I came here on a weekday before work, and the attendant was very considerate - he let me know right away that their credit card machine was down, and that they could only accept cash. He seemed relieved when I told him that was fine. I ordered a coffee and something else breakfasty...but clearly what stood out was the macarons! Also the atmosphere - they had this little leafy, bookish nook. If I wasn't in a rush to get to work, I would have stayed their for hours reading and eating sweets. The coffee was good, and I'm sure whatever else I ate was enjoyable, but the macarons - better than I expected! Light, creamy, and indulgent. Oh yeahhhhhh. read more

Caffé Bene - Macarons! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

We were hot after a fun activity filled evening and were wanting some shaved ice. Jo Jo Taipei and PC Cafe/Between Hours came to mind, but we weren't sure how the parking situation would be out in Allston. Wait, I've read of a new Korean shaved ice place in the Symphony area where we were, but I couldn't think of the name... As we walked towards the intersection of Huntington and Mass Ave, however, a small group of Asians passed by us with cups and treat boxes in hand - "bene" was all I could make out in passing. Light bulb moment - Caffe Bene! Eureka! We found Caffebene up on the upper level above BLICK art materials, with its bold "Grand Opening" signage still up. I love how they have those realistic fake samples set out to tempt us. We opted to share the Green Tea Tower Ice Parfait $11.95 ($12.70 after tax). We ordered and paid at the counter and were given one of those buzzer thingies in return. They have a decent amount space for sitting and enjoying your treats inhouse, which is great since both the ice parfaits and their gelatos are quite meltable. Said parfait, when it arrived, was about the size of my face. Yes, definitely portioned for sharing, unless someone has a monstrous appetite. Sure, it is mostly ice, but we were both stuffed after consuming that bowlful of ice and green tea ice cream and an amalgam of nuts and whipped cream. A nice treat! Though I do wish they'd offer the same treat portioned for one, because I'm not often in this area with a friend. Free Wi-Fi available with password. Huge individual gendered bathrooms out beyond the counter. Bust your own table. read more

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During COVID it is nigh impossible to find a public restroom. The lovely ladies behind the counter took pity on me and let me use theirs, even though it was technically off limits. I bought a few yummies and left them a tip. Please help folks this nice stay in business and patronize their cute little café. read more

3.5 stars (3 for bingsu, +.5 for cute ambiance) This is a pretty cute Korean cafe that serves up coffee/tea/desserts. They have free WiFi, and lots (I mean lots) of tables making it a nice study space compared to the other coffee shops in the area. You just have to be lucky since they're always full of people camping out. But we're on yelp for the food right? I tried a large green tea patbingsu ($12) which is a pretty good deal. It comes with a big big cup of shaved ice, some red bean, a scoop of gelato and whipped cream for that aesthetic. It can EASILY be split between 4 people. I tried splitting it with just 1 friend and failed spectacularly. The taste and texture just isn't on par to CA bingsu for some reason. It's just grittier and a little more bland than I'm used to. Meh. I'll give them another chance sometime in the future since I'd love to find my preferred study spot in the area. read more

Caffé Bene - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Food - amazing. Drinks - amazing. Customer service - amazing. Space - cute, a bit cramped. Location - easy to get to by T, hard to find parking if you're driving. The pat bingsoo's here are the best in the Boston area. Definitely much better than paris baguette that is attached to hmart in cambridge. My friend and I got the mango yogurt bingsoo to share and it was totally worth it - its soft, fluffy, met in your mouth, not to sweet, fresh mango chunks, and ice heaven! I am definitely coming back soon to try another one. The misugaru drink was okay. The mojitos are definitely worth trying - it is very refreshing and delicious. The coffee is also very sophisticated and well made. There are also other mini bakery options like bread, cake slices, and sandwiches. Reminds of a fancier panera. I'm coming back for bingsoo asap. You must try it. read more

Caffé Bene - Mango Yogurt Pat Bingsoo - Ice Parfait. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Cute cafe for studying! Got the mango yogurt snow on a hot day and it was the perfect dessert to cool off. read more

