I had high expectations because of how aesthetically pleasing the outside and inside of the cafe is. The inside was beautiful. Very modern, clean, and attentive to detail. Not a lot of seating, however, they do have a room to the left with slight additional seating. I got a latte to drink while I did some remote work. The staff member was very short. The latte art was beautiful and the drink was good but not super flavorful. The table I was sitting at was wobbly so swapped it out for another. I got the iced ube matcha latte on my way out (to-go)and it was awful. Very off tasting and disappointing given the price. The location was great as we came after eating breakfast and were able to walk! read more

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I enjoyed my first visit to James Cafe! It's off the beaten path of the typical coffee shops in the strip and I liked that it was cozy and quiet. I had an iced salted maple latte that was absolutely delicious. I like that they had glassware to enjoy my drink there since I stayed to meet and chat with a friend. read more

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A little further away from the main Strip area, James cafe is quiet and very cute, great to read or get some work done. Tried their single origin coffee, which was a great, dark blend and had free refills which is always a plus for me. Staff was great and loved the interior! Their baked goods were good, but I did find my scone not that flavorful, hardly tasting the lime, citrusy flavor at all, but I've heard great things about their other options so might have just chosen wrong. Nice pricier spot a little away from the crowd, would recommend stopping by to check them out! read more

The James Cafe - Coffee Lime Berry Scone - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Attended a private event here where they rented the venue and it was so perfect. It's a really cute spot. They offered full service while we were there and they made one of the best espresso martinis Ive ever had. read more

I highly recommend this place. The barist-bros here were literally amaaaazing. I was uncertain about food and drink and they helped guide me to a high caffeinated drink, a shaken oat espresso, a chicken sandwich with arugula with the pesto on the side. The food was phenomenal. The restaurant was well kept, clean, beautiful, and the vibe felt like an air of comfort and class. The service was great. The individual taking my order seemed nervous but was helpful and had patience. I would highly recommend visiting here. The coffee wasn't sweet but was strong and flavorful -- and way too easy to sip down. After ordering they were even kind enough to direct me to answer questions about the city. My one piece of feedback is we didn't know when done ordering to go to the end or that our food wouldn't be brought out. Other than that, everything was smooth! read more

The James Cafe - Chicken sandwich with sauce on the side. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Very rude staff. Have had two instances where they have been extremely rude. Also the place isn't good. read more

I went to the James Cafe for lunch over the weekend. It was so cute inside!! I've driven past them a few times and didn't realize till recently they were a cafe! They are located in the Strip near Cinderlands. I ordered a Chai latte with almond milk and vanilla syrup and Pumpkin Toast. My chai was perfectly perfect!! When I saw the Pumpkin Toast on the menu I just knew I had to get it! It was their house made pumpkin cream cheese with walnuts, kale, and blood orange balsamic glaze; it was scrumptious!! I could've had like 3 orders of it. My boyfriend ordered the Grilled Cheese Sandwich with prosciutto. He said it was good! They had seating in the main area and also another room with tables as well. Plenty of space to work and get together with a friend!!l read more

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Cute little place to work from. The coffee was good, nothing to write home about, but I liked that they had vegan options. The cookie was tasty! read more

The James Cafe - Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie / Drip Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I think they need to restock your items because my friend wanted avocado toast but they said we're out of that but I was able to get an avocado on my sandwich. Our cashier didn't offer any alternatives to the issue. Also out of all flavors of lemonade, coffee syrups and almost all other food options were gone by 11am. read more

The James Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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New cafe alert around the Strip District. Love the cozy and modern vibe of this place. I went during a Saturday afternoon and had a iced coffee with a splash of oat milk. It's delicious, super smooth. They also have fresh pastries for breakfast needs and sandwich/wrap/salads, which make it a nice spot for lunch as well. Would go back and try more stuff. read more

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Male cashier is NOT friendly, making it clear customers are nuisances. The bad service from a single employee is this places biggest negative. Items are pretty good, but slightly overpriced. Given the location, this is OK. read more

Pros: -cute interior -seating -pastries and quick breakfast items -tea options both caffeine and caffeine free -they played good coffee shop tunes Cons: -high prices -no gluten free breakfast or pastries -tv on in corner with soccer -lacking a cozy community feeling read more

