Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Swell Cafe

    4.2 (26 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    Swell Cafe Photos

    SWELL CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Swell Cafe

    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

    the outside of the building
    Abegail A.

    Located a few blocks from the beach, Swell Cafe offers coffee/lattes (hot and iced), smoothie bowls, pastries, breakfast, and brunch/lunch. There's seating inside and a couple tables outside to enjoy your beverage/food. I like how they have a takeout window to order as well. Staff was super friendly and patient as I decided what to order. My iced latte with brown sugar wasn't too sweet and was made with homemade brown sugar syrup. It was just the right pick-me-up to start my morning. I also got the raspberry oat crumble bar, a customer favorite. This bar is definitely a must. Not too sweet and the perfect morning (or even afternoon) treat. I'll definitely back when I'm in the area for another iced latte and to try their banana whip.

    The cute pick up window

    My favorite coffee place in OC! I love their coffee, food options and the staff is always friendly. Inside is light and bright with a few tables and some outside seating as well This is a weekly stop for me as a local and something I always look forward to.

    trolls enjoying banana whip. x and croissant
    Poppy Branch T.

    branch took dj suki and bridget to swell cafe let branch tell you, absolutely amazing. banana whip was delicious, dj suki got croissant and smoothie and bridget got smoothie aswell. super nice humans kind to trolls like us. troll approved

    Iced vanilla latte
    Mary S.

    This is my new FAVORITE coffee shop! The homemade syrups are so tasty and you can tell they are made well! This is the place to go for a high quality latte. My husband has loved his cappuccinos as well! It is so cute inside too! The barista has been so nice every time even when I snuck in right before closing!

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Olivia W.
    0
    59
    115

    18 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Went around 12:30 on Sunday. Took over an hour to get my order. Half the orders were for people that left before they got theirs.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Took them 45 minutes to make us our drinks and they weren't even that good. Not worth the wait.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    I love swell cafe! my coffee is always perfect! I love to go with my mom after a work out class. The staff here is always so nice!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Amy B.
    1
    34
    1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jade B.
    222
    8
    0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Julie S.
    371
    12
    6

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Erik L.
    12
    14
    1

    3 years ago

    Visiting from Seattle, had an awesome breakfast sandwich and a great americano. Good vibes and clean!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Great service & people! Coffee and food delicious! Super cute and aesthetic, wish it was open everyday.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Stellar cold brew! I wish I had tried this place sooner during my stay in OC... Next year this place will be my first stop for coffee.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Great food and quality of food is superior. A must visit place for coffee and sandwiches and smoothies and fruit bowls.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rob C.
    0
    13
    0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Martha Z.
    0
    118
    14

    3 years ago

    matcha latte was slimy and didn't taste like matcha. it was so light green. the milk was so slimy and thr texture was very bad

    Business owner information

    Photo of Lina M.

    Lina M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Awesome coffee and great service. A small shop with pastries and amazing coffee. Best coffee I've had in a long time.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Lina M.

    Lina M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Swell Cafe

    Review Highlights - Swell Cafe

    You can't go wrong starting your day with a banana whip and iced latte (organic of course) with coconut milk.

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Coffee & Tea 292 times last month within 5 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Hooked on Breakfast

    Hooked on Breakfast

    4.4
    (196 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Hooked on Breakfast is so welcoming and all the staff are very very nice!! Also yummy food !read more

