Franchesca’s Empanadas Cafe

My girlfriend and I always enjoy stopping by Pitango in Fells Point. The atmosphere is warm and…read moreinviting, with beautiful lighting and a cozy feel. The coffee is always excellent, and the food and baked goods never disappoint. I tried the Pitango Palmer on this visit, and it was incredibly refreshing and delicious. A great spot for coffee, a treat, and a relaxing stop in Fells Point.

Still a 5! Recently…read moreStopped in for breakfast. Had the caprese croissant with prosciutto. Super fresh and tasty. The croissant was buttery and flaky. The mozzarella was soft and melty. I had my usual cold brew with oat milk and brown sugar syrup. Service was fast and friendly. The decor is standard cafe. It a great place to get some work or studying done.

Inside

Caprese salad

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Wine bar

Ceremony Coffee Roasters - Harbor Point

4.2(199 reviews)

1.6 mi•Fells Point

This is a great coffee shop with a respectable number of coffee roast choices. I ordered the…read morechopped Bagel on jalapeno and a peaberry pourover. Both were great. It's a little confusing and not well marked, but you will enter and walk to the left to order. There is a menu on the wall. The staff was nice and my food came out pretty promptly. They sell some coffee brewing supplies like Chemex filters, some merch like shirts. The shop itself is pretty spacious with cement floors and tables and some high top tables. Pretty typical coffee shop look and feel. There aren't a lot of outlets available for the high tops, but I'm not sure about the tables on the edges of the space. Most of the customers seem to come in for a cup and roll out. There are a lot of office buildings here, so that makes sense. They have free password protected wifi and it's decent. There's even a motion activated air freshener in the bathroom! I'd come back here. Their coffee and food are worth it.

Wonderful coffee shop for a work from home day and a treat or just to grab a coffee and walk around…read morethe nearby waterfront park. Gorgeous location. Most recently tried the egg and cheese biscuit and French toast sticks. Both were super yummy. I don't like sweet coffee, but if I did they have so many unique seasonal creations on the menu! Staff are always so friendly and accommodating. They can get busy on weekends and clearly have some really hard workers behind that counter!

Lavender Bliss

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Iced latte

Affogatto

4.5(53 reviews)

1.1 mi•Fells Point

Affogatto Cafe' - a great find on a Sunday morning. I was in the area getting fishing advice from a…read morenearby tackle shop and happened to discover this cozy café just around the corner. They serve Black Acres beans (a favorite of mine) and some seriously good croissants. I kept it simple with a standard latte and a butter croissant. The café has window bar seating inside and a couple of outdoor tables, making it an easy, comfortable place to slow down. The barista was friendly and even shared helpful fishing spot info. The interior has a cozy, minimalist style, and with Sunday morning light, the whole place felt like a warm, relaxed place to be. From what I could tell, there's space in the back to meet and greet the cats. I'm not in the market to adopt, but for anyone who is, this seems like the place to connect with a new purring family member. Worth a visit if you're in the area!

Affogatto is a cat cafe in Fells Point that's been open for a while but I hadn't had a chance to…read morevisit yet, but friend and I visited last weekend and had a good time! The decor was happy surprise - 70s vibes with cats everywhere! I've been to a few cat cafes, and they're all a little bit different! Affogatto is on the smaller side. You walk into the cafe area - coffee bar and a few two-top tables (there are a couple of tables outside as well, but it's definitely not a large cafe). Then there's one other room, a small one, where the cats are. I didn't get a coffee during our visit, but my friend did (she enjoyed her latte; I found it interesting that their syrups for lattes are self-service?). Visits to the cat room are in 30-minute segments. Because the cat room is so small, you and whoever else purchased a visit for your same time slot will probably sit right down on the floor to play with the kittens. When we visited, there were about eight kittens - and they were kittens! They were playful and funny. Compared to other cat cafes, it was definitely a smaller space. They also had fewer toys to play with. But since the cats were kittens, they were pretty great at entertaining themselves and us. But if you want a more leisurely experience where you can play with and pet some kittens and adult cats, you might want to check out a larger cat cafe with more space. However, any cat cafe is likely to be great - who can complain about any chance to meet, socialize, and play with adoptable cats and kittens?! Affogatto is a great little business, and I hope they stick around to continue helping Baltimore cats and kittens find good homes!

