Red Eye Cafe

I always love coming here! Not only is a coffee great, but…read morethe ambience is unbeatable, and the owner is truly the sweetest . Their lattes are delicious and definitely give a try to their special "science" menu if you are into being surprised ! The croissants are not the best I've had in town, it would definitely be nice if they offer some salty items on the menu, but I understand that their focus is coffee.

Paper Plane Coffee is located in Upper Montclair. Seating here is similar to a plane but being…read morepopular all were taken. Raj often comes here and today had a different coffee - the Paper Plane Tonic consisting of Orange, Tonic and Espresso. He enjoyed it a lot. I had the iced Nam-Dam which consisted of a cold brew with cardamom and sweetened condensed milk. It was delicious and I could have had two! We got high stools and sat by the front window. This cafe is Columbian-American with beans from Columbia. In the refrigerator, I found to my surprise Spēka, the chocolate covered cottage cheese bar in assorted flavors that I had sampled at the Restaurant Show and has been difficult to find in the Big Apple. I bought four in lemon and gave one to Raj to try. The only drawback to this cafe are the hours whereby they close at 6 pm all week.

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Some pins for sale

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Store front

Qahwah House

4.6(36 reviews)

Came here with a friend for some chai and a nice convo. The…read morestaff is incredibly friendly and, once they knew it was my first time trying display, they explained to me what goes into making their chai and how it is truly authentic. They have a pretty big space in a warming environment, which makes you want to stay to chitchat, work from there, or just sit with yourself and enjoy your beverage. I didn't get to try any of their pastries, but I definitely will give them a try next time I come!

Street parking only, and it was packed with people when we came, but the space inside is huge with…read morereally good lighting and plenty of seating. Came here to try out the coffee and was pleasantly surprised to find out the coffee is Yemeni style. The coffee was incredibly fragrant, rich, and thick...definitely different than espresso, but in the best way possible. Overall, it was a really great experience. Even the desserts were a hit and paired perfectly with the drinks. Despite how busy it was, the atmosphere was still nice to sit and hang out in.

Warm chai

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THE WATERBAR by Thought in Motion

4.8(40 reviews)

0.6 mi

Ordered: 20oz Heart Chakra Love Elixir (~$8): pineapple,…read moregreen apple, kale, spinach, celery, ginger, lemon, & cucumber Aya's take: The Waterbar is such a unique spot that focuses on energy, mindfulness, and aura. They're known for their water which is charged with crystals. We met Sandy who was kind enough to let us try some! Of course it tasted like your typical water but if you believe in everything around us having energy, get your water from here! They have 7 chakra elixirs to choose from and honestly I wanted to try them all but landed on the Heart Chakra Love Elixir. It was light, refreshing, and not sweet. The flavors weren't super pronounced honestly but I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought. I also had the opportunity to meet the owner Jaye who was super friendly and informed us of how the space is used, upcoming events, etc. The cafe itself is warm, welcoming, and relaxing. I'm glad we found ourselves here one weekend and recommend you stop by!

My husband and I have been here several times and enjoy it each time. For some reason we forget…read moreabout it and remember it during the summer! We are always promptly greeted with a smile and asked if we have any questions. The menu is impressive with various beverages including infusions, drinks , lattes, and elixirs. They even have some sandwiches and snacks. I personally love the chia seed pudding and my husband loves the energy balls. The drinks are super refreshing and hydrating. The calm inviting vibe of the store is also very enjoyable. Would definitely recommend!

Crystal-Charged Water

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Inside

Cafe Giotto

4.3(233 reviews)

0.5 mi

I've been here twice and this is my favorite Italian restaurant…read more For dinner the ambiance is cozy and intimate, the service is friendly and they don't rush your service. Talking about the food, the eggplant appetizer is delicious. The flavor of the tomato sauce is excellent! Both the vegetarian and meat lasagnas are great. I appreciated they gave us an ice bucket when asked for our BYOB wine. The standout here is the vanilla gelato and tiramisu. Make room for it! Con- I did try the vodka pasta once, I think it lacked enough sauce and needed some more flavor notes from garlic salt and chili flakes. Also the pasta shape was deflated and a little earlier than al dente. I'm not sure how the other dishes are, and I'm apprehensive of the pasta after mid rigatoni vodka but I'll be back again and again for lasagna and dessert!