    Not your average breakfast joint! My wife's family has been vacationing in Ocean City for years and…read morethis was everyone's first visit to Hooked on Breakfast. One of the servers who knows our niece suggested we stop by for breakfast during her shift and recommended we come before 8 am as it gets busy. By the time we arrived (after 8 am lol) our only option was to sit outside, otherwise the wait would've been 45 minutes--she was right. When I say I'm not a breakfast person, I don't mean I dislike breakfast foods. I just don't enjoy eating early in the day. This did not stop me from looking through pictures on Yelp and Google (Wow! Everything looked delicious!) and through the menu which had some very intriguing options including Woody's Scrap Pile, Cannoli Pancakes, and Breakfast Sushi (only on Tuesdays) just to name a few. The menu has all your typical breakfast foods and combos you'd find at any diner or breakfast joint, but then there are also much more unique, elaborate "craft" options that really make this menu stand out. Our server, who is also a teacher in my niece's school, was great. She was friendly, attentive, professional, frequently checked in, and was especially good with the kids, offering crayons and their choice of colored straws. While I didn't eat, my 5 star rating is based on the service (of course), the coffee, and unanimous positive remarks from around the table. I really liked the coffee mugs. They were large (larger than your average coffee mug), sturdy mugs that were filled nearly to the brim with piping hot coffee. My wife got the Sour Dough Delight--grilled sour dough topped with bacon, goat cheese, arugula, balsamic reduction (which she skipped) and two eggs (any style). She loved it and told me she'd absolutely order it again after she tries the Avocado Naan. Guess we're coming back at least twice more lol! Our table also had an Omelette, a breakfast sandwich, and French Toast. Everyone enjoyed their food and the portion sizes were huge--I don't think anybody finished their plate. While I did think the prices were fair, especially for the quality and quantity of food served, the online menu hadn't been updated to reflect current prices. I can see why they get as busy as they do and why they've received so many 5 star reviews. I'm sure Hooked on Breakfast will be added to our list of stops on our annual Ocean City family vacation after our experience this July.

    Photos
    Hooked on Breakfast
    The famous Charlie's crunch bowl with banana and peanut butter drizzle.
    The famous Charlie's crunch bowl with banana and peanut butter drizzle.
    Regular menu

    See all

    Regular menu
    Dockside Kitchen

    Dockside Kitchen

    4.1
    (210 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    Stopped in for lunch after a visit to the aqua park right next door. No issues getting a table for…read more9 people. Our server was great. All the food was really good. I had the chicken tacos. They have a kids menu which was also helpful. The only l thing to watch for is the seagulls! They mainly tried to scrounge at any tables that had just gotten up before the staff had a chance to clear them, but a few times we thought they might try to get to our table. Just a good reminder to not feed them, as they have gotten so bad over the years.

    Was excited to eat here. The view and ambiance was very nice. Right on the water. Good view of the…read morebay. We were seated fairly quickly and the place seemed clean. It was very crowded and it felt like everyone was sitting together. You were on top of one another eating with your neighbors. It was a hectic seating scenario, kids running everywhere. Up and down the dock, in-between tables. The seagulls were the worst part. Felt like you had to guard your plate the entire time. One swooped down and attacked the French fries on my wife's plate while we were sitting right there towards the end of our meal. And the best they could do was offer to take our plates away. Food was ok at best. Good portions, no real flavor in the fish tacos, the fish and chips were just deep fried, not seasoned, nothing special or to brag about. was not worth the trip at all. We won't be going back. Not until they fix some major things.

    Photos
    Dockside Kitchen
    Shrimp and crab omelette
    Shrimp and crab omelette
    View from outdoor bar top

    See all

    View from outdoor bar top
    Varsity Inn

    Varsity Inn

    3.9
    (213 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    We had such a great experience at the Varsity Inn! The fun atmosphere made it the perfect spot for…read moreour party of eight. We were seated immediately at the open bar, which was a great start to the day! The service was truly first class. When they realized they had run out of milk for my granddaughter, they didn't just apologize, they actually ran to the store to get more! That level of care and customer service was above and beyond. Friendly staff, great energy, and exceptional hospitality all around. We'll definitely be back!

    We have been visiting Varsity Inn for nearly 25 years now and have always enjoyed it…read more We visited a couple days ago, and food and service was very good, as usual. Wjat was upsetting is that we noticed they are now adding hidden costs to your meal. I had a steak sandwich with onions and peppers. They charged me $2 for onions and $2 for peppers, adding an extra $4 for the meal. The added cost was not indicated on the menu, nor did the server disclose it. Another person changed out their two slices of standard toast for a slice of whole grain. That was a $1 added charge. Visitors should check their bills closesly since Varsity Inn seems to now want to add a charge for any little thing. The following night, I had a hamburger at another restaurant, and there was not an added charge for onion. Looks like we'll go elsewhere so we don't get hit with added, hidden charges.

    Photos
    View of inside
    View of inside
    Choc chip pancake
    Choc chip pancake
    Varsity Inn

    See all

    Swell Cafe - coffee - Updated July 2026

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