TLDR: You can't go wrong with a warm, freshly made waffle here, but people definitely have their individual preferences. My recommendation is to go with the Liege waffle with berries and your pick of any other toppings. With a cozy atmosphere and the smell of warm waffles, this is an especially good spot during the colder months, but still a favorite in the warmer months too. ------ FOOD: THE LIEGE (5/5) The Liege waffle is the classic here and the one I'd recommend. Sweet, thick, and a richer snack (i.e. the satisfying treat you're probably looking for if you're stopping by a waffle shop). All of the topping combos are classic, and the berries they use here are high quality. Waffles come out hot and fresh after just being made, so if you order ice cream or whipped cream, know that you'll have to eat quickly if you don't want it to melt into the waffle. THE BRUSSELS (4.5/5) Besides the Liege, the Brussels waffle is an interesting choice and very different from the Liege. As the menu describes, it's definitely significantly lighter, and it's crispier in a different way (not from the caramelization of the pearl sugar but from crisped up batter similar to an Ego waffle). It's extremely delicate, so I'd recommend just doing some powdered sugar and maybe a chocolate drizzle or some whipped cream. ------ ENVIRONMENT / AMBIANCE: * Small shop on the edge of Harvard Square. Some window seating and a few small tables best for groups of 2 - 4. * Given how small it is inside, finding a seat during peak hours can be particularly challenging, and lines can be out the door too. ------ SERVICE: * Order at the kiosk and then find a seat (if you can). When a waffle is done, they'll call a name and come to you once you indicate that it's for you. * Water and utensils are self-service, and the expectation is that you put your plates, utensils, and cups away in a bin inside by the counter. read more

Zinneken's - Harvard Square - Brussels waffle - Belgian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

Perfect for sitting quietly on a sunny afternoon, especially when you're feeling down. Gourmand Waffle: Liege waffle/banana/whipped cream/caramel. The ultimate sweetness is evident from the ingredients. The waffle was light and crispy on the outside, soft and moist on the inside; the sweetness of the banana and caramel is mellow and rich, the pearl sugar was slightly caramelized, and the sweetness of the cream was natural and light. Every bite offered a different layer of flavor. But most importantly, it was really sweet, and sweetness is the most soul-stirring enjoyment. It was sweet enough to bring peace, allowing you to temporarily escape the world and focus on this plate of beautiful fairytale. Café au Lait (Latte): Beautifully layered, with a natural milky aroma. But what does the menu mean by confusing café au lait with latte? read more

See all

Ventured to Harvard Sq for a quick snack on a chilly fall morning. It was quite busy since it was a Saturday afternoon so people were saving seats before they ordered. I was stuck waiting for a window seat for a while but eventually I got one. I ordered the Nutella and banana waffle and added whip cream. It was warm and tasted good. I've had some fresh to made order waffles before so I couldn't tell if this was one or if it was warmed, but either way it tasted good. I got a caramel macchiato to drink which was good too. Interior is very cozy and the colors inside are very warm. I love all the natural lighting and seats by them, but if it's crowded when you come...good luck.... Overall cute date spot or a place to bring friends, but not too many cuz it is small. read more

See all

Yum yum waffles! My bf and I decided to get dessert here after we walked by on the way to dinner. The place is really cute and it has two tablets where you can place your order for either a yummy waffle or coffee or both! Once you place your tablet order the nice people call out the name of the order and you pick up your food at the counter. Not only did our waffles look amazing they tasted amazing! Mine was topped with fresh strawberries and bananas and topped with gooey chocolate. My bf got his with a side of whipped cream. Both were delish! Since they had matcha on the menu I decided to try theirs and it did not disappoint! They did not have any decaf options though so that was a bummer for my bf but he really enjoyed his waffle. We will definitely be coming back! read more

See all

The Liege waffle , made from dough with carmelized belgian pearl sugar is DELICIOUS with their speculoos and chocolate syrups and even better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream Warm, sweet, addicting Such a delight read more

Zinneken's always smells really good when I walk by in Harvard Square, so I finally decided to give it a try today. The indoor seating is cozy, and I liked being able to watch the snowstorm through the windows. I ordered the Fruit Delight, which comes with strawberries, bananas, and chocolate. I thought the chocolate was a little too sweet as the waffle already had a sweetness to it. The fruits added a refreshing bite and the waffle itself was very warm, light and crispy. read more

Zinneken's - Harvard Square - Belgian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

