Muddy Waters

Coffee shop · Burlington

Muddy Waters

Coffee shop · Burlington

1

184 Main St, Burlington, VT 05401

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Highlights

Muddy Waters is a quirky, woodsy cafe in Burlington serving superb coffee, fresh bagels, and live music, perfect for cozy chats with friends.  

Featured in Eater
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184 Main St, Burlington, VT 05401 Get directions

$1–10

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184 Main St, Burlington, VT 05401 Get directions

+1 802 658 0466
muddywatersvt

$1–10

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Last updated

Jul 12, 2025

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@eater

"Imagine a cozy tree house that smells like chai, and is well-outfitted with comfortable seating. That’s Muddy Waters (or “Muddys” as it is is called by locals), and it’s been a Burlington hangout since the ‘90s. Not much has changed in those two decades: it’s more of a place to cuddle up on soft couches with a book than for a deep-dive into coffee tastings with fellow aficionados. But thankfully, there are plenty of other places for that." - Heather Platt

The Best Coffee Shops in Burlington, Vermont - Eater Montreal
View Postcard for Muddy Waters

Derek Rodenbeck

Google
What an awesome coffee shop, I really enjoyed stopping at muddy waters, read on to find out why: 1. Extremely friendly staff. The individual that helped me get my food and coffee was a joy to chat with. It’s always nice to go into a place and and have a conversation that is more than surface level. Seems like people care here. 2. The coffee was fantastic and fast!! The perfect combination for what I needed that day. Gave me a little time back so I could walk around before I needed to meet with coworkers. 3. The location is perfect. Great spot right downtown. Easy walk to the water. 4. Food is great too! I would definitely recommend getting something to eat here as well. Highly recommended, I added a few photos of the space if you want to get an idea of what it looks like.

Sachin Sawant

Google
Goodbye Starbucks and other overhyped coffee chains …. Let me introduce you to muddy waters for all you coffee connoisseurs. The coffee is just hands down the best I have had. Add to it the fun and interesting environment, it’s quirky / eccentric, I didn’t get what is going on but hey I enjoyed the experience. The staff was Uber friendly. Too bad I can’t travel 3.5 hrs everytime yo have coffee but I will when I visit Burlington VT. By the by this is in the church street marketplace. Enjoy your cafe.

Danielle Little

Google
I've only been here twice, but I love this place. Good prices and good food (fresh bagels and a great current cream scone), decently priced, good coffee drinks and great fresh fruit or veggie juices. The atmosphere is definitely my favorite bit. It's a great place for coffee (or in my case, usually a decaf dirty chai) and chat with a friend. I know it's a popular spot, and it can get busy, but we found it pretty quiet on a Tuesday morning around 930 (but busier by 10-1030).

Rachel

Google
Atmosphere was very cozy, plenty of people reading, talking quietly, or working on laptops (midday, Friday in January). The house hummus was actually really good but the cappuchino was burnt unfortunately. Would switch to a sweet latte here to mask the taste. The cute vibe made up for it, great spot to settle in.

Grace Bucholtz South Florida Realtor

Google
Muddy Waters is a charming local coffee shop with a wonderfully eccentric ambiance that sets it apart from the typical café. The unique decor creates a cozy and inviting atmosphere, perfect for unwinding with a great cup of coffee. #muddywaters #muddywatersvt #burlingtonvt #burlington #burlingtoncoffee #localcoffee #matchalatte #buylocal #southfloridarealestate #realestateagent #gracebucholtz #gracebucholtzexp #exprealty #movetosouthflorida

Heather Boswick

Google
I’ve been to many, many coffee shops… but Muddy Waters is SO unique! This coffee feels like you walked into a cabin in the woods with some of Jim Henson‘s Muppets/creations/art chilling with you for some coffee. It was seriously SO unique - and different! It took me awhile to “see” and “take it all in” before venturing up to the barista counter to order my delicious oat milk latte. In a land of a million “cookie cutter coffee shops” - Muddy Waters stands out as a diamond in the rough for SURE! Even if you don’t care for coffee- come in to see this really unique spot. Get a cup of coffee and “chill” with these Muppets

KF Samandari

Google
This is an intimate space in the heart of downtown Burlington. There is a lot of history, culture, and good vibes in this building. Note that the seating is quite close and walking through may be rather tight. Keep this in mind if you prefer/are used to more wide open areas. Also note that there is indeed a restroom available for paying customers (just not a public restroom). There seemed to be some confusion in our party.