Love the vibrant orange decor.

Different pastries in the display case. Sandwich and ice cream menu.

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Inside front desk at Affogatto

Koba Café

4.4(211 reviews)

2.1 mi•Riverside

I've been on the hunt for a good cafe to work from close to the federal hill area and finally…read morestumbled upon Koba! The first thing that jumped out at me when I walked in was how reasonable the prices are. I ordered an iced coffee and paid less than $3 which I loved! There are lots of fun drink options ranging from smoothies, your typical coffee drinks, and frozen coffee drinks. I saw some other customers order food and I'll have to try that next because it looked nice and fresh. The baristas were so friendly too. There are two floors to the cafe. The second floor seemed to be the "work" floor when I was there. There were plenty of people doing work on their laptops and hanging out. I can see myself coming here to work a lot in the future :)

Yes and yes and yes!! If you need a space to get work done in library silence but among other…read morepeople....get a beverage and go upstairs. When you get hungry, go get a hot sandwich and dont skip the bread pudding. The staff are A-maazing! I will definitely be back, cant believe I didnt know about this neighborhood gem. Downstairs is also pretty cozy, with lots of light coming in so whatever your vibe, you got it.

Drinks menu

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Cortado

Café Dear Leon

4.8(480 reviews)

0.5 mi•Canton

I've tried their viral crab dip bagel, Frank roll (hot dog), and Brazilian Yuzuade! Their food…read moretastes great, is cooked well, and overall flavorfully balanced. I especially enjoyed the Frank roll and the crab dip bagel because the Frank roll's onion jam has a perfect sweetness to it and its croissant bun is beautifully crafted and aesthetically pleasing. As always, the crab dip bagel just smells intoxicating and dangerously good. The space is small, clean, and parking is somewhat easy. No room to dine in but there is an outdoor space for folks. Customer service is great. Overall, I'd recommend!

We ordered the crab dip bagel and the crab tamago sandwich and I was surprised on how delicious…read moreeverything was made. The crab dip bagel is filled with cream inside and topped with crab and corn on top, the bread was very soft and pillowly. The bread on the sandwich was perfectly brown and toasted topped with the crab egg filling and sprinkle of old bay. On a Saturday afternoon, there was a small line out the door but the line moves quick, we waited about 20mins. I would definitely be coming back to try their other pastries. Everything looked really good!

1.6 mi•Locust Point, Locust Point Industrial Area

Inside

Blueberry cream cheese muffin

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Almond croissant

Hull Street Blues Cafe

4.0(95 reviews)

Hull Street Blues is a gem of an long lasting Establishment in South Baltimore…read more Their Restaurant serves up excellent entrees and other long served standards. A great place w excellent and friendly service. Easy parking and a central location. Fantastic!

There is such a strong moldy smell in the seating area of the restaurant that it put me off my…read morefood. I understand that the place is an older establishment, but there are so many things that you can do to fix this type of problem. I will not be back.

Pasta Primavera

Surf & Turf with crab cake entree

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Surf & Turf with crab cake entree

Mindpub Cafe

4.8(70 reviews)

2.2 mi•Riverside

Mindpub has a lot going for it. The inside is incredibly cozy, with tons of character and charm…read morethat make it a really enjoyable place to sit and spend time. My girlfriend and I stopped in on a Sunday morning, and while it was understandably very busy, we were still able to find a seat. The atmosphere is definitely the highlight -- it has a warm, inviting feel that makes it a great spot to relax, grab a bite, and enjoy a slow morning. The bagel sandwiches were so-so, and unfortunately the bagels themselves were a little underwhelming. For the price, we expected a bit more. The coffee was also a miss for us; it was very watery, and we ended up grabbing another coffee from a nearby shop afterward. Overall, Mindpub is a great place if you're looking for a cozy atmosphere, a baked good, or a casual sandwich in a charming setting. The space and vibe are excellent, but the food and coffee left a little to be desired.

