Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse

Lovely large open space, surprisingly quiet and chill, with both coffee and alcoholic drinks, as well as sandwiches, baked goods, and other food like nachos and burgers. Being able to get a croissant and biscotti as a vegan is so rare! We were spoiled for choice. Absolutely delicious. The attached bookstore was a bonus, we sent the kids down there to choose a book while waiting for the drinks. I would love to come back to try the spanakopita.

1st time to see my friend Chris from New Orleans read from his first book launch in my hometown. We haven't seen each other since we bartended together in Oakland,CA 12 years ago. Great bookstore that I will visit again to get a better look around as this was a special event. I liked the space a lot. Thanks for hosting Red Emma's.

Berry Kool joint. Open space. Books that expounds upon truth. Severals caves to bounce to up or down. Busy area, so if with car - prepare to navigate a spot depending. Fries crisp not overly salty with BBQ. Hot chocolate, something is missing. Seems diluted. Need to be rich and creamy. Solid venture to hangout with self or others.

Wow! Came here for the vegan food which did not disappoint. But the community space and resources make this place incredibly special and valuable. What a gem.

Espresso martini was so good! The hummus platter with pita was amazing but we didn’t really enjoy the vegan mac and cheese, would recommend the grilled cheese instead. Very demure!

My second visit on 12/26 was fabulous. The fries and the chili cheese fries were delicious. Lots of chili and cheese. I had a hot chai this time and it was great. The staff is super friendly. The bookstore was amazing. I saw so many books I wanted. And they stock books that commercial bookstores don’t have. I highly recommend this place. The iced chai is delicious. So much better than Starbucks. Awesome grilled cheese and fries. Lots of positive energy. Friendly staff.

This coffee ☕ and Tea spot serves food that is vegan/plant-based/and vegetarian and has a real vibe too this location. It's very alive and vibrant. It was full of people on a Saturday afternoon. All kinds of people from all walks of life. The location is in the Waverly section of Eastern Baltimore. This area is a blend of socio-econonic differences in the process of shifting and changing to a better community. You can see it right here in the store. The music was a bit too loud for me personally. I had to put on headphones to focus and study. The high tables and chairs are not comfortable for long-term multiple hours studying. At least not for me. I'm 5'10" and husky at 270lbs of muscle and chubb. There are plenty of outlets on the left hand wall but the tables were full. The people don't greet you at the counter, but that's Baltimore for you. 😂. They were kind and professional though which is more than enough for me. First time seeing an "All Gender" Bathroom 🚻before. I think that is due to the local community. I've always found this odd. If I need to use the bathroom at home. We all use the same bathroom but in public, I have to do the old man dance if I have to pee and one is locked 🔐 in use but the other is not and I can't enter because it says ♀️. TBH...IDGAF...I'm getting old. I will go right on in if it's a single toilet bathroom. 😂😂 Just like at home. Good for them. Common sense is king. Anyway. Bookstore is cool. I wasn't hungry so I just got some Chai Tea (which was not chai...it was just a tea bag and hot water). I'm used to Indian 🇮🇳 or Somali 🇸🇴/Kenyan 🇰🇪 style chai which has milk but it's cool. I was there to study, not dine. 🍵 Overall, good place and vibrant and good. Music 🎶 too loud for me, but cool local place.

Interesting establishment for sure. Super, super community oriented which was so great to see, especially for the area. They have a community fridge, community clothes rack and so much more. Now, for awareness, the are very anti-government and anti-police and this is propagandized throughout the building so if that’s not your vibe, maybe stray away. Their book shop is similar in nature and most of the selection is tailored to this idea.

Hipster central coffee shop in Waverly. Mission-driven, employee owned, it's easy to support this mission driven bookstore and cafe. Their food menu is very vegan forward with some non-vegan items. I've actually only ever gotten their TLT, tempeh, lettuce tomato sandwhich. When I got it on my most recent visit, there was too much bread than the previous times. I've never ordered a drink before... and I'm sure it's great. I also visited the bookstore this time and got a cute baby book for my friend. The bookstore is two floors well curated by topic and the upstairs is for youth and children. They have a lot of discounted books as well. Red Emma's hosts a lot of events, writing workshops and I noticed signed for free Plan B, which is kind of an amazing thing they provide the community.

