Pavement Coffeehouse at BU is a local café that combines specialty coffee, bagels, and a comfortable space designed for students, studying, or taking a break. The location has a relaxed atmosphere with plenty of seating, making it feel like more than just a place to grab a drink. It has the kind of neighborhood café energy where people can sit for a while, especially during quieter hours. The coffee is one of the strongest parts of the experience. The espresso drinks have a smooth and balanced flavor, and the lattes are well made with a good texture. The presentation is also a nice touch, with carefully prepared drinks that feel more thoughtfully made than a typical campus coffee stop. Their cold brew and matcha drinks are also good options if you want something different from a standard latte. The bagels are another major reason to visit. The menu has a variety of options, including classics like egg and cheese, lox, and more creative combinations. The bagels are flavorful and pair well with the drinks, although the size and price can feel a little less impressive compared to traditional bagel shops. The generous cream cheese portions help balance that out, but it is something to consider depending on what you order. The atmosphere is one of the biggest draws. The café has a cozy design with enough seating to work, study, or meet with friends. Since it is located near BU, it can get busy with students, especially during peak hours, and finding a seat may take some patience. The space can also feel a little less comfortable if the temperature is not ideal, but overall it works well as a place to spend time. The service experience can vary depending on how busy it is. During rush periods, the wait times can be longer, but the staff are usually handling a high volume of orders. Ordering ahead or visiting outside of peak hours makes the experience smoother. Overall, Pavement Coffeehouse is a solid café option around BU. The combination of good coffee, bagels, and a comfortable space makes it a reliable stop for a morning drink, quick meal, or study session. It may not replace a dedicated bagel shop for the bagels alone, but the full café experience is what makes it worth visiting. read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

I've always appreciated this Pavement location right in the heart of BU and off the B line. Pavement is always a good choice for coffee and bagels! I particularly love the ambiance here. There is a good amount of indoor seating and I like the layout of the space with a front and back section for seating. Menu-wise, my favorites are either the cold brew or a maple latte. For bagels, I love the rosemary salt bagel (toasted is chefs kiss)! You'll find a lot of students here especially around peak exam season and class times. The service for me has always been good and pretty efficient. read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - Maple latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Nice quick fix before starting the day. I got the Early Bird. It was solid, with a bagel that was not too hard nor chewy. Just wished they put more sauce in it. +1 for the significant turkey portion! read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - Drink Menu as of 5/26/26 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

The service was quick and friendly even during rush hour. Although the space is small, it is clean and has a peaceful yet social aura. This would be a great spot to grab a quick bite or drink with friends! The matcha was decent quality, although didn't have a super deep grass flavor, and slightly on the sweeter side. As for the bagel, it has a nice crispy exterior with a soft interior. However, it was somewhat lacking in the traditional sour bagel taste. Otherwise, the cream cheese was delicious with a prominent garlic and chive flavor that contrasted nicely with the poppy seeds. The ratio of cream cheese to bagel was perfect! Overall, if you're nearby and craving a bagel, this place has a some tasty options! read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - Small Iced Matcha Latte with Oatmilk & Poppyseed Bagel with Garlic Chive Cream Cheese - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The service here was good - the ambiance is very loud and bustling full of college students. The drinks are fairly price and come served in two sizes. The matcha 4.5/5 London Fog 1.5/5 very watery and lacked flavor read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Honestly I've been trying to go to this place all year long but their surprisingly short hours despite being near a college campus made it a little hard to finally make it out. Here's my breakdown review for this place as of now: DRINKS 2/5 As a person that loves going to new cafes and trying what chai lattes they have to offer, naturally I had to try it at pavement. Maybe it was the batch that day or the built up anticipation of finally coming here, but I was not as impressed or wowed as I thought I would be. The drink was vaguely chai and didn't really taste like much more than water. SERVICE 5/5 The girl at the register was very nice and talkative and I think it's so awesome when you can step into a space and it immediately exudes kindness and it feels like the people there genuinely care. AMBIANCE 4/5 This place is really cute and is such a nice working/studying environment close to campus! It makes me want to try this place again but perhaps for a different drink. The only problem is that there's a lot of student foot traffic and it's always so jam packed that it tends to be really hard to find seats! Nice that they started extending their hours until 7 now though! read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - a view of a city street through a window - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Pavement is such a staple for me and I always find myself getting a bagel here at any minor inconvenience. The bagels are not New York level or anything but are still really good and their bagel sandwiches are fire. I love their cold brew but it's hit or miss, i always get the same thing and it's usually so good but sometimes it's gross for no reason and I actually have to throw it away. Also they take a really long time sometimes and the staff can be not the nicest but I still love this place read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - Everything bagel with garlic chive cream cheese - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This is a coffeehouse with, as the name states, coffee as the main feature. It is also in the middle of the Boston University campus, which makes it a convenient stop when nearby. Their coffees are good, especially Spanish Latte and the cortado. Inside there is a hipster academic atmosphere with a touch of enthusiasm about coffee by the staff. El café como el amor, Nunca es suficiente pero es mejor caliente. read more

