Thinking Cup
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Thinking Cup is a convenient place to get a refreshment for your Newbury St shopping day! Despite being busy, the staff are helpful + efficient. We tried their brownie which was thick, fudgey, and indulgent. Their americano tasted relatively standard... slightly too sour though. The flavor could've been smoother.
Service was good, there was a lot of indoor and outdoor seating. It was a little loud but not too bad. There weren't any outlets in the top section indoors, but the area on the bottom floor closer to the bathroom had outlets. There weren't any prices in the display box for the desserts and pastries, so I was pretty surprised when the tiramisu and matcha basque cheesecake totaled $16. I thought it was definitely overpriced so I wouldn't go again, but the food was pretty good as well.
Classic turkey sandwich cut into quarters for easy sharing. Hearty helping of turkey, nicely toasted grain bread, Dijon mustard, lettuce and tomato. Classic! We sat in the back room which didn't have great atmosphere and needed a good sweep, but the front room was full and noisy with people having a good time. It is a little run down.
Came here years old and came back to try again and still had not disappoint. This is definitely my go to spot for breakfast! Such cozy vibes and very inviting. They make their coffee and matcha just right, their breakfast selection is amazing starting from pastries to even their steel cut oatmeal. The staff members here are nice and friendly. All very accommodating which is very appreciative! Every time I come here is already busy and crowded but the line moves fast. It can be tough to find a seat but if you're willing to wait, then it is worth it! Or better yet, just grab your food and coffee and enjoy it at the nearby public garden !
"And my cold hands needed a warm, warm touch And I was thinkin' about you" (Norah Jones) We had a big group from our conference walk over for breakfast and Thinking Cup treated us very well. When you enter the Thinking Cup, you'll see a big menu on the left wall and a long showcase of goodies on the right wall leading to the register. They sell quite a variety of coffee drinks - drip coffee, café au lait, espresso, macchiato, latte, cappuccino, mocha, Americano, French hot chocolate, chais, and plenty of teas. Thinking Cup's website has quite a statement about the coffee they sell! Ever hear of Portland Oregon's Stumptown Coffee. I wasn't familiar with the name at all, but apparently it was named "Best Coffee in the World" by NPR, The New York Times, Food & Wine Magazine, and USA Today. It lived up to the hype and was very good. I should have ordered a second cup for the walk back to the hotel. Food is very well represented as well with breakfast bagels, breakfast sandwiches, breakfast burritos, smoked salmon, and deli sandwiches. Of course they have plenty of baked goods -scones, croissants, muffins, cookies, Biscottis, focaccia, rice crispy treats, macaroons, tortes, Madeleines, and tiramisu. Oatmeal and chia seed pudding were also available. My wife and I grabbed a bacon scone ($3.25), Madeleine, and an almond croissant ($3.50) from the showcase and sat in the back dining room. Those of our group that ordered egg sandwiches or egg plates had their orders brought over to our table pretty soon. My scone was wonderful, crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside with delicious bacon sprinkles cooked within. The Madeline was great too - a sweet little sponge cake pastry. Service was great, we had a group of at least 20 and they handled our food and drinks flawlessly. PRO TIPS They're open every night until 7 or 9:00, so you can grab dinner or a late-night snack. Don't overlook the very cool tables in the front room with copies of old Boston newspapers embedded into the tabletops.
I really like this Thinking Cup on Newbury St. It's got that cozy, quaint feeling. The coffee is always good and the baked goods are great. They have one of the best almond croissants anywhere. To the review bashing this place for a ban mi sandwich try going to a Vietnamese place. Who gets a Vietnamese sandowdy at a Cafe???? To the other reviewer complaining about Wi-Fi, seriously? You give a place 1 star for that? Ignore the bad reviews please. This place is a gem. Staff is alwyas friendly. It does get very busy so plan accordingly. I enjoy going first thing in the morning when it's quiet before the hell of work begins. Arrivaderci!
This is by far my favorite cafe in all of Boston! Time and time again, it delivers on all levels- flavor, price, vibes, and service. I always have a great experience coming here to get work done, its has the perfect calming New England atmosphere to create a space for productivity and creativity. Also, their food is delicious despite being incredible cheap especially for Boston. You MUST spend an afternoon here at some point if you live in the city, it's such a fun spot.
A busy coffee house with delicious looking desserts (we did not indulge). Service was fast and efficient. My latte was good with no bitter after taste. Just wish my coffee was a bit more robust. Overall, I would recommend.
