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    Civilization

    4.1 (157 reviews)
    InexpensiveCoffee & Tea
    Closed 7:00 am - 3:30 pm

    Civilization Photos

    Business Info

    CIVILIZATION ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed
    Good for working

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    Recommended Reviews - Civilization

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    Leslie S.

    Pros: perfect spot for a quick breakfast or lunch. The spinach croissant is sooooo good! I also tried the banana nut coffee, and I was pleasantly surprised, not a coffee flavor I would usually go for, but I was on vacation so it was the perfect time to try something new. I also had the pumpkin roll and it was delicious with the coffee. Cons: Limited seats, best to pick up the goods and take them to the park across the street (on a good day).

    Inside
    Cynthia K.

    This place is so cozy and cute! You can immediately tell this place is a neighborhood favorite, with all the locals just hanging around, chatting with each other, yelling good morning to everyone that walks by. The lady working here was so friendly and sweet. We ordered a blueberry muffin, coffee cake, iced latte, and hot chocolate. Everything came out super quick and was all good! Lot of outlets and tables! And wifi worked perfectly. The lady knew everyone that came in, greeting everyone by name and knowing their order before they said anything. Overall, a great study spot filled with cheerful locals and good food/service. I'll definitely be back!

    The window
    Sara B.

    Love love love this place. Amazing coffee. Great service. Cute patio facing the streets for a neighbor view. Hidden gem.

    a man standing at the bar of a restaurant
    Ashley B.

    I came, got coffee, and left. Service was chill, coffee was caffeinated, and the straws were single sized. The ambiance was laid back . You could easily bring your laptop, paper, or book here for a read while you drank your morning Go-Go juice. I'll be back every day this week to start my morning.

    Peanut butter cookie
    Marie S.

    I have been to Civilization a couple times because it is in a very central location in Tremont and they offer basically any food/drink that you might need in a pinch between the hours of 7 or 7:30 am and 5 pm. Most recently, my friend and I were waiting for the Lincoln Park public pool to open and only had Apple Pay but desperately needed to sit in A/C for that hour with some snacks, and Civilization was right there welcoming us. I also have gone quickly in the morning for iced coffees when I have been desperately in need of one. I think the food/drink at Civilization is good but not great. Their prices are on the lower end (a croissant for $2 and a giant peanut butter cookie for $3!), but it's not anything special. They did have some more specialty baked goods that were at a higher price point (slices of cake for $7, vegan offerings) that I am thinking may be more interesting and worth returning for. The decor inside is definitely fun and quirky being that it is housed in a 19th century pharmacy building, and I think that most of the allure of Civilization comes from the ambiance. I saw some people doing work inside but I personally don't think it would be great for laptop work since there is very limited seating and it's quiet dark inside. There's quite a few tables outside as well, which I think look nice for sharing a coffee and pastry with friends. I'd definitely come back to Civilization for its convenience, but I think there are more interesting coffee spots in the Tremont area.

    Neal E.

    Fantastic little local coffee joint in Tremont! Stopped in for a cold brew with room for cream. Cold brew was strong and delicious! Nice ambiance - old school feel with dark woods. Staff was friendly and nice! Free WiFi available - and indoor and outdoor seating! #Civilization

    Christina P.