We always love to stop into Cafe Giotto whenever possible…read more Indoor/ outdoor seating with a new addition to the indoor seating space since we noticed. Usually, we tend to take out as I did today, or sit outside at the tables too. It's always a special treat- fav dishes -bolognese lasagna and rice balls. On other visits, we also loveeee the gnocchi. Staff are always super nice, helpful, and friendly. We will definitely come back soon on our next trip to Montclair. Yum.

Inside

Gnocchi Al Pomodoro.

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Fried Chicken Caesar Salad and a Lemon Soda

Eagle Rock

4.6(50 reviews)

1.6 mi

Very pretty establishment with great service and good food. I had the garden city omelette which…read morewas well seasoned and cooked to perfection. The tumeric latte was good I think a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg would be nice to add to it.

Cute little spot with friendly staff and good drinks!…read more We stumbled across this by chance and I couldn't be happier!

Flat white

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The Corner

4.5(1.3k reviews)

0.2 mi

One word... WOW. The…read moreCorner in Upper Montclair has that rare mom-and-pop feel that immediately makes you feel welcome. It's cozy, genuine, and the kind of place where you can tell there's a lot of love going into what comes out of the kitchen. And speaking of that kitchen--you can see it from pretty much every seat in the house. Watching several cooks navigate what looks like an incredibly tiny space is almost mesmerizing. Somehow, they move around each other seamlessly, and the best part? The food comes out FAST. My wife went with the hummus, and it was creamy, flavorful, and delicious. But the surprise star on the side was the salted dried kale chip--such a simple little addition, but ridiculously good. Then came my pancakes. Out of this world. Small in diameter, but super thick, with a beautifully crispy exterior giving way to an interior that was fluffy, light, and airy. I've tried making this style of pancake at home countless times, and I still have absolutely no idea how to get that texture. The syrup and berries were the perfect finishing touches. Everything just worked. I've made and had soooo many pancakes in my life, and this is easily top 3 best. The Corner is the kind of place that makes you start planning your next visit before you've even left. I'll be dreaming about getting back to this Corner.

I ordered my omelette to go, so I didn't get the full sit-down experience and I'm keeping that in…read moremind with my review. I customized it with cheddar cheese, bacon, and onion. Unfortunately, something about it didn't sit right with my stomach, and the cheese tasted a little off to me. I also ordered a chai latte, but it was pretty plain. It mostly tasted like tea and milk rather than the spiced, flavorful chai I was expecting. Maybe the experience would have been different dining in, so I'd be open to trying them again and ordering something else next time.

Toast

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Sidewalk dining

Catfe Montclair

4.3(15 reviews)

Amazing place! I booked a 30 min time slot for my daughter and I to go play with the kitties. It…read morewas a very cute experience ! They had about 10-12 cats of all ages there waiting to be placed. They had identifying tags or ties saying whether they were going to be adopted or if they were "spicy" at all lol. They had diff types of toys and beds and huts and wall things to play with it was set up very well! They also gave you free coffee or hot chocolate which was a nice touch as well! We also learned about the cats through pics and little anecdotes about them on the wall. Please consider going to see them as the fee helps take care of the cats!!

Dear Yelp, I Have…read morebeen here twice now as my daughter loves cats but my husband is allergic. Super easy to make reservations and pay online. Make sure you sign the waiver! When I had to adjust the time of my reservation, I had an email confirmation within an hour notifying me of the new time. Super responsive, friendly and helpful. Shoes off, need socks! Come prepared. Otherwise they have cat socks for $3 you forget. We can't wait to return! Love, Nicole

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Chashni Cafe

4.4(44 reviews)

Good drinks and service! Will definitely try to visit again. The place is beautiful but can get…read morecrowded

What a beautiful cafe!!! It is so tastefully designed and decorated, everything from the art wall…read moreto the furniture. The food was delicious and felt very nourishing. The portions are very generous, too. I loved that our coffee wasn't served in to-go cups but actual glasses - a simple step toward reducing single-use plastic I feel like I don't see that very often in cafes anymore so it stood out to me. The baristas were friendly & knowledgeable about the menus. Overall, the atmosphere was very warm. Would definitely recommend!

The sugar/ milk station is on the top two shelves and self serve water is in the silver container on white sideboard

Blueberry Latte and Spanish Latte these drinks are true cafe vibes!!!!

