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Life Alive Organic Cafe Davis Square

3.9 (69 reviews)
Open • 7:00 am - 9:00 pm
Updated 2 weeks ago

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Coconut Red Lentil Dal
Ellie C.

I love Life Alive cafes, and the Davis Square one was less busy than some of the other locations around Boston. I had the Coconut Red Lentil Dal, which is a summer special, and it was the best Life Alive bowl I've ever had. It was fresh, hearty, and delicious, with the creamy dal going perfectly with the lentil and rice base. Our food came out quickly and there was both indoor and outdoor seating available. I'd definitely come to this location again!

Chili Garlic Mushroom Bibimbap
Areeba Z.

I was pleasantly surprised at how many options they had at Life Alive! I had been to their central location years ago and back then the menu was limited. But they've really upped their game! They have Asian and Middle Eastern flavours while keeping their core value of healthy food. The prices are also very decent, you can get a meal for around $15. The space in Davis square is next to a parking lot (paid) but convenient so you don't have to find street parking. There is ample space inside to socialize or dine solo. The vibes are very hipster, as any place in Somerville. You order first, then take a seat with the table number. They then bring the food to you. I got bibimbap and was pleasantly surprised at how flavourful it was. Definitely will keep this in rotation for a lunch / casual date.

Menu
Mark N.

First place I would give 6 stars if possible!! Our food was perfectly prepared, fresh, and filling. Prices were extremely fair given the quality and quantity of food. I think there was a hole in my plate!! (Because the food disappeared) The atmosphere Life Alive has curated is so comfortable and open. There is plenty of seating space indoor and out. 10/10

Golden Milk Hot
Muriel D.

I love Life Alive but lately I've been disappointed by the quality of service in the evening. Twice this week, I have ordered dinner to go and twice this week I have been left waiting for my order. I want to preface this by saying that the staff are all extremely kind and were quick to remedy the inconvenience. However, the manager's behavior when I went to pick up my latest order was nothing short of careless. I ordered a chili garlic mushroom bibimbap and a strawberry and cream power chia for pickup. I placed the order at 8:22pm and was quoted a ETA of 8:42. When I arrives around 8:40, the food was not only not ready, they forgot about my order entirely. Again, the staff were very on top of it and apologized before starting to make my order. I was appreciative of the two young ladies who communicated with me as they made the order and offered to compensate me. The manager however was not as gracious. After getting my grain bowl I waited around for another few minutes before inquiring about my strawberry & cream power chia. The manager told me they no longer had it, gave me a random strawberry drink and said the price was the same so it was fine. He did not offer to refund me for what I actually ordered and his attitude felt unwarranted. Moreso, amidst this entire ordeal he was mostly absent and the two younger girls had to go get him repeatedly to ask what they should do. When he did come around he was distracted on a facetime call. Things happen and items run out but after a long day, I did not appreciate how this was handled.

Shakshuska pita...
Venessa P.

Food was amazing... I ordered the shakshuska pita and the iced Mocha latte... everything was delicious...

PBJ açaí bowl
Gloria M.

They offer a great 20% discount if you are a down under yoga member which is super awesome. The PBJ açaí bowl has me locked in even in the winter months, and I love that they don't skimp on the peanut butter. The inside is the best study environment and is just so beautiful bright and aesthetic

Butternut Spice Latte, Autumn Falafel Bowl
Jenny T.

Food: WOW. The Autumn Falafel and butternut spice latte was DELICIOUS! No complaints here, I finished everything, feeling super content, knowing I will be satisfied for the rest of the day. :) Service: Food was fast, the workers were able to help me on which menu items were the most popular but tbh they could've smiled a little more haha, it was a beautiful day at the restaurant. Ambiance: I love this location. Davis Square is such a fun area, and the restaurant has tons of natural light, they maintain it well.

Blue algae coconut milk drink and honey mango acai bowl
Joop V.

Words cannot describe how happy I was to find out that Life Alive has finally expanded to Davis Square (in fact, on its website...they have sooo many locations now.when they only used to be in Central Square / Copley and another place back 4-5 years ago!). I used to frequent Life Alive frequently for a variety of their acai bowls in the morning when I was working in Boston...and certainly do miss having such a great, healthy start from Life Alive every work day! The shop looked very modern and clean. I liked that they did open early! So, guess what I did my first morning I was back in Boston?!?! I walked over from my place to have a proper healthy breakfast there! The food was not only very satisfying, clean and healthy...they also looked good and colorful...totally instagrammable! I also liked that they also had free internet in the cafe as well (although..it wasn't conducive to me because I had to be on a call and there were definitely background noises of people and music playing in the shop!). Overall, I love that Life Alive is finally in Davis Square! I will definitely stop by Life Alive again the next time I find myself back in Boston!