The James Cafe - Interior of The James cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The James Cafe has some of the best iced lattes..ever! Try to get there once a week if possible! I love they change monthly flavors and go with the seasons. The service is on point and I love the atmosphere of the big windows letting natural light in. Total vibe & must check out! read more

The James Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This cafe is a perfect place to meet go with friends, or stop while visiting the Strip. The vibe is comfy-cute and you feel warm and welcome. The staff is GREAT! They were so nice and the most friendly people I have ever met. When I received my drink, the barista apologized for taking so long (which I honestly didn't notice so why was she apologizing) because the espresso was pulling weird and she wanted to make sure it was perfect. My sandwich was perfect, and though it was the basic egg and cheese, I could've added extras to make a custom sandwich. The latte is spectacular! The brûlée topping is really the perfect part. You can get everything on the menu to go or to stay and sit. It's definitely a nice change of pace from the chain coffee places. read more

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Zesty Truth: Poor customer service. No prices on visible menu. When asking the barista for prices, he was unsure. I ordered a large latte, he said okay & rang it up, then my girlfriend ordered a small latte...well come to find out there's only one size they offer & the price is $7. If it wasn't for her order, I would have left thinking I paid for a large. We sat, talked, and waited for our order, while one other table was there. Our drinks got finished & our name either got called so quietly or didn't get called at all. I proceeded to observe the employees huddled up talking, while our drinks got cold. I went up finally & asked if these were our drinks & the response was "oh yeah." read more

Their cucumber toast was my favorite thing on the menu! It is a very cozy vibe inside and is perfect for a midday pickup. I always get their lavender lemonade. read more

The James Cafe - cucumber toast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The grilled cheese and burnt almond tort are great! Service is good and the ambience is chill read more

The James Cafe - Burnt almond tort latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The most unfriendly employee I've ever experienced. Mad zero effort to make an error on their end right. Wasted my time.

Snuck in here for a quick coffee on a Saturday afternoon after visiting the bike shop around the corner. Lovely orange vanilla oat milk latte and a big slice of cinnamon coffee cake. Good service from the order to the pick up at the counter. Ample seating in the front of the shop--well lit with a classy, clean design. More seating in the back to your left as you walk in. A nice spot and you could probably park it here for a while if you need a change of scenery during your work day. read more

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The service and ambiance are perfect! It's so cute inside and outside and the wait staff are so friendly. The food was good! I thought it was just a tad pricey, but it was tasty. read more

The James Cafe - The outside patio - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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A bright and inviting coffee shop in the strip. After seeing friends post about James Cafe on Instagram I finally made it over and had a pleasant and productive few hours of work. I love the interior and the abundance of natural light. I ended up sitting at the bar by the window which was nice, but when I walked over to the restroom I discovered the second room of tables which is adorable and a little more private--I will definitely be trying that spot next. While there I had the drip coffee (with free refills ) which was pretty good. I also ordered lunch, the chicken panini, which was very tasty but a little overpriced. Overall really digging this space as a great option for remote work or a weekend treat. read more

The James Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

A cute little cafe that you may not have heard of in the strip district is the James cafe! My friend and I went here one morning as he was gifted a coupon booklet for some of the local Pittsburgh cafes, and we decided to try out The James Cafe from the options! It was an awesome little coffee shop with friendly service! I got an americano, and my friend got a blueberry muffin with a black drip coffee! It's a perfect place to bring a friend to hang out and talk, to do some work, or just grab a good cup of coffee! Definitely check it out if you're in the area! read more

The James Cafe - Inside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I'll start by saying, food quality is decent and they seem to be short staffed. They were out of a large majority of food and the male cashier was harsh and short with customers. My coffee was skimpy and my sandwich was flavorless. I didn't enjoy my experience here considering how cute and aesthetic the cafe is. I won't be back. read more

The staff were so nice!!! Our lattes were perfect and the cafe is so cute! I like the aesthetic! read more