I love pavement, their matcha is always really good and the rosemary salt bagel is to die for! I will say it is difficult to get seating every time i go in, but usually if I wait a few minutes I can grab a seat from someone who is leaving. All the staff members are nice too! read more

My stomach hurts so much it's unreal. I took about three sips of my chai and then like one bite of my bagel, and now I'm in unbearable pain. I'm forced to spend an additional $20 to buy Pepto Bismol to try to relieve my pain. Like, I'm so close to pooping my pants, but I can't even go to the bathroom. NEVER again. I would give zero stars if I could just to set the record straight. read more

I generally really like pavement but i almost just ate a staple, which was a little scary read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

My all time fav coffee house!! All of the workers are always super nice! They put up with me running in sometimes three times a day!!! I always look forward to walking in and they all greet me no matter how busy they are!! Their iced vanilla latte with oat milk are BOMB Their rosemary bagel with veggie cream cheese is crazy good!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE read more

Lemon dill cream cheese is to die for! great bagels, great coffee. Nice chill hangout spot.

Great bagel sandwiches for breakfast and excellent iced Spanish latte! My boyfriend got the Sunrise which contains bacon, free-range eggs, sharp cheddar, on a bagel and I got the Classic Lox which has lox, cream cheese, tomatoes, onions, capers, on a bagel. Both were very tasty albeit smaller than expected, and I would definitely go back for the Lox bagel. For drinks, we got the iced matcha latte (overly sweet with not much matcha taste) and iced spanish latte (very good with the right amount of sweetness). The environment of the place was really nice with a lot of seating and a good study vibe for students. Overall, great food as long as you're not super hungry since the portions are small, and I wouldn't order the iced matcha latte here if you're looking for something authentic. read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - Sunrise (left) and Classic Lox - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

You can really only get here on foot, very limited parking which I guess is appropriate for this area. I understand that baristas probably get shit all the time and it sucks to have to show up to work every day and smack a smile on your face but if I have to do it the least you can do is give just a bit more effort. Anyways, they got my order wrong and it was something I was allergic to so that sucked and their coffee/pastries are just not good. Maybe their other location will suck less, I'll give it a shot but total miss from this spot. read more

Best coffeehouse near the BU west campus. I have been coming here every morning to start my day. Orders include their egg&cheese multigrain bagel + OJ. Super cute interior and friendly staff. read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - a person holding a bagel outside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

Immaculate vibes, music, and matcha. Highly recommend checking out between classes or after work

My new favorite thing here is the Spicy Tempeh Sandwich, which I have literally come to crave. I want to deduct a star just because it does run you $11 or so, which for its size is a little sad, but it's so good that I can't even complain. I always get it on sourdough because to me, the carb ratio would be off with a bagel. Plus the sourdough is toasty and light and delicious. The sandwich has a spicy harissa paste inside which gives it a nice kick (sometimes you get a really strong bite but usually it's totally manageable for someone with moderately low spice tolerance), plus veggies and yummy tempeh bacon. This is obviously not real bacon, and it's not really trying to be. It's a nice sweet smoky salty slice of tempeh, which can be an acquired taste but I love. The coconut cookies are also amazing and definitely will be devoured by anyone who can enjoy the magic of gluten and sugar. :) read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - Tempeh Sandwich with Sourdough (extra $0.50) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

