Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Old City Coffee

    4.0 (282 reviews)
    InexpensiveCoffee & Tea
    Closed 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Old City Coffee Photos

    Business Info

    OLD CITY COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Good for working
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Old City Coffee

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    This is a large cappuccino, next to a 12 oz OJ.
    Ned L.

    Like a European café, a large cappuccino is a two handed mug-bowl with a crema & micro-foam mixture on top that is at least a 1/2 inch thick. Why is this so difficult to find in America? Nice professional service, and plenty of seats inside with little tables. Blueberry muffin also was large and tasted freshly baked. Otherwise a simple place without common distractions. Wonderful!

    Marie M.

    This is the sort of aesthetically beautiful and inviting coffee shop that I look for when visiting a city. What made this a treasured gem was that it's in historic Philly and located in an ally style street. The street was cobble-stone for Pete's sake and had that colonial feel. When we walked in at first, it appeared that there wasn't any sitting area, and just coffee to go style, but just around the corner from the order counter is the sitting area. There were plenty of places to sit with an outlet nearby for your laptop, and the general atmosphere was very ideal. People did appear to keep their conversation tone down, as opposed to where I'm from. No churchy conversations either, which was like a dream come true for me. So thankful to Philadelphians who appear well-mannered. But I digress, the coffee shop had plenty of pastries to choose from. I didn't notice any real breakfast items, but I was well satisfied with a Cheese Danish and coffee for a late breakfast. However, again, the coffee smelled good but tasted French roasted style or something like it. I did buy an 1893 bean blend to take back home. My husband theorized (and rightly so, as I prepared it later and better at home) that it may have something to do with the water rather than how the barista brews it. I feel it may be a combo of both. Here in the K.C. area we are known for excellent drinking water, and we did enjoy the blend when brewed back home. One thing to note about Old City Coffee and the beans they sell. They aren't cryovaced or sealed and must be ground and brewed within a few weeks. I have heard that you can freeze beans but am not sure, but will try it. The barista informed me that so long as the bag is firmly closed and away from any light source. Another thing that I noticed at this store is that they have beans you can serve yourself in bags and have them ground at the store. If I lived in Philly, I would try their other beans in small bag amounts. The aroma was wonderful here.

    Outside
    Amber K.

    I came on a Friday afternoon for a nice place to sit down and work. The coffee shop looks really small when you walk in but in the back there's a bunch of seating with a couple of outlets and free WiFi. I got an iced oat milk latte, and it was VERY strong. I should've gotten a small because I already had my morning coffee today! The cashier was very friendly and the coffee came out quick. I will definitely be returning

    Joseph T.

    The big draw of this coffee shop is the location. Right in a very central location of the Old City, you're just a hop skip & a jump from many of Philadelphia's biggest attractions. Elfreth's Alley, Mac's Tavern, US Mint, Betsy Ross, Independence Hall, Liberty Bell... It's all just right there. As coffee shops go, it's pretty decent! A little on the expensive end, but one of the very few locally owned coffee shops I've ever seen that offers an XL option. This is important for me personally because I drink a lot of coffee and sometimes wish I had something larger than a 20oz cup. Plenty of food and pastry options that I didn't try, because I'm one of them there resolutioners trying to lose weight. Seemed to be popular amongst the other patrons, however. Coffee was not bad! I am not big on fruity notes in my coffee, and that seems to be the trend amongst smaller, local shops, Old City not withstanding. Bitter enough - robust, chestnut and chocolate notes. The drip coffee was pretty dern hot tho. Took a while to cool. Once it cooled, I was a happy camper. The seating area seemed to be an afterthought. Had the coziness of a high school math classroom. Probably won't be dining in again. Probably the only thing keeping it from the illustrious 5* rating. Verdict? Visit if you're in the area, but perhaps takeaway is the best option.

    Self service kiosk for cookies
    Brittney W.

    Beautiful coffee shop nestled in the Old City with hands down the best service. The barista was amazing to provide her favorite coffee-- Blackberry Mocha coffee and paired it with their homemade blueberry muffin. Let me say, when it's recommended to slow down and enjoy the muffin, you do it. The blueberries were perfectly folded into the batter with the soothing taste of the butter. Yes, I said butter. As a southerner, a moist muffin is hard to do, but goodness my heart melted eating each bite. This muffin didn't lack with flavor, rich flavor and still maintained being light and fluffy with a simple crispy sugary top. Call me traditional, but this muffin needs to be a part of my breakfast routine just got the top. You can sneak a couple of views of the kitchen in the back with the pastries being made. It's a must try place for the cute esthetic, but the friendliest staff. It felt like an enchanted adventure to be a part of and you immediately forget you are in downtown Philadelphia. Run don't walk.

    Miche

    Busy , cozy and sweet. Lovely speedy service . Great coffee and blueberry muffin. We enjoyed sitting in the back, and then we came to the front and sat outside . I can see why this is a local favorite !!

    Shane B.

    Nestled among the old city brick streets is this delicious coffee shop! Great variety of seasonal flavors, and do-it-yourself coffee! Staff is very nice and there's so much to choose... including some beans to bring home with you. With all of the coffee shops around Philly, this is a nice gem that's a bit different than the rest. Try it for yourself!

    Oat milk Matcha
    Micaelly A.

    Visited with my friends while on a coffee hop morning around the city. I ordered an Iced Oat milk Matcha and it was yummy, although I would probably order a coffee next time to try out. The place was lovely but it did have very few tables for sitting, might be more of a grab and go kind of coffee shop. The baristas were nice.

