Pavement Coffeehouse
1096 Boylston St, Boston, MA, 02215
Pavement Coffeehouse Menu
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Address :
1096 Boylston St
Boston, MA, 02215 - Phone (617) 236-1500
- Website https://www.pavementcoffeehouse.com/content/1096-boylston-st
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 7:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Hipster
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
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Jodi B.
I heard about Pavement from a coworker; his son is a coffee buyer for them. Unfortunately, it took me a good month or so to pass by Starbucks and head to Pavement. Finally one day, at the recommendation of a friend, we did just that. My first impression of the place was great. The decor, while very modern, manages to maintain a warm and inviting atmosphere and unlike so many Starbucks, it is genuine. Let me elaborate; Starbucks is very good at creating the illusion of warm, inviting spaces. The walls are painted with rich colors and they have nice cushy chairs but upon closer inspection you notice that everything is really pretty dingy and dirty and the walls are patched with little splotches of paint that don't quite match the original color. It all gives the impression of a movie set constructed to look a certain way but flimsy and temporary. So when I say Pavement's decor is genuine, I mean that it isn't smoke and mirrors. It is super clean with nice furnishings. They offer a standard array of coffees and teas as well as some baked goods, sandwiches and bagels. I have not eaten at Pavement as of yet, so the review is strictly about the coffee. In fact, as I write this I am staring at an empty cup which once held my iced latte from Pavement. It is in my belly now working a magic that only coffee can at 9 AM. My first drink there was a hot latte and the barista made a lovely little leave in my foam. I was so excited I almost squealed. I say almost because at a place like Pavement, I get the distinct impression that squealing would be frowned upon. The barista was very serious, indeed. I can look past that because I believe that what a Barista does is something of an art form and you're allowed to be moody, snotty, or just plain odd. The cashiers on the other hand get no such pass from me. When your entire job function involves people skills, I think a smile is warranted. This was where Pavement lost a star - in the two times I have been there, I haven't felt particularly welcome either time. But as I walked backed to my office and sipped my lattes, a hot one one day and an iced the other, the absence of warmth from the employees didn't diminish the fact that I was having a damned good latte! And as I strolled past Starbucks, I couldn't stop from glancing in the window with a smug smile. Yeah, that's right S-bucks . . . when did you ever make designs in my foam???
(4)Ben I.
" As good as it gets " . I wouldn't go that far .. but I will say I now have a new favorite coffee shop in the city. Pavement does something that no other cafe in the city does : Aside from serving Barismo or Counter Culture coffee, They have a "guest" espresso/pour over coffee in rotation which brings a new micro-roaster every month or so. If you're a real coffee aficionado , and you'd love to experience amongst the best available in espresso-micro-roasts across the US, you'll enjoy frequenting this place. In the past year I must have tried Barismo, Counter Kulture, Blue bottle, Ritual, Stumptown, Intelligentsia and a few others that were quite unique in character and enjoyable. Aside from this lovely specialness, They also have delicious food, free wireless and very interesting art on the walls. Its a great place to meet a friend or three for a nice chat as well. There seems to be a few individuals who work there who truly appreciate the espresso craft(as they should given the Espresso Royale ownership) , while others, not so much. but is that a real problem? Nah.
(5)Katy G.
I was pleasantly surprised with my first trip into Pavement today. I've been a Starbucks/Whole Foods regular for years now (I work right around the corner), but I think Pavement is going to work its way into my morning rotation now! I got an iced coffee- I should have asked for extra ice because it all melted before I was finished. It tasted great, though! The REALLY awesome thing about Pavement is their food choices. Not only do they have bagels, sandwiches and more... they have VEGAN choices! I haven't found another place for breakfast that offers tofu spread/vegan cream cheese AND in FOUR variations. I ordered an everything bagel with veggie tofu spread, and it is really good! I'm kinda a bagel snob, and this is one awesome bagel. The service was a little slow, hence the four stars. They will be seeing me again.
(4)Stella K.
Rooibas latte is so amazing with honey and vanilla! the place itself is adorable with nice decor and a warm/comforting ambience, but good lighting for studying. will definitely be revisiting this place to try out their coffee sometime very soon
(5)Simone R.
First time coming here today, and have to say this place is terrible. Was extrmeley disappointed. The decor and overall atmosphere of this place was great, loved the options on the menu, but when actually given my coffee and food I was apphauled. I'm not sure if my standards for coffee/ lattes might be a little high as I live back and forth between LA and NY but if you think this is good coffee then I feel sorry for you. I ordered a Spanish latte and it was watery. WATERY. Never before in my life have I had a watery latte. Ordered a Nutella bagel and the bagel made my jaw hurt as it was so tough to chew. They didn't even bother to put the Nutella on my bagel. My boyfriend ordered a dark roast drip coffee and it took them about 15 minutes to get it to us, almost completely forgot about it in general. This place is riding solely on appearances and hipster cred as far as I'm concerned, ordering from here was the worst decision I made on my short trip here. I threw out my latte maybe after 3 sips and immediately went to a starbucks down the street. Would not recommend this place to anyone. The only reason I'm giving it two stars is because the decor was nice but that is it.
(2)Taylor M.
Nice room, nice seating, but the coffee was thin and tasteless. The decaf was not brewed, and very watery. The bagel was no better than Starbucks. Worst of all, the counter staff was not friendly, didn't look me in the eye and seemed unhappy about being there. Considering the atmosphere and furnishings, it has great potential, but they need to step up their game in service and especially the coffee! The line to the bathroom was primarily homeless, dirty men. I know that's harsh and uncharitable, but it gross and really brought the place down.
(2)Kevin P.
When I lived in the area, this was my go-to place for a nice cup of coffee. It was a big welcome for me when it opened (3 years ago?) since the only coffee closest to there was a Dunkin and Starbucks on Mass Ave. Though I'm not living nearby anymore, if I happen to be walking by, I'll usually more often than not stop in real quick. I always enjoyed the rotating espresso offerings, and I've not once been disappointed with my macchiato or cortado. There's tons of places to sit here, which is a rare jewel in the world of coffee joints like this, so I've had mostly good luck finding a place to park myself, though there have been a couple exceptions. The sandwiches here were always a bit of a hit-or-miss for me, and the bagels tend to be a little dry for me, so after having several, I just stopped getting them altogether. Not a huge issue for me, since I usually only come for the coffee anyway. If you like solid, well-crafted coffee, be sure to check this place out.
(4)Lisa M. K.
I really liked this place. Having lived around the corner for quite awhile in the 90s and having worked around there for many years, I was curious to see what sort of addition Pavement was to the neighborhood. I had about an hour to kill before I met some friends so I popped in there for a snack and a chai. I found it friendly and the customer service was very good. Definitely a solid indie vibe without it being cloyingly so. I hung out in the back room for about an hour, reading my book, munching on a bagel and enjoying a very tasty chai. The room was very comfortable and cozy without it being dark or gloomy. Painted/exposed brick, exposed beams and comfy mish-mosh of furniture are pretty much the theme here. I had a very pleasant stay and sort of wished I had more time to kill. The only negative was that for the first 25 minutes I was there they were playing a CD of really smarmy Beatles jazz covers. Ew. Love the Beatles but, sorry, that was just not my thing. :) I'll definitely be back there if I am in the neighborhood and if I like it as much the second time, I'll probably re-review and up it to 5 stars....
(4)Julian T.
I like Pavement! I've been looking for a coffee shop for a long time in Boston. This city is not known for it's cafe culture but Pavement and a few other spots are doing their best. Pros- The food is tasty. I got a bagel and cream cheese for cheap which is all needed with my coffee. Free refills on the house drip coffee. They have Ritual and Stumptown coffees, two West Coast Roasters I enjoy. Great ambiance, large space with high ceilings. Comfy booths and arm chairs if you can grab them There were a lot of Berklee kids there as well as grad students. Wifi is free. Bathroom is clean. I usually bring my own music but there were several times where I took off my ear phones to rock out to a jam playing overheard. This is the kind of place I like to hunker down in for hours of studying. Cons- They need to heat their mugs. It really makes the coffee get cold too quickly. I am kind of a coffee snot and I like pour over drip coffee when I can get it. I had it twice at Pavement and both times it was that gross lukewarm stuff that is too warm to be iced, like they gave you someones left overs, eww. I saw them make mine fresh. I am just describing the taste. Next attempt I will ask for them to warm the mug and see how that goes. Over all great spot.
(4)EC S.
Best espresso in the greater Boston area, hands down. If only Pavement weren't always full of freshman Berklee students, it would be the perfect coffee house. The hipster-watching is fun but I can only listen to suburban kids acting cool and worldly for so long. This is why I like to sit up front at one of the four bar seats at the window. As long as you're ok with a lot of movement behind you, (it's where they're making the drinks!) it's a much better place to get work done. The prices at Pavement are very good; a $2.50 cortado can't be beat and a breakfast bagel for under $4 isn't too shabby either. And a big YES to the dollar chocolate chip cookies. They have instituted a card minimum of like 4 or 5 dollars but they're not hard-asses about it, which is a welcome relief from so many places. In short, Pavement is THE place for espresso.
(5)DJ G.
Caught this opening day after a Sox game. Great latte with fresh ground coffee. Also enjoyed a Sunrise bagel sandwich on a tasty jalapeño bagel. My partner got a GREAT bagel. Not too sweet for once. The space is chic and comfortable. Nice artwork on the wall (painted brick) and a nice mix of music. And two big chairs to lounge in at back. Most certainly worth a visit!
(5)Juju K.
Great coffee, awesome artwork/ ambiance, pretty decent staff. Trust all of the other reviews that call it a super hipster-y-ish type of place. But don't worry, my fellow 9-5 "professionally dressed" friends...if you happen to show up in something other than your vintage, thrift, torn and tattered skinny jeans you wont be the odd guy/ gal out.
(4)Mike R.
Great place to have a coffee and get work done. They have lots of tables, great coffee, free wifi, and good bagels. I have not tried the tea. It can fill up with Berklee students, so check the back before you plan to settle down with a latte and a good book. Sometimes, the coffee is lukewarm.
(4)Julian W.
Everything bagel toasted with Veggie cream cheese or the vegan veggie spread is pretty much as good as it gets in my opinion. The inside of this coffee-shop is so unique and visually stimulating with pretty wild art all over the place. I talked to a really cool guy working there about Guild guitars while waiting for the other guy behind the counter to make my favorite bagel combo. I would suggest this place to anyone as it is probably one of the least expensive places to eat in all of Boston but besides that it is also some of the best food. Most everyone I know loves the coffee here and a few of my friends who always went to the Starbucks have switched now to Pavement for their coffee needs. I'm happy they're in the neighborhood!
(5)Anne T.
To all Pavement employees: Hey dudes, how's it going? LOVE your plaid shirt, by the way, very original. Anyway, just wanted to let you guys know that, uh, people can TOTALLY HEAR YOU when you criticize people's orders and then proceed to call your loyal customers "c*nts." Not cool, bro, not cool. I have a friend who likes to go into Pavement/ERC and order a large iced chai without milk. Sound like a weird/ridiculous order to you? If it does, it doesn't really matter because it's what she wants, and she pays for what she wants and tips her baristas. Last time she was in there she overheard this from behind the counter from a couple of dudes after she ordered: "This fucking girl comes in here all the time and gets a chai 7/8 of the way full. Do you know how expensive that is?" and then the other employees shook their heads and said "fucking c*nt." Wow, let's just unnecessarily drop the c-bomb, guys! This isn't what Larry dreamed of, I'm sure. I just want to let people know that I am a very tolerable person. 1) I will tolerate elitist twenty year-old hipsters in plaid shirts. 2) I will tolerate so called 'baristas' having the right to be coffee/tea/chai snobs. I get it, you KNOW coffee. 3) I will tolerate someone who is not showered while they make my delicious coffee drink. 4) I will NOT, however tolerate ANYONE calling my friend a 'c*nt.' Today is a sad, sad day yelp readers. Why? Because now I have to boycott Pavement, as well as Espresso Royale. I would like to say that I have lived in Boston for 5 years faithfully patronized both ERC and Pavement for their good coffee drinks, and so did my said friend. She was one of their most loyal customers I know. Now I'm pretty sure all of my friends are going to be boycotting these establishments. Where are we gonna go? I don't know. Not cool bro, not cool.
(1)Kristina S.
Pavement was a lovely experience. My cashier accidentally "forked" the chocolate cupcake I'd asked for, and so it was gratis! Which was swell. And the coffee was amazing. And they swirled the milk into a leaf-shape. Which I am such a sucker for. I loved the artwork, the Euro-student vibe, and the ambience in general. It was a bit kitschy, but that's kinda the point of these types of places, isn't it? Are we not paying an extra 50 cents to the "indie" vibe? Let's be honest. I am totally for paying a bit more for some good jazz, artwork on bed sheets, and free cupcakes. I will surely return.
(5)Maria S.
One of THE best hot chocolates I've ever had topped off with a heart design that was unexpected and simply beautiful! To accompany the sweet I had the lox on an everything bagel which rocked this world! It was incredibly yummy and obviously made with a lot of love...and very fresh ingredients! :)!
(5)Tad B.
This place is wicked good! Great coffee, good atmosphere, free wifi (all in the correct order) -- does it get any better? To answer my own question, NO.
(5)Erica K.
Great place to study...the seating is pretty spacious, you don't hear coffee grinders all day and the music is kept at a pretty decent volume. The food and drink selections are great too. If you're looking for a nice place to do homework, read a book, or catch up with a friend, I recommend this place. Its a much better alternative to Starbucks, which in my opinion sounds like a warehouse, not to mention, you couldn't get a seat there if you were in line at the time of open.
(5)Ben K.
Reminds me of the coffeehouses I used to frequent in high school and college- comfy, a little funky/edgy, and baristas who are as into their coffee as they are their Natural Spirits and tattoos. I loved the decor, the feel of the place, and my decaf americano. To top it off, they are doing free coffee samples and began with Counter Culture coffee from my hometown in NC. Yeah, daddy! I'm psyched to stop by this place on my way to/from work and enjoy all the other menu items...but SO glad this place has graced Boylston St.
(4)Chuck A.
Looks like a coffeehouse...feels like a coffeehouse and delivers! I was disappointed that the barrista could not make the Red Sox logo for my latte art, but quickly got over it after tasting a superior latte!
(5)Huong P.
My fellowship led me to trekking up to the Symphony Hall region that I was not familiar with. If you are on Boylston Street, or getting off at Hynes Convention Center T station, this coffee shop is nearby. I decided to go here since I needed a place to get my caffeine fix and to spend long hours of studying. Having heard raving Yelp reviews, I was curious about why this place was getting all the hype. Having visited there, I have to say I quite enjoy Pavement! I love their outdoor seating--Today was the first time for the real sun and warmth to grace its presence to us Bostonians and I got to sneak a peak of the seating outside and thought it would be perfect for people watching! Entering inside, I ordered a small iced coffee. As I have been to the Expresso Royale locations on Commonwealth Avenue and Newbury Street, I know that the quality of the coffees are great. Long lines of people were constantly there waiting to order yet the Pavement workers were quick and efficient. I love how they are not stingy with the splenda sugars and milks like other shops have (*cough cough I'm talking about you Dunkin' Donuts!). Moreover, they have a large space that is great for studying. There is a great vibe and I just liked everything about the store, especially the convenient electric sockets to plug my laptop in to do work. As I will be by the area, I will definitely come and grab another coffee here!
(4)Traveling B.
I happened to be in the Fenway area running a race, and the day before the race went to get my bib, decided to walk and found this place. Fantastic iced coffee I thought as I strolled down mass ave. Day of race, took a friend in as well and yet again, another fantastic iced coffee. Service was great, place looked great, and the Iced coffee, well it was fantastic. If I'm in the area again I will make a detour to try something else of theirs, with perhaps another fantastic iced coffee.
(4)Simone W.
Pavement is one of the best coffee places in the area. I love the Fairy Tea and the latte, and it's a great place to hang out and relax with friends for lunch or to study. The cafe is so comfortable and all the seating is nice and the food and drinks are delicious. Super good prices!
(4)Jaime P.
So on a whim, my fellow co-worker and I decided to try this place- considering we pretty much walk by it every day.We needed a change from the every day dunkins/starbucks routine. I am so glad we did :) The coffee is nothing special ..actually kind of tasted like starbucks, and they let you add your own sugar, milk etc. They have many different kinds of bagels, muffins, pastries and paninis for lunch. I got a bagel with veggie cream cheese which was so creamy and fresh. Pretty much made my whole day. I would compare it to Bagelworld in Reading. The inside was nice and cozie (and not crowded in the morning which is defintely a plus!) The staff was friendly and didn't seem too robotic. I will be sure to go back to this quaint little coffee shop on Boylston. I'm just upset now because I have no bagel left!
(4)Lauren M.
The vanilla soy lattes are awesome here. I love the place's vegan bagel options (this place is affiliated with Uncommon Grounds and Bagel Rising). People watching here is the best. One time the guy next to me beat boxed for 10 minutes - there were sounds coming out of his mouth I never thought possible. Another time, a guy was rocking a raccoon hat. Bahaha.. love it. It's also nice when it gets warmer out to sit and read the paper or do work on the patio. I'd give it 6 stars if I could.
(5)Jonathan K.
This place has a great house blend that easily beats Starbucks' Clover coffee, but they lack the selection and customization that Starbucks has. I tried this place when going to a meeting in Fenway, and the house blend really impressed me. It's got a heavy wood and nut flavor and was surprisingly bold. The coffee there isn't that cheap, but the staff are pretty nice and the shop is pretty comfy. They have a great location AND outdoor seating, which is great for summer sipping. Despite there being a very nice Starbucks (with Clover) a block away, I still recommend this place as worth checking out. For those who love their Starbucks Gold Cards, Pavement also has a card that works at the Espresso Royale and a few other places as well. Sadly, it's not gold.
(3)Jen L.
Great latte but do not try the awful pastry. Got a scone late at night and it was rubbery and chewy, so disgusting. Would give 5 for its latte but the exception was for the pastry. What the heck was that!!!
(4)Mike S.
I enjoy going here now. The music used to be so loud I couldn't think. Now I can read and not get completely distracted. Front service at the registers has vastly improved, i.e., employees actually seem to want to help you. There should be a special rating for most improved establishment. Keep up the good work!
(4)Henry P.
Full disclosure: I'm a veteran in the coffee and tea wholesale world but I do not know the people working Pavement. I watched a barista make a drink and said to myself, "if I were making a training film on how to do each step perfectly, I could be all done with a single take filming this guy." I have never had that thought before. I'm talking twenty plus years. I've been a judge in national barista competitions thirteen times. Go here. The Third Wave has arrived in Boston. It's at Pavement.
(5)Aga S.
Really cool, independent coffee shop. I really like the welcoming vibe of this place; it just feels much more homey than any Starbucks or anyplace of that kind. I've been here bunch of times, but I decided to write this review after my most recent visit about a week or so ago. I was headed to work in the South End and I really needed a huge cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich. Convinced that Pavement would satisfy my both needs, I walked in and headed straight toward the counter. I ordered a large coffee and Tequila Sunrise sandwich. The coffee was alright, though I think I just needed at least 2 of them to really wake up. The sandwich, on the other hand, was humongous and I ended u having a half for breakfast and then another half for lunch. The staff was friendly, but you gotta make sure you have plenty of time to wait, especially if you are ordering food. It took them at least 15 minutes to prepare my sandwich - it was worth it though!!!!
(4)Connie L.
Pavement is a great addition to this part of Boston. Lovely, bright space for studying with a cup of coffee and a pastry. Salads and sandwiches are small and just average, though. The coffee is better at The Thinking Cup on Tremont Street. I would pick this location over both TC and Espresso Royale if you need to hammer out a paper or want to enjoy a book, though!
(3)Anna M.
So bummed out that my soy latte was made with milk. My rumbling belly and nausea and burping are what I try to avoid by ordering soy. And the barrista announced "soy latte"! Otherwise I have liked this place, independent, decent food, pleasant ambience...
(2)Runar B.
This is basically an Espresso Royale. The coffee is very good. Amazing latte.
(4)Danny D.
Great ambiance, good food choices (bagels with stuff on them), but the service is uneven. Some days you get someone that cares and does it right (it's not that hard), and other days (like today), you get a clueless chickie who can't remember anything. Whole milk free pour 16 ounce latte for here. I got a 2%, no foam latte to go. Go figure. Heated croissant. I got a cold croissant. Go figure. Cool place to chill, good music.
(2)Lynn R.
I'm not a coffee connoisseur but I adore Pavement. Coming here for my coffee puts me in a good mood. I love the atmosphere - I think the sitting area is brighter than most Espresso Royales. I get the Santa Monica bagel which has lox and guacamole. Their guacamole spread is great!
(4)Ian H.
