I ordered the iced honey lavender latte. It was good. Smooth. Nothing to rave home about. The employees are very sweet and helpful. I would come back and try an iced coffee. read more

The Satellite Cafe - Iced Honey Lavender Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I've had it be a hot the vast majority of the time that I've been here with only one negative experience out of about 5O - 75 visits in the span of about 16 years: Likes: Neighborhood nook Cozy Unassuming Inexpensive Good selection of food and drinks Usually friendly staff Indoor and outdoor seating Water station Not so great parts: During busy times, it might be a challenge to find a table due to the smaller space Closes much earlier than it used to Stop carrying items from Vegan Treats in Bethlehem Service can be iffy at times read more

Yummy food and drinks, lots of West Philly locals, and very COVID-conscious staff, wearing masks.

Cute vibe with friendly folks but unfortunately the non coffee drinks taste like nothing. I even had a momentary panic that I had covid because the chai and hot chocolate both were so lacking in flavor. I ordered the chai, it tasted like nothing, the barista was nice enough to try with a hot chocolate since I didn't like the chai, but still - flavorless. read more

I was a bit wary with the reviews but then I started dating a guy who likes to go here for breakfast. I've now been here several times and can attest that the food is tasty and the folks behind the counter are great. My go-to items are the Bike Shop and the Roma bagels, and the egg and coriander chutney wrap. Wasn't a huge fan of the rose chai (sorry but a tad too sweet and Mina's World set the bar high, R.I.P.). However, the smoothie menu is awesome- I like Choco Lovely or Blood & Honey. The BEST part is they have sustainable straws! There's vegan options on the menu and a case full of goodies from Crust Vegan bakery. There's indoor and outdoor seating, the back is kind of a living room vibe with plants and books and things to look at. If you get food to go, it's all in paper with no plastic so beware leaky sandwiches. tl;dr: ignore the pre-2020 reviews, this place is worth a visit! read more

i love this place so much! great prices, good food, even better espresso, with extremely kind and covid cautious staff enjoying my beautiful raspberry mocha as i type read more

I've been coming to the Satellite since it was the Comet on 40th but I've never written a review. But I just had the best bagel sandwich of my life and wanted to tell Wilder and Crew how much i love that them. I mean, I probably loved the sandwich a lot because I just had a 3 day migraine so this was my first real food in days, but also, it was delicious. Recommend building your own bagel with pesto, cream cheese, salmon and avocado! Love you guys. read more

The space itself is small and cozy. The barista was extremely friendly and my iced honey lavender latte was delicious. I'll be going back for sure. read more

I still have a mad lot of love for Satellite and anything that Stinking Lizaveta is involved with. But I did have my first ever experience today that made me see where people were coming from when noting it's quirks in service. Even though I was directly in front of the counter and was ready to order for what seemed like forever it took awhile for the server to even acknowledge my presence with a simple hello. But I'm not one to normally be miffed by such, and when she did finally acknowledge me she was friendly and receptive, However even though I ordered a Black Death, a coffee with a shot of espresso blended with drinking chocolate, I was charged for and pointed toward the coffee during an odd exchange. Since I was on the go I didn't pay it too much mind, but still, one strike out of the many times I've been here. But as long as it hooks up great things like the green kale smoothie, and the Bikestop Special (cream cheese, pesto, roasted peppers, and basil on the bagel of your choice!) I'll still be hooked on The Satellite. read more

-The food is good, the smoothies are better ! -Staff is super friendly. -The café has an open and invitation aura. -Outside seating and indoor both have a design that truly fits the neighborhood. -Cute and private ! read more

Great spot, so glad to see so many vegan options. Really unfriendly and dismissive service, though, which made for a generally unpleasant experience. Will come back and hope the staff is less dismissive and rude. Again, awesome to see so many vegan options - and such a nice variety. Coffee and bagels were good. Sad the service was not. read more

