Newsfeed Café

The food was great for a library cafe, same for the coffee. However, I wish one of the servers mentioned that you can only eat or drink food in certain areas of the library. I'm not sure what those areas are, but it helps. The atmosphere is good as well, and it has a great view of downtown.

Loved randomly walking into the Boston Public Library and catching a live recording of Boston Public Radio at the Newsfeed Cafe! Ordered a hearty breakfast sandwich and oat milk latte from a friendly staff member, and although the café was extremely busy, my order came out in less than 5 minutes. Should’ve added in a flavored syrup cause the list looked so delicious. Will return soon!

Such a cute area of the library to sit in and enjoy a quick snack. The food isn't outstanding, but it's so convenient to be able to grab a coffee and sandwich without leaving. The people who work at the cafe are also friendly.

Very spacious and modern coffee right to the library. Converted like a broadcasting studio with neon and electronic displays. Very bright, tkanks to large bay window. Coffee and tea are decent. Last but not least, you can come and stay to listen radio program live on specific days

At the Newsfeed Cafe, the Boston Public library's in-house eatery, I had the avocado toast and lavender lemonade, yum! As expected the staff was pleasant and sociable. There is also a live radio show broadcasted here early in the morning.

Everyone was a little busy and it seemed like it wasn’t as functional as it could be. There were 3 workers and a line of 5-7 people, and it felt chaotic. Overall the food was alright, the ambiance is cool and it’s well located if you wanna grab a bite before visiting the library.

July 13,2021 Today is my first day in Boston Public Library and it appeared to be it is Newsfeed Cafe’s 1st day of reopening after covid… Food here pricy but it worth to have here your lunch, especially if there is life show is going on P.S. they will re-launch their live shows from next week. Shows will run Tuesday and Wednesday 11am-3pm

it was okay. bit of a novelty to watch them broadcasting while you eat, but not something i was very into. the food was fine, but nothing to write home about. i got a quiche (which seemed under baked), a cupcake (which was dry), and a matcha latte (that i could tell was made with extremely low quality matcha and was very bitter and a bit alkaline tasting). overall, underwhelming.

" Nice little cafe inside the Library " Nestled little cafe inside the Boston public library. Now you can enjoy some delicious pastries and coffee while you're at the Boston Public Library. I also found a nice netted hat , the picture is below . I will now 100% represent a place close to my heart , the Boston public library . The food and coffee ; just want to mention ; it's fresh and delicious. The service and vibe is friendly and welcoming. I have been coming here since a child and the Boston public library just keeps getting better , so impressed!

Came for the Nova Trivia night. It was such a fun time and there were so many strong teams. The NOVA team made a good mix of interesting questions. Lots of cheering when everyone got something right. The carrot cake was delightful with a thick cream cheese frosting. It was cool to see the GBH broadcasting set up and also people in the library as well.

The Newsfeed Cafe is located right inside the Boylston Street Building of the BPL. They have a variety of hot foods and pastries, as well as many drink options. They also have Venezuelan food from Carolicious here on Thursdays! I ordered a caramel latte and some cheesecake bites. Both were good! Food and drink came out fast too. There's many tables too to enjoy your snack while you work, or enjoy an event by GBH. Definitely a great place for a quick bite while visiting the library.

The food was tasty, but its location is noteworthy. It's situated inside the public library and Boston Public Radio records there! You get a front row seat to the various broadcasts.

Surprisingly good . Highly recommend the farmers salad and hot chicken panini. Join the rewards club and you build discounts.... Aka free cookies. You can eat here or out in the courtyard.

Ordered small hot chai tea latte but I could barely taste the chai and it wasn't hot at all. Also it's pricey here

Interesting environment to dine in. Got to see the news studio. Also right inside the library so it's convenient. I like their chocolate croissant.

Real nice cafe in the Boston public library. Very good bites and tea and coffee drinks. It's a real good place to have a drink and chill out. It shares its space with a local broadcast. I guess recently they had to put a sign that this was reserved for customers since less deserving clients just plop themselves here without paying for a drink or a bite to eat.