Caffé Bene - Mango Yogurt Snow - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Ordered the green tea tower, the green tea cake and macaron. Was gonna try the caramel bread here but it ran out. I felt that food was overpriced and the quality was just a-okay. I did not recommend the greentea Mille crepe. They were (overly)sweet and bland for Mille crepe. Macarons weren't the best either. - I've always wanted a cafe in Boston that makes brick toast! The honey bread I guess is the same as brick toast. But after I tried out their cakes. I now am not planning to return for the bread. - everyone seemed to get the greentea tower. It's great if you want bingsu, but they aren't really special or make you wanna go back. - great atmosphere for studying and just hanging out. There is space for outlets. Overall, won't hurt to try out. But don't expect too much if u've tried brick toast or lady m before :) read more

Caffé Bene - Green tea cake and macaron - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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One of my favorite desserts in Boston. It is just so rich and filled with great toppings like red bean and mochi and vanilla bean gelato. read more

Caffé Bene - Misugaru Red Bean Bingsu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Food: I highly recommend their shaved ice (patbingsu)! It's more on the pricey end, but it makes the perfect dessert to share with friends. Their strawberry with red bean shaved ice is my go-to. However, their matcha, mango (if you like it more tangy and sour), and coffee flavors are also delicious. If you are more of a pastry and tea person, I'd recommend the honey toast with strawberry and light whipped cream cheese. Service: The employees' service is quick. However, their attitudes are unenthusiastic and slightly annoyed when requested for extra help or utensils. Atmosphere: Caffé Bene is an aesthetically cute, modern cafe. The interior has a nice balance between cozy sociablility and workable environment. read more

Caffé Bene - Strawberry, red bean shaved ice. Honey toast. Matcha shaved ice. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Reasonable prices and delicious grilled cheeses pressed in a waffle maker and smooth smoothies. Cute date spot for lunch

Always the best strawberry latte. Always have spots to work, unlike cafe nero. Staff are so friendly and kind. read more

Caffé Bene - Strawberry Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Great location, but good luck with parking. We had strawberry bingsu and hot tea. Bingsu is good and tea --i dont know how I feel about that.. not too strong but not bland yet i do not like it. Their macaroons are okay. Great place to hangout or study/work. Plenty of spaces read more

Perfect little cafe place to hang out with friends or study at. There are plenty of seats and the decor is very aesthetic. They're definitely known for the shaved ice, which is huge and tasty, but you need a lot of people if you want to finish it. The cube toast is also good, the bread is fluffy, but has a little crunch on the crust. The whipped cream on top deflates quickly, so take your pictures fast and enjoy! read more

Caffé Bene - Caramel cinnamon bread! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Good convenient location. Decent clean place to study. Bingsu was okay. Looks better than it tasted. Personally thought there was too much ice and not enough flavor. read more

Caffé Bene - Bingsu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I've been looking to eat bingsoo in Boston and found that this place served something similar. Since the ice was shaved ice instead of shaved frozen milk like in bingsoo, the base ice was icier and harder than typical bingsoo. The toppings were delicious enough that I didn't mind that the ice was more like a snow cone. I really liked the mango purée and bits that were added because they weren't overbearingly sweet and was perfect with the shaved ice. The mango gelato on top was also delicious and the scoop was enormous. The yogurt added on top paired well with the mangos. Although this isn't the most accurate bingsoo (to be fair it was called a parfait in the store), it is just as delicious and I would come back here for more. Also, the dessert is ENORMOUS. I didn't expect the dessert to come in such a big container. The store has a cozy interior where lots of people were doing their work. This cafe is the perfect place to relax with close friends, read a book, or get work done. read more

Caffé Bene - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I went here with my friend on the weekend and it was really busy. We ended up changing our order for to go later on because we could't find a place to sit. However, the worker was kind and got it changed right away! The interior of the cafe was cute and clean and they have lots of unique menu items. Even after running through the cold to find a place to eat, the food still remained delicious. The Teriyaki sandwich was moist and seasoned well. The bean sprouts inside added a nice crunch to the sandwich. The hot Misugaru latte warms you right up in the cold weather. It has a nutty and savory taste, just make sure to stir it occasionally! read more

To sum it up, Caffebene is like Starbucks, but for the Asian community. I went there twice in one week, and it's mostly packed with students except for the table where you had to stand. My favorite drink is the mojito (my sister ordered it, it's a soda like drink), but I don't remember the exact name. Other than that, we just hung out and played Uno through the night and they didn't say anything to us which is cool. read more

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The bingsu is so nice on a hot day, not a huge fan of the cheese bread but the employees are always nice and it's always calm in there. read more