I gotta admit, I am a "Leather Jacket Vegan". If there is shrimp in my curry, I'm likely to eat it and I can be tempted be a nice piece of cheese. I draw the line at greasy cheese steaks, because they just aren't healthy. When I stopped in Red Emma's, to purchase a Grant Morrison book, I was pleasantly intrigued that there was a vegan seitan cheese steak on the board. I've made seitan and it can be good, but it can be pretty micey, if done poorly. I find the staff at RE's friendly enough and I asked if it was "ok". The gentle person behind the counter said it was his favorite, so I gave it a try. Hail Seiten! This was next level! Perfect texture, excellently well seasoned and adeptly pressed on the flat-top. I complemented the Chef and we had a chat about making vegan food in a coffee house (I am A Funk's Democratic alumni, from way back). Does it taste like meat? Better, it has the savory, umami flavor profile you want, but not greasy, no stray gristle or connective tissue you might expect from a $10 sub and I can easily be convinced it is good for me. The sauce has a good taste and the roll was good, too. It was a legit 10/10. Best vegan CS I've ever had. I know exactly where to go if I have those stray meat dreams or any other time I am hungry. They also have good coffee, excellent book selection, too. Red Emma's is a fun bookstore to browse, whether you are looking for something on class consciousness, herbal witchcraft or underground music history. Check it out, independent bookstores are a good thing to have, so spend your money there (and Normals and Atomic).

I am obsessed with this place. The vibes were great. The bookstore was full of options for everyone and they even had local art for sale. The cafe had great vegan options and tasty good. They had a local lgbtq speed dating event going on that looked like fun. The cashier could have been friendlier but other than that we really enjoyed our visit! Parking was not too difficult :)

I came here for a meeting in the Free School, in the basement of Red Emma's. The building and bookstore/coffeehouse is stunning! Truly a jewel along Greenmount. I was so pleasantly surprised by how chic and cozy/quaint the vibe was. It is absolutely beautiful on the inside, whoever designed it did a wonderful job. It makes me want to come back and try their food! I also need to come back to browse, and to have a quiet place to type. I love that they are worker owned, and support causes that matter to me. Bathrooms were clean, and there is a parking lot nearby (have to pay). There is also street parking, which after 5pm is free (I was able to park there for about 2 hours, no ticket). Can't go wrong in coming here, give them a try!

Love it so much. Community focused with plenty of space to coworking or meet ups. There's coffee, tea, as well as a bar. All the food is vegan, which I love. Their falafel sandwich is one of the best and their chili is also hearty and flavorful. I've also enjoyed the ban mi, burger, and breakfast sandwich.

I am so glad my girlfriend and I went to this location! Such a great place, which such a great staff. I could spend literal hours in here, and we did just that! The Baltimore section alone was enough; being so informative of sometimes even the same places where we're standing. When and if I'm back in Baltimore looking for a good burial position in a book, Red Emma will see me again.

Made my first ever order from Red Emma's tonight. The food arrived pretty quickly and was very neatly packed. The "cheezy" (grilled cheese sandwich) I ordered was quite ample in size but NOT in taste. The bread was soggy, greasy and unappealing unfortunately, and the cheese was worst, tasted more like Velveeta. I did not take more than one bite. Perhaps, I ordered too close to closing but, nonetheless, I was quite disappointed and feel that I wasted the money I spent. I finished the vanilla latte, but the mocha latte was not at all to my liking. Cannot recommend this establishment and will not be returni to Red Emma's

I didn't try any food on this visit, but I stopped in for the Bettina Love book talk. I appreciate the space that Red Emma's has created to discuss important topics. GLOWS: -The event was well presented, moderated, and set up. -The coffee shop/book store combo is cool. -It appears to be a great place to work during the day or evening. GROWS: -The space was a little packed and made it difficult to properly see.

I wasn't able to get coffee here or snacks but I was able to check out some incredible books. With that being said I'm unable to review the food and beverages. I've been wanting to come here, surprisingly I stumbled across Red Emma's while I was at the farmer's market. I enjoyed the vibe of this location and I can't wait to visit again. Hopefully I will be able to try a few items when I come back. It's so cozy and cute!

Came back to red Emma's again to cowork, and this time I actually tried their food. I ordered a Lavender London Fog with oat milk and a Falafel Pita to get me through a few hours of work. The London Fog was only okay, nothing too special and was less creamy than I would have liked. However, the Pita was very delicious and filling. Coming in at $12, this was a very large pita filled with 3-4 falafels, spring mix, and cucumber mint salad. The falafel were very moist which I appreciated as falafel are often dry and hence why I was hesitant to try the pita at first. I thought that this meal was a steal! Additionally, my friend and I had to take a business meeting and did not want to disturb the other patrons so we asked the staff if we could use their downstairs classroom area for our 30 minute call. They were very kind and accommodating and were more than glad to let us use the downstairs space.

I stumbled upon this cafe online looking for a spot to hang with friends for a weekly meet up. We were trying to find a place that had good food, cocktails, and a sense of community. We found our spot! The bookstore is incredible and has an epic amount of books I don't think I would've stumbled upon anywhere else. The selection is great! (I bought two!) They also offer a "pay-it-forward" program where you can buy a snack, drink, or meal to pay it forward for anyone else who may need/want it! Absolutely love this. I love food and that means vegan food as well! The falafel pita was so good! Definitely recommend. The Mac & cheez was really good as well but I think I really loved the red and black bean chili the most. Walking in the door you can feel a sense of community and belonging and that is exactly what I was hoping when I found Red Emma's online. They offer free WiFi and have plenty of seating! I will be returning

I love the charming bookstore feel! Perfect place to study and grab a snack! The service is always quick and friendly! I wish the food was a little spicier but that's just my taste!

A two story bookstore that serves decent vegan food and good coffee? Sign me up for that (like literally let me join your Red Emma's rewards program and all that jazz). Red Emma's newest iteration is located in the Waverly section of Baltimore. It has a ground floor which features ample seating, a bar area, a food and coffee section and a couple of bookshelves highlighting staff picks and new arrivals. The basement is stuffed full of bookshelves filled from floor to ceiling with all sorts of things to read. During our visit, my family and I indulged in Red Emma's vegan grilled cheez and tomato soup, vegan carrot cake, french fries and falafel wrap. While I was a fan of all of it, the carrot cake and falafel wrap stood out. They were both well done and unique, not the kind of thing you can get just anywhere. Drinkwise, I ordered a flat white with some oat milk and my wife a mocha (both vegan). I liked my drink and she, despite not being a coffee drinker, really enjoyed hers. That is a testament to Red Emma's coffee and baristas. They know how to do coffee. My kids enjoyed their fries (they needed seconds) but were really excited about all the books and the kid sized chairs in the basement (as well as those nooks and crannies that were perfect for hiding in). I cannot wait to get back to Red Emma's. It was a great place that appealed to the whole family.

Cozy cafe and bookstore that also has a bar. Very chill and also a great place to work and meet friends. Lots of food and drink options which are all vegan. I had the TLT and lavender mazagran. Both were great, but the mazagran really stood out and had a lot of great flavors. Definitely visit the bookstore if you get a chance. Unique selection of books and local highlights.

How could I have known where the heck Red Emma's was--or IF it was? Because I am so old, I recall their early squinchy sub-level spot on St. Paul (now a solid street taco San Pablo joint--check my review) near famed Center Stage. And then, I miss their last two-floor place (some new, hustling activity there I've not yet checked out) in Mt. Vernon, across from the BSO--but little-used bike lanes and limited parking were probably not ideal. My beef is not knowing where Emma's had moved to, but I've leaned to cool my Jets and get over it! The only reason I'm here is by accident: While collecting fruits, eggs and vegetables at the 32nd Street Market (in Waverly), I saw the newly painted lettering on the side of some old church-like structure that seemed abandoned. Only when a small group who saw another woman and me puzzledly peering into the empty windows did they alert us to the Greenmount entrance around the corner. The new Em's is HUGE compared to it's origins! Plenty tables, a cozy bar and books upstairs; the bookstore "proper" below. Breakfast and lunch sandwiches, pasties and coffee, natch! Great young-old nerdy and gurdy vibes being thrown out. Come here to chill, read, chatter or explore books on the many ways our country and world are effed up! This is definitely a boon to the sometimes bedraggled Waverly-Greenmount area, reminding me of an up and coming Lower East Side New York.

I used to really enjoy Red Emma's but it's gone downhill over the last couple years. It's one thing that they are consistently out of items on their menu, but it's made considerably worse when they don't even bother to tell you they're out of that item until they bring the food to your table. Waiting until you bring our party the food to announce your out of an item we ordered and paid for just makes it seem like you don't care. It's also disrespectful to your customers to have one of your cooks announce to the entire place that he's not going to make one of the items they just ordered. Why are people working there if they don't want to make items on the menu? I will say the coffee is generally still good. And the person who took our order was really kind and friendly as always. Which is why it's a mystery that these other aspects of the experience are such a let down. Maybe they can't get good kitchen help. It's a shame because consistent, well-run plant-based restaurants are uncommon and Red Emma's used to be a reliable and excellent place to eat but lately the entire operation just acts like they don't care.

Wow! This place far exceeded whatever expectations I thought I had! From the outside it doesn't appear as spacious as it actually is, but wow! The exposed brick and open ceiling gives this very much industrial and cozy vibe! I ordered a kale salad with chick peas & something like chicken! lol. I was completely and wonderfully surprised that it was vegan, I was honestly in pleasant disbelief that the chicken wasn't chicken, it was cooked perfectly! The staff were so pleasant and patient as I took forever to actually order! Did I mention that they had alcoholic drinks (order a margarita & thank me later). Now let's get to the book store! I was literally stuck in place, they had such a massive amount of books to choose from covering so many topics! The associate (Analysis the Poet) , was so welcoming, knowledgeable and willing to share so much information with me and my daughter regarding history and so many other topics regarding social issues! This is a book store/cafe experience that I/We will never forget!

I'm so glad I found this place while I was at a conference in Baltimore. I didn't know anyone, but I started here and got a perfect vegan breakfast sandwich, a salad to go for lunch, great coffee and friendly service. The baristas chatted me up and suggested a few other places I might like in the area which was really cool of them. They also reminded me of the bookstore attached. I wandered in after breakfast and met new friends there as well. I loved the wall that displayed the community zine exchange and the fact that I found copies of a LGBTQ book written by an author from my hometown. Don't miss the whole upstairs portion of the bookstore. I made friends with the guy running the place and he invited me back the next night for poetry. This place is friendly and local but also a great place to start if you are traveling. Huge cafe with lots of space and outlets to work as well. Thanks Red Emmas!

Such a cool place. Been on my list for a while so when a friend suggested it as a meeting place, I was excited. I found parking immediately but I get the impression that could be difficult if there's an event happening across the street. It's located right on the corner so you can't miss it. The upper level has a vegan cafe with lots of yummy options. There's also a seating area nearby. There were lots of people working and/or studying so it definitely was more quiet than I was expecting for a cafe. No worries - we didn't get side-eyes for having a convo. In the rear of the same level is a cool and wonderfully designed bar. So many cool pics! Last but certainly not least is the bookstore in the lower level. Some random and eclectic finds and one of the friendliest bookstore, I'm assuming he is the manager, I've ever met. Found some great books and I'll be back to find more.

Easily the best vegan place I've been to. Very cozy and affordable. Food is amazing and staff is superb. Highly recommend.

I came here for a Friday date night. It was my first time at Emma's and I was pleasantly surprised at how chill and quiet it was. People lined the bar, chatting with the bartenders. There were steps on both sides of the bar that took us to the main dining area. It was so quiet in there- almost too quiet! A few students sat nearby in a small group, so I take it that this is the place where the local university students come to get a bite, some coffee and a study session. I was a bit wary about how the food would be. Usually, when you come to a restaurant/cafe, you smell...something! Anything! Lol. I didn't smell any food. Maybe the faint smell of coffee, but still, I pressed on. This is a vegetarian/vegan spot, that I found that quite intriguing. I don't venture into many vegan/vegetarian restaurants often, so this was an exciting experience for me. I settled on the vegan cheeseburger with vegan cheese and vegan mayo, and oh, my, gaaawd! It was SOOOO GOOD! Unbelievably so. I love a good burger and was worried that it wouldn't taste like the beefy deliciousness that I was used to. But it exceeded my expectations. It looked and tasted like a real burger. None of that black bean business. The fries were fresh, crispy and lightly salted. I literally can still taste each item. I also had mocha that was so tasty. It was a chilly night and that cozy delicious drink sealed the deal for me. My date had the vegan grilled cheese and the kale salad. Although he liked his meal, he definitely liked my burger more! Although it's a bit of a drive for me, I would definitely come back to Emma's. I enjoyed the atmosphere, the food and friendly service. If they added a touch of music for background, it would be the perfect chill spot. But I assume that they want to respect the students that come to study, which is very nice of them. Five stars.

I'm a visitor to Baltimore and I was looking for a very cool coffee house that has great people, coffee, atmosphere, and a library! Red Emma's is wonderful. No library, BUT an amazing bookstore chalked full of fabulous titles. If you are looking for a place to go chill, grab a cuppa, and just breath, I believe there is no better place!!

I thought it was weird that they still asked you to wear a mask. All their staff has masks on the whole time and many of the patrons did as well. I followed the scientific recommendations on precautions to take as the pandemic waned. So the fact that they are maintaining this practice for eternity as some virtual signal isn't helpful to anyone including their staff who have to be uncomfortable for no real gain. It also was annoying that their menu items shame patrons for not being vegan. Like cool, I try to eat healthy and a less meat centric diet but also don't want to be shamed while I'm spending $ to eat at your establishment. Especially since many of the fake meat/dairy options are less healthy. Food was good but not worth the other hassles.

I honestly loved Red Emma's. I came last week to sit and study on my laptop, and there were at least 6 other people/parties doing the same thing. The seating is ample, and I liked the little booth seating along the windows. They have extension cords hooked up to the outlets so you and whoever you're sitting next to can plug things in to your hearts' desire. What pleasantly surprised me was the food. I knew the menu was vegan before I went, which I think can be hit or miss, but man the food I got was GOOD. I got the kofta kebab pita and honestly couldn't tell it wasn't meat (I know that's not what some vegan and vegetarian people are going for, but for me being a meat eater, I liked it). There's a bunch of other things on the menu that I'm looking forward to trying out too. I also got a chai latte which was pretty standard (they use oat milk in their drinks). They looked like they had a happy hour menu with some interesting and reasonably priced drinks too, which would be cool to try. Finally, the bookstore downstairs was really cool. They have some interesting and unconventional sections/topic which I loved. I definitely feel like I could spend a couple hours just downstairs. I didn't end up buying any books because I had walked there and didn't want to lug 3 books in my backpack, but I'll definitely be back soon!!

Wandering the neighborhood with a friend on a Friday afternoon and found this place. It used to be on North Av and apparently had moved to this location 2 years ago. They are looking to move to a different location within the year. Quiet. Seemed more bookstore-ish at the time. We ordered coffee that we brought to our table. Many people just sitting at the tables doing work, just chillin and looking at their phones. There is a bookstore downstairs. The menu seems to suggest they price the food to pay their workers - awesome idea! Hopefully they get the business to do so. Employees were friendly.

Red Emma's new location makes it the fourth iteration of theirs I've had the absolute joy of visiting. The food was as expected, delicious, and a great cup of coffee. I had the vegan lox bagel where I was fully expecting carrot lox but they use something else that was totally new to me. The bagel was hefty and a bit messy to eat but super tasty. The 100% vegan menu is always appreciated. This new space feels huge - it's nice and open so it feels like you can really space out. The little bar area is absolutely adorable. Everyone who works at Red Emma's is very inviting and positive. The bookstore downstairs full of all kinds of books, carefully chosen to promote critical thinking and diversity. I always find something great on their shelves and my last visit was no different. I've moved away from Baltimore for now but special places like this make me miss it; I'm just glad I got to stop by and enjoy it during my last visit.

In Baltimore to speak at a national convention, I joined fellow vegans to dine here and the food and ambiance were perfect! Many yummy choices, all made-to-order, with lots of house specials. Excellent-- please try.

The best grilled cheese ever! The salads are totally amazing as are the homemade dressings. Everything is vegan which is the best part! Zero contamination out of love for the planet, animals, and each other. I love the new cozy location on Greenmount too. Parking is east and lots of space to read, research, write or mingle.

I liked their cold brew coffee and browsing through their well stocked shelves of hard to find titles. The book staff was very helpful.

My new favorite bookstore! An anarchist, worker owned, bipoc and queer bookstore in the heart of baltimore! about to celebrate their 20th anniversary, red emma's convinced me I need to move to baltimore ASAP! i'm partial to anarchist bookstores, with my other 2 favorite bookstores being such, red emma's had an incredibly passionate and knowledgeable team and one of the most diverse book selections i've ever seen. their space, both their coffeeshop and bookstore, are huge, creating an accessible, community environment. i loved the way their books were organized with specific topic names and subcategories. They also host a ton of communist, community space events and have a robust zine and comic section. Finding out this place is less than an hour from where i live is both an incredibly warm feeling but also arguably dangerous for I could visit every weekend! a must visit bookstore! i'm obsessed with this place!

I really wanted to like Red Emma's. I love that it's a worker cooperative and appreciate their commitment to social activism, as evidenced by the descriptions of their online ordering, the focus of their books, and the community events they host. The interior is huge and the menu is entirely vegan, which was perfect as I dragged along a friend who is currently Coptic fasting. However, I've had good vegan food. You won't find that here. The cinnamon crumble scone was far too dense and tasted only of bread; the blueberry muffin could similarly serve as a paper weight. As for drinks, they didn't have decaf drip coffee when I went, and the caffeinated drip was unpalatable (but I paid for it, and by gosh you bet I drank it). The lavender mazagran was just ok. Unfortunately, I would not come back here.

What an absolute gem of a find! Friends and I took MARC up to Bmo for the day from DC to go to the aquarium. Another friend familiar with the city recommended RE's for lunch and since it was so close to the train station, it was the perfect location to just stroll over. There were 5 of us so finding a more fast casual/not full sit down restaurant was key because we wanted to get over to the aquarium pretty quickly. RE's was adorable and very spacious for a "coffee house." I loved the whole concept of the place and the menu looked incredible. I'm not vegan or even vegetarian but it was so hard to pick just one dish. I ended up getting the Bacon Cheez Burger & Fries, and other dishes at my table included the Reuben, fishless sandwich, chili, hummus etc. I think you could say we all enjoyed our meals since we all finished our plates. I absolutely loved my burger and the mushrooms as bacon were incredibly delicious! I also got a vegan cider to go with my meal, which was very refreshing. Just something to add - the full bar wasn't open till 4pm (they just had beer/wine available when we were there at lunch time on a Friday). We didn't peruse the bookstore downstairs since we were on our way to the aquarium, but RE definitely reminds me of the DC spot Busboys and Poets (though without full service). Absolutely an excellent find for lunch and very convenient to the MARC/Amtrak station as well!

I came here during vegan restaurant week and tried everything on the restaurant week menu aside from the desserts. I also was craving mac n cheese and the waitress convinced me to try the loaded mac n cheese (although I was never a fan of ham or deli meat back when I ate meat). But I went with her suggestion and the "ham" didn't even taste anything like ham, so I was pleasantly surprised by the loaded mac! I would definitely order that again the next time I come here. We started with the seitan wings and I had seitan before at my college's dining hall and remember never liking the taste, so I was hesitant. But this was nothing like the experience I've had with it before. It was very flavorful and I could've eaten several of these pieces and been satisfied with my meal. Next, I had the Carolina BBQ with hush puppies. The hush puppies came with some kind of spicy mayo-type sauce and this was definitely the highlight of this dish. I've always been indifferent to hush puppies before, so I can honestly say that these are the best I've ever had, especially with the sauce (I'm a huge sauce person). The BBQ sandwich was just okay. But to be fair, I don't typically like Carolina BBQ and I was never a pulled pork kind of gal, and this resembled something like that. I do appreciate the slaw they had on top though. That definitely added some good flavor to it. If you like Carolina BBQ, you would probably like this. My friend raved about it. Lastly, I had the Miso-Garlic Fettuccine, which the waitress recommended as the top dish on the Restaurant Week menu. But it also seemed like the most boring dish to order to me, but boy was I wrong! You most definitely need to be a fan of garlic if you're going to eat this, which I am. This was by far my favorite dish. It had the same pieces of "ham" on top as the loaded mac and was still just as good to me! Now food aside, the vibe of this place is really cool. They have a full bar when you first walk in, then there is local art all over the place which is for sale and changes often. And then you can go downstairs which is entirely a bookstore and when we there, they were having a book reading. This place screams hipster vibes and is exactly the kind of place I would frequent if I were in school up there and wanted to get away to study, and I saw several people there doing just that. Highly recommend this place!

Wonderful vegan pastries and coffee, as well as a great vibe. So glad I discovered this place!

Even though I have a stack of about 50 books to read, I saw Red Emma's was doing a sidewalk sale yesterday and they had a couple books on my list. The woman working the table was very nice and helpful with my search for those books. I have to go back one day so I can search the shelves, grab a coffee etc to get the full experience.

I LOVE Red Emma's! I came here once 4 years ago and finally returned. I think the interior of the coffeehouse was completely redone, as it looks totally different from the old pictures on Yelp and from my memory - the bookstore is now downstairs, and the upstair space has two levels and a bar area. I love everything Red Emma's stands for as a business/co-op with their goals of being inclusive. It is quite loud in the coffeehouse sometimes. I come here mainly when I need to crank out a few hours of studying. There is plenty of seating, however, the outlets are not as abundant as I would hope. The big tables near the cashier have outlets, but it seems that only a few tables in the big open space have outlets (not sure about bar area). Free WiFi! Red Emma's is completely vegan. So far I've had their bottomless coffee for $3 (great deal, but I'm not a fan of their coffee to be honest), maple cayenne brussel sprouts (way too small for $5, would not recommend), vegan grilled cheese ($3.50, delicious!), avocado toast (nicely seasoned, great bread), and french fries (yummy). My friend said their soup was good too. The staff is really nice - they let me and my friends stay there for hours studying and are always kind. One time, after 9 or 10pm, they were giving away tons of free older bread and bagels. My friends took home nearly 10 bags. I enjoyed that bread for a looooooong time! Made for some great avocado toast at home and garlic bread. Parking: Depending on time of day, there is plenty of street parking around Red Emma's, some on Mount Royal Ave and some right on the street in front. It's 50 cents per hour until 6pm (or free on Sundays). I've found parking the three times I went recently.

Free wifi is cool. Great book selection. Horrible vibes from some people who work here. There is a woman here who works in the book store, she is white and she asks *some people* but not all people to wear masks. I don't understand why some people are asked to wear masks and some people aren't. This place feels elitist and exclusionary. I have no problem with wearing a mask FYI. I do have a problem with people just masking as a form of virtue signaling. This place could be so cool but it's yuppie and gentrificationy instead :/ sad.

Red Emma's is truly a unique experience whether you're there for the food/drink, books, or both. Finding a business with a mission for social change that actually molds it's entire business model around those values is rare but Red Emma's does exactly that and with great success. Their operations and values are laid out quite extensively on the website and it's actually a fascinating read so I won't waste space trying to sum it up here. On to the important part - the food and drink here is excellent and very reasonably priced. This place single-handedly dispels the myth that restaurants that pay their workers living wages without tips have to charge exorbitant prices or skimp on quality. There is a nice outdoor area in the back that is excellent for staying safe during Covid. The bookstore is fascinating with a lot of interesting material and the staff are all very friendly. I haven't been to an event here but the lineups they have always look super interesting. Overall highly recommend!

Super cute place to get work done. I love how open and spacious the cafe is and how there is a lot of natural lighting throughout the cafe. There is ample outlets for you to get work done as well as loads to table space to meet in small groups if you need to get some brainstorming done. Food wise, there is a wide selection of vegan food and teas/coffees. There is a variety of food to choose from sandwiches to patties and will keep you going throughout your tome here. My only qualm is the location, which can attract a lot of disruptive people and especially late at night, is a bit sketchy to walk alone so be careful when heading out. Also, when there are a lot of people, you can feel each vibration of footsteps which gets super distracting so I prefer to come earlier in the day and leave once the sun starts to set: overall, a good place to get work done!

I visited some friends last weekend in Baltimore, and our goal was to try to find hidden gems in the city to eat at. We decided to get a late lunch at Red Emma's because we wanted somewhere we to chill, talk, and eat a light meal. I really liked the aesthetic of the shop because it's has a nice cafe and lounge vibe to it. They also had a variety of options on the food and drink menu (mostly vegan) which was a plus for me. I did get the beyond burger with fries which was pretty good. It definitely was not one of the better fake meat burgers I tried, but still good. I didn't buy any drinks for myself but I did get to try the lavender latte and hot apple cider from friends which were both very delicious. So I would highly recommend getting a hot drink here. If you are ever in the Baltimore area, I would definitely check this place out.

Isabel T is spot on. Anyone who comes here for the food will leave disappointed. Case in point. At LebTav in the Congressional Plaza shopping venter in Rockville one can get a mezze platter that could include falafel, baba ghanouj, hummus, and tabbouleh, or lebneh for the nonvegan veggie lover who consumers yogurt/cheese for about the same price as at Red Emma's. If one chooses to patronage Red Emma's it must be political since these "exploiters of the masses" are badly in need of market discipline.

Best book store, educational event space, vegan cuisine, coffee, and welcoming atmosphere. Safe space!

Love the books, and their key lime bars!! I will say my chai latte was very (oat) milky and I would've preferred less milky. Otherwise a great experience.

New location (well for me because apparently I was living under a rock for the past several months and didn't know they moved)!!! It was already amazing, but they really stepped up their game. Really one of my favorite places in Baltimore to visit when I have time to just sit and enjoy a cup of coffee. The reading section is phenomenal downstairs... Filled with unique books you wouldn't find at your typical bookstore. Very liberal, many controversial texts. Can't think of a better place to broaden your views. Also get the lavender latte because it's just so good. AND they have donuts from donut alliance!!! My favorites all in one. Haven't been to their events yet but have heard great things. Can't wait till my next visit.

When you find a co-op, sustainable, conscious, and delicious cafe, it's an absolute gem, right? That's exactly what's Red Emma's is. I've been there once now but from the moment I walked in, it felt like home and comfort. The owners are extremely friendly and spend time talking to you and getting to know you and the food is absolutely delicious! I had their brunch food but even that was mouthwateringly good. I'll definitely be back to check out their book store and events :)

Not gonna lie, this was one of the best cups of coffee I've ever had in my life. I got a 16 oz. Americano with oat milk, cane sugar, and some lavender flavoring. I'd never had lavender flavor shots before (usually I just take my coffee with sugar, nothing special, but why not MAKE it special?) and I'm glad I did! Plus, it barely cost more than what you'd pay at Wawa! I was very, very happy with everything. The service was also top notch. I did not go into the bookstore, as I had a train to catch later that evening and wanted to enjoy the city as much as possible. I can tell you though thag it seems like a very progressive and political bookstore, judging by the images on the windows. I'd love to check out their selection next time, but I was perfectlt happy to take my coffee with me to Pearlstone Park or jist around the neighborhood.

Best Gluten Free Bagel Sandwich in Baltimore! Masks up! Outside only social distance there are heat lamps out. Excellent selection of books!

I came I saw and I conquered! I have been wanting to visit this place since the beginning of time and today was the day that I did it! This place is huge! When you walk in it's a great big open area w seating to the right and seating to the left and a fabulous bookstore in the back of the left seating! This place has so much character that I didn't even know where to begin when I arrived! I really didn't have much time to dedicate to this place the way I would have preferred, so I just stepped up to the coffee counter and ordered. The person who helped me was very helpful. They were kind and even broke down the particulars about the latte that I ordered. They have an in-house made seasonal brown sugar and cinnamon flavor and let me tell you about how yummy it is! It's so smooth that I probably could drink it by itself without any milk or espresso. ... Wait a minute back to the milk, they have milk options! You all know I only can do soy milk but I will dip into the almond every so often. They had my wonderful soy milk! A lot of places just assume lactose intolerant drinkers are all the same so they don't care or invest in carrying both so I was happy to see that this place does! This place has so many little things set up around the counter that gave it so much character as you will see I my pictures. I do want to return back for lunch one day & I definitely recommended everyone to visit this place to get a touch of the feeling that I felt when I was there! Cons - street parking can be difficult, but usually isn't. There are a lot of wandering folks in the area. Leave purse/ wallet in car and lock up. The cons of 2 simple things that will not hinder me from visiting in the future! Thanks for a great experience Red Emmas!

Similar to Bus Boys and Poets, Red Emma's is a fantastic bookstore coffee shop and reminds me of the ones I used to frequent in Oregon. It's a self-proclaimed "radical infoshop," so RE has a strong mission to provide a safe space for everyone and hosts many events like political teach-ins, community events, and film screenings. As for their food, RE boasts a great selection of vegan drinks and food. The only downside to Red Emma's is its exceptionally high tolerance for people who are disruptive. I've seen people deal drugs here and become so high/drunk that they're bumping into the tables and stumbling around. All in all, I really want to see RE succeed in achieving its goal of being inclusive. However, the restaurant also needs to ensure that it is truly providing a safe space.