    This is one of favorite coffee places in the area! I have to say that I stick to the Cafe Mocha - it's my favorite after sampling a few drinks off of their menu. It's a cafe mocha made with Mexican chocolate. There's a bit of a spice and it's perfect. For someone who normally likes her drinks sweet, this drink isn't too sweet and yet somehow it's absolutely perfect that way. It's $3.50 for the smaller size and $4.50 for the larger size. They have a large selection of bakery and food options - from salads to sandwiches to wraps. I've had a few things from their bakery selection and everything has been good thoough sometimes a bit too rich. I've yet to try anything off of their food menu but it's on my list! The interior is wood paneled and cozy. The place is by no means large but it's also not small. They fit a surprising number of tables inside without making it feel too cluttered. One of the downsides of the size of this plac is that when they steam milk or grind coffee it's incredibly audible and loud because you're close to the bar. If you can ignore that as white noise, you're all set. The numerous times I've been here I can't say they've ever played music. Either that or it was incredibly low and I didn't pick it up. If that's the case then I'm impressed because I pick everything and have a hard time ignoring that sort of sound. I love doing work here or just sitting back and writing down my thoughts. I think one of the things I love most about this place, apart from the Cafe Mocha, is that it's what a coffee shop should be. I was here on a Saturday morning at 8 in the morning and there were several local men and women, of varying ages, drinking their coffee under the outdoor umbrellas and talking about their lives. It's a hub for locals to sit back and unwind. Even if you're there by yourself, whether you're inside or outside, you have ample opportunity to people watch. This is the type of place where you can sit back, take a deep whiff of your coffee and breathe as you watch the world move forward.

    Menu
    Tim J.

    I was at Tremont to try high-end cuisine foods, and came across this coffee shop. Of course, I can't pass by good coffee smell, so I decided to go in and try it! First of all, the price of coffee here is very reasonable as you can see on the menu. I tried the chai latte and cafe chocolatti. I liked the taste both of them ! The only thing that I did not like was the fact that the drinks here are little too foamy. I will still come back when I am around Tremont.

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    3 years ago

    The quality of the coffee and the price cant be beat! my orders are always made correctly.

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    4 years ago

    Great coffee, great pastries, but best of all is the atmosphere. Old-school vibes and hospitable people, Civilization is truly hard to beat.

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    6 years ago

    We didn't stop for long--just long enough to grab a quick latte. It was good. No complaints! Appreciate the COVID precautions, too.

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    Ebreeq Coffee

    Ebreeq Coffee

    4.7(41 reviews)
    1.4 miGateway District

    I walked by this place twice on my walk around downtown Cleveland and since I was cold, decided to…read morestop in for a coffee. I had never had Yemeni coffee before so I asked the barista for suggestions. Based on the fact that I wanted to also try one of their beautiful milk cakes (like a tres leches), I opted for the Mufawar coffee since he said it was less sweet and a bestseller. It was served on an adorable bamboo tray, piping hot and very strong! It had a unique flavor and paired well with my saffron milk cake. Yes...I said saffron. I was very hesitant to try this after he described saffron to me, so I actually got both saffron and biscoff milk cakes. Wow, this man knew his stuff! The saffron milk cake was absolutely scrumptious!!! And who doesn't love a biscoff cookie?! I had to take that one to go. I hope to return to Cleveland soon so I can try the pistachio latte (a sweeter coffee) and possibly a different flavor of milk cake. The coffee shop was quite large, bright, and tastefully decorated with lots of gold accents. I loved my experience there!

    Two words: Pistachio Latte. They make the best in town, sometimes I have it with oat milk,…read moresometimes soy milk...but the delicious creaminess is there. They also carry a variety of cheesecakes which were all very good. Most of all, they open late until 10pm, I tend to visit after 8pm and that is a blessing. Bravo!

    Photos
    Ebreeq Coffee - At Ebreeq Coffee in downtown Cleveland (200 Public Square) -- 21 May 2025

    At Ebreeq Coffee in downtown Cleveland (200 Public Square) -- 21 May 2025

    Ebreeq Coffee - At Ebreeq Coffee in downtown Cleveland (200 Public Square) -- 21 May 2025

    At Ebreeq Coffee in downtown Cleveland (200 Public Square) -- 21 May 2025

    Ebreeq Coffee - Ebreeq: Latte

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    Ebreeq: Latte

    Lionheart Coffee

    Lionheart Coffee

    4.3(90 reviews)
    1.4 miGateway District

    I found Lionheart Coffee while staying at the Kimpton Hotel. Honestly, I was immediately attracted…read moreto the name because I'm a Leo! Ha! But when I walked through the door, it instantly felt welcoming and like a place I'd be a regular at if I lived in the neighborhood. The customer service was wonderful. Everyone behind the counter was friendly, and I just loved the atmosphere. I ordered a hot chai latte, and since I don't like cinnamon on top, I asked if they could hold it if they normally dust it--they were more than happy to accommodate! I also got a raspberry danish, and both were delicious. I would definitely come back next time I'm in the area!