Everyone is friendly and pretty, and none of the tables are too close together. The art on the walls is exactly one notch above standard coffeehouse decor. I can't say that the coffee or bagel I had was anything special, but in a lot of ways the stuff served at these places is secondary to how it feels to sit there for a while. I would rank it as positive in that respect.
(4)Lisa B.
I love the look of this place, it reminds me of an art warehouse, seattle-style coffee house where I would go to read literature in high school and dream of foreign, philosophical adventures. The espresso and coffee are of quality (counter culture) and they have guest coffees, recently Sight glass.
(4)V P.
This is probably my favorite coffee house in Boston. I guess that's not saying much when compared to the ones I've been to in San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, and Sydney. But STILL, A+ for effort. I've always had friendly service here. I usually don't come during peak hours so I can't attest to how fast their service is. But things I really like are: -the service -the espresso -the space -outside seating, especially during the summer. -that they're a bit removed from Newbury St. while still being close to downtown
(4)Erik S.
I'm a bit torn on this review because this establishment clearly cares about their espresso but a couple of factors keep it from getting 5 stars. Right off the bat parking around there is a real nuisance, so I was already a little perturbed before I even walked in the door. Given that, when the cashier said that they wouldn't make me a latte with their guest Barrington espresso blend, I was less than enthused. The other option was a Barismo blend which they serve at Simon's so I wanted to try something different. On the verge of exacerbation, I ordered a cappuccino instead of my revered cafe latte. The espresso was on the mild side, but it had good flavor. It wasn't as deep as it could have been but it had nice undertones. The microfoam was good, but not great. The drink was served at the proper temperature though; always a sign of an excellent establishment. My wife said that her latte was tasted good (she had the Barismo) and the latte art was nice. Not that it was important because I rate the espresso at coffee houses, but I bought a bagel which was quite dry. I guess the bottom line is that I'll go back next time I'm in the area.
(4)Chris A.
Went here the other day to do some work and get out of my house. Coffee was pretty darn good, the comfy chair I got to sit in was great and the bagel and cream cheese were pretty good. I know they have the one hour limit for a reason, but it would be convenient if I could pay like a buck to go for two hours or something. I know people would be in there all day, but still. Mainly, the negative was having to deal with the pretentious artsy crowd in there. "Yah, he was playing such sell out, poppy music, and I stuck to my roots and played what my soul said I should play. I'd rather stay true than do what he did to get a gig... yahhhh." Or the guy making fun of someone walking by for wearing khaki's and boat shoes and being a drone.... really? Come on hippie, get a f***ing job and stop hanging around the coffee shop all day. Ugh. Not the shop's fault that they are stuck next to Berklee, though.
(3)E A.
I've been coming here since they opened. I love their espresso drinks and their bagel sandwiches are very good. The atmosphere here is really nice and laid back. The one thing that sometimes annoys me is that during busy times, they don't take coffee orders before you get to the cash to pay. Sometimes, the people ahead of me are ordering sandwiches and drip coffee and I see that the barista has nothing to do. This isn't a huge issue and I'll keep coming back!
(4)Eben S.
When this place opened the coffee was lightly better and I miss that. But it is still very good and worthwhile. The sad part is that the food and even the baked good are a bit sad. Still, I will back again and again for the very tasty lattes. I don't care one way or the other about the hipster vibe.
(4)Amy B.
my new favorite coffeeshop. The coffee is great and they serve healthy food and actually quite reasonable. I can't wait to go back...
(4)Jasmine K.
It was the first cafe I could say I LOVE in boston. The furniture and atmosphere is amazing. The staff are friendly, the cappucino was wonderful - and they drew a heart shape with the foam which was so cute! I got a turkey sandwich and it was great too. The honey mustard, the turkey, the toasted bread and something crunchy they put in inside was just perfectly delicious. With them having free wifi, I have absolutely NO reason to go to Starbucks when I'm around here.
(5)Sonia G.
Oh Pavement, I so desperately want to give you a good review. But I just can't. I'm relatively new to the area and was thrilled to see an independent coffee shop in my neighborhood since I work from home and need a good "go-to" place to work. But the internet woes at Pavement have got me down. At first they had the sloooowest internet known to man with a terrible connection. They seemed to fix that problem in the past couple weeks, but in fixing, they have added a ONE HOUR MAX time for internet access. Why, oh why must you do this Pavement?!? I want to hang out, I want to work... I want to give you my money for all the breakfasts and lunches I would eat there. But alas, you're pushing me away. So now begins a new search for another independent coffee house in the area. I really don't want to go to Starbucks around the corner, but I guess I will if I can't find something else convenient. 2 stars for the potential. Please give us back the internet, won't you?
(2)Marwan A.
great vibe coffeehouse
(4)Xiyan W.
Came here on Valentines day morning for a little caffeine and lox. We always walked by this place to go to Steve's pizza and wanting to step in and check it out. I had the best cafe au lait while my valentine had the americano and he was pretty impressed. I ordered the Santa Monica which was lox on a bagel with cream cheese, and all the fixings. But this place takes it up a notch by adding creamy avocado spread to the sandwich. Everything looked and tasted fresh. Can't wait to come back for more.
(5)Laura N.
It's so refreshing to find such a lively yet peaceful spot in the area. Lots of seating in the back - a great place to spend a few hours reading or working People are friendly and whip up a pretty tasty espresso or cup of coffee. One of my favorite coffee houses in the area!
(5)Oriana S.
I never knew this place existed until today and I go to Mass Ave. a lot! Pavement is a hip coffeehouse right near the Hynes Convention Center T stop. I really liked the decor-- lots of natural light and exposed-brick walls decorated with original art work. The interior is pretty large and there's outside seating too! A great selection of sandwiches, bagels, paninis and coffee. I got a grilled cheese sandwich (for only $4.25) and a small cafe mocha. The grilled cheese was excellent. I know it's hard to go wrong with a grilled cheese, but this one tasted especially good: a blend of fontina and cheddar cheese, with sliced tomatoes on white bread (they ran out of any other kind). My coffee was delicious too! The only qualm I have with this place is that I waited about 10 minutes to get my food. The place seemed understaffed and the two Batistas working were visibly overwhelmed. Many customers began to complain, and to their credit the Batistas remained calm and politely addressed each complaint. Although I got impatient, my food (and drink) was worth the wait! Will I go back? Hell yes!
(3)Sarah M.
Begin: GLADIATOR FIGHT TO THE DEATH. I can't have TWO favorite coffee shops in Boston, now can I? Crema cafe is so amazing, but then I found this place, and...and...It's too amazing too! So, for the first time in my life, I am counting Cambridge as an entirely separate entity, and naming Pavement my favorite in metro Bostonia. I have two words for you: Spanish latte. This is, without a doubt, my favorite coffee drink on the planet. Duh, Starbucks doesn't have it-it's a specialty drink, made only in indie coffee shops. Espresso Royale has them, but the best one I have ever had is from Pavement. Just the right amount of espresso, milk, and the special ingredient: condensed milk. It's perfect iced or hot, and you don't have to add any sugar. Pavement is in the middle of uber hipster land-I'm talking, these cool kids are making FUN of the cool kids of Allston. Elitist by wearing old clothes, whatever. Just be prepared for that. Mostly, the employees are hipsters, but also pretty friendly. They also happen to have the most delicious molasses cookies I have had in years...takes me right back to being a sticky 4 year old kid. Also: an outlet at almost every seat, clean bathroom, big tables, quirky decor, and an outdoor patio. Dear Pavement: I love you, you are perfect, let's get married.
(5)B L.
I came here for this first time this week. I was there on a weekday, early afternoon, so there was plenty of seating and really nice natural light. The iced coffee was delicious. I give only 4 stars because the service was preettyyy slow. My friend waited about 7 minutes for his latte, and it took them about 5 do toast my bagel. (But it was tasty!)
(4)Jessica L.
Hands down my favorite place to go every Saturday morning. Bagels and sandwiches are delicious and their coffee is the best in Boston!! Very inviting atmosphere and the staff is very friendly.
(5)Happy Eater B.
Pavement Coffeehouse has many strengths: Cool decor. Creative, interesting local art on the walls. Exposed brick. Comfortable seats, practical tables. Terrific coffee. Free refills! Good food. Fair prices. Sufficient seating. I can usually find a place to sit down. Friendly, positive staff who are sincerely helpful. They participate in Bicycle Benefits and there's always a place to lock my bike outside (to a parking meter, etc.). Things that need improvement: -the line for the counter becomes very clogged and crowded. I don't see a good way to deal with this, given the size of that part of the store and the popularity of the place, but it is still inconvenient. -the menu needs more options. perhaps a weekly special would keep things fresher and more interesting.
(4)Jess R.
Yay, I can get Bagel Rising bagels near my office without putting up with the attitude problems of the Espresso Royale Coffeehouse staff! The Pavement folks are every bit as hipster as their Newbury Street brethren and sistren, but with much less attitude--Pacific Northwest or NoCaro instead of NYC. They make fine coffee, although the service is kind of slow (hence four stars instead of five). If ever I get bored of their bagels, their tuna melt sandwich (served not on a bagel but on thick-cut bread) is also tasty. The decor of the coffeehouse is also very nice. Check out the fantastic old wooden bathroom door (looks like it was the front door of a Victorian house in its last life). I do question the wisdom of having wood floors in your bathroom instead of tile, but what do I know?
(4)Lara S.
Love this place. Great study atmosphere - lots of laptops and the conversational buzz is at a minimum. The appropriately hipster staff are always friendly and for-here coffees come with FREE REFILLS. Awesome. Outlets aplenty, but the WiFi is sometimes spotty. The coffee is delish. I love that they only serve small capps (keeps them from being too milky) and the Uganda coffee is fantastic. In terms of food, I've had the Chia bagel which was very good for anyone into veggie and a blueberry muffin which was nothing special, but definitely tasty. They also have salads, but I don't recommend them; the one I had was a little too basic and came with packaged dressing (yes, I am a snob). Overall though, great place. Definitely come here if you're looking to spend a few productive hours with great coffee and cute, friendly people.
(4)Peter K.
I am fairly knowledgeable about espresso. I home roast, and have used pro quality gear in my home for years including mazzer grinders and 45 pound Italian espresso machines. Pavement Rocks! I am not there a lot, but it's real third wave coffee in Boston. If you think espresso is best served with spooned on milk in a 16 ounce cup you need schooling.
(5)Mark C.
Cool, funky place with excellent coffee and nice decor. Since opening the place has been packed with a lot of Berklee students and staff which is pretty cool. I hope they find a way to get some live music in there. Service is adequate, not great - which is why I give it a 4.
(4)Joshua L.
Ate their tequila sunrise breakfast sandwich and had a large latte, and while it was a bit on the pricey side I did really enjoy the food. The sandwich was unique having jalapeño cream cheese in it to give it a nice bite. The service was a little slow as well but exactly what you would expect for an urban coffee shop.
(4)Stan S.
This would be a great coffeehouse, if it weren't for the service. It's the slowest service I've ever had in a coffeehouse. If you've got somewhere you've got to be, and there are more than 1 or 2 people in line, go around the corner to Starbucks. Today I waited while the girl running the empty register chatted with her friend, while the other girl rang her up. Finally, girl #2 switched registers with the chatty Cathy, so she could attend to the other 10 people in line, Cathy kept on chatting! This is right at the Berklee campus, and most of the clientele are students and faculty. I've talked a number of folks who won't come here because it's impossible to grab a coffee between classes, it's just too slow. That said, I love the vibe, the menu tasty, and the coffee pretty good. I just make sure I have at least 20-30 minutes before class or I go elsewhere. By the way, I tried to e-mail them, and the address on their website bounces :(
(3)Emily L.
This place is packed with students that go to Berklee College of Music but it's kind of a nice escape from the standard coffee shops that are around the Fenway area. The staff seem to know most of the regulars and I was beyond satisfied with my cup of joe. Most people seem to come here to have a good chat so it might not be a good place to study but everyone seems super friendly and you can always eavesdrop into someone's conversation to learn when an artist would be in town.
(4)Brenda S.
I've been an Espresso Royale Caffe loyal customer for years now, but I have to say, Pavement has won me over. The vibe in there is very different than Bagel Rising or the ERCs, and I like it much better. It's cleaner, brighter, and more efficient. I really enjoy that there is outdoor seating (when you can get it!) and more comfortable seating inside as well. I love to do schoolwork here, especially because ERC on Gainsborough tends to get really crowded and loud, so I find the environment more conducive to studying at Pavement. The coffee is awesome, the bagels are awesome, the only thing knocking off a start is the one hour internet limit. What gives? It says its an hour per drink, but it's really just an hour per day - there have been days when I have stayed for 5, 6, 7 hours and ordered several drinks in that time, and I've still gotten only an hour of internet usage (there have also been days when I've come in the morning and again in the afternoon and I haven't been able to get back on.) That said, though, at least the internet works - a far cry from ERC Gainsborough where your only internet options these days are going without or stealing it from Panera across the street.
(4)Paran Y.
Get the pour over. It's quite the legal addictive stimulant.
(4)Amber H.
Creative sandwiches, and the one I got (walnuts, chevre, honey & cranberries) was pretty good, though not great. The service could have been friendlier.
(3)Maeve W.
Atmosphere It's artsy, but probably can't help but be so just because it sits right by Berklee. You'll find students with large headphones plugged into their keyboards (that was a first for me - such students don't tend to frequent Harvard Square), study groups squinting over used textbooks (lighting isn't outstanding) or laboring over shared problem sets (feels good to not be one of them for once), and a handful of young professionals hunched over their laptops. Conversations you may overhear are about different individuals in bands people know of and where they come from (It seems like the majority of them hail from NorCal, but I don't mean to be a creeper to listen that closely to these conversations; it really just validated my endorsement for the SF music scene - having Berklee music students agree with my views! And here I thought I was so behind on the alt rock scene - the closet high-school indie-lover in me was quite relieved). Drinks & Food They have mediocre Spanish lattes (2 occasions with different baristas: both lattes didn't have enough condensed milk and were a bit weaker in their espresso content) and smaller sandwiches of lesser quality than what you could really just get at the Subway a few doors down (most likely healthier options as well). Their tomato mozzarella sandwich was underwhelming (recommended by a barista as one of their more popular), though I must say that they were kind enough to hand me the extra grilled cheese they made on accident before serving me my correct order (coffee house chains would never). There wasn't that much cheese, the tomatoes actually too juicy to be part of a good TM sandwich, 7-grain bread less textured than it should have been. Issue (for those seeking to be more productive with their time) One issue I have is that internet access is limited to 1 hour, meaning that people are juggling between their laptops and smartphones if they're actually doing. That given... What I will say is that the atmosphere is interesting, there are plenty of outlets lining the walls, and the variety in seating (cushioned, different table shapes/sizes) are versatile enough to make this place a dependable go-to for different occasions. Personally, I'd opt for its Newbury St. counterpart: Espresso Royale, which is less than 10 minute walk if you're in the area anyway. (Refer to: my Espresso Royale review) Recap Good drinks, less-than-good sandwiches, but artsy atmosphere.
(3)Grace W.
So far, my favorite soy au lait in Boston! The atmosphere was cozy on a cold day and the booth seating provided enough space for all my bags, jacket, scarf, etc. My only complaint is that the music is a bit loud, so if you're trying to concentrate hard on something, it might be a little difficult here.
(4)Dennis E.
I am a coffee snob and this place absolutely incredible. The counter culture beans are a nice wake up. Cool staff, great decor, everything you want in a homey coffee house. Will be back soon!
(5)Emily W.
Bagels are delicious and the coffee is decent. But the prices are high, and the service on the day I was there was lacking. It seems to be a popular hangout for the college crowd - being right by Berklee, I'm sure that helps. There is also a limit to their wi-fi. You can only use the wi-fi for an hour. Nothing about the experience would keep me from visiting again in the future, except maybe the few days before payday...
(3)Emily P.
Positives: good coffee (they do pour-over style!), good bagels, and outdoor seating Negatives: often crowded, they close at 9:00 P.M. (wtf!), and the internet is only free for one-hour
(3)Melinda G.
Pavement rules. The staff is awesome, the food and coffee are amazing. Especially the Spanish Latte. You really need to try the Spanish Latte. It might change your life. Really have no idea why anyone would even go around the corner to Starbucks when Pavement is right there. Sometimes there's a line. Unless you have absolutely no time to spare, just suck it up and get in the queue. It won't take as long as you expect. Plus...quite often places have lines because they're really good, which I suspect is the case with Pavement as I have yet to see any of the employees slacking off back there when its packed. And to remind you one more time: SPANISH LATTE. Must try it.
(5)Flannery O.
I want to like this place. I want to LOVE this place. But I only really drink tea and every cup of tea I've gotten here tastes like old asparagus. And I know good tea. They appear to USE good tea. I don't understand how this happens. Pretty good grilled cheese panini, though, and everyone's super-friendly.
(2)Michael C.
Great indie coffeshop, great coffee, great servers, great sitting area, pretty-great food. Enough greats? Pavement would be my coffee choice for the immediate area. Ps. Don't forget the pour-over coffee, ask or look for the sheet at the counter.
(4)Kari C.
As a sister shop of Espresso Royale Cafe it is only fitting that they are very similar. The only real difference (and there used to be more until ERC conformed to their menu) is the atmosphere. Pavement is more polished and artsy (awesome sculptures and paintings that rotate), as it caters to Berklee students. Sometimes I get the impression that they try too hard to create that atmosphere. They have featured coffee blends, espresso varieties and definitely try to connect with their customers. The staff is very friendly and makes sure you are kept happy. Pavement is a good, fairly new coffeehouse. I still would pick ERC over Pavement if I had the choice.
(3)Stefan H.
The space is great and so it pains me to be critical, but shops that don't have a well-oiled routine for serving pourover coffee simply shouldn't offer it. Pavement is no exception: I ordered two yirgacheffe pourovers and watched as the barista went into some mind-numbing, laborious voodoo in attempting to create the drinks using Clever drippers. I am not a huge fan of the clever but it can be applied to create a respectable cup...and it doesn't have to take more than 5 minutes. Not so in this case: an aching 17 minutes later I simply had to leave to avoid being late and so just left the two order behind, still incomplete. Maybe I missed the best coffee of my life but I seriously doubt it....
(3)Double J.
This place has gained a little more capital with me. For a while the staff seemed a little on the unfriendly/hipper-than-thou side, but they seem to be a little nicer these days. It's still a little pretentious - plenty of too-bored/too-cool parties of one hooked up to their latest-generation iPricks, camping out and taking up entire 4-person tables. They need to start juicing their coffee with Prozac.
(3)Nat P.
My favorite coffeehouse in Boston! Overall pleasant atmosphere with beautiful design but is still laid back. Comfy seating. They also have one big table which is great for larger groups or for just bumping elbows/mingling with people sitting next to you. Always an interesting revolving art collection on display. This place is CLEAN, unlike some grimy coffee shops out there. Really delicious sandwiches and snacks. Good tea selection. Coffee is obviously the specialty here and you can tell a lot of research and love goes into the selection. Coming to Pavement will improve your day :) I just wish they would sometimes have live music there...it seems like a perfect opportunity for something like that with Berklee and the conservatories so close by...
(5)Mark D.
The food its great and the coffee is good, but the service is just terrible. I've had numerous instances where I've been wrung up incorrectly, messed up the application of the awards card or just made a mess of our bagels. Additionally, unnecessary attitude from the clerks sometimes (this is a trend of all Expresso Royale establishments). If this doesn't bother you, the food is great, but if you want great coffee without the attitude, go to Wired Puppy.
(3)Karen F.
Stopped by here a couple days ago to get an iced drink before taking a long stroll down Newbury Street on a weekday afternoon. Good coffee, decent service... will most likely be back! One thing that was definitely a plus was that they have soy out with the creamer and milk, so I don't have to be a total pain when I order iced coffee with a side of soy.
(4)Jesse P.
I'd give it 4.5 for the awful parking and proximity to Fenway. But then again, I bleed blue so maybe I'm biased. Great coffee, comfortable seating, nice decor. What more could you ask for? Their cortado is especially delicious. Note that they serve Stumptown Coffee... sometimes. They cycle through different bean suppliers regularly.
(5)Karthick D.
I don like the coffee but I like the ambience
(3)Leia K.
Great ambience, alright food, bad coffee--at least their capps, which is all I drink. I live around the corner and come here several times a week, but I come despite the coffee. This is mostly because just being at Pavement makes me happy, but I am starting to resent dropping all that dough for coffee that often tastes burned or just off. They could learn a few capp-making lessons from Render. Now on weekends, I often hike out to the South End--Render coffee and food is that much better. And during the week, Hi Rise in Cambridge is now getting more of my hard-earned cash. All that said, I love the vibe at Pavement -- the size, the layout, the sofas, people studying music and reading novels, the fun to look at but generally unpretentious staff. And it's my neighborhood coffeeshop! So please, manager/owner/decisionmaker: switch your house espresso or devote more care to training your baristas--who, by the way, work hard and provide great service, but for whatever reason, aren't turning out good coffee.