Eclectic spot in Fed Hill offering unique bagel sandwiches and coffee drinks…read more Came here on a Saturday for brunch with a friend and was highly impressed! Even though it was a Saturday we were able to find a spot to sit, and the decor was really fun. There's upstairs seating that seemed a little quieter too. I ordered the Darwin on an Asiago bagel. I wish there was more Brie cheese on it, but it was really good overall. The apple jam was a nice sweet touch. My bagel also came with a side of fruit and a hash brown. The hash brown was a little undercooked for me though. I also got a coco cocoa cold brew, which was a chocolate cold brew with coconut cold foam. It had coconut flakes on it so I had to chew each time I took a sip, and I didn't really taste any chocolate. The cold brew itself was good though, bold and not grainy at all. It was a little loud in the cafe due to all the people, but I had a great time anyway. I'll definitely be back if I need a cute brunch spot or a coffee pick-me-up!

4.3 mi•Tuscany - Caterbury

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Kanom Cafe

4.7(50 reviews)

Cute cafe near Hopkins offering delicious pastries and craft drinks. Checked this place out on a…read moreFriday afternoon and it wasn't too busy at all. The space is bright and simple, perfect for getting a study session in. The pastries looked so good I had to grab one. I was instantly drawn towards the garlic cream cheese bun because not a lot of places sell that and it's one of my favorites. This one did not disappoint. It was creamy, sweet, garlicky, and soft. The worker offered to warm it up for me since I was sitting inside and that made it 10x better. I'll definitely be back to try their coffee and for more delicious treats!

I had my weekly coffee shop Saturday at Kanom Cafe. I'm from Baltimore and was visiting over the…read moreweekend, and chose Kanom because I'd never been there before. It's within the Johns Hopkins college campus & a neighborhood, so parking is really horrible. I ended up parking in a non spot and putting my hazards on. It's a cute little, but spacious place located next to an airport building. It's on the corner and has a nice little outside seating area with about 5 tables. Inside is bigger than it looks and has a nice amount of seating as well. Since my time was limited, I didn't really get to explore the menu like I wanted, so I ordered a hazelnut latte and a ham & cheese croissant. Their croissants looked so good, I wanted one of each. They also had several toasts on their menu. I'll have to go back for sure! Th service was regular, you order, they tell you how much you owe and you pay. I got in my car and couldn't wait. My first bite was like a bite into heaven. Every bite was the same way, so delicious & delicate. I wish I had two. The latte was perfect, just the right amount of hazelnut. Kanom Cafe is a must try!

Cappuccino

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THAI Iced Tea

Llamas’ Corner

4.2(93 reviews)

3.4 mi•Bolton Hill

Minority-owned & operated

Eco-friendly

I really enjoy coming here as my neighborhood coffee shop! I love the parfait because the yogurt is…read morea whipped consistency. The coffee is always nice and smooth. Their flavors have a strong essence but are not too sweet. The music is always good and the service is great. They've even brought my coffee to my car multiple times if my pickup wasn't ready or if I was parked in a weird spot. Overall, great spot! And yes, people actually do sit in the swings often!

Very cute cafe, love the art and the vibe!…read more Unfortunately, these were some of the worst boba pearls I've ever had. They were clumped together and hard as if they came straight from the fridge :/ I can't even focus on the drink because I'm spending a lot of time chewing. Updated to add that it wasn't until I had a sip that didn't have boba pearls that I could taste the matcha. I'm not a huge matcha fan, but I could tell that it tasted artificial.

Biscoff Cookie Crunch Latte

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Culture Cup Cafe

4.8(4 reviews)

0.6 mi•Canton

This is a great little spot for coffee or boba near the park and is a worthy successor to Patterson…read morePerk. The strawberry boba tastes like an elevated strawberry Yoo-Hoo and I could not have been happier with it. The service was also excellent. It is very small inside, so definitely more of a grab and go place. And they do not take cash.

This café is solid and reliable. I think the highlight is the milk tea. Oh my gosh, probably too…read moresweet but if you're into that kind of thing, this is the place for you. Great service and a even better location next to a lot of other bustling businesses in the area.