After having waffles in Brussels, I had to try them again. Zinneken's been in the area for a while and I understand why! I tried their liege waffle w/ bananas and nutella and their speculoos latte and they both hit my craving. The waffle was crispy and sweet. It is a little doughy/dense but I think thats the nature of the waffle style. I wish they had more seating options since it felt a little cramped, but overall solid. They had a kiosk you self order at so it's a more casual place. read more

Zinneken's - Harvard Square - Belgian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I don't have much of a sweet deal, so it is a big deal when I say this place is DELICIOUS and I finished a whole plate of waffles! It is so cute and tiny but might in its layout, inviting and warm. The service was fast and smooth. Staff were friendly to answer any questions we had about the waffles. We had the option to customize our waffle or pick pre-designed waffles, I went with the pre-designed ones. The Oreo waffle was SO delicious! I also enjoyed eating the banana forward waffle :3 read more

See all

I love this place! The waffles are fantastic, with so many options to choose from. I highly recommend the strawberry Nutella. Note: it's a bit on the smaller side, so there aren't many tables for dining in. Other than that, it's a great spot! read more

Zinneken's - Harvard Square - Strawberry nutella waffle - Belgian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This waffle is genuinely one of the best waffles I have ever had. The crust was so crispy and sweet like almost caramelized and the inside was fluffy and perfect. The strawberries and bananas were rip and sweet. It was such a good waffle I'm literally drooling, and I got it from a food truck imagine how good it is from the real storefront. The truck seemed super clean and they had a long line but were moving fast and efficiently. The staff were also super nice. read more

Zinneken's - Harvard Square - The Gourmand Waffle and Fruit Delight Waffle - Belgian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

A true Harvard classic and a must-try if you visit Cambridge! I wandered past Zinneken's after a long afternoon of touristy shenanigans and campus tours when I caught a whiff of the aroma of freshly cooked waffles and crystallized sugar wafting through the streets. My friends and I were, of course, unable to resist so we popped into Zinneken's and discovered one of the cutest little gems in Harvard Square (and shortly after realized that it was not at all a hidden gem and constantly packed with people...but since we found it on a whim and not because we knew it was popular, I'll pretend like we made a cool new discovery). As the name implies, Zinneken's Belgian Waffles serves a variety of Belgian waffles, as well as a small assortment of tea, coffee, and smoothies. You can choose a base waffle in either a liege or brussels style, depending on if you prefer your waffles soft and chewy (liege) or a little lighter and crispier (brussels). From there, you can add whatever accoutrements you'd like, including all the fruits you can imagine and other dessert-ish items (e.g., Oreos, caramel, whipped cream, Nutella, etc.) . They have a few pre-curated options you can choose from if you're feeling indecisive, but I love the flexibility to add whatever combos of toppings you'd like. I opted for a classic choice -- the Strawberry Glamour, which is topped with a generous serving of chopped strawberries and healthy drizzle of chocolate. It was an incredibly combination -- the hot, lightly crispy waffle contrasted beautifully against the cool strawberries and warm, rich chocolate. I was initially afraid that the combo would be a bit too sweet for me, but it was honestly fantastic. The tartness of the berries paired wonderfully with the slightly bitter dark chocolate and the lightly sweetened waffle. Given how popular this spot is, you're likely going to have to wait for a bit, especially if you just happen to saunter in unplanned like we did. The line moves quite quickly so you can usually place and receive your order within 10-15 min., but customers like to stick around for a bit and it's a small space, so you're unlikely to be able to snag a table. Unless you're one of the lucky first few visitors, the staff will often give you your waffle in a to-go box so you can easily take it on the road with you, but you're always welcome to take the box to a table if one opens up. read more

At this point, we might as well call Zinneken an institution within THE institution! There's something magical about enjoying a delicious snack in the cozy backdrop of Americas greatest education institution. I absolute love waffles. But the liege waffle? Never really been a fan. I have already found the texture a little too hard, from the caramelization of the pearl sugar. Until this experience that is! Zinneken simply gets it right. Crispy exterior, but soft chewy interior. These are some of the freshest, tastiest fruits I've had in a long time. And the whip cream and syrup are perfection. Zinneken has been around for as long as I've been coming to the Boston area. One can only imagine all the accomplished minds that have enjoyed these waffles. It's taken me over a decade to finally check it off my list, but I shall soon return! read more

See all

Decadent treat for a sweet tooth! The perfect dessert stop close to Harvard Square. Self-serve style kiosk and minimal seating but nice atmosphere. read more

Zinneken's - Harvard Square - The Sin Waffle - Belgian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

amazing! the only issue is that is very small so if you need to wait for a table is a veryyyyyy long..worth it for the waffles!!

