The Inkwell

Very slow, snail slow on whipping up a luke warm latte, salted caramel is the featured latte that…read moretasted good, but say it was luke warm is being overly generous on the heat. Definitely the college vibe of the decade, no one talks and has their faces on a Saturday planted in the computer. If not being socially inclined just sit in the dorm/apartment. The sweets were pricey but tasty. You can sit on the porch, inside or get out of there (never liked tolerated but liked a place so much as this spot). The cashier was swamped, asked about her having help, which I was told she was cleaning (4p), but she finally slithered over to help get orders rolling.

The service is impeccable. The baristas are lovely and very helpful! The vibes were definitely…read morecollege town, so as someone who was just visiting the city, I felt nostalgic to my old college years, haha. I don't know if it was a bad batch or what, but my latte wasn't great. I think it was the syrup. It didn't really taste like maple syrup at all. It was kind of metallic-y in a way. I would be interested in trying some of their other house made syrups if I'm in the area!

Chicken salad

Maple chai latte

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Cup & Kettle Tea

4.7(57 reviews)

0.1 mi

Very cozy tea shop with super high quality blends. The white rose latte is one of the best I have…read moreever had. They make the tea blends themselves and are very knowledgeable. I found the prices to be quite reasonable and the store was clean and tidy.

While it was offered at other local restaurants, I thought I'd go to the source for this tea. Their…read morespread of tea leaves for sale offered plenty of variety, and after perusing their seasonal drinks, I ordered a variant of an Earl Grey with some sort of tea I'd never heard of before, which turns out to be an extra steeped, smoked variety. It was a weird experience, and their large size was substantial enough that I wondered if it was needed, but I was satisfied that I'd broadened my palate by the end of it. I had no room for food, but they had some vegetarian options and abundant sweets, and they appeared to be selling houseplants as well. I have no doubt that if I were local, I'd be back to try a lot more.

Packaged Cup & Kettle teas

Exterior

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My favorite is their Assam tea along with the caramel apple pie tart (which is gluten-free!!).

Crumble Coffee & Bakery

4.0(57 reviews)

My friends and I were driving thru Bloomington and wanted coffee. We stopped here because the menu…read moreoptions sounded good. Two of us got the honey bear latte and one got the Mexican latte. Both of us that got the honey bear did not care for the coffee. The honey was a strong artificial flavor- I think they just used a cheap honey and added too much. Our other friend with the Mexican latte said it just tasted plain and like regular black coffee. I wouldn't recommend, it doesn't seem like anything special at all. And the service wasn't that great. Seemed like the cashier was just trying to get through the day and didn't care to chat with the customers at all. You honestly get better service at Starbucks.

Love this place.. great coffee and drinks. They have a menu of special drinks that is unique and…read morefun. Food is fantastic, they make most of the stuff there. Service has been nothing but awesome. Atmosphere is cool coffee shop to chill, work or sit around with friends

Tomato zucchini mozzarella quiche, malted chocolate cake w/ cinnamon cold brew frosting, session longling green tea

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Soma Coffee House

3.9(194 reviews)

I grab my Friday morning coffee almost every week at Soma. I love the atmosphere & the music they…read moreplay, it's become a beloved weekly routine for me. It's not my favorite place for espresso drinks, but their Blackbeard drip coffee hits the spot for me. My husband also loves their juices. The back patio is a perfect spot for meeting with a friend during the summer, and they have a prime downtown location as well.

Went here after work for a matcha. It was well-mixed; however, the barista was very light-handed…read morewith the vanilla syrup. Not too inviting... definitely a grab and go spot. Service was decent.

Interesting bathroom decor

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Poindexter Bar & Coffee

3.9(55 reviews)

0.2 mi

Casual dining

Locally owned & operated

Wouldn't go here for the food again. I ordered the tavern wings, and they were just okay. Not sure…read moreif they were worth the amount I paid. Great ambiance and decent service though! Helpful tip: don't get the matcha.

We first visited in the evening and I had a French 75 cocktail that was made perfect. We stayed at…read morethe hotel and went to breakfast here and our lattes were great. Our kids enjoyed the parfait, eggs and pancakes. We were definitely not disappointed.