    Great local coffee shop smack in the middle of downtown Cleveland. I came by for an afternoon…read morepick-me-up and really enjoyed my experience. The menu is full of unique drink options, lots of flavors and combinations to choose from. Staff was super friendly and welcoming. And the space itself was great, plenty of comfortable seating to choose from and free WiFi to get some work done. I got a peanut butter and latte jelly, the barista convinced me to give it a try. I'm so glad she did, because it was delicious. It tasted like an actual PB&J sandwich, but still had a coffee-forward overall flavor; very hard to put into words, but definitely a winner. They use real peanut butter as part of the latte, along with two shots of espresso that had me bouncing off the walls later. If you're looking for a neighborhood coffee shop vibe and unique drinks, definitely come here!

    Photos
    Lionheart Coffee - Bagels

    Bagels

    Lionheart Coffee - Interior

    Interior

    Lionheart Coffee - Photo of seating area

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    Photo of seating area

    Algebra Tea House - Iraqi Kebab Sandwich

    Algebra Tea House

    4.2(240 reviews)
    5.0 miLittle Italy
    $

    A charming spot in Little Italy!…read more This place offered a cozy atmosphere. It almost felt like walking into someone's house with the funky decor and unique, not quite matching furniture. I got the falafel sandwich ($8), shak-shooka ($9.50), and a coffee drink called the Cafe Algebra ($4). The food was delicious. The sandwich was filled with flavorful, moist falafel as well as fresh vegetables, tahini, and hummus, all wrapped in a warm, fluffy pita. I also enjoyed the shak-shooka. It was a flavorful dish made with tomatoes, fluffy scrambled eggs, and caramelized onions. It also came with warm pita on the side. For the price, I thought the sandwich and shak-shooka had decent-sized portions. But I wasn't the biggest fan of my drink. It came in a small mug and wasn't sweet enough for my taste. And even after I added some sugar to it, I still found it kind of bland. However, I will certainly come back for the food! A few notes - you order at the counter first. You can watch the staff cook your food as you wait for your order. After you finish your meal, you pay as you walk out. If you use your credit card, it does come with a 3% fee.

    When and how did I discover Algebra Tea House? I don't exactly remember. I think it was around…read more2011. (It could have been earlier but my 5 star review of this place 16 years ago is an objective starting point). Although I have spent much of the past 23 years living in various places outside of both Cleveland and Ohio, I'm a born and raised East Side Clevelander. And whenever I resettle in the area, I always find myself gravitating back to Algebra Tea House for the good vibes. In the past several months that I have been visiting, I'm happy to see the place really feels like a cultural community hub and an outright neighborhood institution. Over the years, many unique small businesses that have shuttered operations in Coventry (China Treasure House, Big Fun, Record Revolution, La Cave du Vin), Cedar-Fairmount (Nighttown). I'm so happy to see that Algebra Tea House is thriving and continuing to create a unique and inviting environment for the neighborhood. I love the unpretentious and lo-fi atmosphere and operation. I love the DIY craftsmanship that permeates in every aspect of the business. The food and beverage options are also quite good. Although I haven't been around for many years, I think maybe there are more offerings on the menu these days. I especially love the vegetable stews on their chalkboard menu and the foul madamas (fava beans). Service is lo-fi and very casual. Just place your order at the counter. It is written on a scratch pad. Sit down and be patient. The food or beverage will then be delivered to your table. Pay on your way out. Bring cash if you want to avoid a credit card transaction fee.