Caffé Bene - Matcha binsu Garlic and Cheese Honey Bread - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Caffébene will always hold a special place in my heart as it was one of the first coffee shops I discovered after moving to Boston for school. I had difficulty transitioning to the city as I'm originally from the west coast so I found myself studying here a lot. As someone who has quite the sweet tooth, I found that all of their drinks (both cold and hot) really satisfied my cravings. I particularly grew fond of their cream cake which was my go to quick fix if I got a little hungry while studying. The place as a whole has as really cute vintage / rustic aestehtic but somehow it still manages to pass for trendy. If you're looking to study here, I'd recommend coming earlier in the day since it gets busier in the afternoon. There's outlets and a good amount of seats which makes it the perfect study or even date spot. (They also have free wifi!) While their drinks and overall space is worth the 5 stars, I think what makes this Caffébene especially so great is the staff. For the first two years I spent in Boston, I came here every day to study and I had the opportunity to get to know three of the baristas quite well. They were always very sweet and never failed to run out to greet me every time I walked through the door. There were even times when they came out from behind the counter and brought coffee out to me because I was so concentrated on studying. This is my 5th year in Boston now and although I don't swing by as much anymore since I'm busier, it's always the same when I see them. Truly an exceptional experience for me and one of the best cafés ever. read more

Caffé Bene - the perfect study spot - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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The owners are very nice, and the coffee is very typical of any Caffebene. I like the misugaru latte and their macarons. This is a popular study spot. The huge plus is the abundance of seating. There are many seats around, but on weekend afternoons the place is usually packed to the brim. read more

Food eh and very experience for what you get. But the ambiance is fun! It seems like it's mostly just there to provide an alternate study space for students. read more

This place is alright. At first walk in, the cafe itself is cute and aesthetic looking. However, there are usually no seats. Students come here to study and usually stay here for awhile. I got the strawberry ice parfait/bingsoo and it was alright. It is alot, so I do suggest sharing with a friend, since my friend and I shared it and we couldn't finish it all! The honey toast here is not bad either. I just don't like coming here when I was in school nearby due to the fact there is no seating. read more

Love the vibe. Comfortable. Very good coffee. My fav iced latte. Yeah, the New York cheesecake yum

Meh 2-3 stars? I just got their green tea bingsoo ($12.95) which was really just meh... like the shaved ice is in the chunkiest, gritty sense of the word. Disappointing compared to bingsoo I've had elsewhere in the States. I also don't get why they serve sliced almonds on top since it doesn't add anything to the dessert. It's 90% badly ground ice, 10% red bean + low-grade whipped cream from the spray can + scoop of green tea ice cream + nuts. I'm not sure how they make the green tea flavor whether it's a syrup or milk they add on top to soak the ice but it was also average like what you'd get if you order powdery matcha milk tea at a boba shop. read more

Caffé Bene - Overpriced green tea bingsoo for what is below average in taste..... - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

a little late to visiting this place, but finally came here last night. dragged le boyfriend out of bed at 9pm cause i wanted dessert. and cause it was a saturday and i felt like a grandma being in bed at 9pm. a lot of my friends tried this place when it was new, so i figured why the hell not, i haven't been here before and i wanted to try something new. parking was a little difficult but after circling the blocks a few times, i managed to find a spot up the street by unos. short walk to this place, maybe like 2/3 minute walk. the vibe inside reminds me of a starbucks feel. you get college students scattered everywhere on their laptops doing papers, in study groups, grabbing a cup of coffee, some snacks, and catching up, etc. there's some window seating and a good amount of seating inside. we looked over the menu. i knew i wanted one of their ice parfaits, and we went with the coffee parfait. and also got 2 macarons. the ice parfait is big. they have displays of them at the counter so you know how big they are. boyfriend and i managed to almost finish the whole thing, took some time and a handful of brain freezes, but we managed. it was okay, nothing too special. there wasn't that much of a coffee taste to it, in my opinion. like it was there, but there could've been more. when we got to the end of it i enjoyed it more cause the coffee ice cream had melted and mixed with the coffee syrup they add, it gave it more of a coffee taste. i definitely think the next time i come back i wanna try the green tea ice parfait. read more

Caffé Bene - coffee ice parfait. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

a great cafe with delicious food and study spots. the food here is very delicious and well plated. read more

Caffé Bene - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Love the shaved ice parfaits here! They are huge and so I suggest coming with a friend to share. I love the vibe and atmosphere here. Definitely a cute little place to meet up friends and chat up. read more

