Old City Coffee

Old City coffee is one of the most charming cafes in the city. Tucked onto a small cobblestone street in old city, the ambiance is immediately lovely. Charming historic details mix with thoughtfully chosen art work and decor. Everything is made in house, from coffee roasted right up the street to the delicious baked goods hot from the oven every morning (the butterscotch muffins and chocolate chip cookies are a must!!). The staff is always so bright and kind. Some staff members have been there for many many years and it shows in how deeply they care for their customers and the shop itself. It’s an “everybody knows your name” kind of place and I look forward to warm smiles every time I go in. Lastly, if you’re a decaf drinker - they have the best, freshest decaf iced coffee around. Thanks old city!!

Loved the XL coffee I got yesterday at the Reading Terminal. I had to come check out this location down Church Street. Bring your laptop to come chill using their free Hot Spot and enjoy a cup of EXTREMELY HOT Delicious coffee. Plenty of tables and chairs. Even a nice restroom patrons can use. This time we decided to get some treats! A Raisin walnut muffin, cheddar scallion scone and a cream cheese bagel. All were very tasty but the scone and muffin were a little dry. But overall the prices are Excellent for Old City Philadelphia!! A bonus is that it opens at 7am and has a self kiosk to put in your own order!

God the vibe in here is so depressing. The interior design is something you could make with a starter pack on the sims. Everything looks so cheap, yet somehow the coffee is expensive and severely mid? A few years back, this used to be one of my favorites but it’s since gone WAYYYY downhill. SAD!!!!! Maybe play better music or invest in a renovation. Times must be tough for them. There are much better cafes all over old city… time to step it up girls!

Whenever I'm visiting Philly, Old City is my first stop! I love the variety in their menu and the service is amazing. The atmosphere of the shop is also lovely, plenty of seating and great vibes all around.

This place is not worth the hype, if it still even has any. The coffee is mediocre, the pastry selection is bleak and the energy is off putting. Cafe seating area feels lifeless, chairs are uncomfortable, wifi barely works, and it seems as though there hasn’t been many updates over the years. Old City is highly saturated with cafes, this one seems behind the times and I had a much better experience at Menagerie right up the street.

Enjoyed our coffee, apple cider and cookie. Friendly people, outside seating was a plus

One of my favorite spots to get coffee beans from. Cozy vibes, delicious coffee, and friendly staff. The adjacent room is a small cozy space that’s great for people to read their books, get some work done, talk with whoever they may have come here with, or just to sit and enjoy your coffee alone while looking out the window. The two spots for sitting outside are excellent to enjoy during warmer weather, and allows for some people watching, which is always entertaining.

I love that they roast their own beans in house and also make their own syrups. The quality is so noticeable in the taste. It’s a cute little shop with a small cafe. It’s very quiet, definitely seems like a coffee shop for studying. The building it’s in looks very historic and it’s on a cobblestone road tucked between two buildings. It’s also very close to a lot of the historical sites in Philly.

Old City Coffee (est. 1985) is a small coffeehouse known for its freshly roasted, Arabica beans, brewed coffee, and espresso drinks. Their coffee is roasted in small batches for a fresher, more flavorful, more aromatic, craft-quality finish. * Iced Sumatra Viennese Coffee (SELF-SERVE) $4.25 This cup perfectly combines classic earthy Sumatra with the subtle rich, smooth, and bittersweet notes of Vienna dark roast. * Iced Chai $5.65 Deliciously creamy chai made in-house, with Assam black tea, fresh ginger, fragrant spices, and a touch of honey and milk. So comforting and aromatic!

During my weekend to Philly visiting the besties, we went here for our morning coffee twice. My besties are regulars and last time I visited them we also went here, so they are true fans. I've been into black Americanos with a little honey recently? A winter thing? Idk I've never been like this before. But I enjoyed this one. I put in my own honey at the self serve station. This station is where a line naturally forms, so I'd be aware of this as I see this could be stressful for the baristas went taking/handing out orders. The matcha was smooth, a little overpowered by whatever syrup you add to it. They told me they batch make the matcha with vanilla syrup that cannot be taken out. So any add ons is too much in my opinion. The color was a good deep shade of green though. I prefer having this problem with my matcha over only being able to taste milk. A problem I've had with so many other coffee shops. Syrups are made in house!