Great lighting

Chocolate Scone and Cranberry & Orange Muffin

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Creamy cold brew and milk tea.

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Chloe C.

4 years ago

Valerie N.

6 years ago

Amazing Empandas and lovely ambiance. I would recommend the spinach and ricotta empanadas. I also love the cassava rolls, the cheese pull in those! AMAZING! As well as the Korean bbq bowl it the best mixture of sweet and spicy. read more

Willie M.

5 years ago

This place is so cute and so clean, and the food is delicious. It's all freshly made, which makes it even better. The service is fantastic. Such kind folks. read more

Franchesca’s Empanadas Cafe - cafes - Updated September 2026

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Empa511 is one of those rare hidden gems that deserves far more attention. Their empanadas are some…read moreof the most authentic and flavorful I've had in Baltimore, with perfectly flaky pastry and fillings that are rich, well-seasoned, and clearly made with care. Every bite tastes homemade. The chefs are very sweet and passionate. You can watch them making their empanadas from the kitchen windows. If you're spending the day in Fells Point, this spot should be at the top of your list. The empanadas alone are worth the visit, but don't leave without trying the alfajor for dessert. It's buttery, delicate, and absolutely incredible--the perfect ending to an outstanding meal. Empa511 is proof that some of the city's best food comes from its smallest storefronts. A true hidden gem and an absolute must-visit. You won't be disappointed.

We have been here several times and always great empanadas. We like the smoothies too. The buy 6…read moreget 1 free is a great deal too. Looking forward to trying all the flavors.

Arepi

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I swung by Arepi for a bite to eat after their "Groove Garden" event next door. Food came out…read morequickly and was a good portion size for the price. I got the "Party Beast" arepa which came with a heaping pile of shredded pork over some delicious cheddar cheese. I also got a side of yucca fries which were good but I'd probably skip next time as the arepa was SOO filling on its own. Love having this gluten free friendly option nearby!

This was our first time trying Venezuelan street food. I fear that they have spoiled all other…read morerestaurants of this type for us, everything was beyond good. The best thing we ate was the Pop Queen Cachapa. (Creamy chicken avocado salad & Venezuelan cheese). It was so flavorful, I will probably order this every time. The seating is limited, we went at an off-peak time so it wasn't a big deal.

El Paraiso Restaurant and Bakery

4.2

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The customer service was nice and warm, the food tasted amazing!…read more The area is dine in or carry out however the space is small and intimate. The food is cooked to order (30-40mins) so it's best to call in or maybe do some shopping at the local shopping strip. Also there is one host whom takes the orders and serves the dine in guest she's very sweet but very busy so it could help to have a server that waits on the guest and one person to take the orders and help the clients that are walking in.

I went to El Paradiso on a whim after hearing about it through Yelp. It is a small restaurant in a…read morestrip mall. But it is worth the visit. I had the fried fish dish. I don't usually eat things down to the bone. But this was so good I ate everything except for the fish head. If you like hot sauce ask for the hot sauce here. It packs good heat. They offer Mexican coke bottles as well as regular can cokes here. There is an assortment of Jaritto's as well. The pastries seem popular here. Even though I didn't have any treats on this visit I will have to go back just for dessert. If you want to dine in there is a amalldining area. There is always a table available so don't be discouraged to stay for a bit. This place is very welcoming and gives the feeling of family dinner.

Empanada Lady

4.0

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Wow, this spot is worth the hype…read more I stopped by and got to try a beef empanada, tostones, and a espresso martini flight, which were all incredible. The empanada was decadent, hearty, and the sauce was delicious. The tostones were perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside, a bit soft in the middle, and served with a savory green sauce. The espresso martini flight was awesome! It included original, anise, and caramel flavors. My favorite was the anise, it was a unique flavor I hadn't tried before in an espresso martini. They also use real espresso in their martinis, which take it to a whole other level of flavor. The inside is full of colorful artwork, comfy seating, and a vibe that will keep you there for hours. 10/10!