    Photos
    Algebra Tea House - Inside

    Inside

    Algebra Tea House - Hummus with chicken

    Hummus with chicken

    Algebra Tea House - Exterior

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    Exterior

    Café Blanc - Dessert (cheesecake; tiramisu)

    Café Blanc

    4.1(145 reviews)
    7.8 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Boutique

    Cafe Blanc is GORGEOUS and boy, does it know it! I've wanted to check this place out for a while so…read moreI schleped an hour here for dinner with friends in May 2026 so I could finally try this sort of new restaurant out! Parma Heights is so far, guys. So so far... So after fangirling over the lush, girly decor and taking ALL the pictures ever, my 5 friends and I ordered at the counter a bougie drink and a plate of food each. There's abundant seating in this two story cafe so we found a table and waited between 5 and 10 minutes for it all to be ready. Despite my goal to stop spending money on beverages, I spent $8 on a regular sized iced decaf carrot cake latte with almond milk. Delicious and definitely instagrammable, but RIP to my money. I regret not taking the lovely glass it was served to me in, but my conscious kicked in and I didn't pilfer it. Haha! For dinner, I originally wanted to get a pizza but changed my mind last minute due to it being 90 degrees outside. So instead, I got an italian panini with a side of potato chips ($14). I don't like mayo so asked that be taken off. The only sauces they have are mayo, hot sauce, and horseradish mayo. I got the horseradish mayo on the side, but didn't really use it. I hope they can add mustard and ketchup to their sauce lineup in the future. All in all, I spent about $24. All 6 of us had very instagramable food and drinks. They looked better than they tasted for the most part. I liked my drink and panini but didn't love it, especially for the price. My friends lavender lemon loaf was gorgeous, but sadly dry. I love the look, like the menu, and wish Cafe Blanc wasn't so outrageously far away! I'd love to get brunch here with my gal pals! I wanna get one of their dessert crepes, please and thank you! I am giving Cafe Blanc 4.5 stars out of 5.

    I arrived and met 3 friends here on a weekday morning in May 2026 to work. We (2 guys and 2 ladies)…read moreall work remote so it was fun to meetup. We all visited Cafe Blanc for the first time and loved our experience especially the large (free) parking lot. We sat on the 2nd level towards the back. QUICK REVIEW (read this if you don't want to read this whole review): Try the potato pancakes. Great food and service. Slightly more elevated cafe. Busy during peak morning/afternoon hours and most likely less busy in the evenings. I have not been in the evening yet. Free parking lot and free wifi. FOOD - there are lots of food options to choose from for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They have sandwiches, salads, pizza, and pastries. I arrived around 10:20am so I wanted breakfast. I read that the croissants are okay but I haven't tried them. I ordered the potato pancakes, blueberry hibiscus tea (hot) as a dine-in order plus a slice of almond cake as a takeout order. The potato pancakes ($19) was delicious. It comes with 3 thick potato pancakes topped an egg on the center and with bacon bits spread all over. The potato pancakes also come with sour cream on the side which I didn't realize so I moved that to the side of my plate because I don't like or eat sour cream. I would order the potato pancakes again as a savory breakfast item but $19 is a little steep for the price. The blueberry hibiscus tea ($4) was a refreshing drink served on a mug. If you enjoy the combination of white tea leaves, rose hips, natural blueberry, and hibiscus then this tea is for you. I also ordered an almond cake slice ($6) but to go. The almond cake is a light and tasty cake with sliced/shaved almonds on top. SERVICE -- Friendly. Me and one of the shorter female employee had a nice laugh when I went down later in the day to order an almond cake. They started getting busy when I arrived after 10am on a weekday but I was able to walk right up to the front counter to order. The buzzer handed to me buzzed probably within 15-20 mins and I went down to get my order. I believe the tea that I ordered was ready first. Overall, I'll definitely be back. Prices are higher than a traditional cafe. The plus is that there is free wifi so it's a perfect spot to work on your laptop. The tables are big and the chairs are comfortable. **** GOAL of 250 reviews in 2026 - 99/250 total reviews in 2026 - 940 total Yelp reviews - Reviewed on 27 May 2026

    Photos
    Café Blanc - Inside downstairs

    Inside downstairs

    Café Blanc
    Café Blanc - Zuppa tuscana

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    Zuppa tuscana

    Civilization - coffee - Updated August 2026

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