    Tammy C.

    Nice place to do a bit of study or work (however when I was there the WiFi was not working well but it might've just been that day). Good selection of coffee products and ample seating inside!

    Iced Oat Milk Matcha Latte (with an extra shot of espresso)
    Colleen M.

    What a cute place! It's slightly hidden since it's located on a cobblestone street but it was still pretty busy. They had a nice area to hang out inside and a set up out front with two elevated platforms for a table each. It's a nice little set up outside and the street seemed somewhat quiet, mostly just people cutting through or visiting the cigar shop next door. Decent prices and they make a delish iced matcha latte. They do also have a restroom with a key that the staff can provide upon request (I assume you have to buy something but it didn't come up since I was purchasing a drink).

    Cranberry Walnut Muffin with a yummy latte
    Margery B.

    The ambiance is great for such a small place. It smells like pure goodness of coffee. Their walnut cranberry muffin did not disappoint and the girl at the counter was welcoming and her patience was great.

    Nicole E.

    Ordered a mint mocha and a fresh squeezed orange juice. The orange juice was prepared and in the cooler. There's only three people allowed inside. It's a super small spot and there's absolutely no sitting inside. There doesn't need a spot outside to keep for social distancing. The mint mocha tastes old world good. The OJ isn't bad, not super sweet, but a good source of easy vitamin C.

    The homie. Chilling
    Spain O.

    Cutty coffee shop on a quiet cobblestone street. I'm a sucker for outside seating and the homie and I got lucky and snagged the table out front. Direct sunlight. We needed it. People working were super chill. And shout out this coffee shop for having decaf drip available. Sometimes I'm on one from too much caffeine so it was nice to have a for here cup of decaf. My homie had a oatmilk latte and said it was fire. It's a cute spot. Honestly maybe my fav spot in Philly. It's a bit of a walk for me and it's worth it every time. Good walking coffee shop. If you're on foot and need a cup. It's a must hit

    See all

    Photo of Steve S.
    653
    1816
    2095

    4 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Tucked away coffee shop where the coffee is quite good, and the staff were friendly. Enjoyed and would go back!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Paul L.
    20
    24
    0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 31
    Thanks 14
    Love this 25
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Keli M.
    971
    805
    1100

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sam O.
    0
    34
    93

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 15
    Thanks 0
    Love this 11
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kath N.
    1
    14
    20

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 8

    Old City Coffee Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Old City Coffee

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Coffee & Tea 3,294 times last month within 5 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Menagerie Coffee

    Menagerie Coffee

    4.4
    (464 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Stopped by for an hour of work on a relatively quiet afternoon. This is a small shop given the…read morearea, but with a surprising amount of seating given that the kitchen takes up a considerably small footprint. I ordered a green iced tea which was delicious, and then sat and worked. Wi-fi is solid here, and the outlets are plentiful. I especially like having seats with backs and sizable tables at the right height... when you're working from cafes the small details make a difference. Even though the espresso machine was down, the staff were still friendly and pretty calm about the whole ordeal (although some customers were not). Appreciate a friend face, a quiet space to work, and a nice vibe to relax in for the day. Will stop by again when I'm in Old City!

    Cute little eatery with a few tables inside. They offer some baked goods and delicious coffee…read more I ordered a cappuccino with oat milk -- it was really good, but I didn't realize how small the size was and was surprised by the additional $1.25 charge for what seemed like just a few splashes of oat milk. The sandwiches were tasty, although the bread was a bit too crispy. I usually love crispy bread, but this was very, very crispy and slightly overdone for my preference. The biggest disappointment was the egg -- it had that pre-made/frozen egg texture and appearance, which I didn't expect from this type of establishment. Overall, I'd still return for the coffee and the cute atmosphere.

    Photos
    Easy to find
    Easy to find
    Long and thin area
    Long and thin area
    Nice back room

    See all

    Nice back room
    ICI Macarons & Cafe

    ICI Macarons & Cafe

    4.8
    (337 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    Perfect spot for a quick drink and snack…read more The employees are friendly and helpful. Service is quick. Small shop, so seating is limited. There are a few window bar seats and one outdoor table, but it's otherwise more of a to-go type place. Clean restroom. Street parking. Mild noise level. Can get cramped when busy. As their name suggests, they offer a wide selection of macarons, all of which look delicious. They also have various sweet and savory pastries, coffees, teas, and lemonades. I've only had their hot tea, so I can't speak on the other drinks; I do appreciate the variety and uniqueness of the tea flavors offered as those aren't usually highlighted much. The pastries are flaky, delicious, and filling - definitely recommend the feta spinach croissant. Prices are fair. I highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area!

    A little bakery with a large selection of macarons as well as various other french baked goods and…read morepastries. A few dozen different macaron combinations are available, with some unique and worldly inspired ingredients. There is very minimal seating inside, so mostly take out is best. Kouign amann had a buttery and crispy outer shell, and a fluffy inside with chocolate filling. Definitely want to try the cinnamon one. The macaron I had was milk and honey, and had great flavor. Perfect chewy and crispy outer layer with a nice sweet inner layer. So many flavors to pick from!

    Photos
    Jitsu enjoying ICI Macarons!
    Jitsu enjoying ICI Macarons!
    ICI Macarons & Cafe
    ICI Macarons & Cafe

    See all

    Old City Coffee - coffee - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...