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James Cafe is brand new, and it's absolutely beautiful. Walking through the Strip on a Saturday morning, I felt drawn in by the picturesque outdoor setting and beautiful decoration inside. This cafe is eco conscious and has a wide array of espressos and cafes! So why the 3 star rating, you ask? Well, it's really more for the food and the staff. The right equipment is all there - espresso machine, loose leaf tea, and all. They also have options for almond milk, oat milk, etc. for the lactose intolerant folds. However, the espresso just wasn't very good, and the matcha latte was... meh at best. I also got the lox bagel plate, and the dish was just soooo unbalanced. I'm expecting a pale imitation of the NYC lox bagel, and I didn't even get that! There were three small pieces of lox - not even enough to cover the whole bagle in a single layer. There was a sufficient amount of whipped cream cheese, and there was sooooo many capers. There was about double the amount of capers compared to the lox, and the amount of capers and cream cheese was a the same. Who eats THAT many capers? And after the lox bagel, I was still hungry. My husband also ordered a sandwich, and he was hungry afterwards. For over $35 for coffee and food, I would expect to be full after breakfast. Otherwise I would go to Kelly O's for delicious breakfast that'll probably last me two meals! Perhaps these are growing pains and the staff and food will improve with time. It's a great location and the decor is beautiful. read more

The James Cafe - Drinks and to go items! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I stopped by here this past Sunday with my wife for our morning coffee. Every Sunday we try to stop by a local coffee shop and on this day it's happened to be The James Cafes turn. This was actually helped out by the fact that I ran by it on Friday morning and thought that it looked nice. It's located right on Smallman Street in the strip district although down a bit from the main action. The inside of the place is classic looking with nice wall paper which reminds you of France while they have both indoor and outdoor seating and a small case with some pastries. For my coffee on this morning I went with one of their specials, an oatmilk, cinnamon and honey latte and my wife chose a matcha latte. Then we also chose a ham and cheese croissant and an orange and cranberry scone to share. I ended up eating the ham and cheese croissant first. It was nice and flaky and the ham and cheese inside tasted nicely. I wish that there had been more of it but thought for the $4.50 price what I had received was fair. Next up was the scone which was flavorful and I felt very buttery. My wife enjoyed it while I thought it might have had too much of that flavor. As for our drinks, I enjoyed my latte with the honey being a much more pronounced flavor than the cinnamon. I also think that the oatmilk was pre sweetened as it felt like the drink had some sweetness from something other than just the honey. Finally my wife thought her matcha latte from here was really good. The bottom line for me is that I would head back here again in the future. My wife and I both enjoyed our drinks and the pastries. read more

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Spanking new and shiny cafe on Smallman between 25th and 26th. The staff was delightful albeit seemingly inexperienced. There were pastries on display that were sold out for the day. The acoustics were loud and the space temperature on the chilly side. What drew me in was the unique drink offerings (hot cinnamon steamer / floral lemonade) and food item favorites (avocado toast / tomato soup). They offer some luxury specialty food groceries (agave / oatmeal / pink salt). Note: it's a cashless payment system. I'll definitely be back to try a hot beverage when in the area again. read more

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Quiet spot on a weekday morning. The James Cafe offered delicious coffee and bagel. The people running this place clearly know what they are doing since it recently started offering driftwood pastries. As a self-proclaimed Jewish bagel stob new yorker, the bagel was on point. Bagels are from three brothers. The next test will be their lox's sandwich. read more

The James Cafe - Macchiato and breakfast sandwich on a bagel - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Their lavender oat milk latte is out of this world! I order mine iced. The signature bagel with cucumber salad and roasted pepper cream cheese tastes light yet is filling, while the breakfast sandwich was very fresh. I will be coming here regularly! read more

Overpriced; poor quality coffee. I was excited to try this new coffee shop and the decor is so cute, so I guess perhaps my expectations were too high? While the barista was nice, I'm not sure he had much training or maybe it was just a disappointing cup? Either way, when spending $5-10 on a coffee drink I do expect it to be good! Sorry, will probably give it one more try - maybe it was just an off day. read more

Stopped in for a coffee this morning and it was hands down the best lavender vanilla latte I've ever had. Their food is great too. But my favorite part was how kind and helpful the bartistas were. They even recommended that I check out the Farmers Daughter pop up shop next door while I wait for my order to be ready. I loved the environment and aesthetic. I will definitely be back! read more