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Needmore Coffee Roasters

4.4(56 reviews)

2.2 mi

Found this wonderful coffee shop while in Bloomington and was so impressed! The interior is…read morebeautiful and spacious with plenty of seating, making it a great spot to relax or get some work done. The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming. I ordered a latte and a few pastries--the coffee was expertly made and the pastries were noticeably fresh and delicious. They also sell a nice variety of coffee beans to take home. I'll definitely be making this a mandatory stop every time I'm back in town!

Bloomington has a lot of coffee competition. Needmore isn't cheap, it's they're the best coffee…read moreroasters in the city. I wish I could afford it more often. A grind of their South Asian coffees are amazing. Their food selections are good, but an after-thought, unlike Hopscotch and down the list, Soma. This is a noisy place. There are picnic tables outside, but inside, it's often populated by laptops, loud conversation, and fueling all this commotion, the best coffee in town. I haven't had a bad cup yet, and I've had plenty. Bring money, but it's worth it. Competence should be rewarded.

Double chocolate muffin, Hale harvest latte

Lemon poppy seed cake, hummingbird latte

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Blueberry scone, iced spu-phoni latte

Hopscotch Coffee Roastery / To-Go

4.7(17 reviews)

0.1 mi

This walk up location is small, but was conveniently located for me to stop by and grab something…read moreto go. I ordered a pumpkin chai off of their seasonal menu - it's served hot and I also added an espresso shot. I LOVED the chai - it had a lovely flavor and the spices really came through and paired beautifully with the pumpkin flavor. Even though a couple people were ahead of me, I didn't have to wait long and was able to get my order in around 5 minutes. I can't wait to try some of their coffees next time!

WOW! This place has an incredible espresso and crafted latte game, ordered the basil mocha and…read morefennel Black pepper lattes. Both made quickly by the lovely barista in a minimalist tiny Hobbit store perched along an annoying expensive street, why is all downtown Bloomington parking paid? What a mess to try attracting tourists who have to shell out for a Monday completely empty of any traffic. At least Hopscotch proves the down payment worth it! There's no ambience here which is a bummer, could see myself sticking a nose into a book for hours eventually ordering another latte but not even a stool to sit. Both drinks were sublime, unique twists on common herbs and spices to enhance the java juices, this is the stuff that gets me excited for the brew!

Basil Mocha Latte

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Fennel Black Pepper Latte

Crumble Coffee & Bakery

4.5(77 reviews)

2.3 mi

First time at this Crumble Coffee, but I love the other two. Same good experience here…read more I got a tomato red pepper danish, a piece of blueberry almond cake, and a summer garden tea (seasonal green tea with fruit syrup) The danish was actually my second choice after I found out they were out of the galette I wanted, but I actually liked the danish a lot and was glad it was what I ended up with. The pastry was great, with nice layers but not overly flaky for my taste like a lot of danishes; it had a nice tenderness to it. The filling was delicious, like a cheesy roasted red pepper dip baked into a danish. The cake was also great, not too sweet and very aesthetically pleasing too. The tea was really nice, with the fruit flavors balanced with the green tea. The shop is very cute and felt welcoming. There's a lot of outdoor seating. They have some local art prints for sale and there's even a printer for customer use. The baristas were friendly.

I ordered one Cookie it took about 15 minutes to receive it. It was a line though. The employees…read moreare not very friendly not much of a smile or a genuine thank you for your business. I ordered the cookie with the apples and crumbles on it. I assume the apple strudel cookie. It's very good. I also ordered milk. The lady didn't told me that they didn't have milk, but then a display showed that they did have milk so she had to go look for it and finally found it. It's really a unusual Customerservice experience as the employees aren't that friendly and don't seem very hospitable and welcoming.

Tomato red pepper danish, blueberry almond cake, summer garden tea

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As I entered Crumbles, I found the restaurant to be welcoming

Gables Bagels

4.6(154 reviews)

Awesome bagels - and not even in NY/NJ!! Great service as…read morewell A must stop for a quick breakfast when in Bloomington!!

Gables respects the schmear, best bagels in town without a doubt!! Excellent pre-class mealread more

Inside

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Runcible Spoon Cafe & Restaurant

3.8(681 reviews)

Went here over my honeymoon and we were blown away by the quality of the food that we went back…read moreagain later in the week! The service was great and the vibe was intimate but without feeling like you are fighting for room or speaking at a louder volume. Highly recommend this spot!

