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    10 of the Best Cafes & Coffee Shops

    For many of us, the morning routine would be incomplete without a cup or two of coffee. But all coffee is not made the same — nothing proves this quicker than buying low-quality coffee beans or a budget coffee maker. Don’t sell yourself short this year! It’s time to try out some new spots. Let’s explore some of the best cafes in South Central Ohio and what makes them so great.

    10 of the Best Cafes in Ohio

    Ohio has more cool cafes than most of us will ever have the opportunity to visit. That’s why a go-to list of exceptional java spots can be so useful. With that in mind, here are ten of our favorites from around our neck of the woods.

    Das KaffeeHaus von Frau Burkhart

    A mug of coffee at Das KaffeeHaus von Frau Burkhart.
    Bakery items behind glass at Das KaffeeHaus von Frau Burkhart.

    Head on down to Lithopolis for a quintessentially German cafe experience right here in Ohio. Inspired by the Deutschland’s underground cafe culture, Das KaffeeHaus von Frau Burkhart exists to transport you overseas with a true-to-life European experience.

    Juniper & Ivy Coffeehouse

    Bakery items behind glass at Juniper & Ivy Coffehouse.
    Bakers at Juniper & Ivy take orders from happy customers.

    Randi Hayes and Amy Fick came up with the initial idea for Juniper & Ivy while watching their kids’ baseball games. In 2021, the duo stepped up to the plate themselves to bring one of the best cafe experiences in the state to Baltimore, Ohio. Serving One Line Coffee’s Method Espresso in a cozy, work-friendly environment with WIFI and a budding events calendar, it seems that Juniper & Ivy is well on its way.

    The Farmhouse Cafe

    An exterior store sign that reads, "The Farmhouse Cafe."
    A Farmhouse Cafe dessert in Baltimore, Ohio.

    Following their recent grand opening, The Farmhouse Cafe has been a delight to the residents of Baltimore, Ohio. With a fun, farm-style theme and plenty of great drinks and coffees, this family-owned Ohio cafe is not to be missed the next time you make a trip to the area.

    Millersport Coffee

    A coffee drink at Millersport Coffee.
    The exterior of Millersport Coffee in Fairfield County.

    This cool cafe offers hot, frozen, and iced drinks with a fun variety of delectable add-ons and customizable options. Yum! The best cafes source their coffee locally, which is why Millersport Coffee serves Crimson Cup caffeinated beverages from right here in Central Ohio.

    That’s not all though! Millersport has also recently opened up a brand new 1,600 sq. ft. location complete with a larger food menu, bike racks, a reservable conference room, and a walk-up order window outside.

    The outside of Millersport Coffee.

    Porter’s Coffee House & Bakery (multiple locations)

    A fudge dessert from Porter's Coffee.
    Coffees to go from Porter's Coffee.

    Porter’s is an absolute classic. Menu items include iced drinks, smoothies, pastries, wedding cakes, as well as six year-round specialty drinks plus a rotating list of seasonal specialty drinks. Both Porter’s locations are also open for lunch.

    A Clint Drive location with a drive-thru joins the Porter’s on Church Street, ensuring that breakfast connoisseurs will find this menu available in multiple spots around Central Ohio. As if THAT wasn’t enough, coffee fiends should be on the lookout for a Porter’s coffee truck that regularly pops up around town. Point being: if you’re out trying to track down the nearest coffee shop in Pickerington, Porter’s is probably not far.

    Provisions Bakery & Deli

    The inside of Provisions Bakery & Deli in Lancaster, Ohio.
    A sandwich and pretzels at Provisions Bakery & Deli.

    Lancaster residents know all about Provisions Bakery & Deli on Main Street downtown. Featured in our list of 8 Great Under-the-Radar Restaurants, Provisions is more than a cool cafe and morning muffin/bagel nook — it’s also a great spot for lunch!

    The Well

    They said specialty coffee was just a trend… They said health-conscious cafes would NEVER catch on…

    Well, well, well… we’d like to welcome you to The Well (and back from the 1970s). Because once you go fresh, organic, and non-GMO, you don’t go back.

    A specialty drink at The Well.
    A healthy watermelon snack at The Well in Lancaster, Ohio.
    Carrot cake, coffee, pecan pie, and an apricot scone on a table at The Well.

    Located on S. Broad Street in downtown Lancaster, The Well provides a unique and cool cafe environment. Not only is this one of the best cafes in the area — it also boasts a play area for kids and a small retail space that features unique and tastefully curated gift items.

    Spade’s Cafe

    A variety of breakfast foods and delicious coffee drinks have helped Spade’s Cafe make its mark on Fairfield County locals. Check it out!

    True North Coffee and Cafe

    A lady holding up a coffee drink at True North, one of the best cafes in Ohio.
    Four specialty coffee drinks at True North Coffee and Cafe in Lancaster, Ohio.
    The outdoor seating are for True North Coffee and Cafe.

    True North Coffee and Cafe may be relatively new to the scene after its 2020 launch, but it’s quickly becoming one of the “cool cafes” in the area. This up-and-coming coffee shop has knock-your-socks-off seasonal coffee flights, a drive-thru window, live music, and even an outdoor shipping container seating area!

    The inside of L-City Coffee + in Downtown Lancaster.

    L-City Coffee +

    L-City Coffee + boasts locally sourced beans from Koffee Geeks and… a secret door? Visit Downtown Lancaster’s newest cafe and ask the staff for access to the 140+ board games at The Underground, a massive space located directly below the first level of L-City Coffee +.

    What Are Your Favorite Cool Cafes?

    Did we miss any of the best cafes in the area? Let us know what you think by becoming a Local Expert and/or by connecting with Visit Fairfield County on social media! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube for more tourism tips, seasonal activities, and fun photos.