I had a chai latte with oat milk and it hit the spot. Can't speak to the quality of their pastries and lunch items, but the chai was phenomenal!

hi there all!! today i galloped my way up to the newsfeed cafe, sniffing for treats. it was a bit chilly, my fursuit didn't provide the warmth i needed.. , so i was looking for a cozy place to nuzzle up and find some snacks. i went with the hot chocolate, in hopes it would warm me from my nose to my paws, sadly it was very overpriced. i reluctantly payed the fee and went to taste the chocolatey goodness. ALAS, it was straight up vodka alcohol, with some cheap chocolate syrup drizzled on top. i even watched them make the retched drink and hand it to me with a sly smile. 1/10 never drink again, don't forget to keep barking though! huggies diapers for all

An hour into studying at the library, when I started dozing off, I realized everyone around me was sipping on some coffee. It never crossed my mind that I could bring coffee into the library. Newsfeed cafe seemed like the perfect idea... Alas the cold brew left a lot to be desired. It tasted watered down and had a bitter aftertaste. I could barely drink half of it before I tossed it. Next time, I'd rather come prepared and bring coffee from outside the library.

So sad because I love the library but this was the worst latte I've ever had. :( the "espresso" tastes like burnt coffee .....

Newsfeed cafe is located inside the Boston Public Library. It's well lit, spacious with quite a few comfy chairs. Ideal place to borrow a book from the library, get a hot coffee and sit down to read. But I came here on Dec 31st, ack! The New Year parade goes down Boylston St and it being a cold day, man, was this place crowded. It didn't take too long to reach the counter and place my order but they were lagging behind on every order. It took a long time, and I mean long. I ordered the Sherlock latte - Earl grey tea with ginger, delicious! It was hot, tasty and you could feel the warm notes of ginger in it. The cold magically disappeared. Given how busy they were, I was extremely impressed with how the beverage turned out. They didn't skimp on the quality. I will be back, but on a day when the staff can catch its breath! You did well, Newsfeed.

Nothing outstanding, nothing horrible. It's situated inside a library so you can expect the noise level to be a little on the hushed side. Can't go wrong with both the natural light from the semi-tinted glass to the indoor library lights. I really appreciate the open feel that it has. Seemed like a pretty normal day and I went in around 2:30PM on a Friday afternoon. I approached the counter and saw that the manager was briefing her staff behind the counter. I was able to catch the attention of one of the staff and she took my order quickly. Pretty standard cold-brew coffee taste at a standard price - nothing spectacular. This place is purely here for convenience if you're looking to not have to go outside for food and drinks during your time at the library.

Where else can you watch an interview with a US Presidential candidate while grabbing an iced coffee? Right inside the Boston Public Library, this place has a cool ambiance with screens and lights all around. Lots of seating and service was quick and friendly. Will be coming back to enjoy coffee, news, and books!

It was 5:58pm and I was feeling a bit chilly, so I had a craving for tea.The Newsfeed Cafe was about to close, yet one of the staff members was willing to take my order at a moments notice. Such wonderful and kind customer service! Thank you so much!

Love, love, love it here! What a great addition to the Boston Public Library! There's nothing better than coming here to get a tea before you go off to read, and I am so glad they included the Newsfeed Cafe in the new renovations of the library. It is a beautiful and spacious coffee bar, with ample seating for patrons, most who set up shop on their laptops and work the day away in the vibrant frosted glass and orange detailed environment. If you're lucky, you might even see WGBH Radio broadcasting live from their mini studio in the center of the room. As for the drinks, I am very impressed with the tea selection. They have an adorable tea / coffee drink specialty menu with items named after famous book characters. There's the What's In A Name, a rose flavored tea latte in honor of Shakespeare's Juliet, and the Dorian Grey, my personal favorite, a London Fog tea with lavender. So good. There's also the ginger flavored Moriar-Tea, nicknamed for Sherlock's nemesis. It's really fun and creative, and totally goes hand in hand with the fact that the cafe is located in a library. I had to take off one star for the food selection. While there are cute and tasty things like housemade yodels and twinkies (get one!), I have to say I was underwhelmed by the avocado toast and some of the sandwiches. They are kind of overpriced, and not really worth the inflated price tag. But for an awesome tea, and perhaps a homemade Hostess treat, you should absolutely check out (library pun intended) the Newsfeed Cafe!

LOVE this remodeled space! I was in dire need of caffeine yesterday and walked down for what I hoped would be a quick cup of joe. I waited 5+ minutes for my medium dark roast to come out. I'm 99% sure it was premade, and it's not like this was some fancy pour-over, so why did it take so long with 4+ employees behind the counter. I get that people were ahead of me, but seriously nothing came out for a super long time. I nearly fell asleep waiting. The lids for the cups also don't fit particularly well!