I was apprehensive when I saw all of the reviews about bad service, but I came here with a friend and we had great service. Friendly server who made eye contact and chatted about the weather while taking and preparing our order correctly. No complaints! This place is a bit overwhelming for a vegetarian because there are just so many good options, it's hard to choose. Good reason to come back here next time I'm in the neighborhood. I recommend the black bean wrap and the espresso coffee. They have a bunch of good non-dairy (lol my phone tried to correct that to non-binary) mills including macadamia. The espresso itself is also well made enough to stand alone. There's seating inside, and when the weather's good, there's seating outside too. They get a lot of sunlight in the morning, so this is a great breakfast place. Also it's right by the tram if you're looking to pIck up something to go. Gender neutral restroom. read more

The coffee is good, the vegetarian and vegan options here are killer, but the service is so bad I'll never go back. This used to be right around the corner from my house so I would go once in a while, and I swear the service got worse each time. The last time I went I stood at the counter for ten straight minutes watching someone restocking the fridge without so much as a "hello" or an ETA. I just walked out. I don't need much. I don't even need someone to be polite. But I do feel like the staff here hasn't been trained to prioritize, don't have enough support, or just don't care. read more

this place is honestly great. good coffee and DIY vibe, local art, lo-fi aesthetic and very unpretentious. The only downside is when locals bring their kids because its small and kids sort of make too much noise and are always smelly. Anyway the best part is how this is a flavor of the real west philly, not the bourgeois richy rich college kids (or professors) that are always trying to gentrify the neighborhood. Coffee and snacks for the people, not the starbux crowd. Plus one time i found a free bagel on a table and nobody judged me when i ate it. read more

The petite girl with bangs, bun and septum piercing who waited on me today was extremely rude to me instantly for no reason. My only guess is cause I wasn't dressed like a punk / I'm not a regular. I was having a good day until this interaction. As I sat waiting for my drink she proceeded to tell her coworker "I wish we could call people's names for what they really are, like BANE OF MY EXISTENCE". Hire people who don't hate their lives and project it onto customers. Super judgey for what one would otherwise assume to be a progressive , friendly place. Way too much angst here. read more

It's cute and tucked away behind a little gate. Very welcoming. Me and my friend both got bagel sandwiches called the Bike Shop, and they were absolutely amazing. Possibly the best bagel sandwich I have ever had and that is saying a lot. Got a cortado that came out more like a cappuccino but was so good that I honestly don't care at all. Staff were super friendly. This is the type of place where I want to spend all of my hard earned money. I'm getting hungry just thinking about that sandwich read more

Bike Shop special bagel is so delicious -- it's cream cheese, pesto, red peppers and spinach on your choice of a bagel. For $3.50 it's really an amazing price for fresh ingredients on a solid bagel. Service is a little spotty. Last week when i went and asked for the bike shop special , she commented " I don't know what you mean by house special. We have a bike shop special though". Even if I said it incorrectly, which I'm not sure I did -- that's pretty snarky for no reason. Today it was a different person and she was awesome and much friendlier/ personable. Bagel takes about 7-10 minutes though, so factor that into your commute/ wait time. Solid food choices, healthy vegetarian options at a very reasonable price. read more

This place has become my go-to when it comes to getting work done in Philly. The cafe has a lot of great bonuses in addition to the standard free wifi and ample seating, namely: An enormous tea selection that I have yet to exhaust. Always something new to try out, Incredible bagels, albeit they do run out fairly early, so I'd suggest coming a bit early to get them. I think the secret to their tastiness is that they are buttered before being toasted in the panini press.. And, of course, great spreads for your bagels. I recommend the one that is similar to olive tapenade. In all, highly recommended. read more

The Bike Shop Special wrap was delicious! Pesto usually makes anything tasty & this wrap was no exception. Also, it was perfectly warmed up with a nice crisp sear. The Black bean wrap was fine, but comparatively bland and boring. I'd happily return for the Bike Shop Special! read more

