Great cafe. Lovely customer service. An oasis on a really hot day !! Great food and drinks selection, fast wifi. It has it all !! read more

Koba Café - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Friendly staff, healthy treats, great coffee, and one of the few places that actually won't goon up your cappuccino!

While the coffee and scone we had were both pretty tasty, the attitude was totally unacceptable. We encountered three staff people when we walked in and NOBODY said hello, welcome or actually anything. REALLY? My order was thge incorcet size and instead of offering to remake it, the barista offered to put intoa larger cup, when I actually paid for the larger cup. That really was not good. Even though the coffee was tasty, not sure we would go back. No one needs that kind of attitude read more

I love this place! Great little cafe to hang out and get some work done. Very friendly staff

Great food and beverages....REALLY. Friendly, polite, and professional service. Organized and CLEAN. Neighborhood ambiance. It's like "where have you been all my life?" The pleasant young man who took our order didn't hesitate to make a recommendation when I asked (I hate when they say "everything's good"). And WOW was he on target. I had what may be the best wrap--mango chicken--I've ever tasted. My husband was excited that there is a choice of macaroni salad instead of chips with his sandwich--he hates chips, loves macaroni salad--and it was NOT swimming in mayo or dressing...just a clean, fresh side. The tomato slice on his sandwich was thick and red-ripe. The lettuce was a full romaine leaf. Best of all was the warm and welcoming demeanor of Adam, Koba's owner. It will be our pleasure to continue visiting our neighborhood Cafe. read more

This is a nice local coffee shop. If the owner is there, he remembers my name and what drink I order. The upstairs is a great place to work or study and they don't hassle you if you only order one drink and hang out for a while. There are couches as well as tables and nice windows, so it is quite comfortable. The coffee is good too. read more

This is a really nice cafe. It pretty much is the definition of a cafe. You can come for conversation or to get a lot of work done. I often work from home, and have found this to be the perfect spot. That being said, I don't go here for the coffee (it's not bad, but not the best); I go there for the environment. There's a smaller downstairs and a bigger upstairs where you can get a lot of work done. Overall, recommended for the environment and the staff. It's a great place to chill out for however long you'd like. read more

When I moved to the neighborhood, I was very excited for the cafe a few steps from my front door. My first time going, i ordered the turkey blt sandwich and went to sit upstairs (to give Koba credit, the upstairs is a very nice area for relaxing/reading/studying). The sandwich was delivered and appeared similar to what a 6 year old child would give you if you asked them to make a turkey sandwich with the ingredients from the fridge. Not the worst sandwich I have had, but certainly not the best, or even decent. The next few times i went, i just stuck with the coffee. Not bad, not good, just very average coffee. Then on a particularly warm summer day i decided to venture out and go with an iced coffee drink, what a mistake that turned out to be. The cold coffee was stored in their refrigerator in a gallon-sized container that reminded me of what I made kool-aid out of when I was a kid. Except that I would have washed the container every once in a while. This container had stained brown rings lining the sides, very unappealing to see and the taste of the drink was even worse. Foolishly giving Koba more chances due to the convenience, I continued to go every once in a while. Until one time I saw a cockroach crawl across the counter as a spilled drink sat unattended on the counter. I haven't been back in a few months, so maybe it's changed. But I highly doubt it. With Order & Chaos around the corner, it blows my mind that anyone still goes to Koba. The customer service is bad to good, depending on who you have serving you. The food and coffee are average to gross. The only redeeming part of the place is the ambiance. I will go to Starbucks over Koba 10 times out of 10, and that says a lot. read more

Decent spot for coffee. Nothing special. Best thing is the upstairs seating area,quiet place to relax and get work done. Food is average at best. read more

Koba Cafe has the most welcoming atmosphere of any corner coffee shop in Baltimore! The owner is so personable, knows everyone by name, and will make you feel like a "regular" by your second visit. I love coming in here for a breakfast sandwich & coffee (try their delicious homemade banana bread!), and it's no exaggeration to say my day is made brighter by stopping in to Koba! read more

Great coffee shop - forgo the Starbucks on Fort for a better experience at Koba. Plenty of second floor seating, and a great atmosphere.