I won't be coming back for their coffee. It tastes like Folgers coffee, to be honest. In addition, while I was there, the employees (including an older woman that could have been the supervisor) allowed someone they knew to cut the long line. It was irritating and unprofessional. Save yourself some money and go elsewhere.

Soy milk available with other milks. Large room with ample seating. Coffee is acceptable, but not great. WGBH has shows there.

I had some business at the library today so I wanted a coffee. When I asked for an iced decaf (I know-decaf!) I was told they didn't have that but my friendly server offered me some other decaf coffee options-it was the best coffee I've had in months! I also picked up their prepackaged Asian chicken salad also very good. Great variety of ingredients, very fresh and tasty dressing.

I love the location concept and the clever logo of this cafe. Located in my absolute favorite place in the world. I tried an apricot croissant for the first time. The apricot was a little taste, but I enjoyed it so much that I had another! It was also my first time trying a tea latte. This one in particular was rose tea latte inspired by Juliet. I didn't mind it at first, but I didn't end up liking it so much. I will definitely be back to try the coffee that is sourced from a cooperative in Rwanda. I wish that there was a recycling and compost bin that they provided. Although I truly appreciate the portion sizes of their coffee cups!

This review is about Newsfeed's café manager "Karen Chiacchia" and is in response to what happened to me. I purchased a cafe beverage so I would be able to sit down in the cafe and eat my lunch while I work as I usually do. I was approached by the café manager Karen Chiacchia and was told that I needed to leave because I didn't purchase my salad at the cafe, and that "the cafe offers several salads" as though that would motivate me to throw the one I just purchased in the trash and buy another one. After signaling to her that I purchased a café beverage, she said it didn't matter because I still had the salad and could eat my lunch in the courtyard. I am APPALLED right now. There were several guests with outside water bottles and Starbucks drinks in the café that were not being asked to leave. I come here often and was working quietly on my laptop. The fact that I went out of my way to purchase a drink and was still asked to leave is disgusting. She singled me out and did not approach the other guests as she said she would. I will report this to the consumer protection bureau if this situation is not addressed quickly. I don't want to see this happen again to anyone else, especially in front of a crowd of other guests. After all of the news coverage on the Starbucks incident, I am shocked and disappointed your staff has not been properly trained to respect every guest that walks in its cafe.

The cafe looked really nice. I was really mad that the place was closing at 5 PM. I arrived about 4:30 PM. Sat down with my coffee around 4:40 PM. By 4:45 PM I was getting harassed that the library is closing. I am in the cafe. Too bad. The cafe is part of the library, which wasn't obvious to me.

Fantastic gem at the Boston Public Library. Forget about that stress of NO FOOD or DRINK at the library that you grew up with. The WGBH Studio impresses almost as much as the food and sweets on display.

It was my first experience coming here and I had purchased food and beverage thinking we were allowed to sit and enjoy some music. Nope. Some lady (Karen) comes over and says there's some reserved space for an event. Had I known I wouldn't have spent the money on mediocre cafe food. There are no signs or anything telling us of this, which really annoys me. I blame the seemingly terrible lack of communication between WGBH and NewsCafe.

The specialty beverage did not specify that it was cold. It seemed like a hot, unsweetened earl gray, but ended up iced and super sweetened

I was here this past fall attending a special event with a couple of friends. Overall, the atmosphere is nice and definitely has a coffee shop vibe with people sitting with their laptops and drinks typing/working away. However, I am giving this place a sub-par review due to their draconian alcohol policy which completely turned me off to the experience of being in the Newsfeed Cafe. Here's what happened: I went up to the counter to order a round of drinks for me and my friends. I attempted to order 2 alcoholic drinks (one cocktail and one can of beer) along with a bottle of water. The person behind the counter informed me that I had to show her 2 ID's since I was ordering 2 drinks. So I had to go back to where I was sitting with my friends to ask them to give me one of their IDs. Slight inconvenience but there was nobody behind me in line so not a huge deal. So I come back with my friend's ID to show along with my ID. After the person behind the counter verifies both ID's, she informs me that since I am buying multiple drinks, that I HAVE to buy a food item....um what? That seems mildly absurd that I am forced to buy a food item when I'm not even hungry and nothing that is on the menu looks appetizing to me at the moment but fine, I order what looks to be some type of blueberry coffee cake bar (which was $4-$5 so not exactly a cheap bakery item...also to add insult to injury, the blueberry coffee cake bar was ice cold like it had just been taken out of the freezer so it was hardly edible at all). I go to pay and 2 drinks and the water along with the food is now running me nearly $30. Here is where the final straw for me occurs. Since I ordered a can of beer, they proceeded to pour what they could into a small-sized glass and handed it to me. When I asked them where the rest of it was, they told me that they couldn't give me the rest of the contents of the can and that when I was done what they poured me, I'd have to come back to the counter and they'd pour the rest into my glass...so basically they have some completely asinine policy of not allowing patrons to be able to hold onto their own containers of alcohol that they've bought. Utterly ridiculous! My take on all this is if you're going to serve alcohol, then serve it and don't put up all these stupid restrictions in place. Otherwise, don't even bother serving. I can't imagine a library cafe being the setting for such unruly behavior that these measures need to be put into place.