I find myself in a conundrum about this place. These reviews are All. Over. The. Place. For one, this joint is far from being hippie. Serving vegan/vegetarian only does not equate hippie so lets get that out of the way yeah?Also, the staff has been nothing but cool when I have come in. I go for coffee and on those times the coffee has been right. It reminds me of some of the joints I visited in Portland, in fact if I didn't know I was in Philly I would say it was a PDX shop while inside. For one their chai is real chai, not this premixed garbage a lot of places serve. I like that. I dig the grungy, gutterpunk ambiance and even though they play cookie monster metal which isn't my favorite, it fits what they are trying to do. I have yet to partake in the goodie case but all the baked goods look right. I will come back and post about those when I do. My only complaints are two... if you are gonna serve in real cups for consuming on premises I would prefer a cup that isn't all chipped and cracked. But hey maybe that is part of the allure? Also, check your syrups for ants, my vanilla chai had a stow away. Not enough to pitch a bitch about it. I lived in Mexico before so I am used to that business but I could see why that may turn off the average patron. Heads up, it is cash only so if you come unprepared, hit up the ATM across the way. read more

The Satellite Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Literally got barked at by the register person for standing in the wrong spot. (I stood where one stands after placing one's order rather than where one should stand to place one's order.) If making coffee and bagels and attending to random people who may not be familiar with the place gets you that stressed, maybe get a new gig? Point taken; I won't be back. read more

This place is just...unsettling/confusing. I went in with my husband in the hope of getting some basic breakfast food (like a bagel or croissant) and the whole aesthetic of this place is like it's a squat-which might be on purpose I don't know. There was some sort of really loud, really awful noise "music" playing, the restaurant seemed really grimy, the food selection was seriously limited and frankly suspect, the service was at best disinterested and at worst rude/uncooperative...we couldn't wait to get out of there. I've lived in west philly for 10 years and I know that specific area has a penchant for anarchists and crust punks who probably love this spot but if you're not one of those groups you're better off avoiding. read more

Stumbled across this little coffee shop this morning when I had a couple of hours to kill and was looking for a place to grab some coffee and do some work. The cafe is kind of tucked away and isn't right on the sidewalk (if that makes any sense...) so it's a little hard to find. However, there is a pretty clear sign at the entrance so once you're around the general area, you should be able to find it. I really enjoyed my experience here and will probably be back soon! Let me just say- this place has a very unique, cool vibe to it. The employees and people in the cafe were very friendly and happy and it was just a really nice environment to sit, enjoy some coffee, and relax for a bit. I ordered an iced soy macadamia nut latte and a poppy seed bagel. Both were delicious! I think I paid around $5.50 total which might seem a bit steep...but honestly, how I look at it is that I'm paying for the coffee, food, and also the "experience" (sitting in the cafe, using wifi, hanging out). Plus, I like supporting cool, little coffee shops! There were a TON of vegan options here, including the kale smoothie which seemed to be very popular. I'll probably try that next time I come by. There is outdoor and indoor seating although it was pretty busy when I was there around 10 AM, and there were only a couple seats open. Also, if you bring in your own mug or glass you get 50 cents off of your drink order! All in all, I will definitely be coming back to the Satellite Cafe! It's a pretty neat place and if you're in the area, it's great for relaxing and getting some work done. I gave 4 stars only because the seating is pretty limited and it gets crowded fast at the front register when there are more than a few people waiting in line. read more

The Satellite Cafe - poppy seed bagel - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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This is the best coffee in the neighborhood. I feel like people hyped up a lot of the other hip and shiny coffee shops to me when I first came here but I keep returning to Satellite over and over because the coffee here is hands down the best. The food is great too, and I love that it is low key and unpretentious. It's my favorite breakfast spot around. read more

I agree with other reviewers that the service here can be very dismissive. I've been here twice. First time was fine, I ordered iced tea and it was fine. Took very long to come out, but overall okay. Second time I was essentially ignored when trying to order. I came up to the counter and the guy behind the counter was so rude. I walked up and said hi, he made eye contact with me twice, made a heavy sigh and turned around to the back area. He didn't say anything or gesture to wait. He turned around to do something in the back, though he was scrolling on his phone when I walked up to him. I didn't even want to order anymore and walked right out. TLDR; really bad service / rude employees that will roll their eyes and ignore you when you want to order something read more