Cute place but Brussels waffle is never available so menu is misleading. I've been a regular customer but am really disappointed by the availability and service read more

Zinneken's - Harvard Square - Menu showing Brussels waffle always sold out - Belgian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

We always return to this spot whenever we want some great coffee and Belgian Waffles!! Love the decor and the homie feel when I walk in. Service is very welcoming and fast. In love with their berry waffles and cappuccino!! read more

See all

It's a cute space (limit of 1.5 h before they kick you out, which seems pretty reasonable). However, the waffle was just fine. It's on the sweet side and the homemade whipped cream was fine, but the waffle was a bit squidgy. read more

Delicious waffles ! Good coffee! Tiny space be prepared to squeeze in . You can order on the iPad or at the counter. They bring it out to you. The waffles are liege waffle S but the size of a Brussels waffle. We shared one and it was plenty!! Got an Americano and it was decent. They didn't have half and half creamer so I plopped my extra whipped cream into it myself. read more

Zinneken's - Harvard Square - The Zinneken's Waffle - chocolate and sepculoos with whip cream - Belgian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Decent but they cut their maple syrup with molasses which tastes pretty bad and seems kinda of shady since it costs extra Edit: If thats actually true you should probably switch suppliers or buy a higher grade of syrup because it tastes dark and bitter like molasses and not maple-y at all read more

Came here for dessert. Was busy but able to find seat and order at kiosks then get food within reasonable time. Also got tea which was nice in cold weather. Good portions and scrumptious. read more

Zinneken's - Harvard Square - Oreo, banana, Nutella - Belgian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

They have 2 types of waffles: Liege (soft) and Brussels (crispy), and of course we had to try both. Brussels is definitely my favorite one, it's more like what I would expect waffles taste like. It's very soft and chewy just like advertised, and we got it with berries to add some tartness. The Liege is really crunchy, and we got it with bananas to smooth out the crunch but it just ends up being kinda weird. Still good though! There wasn't a lot of people when we got there so service was super fast and pleasant. The seating is chill and relaxed, overlooking the streets. Def a good spot to just hangout with friends. read more

Zinneken's - Harvard Square - Liege - Belgian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

The cutest waffle place. They made the waffle super quickly 10 out of 10 recommend!! There was no line. There was counter seating, but limited. I added bananas to the classic chocolate waffle. The whip cream and waffle were to die for. read more

Zinneken's - Harvard Square - Belgian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Top tier waffles. Freshly made, lots of topping options, perfectly crispy and light. Peaceful atmosphere. read more

See all

This is the perfect spot for a late-night snack since it's open until 11 pm most nights. The waffles are made fresh, so their crispy on the outside and still soft on the inside. They have a wider variety of toppings and are very generous with the portion. The only downside is that the seating and table space are limited, so it might be hard to get a seat. But anytime I'm back in the area, I will definitely stop by. read more

Zinneken's - Harvard Square - Liege waffle - Belgian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Breakfast, dessert, whenever. You gotta go for it. Seating is very limited. I recommend getting waffles to go, they survived a 25 minute walk in the rain shockingly well. I hate coffee but my husband got the tiramisu latte and it was probably the best coffee I've ever tried. read more

LOVE this place! They never fail to serve a solid waffle and it always satisfies my sweet tooth. The waffles are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and topped generously. Their small interior make it super cozy and it can get pretty crowded, so plan ahead if you are looking to sit down. read more

See all

DELICIOUS and well presented waffles! The service was a tad slow IIRC, but I came after MIT graduation so they were relatively busy. It was a great place to sit and eat and enjoy a break from the summer weather. The waffles themselves did not feel as heavy as they look, and I really enjoyed the fresh fruits. Would definitely go back if I'm in Boston again! read more

I always come for their waffles as they are such a sweet ending to everything! I love how this is accessible by train, bus, or you can conveniently park your cars at any of the meters nearby. It's super small inside, but it feels homey and cozy. Service is pretty quick and they call your name once your order is ready. I do wish that they could bus the dishes and wipe down the tables every now and then, but that's very minor. I love how chewy and gooey their waffles are. Depending on my mood, I add ice cream on top. I usually like ordering the Belgian waffle with an assortment of fruits and nutella. They have so many options and combinations - you really cannot go wrong. Definitely check it out if you're by Harvard Square! read more