I've been here twice so far and both times I have been impressed. I come here to study more than for the food or the coffee. There are two levels. Downstairs is is where you order your food and drinks, but it also offers plenty of seating. Downstairs is also where the bathroom is, of which is really clean. I usually would not study downstairs unless upstairs is full because they have music playing, people talking, or the blender running. On the other hand, upstairs, as stated in another review before I went described it as "cathedral quiet". The first time I came, it really was that quiet and I even felt bad for moving a chair around. The second time I came to study, there was someone having a date or an interview (but I think they just didn't understand that upstairs is supposed to be quiet..smh). I still recommend this place for anyone that wants to have an escape from the library or home to study or read. The customer service here is also great. I always come in wanting to try something new and I ask the barista what they recommend. Each time, they would fully explain what they put in the drink or what is in the food. Speaking of food, the food here is more on the healthy side, but they provide many options that I would consider a snack size (I will post pictures and update my review about food soon). The coffee come in 12oz, 16oz and 20oz, costing about $2 for the 16oz. They also have flavored coffee that makes the price an addition 50 cents or more. They have the flavors: coconut, hazelnut, caramel, and vanilla (as of what I remember). I ordered the coconut and it definitely adds a nice smell to the coffee. In addition, the parking nearby is all free street parking! Pro: -great study environment -free wifi -customer service -free parking Con: Overall, I would recommend this place to a friend to have a date or to study. read more

I live in the neighborhood so I stop in fairly often. Recently, my boyfriend and I went to do work during the week upstairs. It was pretty busy: about 10 people upstairs. The tea is very good and the people that work here and friendly. One of the baristas suggested two types of tea and brought us two cups- one on the house- which was really nice. Also, if you are doing work upstairs they will come upstairs to make sure you have everything you need which is really nice. Food-wise, I've only ever had the three cheese caprese and I love it. read more

Don't let this place fool you it looks small on the first floor, but the second floor more then makes up for it! The food that I have had is delicious and flavorful. The service is fun and friendly. We will be back! read more

Really cute neighborhood spot. Extremely friendly staff and great food. My husband loves the coffee and all of the soups are homemade and delicious. read more

Great food and the service is always top notch and super friendly! Only place to go for coffee in Baltimore

My morning ritual! Friendly staff that know your name and coffee order. Relaxing upstairs lounge where you can telework with free wifi. Adam, the owner, has created a great neighborhood gathering place. read more

Wanted to like this place, came in because it was close and the reviews were good. If you are going strictly to work or study, that's fine. Unfortunately if you are there to eat food or have a nice espresso drink, you can easily be disappointed. Pros: - cool decor, nice upstairs for work or reading - service was friendly Cons: - microwaved eggs - mediocre espresso drinks - frozen/thawed/frozen/thawed pastry - did I say microwaved eggs? Embarrassing read more

Great coffee, lunch and working spot! Free wifi with a comfy work space upstairs. There are quite a few tables and eclectic chairs. I'm always looking for cafes like this and I found my favorite one in Baltimore. The owner is a really awesome guy and is very accommodating. I got the french press coffee which was delicious and had the chicken caprese sandwich later for lunch. Delicious bread for the sandwich! All the ingredients are fresh and the snacks they sell are healthy. Awesome hangout all around! Parking wasn't bad - we just parked for free on the street across the street. read more

Once you've been here you will never go back to Starbucks again. Perfect little cafe with delicious coffee, breakfast options (the breakfast burrito is my go to) and the best morning glory bread you have ever had! Everyone who works there is super friendly, particularly Adam, who is always smiling and chatting with the customers. The lounge upstairs is a great quiet place to get work done it even has a little office space. There is also a few tables downstairs to enjoy your coffee and chat. We live down the street and frequently come here with our pup and they are more than willing to let him while we make our order. read more

Still loving this study spot and wanted to add that they offer almond milk (soy free dairy free people rejoice! ) I recently tried the egg and cheese breakfast bagel and while the egg was microwaved it was still very satisfying especially with the sundried tomato bagel which tastes like a pizza! read more

I only went twice for hot tea which is impossible to mess up but I loved my experience. Very relaxed friendly staff, and a mellow atmosphere with soft music. Definitely a good quite spot to get away. Doesn't appear to get super crowded. The tea was quality loose leaf tea, which I would expect at a nice cafe, so that's a win. Walking distance from my brothers house so I will definitely be back every time I'm there and need a quick tea! read more

Love this place, great place to work, upstairs area is quiet and wifi is fast. People are nice and welcoming. Some good organic options to eat. read more

In town visiting on business and was pleasantly surprised by this coffee shop find. Killer (soy) lattes, amazing customer service, very fast turnaround, homey but cool decor, free wifi (w/ no password needed!!), and good positive energy. On a frigid and rainy day in Baltimore, staff and owner of Koba warms you up with great service and quality coffee. I am quite the coffee shop coffee snob and Koba comes HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. read more