Hard to find. Circled the block 3 times before realizing it's tucked away behind a short brick wall and not brightly lit. Odd. The vibe inside is super stoner-chill. The food was good and they have gluten free wrap options, but my wrap smelled and tasted like playdoh. Not sure what it was made of. I ordered vegan cream cheese on my wrap that I also tossed, the texture was spot on but the flavor was super weird. My husband got a normal bagel with normal cream cheese and smoked salmon, which he said was "pretty good!" read more

Paging Blake F, paging Blake F! Satellite Café screamed "hippy" from the moment I walked up the path to the front door to the moment I walked out. Needing a little caffeine boost after dinner at Dock Street, I meandered over to the establishment next door. The entrance was set back, so we had to walk through a cute little garden/patio area. The café had dim lighting and lots of random decorations (think free trade coffee bean sacks hanging from the rafters, etc.) I ordered a latte and the dude at the counter looked at me and said "soy milk?" I shook my head and asked for skim, which they did have. As my drink was being prepared, I noticed that many, if not most, of the sweets in the pastry case were vegan. They looked really good! I knew better than to expect any Sweet'N Low or other artificial sweeteners, and there seemed to be just white sugar or honey to choose from (I was surprised that I didn't see any raw sugar). I did squeal at the pretty flower in the foam as I popped on the lid, so that I could take my latte home and doctor it up with my fake sugar. I'd like to go back to check out the food sometime, and I'm willing to bet that I'll be with Blake when I do. read more

I must confess, Yelp, it took me an egregiously long time to come to Satellite. Despite my many trips to Firehouse Bikes (upstairs) and Dock street (next door), I never stopped in for coffee. Perhaps because I don't really hang out in coffee shops - I'm the type of person who gets work done in a library. But I was feeling the need to chill and get some work done on Memorial Day, so I hopped on my bike and went right over. The inside is a little too bohemian for my tastes. It's kind of dark and kind of cluttered, but homey - like your hippie grandmother Ethel passed it on down to her peace-punk kiddos to do as they liked with it. I like sun and fresh air, so I sat outside. The girl working the counter was friendly and got me my drink fast and the banter outside was nice. Casual, but interesting (yeah, I judge a cafe by the eavesdropping I can do there). Combined with the traffic on Baltimore ave., the kids playing in the park across the street, and the birds chirping (I love spring!) I had the perfect grant-writing soundtrack. My iPod stayed in my bag the whole time, but as far as music is concerned, I did hear the Arctic Monkeys coming through the stereo at one point. I'm not sure if it was from Firehouse or Satellite, though. But here's what seals the deal: I'm sitting in the shade, writing this on a wi-fi connection called "Drink More Coffee!" while looking at a beautiful garden and feeling the breeze drift by. I'm pretty sure I'm having a perfect day, and I'm glad Satellite could be a part of it. read more

I haven't quite grasped the trick to Satellite: you have to bring to the counter a couple of back-up plans to your order because on any given day, they'll be out of something. I love the Vibrant Green Kale Smoothie, but twice I've gone there to be told they didn't have any kale. For added zing, I got a look that clearly said GTFO. The staff owns the anarchist punk mood of the place - they're sullen and they aren't afraid to let you know it. I wouldn't care so much if they were expert baristas, but I dare you to try to order an iced cappuccino. I might as well have ordered freshly killed-and-grilled moose. Once she figured out that it meant a cappuccino with ice, she made a normal cappuccino and then dumped in a few ice cubes, and THEN (this is the best part) handed me the cup as the liquid overflowed, pointing to some napkins. I'll go back there, because it's in the neighborhood and the coffee isn't bad and that kale smoothie is the most amazing thing ever, but I'll never love it. And if I think about ordering an iced drink, I'll be sure to bring a towel. read more