(3)Chris M.
Pour-over coffee is an automatic four stars. It's usually a sure sign that you're gonna get an amazing cup of coffee. Their baristas are very skilled at what they do. Their chefs too. Have a breakfast muffin. (I forget what they called it exactly) Single Origin coffees are the best. And free wi-fi.
(5)Kelly O.
Talk about a hipster haven. I do love the decor, and my hot cocoa was delicious as was the rest of the coffee drinks of my party (props to the coffee art). Not a lot of choices though, would like to see more baked goods and smoothies. Worth checking out.
(3)June H.
They just opened this coffeeshop this year, I heard from my new roommate. This is great, since I'm from the Bay Area in California and need a more specialised café than Dunkin Donuts (yea, not a fan). They also offer paninis and bagels, which is nice to have with your drink. There is also ample seating inside and out, and you've got a great view of people walking along Boylston street. It is definitely hipster central, and I feel very much like I'm back in the Mission in SF as soon as I enter its doors. I ordered an ice mocha today and it tasted alright. Giving 3 stars because it is pretty much the only place like it here in Back Bay/Fenway. I will have to go again and edit to check in again about the other drinks they make. I do plan on making it one of my new favourite hang out spots, for sure. Edit: Actually, as much as I appreciate the location, they seem to take more time and consideration into their bagel-making than their drinks. It shouldn't be called a coffeehouse if coffee is their second priority. On the other hand, the baristas are very nice and friendly, so I have to say that customer service met my expectations. Edit #2: I was so excited when I found out Pavement was offering Ritual coffee from SF, and I ordered a cappuccino. I sat down, started doing my own work, and half way through my drink, I found a hair in my drink!! Minus 1 star!! Ugh.
(2)Jeff G.
I chose this place because of wifi access. Had some trouble connecting but it eventually worked. Had the Ike chicken salad sandwich. It was very good! Also had the Spanish latte, basically a std latte but with condensed milk. Tasted sweeter than std latte but very good. I liked the interior with ample seating and nice decor. This is also a great cafe for working and the AC felt great. Only negative for me was the hard core rap music. It did not seem to fit the clientele. Overall it is a good cafe
(4)Rani P.
Awesome young, urban atmosphere with a little hint of indie meets victorian-- coupled with a great tea selection and fresh brewed coffee, Pavement really can't do wrong. This neighborhood of starbucks, dds and overpriced coffee houses on newbury street needed a local, coffee joint like this to fit the personality of the people living in the area. I love the huge couches and antique armchairs- and the fact I can walk out with spending less than a $1.50 on hot tea.
(4)Kiki G.
If anyone has anything bad to say about this place they're absolutely nuts. I'm a sucker for cleanliness and for the foot traffic that these guys get on a daily basis, the place is spotless. It also doesn't that all of the employees are super friendly and good-looking. & if you're a pastry lover, try their toffee cookie or the pumpkin muffin -- HEAVENLY!!!
(4)Chris M.
Simple Seating inside and out, hot coffee was fresh and priced right. Great location within the college circuit. Easy first choice for next time in the area looking for a morning drink.
(4)Andrew J.
Pavement Coffeehouse is just the latest edition to the Espresso Royale Family. Located on Boylston, right near Newbury St. it's in a prime location to alleviate some of the congestion at their parent coffee shop (Espresso Royale Caffe) on Gainsborough. As far as the shop goes, the differences between Pavement and ERC are minimal, which (if you're a fan of good coffee shops) is a good thing! The cafe has a spacious, almost "cafe of neighborhoods" feel to it. The cafe is built kind of like a hallway/living room hybrid, where the ambiance changes based upon how far into the shop you are. First there is the bar, where you can order a wide variety of coffees, teas, espresso drinks and sandwiches. I reccommend the Cubano (iced because it's the summer) and any of their wide selection of teas. If you get the right barista, lattes and other espresso drinks come with the distinctive fern/heart/whatever pattern (also seen in their logo) in the foam. Now, I don't care how manly you are, drinking a heart is always a good way to start the day. After that, there is a small seating area, consisting primarily of 50s diner-esque vinyl seating, which starkly contrasts the brick wall interior. Further in still it starts to feel more like a living room, big comfy chairs, 1 to 2 person tables and magnificent abstract paintings. Here there is also a long table for larger parties and a medium sized bar table for 3 or 4. The service is friendly, as expected, since most of them used to work at that parent coffeeshop down the street (which I frequented). Only gets 4 because there are a few other coffee places that serve tastier coffee. But when it comes down to it, its hard to beat the location, the service, the music and the free wi-fi that pavement offers.
(4)Christopher T.
A nice college town-esque coffee place. Lots of young people and people doing work or talking about school. Definitely has a chill vibe with high ceilings. The Spanish Coffee (coffee with condensed milk) was delicious. Definitely recommended. The food also looked like it was good. A good place to drop in to have a conversation, read a book, or just sit and daze out while enjoying a quality cup of joe.
(4)Aaron P.
Only had one barista making drinks when I was there... so it took a bit of a wait. very cool atmosphere. the chai latte seemed watered down. but over all, its a cool shop.
(4)Charles F.
I live nearby this new neighborhood coffee shop, and after a long delay of its grand opening, it's finally up and running, and seems to be doing very well for itself. This fairly large, audaciously hip joint is easily accessible by the #1 Mass Ave. bus as well as the Hynes Green Line stop. For existing fans of Espresso Royale, you'll feel right at home--in fact, it's actually owned by the same folks. With abstract artwork on brick walls, living room lounge chairs in front of a faux-fireplace, and enough flannel behind the counter that it could clothe Paul Bunyan, you'll fit right in parking your single-speed out front, coming in, and sitting down to the sounds of Band of Horses. Yep, so hipster trendy. No problem with that at all. The employees are friendly and welcoming, the baristas know their stuff and make great drinks, foofy coffees and all. The menu is very similar to ERC's, which I don't mind, considering the degree of my love for their bagel sandwiches. The day old bagel bags are also quite the deal, and as a frugal college kid, I participate often (about 1/2 bagels for $2.75! Eat them quick and keep the bag sealed though, they are a day old after all and will turn to giant croutons on you before you're ready). Around mealtimes, the place gets hoppin' and becomes nearly impossible to find a seat, in spite of the relative size of the place. The rushes seem rather short though, and coming in at any other time you shouldn't have any trouble at all finding a seat, letting down your messenger bag, and pulling out your worn copy of 'The Catcher in the Rye' (last hipster joke; after all, I fall fairly easily into that category). The only downside is the wifi. For me, it's been remarkably unreliable. Sometimes I can get on it, other times I cannot (in fact, I've written this on a word doc as I await for the interwebs to come back online so I can post this). Don't plan on coming here to do a lot of internet browsing because you'll be booted off for too much data consumption. Other than that, I keep coming here, so they're doing something right! (Hint: it's the food, coffee, and general atmosphere)
(4)Peter N.
So far, this is the best coffee house in Boston! The place is small (cozy), the decor is nice, there are ample outlets for the laptop warriors, free WiFi, and (of course) the coffee / lattes are phenomenal. I'm almost hesitant to write this review, I want to keep this place to myself. Thankfully, I've always been able to find a spot to sit when I go there, which is at least once a week. The -1 star is because they close too early. The information above is incorrect; they close at 9pm daily. I was just shooed out of there. :-( update: +1 star for giving free coffee refills if you use a mug.
(5)Simona S.
A refreshing new addition to the serious lack of good cafes in the Symphony area. Starbies doesn't have (free) internet, and ERC on Gainsborough is my love but it's packed with hungover Northeastern kids who just want to get their bagel on. Well I need to do work, son. So here come Pavement, in the same family as ERC (YES! I get to use my frequent buyer card, swipe THIS boo), fit with lovely comfortably chairs and so many outlets and tables and... it's like a living room straight out of Anthropologie. Though not as feminine. Because it's totally still manly to drink your tea out of a cup while reclining in their crushed velvet sexy armchairs. Menu is a more compact version of what you'd find at ERC except they has SALADS and at $5 with three toppings, I can scrounge in my pocket for that. China Green tea (my preference) comes in an adorable little kettle that I may accidentally take home with me some day. Service is a bit slow though. And this was not the first time there was no one at the register when I came strolling in. There should be a bell. And free wi-fi. And potential Berklee boyfriends. Wait, what?
(4)Trina T.
It was a nice sunny spring day I'm Boston and I needed to find a cafe to do some work. This place had a great ambience and great drinks. People were just coming in and out all the time. The decor was nice and they had a big big big seating area, probably to cater to the student population at BU. the music they played today was a few years old but it's what actually made me love the place more! The only downside is that free wifi is only 60 minutes so I had to work around that.
(4)Carrianne C.
+ Consistently good iced and hot coffee, whether you get espresso or not. + Spanish lattes + Huge tea list, with 3 types of iced teas - my favorite is the mint. + Baked goods are VERY good, and a little different than your typical cafe pastry options. I'm
(4)C P.
Maybe I received an ill-constructed sandwich. Purchased the Awakening breakfast sandwich made with focaccia bread, goat cheese, spinach, red onions, whole cherry tomatoes and scrambled egg. The bread was soft and chewy, good but could have been toasted. Upon opening the wrapper, the whole cherry tomatoes fell out of the the sandwich. Therefore the bite was without tomatoes unless I crush them myself. There was 2 spinach leaves for the entire sandwich and the goat cheese was hardly present. The egg was either from a carton or powder, a disappointment. Hopefully, this level of quality is not consistent.
(2)Shannon M.
Came in for a breakfast sandwich and a chai. Really liked the tequila sunrise but the eggs on it were like those circular pre mixed stuff that fast food places have. Not sure if you can ask for a real round egg. It was delish nonetheless. Chai was made from concentrated tea and was very good too.
(4)Tom R.
Great place. Definitely my go to for coffee and sandwiches for lunch. If you're in back bay in between Hereford and Exeter St. it's definitely a solid option.
(4)Robert K.
What was once a reliable spot for fantastic bagels near my apartment is now little more than another generic cafe offering below average bagels to go along with slow, indifferent service. Whatever recipe they're now using for their "made in-house" bagels isn't working and is far cry from "Bagel Rising" which previously supplied their bagels.
(2)Ami P.
My mint latte was on point! My friend was upset because she said that she ordered a Spanish latte but they only gave her a regular. She said this happens frequently which makes her upset so hopefully this will change. They gave my other friend the wrong scone but my vegan muffin was great.
(3)Candice H.
Great little coffee house w/ ample seating, but parking is a nightmare because everywhere is residential parking only. When it snows, good luck finding a meter. Got a capp and was served w/ the perfect size cup (large capps are my pet peeve, because then I would just order a latte folks). My mom ordered a pistachio muffin and wholly cow it was delicious. Ample seating in the back and a very clean coffeehouse.
(4)Robert S.
I was taking a 2 day course at Berklee and needed some breakfast so I got the vegan sunrise sandwich with their house coffee. The sandwich was excellent as was the coffee. The staff were all very friendly and the atmosphere was cozy and inviting. Great place to grab a cup of Joe and relax.
(5)Yan C.
I wished I had read other Yelpers' reviews before coming here. Then I probably would have gotten a Spanish latte that everyone raves about. And just maybe, I would have enjoyed my coffee more. My friend and I stopped by Pavement to get some coffee to keep ourselves warm on a freezing wintery day. I got my usual - a cappuccino. The prices are on par with other coffee shops but the sizes of the coffee are much smaller. Service was slow. My coffee art wasn't spectacular either. In fact I couldn't tell what it was supposed to be. All of these details wouldn't matter as much if the coffee itself was amazing. Unfortunately this was not the case. My cappuccino was weak and sour to taste. My friend thought his regular coffee tasted "weird" as well. The place was packed with students, but we managed to snatch two seats after waiting for a few minutes. Some things I liked were the comfy armchairs and cool coffee tables. Note that wifi is only free for the first hour. Overall I was not impressed. Not sure if I will go back.
(3)Regina W.
I'm visiting my old roommate in Boston this weekend and he happens to live close to this coffee shop that is apparently also the go-to place for Berklee students. I needed some place to both grab coffee and work for about 2-hours, so I decided to come here since I had only been once before about 4-5 years ago. I knew before I came that they had free Wi-Fi, but found out after I got here that you can only use it for an hour for free. Even though it would be nice if the free Wi-Fi was available longer, this didn't bother me too much. I ordered the Spanish Latte after I saw that it was recommended on Yelp and it did not disappoint. I was told that it comes with condensed milk along with regular milk which gives it its sweet flavor. For food, I got the Veggie Sunrise which is a veggie breakfast bagel sandwich with eggs, spinach, and cheddar. This breakfast sandwich hit the spot and I would definitely order it again if I was in the area and needed a quick bite. As far as atmosphere, there are a lot of students both talking and working on their laptops. I also heard at least a couple different languages being spoken. It was super crowded when I went, but I was still able to find a seat by the window so I was happy. Overall, I would come back if I was already in the area and wanted a solid coffee drink and good breakfast sandwich.
(4)Cath M.
Thank you for saving me from going to SB! Walked in... good, welcoming ambiance. The staff were friendly and fast. I ordered a soy mocha... first sip... redemption! Instantly became a fan! My mocha was chocolatey, not bitter and guess what, not scolding hot without me telling to make it 140 degrees! Also ordered a sunrise bagel sandwich -- scrambled eggs / bacon / cheddar on everything bagel: perfect to last me until 2 pm (conference sessions galore!) Overall... it's walking distance to the Hynes Convention - if you want a decent cup of coffee - well worth walking and I definitely recommend! PS: decent prices!
(4)Dominic A.
Only one visit, so take it for what it's worth, but the macchiato was excellent, the chicken salad on toasted million grain was very good, and they get an extra star for helping me with quarters for parking and serving the sandwich 15 min before lunch was officially supposed to start. Service was friendly and fast, and the atmosphere was cool. Hipster vibe which I normally hate but it was missing the pretension. I'm not into coffee houses but if I lived or worked nearby I would be a regular here.
(5)Nicole H.
I sat on the large outdoor patio which was perfect for studying and people watching. I ordered a dirty chai and it was perfectly balanced with spicy chai and a little bit of sweetness. The baristas were friendly and fast!
(5)Gary A.
Pavement has the trappings of a great coffee house. Good roaster on tap (Counter Culture), hipster baristas, pro equipment, art on the walls, appropriate sizes for the drink ( e.g.no 16 oz cappuccinos). Unfortunately the coffee is sloppily made. The milk in my wife's latte was poured quickly into the cup. The milk in my cappuccino was heated to a unpleasant sweetness and the espresso was on the bitter side. Not a total bust, but with a little more care in the prep it could be better.
(3)Laurie K.
Excellent coffee. Great seating. Nice environment. Terrific sandwiches. Cool vibe. Free (reliable) wifi for the first two hours. While the prices are a bit high and the free wifi access is limited, the overall high quality makes a visit worthwhile. The experience exceeds the services, products, and environments found at the independent and chain coffee shops in the city.
(5)Steph A. K.
Pavement Coffee House has one of my favorite coffees of all time- and I'm not even a regular coffee drinker. It's their Spanish latte. It really does remind me of a nice, warm café con leche. They'll turn it into an iced coffee for you if you wish, but I don't think the flavor or presentation is the same. I keep getting the same thing time after time, but I hear they have great hot chocolate too. I've been to the location at Newbury and on Boylston. I prefer the latter due to the comfortable space and all the Berklee students hanging out with their instruments. Really brings out that coffee shop feel.
(4)Annette M.
So I stopped by this little coffee shop to stay warm while i waited for my friend to meet me. It's quite the cute cafe spot. It has an exposed brick wall, with an urban outfitters decor and flair. The hipster music also adds to the ambiance of the type of coffee joint it is. I ordered the Spanish latte. It was perfect for me because it was not too sweet and not too bitter. The prices are comparable to Starbucks, which is why took off a star. Definitely a place I'd bring my coffee loving friends to, if they came to visit.
(4)Blair L.
I am a coffee buff. I have attempted to try as many coffee shops as possible since starting work in Boston two weeks ago. Thus far they have had the best cup of coffee yet. Not to mention they buy direct trade which is usually better for the growers as for compensation & quality. I gave them a four however because the shop itself is to be desired. Most of the chairs they have are small. Not the best atmosphere but decent.
(4)John W.
When in doubt between a local coffee house and a corporate chain, its usually better to go local. That is definitely the case with Pavement. Their coffees are excellent because they procure beans directly from growers and roast them on site. Their food is tasty too, and not made in a factory. The Spanish Latte is my favorite.
(5)Ahsan C.
Amazing ambience, great music, and convenient location. The staff was very friendly and conversational. This is the type of place where you can spend an entire day working on a project or just reading a book.
(5)Jessica L.
GREAT coffee. need I say more? Pavement never lets me down with their lattes and cortados. It's seriously made to perfection everytime I order. The ONLY con this place has, is that it can get pretty crowded. And most of the time that's not even a bad thing since they're usually pretty fast with coffee orders. However there are those days when you see a huge group of people waiting for coffee, which means you're going to have to wait a while for your small cup of cortado to come out haha. Ugh, but the wait is so worth it. All the time.
(5)Francis C.
Wifi is only free for 1st 30min, nice decor, ample seating Was not iffered receipt on cash payment.
(3)Sara L.
Great bagels! Fast service. I had a vanilla latte and a bagel with cream cheese. They really loaded on the cream cheese so if you're not a fan of cream cheese may want to hold off or say light on cram cheese. The only real negative was the music they played. I'm used to the soft traditional coffee house music and this was basically the exact opposite of that!
(4)Kelsey L.
This place is packed with energetic baristas who know how to make great coffee! I'm not a big coffee drinker, but I was on the hunt for a place with a window view of the bustling streets of Boston. I mainly needed somewhere I could plop my laptop down and plug into wifi for the day. Pavement Coffee was within walking distance of where I was staying, so I gave it a shot. Upon walking into the store I was overwhelmed with the sense of cozy warmth. The back part of the shop was filled with desks, tables and large pillowy couches, that were overrun with a mix of Berkley students and young businesspeople. The energy was palpable, with an ample number of hipster baristas behind the bar shouting out drink orders and inside jokes. I ordered a mocha latte, because that's how you fake it as a coffee drinker. My face flushed with a smile when I received my cup, complete with an artistic design sketched into the foam! My first coffee art experience quickly made its way to Instagram. The drink itself was smooth, creamy and rich with chocolate.
(5)Ben B.
Excellent coffee! Whether meeting a friend or catching up on email, this coffeehouse offers great environment with couches, tables, or a bar. This quintessential clean-cut hipster coffee shop meets the needs for Boston students and professionals alike!
(5)Arthur C.
YES! Love the food and coffee that comes out of this place! Bagels. For me, a simple toasted cinnamon raison+butter is a great pick me up when I'm having a slow morning. Great service with a smile and an awesome place to relax, study, meet a friend. Although it gets pretty hard to find a seat since this place is almost always buzzy.
(4)Nick L.
Quality coffee. Tasty food. Some of the worst and absolute intolerable customer service I have ever experienced. Poor communication skills, lack of effort in getting customers' attention when calling orders (or in my case not calling it at all), and the general vibe that providing their product is an inconvenience pervades at this hip coffee shop. If you're too cool for customer service, I'm too cool to give you my money. Please make an effort to not give millennials a bad reputation by improving your employees' communication skills.
(2)Pearl T.
I am by no means a coffee connoisseur, but I *am* duchess of two different Starbuckses (Starbeese?) and I drink it on the daily at home from my french press... Bragging aside, I am in love with Pavement's coffee. The different notes and intricacies really sing in their drip coffee, and their espresso is smooth without a hint of bitterness or odd sourness. The Spanish Latte was good, but I didn't find it to be extraordinarily different from a regular latte. I'm also not a huge fan of really sweet drinks, so... *shrug* However! They poured it beautifully, which impressed me, since I've heard that soy is quite difficult to work with in the foam department. The Wrangler Sandwich was delightful, and the horseradish was an awesome surprise for my taste buds. Definitely recommend. Employees are friendly, and you can't order decaf coffee, but you can order any espresso drink decaf. Interior has exposed brick wall, and plenty of tables and chairs. This place is definitely worth a try, and you'll be back, too. Wave if you see me :)
(4)Trisha T.
I work 1 block away from Pavement and despite the hundreds of other restaurants around me, I always choose Pavement for breakfast AND lunch! For breakfast, I usually get the Veggie Sunrise bagel on a multigrain everything and am never disappointed. Last week I tried the Tequila Sunrise and although it was good, jalapeno cream cheese is not really my thing. For lunch, I always grab either the Turkey BLT or the Salami sandwich. Turkey BLT is always fresh and comes on the most delicious and warm focaccia bread. However, it is the Salami sandwich that is my favorite. Fresh mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, salami and balsamic on a warm bread is really just amazing. Although the food is absolutely delicious, it is the coffee that I have had a tough time with. I ordered the famous Spanish latte and was pretty disappointed. Probably need to try this one again. Next time I got the Ethiopian hot coffee (recommended by the man working there) and was disappointed again. I do love the Blueberry Roobois iced tea though. As for the ambiance, Pavement is filled with hip college students and professionals. So it makes for a good place to go and chat with some friends and get some work done. Altogether Pavement is a pretty great coffee shop scattered throughout the city.