Caffé Bene - Strawberry parfait - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Cute lil Asian themed cafe! There's a study area in the back with places near the front to socialize. Great spot :)

I came here so often over finals week and the week prior to it this month that I don't even want to think about the amount of money I wasted on food and drinks here haha. Getting straight to the point before I write a block of text here: - Sitting on the big table next to the door can get cold when people are constantly coming in and out. I have noticed recently though that they put up a sign to use the main door. However, sitting all the way in the back gets really hot too if you sit there for a while x_x - It took me way too long to realize where the green tea latte was located on the menu. It's realllly good, and I suggest iced over hot - The misugaru latte can be a real hit or miss for a lot of people. It's grainy and thick, and the grains (?) settle to the bottom if you don't swirl it often. I think it's good but it's something I'd really need to crave for - The vanilla latte is really good if you like a really sweet drink - The peach berry mojito is delicious but it's so expensive :( Honestly though, it just tastes like sprite with some peach syrup lol - The strawberry honey bread is VERY filling for 1 person. It can get a bit dry towards the bottom of the toast so make sure to get a drink! - I've tried the strawberry bingsu and portobello sandwich a long long time ago. I thought they were both meh, and for the price. The bingsu was mostly ice and the sandwich was lacking in toppings Overall, I'd recommend this place since they have free wifi and a decent amount of study space. I just wish the prices, especially the food, was a bit cheaper and that the tables were bigger. The chairs don't even fit underneath the table! Plus side is that there are a lot of outlets and the bathroom is clean. read more

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My go to place for desserts, I love the fact that they have seasonal desserts. Reminded me when I went to South Korea

For some reason, the wi-fi here doesn't work for me, but that's not really an issue right now because my friend managed to log me into xfinity. The service was nice and efficient. I ordered a hot chocolate with whipped cream on top, along with a hot dog bao, and it was satisfying. The $10 price tag for both of these items seems alright to me since I've already been here for almost two hours. I like that Caffebene is centrally located in Boston, and it's conveniently next to the Symphony train station, so I don't need to trek too far in the cold. Though I wish this place were emptier, it's not too bad. The music is modern and relaxing, and it promotes a productive work environment. However, if you end up sitting next to the wrong group, you may end up getting distracted. For example, the group of girls next to me right now who are causing a raucous sharing their big bowl of ice-cream while gossiping about boys. This is definitely different from the Caffe Bene that I know of in Los Angeles--which is quite large...but not as packed. Oh well, that's life. I'll probably be back here. read more

I've been a customer here for about six years now, which is scary and crazy to think about. The manager who works here actually remembers me and will often ask how I've been or why I haven't been in much, which is always so considerate of him. I find the staff to always be so polite and quick with things. Over the summer I came nearly every day to grab a coffee and read, but now that school's back in session it tends to stay really busy (and a bit loud). I think Caffe bene is a great place to come with your friends or on a date. The food is always so good! I've tried the smoothies, coffees, pastries, bingsoo and am always left happy. My favorites include the waffle with cream cheese and strawberries, all of the mojitos (no alcohol sorry haha), and the sponge cake. read more

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Dropped in for coffee on Saturday morning. Noted most food items were wrapped in individual plastic packages something akin to what I saw in Far East cafes. The coffee Americano was insipid. Ambience seemed to be quiet on a Saturday morning. Wifi and corner location with big windows to look out on Mass Ave traffic were the highlights. Your mileage may vary but repeat visit is unlikely for me. read more

I can't believe that Boston finally has caffe bene! This is a coffeehouse chain based in Korea and has made it out to Boston! This coffee shop totally reminds me of my trip to Korea! The decor is really nice. There is free wifi for customers. This is great place to study, hang out friends, and enjoy a cup of coffee! They have a lot of different drinks and snacks on their menu. The patbingsu (shaved ice) looks so good but I was too full from brunch to try it. I will definitely be back to try this! I ordered the iced coffee but it was rather bland to my liking. I wonder if it is the type of beans they use. Maybe next time I will order a latte or try something else. read more