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Honey Cardamom Latte

Sweet Kitchen

4.1(334 reviews)

During my visit, I experience good customer service; employees are kind and helpful with navigating…read morethe menu. The Lentil Soup is a calm soup, not too salty, not too spicy, carrying natural lentil bean flavors, earthy and warm. The Naan is soft, savory, and like a tender fluffy pita bread with light seasoning. Aside from the meal, I think double checking utensils is so important in kitchen environments (where utensils are put to re-use). Thanks for being patient and understanding with my request to change spoons (the first time, in the photo, due to a food like stain, and the second time due to a dry dishwasher soap/milk like stain). Also, I think, if possible, replacing the fogging/smog-stainful-looking plastic like cups (for free water) with paper-like cups or by way of glass cups and metal-like pitchers may contribute to the eatery's ambience well. Down-to-earth vibes. The eatery has indoor and outdoor seating. The establishment accepts different forms of payment.

Stopped at Sweet Kitchen one evening after having dinner across the street. They have indoor…read moreseating, as well as some outdoor seating. There was a lack of friendly service. I saw the good reviews so I was disappointed when I received my desserts. Most of the cake slices were around $7, but when I asked for a cheesecake or pistachio one, one slice was $13 which I found to be expensive so I did not get that one. My friends and I decided on 3 cakes: strawberry, Oreo, and chocolate. I don't think I will ever be returning - the cakes tasted old. The best way to describe it was a like it came from a chain supermarket - lacking flavor and not up to fresh quality. The only one that was edible was the chocolate slice. We felt so bad to have to throw away the other two cakes, but they were not good at all. It was a waste of money to pay so much for a slice and not eat it.

Inside

Sunny Avocado Croissant

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Inside

Sweet Trail Cafe

4.9(26 reviews)

1.4 mi

Love. Love. Love. Went here on a little lunch date we both…read moregot the "Turkey egg cheese" Bagel and something to drink. My date did not even realize it was a vegan cafe and was surprise that the bagel actually tasted good after he was done eating it, LOL. My matcha shake was to die for I loved it! Will be coming back for that shake

This place has some good options, but it is more expensive than your average coffee shop. The first…read morething I noticed when I popped in was the menu was on a very fast rotation so that it was pretty difficult to read. I asked if they had a physical copy, which they did not. So even though they went digital only, they had no listed prices, which is annoying, especially if there was a line. It's just not the most ideal ordering experience. I did get a hazelnut frappe ($6.50) which was sweet and very thick. I was tempted and gave into a cinnamon role ($7.50) which they warmed up. Both were perfect sweet treats and didn't taste odd being vegan. The roll was huge. I probably shouldn't have gotten both because it was decadent, but they both rocked. There are a few chairs by the window, but there isn't a lot of space inside. The order did take a while to prepare, but it was interesting to try.

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Gina R.

14 years ago

So. In. LOVE! Stopped in here for weekend brunch with my fiance and was in heaven! Both of us started off with a large Red Eye (hot coffee with espresso), which came out piping hot and strong. Me likey! Now onto the food stuff! I opted for the Green Eggs and Ham (scrambled eggs with kale, shallots, ham, and gueyre cheese WITH multi-grain toast AND fruit salad). WOW! The eggs were out of this world, the toast was delish, and the fruit salad was nice. My guy went for The Highlander, which is basically a Vietnamese-ish take on eggs benedict. I was lucky enough to snag a bite or two from his plate and it was seriously out of this world. Definitely a unique dish!!!!! Prices are more than fair, especially for the food quality, portions, and specialty offerings I've never seen anywhere else (waffles with salted caramel ice cream and candied bacon, anyone?!). Decor is really cool and the space isn't cramped. Service was great, too! Staff was always available and were all super friendly. All in all, a most spectacular brunch to remember! We'll definitely be back here for soon for brunch, dessert, or maybe even dinner...We caught a peek of their November dinner menu and it sounds DIVINE!!!! read more

Leo B.

12 years ago

The best place for my breakfast and Brunch is Red Eye Cafe . I love their accurate spice in foods. My best ever salty dish is Chicken Potpie with delicious puff pastry. I mostly love to try their variety of pancakes and last time I tried sweet potato pancakes. Each and individual part of this cake was incredible. I use to eat pancake from here and try to make at the home. My mom likes my pancake but I couldn't get the exact taste of it.. Mostly my friends and me visit the same place for our breakfast or Brunch and recommend everyone to take one visit of this place and must try pancake's variety of this place. You'll love it. Thumbs Up Red Eye Cafe!!!! read more

C. A.

12 years ago

This is my absolute favorite place to eat in Montclair. The food never disappoints and the atmosphere is so relaxing. Everything on the menu is just delicious and I've never had a bad meal or experience. They make you feel like family. They do get crowded often and the wait for a table can be up to 40 minutes, especially in the brunch hours. But believe me, it's worth the wait. They let you order drinks while you wait for a table and always have reading material available to help pass the time. The wait staff is so friendly and seem to love chatting it up with the guests. Just the best place. read more

Folan M.