(4)Maggie O.
This cafe has a wonderful ambience. Ample table space and comfortable couches are tucked in the corners of the cafe. Unfortunately, I found the food to be just alright. I had the smoked salmon bagel. While the bagel was nice, there was hardly any salmon, and what there was was hidden in an insane amount of cream cheese. There where two major annoyances. 1. The wifi is only free for 1 hour and then you have to pay $5 or more dollars for the day. There are much nicer cafes offering free wifi elsewhere. Note: This coffeehouse is quite crowded from 11 am to 1 pm. 2. The price for tea listed on the big board is different for the price for tea listed on a sheet at the cash register. Here I thought my tea would be 2.65 and then it was 3.65. Not a pleasant surprise at all.
(3)Kurt W.
Super chill, great food and unique drink options. Loved it!
(5)Nicole H.
In general, a decent coffee shop. Chai lattes are too watered down for my tastes. Bagel sandwiches are yummy. I love the iced teas. The Spanish lattes are my absolute favorite. The latte art is always lovely. Overall, the place is a bit overpriced. It's aways difficult finding a place to sit, since it's in the middle of Berklee. But it's a good place to meet up with friends for a casual hangout. Good music and good employees.
(3)Julie X.
5 stars for the atmosphere (here on a Thursday afternoon, not crowded). 4 stars for the coffee/food, which was good, but nothing special. Everything feels very new and clean, very bright and well-lit -- good place to come and do some work. You only get 2 hours free wifi though. After that, you have to pay.
(4)Sergio P.
Very good ice coffee, sandwiches, love the high ceilings and the chairs/sofas. The art on the wall here is also very good (I was tempted to buy some pieces). If I lived nearby, chances, are I would be here all the time working in my laptop.
(5)Aleh V.
It has been a while since this extremely nice and hippish coffee place became what it is right now. Very little style left. Tables are dirty to the level of disguise. Internet is almost non-existent. You'd definitely be much better off by finding another place somewhere on Newbury as there is a bunch of relatively new ones.
(2)Cinthia K.
Really good coffee and well made sandwiches. The place was pretty crowded when I went in on a rainy Saturday morning (seemed like it was full of college students), so you may want to get your order to go. Friendly service, also. I'd come back here for a quick bite for breakfast.
(4)Jessica W.
Coffee is great, nice and quiet this morning but NEU is on break. Can't wait to come back and try the sandwiches.
(4)Jiyea C.
This cafe has been on my hit list for some time now, and I finally got to stop by the other day. Interior is very homey, and has a variety of seating options available. There are L-shaped tufted couches, plush armchairs, a long communal table, and small round tables for you to choose from. The walls in the back seating area have exposed brick, and outlets along the sides are relatively plentiful. There are low hanging pendant lights, as well a a chandelier in the center of the back room. Menu features standard expresso drinks and teas, and they have many sandwiches to choose from. From my observation, most of the clientele here look like Berklee students, as the campus is just across the street. Many of the patrons sit here for a while chatting or doing work on their computers. Baristas are very friendly, and even when there's a line, I did not have to wait too long for my Spanish Latte. I paid around $4 for this beverage, which is pretty standard for a specialty latte in small coffee shops. The Spanish Latte is one of the specialties of Pavement Coffee (I haven't seen it anywhere else), so I decided to try it. It's basically a regular latte with condensed milk. (Note, they use counter culture coffee beans here, and they do have pourovers, if that matters to you.) I loved the latte art, and I also loved the teal green saucer that it came in, but I was not the biggest fan of the condensed milk actually. This may be a matter of taste, so I'm not going to hold it against Pavement. Otherwise, the latte had good flavor and next time I plan to try the regular latte, or maybe the chai latte. I also had the bagel and lox for $7 on the everything bagel. Everything bagel was a little salty, though toasted nicely. The onions and tomatoes tasted fresh, but I think they could have been more generous with the smoked salmon, especially given the price tag on this bagelwich. Disclaimer: I had a bagel sandwich at one of the best bagel shops in NYC recently, so perhaps I sound more critical than I should be. I miss you, Ess-a-bagel! WiFi is only free for one hour a day, after that you have to pay. I think it was $5 per day, or you could do $15 for 30 consecutive days.
(3)Megan F.
Disclaimer that the 4th star is entirely for the atmosphere...I'm a sucker for couches! Great coffee in a great location. It can get filled up with Berklee students, but if you go while they're in class, you're golden. I love their Americano. Once I had the Spanish latte, and it tasted pretty much like a regular latte. Go figure?
(4)Kelly F.
Great location, awesome tea and coffee. Good to chill out, study/read, or catch up with friends. Haven't tried the food, but the drinks are on point.
(4)Ian S.
Hip, stylish coffee shop that caters mostly to students from the nearby music schools (NEC and Boston Conservatory). It's atmospheric and trendy, and they serve good drinks as well as some tasty sandwiches and snacks. The downside: not enough seating! It's impossible to get a table here. When you do, chances are you will be practically in the laps of the people at the next table. Ordering your beverage and food to go is probably your best option. Nevertheless, it's worth checking out if you're in the neighborhood and need a quick bite or coffee fix. (Note: the Pavement location near BU is slightly more spacious.)
(4)Racheal P.
One of my favorite coffee places in boston. They use a good roaster, counter culture, and always pour a great cup of coffee. The ambiance is also really cool.
(4)timmy b.
espresso to die for. worth the wait and lines. it's my favorite in the city.
(5)Danny W.
This is a protest review. I hate to do it, and I know they aren't always ok, but this one is: Coffee shops going the way of Gogo wifi, charging for service, is absurd. It doesn't cost *that* much to have a good connection, and oh, yeah, you're running a coffee shop. Why not just start charging to use the bathroom too? Or to use a plug for a computer? If the latter sound ridiculous, why is not not just as patently absurd to charge for internet? Rise up and fight this, friends.
(1)Jennifer G.
Great breakfast sandwiches. I ordered the bacon, egg, and cheese on a sesame bagel and was very pleased with the real scrambled eggs, quality cheese, and center cut bacon that wasn't too fatty. They have excellent service and good iced coffee, though it was a little over brewed (but I'm a coffee snob.)
(4)Milena P.
This place has changed so much since my college days. Gone are the size options for drinks; now they're all small but pricier than I remember. They've switched to an iPad POS which is a nice experience for the customer. The wifi is now limited to an hour, so they clearly don't want you to linger and/or are getting uppity about what a coffee shop should be used for (yes to reading, no to surfing the web). I'm sure the changes are OK with most of their customers since they're still in business, but the last 2 times I came it was much emptier than it used to be. I liked how lively and busy this place was, yet you could always grab a table. Limiting the wifi to encourage people to keep it short doesn't do much if your volume goes down a lot. If you're just grabbing coffee and leaving, this place does it good. But if you're looking to make an afternoon of it with pastries and lazy reading, maybe this isn't it anymore.
(3)Joanna F.
I have to give this place the 5th star. I've been back countless times and I have to say this is THE best cold brew and iced coffee in the city! Their espresso is great too.
(5)Erica S.
CHECK OUT MY FULL REVIEW + PICTURES ON MY BLOG: kands617.blogspot.com/20… VENUE // The largest of the Pavement Boston locations, the Fenway location is by far my favorite Pavement location and my favorite coffee spot in Boston. I would say I come here at least once a weekend for a nice, cold iced latte and some "me" time. Located right in the heart of Northeastern University on the other side of Mass Ave., Pavement is my little escape from the hustle and bustle of Back Bay. Unlike the smaller Newbury and Bolyston locations, the Fenway location is spacious, and I have always been able to grab a small table or seat at the window (knock on wood!). In terms of decor, I would say Pavement looks like your typical neighborhood, hipster coffee shop and even features artwork from local artists! DRINK // Not only does Pavement serve a great iced latte (basically the only coffee drink I order), they serve a variety of other homemade specialties in the summer, ranging from vanilla cream cold brew to spicy ginger ale. I haven't been as adventurous to try all of their new drinks, but am a huge fan of ginger so really like their spicy ginger ale. FOOD // The food here is so darn good, that I sometimes just come here for their sandwiches. Pavement is one of the few places in the area to serve healthy, vegan dishes, and one of the only places in Back Bay where I've seen tempeh on the menu. So far, I've tried the gatherer, the chia, and the harvest root and am a fan of all three. I would have to say that my favorite sandwich though is the chia -- such a simple, classic dish that is done right. My favorite item here though is definitely the vegan tofu cream cheese. My god. I'm not sure what's in here aside from the tofu and some shredded veggies, but it is fabulous. SERVICE // Don't have too much to say in terms of service given the counter service nature of the business, but will say that the cashiers are always super friendly!
(5)Kyle H.
I was looking at the bags of coffee for sale and asked the girl working the register where the coffee was roasted, she told me Ethiopia. I told her no, where was it roasted. She said E-thi-o-pia. She did not know that the origin and roasting location are two different things. The latte was ok though, nothing spectacular. I should have walked the extra mile to Barrington.
(2)Daniel S.
Good breakfast sandwich had the sunrise on everything. Little over toaster but would get it again. Coffee and had the yogurt with granola. Newsflash, granola has sunflower seeds and the seasonal fruit is brown apples. Not great. Threw out half. But would go back if I need to fill my hipster craving.
(3)Jackie K.
The coffee is decent but it's a rip off considering there is no refill or discount on refills. The quality Nd price of red rooster coffee roasters is considerably better
(1)Cliff H.
Packed. Hip. Sweet. Cross a Friends set with a creaky barn floor decor and some over sugared drinks and you have Pavement. Not much uniqueness here other than that it is popular homework spot for the Berklee teenies. Most seats taken most days. Service similar to what you'd expect to find at a Dunkin Donuts - in and out and on to the next one. Signature Spanish latte a diabetic's worst nightmare: lots of sugar Starbucks style! In short: good for the college crowd, mediocre for the rest.
(3)Chris S.
This place used to be the absolute best coffeehouse and bagel place in Boston. I would go out of my way to make it there on Saturday and Sunday mornings. This was despite the 15 minute wait I faced ever time I went. Fast forward. They changed the menu with minimal notice and no longer carry my old trusted favorites and I'm really disappointed. I've had a couple of the new offerings and am very underwhelmed. I don't know why they ruined a great thing. At least there's no line now...
(1)Hallie C.
Slow. So slow. But delicious and worth the wait. Their bagels are good! They have some really good egg sandwiches- I think the one I like is called the veggie sunrise. Each location has different decor but they all have a cute eclectic vibe. Great place to get work done but you only get 1hr of free wifi before you have to pay for Internet.
(4)Nikki D.
When this place first opened, it was amazing! The best bagels and the closest to NY style bagels you could find. It was the place to go for the first 2 years that it opened. All of a sudden they cut their bagel choices by 70% and then their sandwich menu also slimmed down. The word "Coffeehouse" is really the main showcase of this location. Only problem is I don't drink coffee. Until they bring a larger selection of bagels back, I won't be going back.
(2)Andrea B.
Unlike most customers who frequent Pavement Coffeehouse, I'm not a coffee drinker. I came for the sandwiches and cookies. I love me some food! I tried the Beet Down, because beets are pretty much my favorite thing in the world, so why WOULDN'T that be my selection? In addition to the plentiful shredded beets, this hefty sandwich also contained peppercorn turkey, green apple, mixed greens, and...wait for it...a thick layer of scrumptious goat cheese!! So that makes two of my favorite things in the world all in one sandwich. Score. It was supposed to come on 7-grain bread, but they were out of that so I just had it on a plain bagel. The bread of course would've been preferable, but alas, what can ya do? It was still a pretty big and really filling sandwich regardless. You know how food will often look much better than it tastes? Well, the opposite was true in the case of the toffee cookie that I got. It certainly looked like nothing special (see photo), but boy did it taste special. It was super fresh, moist, perfectly chewy, and had little swirls of toffee in it. Oh my word, it's not often that cookies knock me off my feet like that. I was already really full from my sandwich, but I just couldn't...stop...eating...that...cookie. So good! So I may never try Pavement's coffee, but I can say that for a quick but filling lunch, they are solidly good.
(4)Reese S.
Hands down the best bagels in Boston! Love their Tequila Sunrise breakfast sandwich on an everything bagel. Pavement can be a little crowded during prime breakfast hours for college kids but if you get their early enough or come during the summer you won't be waiting too long and you can usually find a seat. Tip: if you can't make it down Comm Ave to BU to get a Pavement bagel, you can go to Bagel Rising in Allston on Comm Ave since that is where the bagels come from and they usually make all the same breakfast sandwiches.
(5)Marissa W.
Absolutely fantastic! Went in with 5 others and every single person was blown away the quality of the food and the coffee. Beautiful atmosphere, very kind and helpful staff. Next time I am in town I will be excited to go back! I highly recommend the bagels & lox with jalapeño cream cheese.
(5)Nicole W.
This place is great! The vibe/design are welcoming and the food options are delicious! I wish they had free unlimited wifi, but people would probably camp out all day if they did so I don't blame them! I drink tea more often than coffee, so I can't really critique that, but I do know they use a highly regarded supplier called counter culture (same as render cafe in the south end). We're lucky to have this place in the neighborhood!
(4)R K.
Best red eye coffee I've had around Boston. Great breakfast sandwiches and best for the price! Walk over here instead of the Panera next door.
(5)Henry E.
I saw that this place was put on the top 50 best coffee shops by state. So I decided to go and see what the hype was about. Well the service was really not great. About 4 women were standing behind the counter talking about the weekend while one guy was taking orders. The guy must have just been hired because he didn't know much and the women were not helping him out. The coffee was good but I can't get past all the awful service. The milk, cream, and sugar all needed to be filled and still the women behind the counter could care less about what was going on. Sad that this place was picked to represent the state...
(1)elissa g.
14 degrees out and looking for breakfast... Yelp reviews looked good... Nope... Got the order wrong. One size coffee ( at a coffee house? Really ?) no skim milk. No plates because " the sanitizer is broken" Really? Bathroom doesn't work. Really ? Got to go three doors down and enter a code in a restroom sans toilet paper .... Stay away....
(1)Jeewon J.
Nice friendly neighborhood cafe with good quality drinks / food and friendly staffs. On the surface level it has hipster vibe but you will be surprised to find all kind of people hanging out there. And its cozy atmosphere really adds to its charm with exposed brick and industrial chic interior. Good for studying, reading, hanging out with friends, people watching, and quick bites. Bad for long hour internet surfing. (Only 1hour Wi-Fi is a slight downside that it keeps this place away from 5 stars.)
(4)Laura Cristina M.
Great place to sit and sip.
(5)Melanie W.
I love, love, love Pavement. I mean, how else can you explain me coming here for over three years? First off, the thing I love most is the loyalty card. I'm always getting free things (granted it's because I go through about 2 Iced Americano's a day...) What can I say, the price is unbeatable for the Iced Americano and the fact that I occasionally get a free one is always a treat. I also do like the "new" sandwiches, which I guess aren't all that new anymore. My fave is the Nonna's Lunch and the Gatherer (when I want something a little sweeter.) I do miss the Jackson Crook, though. The staff are all sweethearts and I couldn't imagine anyone saying anything bad about them! And, I'm not just saying that because I'll be going to Pavement after I write this review. They are all super helpful, if I do ever have a coffee-related question, the barista is always ready to explain something to me (i.e. what's a pour over? DO NOT JUDGE ME, I'm sure half off you reading this don't know either.) All in all, Pavement's great, best coffee, yummy sandwiches, everyone's nice and cute latte art.
(5)Sarah S.
Going against the grain with a boston coffee shop staple. But pavement has yet to prove themselves. The coffee has tasted burnt multiple times. I also have had multiple stale bagels served as "fresh" The environment and is cool and hip, but that doesn't make the coffee taste any better
(2)Jimmy S.
New menu is terrible!! I LOVED the old menu. Bring back nonna's lunch! Bring back the vegan sunrise!
(1)Eva D.
Pavement used to be a great place to get a decent, affordable breakfast. Their coffee and bagels were very cheap, yet tasty. I always got a latte and a sesame bagel with scallion cream cheese and it was only $4.25 total. But then they changed their menu. Now everything is way too expensive. And they got rid of the scallion cream cheese and just have pimento cream cheese (which is gross) and plain cream cheese. The service has also gotten bad. I was almost late waiting half an hour to get 1 bagel with cream cheese that wasn't even toasted and was on the wrong bagel. Until they at least bring back the scallion cream cheese I won't be stopping by there.
(1)Xiao Z.
I'm certainly not a coffee connoisseur, but I can recognize a great environment when I see one. I retreated to this little unknown coffee shop after getting my froyo fix in the neighboring shop. Armed with a big cup of mochi-filled froyo and a cup of freshly brewed warm coffee as a chaser, I was able to enjoy a wonderful date while conversing about the unique decors and decorations on the coffee tables. My girlfriend tried the local cider and really liked it, although it could certainly do with less sugar. Cool place to hang out and has really cool sounding sandwich names. I might actually try them out one day. Maybe in my next review. Drinks: 3 stars Service: 3 stars Ambiance: 4 stars
(4)Cassy H.
Pluses: pour over coffee available (not sure if it's good since I didn't try it, but it's nice that they offer it!); spacious seating -- big, long table, more intimate booths, random mis-match armchairs = adorably cute, chic decor; extremely trendy & hipster-y, I think it's one of those main hangout spots for Berklee College of Music or something, b/c I saw tons of people with instrument case; funky, cool art for sale which were displayed on their walls Minuses: I guess it can be crowded, because it's so popular.. and apparently, there's a limit on wifi time. Definitely would come here to read a book, people watch, or hangout with a friend; probably not conducive to camping out for hardcore study time.
(4)Kaley S.
So incredibly disappointed. I walked into the shop today ready to sink my teeth into a Tequila Sunrise bagel, and lo and behold it no longer exists. I was there 2 days prior and all was well with the world. I ordered my sunrise and a latte, and it was superb. Today I walked in and the entire menu was changed. Though the staff tried to accommodate the inconvenience by offering a makeshift version of the sandwich, it was unsatisfactory and I threw half of it away. I don't foresee myself returning unless some old (but amazing) items return. Stick to what's been working, Pavement.
(1)Amy Y.
I've been going around boston looking for cafes to study. Pavement was one of the bookmarked cafes on my list. I usually order hot chocolates whereever I go, so here I am again ordering a yummy hot chocolate on a winter afternoon. :) The hot chocolate was pretty rich, not too sweet. But I felt like it wasnt hot enough. Maybe it was just too cold outside. Its usually really packed at this place in the weekends. Its good for some simple reading and slow studying. If you are looking for a place to hardcore study, I wouldnt recommend it. The music is slightly too loud and alot of people are there to chitchat their afternoon away. But other than that, nice place to just chillax for the day. :)
(4)Dan O.
Only stopped in for a quick cup of coffee. Great ambience, friendly service, a really decent cup of coffee and reasonably priced.
(3)L J.
Damn good ambiance combined with fine coffee and delicious dishes.
(4)Leanne C.
I wish I lived closer to here. I would be a frequent visitor. This coffee shop was part of the Disloyalty Card program Equal Exchange started which means that this place Discovering they did pour-over coffee made me oh so happy. I was just talking about how jealous I was about the Yelp Charlotte event at Not Just Coffee had done some pour-over samplings! Me and the bf split a veggie bagel sandwich with hummus on a ridiculously green plain bagel (oh silly St. Patty's gimmicks... and how I fall for them). Super good and super cheap ($6 I think?). I can't wait to come back to try their other espresso drinks!
(4)David C.
I don't know what it is with me and salads lately, but Pavement is happy to turn any of their delicious sandwiches into one for no additional charge. Mine was comprised of mixed greens, roast turkey, bacon, swiss cheese, avocado puree, and a light but flavorful lemon dressing. How I've overlooked this place up until this point is beyond me--it's right next to where I work! In any case, I know where I'll be next time I'm in the mood for a salad and I can't afford to go crazy at Wholefoods. (Bonus points for the incredibly cute cashier in the baseball cap.)
(4)Annie B.
I really like Pavement. I like all the locations and the fact that they're all unique and full of character even though it's a chain. It doesn't feel like one. The thing that's really annoying and the reason I give it a 4 instead of a 5 is they CLOSE TOO EARLY! Without fail, almost every time I go to any of them, they've either just closed so I miss them, or they'll be closing in about an hour -around 8pm, so I feel rushed. :( It would be SO great if they stayed opened later. Alas, still like the big comfy chairs and random layouts. The staff are usually friendly and helpful and patient, which is key for me because sometimes I can't decide and really want information on teas, etc. to get what I'm looking for! In short, GO. But GO EARLY.
