too bad, because while the flavored iced coffees might not be what the new generation of Cambridge refugees want, at least it made this place somewhat unique in the area (True North in Burlington and Java's Brewin in Billerica also serve flavored coffees). I'm sure this place will remain wildly popular with people who want to say they drink cold brewed iced coffee from a hip place but who, in fact, can't taste the difference. I just hate walking in to a new coffee shop only to find that they serve this same coffee as so many other shops in the area do. I guess people must like it, but to me it's not good coffee at all. No good boutique coffee place I've ever been to has served something as objectionably bitter as that but maybe it's just a function of people not knowing any better. You drink 1369's French roast and you know what a strong coffee should taste like, and it's not like this. I went to a number of small places when I was down in Baltimore and every single one blew the average indy shop in boston out of the water. To be fair, the bagels at JnJ were amazing, and the baked goods didn't look much different now, but I didn't get a chance to try them. Unfortunately I am going to pass on stopping here again...until it changes hands for the 4th time. read more

Really like this place! Good food (vegan options...), cute pottery, *free wifi*, indoor/outdoor seating, friendly staff. I've only tried the hummus wrap and the raisin scone, but everything else looks good. Or maybe I'm just hungry. They have a ton of loose leaf tea options, and they sell packaged snacks/drinks too. ALSO many cute dogs frequent this place with their owners, so I like sitting by the window to dog-watch. On top of that there's this really cute guy who works in the back, and he's definitely a reason I go here. ;) read more

Kickstand Cafe - Mint tea, window seat! - Cafes Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

Yum. Breakfast sandwiches are great and super reasonable $5 great place to sit outside!

I was a very occasional visitor to this location when it was Carberry's, then Jamn Java. I finally made my first Kickstand Cafe visit last week, and was impressed with the changes. Kickstand has a nice, warm, artsy feel, and it was hopping at around 4:30 when I was there. Had planned on a coffee, but instead tried the Aztec Hot Cocoa, which was a nice surprise - sweet (not too), with a real cayenne zing. The food menu is intriguing -- I'll definitely be back! read more

When they first opened, the scene was so depressing and it made me sad that the only decent cafe available in Arlington was at this level. It was empty. The seating felt awkward, and the services were so slow. It was just a sad place. I avoided it for months. Then I went back one day. I was totally and pleasantly surprised. It was packed. People sat around with their laptops for a long time. There were a lot more smiles and chatters around. The place felt so much more alive. The menu was bigger and the baked stuff is quite good, too. Their coffee is still not the best coffee in Arlington, but I'm now very happy that this cafe is in this town. read more

A nice replacement for the old cafe. They re-did the inside (loveee the long wooden table) and changed up the menu a bit. We stopped by twice since the changeover. The first time, we shared a salmon bagel - a bit cheaper than the usual $8 in the area, and quite tasty. What I REALLY liked were the plates - all hand-made pottery! (Yes that's right, I have the tastes of a 70 year old little white lady and I like pottery. =P) Second time I had some berry ice tea, and I didn't like it. But I think that's more me than them. Seems like a lovely workspace with free wifi, and there's a kitting group that meets there Saturday afternoons. read more

Very cute spot in Arlington that I go to regularly. The food is good-- not amazing but definitely yummy and worth a visit. The only qualm I have is the egg and cheese breakfast sandwich... it was just a brioche burger bun with scrambled egg in the shape of a small cup (I guess sort of a soufflée cup?) in the center of the bun. I wish that the egg evenly covered the whole bun rather than being a block in the middle. It wasn't bad, but probably the strangest breakfast sandwich I have ever had. I hope they keep evolving their menu and I'll definitely be back to try more! read more

What's good: the atmosphere inside and the outdoor seating when it's nice out. What's not so great: It takes so long for your sandwich to come out. And the mushroom pannini I got was the dullest sandwich I've ever had. See the pic I posted. The chicken sandwich with bacon is actually really tasty. read more

Kickstand Cafe - Mushroom pannini with spinach and goat cheese....poor quality sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

Great stop only the bike path to get a snack and some coffee. They've lots of options for both beverages and snacks. I'd recommend a 'happy bee' sandwich. That's peanut butter, honey, and bananas on a 5-grain wheat bread. Wash down with a cold brewed coffee! Nom. Staff is generally friendly, place kept pretty clean. read more