Koba Café - Upstairs lounge. Great space. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I stopped in with my family (wife and 2 year old) on our way to a cruise. We had time to kill and lots of luggage. The staff were super nice and accommodating and the food and drink was great. Highly recommend. read more

I love this place. The staff was friendly the coffee was delicious and the atmosphere was comfortable. It is the perfect place to go sit with a cup of coffee and relax. A starbucks just open down the street, I hope this place holds on. read more

Such a huge huge fan of this place. Everyone who works here is incredibly friendly and the coffee and smoothies and food are great! The prices are extremely fair and the atmosphere is awesome. I used to come here all the time to get some work done because there's a great seating arrangement upstairs. They're even really friendly with dogs! Mine was always allowed to come in with me and they would offer him water and a little treat. Just really great people. Spend your money here and not Starbucks. You'll feel so much better about it! read more

Fine for coffee, not so much for food. Their breakfast options are especially sparse. I haven't had lunch here so can't say the food is necessarily bad, there just aren't many options. Plenty of seating and wifi, though. Seems like a great place to study or get some work done. The staff is always very friendly and welcoming. read more

This place has great work vibes. I work from home a lot and love the upstairs here. Honestly, the coffee isn't that great but it's okay given how much work I can get done. If you are looking for great coffee, prob not the spot. If you are looking to be productive, it's a great spot. read more

My favorite coffee shop to WORK at in the city. The second floor here is amazing. No music, plenty of room to spread out and a cozy atmosphere. The drinks are done well. The food has an organic wholesome quality. Downstairs the crew is very friendly with lots of regulars. read more

I recently discovered this neighborhood gem since I work in the area. I love how personable the employees are. I will visit often. Their bagels are delish! I wasn't a fan of the chai latte. The espresso was overpowering for my taste. read more

Great coffee, excellent food.. WIFI.. comfy upstairs room. Lots of room in the upper room. Would be a great place for a company meeting. The view out the windows are fun as well. Highly recommended! read more

The staff seemed a little cold and "too busy" to actually provide customer service. Were they quiet? Yes. Was it in a cute spot in town? Yes. Will i come back again? No. read more

Service and the workers are extremely friendly! Great coffee and food. I had the ginger lime chicken wrap and my friend got a bacon, egg, and cheese on rye. Both delicious! Place serves breakfast all day and the smoothies are made with fresh fruit!! Stop by this neighborhood gem! read more

On this morning and honestly most mornings, I was starving and stopped in between meetings at work. Koba Cafe was not busy. In fact, they were quite slow. But, the staff was super friendly and even a little chatty as she poured my cup of coffee. The coffee most certainly beats a traditional pour from that other major chain you can find down the street. They french press most of their beans, so it's not bitter and the coffee flavor can really come through. I also got this fantastic bagel sammich. They don't use fresh eggs, which is the only downfall. This is an everything bagel with a little cheddar. read more

I decided to try Koba today, and I was so happy I did! The atmosphere and staff were so nice. My drink was yummy (and I was offered a glass of water on this hot day)! I ventured upstairs and found a comfy and quiet spot to read. :) read more

Ventured to Federal Hill to meet up with a friend to get some serious studying/work done....this was the best place for it! Excellent coffee, free wifi and sandwiches and snacks for break time. The upstairs study area is roomy but cozy. The server was awesome, offered to bring all our orders upstairs. I had the caprese sandwich, it was good, the pasta salad as a side was just okay. The latte was perfect though...great place for a quick coffee or for hours of industrious work. read more

Absolutely the best type of neighborhood coffee shop. Super friendly staff and great coffee are just a few of the reasons it's worth a visit. Go see for yourself. read more

I came for a cozy place to study and grab lunch. The coffee is hot and tasty. The chicken calabrese sandwich was tasty especially the toasted bread. the tomatoes were bland because they arent in season. i would substitute with sundried tomatoes instead. This is a fantastic local cafe to patronize instead of the chains. the service is warm, welcoming and friendly. I will be a regular for sure! New study/ chill out spot! read more

Great corner spot. Went in for some coffee and found a cute little shop with upstairs seating and super friendly people behind the counter. They made our drinks perfectly and seemed to know the regulars and what they ordered. Will definitely come back when I'm in town- they serve food and snacks too. read more