Peanut noodles
Natania C.

I like going to this cafe when working from home. It's on the expensive side, but the atmosphere makes up for it. You can study or work and not buy anything as well. Good for summer days in which your AC is broken. Food is generally healthy too.

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1 month ago

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5 days ago

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5 months ago

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10 months ago

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9 months ago

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5 months ago

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3 months ago

The food here is always fresh and delicious year round. It's fun to try different combinations of add-ons.

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3 months ago

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8 months ago

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5 months ago

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7 months ago

At the register, I placed an order, paid for it, and received the food with zero words and no eye contact from the cashier.

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

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6 months ago

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3 years ago

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1 year ago

Fast service and great vibes to sit and work for a while! I got a smoothie and avocado toast and was very happy

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Life Alive Organic Cafe Davis Square Reviews in Other Languages

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Five Horses Tavern - Shakshuka

Five Horses Tavern

3.7(923 reviews)
0.2 mi•Davis Square
•$$

If you find yourself in Boston, hop the red line to Somerville and head to Five Horses. Their fish…read moreand chips are impressively delicious as is their extensive bar/cocktail menu. The atmosphere exudes "happy" hour. Shout out to our server, Brian, for making it a little extra happy with his banter and suggestions on drinks. I can see why this is a popular spot for locals on a Friday night.

We were part of a large group (12 diners) for a pre-wedding dinner/party…read more Except for the couple getting married, I believe the rest of our party were the only out-of-towners dining that evening. This is a pub-type atmosphere with a full-service, large bar serving cocktail specials and a gazillion draft beer options. There is a street-side patio if you wish to watch the people and cars at Davis Square. Five Horses serves American comfort food, and they do a pretty good job serving up their offerings. I ordered the steak tips, and they were OK. They were served Med/rare, as ordered, but they did need a bit more seasoning. Plus one ordered a steak salad, and it was OK. They were pretty frugal with the protein, and it came with an abundance of tomatoes. Another guest split a cobb salad it arrived without some ingredients, like bacon. Other diners stated that their dinners were excellent, so 4 stars seems about right. Even though they were very busy, our table was well taken care of throughout the evening. If I lived here, this would be in my rotation for a brew or two, catch a game, and enjoy a burger.

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Five Horses Tavern - Eye catching tap handle display

Eye catching tap handle display

Five Horses Tavern - Biscuits and gravy with mimosa flight.

Biscuits and gravy with mimosa flight.

Five Horses Tavern - Menu with my dirty martini and husband's Negroni

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Sugidama Soba & Izakaya - Torch Toro

Sugidama Soba & Izakaya

4.2(501 reviews)
0.2 mi•Davis Square
•$$

The best sushi I've had in Boston. Hands down. I am not exaggerating, my partner and I dream about…read morethis sushi all the time, and we've unfortunately started comparing our other sushi experiences to this one. Soba is also really good. Everything here is really good, but I highly recommend the nigiri - while it's a little pricy (standard pricing comparative to other restaurants), it is well worth it Service is quite fast and we felt like we were taken care of. One time, the server took the soy sauce bottle away from one table without warning and gave it to us, and then proceeded to do the same to us. However, in this rare case, the food quality and taste overpowered the service issues. Inside is lively, and cozy. They also have outdoor patio seating in the summer, which is lovely as well. This is a restaurant I wouldn't mind coming to over and over again.

stopped in for a cool meal on a hot and sticky saturday. ordered an agedashi tofu, veggie tempura,…read moresushi soba and uni soba agedashi was good, kinda like fried tofu in hot and sour soup. tempura was cooked just right, came out popping hot, crispy, and the veggies inside cooked proper. the sashimi on the soba wasn't exactly the freshest, no concern whatsoever, but was not the freshest. uni soba was good. the uni was a little on the bitter side but the server did warn about that. the soba noodles were a little dried, not sure how the restaurant managed this for a soba place but it's just embarrassing.

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Sugidama Soba & Izakaya - Bar area

Bar area

Sugidama Soba & Izakaya - Kamo Nandan Duck Breast Hot Soba ($22)

Kamo Nandan Duck Breast Hot Soba ($22)

Sugidama Soba & Izakaya - Ebi Hot Soba w/ Assorted Tempura ($18)

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Ebi Hot Soba w/ Assorted Tempura ($18)

Rosebud Bar & Kitchen - They still have the diner car!!!