The owner of kickstand is an obnoxious jerk. I was sitting outside, wearing a mask, having a conversation and she butts in and starts lecturing me about masks and threatens to not serve me. For what? I am pro-mask and was wearing one! We were discussing how if people are far away from one another outdoors, makes really aren't necessary because of the distance and air movement. We were also discussing that there are problems, such as dining...you have to remove your mask to eat. This is a vulnerability. She had no idea at all what we were talking about and just assumed we were somehow anti-mask and starts bullying us. What an a**-hole!!!! Will never, ever, ever return to Kickstand!!! read more

I love Kickstand Cafe! I've gone here twice after running on the Arlington bike path and have had two enjoyable experiences. Awesome atmosphere, great food, delicious coffee, and friendly staff. I will say it is usually very busy, and it can be hard to find a seat. But other than that I love going here. The breakfast sandwiches are great! They cook the egg somewhat like a quiche/frittata and it's sooooo yummy and made with quality ingredients. The salads are great too- simple and fresh. I also really enjoy the Thai chicken soup with bread! It is the perfect size to split. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu and the service is very fast. After brunch I got a banana coconut chocolate chip muffin and that also did not disappoint. Overall, I love coming here and it's a wonderful treat after exploring the Arlington bike path. Definitely worth a trip. read more

Kickstand has the best breakfast sandwiches made with egg, cheese, spinach and tons of garlic on a toasted brioche... Interior is cool. One owner is a photographer. Coffee so great read more

Kickstand Cafe - On the Minuteman bike trail - Cafes Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

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Huge improvement over jamn java or whatever that depressing place was called. Coffee is great equal exchange stuff, food is good, and it's clean. Staff was super nice while I was in. They redesigned the interior and it looks way better. Much more life and positive energy here. Looks like it will be super bike friendly as well, which means a lot! read more

Awesome: The hot sandwiches, the Thai Chicken Soup, the Morning Glory muffins, the tea bread, the spring rolls. Fine: The coffee, most of the baked goods, general cleanliness, the staff, general ambiance. Disappointing: The scones. Not so rock-hard as stereotypical Bad Coffeeshop Scones, but still more dry than buttery. Varies: crowd levels / table availability, speed of service. Over the years, I've seen many sandwich/coffee shops in this location - Kickstand is my favorite thus far. read more

Best Cafe in Arlington! The owner/management is doing something right. The food is great, the staff are always friendly, this place is always busy. read more

It's nice to have a cafe other than Starbucks in my neighborhood, but overall this place is just okay. I must say what I always say when I review a cafe - I don't drink coffee. So I can't shed any light on whether it is worthwhile to come here to get your caffeine fix. But I can say that the food kind of disappoints. My smoked salmon bagel sandwich would've been a whole lot better if the multigrain bagel was fresh. Would've liked to see a few more cucumber and onion slices in there as well. And my fudge brownie was dry as a bone. However, I did really enjoy the house-made ginger lemonade, and that's coming from someone who isn't a fan of ginger. There was just the right amount of it, so that it wasn't overpowering. I gotta say though, I love the spacious interior. Lots of tables, lots of chairs, lots of room to really spread out if you're going to stay for a while. Huge windows at the front of the store let lots of natural light in, and are also great for people watching out on Mass Ave, you know, if you're into that. I'd say if you happen to already be in the area, then Kickstand is worth checking out. If not, I wouldn't make the hike when there are zillions (literally) of other places to try down in Cambridge. read more

Kickstand Cafe - Smoked salmon bagel sandwich, fudge brownie, ginger lemonade. - Cafes Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

Just a nice little coffee shop in a perfect location on the Minuteman trail. Excellent coffee and a nicely spicy chai latte. Service on a busy Saturday was pretty reasonable. For the final star, need to kick the recipes up a level. Our grilled cheese with "caramelized onion jam" needed (a) sharp cheddar to match the sweetness of the 7 grain bread and (b) actual caramelized onions -- these were ordinary sauteed without a hint of brown in them. Cheesy and toasty, but definitely not as advertised. read more

Good location. Coffee was fine. They have water available too. And bathrooms. Obviously, it's biker friendly!