(4)David Y.
When I moved to Fenway from Allston I was excited to learn that Pavement (same owner as Bagel Rising, which is awesome) existed just down the street. So although this review is biased based upon years of positive Bagel Rising experiences, I must say I've been disappointed thus far. Although friendly, the service is just not good. Primarily it's just not efficient. These guys don't have it down yet like the hipsters at Bagel Rising who churn out hundreds of college students by the hour. I think the final straw for me was on my last visit when I watched my breakfast sandwich sit there (for what seemed like forever) while the two employees just mindlessly chattered away, not paying attention and taking care of other orders. Also, the line is never huge but just always move SLOW. Do not go here if you're in any rush to get anywhere. The bagels/breakfast sandwiches are decent, but they don't have a huge selection. Coffee is good, as it should be with the name Pavement Coffeehouse.
(3)Andrew R.
I really wanted to love this place -- it's accessible, nice friendly ambiance, comfortable seating, good coffee. BUT, it's free wifi is limited to an hour. And I'm not really the target audience -- it seemed mostly filled with Berklee students. I guess it's A-OK for coffee with a friend or for an hour's work, but not for more than that. Not sure whether I'll go back.
(3)Jen K.
A wonderful soothing way to wake up before my conference. Quiet music, friendly service, funky decor, local artist's work displayed, lovely fontwork on the signage, tasty scone with just the right balance between crumbly and moist. My latte took a minute because it was made with an artist's care. Great morning snack.
(4)Cat L.
Creamy Lattes, nice atmosphere, questionable wall photo/art, and service is kinda slow sometimes. (From NYC) Getting an order in takes 5-10minutes... Latte was very good, had more milk than coffee flavor in it.
(4)K K.
This place is good and, in all truths, the average price for a coffee place ($10 for a drink and a sandwich). I got the Chia Sandwich with veggie cream cheese, avocado, sprouts, lettuce, etc. on a multigrain bagel and green tea with mint, iced. I would give it a thumbs up-- it was delicious. Only downside is it's one of those sandwiches that are so tall that it's a struggle to eat them. My friend got the Spanish Latte (which many of you yelpers recommended) and the Harvest Root sandwich. She loved the sandwich but said the latte was like any other latte, and not worth the extra 50 cents or so. Would go again. The ambiance is great, the service is fast (at least it was for me!) and the staff is friendly.
(4)Lisa B.
Pavement Coffeehouse - Yummy food and reasonable service. I'm not sure if there's any connection with Espresso Royale, but the vibe and menu are very similar. I especially love the whole wheat everything bagel with tofu cream cheese. If you're more of the dairy/meat persuasion, there are lots of options for you too! Service isn't overly friendly, but it's not awful by any means. I'm guessing the employees are largely college students looking for a laid-back atmosphere, so my expectations are pretty moderate. Definitely check it out if you're in the area :)
(4)J K.
Coffee was very good. We ordered a spanish latte and a cold brew. I wouldn't say they are the best, but it was more than just okay. However, I couldn't stand the attitude of the lady who received the order. We actually went there for pour-over after yelp searches, and they had it on the menu. So I ordered one, but the lady said they don't do pour over. It was not like "I am sorry, but the beans are out." If they didn't put it on the blackboard, I would probably think I got wrong information. I don't still know the exact reason why they didn't serve it because I don't believe beans are out. Probably there was no one who were trained to do it.
(3)Christina C.
I loved stopping by Pavement in the mornings for my coffee fix + sunrise bagel. I became a Pavement regular after they opened next door to the bookstore I worked at. Their drinks/food are reliably great, and the prices aren't bad at all. The baristas like to chit chat and take their time in the mornings, so there is some times a line that goes (almost) out the doors. But Pavement's hipster-chic decor, ample seating, and lots of outlets for the hardworking student makes up for a tardy every so often.
(4)Craig Z.
Good, but not great. I had the house espresso in a cappuccino. Espresso didn't have great flavor and the drink was not very well made. Thought the shot was over-pulled, and the ratio of milk was off. Nice people, and I like the place, but in my weekend in Boston visiting 3 independent coffee shops, this one came in last.
(3)Eric P.
Pretttty sweet place. Went in here opening day, so I'm assuming everyone was probably top of their game attitude-wise. Got some food and coffee. The food was very fresh and delicious, I hope they keep up the standards for it as they move on through the years in Boston. Convinced my friend that there was more seating downstairs, we both went down the large flight of stairs only to be greeted by a scary hall out of a horror film. Nope, no downstairs seating. I played it off as if I already knew there was no downstairs and that I had tricked them, but in reality I just wanted to know. We came back up the stairs to a frowning employee. *Noo I know what you're thinking buddy we didn't bang in your basement opening day, goshh * Though if I had, I would of definitely yelped it so people would know I was the first. Anyway great food and drink options, and great service! Was quick for opening day too! Keep it up! (I've included pics)
(4)Meg M.
Any coffee shop that plays Adele, has tofu cream cheese and is located right off of Mass Ave and Boylston is bound to have a place in my heart As a loyal Espresso Royale customer during my Northeastern days, I was cautious of this coffee shop that is a sister business. But, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and this place proves it. Pros: - Fair Trade coffee! - The Chia bagel sando- bliss in a bagel for the veggie lovers out there - The designs the barista makes on my soy latte - They have tofu spread for the vegans out there! - For fresh, local food and coffee, I have to put the prices as a pro instead of a con Cons: - Lack of seating... because of its location next to Berklee, this place gets pretty crowded! - Only one bathroom so there was a line for most of my time there Pavement is an amazing coffeehouse... it is one of those places that entices me to come back to Boston
(5)Keith T.
Came back to Boston after a year and a half. Pavement still makes the same great coffee. Still similar lines. One thing I left out before it's that it's a good spot to get a bagel. They've got a good selection and a number of pastries too; it's not one of those coffee-only places.
(4)Te R.
i was on a fake gay date when i first came here. (we are just friends...) we are having our hot chocolate after a thai dinner next door. and we saw two guys on a (possibly real) french gay date on the corner. and one of the guys glimpsed at us every once in a while. at some point, the guy and i both cracked as we were checking each other out. we said sorry and went back to our respective dates. before we left, the guy said 'au revoir' to me. and i deftly replied back 'bonne soiree. au revoir' and returned the air bisous. why am i saying all this? enough of this stuff... oh right pavement is a very adorable coffee shop. i'm sure this coffee shop is new-ish... this place used to be something else... but anyways, it's much larger than it looks from the outside. there's a plenty of seating although like any coffee shops on the weekend, it gets quite crowded. i haven't tried their coffee yet but coffee doesn't seem to be the main factor for going to a coffee shop anyway. wifi is free for one hour. after that, you can buy wifi for $5 an hour, which i think is not too bad.
(5)Robin Y.
A great place for lunch or coffee. A ton of selections- really unique and delicious sandwiches with quality ingredients. I highly recommend getting a sandwich on a multigrain everything bagel and the Spanish latte. I don't know how people study here, though- it's too loud and crowded for my tastes. Much better for meeting up with friends. Can be a little slow if you're in a hurry, so I don't recommend it if you only have like, 5 minutes to grab coffee.
(4)Angy N.
Best coffee and great food!! We went here just about every morning we were in town for some coffee. We tried their sandwiches for lunch and we also tried some breakfast sandwiches. They have a great vegetarian selection!! My husband was very happy with the meat options he had. My favorite was the eggplant sandwich. The latte was perfection but the chai latte left much to be desired. Next time we are in Boston we'll definitely return to Pavement!!
(5)Kenneth R.
J. P. steered me here, telling me it would be full of Berkeley students. Huh: how could this be possible? I found out when I got here: it's next to Berklee and indeed, there were plenty of young people around the tables in groups. I liked this cafe's atmosphere, and I liked both the pour-over from Colombia that I ordered and the pumpkin muffin that a friend ordered and asked to be cut in two. I'll definitely be back when I'm next in the area.
(4)Joanna H.
Very friendly and helpful staff. I wanted to try the Yerba Mate Latte without knowing what Yerba Mate was and my cashier patiently answered my questions. She even offered to make me another drink for free if I didn't like it. Very reassuring offer. Nice place to study, though there's an hour max to their WiFi. But if you're a Berklee student, you can just sign onto Berklee's network. Overall, a chill place to chitchat or to come do work!
(5)Samantha S.
Rating clarification: 5 stars if you can get a seat; 4 stars if you can't. Really excellent bagels, nicely proportioned sandwiches, yummy sweets, reasonable prices. I like the quasi-bohemian atmosphere, and the music is quirky but only occasionally obnoxious. (Considering that this neighborhood sits smack-dab in the middle of 3 music schools [Berklee, NE Conservatory, Boston Conservatory], you know it's going to be eclectic, to say the least.) And the barista even made a pretty design in my daughter's hot chocolate. The staff at the registers can be a little impatient, but apart from that, this cafe is pretty darn perfect.
(5)Florian L.
Coffe was decent. A lot of staff kind of just standing around even as customers waited.
(3)Mel D.
I've been to this Pavement location a handful of times and I think they are great. I've never been disappointed by the food or beverages I've ordered. It is rather small and can get crowed really quickly, but don't let that stop you!
(4)Emily L.
Pavement is a place for meet ups and chill outs. I've tried coffee drinks, teas, and food here, and they all hit the spot. This location is filled with Berklee students, so don't be surprised if you find a double bass or bassoon parked next to you. I'd recommend coming here during "off peak" hours to get a seat -- and because it can get crowded, bring your earbuds if you want to do some serious work.
(4)Sahil M.
This place, like a lot of Boston places, is a little bit overpriced. However they do serve pretty good sandwiches on bagels. The biggest problem though is the ridiculous amount of time it makes to make one. You can expect to wait over 25 to 30 minutes to make a bagel sandwich as only one person will often be working that line. But they are really good
(4)Zoe M.
I was hesitant when I first walked into Pavement for lunch one day. It looked like another hip, young cafe with overpriced panini and burnt coffee. I somewhat grudgingly forked out $7.25 for a "Pastoral." I had some trouble picking what to order. Everything looked really good. My choice had roasted, herbed sweet potato, green apple, goat cheese, caramelized onion, arugula and was served rustic bread. The description sounded great, but would the end result be? The wait for food was decent considering it was lunch hour. When I finally got my food it was gushing with sliced apple. This was a good sign. Usually when your order complex sandwiches, you get a smattering of everything that ultimately adds up to a pretty empty sandwich. The guy behind the counter knew what he was doing. I had to break open and reposition all the ingredients just to take a bite. How often does that happen? Usually you have to rearrange because everything has lumped to one side and you want to get everything in one bite. The Pastoral was incredible. I was a little weirded out by the sweet potato at first, but wow it's a good addition. Combined with the goat cheese it makes the sandwich a little on the sweet side, but not overpoweringly so. The onions and arugula counter that. Add apple for some freshness and you've got a really great sandwich. The bread was fresh and held up well given the size of the panini. I'll definitely be returning to Pavement for the Beet Down or the Gatherer panini.
(4)Ali U.
A great study spot. Cool atmosphere, good coffee. Place is pretty overcrowded though, and the wifi's slow and only free for 2 hours.
(3)Eric F.
Still a solid coffee shop, but you'll be able to find all the Counter Culture roasts at Render Coffee which happens to do much better pour overs and espresso drinks.
(3)Jennifer S.
I live in the area and have come to Pavement several times. For a coffeehouse, they can't get a basic ice coffee right. Each time, it is bitter and watery. However, I did get an iced mocha once and that was lovely. Their bagels are a hit or a miss. I'll usually come in the morning before work; sometimes the bagels are fresh, other times they are definatley a day or so old. I have had the Ike sandwich a couple times, and that is done well. I really wish this place was a little better bc I live so close.
(2)Lynn B.
On a slow day, this place is just dandy. But get more than five people in line, and more than a few orders waiting, and, well, just go somewhere else. The last time I went there, somehow my boyfriend's order for a simple bagel and cream cheese didn't get in the cue and we waited 20 minutes on a very busy day before he had to ask where his food was. I know, this happens everywhere every once in a while, but even without losing the order ticket, the wait was too long and the staff too slow. The people behind the counter were chatting it up about their saturday night or whatever, slooooooooowly spreading cream cheese, slooooooowly cutting a bagel. Slooooooowly wrapping it up. Here's a tip for the management - train your staff to move orders not chat when the line is out the door. Consider a new work flow - a station JUST for people who want toasted bagels and a separate sandwich-making station. I dont need to wait for 34 egg sandwiches to be done before my bagel gets slabbed w/ cream cheese and put on the counter.
(3)Vivienne P.
Delicious coffee, tasty bagels, good staff. An easy formula for success. Pavement is a go-to in my Boston repertoire that I really miss. The bagels are really good and come in a huge variety of flavors. Their sandwiches are great, but what really wins for me is that they have tofu cream cheese. It's GOOD, too--I don't know if they make it in-house or not, but it doesn't taste like Tofutti to me. I like to get a bagel (usually spinach or something like that) with the veggie tofu spread and add on a few extra veggies. That makes for a satisfying breakfast that will last me for a while, and come in at a VERY reasonable price. Throw in a soy latte or a coffee and I'm a happy girl. Interestingly enough, it's nearly impossible to find places with tofu cream cheese in San Francisco. That makes me miss Pavement even more. Sometimes I get irritated with the overwhelming hipsterdom of the place, but mostly it's no biggie, and although the staff could be on Look At This Fucking Hipster, they're friendly and cheerful and not at all condescending, so hooray for them! I miss this place for its quality and consistency. I never regretted getting anything here, either to go or to sit in and do some work.
(4)Ellie W.
Wee, chai tea lattes and hipsters! My friend and I stopped in for coffee here, and I didn't want to leave! Good coffee and good vibes. It's everything Starbucks is not--homey, chill, well-decorated, and filled with people who actually converse over coffee instead of the antisocial people practically making out with their laptops in every street corner Starbucks. You get the feeling the baristas here actually LIKE coffee and care to serve you a good cuppa joe. Starbucks: angry emo girl who might want to slash her wrists after serving you your caramel macchiato, and indifferent guy who can't spell your name right to save his life. Last I checked, I'm not a man named Al. If their other coffee is as good as their chai tea latte, I might just have to start living here. They've got some comfy couches and a bathroom. All I need. Don't judge me and my simpleton ways.
(4)Andrew F.
Went in here for the first time today to just grab a cup of coffee and do some studying. Great atmosphere. Not a lot of tables to sit down and people tend to stay there for a long time but that's typical of most coffee shops especially when their coffee is as good as theirs. I actually just got their regular drip coffee and it was some of the best standard coffee around.
(4)Erica Z.
A cooler coffeehouse you will not find. The decor alone garners at least 4 stars. I mean my coffee tastes better when I'm sitting on a silver couch, obviously. There's usually a line, but it moves pretty quickly. Sometimes hard to find a seat (which i've already pointed out is the best part about this place). I don't know if staff has changed lately or something because I haven't been in a little while, but I've never had issues with service like other reviewers are mentioning. Very friendly actually. Oh, yeah, and the coffee's pretty good too. I always get the spanish latte because I just love those damn things. Tastes pretty much exactly the same as the ones from Espresso Royale. Cold brew delicious in the summer also.
(5)Liliana C.
Mmmm - the Spanish latte. I love it too much and it lures me out of my office back to this coffee shop every week. Pavement is typically overrun with hipsters from Berklee. Definitely crowded but a beautiful space. I appreciate the variety of seating options. Internet is only free for an hour but you piggyback off of Boston Burger Co next door.
(4)Zach W.
Good coffee and bad coffee all taste the same to me.....or maybe I've just never had bad coffee, because I'm told that Pavement has pretty good coffee. Honestly, I just don't drink coffee enough to know the difference. But, you don't have to like coffee to be a fan of Pavement. Pavement has good food, nice teas, and solid service. Seating is somewhat limited inside and usually overrun with a bunch of Berklee kids who think they're way cooler than they are. But, still, there's a certain charm to the spot and everyone's pretty friendly. You can sit outside and people watch if you prefer too. I highly recommend their sandwiches, which are all pretty reasonably priced and pretty tasty. They have a solid selection of vegetarian sandwiches too for dirty hippies (a side of myself I occasionally indulge in). According to my coffee addicted friends the brown dirt looking drink is tasty and the according to me the food is tasty too.
(4)Juliana C.
Four hours ago I was eating leftover chinese in bed. Funemployment? For now, definitely. But day three of rocking pj's past noon has given me a slight touch of cabin fever -- time to get presentable and send my resumes out from somewhere a little less comforter-ble (ohhhh, I went there). So I Yelped "coffeshop." I love you guys. Pavement is fab -- rustic brick, Macs a-plenty, wifi, Tegan & Sara on the speakers, wall-hugging photographs straight from a Hold Steady CD booklet... aaaand super thin Tasty's cookies + a cappuccino that gives every other cap a bad rap (hey D -- if you ever need help writing those weeklies, I'm free [wink]). I think I may make coffeeshop surfing a habit 'til I'm back in the office drone saddle. Stay tuned. PS: Berklee student to my left just used the word "gravitas" in casual conversation. Ensuing snort successfully passed off as a cough.
(4)Austin M.
This place has more potential than a 5 year old Michael Phelps, however it smells like a bathroom inside the three times I've been, it's either that or the cheap cleaning products they use. I want to like this place but why do you smell so much?!!?
(3)Jeff J.
Great atmosphere but like most coffee shops, minimal outlets. And no pumpkin flavored drinks... womp womp
(4)Evan Michael H.
Food and drink are fine. This rating is solely for the staff. They HAVE to be stoned. There is no other explanation. They slowly examine each ingredient that go into the sandwich that they make. Really living and experiencing every moment of putting together my food. It is like they move in slow motion. If they aren't all smoking weed before work I have no idea what their deal is. The atmosphere is great and I bet they have good intentions, yet this whole blazed hipster thing that they have going on might be okay for other people, but its not my thing.
(2)Joe B.
I try not to buy their bagels with cream cheese. It adds up over the course of a month, but the whole wheat everything is great. The coffee is always good too. Here's the closer though- I went in to get my usual whole wheat everything with sundried tomato cream cheese. Menu change. No more sundried tomato cream cheese. Crestfallen and after way too much deliberation, I go with the scallion cream cheese. The manager must have seen my face, which looked like someone told me my house just burned down, because he comped the bagel. On the house. That's real customer service. They keep my business even though this scallion cream cheese doesn't come close to what I was used to. It's great to get that sort of customer service in the city.
(5)Joe M.
Good coffee and friendly staff, but extremely poor operation system. Long wait for any food order, and today experienced my ninth or tenth lost order this year. Add to that the fact that WiFi is free for an hour or $5 for the whole day with no middle option and this place just doesn't cut it. An overpriced shop with poor execution and long lines, only the lack of another independent option kept me coming back. I try to patronize locally owned businesses but today I reached my limit - I'll be at Starbucks from now on. On the bright side for Pavement this place is a utopia compared to their sister shop Espresso Royale, and they are so crowded every day that they won't miss my business.
(2)Kelly A.
Pavement is my new favorite coffee spot in the city. Reasons why: They have Bagel Rising bagels. On my first visit, they had Stumptown Coffee. They have vegan pastries, and they're good. The decor is awesomely minimalist. The baristas are friendly and knowledgeable. Their hot chocolate is bomb. And finally, the pour-over coffee. They don't always have it, but if they do, you're in for a treat. The mister is kind of a coffee geek, and he can't stop thinking and talking about this stuff. Check it.
(5)Jeff M.
Large selection of espresso drinks. Coffee is pretty good. Tasty baked goods. Cool decor.
(4)Meg G.
Love pavement. Iced coffee and iced americano are both great. Bagels, bagel sandwiches, salads, croissants, and sandwiches are all killer. The people complaining about this place are totally spoiled by its greatness. This location is definitely the best.
(5)Rachel R.
Reasons to like Pavement: + addictive chocolate bar selection - fig, almond & anise dark chocolate, please. + unbelievably heavenly lemonade (it might actually be angel pee.) + versatility: convenient study spot or casual date place? You decide. + friendly, unassuming staff... because no one wants a side of hipster-ego. Even if it's free. + definitely the coolest place within [a lazy person's] walking distance of NU. Reasons to like Pavement less: - the coffee's decent, but it's not as if the Americanos are what draw me inside. - you better be down to hover if you want a seat. - there's no almond milk in sight, and you can't spell "unsatisfactory" without "soy." - the awesome-sounding sandwiches are actually one step below mediocre. - the eggs are undeserving of the title "eggs." [Update: How awesome does cranberries, goat cheese, honey and walnuts on focaccia sound? Pretty damn awe-inspiring. Too bad they made my fantasandwich as sucky as humanly possible... the honey didn't taste like anything, the cranberries were Craisin-esque, the goat cheese was bland, and the bread was stale and flavorless. Now, the eggs... what is going on with these so-called "eggs," Pavement? The breakfast sandwich filling tastes like a cross between the powdered egg product I had at summer camp and microwaved eggs. Not delighted. My hopes were high, too. I'm forced to dock a star from my original review for the complete and total sandwich let down of 2013.] Overall? The odds are in favor of dessert at Pavement. Next time, I'm skipping an attempt at a "normal" meal and just going straight for the good stuff.