Like a European café, a large cappuccino is a two handed mug-bowl with a crema & micro-foam mixture on top that is at least a 1/2 inch thick. Why is this so difficult to find in America? Nice professional service, and plenty of seats inside with little tables. Blueberry muffin also was large and tasted freshly baked. Otherwise a simple place without common distractions. Wonderful!

This is the sort of aesthetically beautiful and inviting coffee shop that I look for when visiting a city. What made this a treasured gem was that it's in historic Philly and located in an ally style street. The street was cobble-stone for Pete's sake and had that colonial feel. When we walked in at first, it appeared that there wasn't any sitting area, and just coffee to go style, but just around the corner from the order counter is the sitting area. There were plenty of places to sit with an outlet nearby for your laptop, and the general atmosphere was very ideal. People did appear to keep their conversation tone down, as opposed to where I'm from. No churchy conversations either, which was like a dream come true for me. So thankful to Philadelphians who appear well-mannered. But I digress, the coffee shop had plenty of pastries to choose from. I didn't notice any real breakfast items, but I was well satisfied with a Cheese Danish and coffee for a late breakfast. However, again, the coffee smelled good but tasted French roasted style or something like it. I did buy an 1893 bean blend to take back home. My husband theorized (and rightly so, as I prepared it later and better at home) that it may have something to do with the water rather than how the barista brews it. I feel it may be a combo of both. Here in the K.C. area we are known for excellent drinking water, and we did enjoy the blend when brewed back home. One thing to note about Old City Coffee and the beans they sell. They aren't cryovaced or sealed and must be ground and brewed within a few weeks. I have heard that you can freeze beans but am not sure, but will try it. The barista informed me that so long as the bag is firmly closed and away from any light source. Another thing that I noticed at this store is that they have beans you can serve yourself in bags and have them ground at the store. If I lived in Philly, I would try their other beans in small bag amounts. The aroma was wonderful here.

I came on a Friday afternoon for a nice place to sit down and work. The coffee shop looks really small when you walk in but in the back there's a bunch of seating with a couple of outlets and free WiFi. I got an iced oat milk latte, and it was VERY strong. I should've gotten a small because I already had my morning coffee today! The cashier was very friendly and the coffee came out quick. I will definitely be returning

Beautiful coffee shop nestled in the Old City with hands down the best service. The barista was amazing to provide her favorite coffee-- Blackberry Mocha coffee and paired it with their homemade blueberry muffin. Let me say, when it's recommended to slow down and enjoy the muffin, you do it. The blueberries were perfectly folded into the batter with the soothing taste of the butter. Yes, I said butter. As a southerner, a moist muffin is hard to do, but goodness my heart melted eating each bite. This muffin didn't lack with flavor, rich flavor and still maintained being light and fluffy with a simple crispy sugary top. Call me traditional, but this muffin needs to be a part of my breakfast routine just got the top. You can sneak a couple of views of the kitchen in the back with the pastries being made. It's a must try place for the cute esthetic, but the friendliest staff. It felt like an enchanted adventure to be a part of and you immediately forget you are in downtown Philadelphia. Run don't walk.

The big draw of this coffee shop is the location. Right in a very central location of the Old City, you're just a hop skip & a jump from many of Philadelphia's biggest attractions. Elfreth's Alley, Mac's Tavern, US Mint, Betsy Ross, Independence Hall, Liberty Bell... It's all just right there. As coffee shops go, it's pretty decent! A little on the expensive end, but one of the very few locally owned coffee shops I've ever seen that offers an XL option. This is important for me personally because I drink a lot of coffee and sometimes wish I had something larger than a 20oz cup. Plenty of food and pastry options that I didn't try, because I'm one of them there resolutioners trying to lose weight. Seemed to be popular amongst the other patrons, however. Coffee was not bad! I am not big on fruity notes in my coffee, and that seems to be the trend amongst smaller, local shops, Old City not withstanding. Bitter enough - robust, chestnut and chocolate notes. The drip coffee was pretty dern hot tho. Took a while to cool. Once it cooled, I was a happy camper. The seating area seemed to be an afterthought. Had the coziness of a high school math classroom. Probably won't be dining in again. Probably the only thing keeping it from the illustrious 5* rating. Verdict? Visit if you're in the area, but perhaps takeaway is the best option.

Visited with my friends while on a coffee hop morning around the city. I ordered an Iced Oat milk Matcha and it was yummy, although I would probably order a coffee next time to try out. The place was lovely but it did have very few tables for sitting, might be more of a grab and go kind of coffee shop. The baristas were nice.

Busy , cozy and sweet. Lovely speedy service . Great coffee and blueberry muffin. We enjoyed sitting in the back, and then we came to the front and sat outside . I can see why this is a local favorite !!

Nestled among the old city brick streets is this delicious coffee shop! Great variety of seasonal flavors, and do-it-yourself coffee! Staff is very nice and there's so much to choose... including some beans to bring home with you. With all of the coffee shops around Philly, this is a nice gem that's a bit different than the rest. Try it for yourself!

Love Old City Coffee and since my visit to Philadelphia in August of 2023, and going to the Reading Terminal Market. My wife and I ate there everyday and drank coffee there twice a day. We purchased two pounds of coffee for our return trip home, and now we just can't stop ordering from there.

Nice place to do a bit of study or work (however when I was there the WiFi was not working well but it might've just been that day). Good selection of coffee products and ample seating inside!

Great coffee, pastries, and environment. Great place to work from home or socialize with friends. Tucked away in a quaint section of old city. Highly recommend for anyone in the area

What a cute place! It's slightly hidden since it's located on a cobblestone street but it was still pretty busy. They had a nice area to hang out inside and a set up out front with two elevated platforms for a table each. It's a nice little set up outside and the street seemed somewhat quiet, mostly just people cutting through or visiting the cigar shop next door. Decent prices and they make a delish iced matcha latte. They do also have a restroom with a key that the staff can provide upon request (I assume you have to buy something but it didn't come up since I was purchasing a drink).

Cutty coffee shop on a quiet cobblestone street. I'm a sucker for outside seating and the homie and I got lucky and snagged the table out front. Direct sunlight. We needed it. People working were super chill. And shout out this coffee shop for having decaf drip available. Sometimes I'm on one from too much caffeine so it was nice to have a for here cup of decaf. My homie had a oatmilk latte and said it was fire. It's a cute spot. Honestly maybe my fav spot in Philly. It's a bit of a walk for me and it's worth it every time. Good walking coffee shop. If you're on foot and need a cup. It's a must hit

The ambiance is great for such a small place. It smells like pure goodness of coffee. Their walnut cranberry muffin did not disappoint and the girl at the counter was welcoming and her patience was great.

This was a popular choice by far! I would see so many people carrying around their iconic cup and after trying it I could understand why. Their coffee was smooth and bold with no lingering aftertaste. The staff were quick and friendly and the service was great!

Meh. It's ok. I went there once, got a coffee, gave a tip on the CC and stood there and waited for the corree and the person behind the counter just nodded at the cup and said "it's self-serve, coffee is behind you" lol. The coffee was ok.

Best latte in Philly! 6 bean espresso is killer and beautiful space to sit in old city

Pretty delish! Love all the outside seating little treat options my dad lovessss the cinnamon rolls lattes can bevs can be a little pricey tho

Ordered a mint mocha and a fresh squeezed orange juice. The orange juice was prepared and in the cooler. There's only three people allowed inside. It's a super small spot and there's absolutely no sitting inside. There doesn't need a spot outside to keep for social distancing. The mint mocha tastes old world good. The OJ isn't bad, not super sweet, but a good source of easy vitamin C.

The BEST Chai Latte in the city!! This coffee shop is a true gem in the heart of the city - great staff, quaint atmosphere on a quiet street with delicious drinks!

The location is nice. The people there are ok, usually nice. The latte is 1/4 foam (should contain none. )The latte is warm, to properly make a latte it needs to be HOT. In order to "break" to milk to sugar, it needs to be hot. I'll try again ( been there several times, always the same no matter who makes it. Some instructions are needed to prepare a proper latte.

Cute little coffee shop in the heart of Old City. I walked over one morning and was warmly greeted. I grabbed a latte and an everything bagel. There are a couple of cute tables outside to sit, and it was fun to strike up conversations with customers who were walking in.

My favorite coffee shop in Philly! The service is always top tier and the drinks are expertly executed! I typically drink lattes (hot or iced depending on how I'm feeling) but I've been on a recent mocha kick and the iced mocha didn't disappoint! We also buy whole beans for coffee ant home and we thoroughly enjoy the reasonably priced old city and poor Richard's blends. I Just found out they will ship beans as well! Stop by if your in Old City and they even have a nice location in the Reading Terminal!

Great coffee!! Cool little spot in an alley with seating space. They have coffee that you can pick up and also freshly made snacks like cookies.

Went by exactly three times on a recent visit to Philly! The coffee is perfect and the iced matcha latte was one of the best I've had in recent time. The staff is really kind and good at making conversation. I'm also a big fan of their brownies! Would definitely visit again and again.

Love this place! The ambiance is worth a visit. Nestled in a cobblestone street within old city, you'll find this small coffee shop with so much character. They have seating in the back and sometimes have live music as well. I recommend their coffees and lattes--a must order! I'm picky about chai and I was not a fan of their light, milky chai. It didn't have enough flavor so maybe don't order that :) The service is wonderful. Make a pit stop while you're in the area for that coffee fix !

They were a perfect late afternoon pick me up recently. I was able to grab a pretty big oatmeal cookie and an iced tea here along with a bag of coffee beans to grind at home. Those cookies are pretty sweet I must say. Service was friendly. The atmosphere was Covid-safe. It's perfect for this section of town.

Coffee was just ok- tasted burnt. I got a latte while visiting a friend. Probably won't go back. In a great location but the coffee was disappointing

Great spot with super friendly baristas, amazing coffee and one of the best cookies I've ever had!

Starbucks coffee is awful! why does every one like it?? - I used to own 2 coffee shops in Chicago. There is so much better coffee out there! Seek out the little coffee houses! I thank Mr. Schultz for creating the buzz about coffee (he allowed me to open mine) but his coffee burns. I'm in Philly and on the cutest street (Church) is OLD CITY COFFEE. Smells are great, isn't burnt, and makes their own flavor syrups! There were two adorable bistro tables outside. It's a crisp cool morning but sitting there was wonderful. They sell their own beans, and some small food fare. Please enjoy this little coffee shop! Support small coffee houses.

Small, cozy spot roasting fresh on site. Six Bean espresso is exceptionally smooth, well made with no bitterness. Sumatra iced coffee was excellent black, light ice.

Coffee roasted on-site, and it shows! Great, fast service on a pretty back alley road.

After walking ten miles across Phili in 20 degree weather, I really needed a warm cup of anything, and Old City Coffee hit the spot. It's on a quiet small alley that few cars drive down, but that doesn't stop it from appearing to be the place for locals to go. It was packed and I couldn't even find a spot to sit! I had the warm apple cider which warmed me up well and I would recommend to others. My girlfriend on the other hand had the house coffee and after she said something seemed off, I concurred that it seemed to burnt. I don't know if it was because we had it at 5:00pm and it was the last of the batch, but I would definitely look at getting another drink here. The staff was super friendly though!

My friend works in the area and had wanted to try this place out. I'm not a coffee drinker so I went with some hot chocolate. I had it made with soy milk, but I'll be honest, the drink was terrible. Zero chocolate flavor. Why 4 stars? There was such a community feeling in here that you couldn't ignore. This particular afternoon there were 2 music students in playing their Bass (or cello!) instruments. It was a packed house and was really neat watching them and everyone that came by to watch them play as well. There was a kid doing work on a computer, the grandma knitting away, the couple making cute jokes to each other.. just a place everyone seemed comfortable going to. On your way out, you'll be smelling delicious cookies so maybe just pick one up :)

My love for this coffee shop is... deep. This place? Adorable! Quaint! Introspective!!! Every time I'm in Old City, I always swing by this coffee shop and I hate to say it, but sitting inside this café (or outside on a nice day) makes me feel like I'm in a damn indie film. Have written some of my best poetry here, something about it makes me thoughtful and nostalgic. Great coffee too- will say it's on the more expensive side (but it's a local place and also in Old City so let's be real here).

Located in an alley between N 2nd St and N 3rd St, Old City Coffee was just what I was looking for on my coffee break from being a tourist :) Homey and quaint, this coffee shop offers seating inside for those who'd rather read a book or work on their laptop while sipping on something yummy. They have plenty of coffee beans to choose from, as well as teas. What caught my eye were the cookie jars with humongous chocolate chip, vegan chocolate and oatmeal raisin cookies. I had to try those. I went for the chocolate chip cookie and it was very filling and quite tasty. The iced chai latte I ordered, however, left to be desired. It was just alright. The staff were friendly. I would go back if ever in the area.

Enjoyed their coffee selection and speedy service. Ordered a hot coffee with maple syrup and an iced decaf mocha and both were worth getting again if in the area for sure. We arrived and the line wrapped around their cafe but we didn't wait long before getting our orders done just right. The drinks were the right amount of slightly sweet and their coffee smooth meeting expected temperatures, actually appreciated how hot the coffee was for a change.

Based on the reviews I expected the place to taste better than Starbucks. Sadly we didn't try the coffee before purchasing and we just bought beans on the faith of yelp. We bought a bag of old city and whatever else was recommended. When we got home and made them we were surprised how bitter they were and it seemed that they over roasted the beans. I wouldn't recommend unless you like bitter coffee profile.

WOW! My husband and I went looking for a good cup of coffee and stumbled upon this place. It looked really nice and had a lot of people outside sipping on their coffee. We went in and ordered two iced coffees. I am a coffee snob and was happily surprised at how good the coffee was!! Really a robust flavor and strong cup! Do not hesitate to go here. The coffee is worth every dime!!

Quaint little coffee shop tucked away in Old City. They serve an above average drip coffee and have a lovely tea selection. There are some standard breakfast items which I have not tried. They also have ice cream. No indoor seating so this is a nice place to grab a quick coffee while out in Old City.

Had some of the best iced tea ever here. Mint Hibiscus with lemon! do I really need to say anything more? OK maybe I will because that was one of three awesome flavors that I had the option of choosing from. But I was clearly sold! And I got to try one of of their addicting brownies that was topped off with nuts, chocolate, cookie crumbs and so many toppings. Eric said it was one of the best brownies out there, and if Flying Monkey didn't exist it would probably be the best brownie in Philly. Another cool thing I liked was the small outdoor seating area. It overlooks a scenic cobblestone road since it's located on the pathway between Christ Church and the park. So you don't see a lot of cars, and you do see a lot of interesting people coming and going. It's perfect for people watching!

Love the atmosphere here! Great spot to calm yourself down or keep yourself warm from a cold weather!

This spot was so cute and their apple cider was phenomenal. Sweet, cinnamony, and perfectly warm for a cold morning walking around. Staff was really nice too!

Came into Philly for a visit and had a bike tour planned, due to weather it got cancelled so I popped into Old City Coffee to grab a hot chocolate, a snack and place to map out where I would go exploring. Cute little place, I had high hopes for! I ordered a large hot chocolate and a pastry. The staff seemed a little preoccupied with their personal dramas, going on and on about the night before in front of me while getting people's order together. Seemed Susie Q's story was so enchanting that she forgot how to make hot chocolate and I was given a watery mess I couldn't even drink a sip. When I went back up and nicely said something didn't taste right she told me "I made it how it is supposed to be". Thanks doll, but it tasted horrible. Another girl quickly took my cup and said she would make me another one. It took a bit but I did get a fresh cup and it tasted much better and that girl apologized. So much potential! Seems centrally located between a lot. There is a back room with a lot of tables and extra seating. There is only one bathroom for the entire place but its kept really clean.

The matcha is fantastic, employees were quick and efficient! There is a self order option as well if you don't feel like socializing before your morning coffee :)

Nice and friendly staff. If you would like to submit your local coffee café in Old City, this is the place. Free Wifi and remarkably quiet as well.

Over the years, I've been a regular at the Reading Terminal Market coffee stand, but this cafe in Old City is a great place to visit. Very comfortable table area, very pleasantly decorated, just a really great vibe. Of course, it's the excellent Old City coffee, and those superb baked goods. For tourists or locals visiting Christ Church, Arden Theater, the Book Trader, and any number of other destinations in the area, check out charming coffee place, tucked in on Church Street.