The last time I visited Thinking Cup, I enjoyed a delicious grilled cheese sandwich made with sourdough bread and Aged Manchego cheese. So, when I was back on Newbury Street, I couldn't resist stopping by for it again. As always, the café was super busy, but don't let the crowd deter you--service here is impressively quick and the cafe is quite spacious considering the location. The staff are friendly and efficient. This time, however, my grilled cheese fell a little short of perfection; the cheese wasn't fully melted. While that was a bit disappointing, it was still delicious.The nutty taste of Aged Manchego cheese is the backbone of this sandwich in my opinion. I'll definitely be back to Thinking Cup to try something different.
Loved this little coffee shop on Newbury. Nice menu for breakfast and lots of delicious desserts and pastries . I did order the cinnamon honey latte and it was good, not great. Lacked the flavor I expected. Wonderful ambiance and seating is fairly plentiful but nice view out front. Outdoor seating as well. Very friendly staff. Definitely would come back and try the latte again!
Great pumpkin spice latte - was surprised as I'm not fan of pumpkin spice even if I've tried before. This is just so good than any chained coffee shops... not too sweet! Or disgusting after taste. Also tried regular latte, pretty good and smooth as I wanted a decent cup of caffeine as I enjoyed people watching. Ordered for a quick bite, ham and cheddar brioche bread. Oh it's so soft and flavorful at each bite of a bit of ham bits and cheddar bits! Very filling even if it's small. The service was quick even if it's busy.
Thinking cup was recommended by a friend who used to live here, so I had to do right by her and check it out. The ambiance reminds me of my college days, it's lovely but not too loud, has an ample amount of seating, different coffee options, tea, juices, and bottled drinks. The food menu covers everything you'd want from small bites, fruit, desserts, sandwiches, and cakes. I ordered a cortado and a coconut macaroon. The cortado was smooth, had a nice creamy foam top, and went down nicely. My husband got a cup of drip coffee and a slice of carrot cake. The guys behind us saw what he ordered and followed suit, which seemed to be a thing, since they were out of carrot cake when we left. It's a cute shop and someplace I'd recommend.
Probably my favorite cafe I've been to not only for it's hipster vibes but for its Hazelnut latte. It was packed during my first visit in the afternoon but at night with fewer customer around it's a great place to wind down with a dessert and coffee. Their hazelnut latte had beautiful latte art that made me cringe at the thought of drinking away their design. My favorite part was that there was the distinct taste of hazelnuts and was not overly sweet as you might find at other coffee shops. There were even bits of the nut that you could nibble on in the drink. I'm happy they didn't make this into a Nutella drink that other cafes would. read more
Business owner information
Hugh G.
Linda, thanks for making Thinking Cup your "favorite cafe". Hope to…
5 years ago
3 years ago
2 years ago
5 years ago
Went to the Newbury location last week and cannot begin to describe how amazing it was. The line was long but moved quickly and efficiently. The employees were incredibly patient and kind along with explaining the menu to first time customers like myself. Food and beverages are very reasonably priced for the quality of the product. The honey cinnamon latte was to die for and the BLT with avocado was delicious. They not only have dairy free options for drinks and food but also gluten free options. Can't wait to come back soon :) read more
My colleague and I came here in the early evening and it was packed. We lucked out and found a place to sit and enjoyed the people watching. Hahahah... It's noisy, but we couldn't help but overheard what seemed like a business place to converse, it turned out the time we went, most were blind dates meeting for the first time!! Maybe "Tinder" dates? Hahahah....Makes quite an interesting conversation for dinner after the experience here "fo" sure!! LMAO :p Oh and also who knew Thinking Cup had a ton of pastries? I nearly missed it as it was right smack at the entrance! I did managed to have their last pumpkin cheesecake and it was fantastic along with my cappuccino. Thinking Cup has got to be one of my favorite cafe here in Boston. I went to several during my business trip here, and by far, this is the best with great service and coffee to boot!! Until then, Cheers! ~ :p read more
11 years ago
Charming coffee shop on Newbury with beautiful pastries, Stumptown coffee and handcrafted espresso drinks. The large wraparound pastry counter showcasing croissants, brioches, cakes, sweet breads and macaron is a sight to see. Great place to take a break from shopping on Newbury. Ample seating, friendly staff. Gets packed and no WiFi so not the best coffee shop for those looking to work/study. read more
