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    Civilization

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

    Civilization Photos

    Business Info

    CIVILIZATION ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Civilization

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    The window
    Sara B.

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

    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!

    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).

    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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    2 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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    5 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

    4.6(37 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 - Ebreeq: Latte

    Ebreeq: Latte

    Ebreeq Coffee

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    Algebra Tea House - Hummus with chicken

    Algebra Tea House

    4.2(235 reviews)
    5.0 miLittle Italy
    $

    Such a unique place! The art and avant-garde decor is amazing and makes you want to hangout there…read moreall day. Their food is stellar and it's fun to watch them cook with an open kitchen concept. Their tea selections are excellent! Couldn't recommend more.

    Great little spot! Stopped in for brunch/lunch with a friend on a nice Saturday afternoon. Many of…read morethe tables were full but we were able to find a spot (it helps that the weather was nice so the outdoor tables were open too). You order at the counter and then they bring the food and drinks to your table and you pay on the way out. Interior decor is eclectic and fun to look at and the mugs are all unique which makes fun a nice and funky aesthetic...we loved it. Service was really friendly too. There were so many items on the menu that looked amazing - it was hard to choose just one! I ended up going for that hummus sandwich (more of a wrap, really) and subbed tomatoes for black and green olives and got the cafe algebra to drink. My friend chose the white pizza and the hibiscus tea. Food came out pretty quickly and everything was good! The hummus was creamy and delicious and the harissa was great too...the olives were excellent as well! My friend enjoyed her pizza and the hibiscus tea was so flavorful. I wasn't a fan of the cafe algebra, but that was just personal preference. I will be back to try more of the menu for sure! Thank you, Algebra Tea House!

    Photos
    Algebra Tea House - Inside

    Inside

    Algebra Tea House - Bagel Egg and Bacon Sandwich

    Bagel Egg and Bacon Sandwich

    Algebra Tea House - Outdoor space

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    Outdoor space

    Café Blanc - Dessert (cheesecake; tiramisu)

    Café Blanc

    4.1(138 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 - Strawberry cheesecake crepe so good

    Strawberry cheesecake crepe so good

    Café Blanc - Inside facing back door

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    Inside facing back door

    Shibam Coffee

    Shibam Coffee

    4.7(41 reviews)
    12.7 mi
    $$

    I visited on Christmas and received a very warm greeting when I came in. The gentleman was very…read morefriendly. He even came to the table during my visit to see how everything was. It was very nice to have personal interaction. I had seen on social media the S'mores Latte many times and wanted to try it. I was exited that it was able to be made dairy free so I ordered it with almond milk. I also ordered a dessert while I was there. The Kataifi topping had me sold. Both were very delicious. The latte was not strong like some other places would make it. There was a perfect portion of all the flavors; not too milky or overpowering with coffee. The dessert was very light and creamy. The topping also had honey which added to the deliciousness. I enjoy everything in-house while enjoying the atmosphere. It was very clean and relaxing. This is a great place to catch up with family or friends or enjoy some time alone. While I was there I downloaded the app on my phone that not only gives rewards but allowed you to order in advance.

    We stopped if for a quick coffee and pastry. I appreciate the quality of the organic coffee served…read moreat Shibam. I ordered a Turkish coffee. The cardamom was very tasty. Having the option to order single servings or a whole pot is nice also. The service was very good. The server brought our drinks to the table. There were not many people there when we arrived around 10a. As we sat there the entire cafe filled up. It is definitely a popular spot for coffee. Overall the coffee is also reasonably priced. The decor in the cafe is very nice. The chairs were comfortable. We also saw the staff spraying air freshener on the artificial flowers. They pay attention to details.

    Photos
    Shibam Coffee - Pistachio milk cake

    Pistachio milk cake

    Shibam Coffee - Pastry case

    Pastry case

    Shibam Coffee - Service counter

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    Service counter

    Civilization - coffee - Updated May 2026

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