This is my favorite coffee shop in the Strip. I have never met a more friendly staff in my life and that is half the reason I keep returning. They're very personable and make the short time you talk with them memorable. I had gone maybe 3 times and and by my 4th visit, the staff members remembered not just my order, but me as well. The coffee options are a great variety, the pastries are delicious and the breakfast sandwich is *chefs kiss* To top it all off, the atmosphere is just great. You walk in and immediately there is a friendly vibe and it really makes the experience. Plus it is so cutely decorated. The James Cafe is a 12/10 for me! read more

If you stop by our office and ask us what the best spot for winner. The staff are all wonderfully marvelous, and with Richard at the helm, you can always expect to be delighted by whichever food or beverage option you choose. Be warned that this place can become addictive, and you may find yourself ordering for breakfast, lunch, and to go for dinner. The place is dog, friendly, and a spot where you can feel safe to be whatever kind of coffee lover you are. I highly recommend the breakfast sandwich with the bacon jam as well as any of the lunch sandwiches, but make sure you add soup because you will regret it if you don't. read more

There are four things in this world I am an absolute snob about: tea and coffee, and chocolate and wine. First I tried the spiced chai latte with oatmilk. Absolutely delicious. Next, got the London Fog with oatmilk and substituted lavender for the vanilla. Best London Fog I have ever got. Very nice baristas, very accommodating, and answered all my questions about possible vegan food substitutions. The interior is inspired by an adorable French parlor. Wonderful and relaxing place to get some work done and have a good drink. read more

This is a really beautiful space and addition to the Strip. They have a beautiful indoor and outdoor seating space. While we didn't try the espresso (it's always a good indicator of a coffee spot), they had a good mocha. It wasn't overly chocolatey. I did hear that the coffee here is actually from NYC and not Pittsburgh, which is kind of sad since there are so many good roasters here. The hot chocolate was really good too. It is pretty pricey here for drinks especially if you want a milk alternative. The food here was pretty mediocre and expensive so I wouldn't eat here again unless improvements are made. The steak and horseradish wrap had steak that was just chewy and there wasn't enough horseradish sauce. The avocado pesto egg sandwich was on the flattest English muffin ever and looked a little sad and small for $8. The egg was cooked all the way and kind of looked like those microwave eggs you get at Starbucks. I might've actually liked a sandwich from Starbucks more. I liked the pesto and the sun dried tomato tho. There were only a few pieces of avo in it and it kept falling out when I tried to eat it. Overall, it wasn't the best experience but I can see it being a beautiful place to hang out and have a coffee. They serve Mediterra pastries here too. I tried the chocolate scone and didn't like it though. I like that they have a filtered water fountain in the corner that's sage and aesthetic. read more

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We met at The James for brunch today. Loved loved loved the hospitality and decor! Sandwiches were served quickly and were hot, well plated and delicious! Coffee drinks, tea service and frappes were all wonderful. We especially delighted in the well appointed decor and cleanliness of the place and sparkling bathrooms. Can't wait to go back to see what they add to the retail experience! read more

Very nice employees who seem like they enjoy making your coffee. Definitely a nice stop in the strip district.

I love coming here not just for the coffee but for the delicious food. I can spend the same amount of money or more on a starbucks coffee and be left disappointed with a weird microwaved sandwich. At the James Cafe I get my caffeine fix paired with food that is fresh, healthy and genuinely enjoyable. Whether it's a cookie, breakfast sandwich, salad or bagel there is always a great option for any time of day. Totally a great space to bring my laptop and get some work done too, well decorated, friendly staff and great vibes. Definitely go and check it out. read more

The James Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The James Cafe is such an amazing addition to the Strip! The decor and aesthetic is so beautiful and everyone who works there is beyond friendly and helpful. Highly recommend the rose lemonade for a refreshing pick me up on a hot afternoon, but I have not tried a drink here that I didn't like! Such a relief to have a spot to grab a quick and healthy lunch or breakfast bite, definitely don't hesitate to check out their food menu! read more

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This is a beautiful cafe! The staff was so welcoming and helpful, and the cafe itself is the perfect spot to connect with friends or to get work done. Safe to say, I will be returning soon for another chai latte and to try out their food menu! read more