I came here on a Saturday morning when I was visiting Boston for a business conference. The line at the register was long but it moved fast because there were 3 registers that were open. They had so many good food options it was really difficult to choose. I finally decided on one of the quiches and a latte. The wait for the food wasn't too bad either. Their quiches come with a side arugula salad, which was fresh and just enough dressing. Their quiche slices are thick and filled with ingredients. It also tasted fresh and not like a reheated piece. They had ample cozy seating inside but it was too full so I sat outside. Patio area is dog-friendly and there is ample seating too. If I was a local I definitely come here regularly! read more
6 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
We really enjoyed our visit. Excellent fruit tart. Service was top notch. We'll be coming back. read more
The latte I had here was definitely the best cup of latte I had in Boston. I'm really no coffee connoisseur or connoisseur of any food or beverage. I just let my taste buds tell my brain what's good or not. The latte here was smooth without bitterness. It just went down easily with bites of my pecan bread pudding and chocolate chip cookie. On a side note, this place won some trophy for latte art. Very cool. read more
This place can get real packed! We tried to come through on a rainy day, but the coffee shop was just filled to the brim. Instead, we planned ahead and decided to stop in the morning before I left Boston. We got in around 9am and this time around, we were able to snag a corner table on the main floor. The entrance is a bit of a tight space. You walk into the foyer where it splits with stairs going up or down. Just walk down a few steps and you're IN. Once you're inside, the space is pretty small. There's tables to the left just under the window and to your right, a pastry window and then stairs to the main floor where you can order your beverage or food. The morning we arrived, it was snowing and chilly, so a cup of coffee sounded just right. I got a medium Hazelnut Latte and a lemon poppy scone. The hazelnut latte uses house-made hazelnut paste, so the flavor is much deeper and richer than your standard syrup. My friend got a latte and breakfast sandwich with an option for extra crispy bacon. Of course, the crispier the better! Pretty chill spot to hang out at, but not the best place to study at. I had difficulties connecting to Wi-Fi since I didn't see any open ports, but maybe I didn't try hard enough. Whatever, it's still a rad place to stop into if you get the chance. read more
3 years ago
Thinking cup is a nice coffee shop with a full sandwich menu, open display of desserts (macarons!), and real friendly service - they tend to decorate their lattes with flower/leaf foam art. Its a bit darker and quieter than say, Flour Bakery and Cafe, so maybe its designed for folks who just want to sit, relax, and read. I ordered a soy vanilla-ginger latte that had great presentation and tasted great. For breakfast I got their English muffin with ham, egg, and cheddar that was decent as well. I would definitely consider coming back to try some of their bolder items like chia pudding or their desserts. However, it may be challenging my next time in Boston since I was really impressed with Flour Bakery and Cafe as well. read more
The coffee shop concept is pretty nice. I loved their interior decor and no. I haven't seen their restroom yet... This place is right across from the Boston common and I loved it when I walked inside. The order was pretty simple. Iced chai latte, easy on the ice (I saw them give A LOT of ice........ I'm not paying for 85% ice with 15% chai latte).. Dude still gave me 85% ice with 15% chai latte.. Sorry, thinking cup. Maybe I'll have better luck next time I'm in Boston!.. read more
11 years ago
This coffee shop has a good selection of pastries, cookies and cheesecakes. The coffee is pretty good too. Decent amount of seating but it's popular and may be hard to find a seat. If you do find a seat you probably won't have access to an outlet. Nice place to grab a hot beverage and take a break from the cold. Would come again if I'm in the area. This place also has a section of food including breakfast, sandwiches and grilled cheese. read more
Charming coffee shop once you push back the door and descend a small flight of stairs. I love the interior design of the space and the tables have old newspaper clippings and watches underneath the clear tabletop to give it that vintage feel. However, the lattes were a bit disappointing to me. I ordered the vanilla ginger latte and I didn't taste any hint of ginger at all. My cousin got the honey cinnamon latte and I liked hers better since I could taste the sweet cinnamon flavor on the first sip. They have a trophy displayed out that says they won First Place in 2014 for a Latte Art contest but I was surprised that our lattes only had a simple leaf and heart designs. The baristas are friendly though and I was intrigued by their display case of the chia seed pudding. The sandwiches also looked really good and I wish I got one of those for the road. I will give an extra star just for the ambiance of the place and because it is a cozy little spot. read more
5 years ago
After reading all the positive reviews I was excited to order the iced matcha latte. Unfortunately it was probably the worst matcha latte I've ever tasted - even worse than the one from dunkin donuts. It was bland and tasteless - like skim milk flavored water. Took two sips and threw the rest out. Very, very disappointed. The place was also crowded and it took quite a while to get our drinks. Would not come back to this place. read more