Tejas Joshi

Google
Every now and then, I like to check out a new coffee shop, especially if it has a unique design. The ambiance at this café was excellent, I would give 10/10. The food is decent. I tried a hummus, pita and coffee. which were tasty. I would definitely stop by this location whenever I'd be in Vermont to experience again this cafe's vibes. In attached picture you can see: 1) Vanilla Latte 2) Cappuccino

Natalie T.

Yelp
This always has and always will be my favorite coffee shop. SUCH good drinks and was always the best place to get homework done growing up. Such sweet staff and the walls are stuffed full with notes that people take and leave. Not to mention it's just beautiful in there Always a must when I go home and I always sit for like an hour sipping a drink and reading the notes

Clare B.

Yelp
The layout of this shop is really cool with the wood and natural vibes. Service was just one person, and he was fine nothing subpar or superb. Had a bagel, it was pretty good nothing special. They were out of cold brew so we got two iced coffees, and they were like crazy bad. Hopefully just a bad batch but it was disappointing. Two other people when leaving were commenting on theirs being bad too so tough morning. Prices were good.

Pippi L.

Yelp
Came here a few times during our stay; it has a super cute cabin vibe and their hot cider was amazing. Also tried the ginger lemonade which was good but strong. Great place to hang with plenty of seating!

Abbie w.

Yelp
Muddy Water was...odd. The coffee itself was delicious, our group of 4 has a raspberry latte, regular coffee, a lavender latte, and a cappuccino. But the service and atmosphere is less than desirable. The line was extremely long, leaving us waiting for about 20 minutes. The baristas were not kind at all--you'd think after the wait, we'd at least be greeted. I have seen reviews similar to this for Muddy Waters, and I can attest that this has not changed. The place itself has a very negative vibe to it, and there are plenty of other coffee places around that will probably be kinder to you if you're in the area. The coffee was good, but the hostility that the customers face that has been a constant issue at this establishment is not worth it.

Cristina S.

Yelp
Great coffee house! Stopped in for a good cup of Joe and tea. Lots to choose from. Awesome college vibe. The place is like a jungle, very green, in a good way. Everyone is polite. Wish they had more baked good options.. they also ran out of milk alternatives. Yikes! Would definitely go back.

Jamie L.

Yelp
Looking for a latte and saw on Yelp that Muddy Waters was highly rated. The inside is absolutely beautiful. Loved the wood decor and plants and...creatures? lol Whatever they are, it made it feel unique. There was no line and service was pretty quick. I tried the maple latte (when in Vermont, how can you not try everything Maple?). I'm glad I got the small, the espresso was pretty good, but not sure if it would be my regular choice. I would love to try other flavors or their coffee. Overall, would come back to try more.

Robert P.

Yelp
Cool vibes at this place, great place to hang out. my Expresso Con Panna quite good. Kind of New Age music, it fits the place.

Vinay V.

Yelp
One of the best coffee shops in the country ! Juices and food are also a plus. But best part is their highly curated music. Never have I heard such amazing music on a radio station, or coffee shop or a live concert. Just didn't want to leave.

Mikayla A.

Yelp
Ok I love it here but the music has been weird as h*ll this morning. Like ambient howling. Which is fine sometimes but not what I was in the mood for. The brick and wooden have little notes tucked away in them which is rly rly cute. And there are funky statues. Not the best chai in burly

Ariana L.

Yelp
This place is a gem and a funky jungle wood oasis. Rich, character, and art, honest, organic ingredients. Good beer, great smoothies, and vegetable and fruit juices. Come here to completely lose yourself in this unique environment and forget about all your troubles. A total must see in Burlington. Even if you don't like coffee or juices or vegan culture. This place is a hang. Come here to unwind.

Gretel D.

Yelp
Unique atmosphere. Amazing prices for church street and are comparable to chains if not cheaper. Much healthier than Starbucks. 100% recommend Yerba mate latte. There is no Wi-Fi here, and it is busy, it is not the best place to try to focus and do work. It's great a great spot for dates and meetups though!

Ann F.