12 years ago

This spot is extraordinary I went there on Monday. It was fine day and I was glad to the point that I went to this bistro and take the glass of espresso. This is my first visit there and my second visit was yesterday.i was went there yesterday and consumed the burger from here. The burger was so great and extraordinary. Exceptionally prescribed this spot. read more

Grey B.

9 years ago

Red Eye is amazing! They have great food and the service is awesome. Brunch is my favorite, they have great sandwiches and salads for lunch and dinner is really good too. They have great coffee and desserts FYI they make their own ice cream -- the cookies and cream is excellent! It's an ideal place to meet up with friends and family. read more

Bryan F.

12 years ago

Great food, comfortable atmosphere and very friendly and helpful staff. It's a nice change to have a place like this for brunch. Raymond's is always over crowded and too loud. Having brunch here is definitely more relaxed. Would love to see the addition of Mexican hot chocolate. Then you'll get the 5th star. read more

Travis T.

1041

2 years ago

Red Eye Cafe in Montclair is so underrated! Yes, the wait is long, but have some patience because it's worth it. The reviews are misleading because the food is EXCELLENT. My only critique is that I wish they had better side options over chips. Overall, a fantastic spot that deserves more recognition. read more

Katherine C.

9 years ago

I absolutely love the Red Eye, they have my favorite French toast of all time. Their honey whipped cream topping is unreal. Can't beat the coffee and the service. It is small so make sure you plan some extra time if you're going during weekend breakfast hours. But it's so worth the wait. read more

William H.

14 years ago

Cappuccino was awesome. Breakfast was good too. It's not the cheapest place but it's about what you're going to pay for this style of a place. Very nice looking, cozy with cool decor. I'll def be hanging here again. WI FI? Of course! Sweet! Looking forward to another mid day break! read more

George B.

13 years ago

Let's let the professionals speak on this one. In the 30th Annual Jersey Choice Restaurant Poll the Red Eye Café won a Critics' Choice in both the Best Coffee Bar and Best Brunch in the state categories http://njmonthly.com/articles/restaurants/2013-jersey-choice-restaurant-poll.html read more

Dana H.

11 years ago

I love coming here -- for the great coffee, the great vibe, the friendly servers, and the delicious food. I especially love the attention I get from the servers who are always friendly,which means a lot. read more

Tania W.

12 years ago

WOW! This was the best espresso I ever had! I also love the desserts and cakes... I come here for coffee and dessert only so I think that is my focus... and they are the best in NJ for that1 read more

Livvi M.

9 years ago

Great service. Good prices. Superb area! I Recomend this place to everyone I know :) the atmosphere is different and I'm going again today to try out something else. Great job guys! read more

X X.

13 years ago

I really love coming here! This place is amazing, totally is my kind of joint. Lol. The Highlander still blows my mind. I can't believe I didn't come up with the idea first!! :P read more

Mike L.

6 years ago

Great coffee, food, service and vibe. Definitely recommend. Consistently good quality food at reasonable price, especially for Montclair area. Try it you won't be disappointed! read more

Rachel S.

9 years ago

Nice little brunch spot! This is great for dates or a time out with friends! The food was really good and the wait wasn`t that long at all! The staff was extremely friendly. read more

Eliza B.

13 years ago

When I go here I always feel at home! It is a very nice atmosphere and they have good selections for lunch! I really like the Chai everyone loves the DIRTY CHAI! read more

Egan D.

11 years ago

The coffee is always great here and the owners are very friendly and professional. When in town check out the great desserts as well!

Arnold C.

8 months ago

Good food poor service. Our waitress never asked us to refill coffee or water nor visit the table to ask if we needed anything

Mike S.

13 years ago

This place can get a little busy, especially on the weekends, but it's worth the wait. Great coffee and fresh food!