Rosebud Bar & Kitchen

3.9(800 reviews)
0.2 mi•Davis Square
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I was impressed with this place once I overcame my surprise this is not a stand alone diner car…read more I ordered the bacon cheeseburger since it is a signature dish. It was tasty, greasy (in a good way), and the spiced fries were a nice change up. My wife and I ordered a bottle of wine which was priced quite reasonably. This place has a stealthy good selection of craft beers on tap. Look forward to returning here again.

Walked in on day after thanksgiving for brunch, and this place was relatively quiet. We got an…read moreamazing booth seating, but really wanted their fancy bus seating which gives a classic diner feel to the restaurant. TL;DR - if you are from Bombay, are craving that specific Bombay Chinese food taste, and Vada Pav - look no further - this is the place. Most of their staff are fellow Mumbaikars - shout out to Shiv, Dhvani, and Ronak! Shiv, our server was friendly and our hungry table got straight to ordering which included a flavor packed and well priced Lychee Martini ($10), Masala Chai Hot Toddy ($12), and Spicy 'Lil Rita ($12) - being the best one! Food included some well name dishes like Kashmiri Deviled Eggs ($12), Vada Pav ($12), Rasam Risotto ($15), Butter Chicken Pot Pie ($20), Chicken Steak with Makhani Sauce ($18), Street Fried Noodles ($16), and Penne Pasta with Chicken for the kiddos. Food just hits the right spots and is very flavorful, extremely well seasoned, and perfectly spiced. Interiors and their bar is very inviting. Noise levels during our stay were on the lower end. Service was excellent. What was refreshing was they didn't charge us any automatic gratuity even for our large group - but absolutely deserved a generous one! Highly highly recommend if flavorful food is your thing!

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Rosebud Bar & Kitchen - Fried green tomatoes and cheese grits!

Fried green tomatoes and cheese grits!

Rosebud Bar & Kitchen - Nice pie list!!!

Nice pie list!!!

Rosebud Bar & Kitchen - Meatloaf

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Meatloaf

The Painted Burro

The Painted Burro

3.8(1.1k reviews)
0.2 mi•Davis Square
•$$

We can't believe how perfect the Paint Burro was as the venue for our wedding reception. We rented…read moreout the whole restaurant, expecting a simple do-most-of-it-ourselves type of reception given that we weren't using a wedding planner, nor were we going crazy with big ticket wedding items like DJ, Photographer etc. We wanted the day to be special, but were willing to be creative to control the insane cost of the modern wedding. So when we approached Bridget Tivnan and her team about having our reception here, our expectations were modest to say the least. We had no idea the generosity, thoughtfulness, open mindedness, and hard work that this place was going to offer to make our day beyond special for us and our guests. A special shout out especially to Bridget and Sam who went above and beyond both leading up-to and on the day to make the event perfect. From the beginning, Bridget helped us to envision a set up that went beyond our our own plans, without going beyond our budget--allowing us to reserve the entire restaurant for our event at a reasonable price. She was incredibly accommodating and excited to make our day special, working within our parameters to ensuring we had enough space for our guests, a dance floor custom bar, and a buffet table. She and Sam, the restaurant manager, also supported a surprise musical performance I had planned for my wife, allowing us to store instruments and practice the night before. When the rehearsal ran VERY late night before the big day, Sam stayed very late with me, without complaint or pressure to wrap up and even making me a nice night cap without me asking for it, when I'm sure he was eager to get home. All this ensured we were all set for the big day. On the day of the event, the team set up speakers so we could broadcast our own Spotify playlist throughout the venue and the outdoor courtyard, which doubled as our dance floor. Sam was on hand to help trouble shoot technical issues and even offered to let us use his phone for the night at one point in case we couldn't resolve to a connectivity issue. They transformed the other rooms into a dining space and a bar area, and even created a makeshift outdoor bar. The food was phenomenal. They not only met all our menu requests but also crafted an alternative menu to accommodate numerous allergies and dietary restrictions. They even provided a special kids' menu at no extra charge, which was a huge hit with the little ones. All of our friends and relatives still talk about how much they loved all the food that day and we know many of them have been back since! Bridget, Sam and the great service people made sure we, the newlyweds, got to taste all the appetizers by bringing us a special tasting plate while we mingled with guests. They ensured we got to enjoy our meal and coordinated the cake cutting seamlessly. The attention to detail and personal touches were extraordinary. They also brought my wife and I fresh plates of dinner when they realized we had been chatting with guests throughout most of the dinner portion of the evening. The highlight of the evening was the surprise band performance, which brought the house down and filled the room with joy. None of this would have been possible without their support and flexibility and willingness to accommodate our outside the box ideas. They accommodated every request, from custom drinks at the outdoor bar to delicious mocktails for our pregnant guests. They even helped with the décor, setting up flowers and family photos, transforming the restaurant into a beautiful, intimate space. Despite being a Mexican restaurant, the atmosphere felt swanky and luxurious. We can't thank Bridget, Sam, the cooks, service folks, bartenders and the entire staff enough. They turned our wedding into an amazing event and created memories we will be able to enjoy and talk about for a long long time. If you're looking for a place that offers exceptional service, delicious food, and a team that truly cares, look no further.