Yelp
Great coffee, great mood at Muddy Waters. Don't miss it on any trip to Burlington! I love a latté but their regular coffee is great too

Olivia A.

Yelp
Had a great latte and study sesh! My only thing was that I didn't have a ton of wifi. Still great service and great scenery. It reminds me of Where the Wild Things Are! Also, stop by the brick wall to the left and look for little hidden notes!

Josephina M.

Yelp
Good coffee and great environment! I love that there's little notes hidden in the walls.

Kamrie S.

Yelp
LOVE THE VIBES IN HERE. This is not a four-pages-of-specialty lattes type of place. It's just a place for a great cup of coffee.

R. R.

Yelp
Such a cute little spot. Didn't even know it was a cafe because of the really cool monster art figures they have throughout the store. My toddler loved the monsters. Ordered a carrot, apple, ginger juice. It was ok. Very strong ginger flavor and I just wish it was colder. Toddler chugged it though, as he never gets juice. Also got the parfait , which was delicious (granola was very good and tasted home made). Would love to try some of their other menu options

Ben S.

Yelp
My drink was good. I loved the atmosphere of this place - with the wood and the plants it felt very tropical. Lots of seating options and good iced lattes. I was about to try some food but saw a couple flies sitting on it as I got closer to the counter as the bakery was not covered with anything. The line was very long here but it moved steadily and the two workers moved fast.

Jacqui P.

Yelp
Such a cute place. There was live music this morning. Thankful for that. I don't drink coffee but the smoothies and juices are good!

amal s.

Yelp
Awesome ambiance but the5 star review is specifically for "Muddy's Shake". I would drive any distance for Muddy's Shake..no idea how it can be that good?! Bravo Muddy

Amelia M.

Yelp
Service is awesome! Cool menu & environment. Great coffee! Definitely should come if in Burlington for a weekend.

Tanner M.

Yelp
My favorite coffee shop in Burlington. I thoroughly enjoy coming here to cuddle up in a corner and read a book or journal. So eclectic and communal. I always look forward to Muddy Waters on my visits into Burly!

Alyssa C.

Yelp
Lovely coffee shop in downtown Burlington with the freshest snacks and amazing lattes. Their coffee menu is so big with a ton of options to choose from. A couple of the best sounding things were cappuccino, raspberry hot chocolate, latte, smoothies, etc. Most of the drinks could be ordered as an 8oz. or 12oz. and either a single or double shot of espresso. I had a latte and a pumpernickel bagel. Both were excellent. I absolutely loved the decor inside. It was like a woodsy retreat as soon as you walked in filled with plants and nature.

Elisabeth T.

Yelp
Let's see...no wifi that deducts about 3 stars right there. The maple latte was what I was excited about but it was a little disappointing. The atmosphere was ok but a little dreary. Not many customers inside.

Lucasss 1.

Yelp
Beautiful, weird, cozy place for coffee on a sleety morning. Also nice that the friendly people behind the counter wore face masks

Lena M.

Yelp
We had a group of 8 and EVERYTHING EVERYONE got was delicious. I'm still thinking about how good that chili was. The plants, atmosphere, and art is so unique and amazing as well.

Stephen P.

Yelp
Perfect System going on with the table outside. (COVID-19 ) The employees come right outside and then place the order and they come right back ! I'm sure you can call or text ahead I was in area traveling and needed to try a new coffee spot ! Both Ladies that helped me were very nice and seemed like they really enjoy what they do !

Taylor W.

Yelp
Good coffee, funky decor. But no WiFi???? What coffee shop in a college town doesn't have WiFi? Was excited to be able to come and work here a couple days a week, but won't be able to do that I guess.

Murp N.

Yelp
Love this place! From the cozy atmosphere to the great drinks, Muddy Waters is truly one of my favorite places. I love coming here to read with a drink and a bagel. The music here is always something different based on who's working, and it's always good. Definitely recommend the raspberry hot chocolate on a cold Burlington afternoon (or any time really)!

Leslie F.

Yelp
Love this coffee spot in Burlington! Great coffee, great juices, and it's a nice spot to meet up with people. Always great service and high quality beverages.

Eric A.

Yelp
Coffees pretty good. Kinda trippy when you walk in tired and groggy.. wakes you up. The batistas were hot... almost as hot as your coffee. Love this place.