(3)Fancypants X.
I've been a yelper for so long, I rate everything in my life based on yelp's 1 through 5 star system: - date night where I get to pick the movie: 5 stars - dress that fits right, but is overpriced: 4 stars - friend who's unreliable, but lets me use her beach house: 3 stars - boy with the greenest eyes, but has horrible shoes: 2 stars - costco shopping trip where I spend $250, forget where I parked, & forget my shopping bags: 1 star So, lets apply this to our trip to Pavement: - iced Spanish latte, made with condensed milk: 5 stars - cozy set-up & decorating details: 5 stars - hipster male barista who turned out to be unexpectedly nice: 4 stars - his rock-a-billy female co-worker who mocked me for saying, "thanks a lot": 1 star. I didn't know being polite was a crime. I guess being a bitter, trying-too-hard-to-be-cool d-bag is the trend. Fuck that. - Chinese girl who threw her stuff on TWO tables in the crowded cafe to see which table her bf wanted while the 3 of us waited for them to decide: 1 star Bottom line: coffee rocks. People (in general) suck.
(4)Dr. Tyler C.
This is a great little coffee house. The music is at a reasonable level and it's very hipster with a diverse crowd of students, young professionals and older folks looking for a quant cup of coffee. The flow of people in and out of the coffee shop makes you feel at ease and not rushed. Staff are super friendly. Menu could be expanded a little but more but two great items from this store are: Spanish latte Oatmeal (not advertised but they have it) and if you get it, ask for steamed milk as opposed to water. Great place to start your morning!
(5)Nancy C.
To describe Pavement in one word: hipster. That being said, their coffee is very good. My sister had a bagel with Nutella, which she really liked. My dad had one of the breakfast sandwiches, which he thought was just ok. If you don't mind the lines, I would definitely go here instead of Starbucks, which is way more generic (and "mainstream," I guess). Just because there's better coffee here.
(3)Matt Z.
best espresso based coffee in town.
(4)Courtney G.
Really cute, service is super patient, friendly, and helpful. Open on the Fourth of July! Nice place for a quick healthy breakfast. They have yogurt and granola homemade (I think it's homemade) and good lox.
(4)Keith B.
This place is like the annoyingly cute hipster girl I don't want to like but still have a crush on. I'd say the service is inconsistent at best (and that's being polite,) the line moves slowly and if you order food get ready to wait. With that said, the coffee is great (probably the best cappuccino I've ever had) and the food is good too, so I keep coming back. Much better feel than starbucks and always great people watching. Good spot for a weekend morning if you don't have anywhere to be.
(3)L H.
Every drink I've ever ordered has been mildly warm and not very good. I like the bagels but sometimes it can take a very long time to get your order. And I wish so much they would make pumpernickel bagels.. I always have to ask for extra cream cheese because sometimes they barely give you any. I like the overall ambiance of the place but it is usually overcrowded with berklee students and typically very hard to find a place to sit.
(3)Lindsey G.
Conveniently located to the Prudential and Hynes, I made a stop in here before a conference and had a delicious Spanish latte (my new favorite thing in the world) and a yummy bagel breakfast sandwich that was basically the best bagel sandwich I've ever had and kept me going well into lunch time. The staff were super friendly, too.
(5)kevin h.
If you stop by you will love the energy and the Spanish Latte. Only drawback is you cannot pay cash.
(4)Charlotte R.
Cool atmosphere for studying or catching up with a friend and great bagels. Beware: there is only one hour of free wifi! Other than that, no complaints.
(3)Maria V.
My boyfriend and I came to this place to have Espresso and Cafe Mocca. It was good yo a certain extent. The Espresso was a bit too tangy / sour to taste, but the cafe mocca was excellent! The chocolate doesn't overwhelm the taste of the original coffee..and overall it was a good experience! They should really expand the size of the place so that people can enjoy their time sitting at the café.
(4)Alex O.
Wow. I am very impressed with this one. I've been to many coffee shops in Boston since moving here, but this one's been the kindest to me yet: a barista who knew his beers so well that he recommended no fewer than six great bars around town; a chai latte so frothy and tasty you'll want a second one; and patrons ranging from creative ad copiers to Berklee musicians and hackers cranking out code on their iMacs. Can't recommend the place enough!
(5)Anne K.
Coffee is awesome (get a latte). Bagels and cream cheese are really good too. The cream cheese is fluffy. I like to hang out in the comfortable chairs and read or watch the hipsters...there are hipsters EVERYWHERE!
(4)Frank W.
Bottom line: Good coffee, eh to poor service, eh design.. It's more of a take it to go kinda place, rather than a sit and chat kinda cafe. A relative of Espresso Royale, Pavement tries really hard to be delicious. It succeeds in most respects. The coffee has a pleasant taste so you can tell it's quality, however it tends to be a little light. Therefore I highly suggest the espresso drinks, and ditto to all the spanish latte suggestions if you like a sweeter drink. Otherwise, a normal latte is wonderful from here. Their bagel stuff is good, but it's really just the bagel that's quality, not the insides (if you're considering a breakfast sandwich). Especially during the winter the constant door open/close makes this place drafty and the seating is spotty to poor. I usually just get everything to go because it's not worth the frustration to sit here. The staff needs a bit of an attitude adjustment. I get it. You work in a coffee shop. You're supposed to be hipster/expressive/"yah dood" kinda attitude, but I can juuuuust about stand it. Come down to earth a little bit or at least be slightly less airy when you're on the customer side. Thanks Also, they don't take American Express. Which always is a thorn in my side because half the time, that's the only card I have. Grumble. When i'm in the area I come here because I support local. But I prefer other cafes over this place.
(3)Izzy S.
Hipster-ville, but with great sandwiches, the multigrain bread is the BEST ever!!!
(4)Cat E.
Love their coffee!! kinda stinks that you have to pay for your own wifi after an hour.
(4)Jenelle J.
I can only comment on the sandwich as that's what we ordered. We had a sandwich with beef but it was very very light on meat itself. So a little hard to justify getting one here. Ambiance was a fun college-y vibe. I'm sure the coffee is worth a trip back though!
(3)Jill G.
Delicious specialty coffee drinks.. But even better bagel sandwiches. Fresh arugula, veggies, and cream cheese spreads. Delicious, filling, and reasonably priced. Very cute atmosphere with a lot of seating. It is usually pretty crowded- they have wifi and students tend to park themselves there to study. A great spot!
(4)Amy W.
In Boston to cheer a friend on for the Boston Marathon and, boy, what a treat! Pavement's grand opening! A friend of ours raved about the coffee. When I walked in, I loved the vibe. The front red brick and back white brick walls. The place is super spacious. Plenty of room to chill, study or just defrost from the chill. Before ordering, I noticed they had some warm food. I saw a couple people eating their sandwiches which didn't look half bad! I got the chai latte, to be honest it's not the best I had. But ordering, I could tell they were very knowledgeable about their teas. The reason why I gave them 4 stars is my friend said their lattes were very delicious. Another friend of mine got the roobios which was great! They also have this tea called Mate Latte, which I will be trying tomorrow! Additionally, from 5- 8 they have free drinks from their slow bar (think Cappuccino, Macchiatos, etc.)! Which is awesome for those that are not affected by caffeine. The only downfall is I noticed that they're a bit slow.. but since it was so good, maybe they're just adding an extra bit of tender lovin' care! Check this place out Bostonians! It will not disappoint!
(4)Alex E.
Their sandwiches are awesome, the coffee is usually good here (at a different location they were using these really really bitter beans for a while that were just not enjoyable for me). I love the atmosphere here. The thing that I get annoyed with at these places is when they take the whole artsy fartsy hipster barista vibe a little too far and take forever to make your cappuccino because they need to have the perfect foam art on top. I know a lot if people like this, but really, I'm adding sugar anyway so the first thing I'm gonna do is ruin that nice art thing by stirring. I'm only mentioning this here because there is one barista at this location who i think this is particularly bad with. Never once seen her smile and she is so slow and inefficient.
(3)P C.
I'll just preface this to letting you know I basically live in Coffee shops and bakeries. I find it really hard to do work where I live so I pretty much live this nomadic work life throughout the Boston area looking for places that I can get things done in while drinking fab coffee and eating deliciously overpriced sandwiches. I THINK, dear friends, that I have found my new coffeehouse!!
(5)Alex S.
A nutty flavor to the coffee, but a little diluted. I usually like my coffee a bit stronger, but they only have one variety here. This is more of a tea place with a coffee option for someone who must have it. I ordered the Sencha Tea in favor of something bitter. Very nice. Tea bags seem to be made by hand. Probably much stronger in the 12 oz cup. I also ordered a Sunrise sandwich on an everything bagel with no cheese (my typical breakfast sandwich.) Very flavorful, a little lacking in the meat, but whatever. This place has a thing for being minimalist (I mean, look at their website.) I enjoyed the ambiance, although the coziness of everything made it seem a bit loud at times. A pleasant selection of artwork to foster a conversation with my lady friend. Needless to say, I left the place very caffeinated and happy. Kudos.
(4)Patrick H.
It is what it is. Look, it's a good place run by the same people who run Expresso Royale. It's almost always all Berklee students (not a bad thing, just a fact). Seating always seems had to find here... I suppose that has something to do with the prime location. Really great bagels, great Spanish latte. The coffee is alright, the pastries are alright. The one-hour wifi limit is a real pain in the ass, which is why I only come here if I don't have much time to kill. And the temperature gets kind of stuffy. It's not a place you're going to run out and tell your friends you've got to go there... but if you're in the area, why not? I'll finish with a quote from myself earlier in this very review: "[Pavement] is what it is."
(3)Kaitlin K.
Probably a better social coffee house than a place to study. I've only been disappointed in a bagel once, though usually the bagels are all goodness with perfect proportions that satisfy the need for breakfast or lunch. I'm not a big fancy drink consumer, more into just black coffee. But their most basic drip coffee is delicious on its own which is telling, no need to cover up the flavor, right amount of complexity, and most importantly keeps the caffeine withdrawal away. pros: coffee, food, decor cons: no free wifi, sometimes a bit of a wait, can get loud
(4)Sara S.
Any independent coffee shop is a welcome addition in my book! I'm thrilled such a fun cafe has opened in a convenient location within extreme proximity to two of my other favorite local businesses, b.good and Boloco! Pavement has a wide variety of coffee, tea, and espresso options and features different brewed coffee from other coffee shops nationwide. I choose a simple iced coffee, which was brewed stronger than Dunkin Donuts and less burnt than Starbucks. Their variety of milks and sugars (including simple syrup) at the end of the bar are great, we well! For eating, there's a medium sided menu with bagels (and bagel sandwiches) sandwiches, and paninis. I opted for the vegetarian bagel sandwich with their "lite cream cheese", which is not technically cream cheese, but tofu. I wouldn't have known a difference if I wasn't told. The interior is vintagey and almost has a romantic feel, with mismatched furniture and large communal tables and booths. There's also window seating and patio seating for people watching! -1 star for really, really slow service, which I hope improves over time. Will update!
(4)Elizabeth D.
Coffee, tea, and yummy sandwiches are a draw. Plenty of seating, outlets, and free wifi bring this place over the top. I tried the Crimson Berry Iced Tea on recommendation from the staff, and I think I'm addicted. I just love that they have a variety of iced teas. The turkey avocado club is spectacular. I enjoyed it on some nutty wheat bread. This place is awesome; I'm definitely a fan. Beware of their hours though. Apparently, they have summer hours when Berklee is out of session, so Yelp's posted hours may not be correct.
(4)Leslie A.
I had the basic breakfast sandwich and it was amazing. There is lovely outdoor seating right near Newbury St. beautiful interior, great seating options and array of yummy sounding sandwich options. The breakfast sandwich took a while to prepare but it is because they make it from scratch on the spot which is (probably) what made it taste so good. I would absolutely come back in the future. The only reason I am not doing five stars is due to the fact that the staff was not welcoming when I arrived or picked up my order. A simple hello, how are you today, or enjoy your meal would have been nice. Oh well.. next time!
(4)Ashley D.
pavement is one of three coffee shops owned by the same people: espresso royale, bagel rising in allston, and pavement off boylston. each place has it's own feel but they all have the same menu with great coffee and bagels. the chia bagel is my favorite and i highly recommend it. it comes with sprouts, tomato, avocado spread, and honey dijon mustard and i tend to always go with the whole wheat everything bagel, havarti or swiss cheese, and tofu spread. the sunrise is also great for breakfast (or if you're just in a breakfast type of mood). it comes with one semi-scrambled egg and your choice of bagel, meat, and cheese. the coffee is also really good. and if i feel like switching it up the dirty chai always does the trick, chai latte with a shot of espresso. the space at pavement is a lot bigger than espresso royale or bagel rising. there are a lot of berklee students that like to hangout here aka it can get really loud and obnoxious but if you come in late afternoon on the weekdays or early afternoon-close on the weekends it's usually a lot more calm and a good place to study. also, get one of the red frequent buyer cards (looks like a gift card). buy 10 drinks get the 11th for free, buy 10 bagel sandwiches and also get the 11th for free woo
(4)Stephanie H.
Vegan Tequila Sunrise sandwich is to die for! The best bagel sandwich I've had in a long time. Vegan and veggie friendly. Easy to get a sandwich to go or sit and enjoy a nice coffee or tea. Loved this place!
(5)Rob C.
Ordinarily i'm not one to drink hot coffee on a hot summer night, but as it turned out, it was a fine choice. i'm a big fan of a good Americano, and theirs easily qualifies. They draw lovely shapes in the more froufrou drinks too. It's fancy but much more comfy than snooty. As others have said, it does close rather too early at 9, and they promptly shoo you out. Nevertheless, it's likely i'll be back with my iPad some wintry weekend morning.
(4)Alex B.
Pavement = ERC + Couches
(3)Chris C.
Super attractive interior good with cool tufted metallic fabric chairs and couches - if Ben Sherman had a coffeehouse, it'd look a lot like this. They have tasty b'fast sandwiches and decent teas but the chai latte is pretty dull. I took a star off because I wish the sold loose tea like other ERCs do
(4)Becky E.
Although the staff are friendly, Pavement's system for giving discounts to its frequent patrons is broken. 2 stars because it needs to fix it points/rewards system to be more accurate.
(2)Isis H.
They have excellent coffee from Counter Culture. I usually stick with a cup of coffee and a jalepeno bagel with cream cheese. That is a delicious meal for when I wake up in the morning. As for the space, limited seating inside. They have outdoor seating but its always in the shade which deprives me of my sun time! There is free wi-fi but it kicks you off after an hour, they are catching on to us and it's not cool. Service is good, not especially friendly but doesnt bother me too much. Everyone that works there seems to like it( from what I can tell) . I've also never had any issues with a order which I appreciate.
(4)Kaitlin M.
I went here for lunch today with two friends around 1pm. Possibly not the smartest place to go on a Saturday when you want to sit, but I remembered the awesome coffee from a previous experience. We all had the Ike sandwich on a bagel--chicken salad with havarti and bacon (i had mine sans bacon), I also got a latte--so good. The sandwich was really good too! The only problem was that no one was moving! Everyone who had a seat was planted there for the longrun, which was disappointing when we wanted to sit and enjoy our lunch. So, my friends and I finally glared at someone long enough and they got up and gave us their seat--and we sat around a mini coffee table (kind of like a stool) and ate out of our laps. Had it been nice out, we just would have grabbed our sandwiches and run. I'd recommend this for takeout, but don't get your hopes up for a seat at peak times on weekends.
(3)Irene Z.
They have creative bagel sandwiches, and I have generally liked their taste. They usually run out of bagel selections as well as baked goods, which are dry anyway. I recently ordered a simple peanut butter & jelly sandwich because I had a craving (otherwise I wouldn't pay for one to be made). There were 5 people on staff; no one was doing anything except the cashier. They were dancing and singing along like the customers appreciated a show - maybe that's what we pay for because my sandwich was almost $5!!! Then I asked one of the staff if someone planned on making my order, and she proceeded to start by putting on a pair of gloves, lifting the trashcan with them, touching door knobs and containers with them, and then finally getting to my sandwich with the same pair of gloves! ^insert vomit It took a total of 20 minutes because she had intercessions of dancing like a drunk hippo. Beware the dreamcatcher on her shoulder and a Marilyn piercing. She's disgusting. And if this is some hipster culture to eat germ-ridden food at least put a damn warning sign. Let's end on a positive note though. I like their coffee.
(2)Christopher I.
Good, Quality Espresso Drinks. I ordered an extra dry Cappuccino and was impressed to see the barista reading my order off of a computerized screen, which she used to keep track of everything. My drink, despite this took a bit longer than I expected. I also got a bagel with tofu 'cream cheese' which was REALLY delicious and I would highly recommend it for anyone, vegan or not, who is looking for a tasty, yet less-rich topper for their bagel. The seating is a variety of hip little tables of varying sizes filled with hip berkley kids and their computers. Don't be surprised if you see a guy with a keyboard writing music at one of the tables.... Overall, good quality everything, slightly noisy, often busy, nice atmosphere.
(4)Zahira P.
The first time I visited pavement, I was stumbling in at 7am after my very first red eye transversing the country. I was barely cogent. I got a 'tequila sunrise'. It's not an alcoholic drink as the name might suggest, instead it's the perfect antidote to one: a solid sandwich stacked with jalapeno cheese, eggs, tomato, and onion on a toasted bagel. After polishing off the heavy, delicious super-sandwich, I sat and read for multiple hours. I enjoyed a large, cushioned booth, and there were no signs of rushing or pushing me. In fact, Pavement is an excellent place for doing homework, reading, people-watching, or just a relaxed change of scenery. There's tons of seating inside and out, and I believe there's wi-fi too -- but do check the other yelp reviews. Over a wedding/MIT reunion weekend in July, my husband and I visited Pavement 3 times. All told, we experienced a delicious mocha topped with skillfully done latte art, a cappuccino, and an espresso shot with no flavor nor sweetness. We called the lacklustre shot an accident, and thought that coffee in Boston had taken a step up since our college years here. The Pavement scene has a lively, interesting energy - the staff have unique fashion sense, seem to have tons of fun with each other, and know how to assemble good espresso drinks. There's even a street-DJ who skulks between the buildings outside. He was spinning some Michael Jackson tunes as we left this past Sunday. All in all, I loved this place. I would have come often as a student had I known about it, and returning to Boston as a picky yet caffeine-addicted adult, I was happy to have this delectable place so nearby.
(5)Ainura B.
They have good Spanish coffee, i'd say it their signature. also nice cookies and bangles. Nice and friendly staff, they are always helpful. The only thing is that its always packed and people sit there all day long taking spots. Internet is free only for couple hours and than you have to pay for it, even their free internet is not good, it keeps disconnected all the time.
(3)Bijou S.
Sure, it's pretty, but this place needs a serious attitude adjustment when you're trying to be ERC's counter part. The staff needs to smile or look like they have a pulse a little... or is that not cool? It's apparent working hard isn't cool either, because it takes them forever to get a coffee or a sandwich out. Mostly because they are just busy running into each other. I feel as if the team is not as knowledgable as the people at ERC, and not as nice BY FAR! The space is lovely... but you already have a bad taste in your mouth AFTER you deal with the staff. Also, if you're going to charge so much for a salad, at least make a decent salad. Or at least something with a little more creativity. I get better salads at the Whole Foods easily. Boo Pavement. I'm an ERC person for life.
(2)Qichen Z.
Came here on an early Saturday morning with a friend (who actually works at Pavement, so good employee refs!). Sunrise bagel sandwich on a whole wheat everything bagel was delicious, and a Spanish latte was a great sweet complement. People say it gets really overrun by Berklee kids, but it isn't so bad in the summer. Pavement also has a really fun and easygoing crowd running the place. Super friendly. Great and quick service and the décor makes the place a hip and relaxing place to converse. Definitely looking forward to coming back again!
(5)Gwen S.
At the least, the food and tea are worth a stop in. I enjoyed my Chia sandwich on spinach bagel and topped it off with an average if tasty chai latte. My cashier was in a sour mood, unlike the rest of the crew, and my order was up in 5 minutes. I definitely like the diverse types of seating- booth, table, group table, counter, and outdoor tables. The wi-fi was pretty speedy and power outlets were offered. I also noticed the restroom was clean and orderly and employees did wash their hands before heading back behind the counter. The noise level was easily manageable, even though there were only a couple open seats inside and every person was talking on their phone, to their laptops, or to each and every other.