Waited over 30 minutes for a bagel this morning. This place does not have the kitchen and the staff to serve their customers. Not even close. Prepare to camp out here for your order. They often turn off app ordering because they cannot handle their business. LIttle things are missing: skimpy on bacon, don't slice the bagel across, ... read more

PROS: - Great cozy place, perfect for hunkering down for a long study session - Cute hipster vibe going on. I liked the special touch of the metal table numbers CONS: - The food was a bit of a let down (see below for specifics) - Limited seats SPECIFICS: - Rachel Sandwich = such a disappointment. It was just so so salty and sour, complete overload on the flavors that I couldn't enjoy it. I ended up picking the sandwich apart and getting rid of some pastrami because the flavor is so unbalanced. The cole slaw was good though and the chips it came with on the side was fresh and crispy. Instagram @bowtiebowie for more food adventures! read more

Nice local coffee shop with good food and drinks. With its location on BU's campus, it gets very busy throughout the day, and it's often difficult to get seating, especially around mid-day. But if you're looking for something to-go, I think it's one of the better food options in the area! But if you want somewhere quiet to get work done, skip this location. read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I got the killer tofu sandwich and small iced coffee here. The sandwich was really good, loved the avocado and totally recommend. It was a combination of healthy and delicious. The coffee really helped me get through my night class. Pricing is reasonable and staff is nice. It's a bit crowded but doesn't take too long to find seating and there's free WiFi! The music in the cafe is a bit intense though and loud...maybe it was just that day I was there? read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - Killer tofu sandwich & small ice coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Small organic appearing pellet found floating in the iced coffee. Under higher magnification, there are longitudinal grooves extending to the darkened apex. Vegetable or animal? Proteinaceous? Coffee related or not ? Any experts? BTW espresso also tasted like A-- And no the iced coffeee didn't taste too good, even with the organic jimmie. read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - Special floating organic jimmie, gratis! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The coffee is pretty good, but the food not that great. The coffee is less burnt tasting than Starbucks and cheaper, but a little more expensive than DD, but better tasting. I have only gotten a basic egg and cheese breakfast sandwich on an everything bagel and it was alright, but SUPER salty. It was so salty that I couldn't really taste any of the egg or the cheese. I'd probably go back over Starbucks or DD for coffee but I'd get breakfast somewhere else. read more

Pavements in general are pretty good spots. The coffee isn't great, but overall good food and drink options. This particular location is very open and has comfortable seating. read more

Nice ambience, lots of outlets, and lots of single person study tables! Also a large amount of studying space, unlike many coffee shops that are overcrowded in the area. There was an oddly reoccurring burnt smell though, someone must've been using an oven w burnt stuff leftover inside. Otherwise, I enjoyed my aesthetically presented coffee! Cappuccino (3.75) read more

See all

If this location is consistent in anything it's their attitude. Never any urgency to get through their line.

11 dollar bagel for something I would expect at 711 for 2 bucks. So much egg and hardly any cheese or bacon

I can see why BU students flock to this place - it's the only real coffee shop in the area to do work. However, the food and ambiance wasn't that enjoyable. I got a large cold brew, but it came in a 12 oz cup and tasted like soap. Not sure why a disposable cup should taste like soap. Did not enjoy. I also got a bagel with cream cheese. The bagel was burnt, and the whole store often times smelt like burnt bread. Also not enjoyable. There were so many people trying to work and just not enough space. Not a really conducive work environment. I did like how they have two counters to order from though! One for drinks/pastries, and another for everything. That was smart of them. read more

Outstanding bagels. Terrific coffee. Just gotta run the hipster gauntlet to get these things. Fast service, a shortage of comments about hipster culture, these things you will not find. Employees hanging out on their off days, a shitty soundtrack, a lot of dirty looking people - this is your place if this is what you seek! read more

Extra star for the homemade bagels and having vegan bagel sandwich for that matter! Although the habanero was quite too spicy for me, I appreciated the Vegan Tequila bagel and wish there were more such vegan options. Environment seems very suitable for studying (seems like a common study space for BU?) and local gatherings. Definitely seems like a community centered joint. Prices are average, not dirt cheap and not over extravagant, overall justifiable. Service is very friendly and down to earth. I would def come back! read more