To be honest, I didn't really have high expectations for Painted Burro. I mean, come on. With…read moreFelipe's just around the corner, the thought of venturing elsewhere felt almost unnecessary. But given that work was covering the tab, I was more than happy to indulge. To start off, the food was de-light-ful. For appetizers, we ordered the elotes, chips with guac and salsa, and some roasted potatoes. These were all fine--nothing particularly fancy--but I did really like the potatoes. We then ordered some drinks, which I admittedly don't remember very well... we may have partied a little too hard. Despite the hungover amnesia, though, the clear winner was the Coconut Passionfruit. If I remember correctly, it tasted almost like an alcoholic cream soda, and it was by far the table's favorite. One of my coworkers ordered it first and let us all try it, and suffice it to say, we were hooked. The whole table eventually ended up ordering a round. Now, since the tab was covered, I decided to go all out and order three fish tacos AND the Fajitas Clásicas. Was this excessive? Yes.... Did that stop me? Absolutely not. The Fajitas Clásicas were massive (easily enough food for two people!) That said, looking back, I was a little underwhelmed by the actual variety of meats. Between the steak, chicken, and shrimp, nothing really stood out. The steak was okay, the chicken was a little dry, and the shrimp... well, I gave the two pieces they gave me to my friend. I eventually turned my attention back to the fish tacos, which were thankfully very yummy and probably the better choice. Now onto dessert! If you come here for nothing else, come for either the churros or the tres leches. Some of my coworkers found the tres leches a little too sweet, but I absolutely loved how creamy and indulgent it was. The churros were also delicious. I didn't love the chocolate sauce quite as much, so I ended up dipping them into the ice cream instead, which I personally thought was much better. Suffice it to say, you really can't go wrong with either. Overall, Painted Burro pleasantly surprised me. Not everything was a standout, and I'd probably skip the fajitas next time, but the drinks, fish tacos, and especially the desserts made for a very fun meal. Would I abandon Felipe's? Lol no. But if work is paying again, you'll probably find me back here with another Coconut Passionfruit in hand.

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The Painted Burro
The Painted Burro - Churro

Churro

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Cafe Barada - Chicken Shish Kebab

Cafe Barada

4.2(282 reviews)
0.2 mi•North Cambridge
•$$

Small family-run restaurant. Have been several times and enjoyed every dish I have ordered. Love…read morethe fava beans and the chicken kebab plate/wrap. Great, soft falafel. Grape leaves tasty too. Will keep going back. NOTES: -- Small interior with about a dozen tables. Also outside seating when weather is warm. Though sitting along Mass Ave can get noisy! -- Seems to be plenty of metered parking in the area though you might end up parking a couple blocks away...or right out front if you are lucky! -- They usually will not seat you until your entire party is there, especially at busier times. -- They do not do bill-splitting with credit cards, they say bc of fees. (3% fee each card). So one person will have to pay with CC or just bring cash.

Went to this beautiful place last minute on Valentine's Day and I've been going there often on for…read moreover 20 years. Always amazing always great service the owner. Sammy is amazing. It's a great family on run business. We had the hummus and appetizer or phenomenal as always great portions as well. I had them mixed kebab dinner. My girlfriend had the Kibby both were great lots of food and to finish the best baklava I've ever had in my life has always even brought a piece home from my mom I would recommend for any person when it's warm out. They have outside seating you can get takeout. It's right there a mess have you have to do street parking but you could always find something.

Photos
Cafe Barada - Outdoor seating

Outdoor seating

Cafe Barada - Appetizer Sampler

Appetizer Sampler

Cafe Barada - Fattouch salad with kafta kebab, harissa labany, hummus and pita.

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Fattouch salad with kafta kebab, harissa labany, hummus and pita.

Life Alive Organic Cafe Davis Square - vegetarian - Updated November 2026

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