Julien C.

Yelp
A game on the aesthetics, nice woodwork. But lets talk bean, its a coffeehouse. They got the beans the affogato is nice dessert drink but you can't go wrong with the fresh brew give em a visit when your in town :)

Bridger R.

Yelp
NO WiFi!! Was told "we're a coffee shop not a WiFi shop" when I enquired. So much for getting some work done while drinking coffee on a cold day. They also don't take Amex. That being said the fresh juice was tasty and the coffee tasted like coffee. The ambience is neat but I think they're taking the whole "coffee in a barn" aesthetic a little too far.. Come here to be hip, stay away if you're inclined towards productivity.

Surupa B.

Yelp
The two stars are only for the decor and location. Didn't understand the hype about their coffee. I love lattes and wherever I go I try to search for local coffee places. I read reviews and went there. Parking was a pain as all road parking was occupied and we had to park little further in the cold. We had caramel lattes. I don't understand why some local coffee shops ask this question "how many espresso shots you want in your latte?" I don't know, whatever is the norm. I googled and found that latte - Two-thirds of the beverage is steamed milk, poured over a shot of espresso and topped with a layer of milk foam. So in smaller sizes it's one shot of espresso. I have seen this asked mostly in local coffee shops in nyc and Vermont. And I have experienced not so good lattesin these shops. If one shot is the norm, your question should be do you want an extra shot of espresso. Actually you shouldn't even ask that, folks who want more espresso must be knowing that. Also when you have local coffee shop, you should know that most of the customers have tried Starbucks or Dunkin' , so go by their norm if your drinks demand something different. Don't put the customer in awkward position. Well I told the barista I'm used to having Dunkin and Starbucks and she put in 2 shots is espresso and no caramel. Latte tasted horrible, waste of money.

Andrea S.

Yelp
Muddy Waters was such a cool little coffee shop in the heart of Burlington. I got a bagel and my go to, a chai latte. There chai was exactly what I wanted, the right balance of sweet and spicy! Which is hard to find at most coffee shops.

Owen R.

Yelp
Most importantly, need 1, 2 more employees... Line off annoyed customers, some waiting, some leaving. Coffees are really good. Excellent 'real' fruit smoothies. Macaroons perfect! Music horrible, but music is subjective... ;)

Jon J.

Yelp
Gosh, haven't been here in forever! So nice to stop in to an old favorite while traveling through Burlington. Same cool vibe I remember. Great coffee too!

Breeze C.

Yelp
Great atmosphere, dim lights inside perfect for a nice date, hanging out w/ friends, to study any chill hangout. Service is good, the whole experience was very welcoming. Music is soothing, couches available and wooden comfortable chairs.

Nikki S.

Yelp
In love with this place! I visited and went every single day! Highly recommend... drip coffee, homemade maple syrup, splash of oat milk and topped with homemade whip!

Dan B.

Yelp
Very rude service! I just got a coffee and the girl at the door made it seem like I was bothering her. Other customers waiting said the same thing. I was very friendly and even gave her a tip. There's absolutely no reason not to be nice and if you don't like your job get another one. Makes the business look bad. Ill bring my business elsewhere.

Reena B.

Yelp
Just good coffee and great music. It's a bit harder to find by its unassuming exterior, but you walk in and its like walking into another world. Food: We only had coffee and it was good. Nothing to write home about but a good cup of coffee and 10x better than any Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts. Decor: Whoa...you seriously feel like you are walking into another world. Another Yelper noted that it looked like you stepped into a realm in Zelda and I agree. Or it looks like a coffeeshop in Amsterdam. It's so earthy and woodsy. However, plenty of outlets if you need to do some work. The Muddy Waters on the speakers also fits right in. Service: Quick and easy. You pick up your coffee and sit wherever you can. Bring up your plates or put them away when you are done. Price: Around the same cost as the other coffee shops around. Other: None

Sarah F.

Yelp
$5 breakfast for a bagel and hot chocolate on a day where the windchill is -1. Prices are fairly low for other menu options as well. The shop has a very rustic feel to it if you're into that.

Hollie B.

Yelp
It's like being outside, inside. Surrounded by plants and low hanging beams, this place has character abounds. We popped in for a coffee on our way through Burlington. The coffee was great but the surroundings were even better.