(4)Susie S.
An awesome place for breakfast, lunch, and, of course, COFFEE. However, if you have time, I recommend you to walk over to Espresso Royale on Newbury for the EXACT same menu that's even better. However, Pavement does offer a more pleasant vibe. It's very spacious with a lot of tables and comfortable chairs. It's perfect for studying or hanging with friends. My favorite meal consists of the Tequila Sunrise with sausage and Iced Spanish Latte. Try getting the two together. You will love it. I'm taking out two stars because 1. It's not as good as Espresso Royale 2. The hipsters that work here are rude 3. I'm so tired of seeing the same faces there everyday (a.k.a Berklee students. Don't hate, I was a Berklee student myself) But all in all, this place is awesome. I recommend it!
(3)Marissa P.
I love ERC and I love this place. The bagels are great (See: Chia bagel!) The coffee is even greater. They use a company called Counter Culture Coffee who sources the most amazing coffee beans from all over the world, using fair trade methods. A great cup of coffee. I just bought the Haru Ethiopian beans for my French press and couldn't be happier. A bit pricey, but totally worth supporting a sustainable business. I think I prefer the atmosphere here better than ERC just because it's a bigger spot and it's newer and cleaner.
(5)Stacy H.
if you're not a fan of espresso royale caffe, i'm not sure you'd want to come here either since they're one and the same. pavement's much bigger in terms of the space, and it's closer to me so i come here :) i wanted another chia sandwich, but the cashier/barista/insert label here suggested i try the sahara. thanks, guy! i loved that it had tons of hummus, and was pretty much stuffed with veggies. naturally, i got a coffee with the sandwich -- tell them to leave some room for cream because otherwise they'll assume you drink that stuff black.
(4)Cristina P.
Felt like trying something new this morning. I walk by The Pavement Coffehouse everyday on the way to work, so I figured why not? The coffee was ok. They only have two sizes, a small and a large. Large costs 2.68 (with tax)...not too shabby. They kind of have a Starbucks set-up where you add your own milk, cream, sugar, etc. I only got a coffee but they have bagels, muffins, pastries, lunch sandwiches and few other options, might go back to try the food sometime. Perks - quick, not too busy in the AM, decent prices Cons - prefer cash, will accept visa and mastercard
(3)Lydia L.
I love Pavement. I practically live here- I can be found studying and doing work here almost every day with a medium Soy Spanish Latte in hand. The staff is great, the atmosphere is awesome and the coffee is full and flavorful. The sandwiches are good too- the Santa Monica is my favorite. I also really like the soups they have. Sometimes they dont have seating though and the internet has a one hour limit which is a drag- especially when it's really not busy. Regardless- best coffee shop in Boston- when I come back to New York/Pennsylvania for summers off from college I miss this place. So much love for Pavement.
(5)Annie B.
Excellent place for a quick lunch
(5)Stel B.
Okay, the coffee rocks, the ambiance is a nice change from cookie-cutter Starbucks, the bagels are definitely above average for Boston--and they have some unique flavors too (whole wheat everything? I could kiss you!). But like the missing turkey from a turkey club sandwich--there's are some downsides: 1) if you lack musical talent, you will feel it in the mostly Berklee crowd; and 2) they forgot to put the turkey in my turkey club sandwich(!), which since it was a to-go order, I did not discover until I was to-goed. On a repeat visit I ordered a sandwich called something like "NY Panini" which had the ingredients of a Reuben, but had mmmaybe a measly quarter of an inch of pastrami ("NY"? really?). This, combined with the missing turkey, makes me wonder just how many PETA activists this place has working for them... That said, come for the coffee, stay for the bagels (with non-meat fillings) and you'll have yourself a lovely visit to an artsy cafe.
(4)Steve M.
This place is awful. So disorganized. Saw the staff fighting with each other and the condiment stand go empty. I waited fifteen minutes for my lemonade only to find out when I asked that they forgot about it. Then it turned out they needed to make more. I took a refund and left. Never going back.
(1)Madison S.
Warning: Hipster Customer Service I have only been in the morning at like 7am when it's empty, so I would assume my sample is of the fastest customer service I can receive. Now, I am not expecting a well greased machine like Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks, but I have to get to work and I think my order(a toasted bagel with cream cheese) really shouldn't take 10 minutes. There was nobody there before me. Maybe some weekend I'll give them a shot when I can enjoy my coffee at leisure. But not likely, since the food is as unimpressive as their sister store, Expresso Royale.
(2)Daniel R.
Probably the best bagels I've ever had in my life. Highly recommended for bagels. Coffee is extremely pricey and has been served lukewarm both times I went. Tasted OK, but the low temperature turned me off. It's also a little expensive for what you're getting. Paninis are pretty good but way too expensive. You can probably find paninis for a better value elsewhere. Also a great place to casually observe hipsters, if you're into that sort of thing. The decor is wonderful. Overall unless you're getting bagels or breakfast sandwiches, I'd probably avoid this place.
(3)Annette M.
So I stopped by this little coffee shop to stay warm while i waited for my friend to meet me. It's quite the cute cafe spot. It has an exposed brick wall, with an urban outfitters decor and flair. The hipster music also adds to the ambiance of the type of coffee joint it is. I ordered the Spanish latte. It was perfect for me because it was not too sweet and not too bitter. The prices are comparable to Starbucks, which is why took off a star. Definitely a place I'd bring my coffee loving friends to, if they came to visit.
(4)Blair L.
I am a coffee buff. I have attempted to try as many coffee shops as possible since starting work in Boston two weeks ago. Thus far they have had the best cup of coffee yet. Not to mention they buy direct trade which is usually better for the growers as for compensation & quality. I gave them a four however because the shop itself is to be desired. Most of the chairs they have are small. Not the best atmosphere but decent.
(4)John W.
When in doubt between a local coffee house and a corporate chain, its usually better to go local. That is definitely the case with Pavement. Their coffees are excellent because they procure beans directly from growers and roast them on site. Their food is tasty too, and not made in a factory. The Spanish Latte is my favorite.
(5)Ahsan C.
Amazing ambience, great music, and convenient location. The staff was very friendly and conversational. This is the type of place where you can spend an entire day working on a project or just reading a book.
(5)Jessica L.
GREAT coffee. need I say more? Pavement never lets me down with their lattes and cortados. It's seriously made to perfection everytime I order. The ONLY con this place has, is that it can get pretty crowded. And most of the time that's not even a bad thing since they're usually pretty fast with coffee orders. However there are those days when you see a huge group of people waiting for coffee, which means you're going to have to wait a while for your small cup of cortado to come out haha. Ugh, but the wait is so worth it. All the time.
(5)Francis C.
Wifi is only free for 1st 30min, nice decor, ample seating Was not iffered receipt on cash payment.
(3)Sara L.
Great bagels! Fast service. I had a vanilla latte and a bagel with cream cheese. They really loaded on the cream cheese so if you're not a fan of cream cheese may want to hold off or say light on cram cheese. The only real negative was the music they played. I'm used to the soft traditional coffee house music and this was basically the exact opposite of that!
(4)Kelsey L.
This place is packed with energetic baristas who know how to make great coffee! I'm not a big coffee drinker, but I was on the hunt for a place with a window view of the bustling streets of Boston. I mainly needed somewhere I could plop my laptop down and plug into wifi for the day. Pavement Coffee was within walking distance of where I was staying, so I gave it a shot. Upon walking into the store I was overwhelmed with the sense of cozy warmth. The back part of the shop was filled with desks, tables and large pillowy couches, that were overrun with a mix of Berkley students and young businesspeople. The energy was palpable, with an ample number of hipster baristas behind the bar shouting out drink orders and inside jokes. I ordered a mocha latte, because that's how you fake it as a coffee drinker. My face flushed with a smile when I received my cup, complete with an artistic design sketched into the foam! My first coffee art experience quickly made its way to Instagram. The drink itself was smooth, creamy and rich with chocolate.
(5)Ben B.
Excellent coffee! Whether meeting a friend or catching up on email, this coffeehouse offers great environment with couches, tables, or a bar. This quintessential clean-cut hipster coffee shop meets the needs for Boston students and professionals alike!
(5)Arthur C.
YES! Love the food and coffee that comes out of this place! Bagels. For me, a simple toasted cinnamon raison+butter is a great pick me up when I'm having a slow morning. Great service with a smile and an awesome place to relax, study, meet a friend. Although it gets pretty hard to find a seat since this place is almost always buzzy.
(4)Nick L.
Quality coffee. Tasty food. Some of the worst and absolute intolerable customer service I have ever experienced. Poor communication skills, lack of effort in getting customers' attention when calling orders (or in my case not calling it at all), and the general vibe that providing their product is an inconvenience pervades at this hip coffee shop. If you're too cool for customer service, I'm too cool to give you my money. Please make an effort to not give millennials a bad reputation by improving your employees' communication skills.
(2)Pearl T.
I am by no means a coffee connoisseur, but I *am* duchess of two different Starbuckses (Starbeese?) and I drink it on the daily at home from my french press... Bragging aside, I am in love with Pavement's coffee. The different notes and intricacies really sing in their drip coffee, and their espresso is smooth without a hint of bitterness or odd sourness. The Spanish Latte was good, but I didn't find it to be extraordinarily different from a regular latte. I'm also not a huge fan of really sweet drinks, so... *shrug* However! They poured it beautifully, which impressed me, since I've heard that soy is quite difficult to work with in the foam department. The Wrangler Sandwich was delightful, and the horseradish was an awesome surprise for my taste buds. Definitely recommend. Employees are friendly, and you can't order decaf coffee, but you can order any espresso drink decaf. Interior has exposed brick wall, and plenty of tables and chairs. This place is definitely worth a try, and you'll be back, too. Wave if you see me :)
(4)Trisha T.
I work 1 block away from Pavement and despite the hundreds of other restaurants around me, I always choose Pavement for breakfast AND lunch! For breakfast, I usually get the Veggie Sunrise bagel on a multigrain everything and am never disappointed. Last week I tried the Tequila Sunrise and although it was good, jalapeno cream cheese is not really my thing. For lunch, I always grab either the Turkey BLT or the Salami sandwich. Turkey BLT is always fresh and comes on the most delicious and warm focaccia bread. However, it is the Salami sandwich that is my favorite. Fresh mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, salami and balsamic on a warm bread is really just amazing. Although the food is absolutely delicious, it is the coffee that I have had a tough time with. I ordered the famous Spanish latte and was pretty disappointed. Probably need to try this one again. Next time I got the Ethiopian hot coffee (recommended by the man working there) and was disappointed again. I do love the Blueberry Roobois iced tea though. As for the ambiance, Pavement is filled with hip college students and professionals. So it makes for a good place to go and chat with some friends and get some work done. Altogether Pavement is a pretty great coffee shop scattered throughout the city.
(4)Maggie O.
This cafe has a wonderful ambience. Ample table space and comfortable couches are tucked in the corners of the cafe. Unfortunately, I found the food to be just alright. I had the smoked salmon bagel. While the bagel was nice, there was hardly any salmon, and what there was was hidden in an insane amount of cream cheese. There where two major annoyances. 1. The wifi is only free for 1 hour and then you have to pay $5 or more dollars for the day. There are much nicer cafes offering free wifi elsewhere. Note: This coffeehouse is quite crowded from 11 am to 1 pm. 2. The price for tea listed on the big board is different for the price for tea listed on a sheet at the cash register. Here I thought my tea would be 2.65 and then it was 3.65. Not a pleasant surprise at all.
(3)Kurt W.
Super chill, great food and unique drink options. Loved it!
(5)Nicole H.
In general, a decent coffee shop. Chai lattes are too watered down for my tastes. Bagel sandwiches are yummy. I love the iced teas. The Spanish lattes are my absolute favorite. The latte art is always lovely. Overall, the place is a bit overpriced. It's aways difficult finding a place to sit, since it's in the middle of Berklee. But it's a good place to meet up with friends for a casual hangout. Good music and good employees.
(3)Julie X.
5 stars for the atmosphere (here on a Thursday afternoon, not crowded). 4 stars for the coffee/food, which was good, but nothing special. Everything feels very new and clean, very bright and well-lit -- good place to come and do some work. You only get 2 hours free wifi though. After that, you have to pay.
(4)Sergio P.
Very good ice coffee, sandwiches, love the high ceilings and the chairs/sofas. The art on the wall here is also very good (I was tempted to buy some pieces). If I lived nearby, chances, are I would be here all the time working in my laptop.
(5)Aleh V.
It has been a while since this extremely nice and hippish coffee place became what it is right now. Very little style left. Tables are dirty to the level of disguise. Internet is almost non-existent. You'd definitely be much better off by finding another place somewhere on Newbury as there is a bunch of relatively new ones.
(2)Cinthia K.
Really good coffee and well made sandwiches. The place was pretty crowded when I went in on a rainy Saturday morning (seemed like it was full of college students), so you may want to get your order to go. Friendly service, also. I'd come back here for a quick bite for breakfast.
(4)Jessica W.
Coffee is great, nice and quiet this morning but NEU is on break. Can't wait to come back and try the sandwiches.
(4)Jiyea C.
This cafe has been on my hit list for some time now, and I finally got to stop by the other day. Interior is very homey, and has a variety of seating options available. There are L-shaped tufted couches, plush armchairs, a long communal table, and small round tables for you to choose from. The walls in the back seating area have exposed brick, and outlets along the sides are relatively plentiful. There are low hanging pendant lights, as well a a chandelier in the center of the back room. Menu features standard expresso drinks and teas, and they have many sandwiches to choose from. From my observation, most of the clientele here look like Berklee students, as the campus is just across the street. Many of the patrons sit here for a while chatting or doing work on their computers. Baristas are very friendly, and even when there's a line, I did not have to wait too long for my Spanish Latte. I paid around $4 for this beverage, which is pretty standard for a specialty latte in small coffee shops. The Spanish Latte is one of the specialties of Pavement Coffee (I haven't seen it anywhere else), so I decided to try it. It's basically a regular latte with condensed milk. (Note, they use counter culture coffee beans here, and they do have pourovers, if that matters to you.) I loved the latte art, and I also loved the teal green saucer that it came in, but I was not the biggest fan of the condensed milk actually. This may be a matter of taste, so I'm not going to hold it against Pavement. Otherwise, the latte had good flavor and next time I plan to try the regular latte, or maybe the chai latte. I also had the bagel and lox for $7 on the everything bagel. Everything bagel was a little salty, though toasted nicely. The onions and tomatoes tasted fresh, but I think they could have been more generous with the smoked salmon, especially given the price tag on this bagelwich. Disclaimer: I had a bagel sandwich at one of the best bagel shops in NYC recently, so perhaps I sound more critical than I should be. I miss you, Ess-a-bagel! WiFi is only free for one hour a day, after that you have to pay. I think it was $5 per day, or you could do $15 for 30 consecutive days.
(3)Megan F.
Disclaimer that the 4th star is entirely for the atmosphere...I'm a sucker for couches! Great coffee in a great location. It can get filled up with Berklee students, but if you go while they're in class, you're golden. I love their Americano. Once I had the Spanish latte, and it tasted pretty much like a regular latte. Go figure?
(4)Kelly F.
Great location, awesome tea and coffee. Good to chill out, study/read, or catch up with friends. Haven't tried the food, but the drinks are on point.
(4)Ian S.
Hip, stylish coffee shop that caters mostly to students from the nearby music schools (NEC and Boston Conservatory). It's atmospheric and trendy, and they serve good drinks as well as some tasty sandwiches and snacks. The downside: not enough seating! It's impossible to get a table here. When you do, chances are you will be practically in the laps of the people at the next table. Ordering your beverage and food to go is probably your best option. Nevertheless, it's worth checking out if you're in the neighborhood and need a quick bite or coffee fix. (Note: the Pavement location near BU is slightly more spacious.)
(4)Racheal P.
One of my favorite coffee places in boston. They use a good roaster, counter culture, and always pour a great cup of coffee. The ambiance is also really cool.
(4)timmy b.
espresso to die for. worth the wait and lines. it's my favorite in the city.
(5)Danny W.
This is a protest review. I hate to do it, and I know they aren't always ok, but this one is: Coffee shops going the way of Gogo wifi, charging for service, is absurd. It doesn't cost *that* much to have a good connection, and oh, yeah, you're running a coffee shop. Why not just start charging to use the bathroom too? Or to use a plug for a computer? If the latter sound ridiculous, why is not not just as patently absurd to charge for internet? Rise up and fight this, friends.
(1)Jennifer G.
Great breakfast sandwiches. I ordered the bacon, egg, and cheese on a sesame bagel and was very pleased with the real scrambled eggs, quality cheese, and center cut bacon that wasn't too fatty. They have excellent service and good iced coffee, though it was a little over brewed (but I'm a coffee snob.)
(4)Milena P.
This place has changed so much since my college days. Gone are the size options for drinks; now they're all small but pricier than I remember. They've switched to an iPad POS which is a nice experience for the customer. The wifi is now limited to an hour, so they clearly don't want you to linger and/or are getting uppity about what a coffee shop should be used for (yes to reading, no to surfing the web). I'm sure the changes are OK with most of their customers since they're still in business, but the last 2 times I came it was much emptier than it used to be. I liked how lively and busy this place was, yet you could always grab a table. Limiting the wifi to encourage people to keep it short doesn't do much if your volume goes down a lot. If you're just grabbing coffee and leaving, this place does it good. But if you're looking to make an afternoon of it with pastries and lazy reading, maybe this isn't it anymore.
(3)Joanna F.
I have to give this place the 5th star. I've been back countless times and I have to say this is THE best cold brew and iced coffee in the city! Their espresso is great too.
(5)Erica S.
CHECK OUT MY FULL REVIEW + PICTURES ON MY BLOG: kands617.blogspot.com/20… VENUE // The largest of the Pavement Boston locations, the Fenway location is by far my favorite Pavement location and my favorite coffee spot in Boston. I would say I come here at least once a weekend for a nice, cold iced latte and some "me" time. Located right in the heart of Northeastern University on the other side of Mass Ave., Pavement is my little escape from the hustle and bustle of Back Bay. Unlike the smaller Newbury and Bolyston locations, the Fenway location is spacious, and I have always been able to grab a small table or seat at the window (knock on wood!). In terms of decor, I would say Pavement looks like your typical neighborhood, hipster coffee shop and even features artwork from local artists! DRINK // Not only does Pavement serve a great iced latte (basically the only coffee drink I order), they serve a variety of other homemade specialties in the summer, ranging from vanilla cream cold brew to spicy ginger ale. I haven't been as adventurous to try all of their new drinks, but am a huge fan of ginger so really like their spicy ginger ale. FOOD // The food here is so darn good, that I sometimes just come here for their sandwiches. Pavement is one of the few places in the area to serve healthy, vegan dishes, and one of the only places in Back Bay where I've seen tempeh on the menu. So far, I've tried the gatherer, the chia, and the harvest root and am a fan of all three. I would have to say that my favorite sandwich though is the chia -- such a simple, classic dish that is done right. My favorite item here though is definitely the vegan tofu cream cheese. My god. I'm not sure what's in here aside from the tofu and some shredded veggies, but it is fabulous. SERVICE // Don't have too much to say in terms of service given the counter service nature of the business, but will say that the cashiers are always super friendly!
(5)Kyle H.
I was looking at the bags of coffee for sale and asked the girl working the register where the coffee was roasted, she told me Ethiopia. I told her no, where was it roasted. She said E-thi-o-pia. She did not know that the origin and roasting location are two different things. The latte was ok though, nothing spectacular. I should have walked the extra mile to Barrington.
(2)Daniel S.
Good breakfast sandwich had the sunrise on everything. Little over toaster but would get it again. Coffee and had the yogurt with granola. Newsflash, granola has sunflower seeds and the seasonal fruit is brown apples. Not great. Threw out half. But would go back if I need to fill my hipster craving.
(3)Jackie K.
The coffee is decent but it's a rip off considering there is no refill or discount on refills. The quality Nd price of red rooster coffee roasters is considerably better
(1)Cliff H.
Packed. Hip. Sweet. Cross a Friends set with a creaky barn floor decor and some over sugared drinks and you have Pavement. Not much uniqueness here other than that it is popular homework spot for the Berklee teenies. Most seats taken most days. Service similar to what you'd expect to find at a Dunkin Donuts - in and out and on to the next one. Signature Spanish latte a diabetic's worst nightmare: lots of sugar Starbucks style! In short: good for the college crowd, mediocre for the rest.
(3)Chris S.
This place used to be the absolute best coffeehouse and bagel place in Boston. I would go out of my way to make it there on Saturday and Sunday mornings. This was despite the 15 minute wait I faced ever time I went. Fast forward. They changed the menu with minimal notice and no longer carry my old trusted favorites and I'm really disappointed. I've had a couple of the new offerings and am very underwhelmed. I don't know why they ruined a great thing. At least there's no line now...