Cute place. It may be slightly run down but not yet to the point where it's concerning. I liked the…read morecolourful atmosphere with the painted walls and stained glass decoration in the windows, and I thought my seat was very cozy. The food is diner-style but very good so far. I visited twice for a breakfast and a lunch. Lunch: I had a Black Russian sandwich and a pot of Emperor's Pride tea. The sandwich, which is a vegetarian version of a Reuben with roasted veggies instead of meat, was delicious. They really piled on the veggies. Some fell out of the sandwich, but I just ate them with the home fries. The home fries also were nicely seasoned. The tea was a little off. It's possible it was the tea itself that didn't taste how I expected, but it kind of tasted like I was getting the flavour of a different tea in the pot. Breakfast: Apple pancake and bouquet latte (seasonal special - lavender Ceylon tea latte with honey and rose syrup). The bouquet latte was wonderful and had this beautiful red swirl latte art. The pancake was nice and fluffy. One pancake is something like $5, but one is enough for a complete meal, maybe with a protein side if you're especially hungry. The staff is very friendly and makes you feel welcome. The food didn't take very long even though they seemed busy.

Black Russian sandwich, Emperor's Pride tea

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Natalie B.

0

35

7

8 years ago

I absolutely love there coffee, they offer both hot and iced as well as some teas. And since they first opened they have expanded from beyond just their cookies and pastries at the front by the cash register. For breakfast you are also able to be given gluten free options for bread which was awesome. It is a great study spot for students as well with light music in the background. The location is great as well being in the heart of downtown Bloomington on the square. Highly recommended. read more

Olivia G.

0

2

0

2 months ago

The owner, Ouale, is cruel to his employees and belittles them. I'd go anywhere else. Seriously -- go anywhere else.

Jake M.

0

1

0

10 months ago

Great- seemed like good service and an good environment Food was great! read more

Joseph B.

1

9

25

9 years ago

The best place in Bloomington for coffee... Real Expresso Try the grilled cheese, just amazing read more

Support_small_biz X.

0

42

0

9 years ago

Lovely place! Glad this has come to town.

The Inkwell - coffee - Updated September 2026

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Runcible Spoon Cafe & Restaurant

3.8

(681 reviews)

Went here over my honeymoon and we were blown away by the quality of the food that we went back…read moreagain later in the week! The service was great and the vibe was intimate but without feeling like you are fighting for room or speaking at a louder volume. Highly recommend this spot!

Cute place. It may be slightly run down but not yet to the point where it's concerning. I liked the…read morecolourful atmosphere with the painted walls and stained glass decoration in the windows, and I thought my seat was very cozy. The food is diner-style but very good so far. I visited twice for a breakfast and a lunch. Lunch: I had a Black Russian sandwich and a pot of Emperor's Pride tea. The sandwich, which is a vegetarian version of a Reuben with roasted veggies instead of meat, was delicious. They really piled on the veggies. Some fell out of the sandwich, but I just ate them with the home fries. The home fries also were nicely seasoned. The tea was a little off. It's possible it was the tea itself that didn't taste how I expected, but it kind of tasted like I was getting the flavour of a different tea in the pot. Breakfast: Apple pancake and bouquet latte (seasonal special - lavender Ceylon tea latte with honey and rose syrup). The bouquet latte was wonderful and had this beautiful red swirl latte art. The pancake was nice and fluffy. One pancake is something like $5, but one is enough for a complete meal, maybe with a protein side if you're especially hungry. The staff is very friendly and makes you feel welcome. The food didn't take very long even though they seemed busy.

Verona Coffee House

4.1

(19 reviews)

Wonderful location for a coffee place. Having abundant indoor seating and a number of outdoor seats…read moremeans any weather situation is covered. Verona has a list of coffee and tea beverage options that seems to never end. We really enjoyed a great cappuccino and matcha drinks. It's easy to get lost in translation as they have a drink favored by staff member Gracie which should not be confused with a Grace Latte. Execution does not necessarily match their web site - ask for more puree if you want. Sometimes they have something in stock but can't sell it because the manager did not put it in the system. The staff tries but does not seem to think outside the box yet. Great potential!