Zinneken's is the perfect place to visit on a cold winter day. It's a really cute spot with cozy vibes. It's counter service, but you can definitely sit there for a while and enjoy the space. My only issue was that it was freezing cold outside but the door was propped open for some reason, which seemed pretty odd to me. In terms of the waffles, they're top notch! They're really rich, especially if you add cookie butter or chocolate sauce, but they're absolutely delicious. They did have some waffles that already came with toppings, but you could also just add toppings on your own. If you're looking for something a bit less decadent, you could always go for a fruit topping. Highly recommend as a date spot, especially since they're open relatively late. read more

Zinneken's - Harvard Square - Interior - Belgian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

Very cute and cozy waffle spot! I would categories this more as a waffle dessert spot rather than a breakfast/ brunch. Either way it was delicious. read more

Zinneken's - Harvard Square - Chocolate Strawberry waffle and Whipped cream waffle - Belgian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Absolutely amazing! We had the combinations on brussels style waffles (they do sell out of these fast). The waffle was light and airy, the toppings were generous and the chocolate sauce tasted amazing! We also had their cappuccino which were also perfect and european style! The place is tiny and gets crowded, but the food is absolutely worth the wait. The prices are also very reasonable! This should be a must-try for anyone visiting the area. read more

See all

Sweet but not too sweet. Coffee better than Dunkin'. Take-out beautifully packaged. Coffee cup ribbed -- easier to hold onto. Food tasted great and beautifully presented and packaged. Will definitely make a return visit. read more

Lightly crisp exterior with a soft and chewy interior, these waffles are SO good! I love getting just a plain waffle, it's the perfect amount of sweet that would go amazingly with a coffee. They have so many toppings like fruit, whipped cream, chocolate, etc. Staff is friendly as well. A great dessert spot in Harvard sq! read more

Zinneken's - Harvard Square - Waffle - Belgian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This is the spot I bring when my friends/relatives come to Boston. I do believe they have waffle trucks in the area but you gotta have it in their restaurant for full experience! Conveniently located right outside of the Harvard Square, they offer classic Belgian waffles with great selection of toppings and drinks. I love getting soft waffles from them with cream and syrup. I also get cappuccino and they always make it right! If you travel to Harvard, make sure to check this place out! read more

Zinneken's - Harvard Square - Strawberry Glamour Waffle - Belgian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

The texture on the waffles is incredible! The fruit on the waffle I got was fresh and good and the presentation was cute. The space is also super cute and cozy but still had space for my small group. The coffee was also good! Only one note, they 100% forgot about us after we ordered, so after waiting around 20 minutes for a single waffle, I went up to the counter and asked, and they were super apologetic and got it out fast after that. It was honestly a little bit funny, they definitely felt bad and apologized several times including as we were leaving but we did end up waiting ~30 minutes for the one waffle. read more

Zinneken's - Harvard Square - Oreo Freakin' Party Waffle - Belgian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Tasty waffles near Harvard Square. The store is small, but cozy and service is quick. We shared the liege waffle with strawberries, bananas, and nutella and it was delicious. Our waffle was perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It was a great size for splitting too. This is the perfect spot for a dessert or a late night craving! read more

Zinneken's - Harvard Square - Liege waffle with strawberries, bananas, and Nutella sauce - Belgian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

What a charming place and a fantastic find if you're looking for a late-night dessert place that won't put you into the grave like some, *ahem* milkshake extravaganza places! Authentic Belgian-style waffles with a myriad of different topping options, with coffee/tea on the side. What else would you want? The vibe of this little cafe is full of Belgian pride and a healthy dose of Tin-Tin strewn about the place. It's cozy, it's charming, it's casual but has tasty treats. This has fast become a new go-to place whenever I'm craving waffles! read more

See all

A sweet indulgence with cute cafe seating, great for dessert lovers. The caramelized sugar crust on the waffle is perfection. Easy to walk pass and miss this place so it feels off the beaten path even though it's in Harvard Square read more

Zinneken's - Harvard Square - Waffle topped with raspberries and blueberries - Belgian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Delicious delicious delicious! Love a warm waffle with a scoop of ice cream! The store can get busy and have a wait and there is some indoor seating. Many options for preset waffles or customizable ones read more

Zinneken's - Harvard Square - Belgian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Great dessert spot! I always smell delicious waffles whenever I pass by, so I'm glad I got to try this place out! They have a good variety of different waffles with different toppings (or you can get it plain). The waffle itself was hot and fresh. You can order at the kiosk for easy transaction. The only downside is that the space is pretty small, but it has a quaint, cozy atmosphere! read more

Zinneken's - Harvard Square - Belgian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts