Cafe Iterum

Iterum is just stellar. We're lucky to have it in the neighborhood in East Boston. It just seems like one of those places that appeared magically from somewhere else, which is to say that it at once effortlessly casual, and remarkably professional and efficient. It must have taken a lot of work to get it as right as it is. Thanks for all you do. Having said all of that, which I truly believe, I hope I've bought myself a little latitude. It's so hard not to nitpick, but I'll (mostly) resist so as not detract from the overall sentiment. The one thing I'll mention is that the blueberry muffins have gotten pretty sad. I don't know what happened. They were better, and now they're not. Also I would encourage every small business like this to forgo plastic to the extent possible. I know there are lots of problems in the world, and lots of plastic in the world, but we really can do small things. There are alternatives. Cafe Iterum is excellent. ----- 2025-0225 Update: I want to emphasize again just how much I like Iterum and appreciate having a super nice independent cafe like this in East Boston! Given feedback from the owner, which I appreciate, I'm sharing a photo of a blueberry muffin I ordered recently (quite a while after my initial review). It is, as I said in my original review… sad. That is to take nothing at all away from Iterum or discourage anyone from coming here. I wish all the best to Cafe Iterum and I hope to keep going myself for a long time.

Went here because I needed to kill sometime before an airport pick-up. The atmosphere is so nice. It's got a student / study Cafe vibe and it's great to hunger down and get some work done while enjoying their delicious beverages and snacks. Everything is prep fresh, I got a avocado toast sandwich and I saw them cutting and mashing those avocados. Their drinks are phenomenal, I recommend getting the large because it is LARGE it comes in a 700ml Mason jar, I got the Iced Macha latte while I worked away at one of the table spots and was easily ably to plug in my laptop and get to work!

I absolutely love this place! It's perfect for any time of the day—whether you're grabbing a coffee, enjoying a delicious meal, or just soaking in the ambiance. The coffee is excellent, the food is amazing, and the atmosphere is ideal whether you're alone, studying, or spending time with friends or colleagues. If you're in Eastie, this spot is a must!

Been coming here consistently for over a year. Coffee is dialed in consistently and the special seasonal drinks are well curated. Food is always delicious and flavorful. Perfect little spot in East Boston!

I recently was craving some of their delicious chickpea salad and on a whim ordered their Sunday only Cinnamon Bun and it was absolutely DELICIOUS. The perfect balance of sweet, pastry, and delicious icing. If for nothing else (and theres lots of delicious things here) be sure to hit them up on Sundays for the cinnamon bun!

I love the drinks here, especially the matcha. But we just ordered toasted bagels, one of them with avocado and butter, and the potatoes. And they were BEYOND disappointing. The bagels were both not toasted, and the avocado, that we paid $2 for, was literally less than two thin slices cut in half… insane… and then the potatoes were pale and not tasty at all, they seemed more like boiled potatoes. Honestly it ruined my morning. Will definitely not get their food anymore. The people there are super nice though.

Stopped to get a coffee before flying out of Boston. The plants were so cute. My latte, however, was warm not hot, and tasted mostly like milk. The lavender honey flavor was delicious!

They switched from cashier to self-service kiosk, upped the service fee to 8% AND prompt for tip on top, when orders are picked up at the counter…outrageous. Already disliked the 2%(?) service fee that was charged previously, regardless of online or in-person. Why not build a better wage for your back-of-house staff into your menu prices? That aside, their mushroom melt is my go-to, speaking as someone who usually prefers a meat option for sandwiches. Ambience is nice, love all the plants, coffee’s good enough (we usually get a latte with caramel syrup if we’re not making coffee at home)

4.5/5 stars I got a BEC on a bagel and it was fantastic 9/10 Cappuccino was nothing special but good Cinnamon bun did not have enough cream 5/10 Home made cream soda 8/10 I thought the staff was very nice and friendly and made the experience more enjoyable

Cafe iterum never misses. Probably my favorite breakfast spot in Boston. The staff is incredible. The food is mouth watering. And it's just such a cozy spot. I do wish they had more space haha but dang the food and drinks are too dang good. Chai tea hits everytime. The breakfast sandwich with chipotle is my favorite, and my boyfriend loves the farmwich sandwich. Just tried the almond croissant and fell in love, and we learned all of their pastries are made in house daily. SO good! Love stopping by here. It's the best treat.

Cafe Iterum is a fun cafe right in the center of East Boston. The food was good, but I was slightly disappointed with the wait time. They also did forget my sandwich which was unfortunate. When I did get my sandwich it was delicious though! The cinnamon roll was also very tasty, but is only available on Sunday. I will definitely try this place again, but a solid breakfast sandwich nonetheless.

Solid coffee spot 5 min from the airport. My latte was smooth and the pastries were pretty good. Plenty of outdoor seating for a sunny day and inside was also bright and airy with a decent amount of seating for the people working on their laptops. You can also walk down to the water and enjoy the views of Boston with your coffee. Parking was very limited with street parking only so you may end up driving around a bit. That said, it is a great coffee spot for the area when you want to treat yourself.

I've been coming to this cafe for almost two years! It is most definitely a staple in east Boston!! It is easily accessible to the T which is crucial especially since I don't live walking distance anymore. Coffee: 10/10, some of the most balanced beans, low acidify, great cold brew Tea: 10/10, I love a good hot tea. Their herbal blends are just lovely Food: 11/10, this isn't a just a normal coffee shop. They have an unique menu with fantastic breakfast options but also lunch and dinner. They host noodle bar Tuesdays, I highly recommend. Their food is high quality and healthy. Staff: 11/10, everyone is always so friendly and welcoming. I also appreciate an efficient team, which is what they are. Vibe: 10/10, lots of plants, enough outlets for my fellow work from home folks, high ceilings with big windows / natural light. The outside is great in the summer too! Very peaceful. Personal favorites: -Farmwich -harvest bowl -Chilled noodles -all the pastries lol I'm moving away from Boston, but I will always stop by here when I'm visiting in the future. If you're in the area, make sure you support this local business :)

Cute outdoor space. Bacon egg and cheese sandwich was really good. I replaced the square egg with a fried egg and highly recommend. Really good chipotle aioli on it. Decent cold brew, nothing special. Cinnamon bun was only okay, pretty bready with not much icing. They do have a weird kiosk way to order which takes a while. Overall, perfectly nice coffee/breakfast sandwich spot

I went to Cafe Iterum located on 11 Father Jacobbe Rd, East Boston, MA. This cute cafe is right outside the Maverick T stop and features a great selection of drinks and grab n go bites! For drinks we had the strawberry house soda, the strawberry matcha latte, a sweet tea and a cold brew coffee. The star drink was the strawberry matcha latte for me! It was the perfect level of matcha and the fresh strawberries were a perfect addition 8/10 (maybe drink this without a straw strawberries aren't made for the straw LOL). For food we had the avocado toast, garlicky potatoes, zucchini noodles and a breakfast egg sandwich. The avocado toast was served with pickled red onion, tomato and sumac. Sometimes avocado toast bread is just too dense and this was the perfect toast to go with it 9/10. The zucchini noodles had roasted squash puree and candied walnuts. This dish was a perfect fusion of Italian and Asian style food! I loved the spice level in this dish and would eat this regularly for lunch or dinner 9/10. The plate of garlic potatoes was so delicious! If you are a garlic fan I highly recommend 10/10. We also tried the breakfast egg sandwich with bacon sriracha mayo cheddar cheese on a sesame bagel. The bacon and egg were cooked perfectly on here 9/10. Finally, the chocolate croissant 8/10 (I only wish there was more chocolate maybe because I'm a chocolate fiend) and a slice of cake were a nice dessert finish. Check this place out next time you are in East Boston or if you are looking for a bite to eat on your day off tomorrow! They have great outdoor seating for the summer. Food: 9/10 Ambiance: 6/10 Affordability: 7/10

Ever since they opened in January 2022 I have been rooting for this cafe. It's in a perfect location, very close to the T, and have excellent sustainable dining options. Plus great coffee, vegetarian options, and pastries! The owner Chef Matt is very welcoming and always willing to try creative new menu options. The food is always excellently prepared with rotating specials; on Mondays they do a special noodle bar with a different sort of cuisine. The cafe itself is neatly furnished with ample patio room when the weather is good; inside is pleasant and easy to get work done. I attached a photo of some of the repurposed decor being used for coasters. Although the prices are a bit higher than some fast food places nearby, they incorporate tippping into every transaction to ensure they pay folks a living wage. I honestly find the total spend on dinner for two to be very comparable to other restaurants. They also are very flexible with substitutions to any dish and very attentive to dietary restrictions, preferences, and allergies.

Ordered Vegan bowls as part of a catering order and they mistakenly put chicken in it. Such a preventable/dangerous mistake.

Edit: This update is to simply respond to the manager's comment below. I don't care about the extra fee, just the lack of transparency that there is one. I looked around the cafe, I even looked on the website, no mention of a service fee so maybe you can make the signs more visible and post it on the website. Also, the staff who took my order had clicked so quickly through the payment system that I barely had time to read what I ordered and at the end, you can only see the total; hence why I was barely able to catch it the second time I went to order. I even heard some guy who ordered after say the exact same thing "oh there is a service fee? Why?" and the staff couldn't give an answer. But now that you are offering an explanation of why you have one, I would like to hear what other reasons you have for a fee: as it wasn't like tipping was removed from the payment system or a message of 'gratuity is already included', or are you just admitting that you are artificially lowering your prices to seem cheaper instead of actually just pricing the items accurately. May I also remind that customers are going up to order, grabbing their own food, and putting away their own dishes. So what service are we paying for and who is getting the money? Clearly not the staff if they don't know why the fee is there. Original: I don't care how good the food, atmosphere, or service is. YOU JUST DON'T HIDE A SERVICE FEE WITHOUT LETTING A CUSTOMER KNOW. This is scummy business practice and idk what service we are paying for, the ability to find a table ourselves and to put our own dishes away? I missed it the first time when I ordered food cause the staff clicked through so fast. But I went back to get a coffee and wondered how my 4$ coffee became 5$ and saw they added a fee. It's literally like a regular cafe, there is no service... Absolutely ruins everything about a place, I'm not even mad there is a fee but like honestly just don't hide it.

I found this quaint coffee shop in Jeffries Point. I'm an early riser and was pleased to find that it graciously opens at 6am. The shop provided a serene atmosphere filled with calming plants and decor. I happily visited the the coffee shop twice during my stay in Boston and had a Blueberry Muffin and a Chocolate/Banana Scone. I didn't engage with any employees as I was directed toward the self service station to place my order. It's close to Maverick Station for a quick hop across the bay. It's also close to the harbor walk for some before or after coffee ever exercise.

I was here for a quick coffee and snack before a spin class in the area. The location is convenient located right next to the blue line station, Maverick. Surprisingly there is not much space to sit indoors. They have a kiosk to order and then they call your name to pick up your order. They have a large outdoor space so I'm expecting it to be bumpier when it gets warmer.

Great but expensive breakfast sandwich and good cold brew. Service is slow and if you place an order in advance pickup is kinda awkward. Particularly when it's busy. But otherwise farmwich is absolute fire and so is their bacon.

Tough call on this one. The location is awesome, just wish their food was better. It's such a trendy, inviting place, the decor and environment are nicely done (currently visiting the area while it's warm enough for tables outside), but inside there's only an option to order on a kiosk, and then the two main dishes we got straight up, unfortunately, bombed. :/ The gluten-vegan chocolate cookie was a hit, though.

Truly new fav cafe in Boston! Came to Eastie for the first time and everything was AMAZING! I did an iced vanilla latte and the morning wrap on sourdough and was sooo good. The service was great and I love that they are a no-tip cafe and pay their employees fairly!

Hands down, the best coffee shop in East Boston! Cafe Iterum's coffee is superb (very high quality, I wonder where they source it (George Howell ?)). Cafe Iterum's pastry is likely the best in East Boston, it comes from Five-Star bakery, Pain D'Avignon, in Hyannis, and it is fresh, daily. Superb pastry and bagels! Cafe Iterum's sandwiches are superb. This little coffee shop feels like a high end, neighborhood, locally owned, non-commercial coffee shop, on Beacon Hill. Cafe Iterum is imacculate, with a wonderful ambiance, and patio. The staff are friendly, professional, and efficient. Cafe Iterum is an East Boston treasure.

Why put hot lattes in scratched up plastic cups? In a world where it is so, so easy to procure mugs or at least glasses? "Some studies have discovered that as some types of plastic reach a certain temperature, they begin to leach certain chemicals that are not healthy for humans. Unfortunately, over time, these chemicals can lead to major health problems. Some of the prolonged health problems include: Cancer Obesity Infertility Metabolic problems" Also had a sandwich with an egg where the egg whites (!) were still translucent and runny, which IMO is undercooked and yucky. Please cook your eggs and don't use plastic cups for hot drinks.

Cute cozy interior but that's about it. The matcha was watery and lacked flavor, the BLAT sandwich was decent but had nothing special to it - was expecting more since the menu was quite limited. Would not come back here unfortunately.

A lovely bright and sunny spot to enjoy Intelligentsia Coffee. Everyone is super friendly. Service is fast. The cappuccino was OK. You can sit outside in plentiful seating or walk a minute to the harbor.

I stumbled across this place somewhat recently and grudgingly talked myself into some of the vegetarian options. In classic omnivore fashion, I generally insist on a meat protein and it often feels like a bit of a compromise when omitted. The idea that I was going to go vegetarian for the veggies in the meal went out the window after my first bite here. There is a subtlety to the dishes that makes me eat with vigor and intrigue. I had the "Farmwhich" and added on a fried egg. It was very filling and bright with the acid coming out in a way just to make it far more than vegetables between bread. My lunch date also ordered the mushroom melt and I of course had to steal half. It is surprising and bright with the tiniest bit of heat but full MUSHROOM. If you love mushrooms you will not be disappointed. Absolutely no meat was missed at any point during this meal. The coffee is also phenomenal and I have stopped counting the coffee options I pass on my way to fill my caffeine fix here. The foamed milk is stiff, and the coffee is flavorful and full bodied that goes beyond bitter vs not bitter. For a filling bright meal or a coffee this is a spot not to be missed.

Super fun and hip new cafe right by the back entrance of the Maverick T stop! The bright cafe interior is decorated with fun plants and a record player, definitely a good spot to meet a friend or get work done. In addition to the dope vibes, the coffee is fantastic, highly recommend the cold brew! The packaging and utensils are compostable as much as possible so you can feel good about your purchases too. The breakfast egg sandwich and Farmwich were my favorite two sammies so far, definitely snag one of those if you're going for breakfast! If you're in more of a toasty mood, the ube toast is beautiful and tastes even better than it looks! The prices are on the higher side for sure but the quality is really good and the menu mentions that the extra charge helps support employee wages.

Iced coffee is warm and their non dairy milk is chunky/expired - not worth the money they also keep garbage out in the open

Cafe Iterum is super aesthetic and spacious on the inside. There are a bunch of plants and natural lighting -- seems like it'd be a great spot to work and/or study. As for food and drinks, I ordered an almond milk hot chocolate and a bacon chocolate chip cookie. The hot cocoa was pretty good but probably overpriced (around $4). The bacon chocolate chip cookie was disappointing -- not really chewy and overly sweet, and also overpriced (around $4). Overall, food and drink were just okay, yet overpriced in my opinion.

First: I appreciate the investment. Everyday you walk by there is a new addition (outdoor seating, lights, couches, etc). I like the dedication to create a common and fun place near the water. I got the chickpea salad sandwich. Flavor/taste wise..pretty great! Would def recommend. The punch to the gut was it was almost $15 price tag. There is no tipping, but I did notice a tax + service fee charge. And at the end of the day while it tasted great, it's romaine, carrots, and hummus/chickpea in between two slices of bread. It fell apartment instantly after taking it out of the small bag. There were supposed to be house pickles but there definitely weren't any. I actually wanted the chicken salad but they were sold out which was sad because it was only a Friday afternoon. I wanted to add bacon, but I couldn't justify it and this cose nearly $20. Coffe is good! Definitely get the Java. Regardless, it's worth checking out. Support your local business. It's brand new, I'm sure they're still working out the kinks. My rating is more of a 2.5 but yelp doesn't allow that. they were sold out (which is actually the second time) of menu items. It's also expensive for the area. And this sounds really dumb, but for a $15 sandwich..idk...maybe change up how it is delivered. (See small greasy bag).

I've been waiting for Cafe Iterum to open for a few months, since I walked by their cafe early on during construction. I love the idea that they focus on sustainability not only in terms of composting/recycling but also the food they serve (lots of local and plant based options). They have a no tip policy and pay their employees a living wage. I had an oat milk latte (of course) and avocado toast. Both were pretty good but not really anything special. I'd love to see more creativity in the menu - the avocado toast for example only had tomatoes and pickled onions, not the micro greens listed on the menu, so it felt more like something I could have made at home. That said, the prices were pretty good and I am always excited to see a new local coffee shop pop up so I will definitely be back!

Favorite restaurant in east Boston, maybe even all of Boston for healthy, flavorful food! Everyone is so nice and passionate about their mission. Everything I've ordered has been exceptional!

FOOD POISONING: I was very excited to try this place and catch up with my friend and her baby. It was Saturday, May 27th, 2023. We ordered the cashew butter+blueberry toast that we shared, I had the eggplant vegan sandwich and she had a salad with meat. For drinks, we had an oat milk latte and a chai latte. Her baby drank the water and had a piece of bread. Everything was fine... until the next morning... The 3 of us had intense symptoms of food poisoning: nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, body aches, and fever. It was awful. We concluded that it could only be something we had been exposed to from this cafe since we had not been in contact with each other before meeting and eating there. When my friend called the cafe to explain what happened (the following Tuesday morning), the employee asked what we ate. When my friend said "We shared a toast", the employee said "The cashew toast?", making us wonder how she already knew what kind of toast it was... She didn't really seem to care, take responsibility, or provide any form of adequate customer service, which is extremely disappointing. We got food poisoning from being exposed to something from this cafe! It's not insignificant! We spent 24 hours in intense pain from eating there. A 1-year-old baby does not have the same immune defenses as adults, it's dangerous. We lost 2 days of being able to function (think, walk, work, care for children, and life commitments) but most importantly, this is unnecessary suffering that could have been avoided if the cleanliness standards were higher.

The food at Cafe Iterum is DELICIOUS. Anything on their menu is just so yummy. Some of my personal faves are: Mushroom melt, BLAT sando, Dishpan cookie, Cashew butter toast, Avocado toast, Bao bun (on Mondays!)... But everything I've ever ordered here has been awesome. OH and the sticky buns!! Out of this world. They have them on Sundays and in limited supply!

I was very excited for this place to open. Now that it is and I've been here a couple times, I think the food is only okay. I've had one really good sandwich, and one that was plain terrible. The customer service, however, is atrocious. This morning I ordered two bacon egg and cheese sandwiches, and they gave me two egg and cheese sandwiches (no bacon) instead. When I asked them to fix my order, they argued that I was only charged for egg and cheese, so that's what I got, even though it was NOT what I ordered. I wasn't offered any solution, including paying the difference and getting my correct sandwiches. Mistakes happen and I'm sure the cashier just misheard me when I ordered, but the lack of accountability and poor customer service are just unacceptable to me.

Great to see this cafe open! I was there opening day and I have been back a dozen times. I've come to like this place - the menu is unique for the area and friendly to vegetarians. The good: -The staff have always been courteous to me. -cappuccinos and lattes are high quality - simple and tasty -nice selection of sandwiches - breakfast egg sandwich and farmwich are quite tasty; mushroom is good but interesting with the carrots; BLAT is a simple sandwich with wholesome vegan ingredients. -orange cookie is delicious Things that need work: -hot chocolate - needs some work as it was dilute, tasted just slightly better than Dunkin' - definitely not as good as Tatte or Life Alive -would be great if a daily soup is added -wifi has had issues with connectivity -staff needs to work on learning their regular customers - these people will allow your business to thrive People comment that the items are expensive here - yes this is true, but I do understand it. Unfortunately it costs money for high quality ingredients that are locally sourced and paying fair wages and rent in a waterfront building. It's not an easy job to run such a cafe from the ground up and I would recommend to give this cafe an opportunity to serve you.

Order the chicken salad sandwich and the mushroom melt. Food was pretty good and felt clean however, I would say this place needs to work on its customer service. One particular person that we interacted with was borderline rude.

I've been by a few times so far and really impressed with the food and coffee. The egg and cheese (+bacon) is delicious and really works on a brioche. The cold brew is also amazing. I'm looking forward to trying more things on the menu. Love the huge patio area out front. A few dollars more than Dunkin, sure, but the quality is there and I'm happy to support fair wages. Great addition to the neighborhood.

This new place is my new favorite café. They offer the standards done right, tasty and unique and rotating baked goods, and delicious, filling (almost too filling!) breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Some of my favorites are the blueberry muffins, orange crinkle cookies, and the breakfast sandwiches with perfectly crisped bacon. My go to drink, iced chai latte, is not too sweet and just the right amount of spice. I don't as often go for lunch, but I highly recommend the braised short rib sandwich. The meat just melts in your mouth. The interior is a little cramped, unfortunately, but they just set up a patio which I'm sure to check out this summer.

Came here yesterday with a friend. Really dug the ambiance and the overall chill vibe of the place. Food was delicious. Servings were generous and made sense for the price. Lots of drink options that did not disappoint. Inside isn't huge but we had no problem finding a spot and we didn't feel crammed.

the perfect local spot. great coffee. solid daily menu and really cool specials. Plus good vibes, service and people keep me going regularly

Yummy food and cozy ambiance- only wish there were more places like it nearby. Only downside is that it's pricey- but hard to avoid in Boston area

The food is creatively and well prepared. I want to go back and try more of the offerings.

Always great drinks, food, and service! Quality ingredients and a great inside and patio.

The coffee was decent but the breakfast sandwich was flavorless and the egged seemed pretty processed or like fast-foody. The setting options are majority outside with no shade.

We popped in to grab dinner and both loved our meals. The harvest bowl with the purple mashed sweet potato was delicious and my husband loved the cauliflower sando. Great addition to the neighborhood!

Harvest Bowl was super healthy, awesome portion, made quickly and had a great mix of textures. Very flexible with customizations and loved the outdoor patio space. Will be back again soon and looking forward to exploring the menu!

Food is always consistently delicious. The staff is professional and friendly. I highly recommend it.

I was so excited for this place to open but I'm just disappointed now. I just wanted a place I could walk to and have a normal breakfast sandwich and normal lunch sandwiches. The food is too fancy and feels like it's pre made. You can only order something straight off the menu and you can't make any alterations. They need to just stick to basics and would have way more success.

Had high hopes but it was Disappointing to say the least. Ordered a macchiato and avo toast, while I was waiting (15min!!) the owner introduced himself. Out of curiosity and a sincere desire to have a conversation, I asked him about the pricing and business model. was met with a dirty look and an arrogant answer to the effect of "if you can't afford it, Dunks is down the road." Will not be returning.

Scones baked with love? Clearly. And the egg wrap's vegetables are marinated in delicious spices. This isn't your typical cafe--someone behind the food obviously knows what they're doing, and knows it well (um, Chopped contestant, anyone?). The espresso is smooth. Space is lovely to whip out your computer for a few hours, with plants, comfy chairs, and open concept. Sure, prices are high, but for the cafe's concept of no waste sustainability (which isn't thankfully thrown in your face, and tastefully done) and high-quality ingredients from a master chef, why the hell not? Inflation is terrible these days for everyone, so treat yourself to someone who is trying to do right by the world, food, and his employees. And enjoy some damn delicious food.

Just awesome. Great coffee and nice staff. The plants in the restaurant are beautiful and so fun to look at.

Stopped for a quick coffee and tea. Coffee and Chai tea were excellent. Looked at the menu and saw lots of items I'd like to try next time we're in Eastie. Owner, Matt, was great-attentive to details and passionate about making the cafe a special experience. Matt clearly has a vision for this place. Loved the drinks and the atmosphere. Based on our conversation with Chef Matt, I'm sure the food will be something special too.

The cold brew with the vanilla bean syrup and oat milk was divine! I ordered the breakfast wrap and avocado toast - flavorful and filling! Really cute and cozy set up - got pretty crowded but that means people like it! Definitely coming back :)

Not worth the exorbitant prices. Happy to pay top dollar for a quality product, but unfortunately everything about this establishment, from the poor service to the uninspired and subpar product, is simply not worth it. Try Eagle Hill Cafe or Americano instead.