So I've only gone once but thoroughly enjoyed my experience here. They have interesting non coffee drinks, I mixed some of the ginger lemonade with mint limeade for a perfect drink on a hot afternoon. Got a strawberry scone for later and it was tasty. Friendly service, nice space, lots of outdoor seating. Had never noticed it tucked back off Mass Ave. but will def. return. read more

Great paninis and soup, but sometimes the restaurant runs out of a specific item. Other than that, it's a great restaurant! read more

Cute little place. This was my second time here today. I came first to meet some women for a Hike it Baby morning walk. They have scones (including vegan scones), muffins, sandwiches and bagels. Their coffee is really good, I think it's Raos (typical for an urban hippie location). They have gluten free bread from iggys as well. Both times I came I got an almond milks latte. I wish they had coconut milk but it was delicious anyway. Today I had a sea same bagel which was good but toasted a little dark (and was quite hard). Their corn muffin was dry but most corn muffins are dry. My in laws came this time and gac a portabella sandwich that they loved. It reminds me a lot of the cafe in porter square bookstore, super urban hippie esque, yummy food. It has wifi, a LOT of seating (including community seating which I think it neat) and a large restroom. Check it out! And if you want afterwards, the minuteman trail picks up next door. Go for a quick walk to burn off your bagel. read more

Kickstand Cafe is the entire essence of Arlington. Extremely granola, fineee af bagels (if you go to Wicked Bagels instead I do not associate with you), and extremely powerful and delicious coffee. However, Kickstand has a couple of fatal but forgivable flaws. 1) They serve you this jacked up coffee, it clears up your entire large intestine, and then they have the audacity of having only two bathroom stalls which are always taken because 2) this place is alwayssss packed and you will run into everyone you know GUARANTEED, most likely your old teammates from high school while in line to the bathroom practically shitting your pants. Imagine maintaining small talk at that level of stress. Also this is usually a destination to catch up with an old friend so while you're telling Betsy all the tea from the past six months of your life you might suddenly realize that your 10th grade teacher is sitting 2 inches behind you and has just heard all about you and Betsy's personal ass life. Mr. B should be charged pay per view for this level of juicy gos but whatever. read more

This place has delicious coffee and sandwiches. The iced tea is excellent and the bagels are good. I love how they have vegetarian options in sandwiches and soups too- I'm vegetarian and it makes me happy. The long line does move steadily when it's there. However every time I come there seems to be a helpful but "deer in headlights" look on the staff faces whenever I asked a question about the menu. IE: If I want to switch cheese, it's a bit of a problem. They have to ask someone else to put a lemon in the tea, and the kind of long wait for the food seems strange given the enormous number of staff always working. (Which may be the reason sandwiches are prices high and don't come with anything- no chips, side salad, or pickle. When 3 faces ask you for your order it seems off putting and inefficient which makes me wonder if they know what they're doing and will get my order right. And sometimes they don't. The order has been wrong about 30% of the time when I come with a group, but they fix it right away. The food can take a bit to be prepared. I waited tables in Boston for too many years not to be a bit annoyed by it when I know how long things typically take with the right training & expediting of orders. So if you're in a hurry, this may not be the place. If you want to hang out and relax, it's probably perfect. If you're really hungry, bring a full wallet. read more

Great spot for coffee - their cold brew is seriously the best I've had (and I drink it black so I really enjoy good coffee). I also tried their breakfast sandwich which was tasty but the roll it came on was a little unexpected (seemed like a hamburger bun). I can't wait to try more items. The service was quick and efficient, the space was open and welcoming and it seemed like a good place to settle down and get work done on a day I would normally work from home. Great community feel, makes you love Arlington and never want to leave. read more

Coffee was delicious, I like they go for fair trade. The Mint lemonade was good as well, a little on the sweeter side. Great atmosphere inside...love me a coffee shop with plants :) The particular staff member that helped me however, would be the one thing to keep me from coming back unfortunately. Not friendly or welcoming at all, he seemed like he was put off we came in. On the minute man trail which I love, so maybe I'll give it another shot in the future read more

love the coffee smooth like butta' so strong make my heart flutta' like a butterfly ask yourself why Starb**** still stands it has nothin' on the Kickstand some cafes advertise but here they're pros the custies know the caffeine flows they follow their ears their hearts and noses however long the day ahead get fed put pinkies up here and it's clear the day will be just roses read more

Good tea and good atmosphere. I love this cafe. I could choose my tea from many kind of Japanese and Chinese tea. read more

Yummy, healthy and fresh food! I just started working in an office a few blocks from this cafe and I tried a sandwich on a recommendation from a colleague. Try the pesto mozzarella and tomato on a fresh ciabatta hot. SO fresh and good. The Jasmine iced tea was killer too. Highly recommend. read more

Wonderful cafe with fabulous assortment of baked goods, yogurts & coffee drinks. Atmosphere is wonderful and there aren't too many people hogging tables all day long on their laptops. Service is super great. The only flaw is the parking lot, which gets really full. You can park on the side street that's perpendicular to Mass Ave, though, so if you can't find a spot in the lot, just park there. read more

We love Kickstand -- great food (we love the fresh rolls), and great staff. The covid precautions are especially superb.