I have been a loyal patron of the Newsfeed Cafe since it opened. Today will be my the last. I'll start by saying that I have been using the library as a study space since the new edition opened several years ago. I love the open layout, and have enjoyed it ever since, particularly the Newsfeed Cafe. At the same time, while I get that the library has (understandably valid) rules against eating in the main areas, the rules against outside food elsewhere are both ambiguous and unevenly enforced. Today, during a full day of studying, I needed a break to eat lunch (a salad that I had admittedly purchased elsewhere). Because there are never enough seats or places to eat to begin with, I found an open spot at the end of a long table in the Cafe to quickly eat said salad. Out of nowhere, I was swiftly approached by a manager (the infamous Karen other reviewers speak of) and was very rudely "reminded" of the "no outside food" policy, and was told to leave. Now, it would have been reasonable if she spoke to me politely, but this woman came at me with one of the most condescending, cavalier attitudes I have ever seen in customer service. Not only that, she spoke to me in a way that made me feel embarrassed in front of a large crowd of people given her unnecessarily nasty tone. There is no reason to speak to me like a child. I was so in shock I didn't know what to say. I have been coming to this library regularly for years, and have been nothing but a decent patron (a patron who in that time has spent literally hundreds of dollars on food and drink alone at Newsfeed). Well, today is my last. I hope someone in management, other than this woman, takes notice. This is absolutely no way to treat a loyal customer, let alone anyone. Shame on you Newsfeed Cafe.

A one-of-a-kind experience, definitely stop by! Large coffee, wine, beer, and pastry selection. They even do tea cocktails. The espresso had a great texture. They had a free book reading while I was there, and there was still enough space for everyone.

Great coffee, great pastries, and the staff is always very kind to me. The soda selection includes Harmony Springs, which is a local brand with unique flavors like peach and sarsaparilla - the peach is delicious! They are also always changing up the specialty drink selection in accordance with the season, which I really like. The lavender lemonade is a Summer favorite of mine. The cafe is always spotless, and the live radio shows and special events make it an interesting place to keep coming back to.

Cool trendy cafe at the boston public library. The cafe is clean, for the small size it has a good variety of pastries (bagels, croissants..). There is also a live radio station here ar the cafe, hence the name. It's a very impressive library, worth coming here to see it.

The Boston Public Library is a gorgeous library and the Newsfeed cafe is a fantastic addition! I had a delicious decaf latte and a decent chia pudding. The high ceilings and light make the place really cheery, as does the modern decor and architecture. Prices seem competitive to other cafes in the area. I'm tagging along with my spouse on a work trip and the space is an incredible work/study space. It's nice and quiet, so perfect for an important business meeting, interview, or study session. And, you're supporting both the library and public radio!

Forget the skimpy $9 avocado chicken salad. A few thin slices of avocado and chicken all placed on top of a bed of 95% romaine lettuce......

Found this place on accident while checking out the library. What a really cool find! I got a regular coffee for a couple bucks and watched an interview with the mayor. That's legit. It's a great way to for the public "interact" with the mayor, political candidates, etc. As a tourist, seeing the mayor of wasn't on my to do list, but I feel like I got to see an inner layer of the city and it was so accessible. Good job.

I finally got the chance to swing by on a weekday. Simply got a cold brew and a house-made yodel (wow--really tasty) and both were as good as any cafe around. I particularly loved the space, though. The WGBH connection is so unique...there's beautiful classical music playing at an appropriate volume and the news marquis are lively and add a modern vibe. The giant circular couches are great for kicking back if you are lucky enough not to need to bust out your laptop. The weather is great right now, so I moved to the cute patio, complete with bright tables, ornamental pepper pots, and huge umbrellas. Really well done! I'll be back!

It felt as if the staff was bothered to have is there. No one was friendly, only there to make sure you did not take a bite of any food you brought in from anywhere else. My wife had an iced coffee and I had a glass of wine. Nothing special, seating was uncomfortable and overall it was not a welcoming experience.

A good alternative to the large coffee shops. The egg and ham muffin is spot on as well as the brownie. Enjoy.

I know this cafe is still relatively new though there's a few things that could use some help: - If someone's just getting a coffee or a drink that really isn't requiring much more than 15-20 seconds of effort, the cashier should really just be able to get this. Having waited before over 8 minutes for just a coffee because it was in line behind other more time-consuming beverages just seems a little nuts and it can make the waiting line a lot longer. $6 + tax for a fruit & yogurt & granola? That's really, REALLY steep. I don't think similar places sell a to-go cup like that for that much $. - It would be nice to have some healthier options, like oatmeal or hardboiled eggs for breakfast vs. just pastries or bread only options.

Watching a radio live while drinking coffee, not a bad exp. Otherwise just a quick bite.

In the Boston library, a great place for refreshments and chat. They also have sandwiches, salads, snacks and alcohol (wine/beer). Lovely place for meeting with friends or simply enjoying a book...

Someone else said in their review that it felt as if the staff seemed bothered to have people around. This has been my experience. It's housed in the library but operates in a vastly different, largely off putting spirit. I dropped by about once a week for a while because it was convenient but have since stopped because it's just not worth it. The roaming manager (or whoever it is) is discourteous and insufferable. Great idea in theory, very poor execution.

One of my favorite new coffee/work spots. It is located right in the library, making it perfect for a midday work break. They serve a wide variety of sandwiches and coffee drinks that are very serviceable. But the most astounding thing is that their avocado toast is only $5. I think this underscores my favorite part of it - they are trying to be accessible by offering price points that most library users can afford rather than just trying to make a buck. They could have well charged a lot more for some of their offerings (like the Map Room Cafe on the other side of the library). But the Newsroom has done a great job of putting out a welcoming and inclusive vibe.

I asked a guy behind the counter what event was going on. He said it's a free event about debt, so I sat in on the conference during my work break. It was cool. That is until everyone behind the counter started pointing and STARING at me!!!!!!!! (Except that one guy). It was far from polite and extremely uncomfortable. The old white lady started the staring. I hope she gets fired, because she doesn't need to work there with those kind of manners.

Bagel was so hard you couldn't eat it. The cashier was annoyed to answer any questions and they try as hard as possible to give you your food without looking at you

Love this place! You are completely surrounded by glass with beautiful Boston street views! Even though it was freezing cold outside, there was a warmth that radiated from the 'coolness' of the interior design and I must admit with help from Jim and Marjorie broadcasting live for WGBH! Jim's organic coffee, and beautifully displayed food was a huge plus! Loved the experience!

Great spot in the newly renovated and gorgeous Boston Public Library. Too bad about the slow service (10 minutes in line to order coffee with 4 people in front of me - really??), the too-bitter coffee and the skimpy portion. I ordered a small cappuccino and was served less than 8 oz of same. I hope service, quality and portion sizes improve because this is really such a terrific space.

I come to the library super often to get work done, and every time I come here I seem to forget how mediocre my experience was the last time. The staff frequently mess up my order, and for what it is, the food is terribly overpriced.

This is a conditionally good review... The good: (1) The "Sweet Love" coffee they have here is the SAME "Sweet Puppy Love" coffee that used to be at Wired Puppy on Newbury before Wired Puppy's recent change in management! If you're missing Sweet Puppy Love, it's here. (2) The brownie I had was tasty. The pastries look solid. (3) One of the employees from the previous incarnation of Wired Puppy is now here and is quite knowledgable on coffee. People seem nice. (4) The setting in the Boston Public Library (BPL) is great. There's space to work and relax, and if you're working at the BPL, the cafe is incredibly convenient. The OK/meh: (1) Not everyone is pro. Eg. Someone put the lid on my coffee with the spout at the seam. If you do this, the coffee cup will tend to leak below the spout when you drink it. (2) They don't heat up baked goods? Eg. at Peet's Coffee, you can get your pastries heated up, and this makes them substantially tastier. The bad (might be fixed now): (1) They have had intermittent problems taking credit cards. (Does their system operate over the Boston Public Library's somewhat overloaded wifi system?) I haven't tried more substantive food.