Looked like a cute coffee shop...and I go to A LOT of coffee shops around the world. (125 in the…read morelast 7 months.). But...I will say, they did not update their hours here. They close at a HARD 3:00 on Saturday and Sundays. NOT 5:00. I have a broken leg, and after hobbling down the stairs, I limped through the front door with my boot on at 3:02 and was quickly told that they are no longer serving anyone. Which, totally get you need a hard end time, but I will say, the shop was still packed full with people and every table was still filled. I don't know. Maybe I'm just annoyed I put in the effort with a broken leg to support a local place and they didn't update their hours. Maybe I'm overreacting. But....this area of Indiana seems to have a ton of coffee options. So I probably would check out the "campus" ones a little closer to town next time or call this one before to see what they decide to make their hours for the day.

The Caffeinated Cook

4.7

(19 reviews)

They have great scones that are very good. Never had the coffee because I don't drink coffee but my…read morewife does and she likes it. The service is great as well. It is a nice quiet place to do some work as well.

We've never ordered anything here that wasn't great! Their scones are my favorite, I love catching…read moremy favorite flavor, orange cranberry My husband loves the biscuits and gravy days. Coffee is from a local roaster. Very friendly service. Locally owned and ran. Don't overlook The Caffeinated Cook

Daily Grind Coffee House

3.4

(98 reviews)

Everything was great! Food, donuts, coffee, and atmosphere. We loved it and would go back!!read more

We've been wanting to visit Daily Grind Coffee House for awhile, and it absolutely lived up to the…read morehype. The cabin atmosphere is incredibly cozy -- the kind of place you want to slow down and stay awhile. It has that perfect Nashville, IN charm that makes you feel instantly comfortable. We ordered the iced blueberry pancake latte and the orange spice tea, and both were so good. The latte was unique and flavorful without being overly sweet, and the tea was warm, fragrant, and perfectly balanced. The staff was attentive, service was fast, and everything felt welcoming from start to finish. Such a great little spot -- we'll definitely be back!

Soma

4.2

(21 reviews)

I love Soma! It's one of my favorite coffee shops in the area, and I come here every time I'm…read morevisiting the IU campus. I have only tried the espresso drinks before, but my friends have raved about the juices and smoothies, too. I usually go for the Razz-Matazz iced latte (raspberry and dark chocolate), but this time, I decided to branch out and try one of the seasonal specials, the Frosted Animal Cookie Latte. The presentation reminded me of the viral "dot cakes" with the vibrant pink cold foam and nonpareil sprinkles. It's definitely on the sweeter side, but I love sweet, so it was perfect for me! I am also impressed with how friendly the staff is. They are always polite and efficient, and they are always diligent about watching out for allergies. I appreciate that they have a list of common allergens that are used in their drinks at the register. Soma really has something for everyone, so it's the perfect coffee shop for groups!

This is one of our favorite coffee shops in Bloomington. I love their themed drinks. They have…read moretheir standards and their seasonals. Have not tried their food but their coffee is consistent. Service is always quick and accurate. They let us use our own travel mugs as well. Generally a busy spot so not always able to get a table but most of the time we are just getting our coffee to go anyway. Seems like this would be a great spot to hang out and work if you were a college student or artist.

The Olde Bartley House

4.9

(22 reviews)

Such a fun place to visit with delicious menu! The house…read morehas a wonderful history, make sure to take time to look around. The original hardwood floors are gorgeous and the decor fits perfectly. Lots of drink option-I opted for a hibiscus tea that was great. Avocado, egg and cheese was wonderful with a unique, flaky croissant. Definitely recommend!

Delicious spot for a morning coffee with lots of local history! Our drinks were delicious, though a…read morelittle pricey (~$9) but it was one of the few spots open. they seemed to have lots of food options as well.

Common Grounds

4.5

(48 reviews)

I loved this place so much. The coffee is great and the atmosphere very homey. I will make a point…read moreof going back any time I am in the area.

Great coffee and great bakery a great place to unwind and relax also kind and caring staffread more

Spudshacks

5.0

(21 reviews)

Spudshacks was great! The food was delicious. The owner was friendly and checked in with us to make…read moresure everything was good. The place was clean and bright. I look forward to going back!

Very friendly staff, good atmosphere, and great food! Well seasoned, large portions and generous…read morewith the toppings. I've never been a big fan of baked potatoes, but this changed my mind! 10/10

Americano

5.0

(1 review)

Best pumpkin bread and chocolate cake in the universe!…read more Their tea is always freshly brewed, and their desserts very moist and flavorful. And the price is right!

Bloomington Bagel Company

3.2

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