Painfully hip. Unhelpful help. Tiny bagels. These were some of the phrases going through my head as I waited on my food. I sat on my stool at Pavement and crafted the review I would leave online as soon as I got home. I looked around. "Carl," the angsty worker called. "Carl!" I looked up, and immediately I regretted it. It was my ex. I wrote a choose your own adventure story about this place. Play it here https://philome.la/funeralfarm/your-coffeeshop-adventure-051/play/index.html read more

I hate the fact that this place stops serving egg on sandwiches/egg sandwiches an hour before closing time!! Even if you are just 5 mins past in the last hour! I believe they also stop serving food half an hour before closing time. Why can't coffeehouses be a little more flexible with offering services that satisfy their client especially if it's nothing to do with healthcare regulations, and simply related to their operations! And during summer especially when they close early. -companies could consider being a little more flexible to keep their clients happy - read more

Mid as fuck. they purposefully play the most ear grating music so that people will leave. i hate it but its so overstimulating that I end up sitting here for 4+ hours sometimes and get work done :) great if you need multiple streams of information while doing work read more

"Pavement" really isnt my favorite surface to walk on nor does it sound like a really pleasant name anyway, I might have preferred "Hardwood Flooring" or something. But, the name doesnt do this place justice. The place is super spacious and cute despite its typical design. I ordered food (the Big Q), which I always think will be trash because I doubt coffee places have good food. But this sandwich, though expensive, was totally legit! It actually tasted good and not like a frozen afterthought, which I super appreciate. The coffee I got was good as well. Very cool place. read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - The Q - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Great modern decor and hipster vibe. Service was good. The menu looked interesting. Pastries looked fresh -nice selection of mufffins, scones, croissants. Bagels also looked fresh - all basic flavors: sesame, plain, everything, etc. They had a weekend special - Spicy Southwest bagel which I tried. Unfortunately, I wasn't impressed. It was spicy from the jalapeños but it didn't seem that different from the jalapeño bagel. The iced coffee was ok. I wouldn't mind meeting a friend here since I enjoyed the environment.. read more

overpriced and tasted like syrup out of the bottle. $5.50 for a small, and I threw it away- and I hate wasting food and money. All i have to say. read more

YUMMMMM!!! 1) The coffee here is great- from cold brews to espresso to regular drip coffee, you can't go wrong! 2) THE BAGELS. Born in NYC, raised in Jersey, I have high bagel standards and this place does not disappoint. The texture of this bagel was the closest to home I've found in the are and the cream cheese was great. read more

Having been to the location on Boylston last time I visited Boston, I was excited to see this location was close to the rental house. The atmosphere is really cool and the coffee drinks were good. The small cold press was laughably small (maybe 8 oz. tops). They were kind enough to put it in a bigger cup so I could add milk. They said it's small because it is very concentrated. It was not that strong. I'd probably warn people about how tiny it is, or put the size on the chalkboard. The place smelled like burning crumbs anytime someone ordered a bagel. I'd clean the equipment as the smell wasn't pleasant and was persistent. The staff was friendly, but generally seemed to be more interested in talking amongst themselves or their friends that kept stopping by. If you don't like cursing, I'd probably avoid the place as the radio and staff were dropping f-bombs. Doesn't bother me, but just a warning. I'd probably look for alternative coffee options nearby before selecting this location again. read more

Pavement Coffeehouse - Funny sign. Neat that they got Beyone's approval! ;-) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Maybe it's because I'm from NY and have experienced better bagels for less than $1, but the bagels/bagel sandwiches here are not great. It's tiny, hard and not soft, chewy, or fluffy on the inside. Yes, they have healthy options like whole wheat and low-carb, but these are even worse. The sandwiches are pretty good because they have some great condiments and toppings but I don't really recommend anything else. Even their coffee is just alright. It looks pretty, but I would MUCH RATHER go to dunkin for cheaper and just as great tasting coffee. The atmosphere is pretty hipster and chill though. I would like to sit here and study without ordering anything read more