Considering the fact that I bathe on a daily basis and my tattoos are usually covered by my clothes, I can see where people are coming from on the hipper-than-thou attitude Satellite seems to give off. But there are sooooo many plusses that outweigh that! First off, the wraps are super. I'm not a huge fan that you can't get something without onions because they're already mixed in, but I can deal. They're great and completely 100% worth every penny. Which isn't much, since they cost about as much as a slice of bread would at Milk and Honey down the street. But what really won me over, what really made me realize that there is something special at Satellite that you can't find elsewhere, was the vegan brownie. See, I hate vegan desserts. I think by and large they are crimes against the tastebuds of humanity. But desperately needing caffeine and something solid and knowing I had just moments before the trolley came, I gave in an bought a peanut butter brownie from Satellite. I'm pretty sure I walked down Baltimore moaning, it was that good. I don't know what magical secret they discovered to make vegan sweets, chocolate ones at that, not taste like something you found in the recycling bin, but whatever it was made me a convert. It will probably cause problems at other, less worthy, places, but from that day forth I vowed that I will not turn up my nose at vegan baked goods. OK, maybe just not at the ones from Satellite... read more

In general, not a good experience. Wandering around looking for coffee and maybe some breakfast, my friends and I were psyched to stumble upon this place. We walked in and saw a decent line, though not one we were too impatient to wait on, and pretty extensive drink menu along with some food options. Perfect, right? I ordered a coffee and a bagel. Now, when I leave New York, I immediately lower my bagel expectations, so I'm not faulting them for that. The coffee was just ok, but not over priced like most coffee places in this vein are. Where this place really blows it is the service. It took literally half an hour to toast and butter my friend's bagel. And when he asked nicely about the status of said bagel, he essentially got an f-off response. I can appreciate a place that plays Minor Threat over their in-house stereo at 11 am, but you don't have to be a dick. read more

Satellite is a great place for a cup of coffee, an amazing dessert (I recommend any brownie that looks like it has an ice cream scoop of peanut butter mousse on it - and vegan!), or have a tasty lunch. I've had a few of their grilled wraps and they are always wonderful to eat, especially the ones with black beans. Atmosphere-wise, I was skeptical at first. I felt awkward and even through I lived only a block away, I still felt out of place. Well, that was my problem and I'm happy I got over it - because this is a wonderful place. Social dynamics will be a little interested, since all types of West Philly come here, but its for the best and when those soial spheres center around a cafe, I think productive things happen. My last hangup was also cleared - I was scared to try the Kale Smoothie. OMG, Why was I scared? It is fantastic! I'm not sure how they do it - they are magical. I've tried to make them myself and it has never turned out well. Think of a Kale Smoothie as a milkshake that has its sweet factor cut down a bit - you barely taste anything 'green' but you aren't overwhelmed by any sweetener or sugar stuff. And, healthy. Score! I'm glad I braved past my social phobias to come to this place. I miss it a lot since I've moved and seriously, those brownies will melt your face off. read more

The Satellite is great. The coffee is some of the best in the city (they get it from Fonseca, an excellent local roaster), which is reason enough for me to keep coming back. Sandwiches and wraps are delicious: The Bike Shop Special (pesto, roasted red peppers, cream cheese, and spinach on a bagel), and the black bean wrap are delicious. Oh yeah, and the Satellite manages to keep their prices low, which is awesome. read more