Red Eye Cafe - cafes - Updated October 2026

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3.6

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I've been coming to Toast for years and they never disappoint. Parking isn't the greatest but…read moreluckily it's toward the end of Bloomfield Ave so you can usually catch something on the street or on the next side street. Also, they don't take reservations which is a little bit of a bummer but today (Saturday 6/13 at 9:30 am) we were able to get a table for 5 adults and 2 children right away. The place has a cool vibe and an extensive menu. I got an iced vanilla latte, my sister got an iced french toast latte, and others got regular coffee. All selections were wonderful. As far as meals, the kids got the silver dollar pancakes and the french toast with a scrambled egg. They were also provided waters in plastic, lidded cups. No complaints from them. I personally got bananas foster French toast which was to die for. My mom got the two carrot cake pancakes which came with cream cheese icing and she loved them. My husband got the Southwest Breakfast bowl which was also a winner. If anything, he probably would've wanted an additional egg to have a little more liquid. My sister got the morning protein wrap and she liked that too. My brother in law is allergic to eggs and lactose intolerant so he opted for a build your own burger with onions and avocado. It came with nice crispy fries which we all were able to enjoy. Another winning experience at Toast!

Heard so many good things about this place. Very friendly staff and fast service. I got the lemon…read morepoppyseed pancakes. We're amazing. Very clean as well. Fresh squeezed orange juice was a plus. Definitely will be going again.

La Fontaine Cafe

4.6

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Can't speak to the food but their latte is fantaaastic!! I got the Biscoff cookie butter latte with…read moreoat milk and WOW!! I was worried it would be too sweet but the espresso comes through beautifully with that nice graham cracker cinnamon flavor in the background. If I lived nearby I would get this all the time. The lady that helped me said their lavender white chocolate latte is her fave so I'd definitely try that next time. Inside is whimsy and cozy which I love. Fast service. Really glad I got a chance to try this place during my visit.

The cutest cafe! I only stopped in for a hot Matcha oat latte & I am glad that I did. The small but…read morecozy space feels warm, spiritually protected & clean. I would definitely return when I'm back in the area. They offer a restroom along with a variety of eats & beverages. But no parking. And you do have to pay for street parking through an app service. Thank you for the pleasant experience this past Friday.

Whisk It All

4.6

(21 reviews)

My 13 yr old and I went here for sandwiches and lattes. The restaurant was very clean and the…read moreservice was excellent. My child had the avocado toast with a fried egg and I had the tuna sandwich on a croissant. Both sandwich sandwiches were delicious and reasonably priced. We also had a Matcha latte and mocha latte. Those were amazing as well. There were convenient charging stations at each table but you have to bring your own charging cable. I would absolutely recommend this restaurant!

I love exploring cafes to work/study from! Whisk It All is a local family-owned bakery and cafe…read more It's easy to miss since it's on a quiet residential street in Glen Ridge. There's free street parking right up front. I've been here twice and both visits were positive experiences. The cafe is small, but cozy. The greenery and natural lighting make it a welcoming space to meet up with a friend over coffee and pastries or to study. There's a few tables, a couch, and stool seating facing the window. There's also free wifi and outlets. The tables are on the smaller side and the cafe isn't that big, so it's probably not best for large groups. Their menu is simple and a bit limited. Honestly... I prefer it that way! They have your core espresso drinks and a few paninis and croissant sandwiches. They bake their own pastries fresh on the premises. I recommend trying their cookies - they are huge, soft, and chewy! They also specialize in custom cakes for special occasions. Everything is reasonably priced. Baristas are sweet and efficient. They make some tasty iced lattes! The espresso is strong, but not too bitter. It has just the right balance of coffee and milk. I recently tried the Ham Solo sandwich ($10) which included scrambled egg, ham, cheddar, and avocado on a croissant with a side of chips. It wasn't bad, but I wouldn't order it again. The egg was dry and the ham and cheese tasted like those cheap, pre-sliced ones from grocery stores. If I lived closer, I could see myself stopping by more often. Check them out if you're in the area!

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Found this gem because I was looking for those viral desserts that resemble fruit. They get them…read morefrom a bakery in NYC. Each dessert was $10 and worth the try, but I probably won't order them again. I ordered the pistachio latte and the first sip was HEAVEN! The strawberry Dubai chocolate cup was absolutely packed and well worth the $15! It lasted me like 2-3 days because it was sooo rich I couldn't eat it in one sitting. I'll definitely be back to try their other specialty latte drinks and pastries!

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