Caffé Bene - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I really love studying here because the aesthetics are on-point. The cafe is generally quiet and has free wifi. The only thing I've tried here is the bingsoo. I wouldn't recommend the mango or the coffee bingsoo since for those, almost everything (the ice cream, the ice, the toppings, etc) tastes the same (e.g. the mango bingsoo = everything tastes like mango). I personally prefer and would recommend the red bean bingsoo. There are more varied toppings and flavors and overall the bingsoo has much more of a mild, clean taste (think vanilla, red bean, peanut-y flavor). Although it is $11-12, I love getting this dessert from time-to-time and I think it's hard to find dessert ice elsewhere. I do think many of the menu items/drinks are quite pricey, which is why the only thing I've ever gotten here is bingsoo. Caffe bene is a nice place to do work or catch up with a friend, but be prepared to shell out some $. read more

Caffé Bene - Yummy red bean bingsoo - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

"Great depth of flavor in this small morsel. It's not the size but the motion of the cheesecake. Artfully and organically presented with a reserved grace. Chef Antonio DeBlasio came out and presented this dish to us in person. Was served on antique bone China." - Mark read more

Caffé Bene - NY Cheesecake - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Oh Korea! Thank you! Had this in LA and I felt in love with it, but sadly we didn't have one in Boston at that time. I guess Jesus finally listen to my prayers! *Green tea bingsu- you can't go wrong with this flavor. They also added some kind of nuts, a scoop of green tea ice cream and a lot of whipping cream. *Mango bingsu- this is probably my favorite flavor. They are very generous with the mango pieces plus a good scoop of vanilla ice cream. I'm not sure if they add cheese in it since I can taste it. *Banana bread- the moist on that bread is on point!!! They add a lot of walnut and caramel on the side. *Strawberry bread- same concept as the banana but this time they add something like cream cheese. *lavender lemonade- very refreshing!! This place will attract a lot of students during school season so make sure to grab a seat and ask someone to order cause those students will stay there for like hours!!! Lol read more

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I've continued my chase of cute cafes all the way to the Hub and Caffébene definitely meets the criteria I've set for kawaii caffeine. It's a pretty large spot full of tables and outlets with pretty solid wifi connection so it's become one of my regular spots to get work done. The ambiance is quiet but never stale, with faux plants lining the side walls and shelves filled with books and other trinkets, which evoke a hipster, urban charm. Like everyone else, I was in awe of the massive mango bingsu (Korean shaved ice). And while it's perfect to share with friends during hot summer days, the chilled creamy dessert isn't a bad choice in the wintertime either. I've also had their other signature item, the misugaru latte. The barista described it as a "healthy oatmeal Korean drink," which was not exactly the best or most appetizing pitch, but I figured I'd give it a shot. What came out was not what was described at all. I was expecting grainy and earthy flavors, and maybe some grit from whatever oatmeal I was told about, but instead the drink was nutty and milky smooth with hints of sesame. Needless to say, I have now converted to the misugaru. Other menu highlights include the honey bread and the green tea latte, but the real standouts and items worth visiting for are definitely the bingsu and the misugaru -- and don't let the description fool you! read more

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Shamefully still not quite sure how to properly pronounce the name, I still show up here too often.. Never get to try much of the drink because the gigantic bingsoo is enough. Favorite is definitely Mango! It have this yogurty creaminess that mix so well with the fresh fruit. I don't like my friend way of mixing everything since it make it look all boring and taste bland... Sorry! I eat it by layer so I can savor each part and have them come together in my mouth. :B Strawberry is good too, still need to try Matcha but I can't because I keep on getting Mango AHHH. Tried the shrimp sandwhich, it was ok... It's not something I'd get often. Met the nicest cashier who allow me to add liquid sugar to an ice tea (don't come as sweeten). I really think they should offer sweeten tea since it tasted really amazingly refreshing! Great ambiance for studying or chatting. Bingsoo is kind of pricy but definitely worth it, no complaints! read more

Oh my god this place has some of the best desserts. I love the honey bread with the different toppings like strawberry/banana. The first time I went I got the shaved ice with the cheesecake on top and then a taro drink with my friend. So as I was carrying the tray with the goodies I guess the gravity shifted and they ended up sliding right off the tray and onto this innocent student (some of it at least, most of it was on the floor) that was just chilling with her friend. Luckily for me we actually got another one free of charge. It was one of the most embarrassing moment in my life. You have no idea! It's clean, the environment is very tranquil, and a good study place is available. It's also located very conveniently outside of symphony station, a very small walk since winter is here as we speak read more

Caffé Bene - Cheesecake shaved ice thing with the honey bread on the left - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts