The MBTA’s Red Line spans across approximately 15 miles of the Greater Boston area, making 21 stops across the city. That means there’s a whole lot of cafés you can get to from this particular branch of the T.
So to make your life easier, we made a map of all the best coffee shops within (reasonable) walking distance from each stop on the Red Line.
Use this interactive map to find out which café is closest to your T stop of choice and how long it will take you to walk there. (Map does not include stops on the Mattapan high speed line).
Alewife Station: Barismo
Yelp: 4/5, Foursquare: 8.3/10, Google: 4.3/5
Going to Barismo means venturing into a suburb (Arlington), but it also means getting to look at coffee roasting machines that look like something straight out of a Dr. Seuss illustration. Unlike places in the heart of the city, it’s not really a jaunt from Alewife–it’ll take you about 15 minutes to walk there. If that prospect is daunting, you can hop on the 79 bus and be there in about half the time.
Cash only. No wifi.
Davis Square Station: Diesel
Yelp: 4/5, Foursquare: 8.6/10, Google: 4.2/5
Aside from the high-quality coffee, Diesel’s claim to fame is its pool tables–119 Yelpers mentioned them in their reviews.
Takes cards. Charges for wifi.
Porter Square Station: Simon’s Coffee Shop
Yelp: 4/5, Foursquare: 8.4/10, Google: 4.5/5
A while back, Boston.com told you about the glory of Simon’s Mexican hot chocolate. And it’s still excellent–Yelpers and Foursquare users rave about it.
Takes cards. Charges for wifi.
Harvard Square Station: Crema Cafe
Yelp: 4/5, Foursquare: 9.1/1o, Google: 4.2/5
Harvard Square houses a lot of average coffee chains–think Peet’s, Starbucks, Au Bon Pain, and the likes. So if you’re looking for something a little more high-brow than Starbucks or Dunks, head to Crema, which has a decent amount of seating and a delicious selection of baked goods. Reviewers are particularly fond of the Sweet Potato Sandwich.
Takes cards. Free wifi.
Central Square Station: 1369 Coffee House
Yelp: 3.5/5, Foursquare: 8.3/10, Google: 3.9/5
This Zagat-rated, John Henry-approved coffee shop is just steps from the T and serves an Almond Joy hot chocolate that reviewers love.
Accepts cards. Charges for wifi.
Kendall/MIT Station: Voltage Coffee & Art
Yelp: 4/5, Foursquare: 9.3/10, Google: 4.1/5
In addition to serving funky, one-of-a-kind flavored lattés, Voltage features local art in their in-house gallery.
Accepts cards. Free wifi.
Charles/MGH Station: Tatte Bakery & Cafe
Yelp: 3.5/5, Foursquare: 8.5/10, Google: 4/5
Tatte nabbed the #9 spot on Foursquare’s list of 15 Best Trendy Places in Boston, and reviewers go crazy over the pistachio croissant.
Takes cards. Free wifi.
Park Street Station: Thinking Cup
Yelp: 4/5, Foursquare: 9.2/10, Google: 4.2/5
Thinking Cup serves delicious Stumptown coffee and has the best macarons around. And their baristas have won multiple latte art competitions–which explains why TC lattes are Instagrammed time and time again.
Takes cards. No wifi.
Downtown Crossing Station: Caffè Nero
Yelp: 4.5/5, Foursquare: 9/10, Google: 4.4/5
The ambiance is half the appeal. Caffè Nero has cool light installations, leather armchairs, a bookshelf, and a fireplace. And at Christmas time, they put up a tree. It’s unreal. The lattes and pastries aren’t Thinking Cup-level good, but there’s ample seating, and with that kind of interior décor, it’s hard to resist spending an afternoon here.
Takes cards. Free wifi.
South Station: Flour Bakery + Cafe
Yelp: 4.5/5, Foursquare: 9.1/10, Google: 4.4/5
If you go when there are still sticky buns available, order one. You’ll regret it for the rest of your life if you don’t.
Takes cards. Free wifi.
Broadway Station: Cuppacoffee
Yelp: 4.5/5, Foursquare: 7.9/10, Google: 4.9/5
Cuppacoffee’s hit menu item is their meat pies, which reviewers rave about.
Takes cards. No wifi.
Andrew Station: P.S. Gourmet Coffee
Yelp: 4/5, Foursquare: 7.4/10, Google: 4.7/10
Iced coffee addicts, this is your place: P.S. makes a size appropriately called the “bucket,” which gives you 16 ounces for $3.75. And it comes in a wide variety of gourmet flavors.
Cash only. Free wifi.
JFK/UMass Station: Sugar Bowl
Yelp: 4/5, Foursquare: 7.8/10, Google: 4.4/10
Sugar Bowl boasts a cozy back room complete with model ships, armchairs, and a telephone booth. So if you want a caffeine boost and to kind of feel like Sherlock Holmes, check this place out.
Cash only. Free wifi.
Savin Hill Station: Savin Scoop
Yelp: 4/5, Foursquare: 7.2/10, Google: 4.3/10
Savin Hill’s best choice for a quick cup of coffee is also an ice creamery. Is this what they mean by the term “best of both worlds”?
Takes cards. Free wifi.
Fields Corner Station: Dot2Dot Café
Yelp: 3.5/5, Foursquare: 6.9/10, Google: 4.3/5
Once you get this far south, coffee shops become pretty sparse. Dot2Dot is more of a diner that a café, but reviewers say they serve a decent brew. Plus, from what’s been said of the café online, their food is excellent, as well–why not treat yourself to both?
Takes cards. Free wifi.
Shawmut Station: Dunkin’ Donuts
Yelp: 3.5/5, Foursquare: 6/10, Google: 4.3/5
It seems like a cheap move to put Dunk’s on a list of mom-and-pop places and small, high-quality chains. Especially when it’s not a particularly good Dunk’s. But there are very few coffee joints in this part of town, and besides, is it really a Boston coffee shop roundup without DD on there once?
Takes cards. No wifi.
Ashmont Station: Flat Black Coffee Company
Yelp: 4/5, Foursquare: 6.4/10, Google: 4.9/5
Flat Black Coffee Company has stores all over town, but this one is closer to a T stop than any other. Their Dot. Ave location is just steps from Ashmont station. If you were to wait for a bus in the Ashmont busway, you’d be staring at the Flat Black sign the whole time. We’re talking a 35 second walk, here. So if you’re not in the mood for Dunk’s, skip Shawmut and come straight here.
Takes cards. Free wifi.
North Quincy Station: Mud House
Yelp: 4/5, Foursquare: 8.3/10, Google: 4.1/10
In addition to a wide variety of gourmet coffee flavors, Mud House serves cider donuts in the fall, so get over there before it’s too late. If you’re not down for the mile walk it takes to get from North Quincy to Neponset, catch the 210–it’ll save you about 10 minutes on your commute.
Cash only. Free wifi.
Wollaston Station: Coffee Break Café
Yelp: 4/5, Foursquare: 8/10, Google: 4.6/5
Coffee Break is a small, local chain that does Quincy proud. And they serve any kind of coffee beverage you could possibly think of–their menu features blended concoctions, flavored iced coffees, espresso drinks, and un-fancy cups of joe.
Takes cards. Free wifi.
Quincy Center Station: Gunther Tooties
Yelp: 3.5/5, Foursquare: 7.5/10, Google: 3.9/5
If you’re not up for the Starbucks that’s right around from Quincy Center Station, Gunther Tooties offers a cozy alternative. The tiny place is most famous for its gourmet bagels, but Yelpers and Foursquare users alike agree that their coffee isn’t half bad, either.
Takes cards. Free wifi.
Quincy Adams Station: Granite Street Cafe
Yelp: 4/5, Foursquare: 8/10, Google: 4.2/5
Like Dot2Dot, this is more of a diner than a café. But according to online reviewers, Granite Street Cafe serves quality coffee at a very fair price–$1.75 refills all day. With non-city prices comes a non-city location, though. If you’re not up for the mile trot from Quincy Adams to Granite Street, you can take the 238 and save yourself about 10 minutes.
Takes cards. Free wifi.
Braintree Station: Marylou’s Coffee
Yelp: 4/5, Foursquare: 8.5/10, Google: 4.8/5
Marylou’s has the best coffee in the world, hands down. This particular location is about a mile from the Braintree T, which doesn’t exactly make it convenient. (Though you can catch the 236 and cut your commute down by about 15 minutes). But I’m telling you, this coffee can’t be beat. They have an expansive variety of flavored beans, which means you can have delicious coffee without adding cream or sugar. And that’s hard to come by. Pro tip: get it iced, even if it’s cold outside. Trust me.
Takes cards. No wifi.