I stopped by Empanada Lady during brunch. I was not expecting the music to be so loud, which was…read morenot a good first impression. But I started to feel better about my decision once the friendly server arrived and I saw all of the good options on the menu. My girlfriend and I ordered a bunch of dishes and shared. We ordered the black beans & Rice side dish, along with the following empanadas: Shrimp, Beef, Pork, Crab, Apple The empanadas are huge. Our favorite was the shrimp empanada. It was so delicious. The beef and pork empanadas were top tier as well. The crab was the big disappointment that keeps me from giving Empanada Lady 5 stars. Not nearly enough crab flavor. I expect every crab dish to be good in Baltimore. The black beans & rice was an excellent choice of side dish. The apple empanada was a nice dessert to end the meal with. Although with the empanadas being so big I probably wouldn't do dessert again. I will go back again and order the shrimp, beef, and pork empanadas. Maybe I'll go during the week and keep my fingers crossed that the music isn't so loud. It was good R&B music though. Amtrak to Baltimore: https://youtu.be/54yPGPqkc5U

Michelle's Cafe

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We stopped in around lunchtime on a Sunday. I had a delicious egg and bacon sandwich with cotija…read morecheese, lettuce and avocado. So good and the cheese pull was legendary! My husband got the chicken torta with Orioles, lettuce, tomato and cotija cheese. So delicious but big so he took the second half home for later. The ladies working in there were lovely. We will be going back many times since it is so good and very close to our home.

Empanadas by Abuela

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I went with the 3 empanada + drink deal! This is my first time trying this place after getting…read moreobsessed with empanadas. The Hawaiian empanadas are a MUST! If you could only get one, this has to be the one! The melted cheese + sweetest of it all was an absolute treat. The beef empanada was still very good in its own way. The meat isn't sweet which pairs well with the potato filling. The guava drink was decent. It wasn't exactly refreshing but I would still drink it again. Very impressed by how hot and crunchy the food was after picking it up.

After a months of driving by Empanadas by Abuela I finally decided to stop for a quick snack…read more Tucked away on the side of a building, it's kind of hard not to drive by Empanadas by Abuela without even knowing it. A small shop with two tables to enjoy your meal, however, I'd much rather take my order to go. I was greeted by a gentleman who I presume is the owner, who was very nice. Since I was only stopping for a quick snack, I only had plans to try one of their empanadas. I was set on the chicken however, they were all out, so I opted for their Hawaiian empanada. Which to my surprise, was quite tasty. The empanada was fresh, piping hot, crispy, and filled with gooey cheese, a pineapple sauce, and cubes of ham. If you're a fan Empanadas by Abuela offers four flavors of empanadas and a variety of other Columbian dishes. I definitely plan on making another stop to try more of their menu. I love finding great hidden little gems.

Tio G’s

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I stopped by R House after an event at the Baltimore museum of art. Never had Tio Gs so…read moreI decided to give them a try. I ordered the passionfruit lemonade for my drink and it wasn't all that great to me. You could barely taste the passionfruit flavor. For my meal I went with the roasted chicken platter that also came with rice, sweet plantains and salad. I also ordered a steak and cheese empanada. The food was piping hot, well seasoned and delicious. The empanada was by far my favorite item that I ordered. It comes with some que lo que sauce (mayo ketchup combo) for dipping. But honestly it's so good you don't even need any sauce. The customer service was efficient and pleasant. The kitchen looked clean and organized. Overall great experience. Prolly wouldn't order the lemonade again but definitely returning for the food.

The plantains here are really good! I also had two empanadas. The steak/cheese and the chicken. I…read morethink next time that I go I will try a different empanada. I also had the lemonade which was good as well. This is located in R House and of course the ambiance is a cool as it's a food hall. The staff is nice and provides great recommendations

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I always pass by Poyoteca and I am so glad I finally stopped in! I got an empanada and the tres…read moreleches--both were fantastic! The empanada was filling and well priced, and the tres leches was moist and rich. I have to come back again to try their entrees and sides! Service was fast and kind, and the overall environment was well lit and spacious. I will definitely be adding Poyoteca into the lunch rotation!

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