Ooh, Satellite Café. I went for the first time about a month ago and pulled a triple header (three days in a row) of ordering the Bike Shop Bagel and a large mug (hand-formed if i was lucky!) of loose-leaf tea and sitting there for more than 4 hours at a time getting caught up on work and enjoying the atmosphere. I love the kind of café i can sit in for HOURS and be perfectly content just admiring the things they've got hanging (or painted) on the walls and ceilings and being delighted by the people I see walk through the door and sit for a spell. The ambience of the place garners five stars.-- very warm, welcoming, and spacious enough to make every visit a new experience depending on where you sit and what perspective of the place you take. Super props for the hand-mosaicked tables, pochoir stencils on the walls, eccentrically skillful menu board illustrations (I can't wait to see what'll replace the witches stirring a cauldron for the winter...), ample supply of board games and books, varying types of seats (couches, chairs, high stools, regular old tables for two and four). The tea menu also is quite good. However, at least three teas that I've attempted to order have been "out". This leads me to wonder how often these teas are actually replaced... I really want to try a few that sound delicious, but they never seem to be stocked. Finally, ONE negative point: I once bought a day-old muffin that tasted like reconstituted dog food. Since it was day-old, there was no label, so it might have catered to a certain dietary persuasion, but it was plain old bad. I threw it in my trash can at home and later found that my cat (who eats eeeeverything) had dragged the thing out onto the floor, hungrily ripped it apart, and ultimately poo-pooed it (meaning: left it lying on the floor, not "poo-pooed" in the literal sense...). Actually, one more negative point: customer service does leave a little to be desired, depending on who's behind the counter. One night around 5pm I went in and ordered a Bike Shop Bagel, only to be sarcastically belittled as such (somewhat hyperbolically paraphrased): "PSSHHHH BAGEL? Are you SERIOUS?! We ALWAYS run out of bagels. DUH. No one in their right mind tries to order a bagel after 4pm !!! What a LOSER! Have you even BEEN here before ?!" Needless to say, I was not thrilled, especially seeing as I had often ordered a Bike Shop Bagel after 5pm in the past, but I did consequentially realize that the Bike Shop Wrap (which I ended up ordering, when I should have just thrown my hot tea in the barista's face and stormed out) is also really good and gives you almost twice the innards as the bagel for only a buck more. Despite sometimes crappy customer service, the space itself --and its menu selections-- is wonderful, so I give the place five stars with the suggestion to make Satellite part of your repertoire... because maybe then the counter people won't be so sour/apathetic to you in the future :) !! SECRET TIP: Bike Shop Bagel on a Cinnamon Raisin is GO-O-OD! ! ! Try it ! read more

Service here can range from the sublime to the ridiculous, depending on how busy it is, the phase of the moon, tidal patterns, and if there's just one person working, but it's worth it. Their teas and coffees are great. My favorite is a soy mate latte with a splash of any of the nutty Monin syrups, and it's tasty hot or iced. I also like that they have dairy-free options, since I'm lactose intolerant. The vegan pumpkin whoopie pie is just so damn good! I wouldn't call their prices cheap, but you pay for good quality ingredients and tasty, tasty things, so you definitely get your money's worth. They're a good place to hang out and get some writing done, or a good stop-over after a lovely trip to Philly Community Acupuncture (on the top floor of the same building). read more

Awesome vegan desserts from Vegan Treats Bakery! Every time I come here I get the Vegan Bike Shop Bagel (bagel of your choice with spinach, olive spread, vegan cream cheese, and peppers), some sort of dessert, and whatever wonderful coffee concoction I like. The service can be a little slow sometimes, but they have such a tiny space to work in, and there are usually only 2 employees working at a time. It's not terrible, though, and I still give this place 5 stars. Lots of different types of customers- hipsters, families, older people, kids... it's a nice place. I love it. read more

An employee literally came out from behind the counter to scream in my sister's face the other day for ordering nine bagels. It was... really confusing. What is the deal with the employees here? Why do they get mad at you for ordering food? I understand it takes you waaayyyyy to long to put together a bagel, so maybe you need more staff. Especially on a Sunday morning. Sorry for coming into your cafe and giving you business. Would have called ahead, but got scolded for doing that too. read more

Cute little hipster cafe. I got the Black Death, which is their mocha chocolate sauce with espresso, topped with coffee - muddy, dark, strong, and awesome. The chocolate cookie was also dense and delicious. Cute atmosphere and I liked sitting in their small courtyard. A great option for a local and laid back coffee shop! read more

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Options. Options. Options. This place has them. Ultra-fresh coffee brewed here. Fair-trade. Delicious. I recommend the "Bike Shop special" - Bagel w/ cream cheese, pesto, roasted red pepper, and some other awesomeness. I also recommend the "Ring of Fire" - Bagel w/ cream cheese and a nice dusting of cayenne pepper. MMMMmmmm MMMmmmmm Bish! The inside of this joint will remind you of the mid - to - late 90's and you'll feel like you are somewhere in the pacific northwest. Its got color, but is pretty dimly lit. I liked it. I'll be back. read more

Very cool place, food is good, coffee is good. Service is interesting but thats part of the whole vibe. I didnt get any dirty looks and i am not a "grimester " or whatever that one reviewer called those damn hipsters. The dude from Stinking Lizaveta helped me and he was great. Im a big fan so that was cool. THose God damn vegan cookies are delicious. read more