Larry R.

Yelp
I guess. Crappy coffee. Been around a while, but, oh, man, just lazy, awful stuff. I meet people there--their choice and I'm like, okay. But, uggh. I don't want to be a hater, but stale beans, prepared by people who don't seem to care.

Katherine L.

Yelp
Locate this spot and you have achieved half the success of ordering your coffee beverage. It doesn't feel like there should be this coffee shop where it is located, but it's nice that it is here. The size of the coffee shop is 4 stars, but it feels somewhat cluttered and dark bringing it back down to 3 stars. The ordering is all the way in the back, so you have to parade through the entire shop before ordering - so, maybe I am lazy, but I think it's more of the caffeine fiend in me getting feisty, and awarding only 3 stars for that. The menu for food is small, but the menu for coffee beverages is quite refreshingly lengthy - 4 stars. It's nice to have a choice of 1 or 2 shots of espresso in your beverage - 4 stars. It's nice to choose your milk in your latte, but that is standard operating procedure for most places - 3 stars. It's nice to have the option to have a quick snack or a fruity smoothie or juice boost to your caffeination, but I am unsure why they "close down" the juice/ smoothie machines in the evening - 3 stars. The late hours are very convenient, as I like to have coffee drinks just about anytime of day, but why aren't there early hours, I am not sure - 3 stars. This is a far better choice than a national chain, but overall, it was just good, not stellar. Unique atmosphere, but... I might walk a bit further to go elsewhere if given the choice. Looks super cool though to just chill out here late night and sip away on a tasty latte - almond milk, extra shot, please.

Dustin H.

Yelp
Another great New England coffee shop. We checked out the Burlington Farmer's Market and I didn't realize I needed a cup of coffee until we were away from the market where a few coffee purveyors were posted up. Luckily coffee shops are spread all over Burlington. Muddy Waters just happened to be the one closest to our parking spot. However, if I were a local this would be my coffeeshop. This place is so cool inside---very interesting, decor that is both aesthetically pleasing and down-home comforting. Some great pastries and sandwiches were on display but we just needed the caffeine--and our baristas took time and care to handcraft the best lattes we had in two weeks. I would definitely return!

Amelia L.

Yelp
This place is everything a coffee shop needs- amazing coffee, cool staff, cool woodsy-looking aesthetic, and plants all around to give it a great feel! I had the dirty chia and my friends got cold brews. All amazing, smooth, and the flavor of the homemade chia was perfect :) excited to come back over and over again whenever i visit!

Christine D.

Yelp
As soon as I stepped foot into Muddy Waters I thought am I in the woods? Is this a cave? It's really dark in here. Ha. A whole lot of wood everywhere and interesting deco which makes this little coffee shop unique from the rest. The Muddy Waters customers were mainly college students and I'm not going to lie...was very hipster-esque but it added to the ambiance of the place. I just ordered an americano nothing too fancy for me but my sister decided to order one of their coffee milkshake concoctions which was delicious. Let me restate that.....Actually it was SOOOOO ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS and very satisfying after walking through Burlington on a blazing hot humid day. She also ordered a carrot cake and a chocolate croissant. I enjoyed our drinks and the carrot cake but when our mother bit into the chocolate croissant we all freaked out when she pulled a long long piece of hair that was embedded in her pastry! The muddy waters staff obviously apologized and offered to give us another pastry or coffee beverage on the house. Aside from that little mishap I was fine with my order. Things like that happen but hopefully no other customer will experience that.

Bailey W.

Yelp
This is by far my absolute favorite coffee shop! The ambience with the open beams, lush plants and comfortable seating is so inviting to sip on coffee and chat with friends, read, or get homework done. Their coffee selection is delicious and their mocha is out of this world. Muddy Waters has extremely pleasant baristas and they really know all of the drinks inside and out. The scones are spot on and so are the pastries. Kombucha fan? They have it on tap. Juices and smoothies? Fresh and delicious. Keep your eyes out for the cute notes that people can wedge in the beams for some inspiration. I can't stop talking about this place and I will always stop when I'm home in Vermont!

Parker S.

Yelp
Great location, downtown with a very cozy and comfortable atmosphere inside - friendly staff - and good drinks! I enjoyed the Maté Latte!