2 years ago
5 years ago
Quite a cute shop with good tea and coffee but it lowered in stars for me as one, I couldn't get any signal while in store, and two, they didn't have WiFi so it was really hard to communicate with others. Would say it's a good place for a quick chat but definitely a no go for studying. read more
3 years ago
I got the quiche which was a little bland but still good. The blueberry muffin was so good and not dry at all. It was a crowd pleaser with my family. The coffee here was some of the best we've had in Boston. read more
A very comfortable coffee shop with seats outdoors and more indoors. They use Portland's STUMPTOWN Coffee here so the espresso here is really good, as expected. The CHOCOLATE CROISSANT is one of the best croissants I have had in my life. Crunchy on the outside, soft and moist on the inside. Every ingredients of a croissant makes sense in my mouth. I feel warm chocolate paste and enough butter on my taste buds. There is not an aftertaste that makes the back of my tongue feels buttery and sour afterwards. The croissant and cortado combo is refreshing, even during a sweating hot summer morning. This coffee shop was the highlight of my day. read more
Great location not far from Boston Commons. The hazelnut latte was a wonderful pick me up after a long afternoon of walking around the city. Although we didn't get any food they had tons of options including sandwiches, salads and vegan/gluten free items. read more
This is one of my favorite coffee shops around Boston. It's especially nice after a long day. The lighting is warm and relaxing. The decorations are very interesting, love the musical instruments! They have a wide array of yummy treats. A tried and true favorite has to be the salted chocolate chip cookie. It's the perfect balance of salty and sweet! I love their mochas. They create each drink with care, and always do latte art! My husband tried the bourbon latte (which was a special and had to be consumed in store) and he said it was delicious! This is a consistent coffee shop, that delivers quality and tasty products. Worth a stop! read more
4 years ago
Wow - love this coffee shop. The gluten free options are super expansive, well labeled, and delicious! Hot dirty chai and gluten free apple cider donut were both great - donut was moist and yummy! I was worried they may have given me a gluten-y one, but sure enough, it was gluten free! Good vibes, really kind workers. Definitely check it out. read more
4 years ago
The first time I came to Thinking Cup, I wasn't even aware that it was THE Thinking Cup. I visited with two of my friends from back home. My most recent visit to Thinking Cup occurred yesterday with two college friends one of whom LOVES Thinking Cup (specifically their lemon poppyseed scones). I can't remember if I ordered anything during my first visit, but during my second visit... I also didn't order anything... My friend ordered for me, silly! I got a dirty chai which was downright delish! The drink portion was so small but it didn't take many sips to win me over. The espresso was amazing and the chai latte had the perfect amount of sweetness (i.e. it didn't go overboard on the sugar level). The only downside to Thinking Cup is that too many people love it! It is always packed in there and finding a seat can be quite difficult. When you do find a seat, it is cramped and you are usually shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers. In addition, their bathroom is a bit gross. During my last visit the bathroom smelled bad and had a bunch of things on the floor (I don't even know what they were but it looked like hair, leaves, and other miscellaneous items). If you're looking for a delicious coffee to-go in the heart of Boston, Thinking Cup is the place to be. I admit that I don't have that much credibility since I am not from the Boston area (nor do I attend school in Boston). However, I hope to become the Boston expert soon enough! Catch me at the most hip new Boston coffee shop in 10 years, I dare you! read more
8 years ago
I came to Boston and wanted to find a cute little coffee shop and this was the place. Located on Newberry St it's right in the middle of all the shops and a quick walk from Boston Common. The coffee was great and the pastries beautiful. I loved the decor and the servers were warm and welcoming. Note: its a small venue so probably not ideal for a large group. read more
6 years ago
The fruit tart in this place was perfect! There was no glaze on top, which let my taste buds enjoy the sweetness of the cream with the tartness of the fruits. The macarons are out of this world as well! They are perfectly moist. I will say that the environment is loud with dim lighting, and customer service did not deliver. I did not feel welcome, even after trying to be charming, the woman that took my order just seemed like she wanted to get the order done with. I would return here for the pastries, but not for anything else. read more
More info about Thinking Cup
85 Newbury St
Boston, MA 02116
Back Bay
Directions
(617) 247-3333
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http://thinkingcup.com
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Do they have wifi and are they still open for dine in?
Unsure about WiFi, yes for dine-in
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