(1)Hallie C.
Slow. So slow. But delicious and worth the wait. Their bagels are good! They have some really good egg sandwiches- I think the one I like is called the veggie sunrise. Each location has different decor but they all have a cute eclectic vibe. Great place to get work done but you only get 1hr of free wifi before you have to pay for Internet.
(4)Nikki D.
When this place first opened, it was amazing! The best bagels and the closest to NY style bagels you could find. It was the place to go for the first 2 years that it opened. All of a sudden they cut their bagel choices by 70% and then their sandwich menu also slimmed down. The word "Coffeehouse" is really the main showcase of this location. Only problem is I don't drink coffee. Until they bring a larger selection of bagels back, I won't be going back.
(2)Andrea B.
Unlike most customers who frequent Pavement Coffeehouse, I'm not a coffee drinker. I came for the sandwiches and cookies. I love me some food! I tried the Beet Down, because beets are pretty much my favorite thing in the world, so why WOULDN'T that be my selection? In addition to the plentiful shredded beets, this hefty sandwich also contained peppercorn turkey, green apple, mixed greens, and...wait for it...a thick layer of scrumptious goat cheese!! So that makes two of my favorite things in the world all in one sandwich. Score. It was supposed to come on 7-grain bread, but they were out of that so I just had it on a plain bagel. The bread of course would've been preferable, but alas, what can ya do? It was still a pretty big and really filling sandwich regardless. You know how food will often look much better than it tastes? Well, the opposite was true in the case of the toffee cookie that I got. It certainly looked like nothing special (see photo), but boy did it taste special. It was super fresh, moist, perfectly chewy, and had little swirls of toffee in it. Oh my word, it's not often that cookies knock me off my feet like that. I was already really full from my sandwich, but I just couldn't...stop...eating...that...cookie. So good! So I may never try Pavement's coffee, but I can say that for a quick but filling lunch, they are solidly good.
(4)Reese S.
Hands down the best bagels in Boston! Love their Tequila Sunrise breakfast sandwich on an everything bagel. Pavement can be a little crowded during prime breakfast hours for college kids but if you get their early enough or come during the summer you won't be waiting too long and you can usually find a seat. Tip: if you can't make it down Comm Ave to BU to get a Pavement bagel, you can go to Bagel Rising in Allston on Comm Ave since that is where the bagels come from and they usually make all the same breakfast sandwiches.
(5)Marissa W.
Absolutely fantastic! Went in with 5 others and every single person was blown away the quality of the food and the coffee. Beautiful atmosphere, very kind and helpful staff. Next time I am in town I will be excited to go back! I highly recommend the bagels & lox with jalapeño cream cheese.
(5)Nicole W.
This place is great! The vibe/design are welcoming and the food options are delicious! I wish they had free unlimited wifi, but people would probably camp out all day if they did so I don't blame them! I drink tea more often than coffee, so I can't really critique that, but I do know they use a highly regarded supplier called counter culture (same as render cafe in the south end). We're lucky to have this place in the neighborhood!
(4)R K.
Best red eye coffee I've had around Boston. Great breakfast sandwiches and best for the price! Walk over here instead of the Panera next door.
(5)Henry E.
I saw that this place was put on the top 50 best coffee shops by state. So I decided to go and see what the hype was about. Well the service was really not great. About 4 women were standing behind the counter talking about the weekend while one guy was taking orders. The guy must have just been hired because he didn't know much and the women were not helping him out. The coffee was good but I can't get past all the awful service. The milk, cream, and sugar all needed to be filled and still the women behind the counter could care less about what was going on. Sad that this place was picked to represent the state...
(1)elissa g.
14 degrees out and looking for breakfast... Yelp reviews looked good... Nope... Got the order wrong. One size coffee ( at a coffee house? Really ?) no skim milk. No plates because " the sanitizer is broken" Really? Bathroom doesn't work. Really ? Got to go three doors down and enter a code in a restroom sans toilet paper .... Stay away....
(1)Jeewon J.
Nice friendly neighborhood cafe with good quality drinks / food and friendly staffs. On the surface level it has hipster vibe but you will be surprised to find all kind of people hanging out there. And its cozy atmosphere really adds to its charm with exposed brick and industrial chic interior. Good for studying, reading, hanging out with friends, people watching, and quick bites. Bad for long hour internet surfing. (Only 1hour Wi-Fi is a slight downside that it keeps this place away from 5 stars.)
(4)Laura Cristina M.
Great place to sit and sip.
(5)Melanie W.
I love, love, love Pavement. I mean, how else can you explain me coming here for over three years? First off, the thing I love most is the loyalty card. I'm always getting free things (granted it's because I go through about 2 Iced Americano's a day...) What can I say, the price is unbeatable for the Iced Americano and the fact that I occasionally get a free one is always a treat. I also do like the "new" sandwiches, which I guess aren't all that new anymore. My fave is the Nonna's Lunch and the Gatherer (when I want something a little sweeter.) I do miss the Jackson Crook, though. The staff are all sweethearts and I couldn't imagine anyone saying anything bad about them! And, I'm not just saying that because I'll be going to Pavement after I write this review. They are all super helpful, if I do ever have a coffee-related question, the barista is always ready to explain something to me (i.e. what's a pour over? DO NOT JUDGE ME, I'm sure half off you reading this don't know either.) All in all, Pavement's great, best coffee, yummy sandwiches, everyone's nice and cute latte art.
(5)Sarah S.
Going against the grain with a boston coffee shop staple. But pavement has yet to prove themselves. The coffee has tasted burnt multiple times. I also have had multiple stale bagels served as "fresh" The environment and is cool and hip, but that doesn't make the coffee taste any better
(2)Jimmy S.
New menu is terrible!! I LOVED the old menu. Bring back nonna's lunch! Bring back the vegan sunrise!
(1)Eva D.
Pavement used to be a great place to get a decent, affordable breakfast. Their coffee and bagels were very cheap, yet tasty. I always got a latte and a sesame bagel with scallion cream cheese and it was only $4.25 total. But then they changed their menu. Now everything is way too expensive. And they got rid of the scallion cream cheese and just have pimento cream cheese (which is gross) and plain cream cheese. The service has also gotten bad. I was almost late waiting half an hour to get 1 bagel with cream cheese that wasn't even toasted and was on the wrong bagel. Until they at least bring back the scallion cream cheese I won't be stopping by there.
(1)Xiao Z.
I'm certainly not a coffee connoisseur, but I can recognize a great environment when I see one. I retreated to this little unknown coffee shop after getting my froyo fix in the neighboring shop. Armed with a big cup of mochi-filled froyo and a cup of freshly brewed warm coffee as a chaser, I was able to enjoy a wonderful date while conversing about the unique decors and decorations on the coffee tables. My girlfriend tried the local cider and really liked it, although it could certainly do with less sugar. Cool place to hang out and has really cool sounding sandwich names. I might actually try them out one day. Maybe in my next review. Drinks: 3 stars Service: 3 stars Ambiance: 4 stars
(4)Cassy H.
Pluses: pour over coffee available (not sure if it's good since I didn't try it, but it's nice that they offer it!); spacious seating -- big, long table, more intimate booths, random mis-match armchairs = adorably cute, chic decor; extremely trendy & hipster-y, I think it's one of those main hangout spots for Berklee College of Music or something, b/c I saw tons of people with instrument case; funky, cool art for sale which were displayed on their walls Minuses: I guess it can be crowded, because it's so popular.. and apparently, there's a limit on wifi time. Definitely would come here to read a book, people watch, or hangout with a friend; probably not conducive to camping out for hardcore study time.
(4)Kaley S.
So incredibly disappointed. I walked into the shop today ready to sink my teeth into a Tequila Sunrise bagel, and lo and behold it no longer exists. I was there 2 days prior and all was well with the world. I ordered my sunrise and a latte, and it was superb. Today I walked in and the entire menu was changed. Though the staff tried to accommodate the inconvenience by offering a makeshift version of the sandwich, it was unsatisfactory and I threw half of it away. I don't foresee myself returning unless some old (but amazing) items return. Stick to what's been working, Pavement.
(1)Amy Y.
I've been going around boston looking for cafes to study. Pavement was one of the bookmarked cafes on my list. I usually order hot chocolates whereever I go, so here I am again ordering a yummy hot chocolate on a winter afternoon. :) The hot chocolate was pretty rich, not too sweet. But I felt like it wasnt hot enough. Maybe it was just too cold outside. Its usually really packed at this place in the weekends. Its good for some simple reading and slow studying. If you are looking for a place to hardcore study, I wouldnt recommend it. The music is slightly too loud and alot of people are there to chitchat their afternoon away. But other than that, nice place to just chillax for the day. :)
(4)Dan O.
Only stopped in for a quick cup of coffee. Great ambience, friendly service, a really decent cup of coffee and reasonably priced.
(3)L J.
Damn good ambiance combined with fine coffee and delicious dishes.
(4)Leanne C.
I wish I lived closer to here. I would be a frequent visitor. This coffee shop was part of the Disloyalty Card program Equal Exchange started which means that this place Discovering they did pour-over coffee made me oh so happy. I was just talking about how jealous I was about the Yelp Charlotte event at Not Just Coffee had done some pour-over samplings! Me and the bf split a veggie bagel sandwich with hummus on a ridiculously green plain bagel (oh silly St. Patty's gimmicks... and how I fall for them). Super good and super cheap ($6 I think?). I can't wait to come back to try their other espresso drinks!
(4)David C.
I don't know what it is with me and salads lately, but Pavement is happy to turn any of their delicious sandwiches into one for no additional charge. Mine was comprised of mixed greens, roast turkey, bacon, swiss cheese, avocado puree, and a light but flavorful lemon dressing. How I've overlooked this place up until this point is beyond me--it's right next to where I work! In any case, I know where I'll be next time I'm in the mood for a salad and I can't afford to go crazy at Wholefoods. (Bonus points for the incredibly cute cashier in the baseball cap.)
(4)Meg G.
Love pavement. Iced coffee and iced americano are both great. Bagels, bagel sandwiches, salads, croissants, and sandwiches are all killer. The people complaining about this place are totally spoiled by its greatness. This location is definitely the best.
(5)Rachel R.
Reasons to like Pavement: + addictive chocolate bar selection - fig, almond & anise dark chocolate, please. + unbelievably heavenly lemonade (it might actually be angel pee.) + versatility: convenient study spot or casual date place? You decide. + friendly, unassuming staff... because no one wants a side of hipster-ego. Even if it's free. + definitely the coolest place within [a lazy person's] walking distance of NU. Reasons to like Pavement less: - the coffee's decent, but it's not as if the Americanos are what draw me inside. - you better be down to hover if you want a seat. - there's no almond milk in sight, and you can't spell "unsatisfactory" without "soy." - the awesome-sounding sandwiches are actually one step below mediocre. - the eggs are undeserving of the title "eggs." [Update: How awesome does cranberries, goat cheese, honey and walnuts on focaccia sound? Pretty damn awe-inspiring. Too bad they made my fantasandwich as sucky as humanly possible... the honey didn't taste like anything, the cranberries were Craisin-esque, the goat cheese was bland, and the bread was stale and flavorless. Now, the eggs... what is going on with these so-called "eggs," Pavement? The breakfast sandwich filling tastes like a cross between the powdered egg product I had at summer camp and microwaved eggs. Not delighted. My hopes were high, too. I'm forced to dock a star from my original review for the complete and total sandwich let down of 2013.] Overall? The odds are in favor of dessert at Pavement. Next time, I'm skipping an attempt at a "normal" meal and just going straight for the good stuff.
(3)Fancypants X.
I've been a yelper for so long, I rate everything in my life based on yelp's 1 through 5 star system: - date night where I get to pick the movie: 5 stars - dress that fits right, but is overpriced: 4 stars - friend who's unreliable, but lets me use her beach house: 3 stars - boy with the greenest eyes, but has horrible shoes: 2 stars - costco shopping trip where I spend $250, forget where I parked, & forget my shopping bags: 1 star So, lets apply this to our trip to Pavement: - iced Spanish latte, made with condensed milk: 5 stars - cozy set-up & decorating details: 5 stars - hipster male barista who turned out to be unexpectedly nice: 4 stars - his rock-a-billy female co-worker who mocked me for saying, "thanks a lot": 1 star. I didn't know being polite was a crime. I guess being a bitter, trying-too-hard-to-be-cool d-bag is the trend. Fuck that. - Chinese girl who threw her stuff on TWO tables in the crowded cafe to see which table her bf wanted while the 3 of us waited for them to decide: 1 star Bottom line: coffee rocks. People (in general) suck.
(4)Dr. Tyler C.
This is a great little coffee house. The music is at a reasonable level and it's very hipster with a diverse crowd of students, young professionals and older folks looking for a quant cup of coffee. The flow of people in and out of the coffee shop makes you feel at ease and not rushed. Staff are super friendly. Menu could be expanded a little but more but two great items from this store are: Spanish latte Oatmeal (not advertised but they have it) and if you get it, ask for steamed milk as opposed to water. Great place to start your morning!
(5)Nancy C.
To describe Pavement in one word: hipster. That being said, their coffee is very good. My sister had a bagel with Nutella, which she really liked. My dad had one of the breakfast sandwiches, which he thought was just ok. If you don't mind the lines, I would definitely go here instead of Starbucks, which is way more generic (and "mainstream," I guess). Just because there's better coffee here.
(3)Matt Z.
best espresso based coffee in town.
(4)Courtney G.
Really cute, service is super patient, friendly, and helpful. Open on the Fourth of July! Nice place for a quick healthy breakfast. They have yogurt and granola homemade (I think it's homemade) and good lox.
(4)Keith B.
This place is like the annoyingly cute hipster girl I don't want to like but still have a crush on. I'd say the service is inconsistent at best (and that's being polite,) the line moves slowly and if you order food get ready to wait. With that said, the coffee is great (probably the best cappuccino I've ever had) and the food is good too, so I keep coming back. Much better feel than starbucks and always great people watching. Good spot for a weekend morning if you don't have anywhere to be.
(3)L H.
Every drink I've ever ordered has been mildly warm and not very good. I like the bagels but sometimes it can take a very long time to get your order. And I wish so much they would make pumpernickel bagels.. I always have to ask for extra cream cheese because sometimes they barely give you any. I like the overall ambiance of the place but it is usually overcrowded with berklee students and typically very hard to find a place to sit.
(3)Lindsey G.
Conveniently located to the Prudential and Hynes, I made a stop in here before a conference and had a delicious Spanish latte (my new favorite thing in the world) and a yummy bagel breakfast sandwich that was basically the best bagel sandwich I've ever had and kept me going well into lunch time. The staff were super friendly, too.
(5)kevin h.
If you stop by you will love the energy and the Spanish Latte. Only drawback is you cannot pay cash.
(4)Charlotte R.
Cool atmosphere for studying or catching up with a friend and great bagels. Beware: there is only one hour of free wifi! Other than that, no complaints.
(3)Maria V.
My boyfriend and I came to this place to have Espresso and Cafe Mocca. It was good yo a certain extent. The Espresso was a bit too tangy / sour to taste, but the cafe mocca was excellent! The chocolate doesn't overwhelm the taste of the original coffee..and overall it was a good experience! They should really expand the size of the place so that people can enjoy their time sitting at the café.
(4)Annie B.
I really like Pavement. I like all the locations and the fact that they're all unique and full of character even though it's a chain. It doesn't feel like one. The thing that's really annoying and the reason I give it a 4 instead of a 5 is they CLOSE TOO EARLY! Without fail, almost every time I go to any of them, they've either just closed so I miss them, or they'll be closing in about an hour -around 8pm, so I feel rushed. :( It would be SO great if they stayed opened later. Alas, still like the big comfy chairs and random layouts. The staff are usually friendly and helpful and patient, which is key for me because sometimes I can't decide and really want information on teas, etc. to get what I'm looking for! In short, GO. But GO EARLY.
(4)David Y.
When I moved to Fenway from Allston I was excited to learn that Pavement (same owner as Bagel Rising, which is awesome) existed just down the street. So although this review is biased based upon years of positive Bagel Rising experiences, I must say I've been disappointed thus far. Although friendly, the service is just not good. Primarily it's just not efficient. These guys don't have it down yet like the hipsters at Bagel Rising who churn out hundreds of college students by the hour. I think the final straw for me was on my last visit when I watched my breakfast sandwich sit there (for what seemed like forever) while the two employees just mindlessly chattered away, not paying attention and taking care of other orders. Also, the line is never huge but just always move SLOW. Do not go here if you're in any rush to get anywhere. The bagels/breakfast sandwiches are decent, but they don't have a huge selection. Coffee is good, as it should be with the name Pavement Coffeehouse.
(3)Andrew R.
I really wanted to love this place -- it's accessible, nice friendly ambiance, comfortable seating, good coffee. BUT, it's free wifi is limited to an hour. And I'm not really the target audience -- it seemed mostly filled with Berklee students. I guess it's A-OK for coffee with a friend or for an hour's work, but not for more than that. Not sure whether I'll go back.
(3)Jen K.
A wonderful soothing way to wake up before my conference. Quiet music, friendly service, funky decor, local artist's work displayed, lovely fontwork on the signage, tasty scone with just the right balance between crumbly and moist. My latte took a minute because it was made with an artist's care. Great morning snack.
(4)Cat L.
Creamy Lattes, nice atmosphere, questionable wall photo/art, and service is kinda slow sometimes. (From NYC) Getting an order in takes 5-10minutes... Latte was very good, had more milk than coffee flavor in it.
(4)K K.
This place is good and, in all truths, the average price for a coffee place ($10 for a drink and a sandwich). I got the Chia Sandwich with veggie cream cheese, avocado, sprouts, lettuce, etc. on a multigrain bagel and green tea with mint, iced. I would give it a thumbs up-- it was delicious. Only downside is it's one of those sandwiches that are so tall that it's a struggle to eat them. My friend got the Spanish Latte (which many of you yelpers recommended) and the Harvest Root sandwich. She loved the sandwich but said the latte was like any other latte, and not worth the extra 50 cents or so. Would go again. The ambiance is great, the service is fast (at least it was for me!) and the staff is friendly.
(4)Lisa B.
Pavement Coffeehouse - Yummy food and reasonable service. I'm not sure if there's any connection with Espresso Royale, but the vibe and menu are very similar. I especially love the whole wheat everything bagel with tofu cream cheese. If you're more of the dairy/meat persuasion, there are lots of options for you too! Service isn't overly friendly, but it's not awful by any means. I'm guessing the employees are largely college students looking for a laid-back atmosphere, so my expectations are pretty moderate. Definitely check it out if you're in the area :)
(4)J K.
Coffee was very good. We ordered a spanish latte and a cold brew. I wouldn't say they are the best, but it was more than just okay. However, I couldn't stand the attitude of the lady who received the order. We actually went there for pour-over after yelp searches, and they had it on the menu. So I ordered one, but the lady said they don't do pour over. It was not like "I am sorry, but the beans are out." If they didn't put it on the blackboard, I would probably think I got wrong information. I don't still know the exact reason why they didn't serve it because I don't believe beans are out. Probably there was no one who were trained to do it.
(3)Christina C.
I loved stopping by Pavement in the mornings for my coffee fix + sunrise bagel. I became a Pavement regular after they opened next door to the bookstore I worked at. Their drinks/food are reliably great, and the prices aren't bad at all. The baristas like to chit chat and take their time in the mornings, so there is some times a line that goes (almost) out the doors. But Pavement's hipster-chic decor, ample seating, and lots of outlets for the hardworking student makes up for a tardy every so often.
(4)Craig Z.
Good, but not great. I had the house espresso in a cappuccino. Espresso didn't have great flavor and the drink was not very well made. Thought the shot was over-pulled, and the ratio of milk was off. Nice people, and I like the place, but in my weekend in Boston visiting 3 independent coffee shops, this one came in last.
(3)Eric P.
Pretttty sweet place. Went in here opening day, so I'm assuming everyone was probably top of their game attitude-wise. Got some food and coffee. The food was very fresh and delicious, I hope they keep up the standards for it as they move on through the years in Boston. Convinced my friend that there was more seating downstairs, we both went down the large flight of stairs only to be greeted by a scary hall out of a horror film. Nope, no downstairs seating. I played it off as if I already knew there was no downstairs and that I had tricked them, but in reality I just wanted to know. We came back up the stairs to a frowning employee. *Noo I know what you're thinking buddy we didn't bang in your basement opening day, goshh * Though if I had, I would of definitely yelped it so people would know I was the first. Anyway great food and drink options, and great service! Was quick for opening day too! Keep it up! (I've included pics)
(4)Meg M.
Any coffee shop that plays Adele, has tofu cream cheese and is located right off of Mass Ave and Boylston is bound to have a place in my heart As a loyal Espresso Royale customer during my Northeastern days, I was cautious of this coffee shop that is a sister business. But, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and this place proves it. Pros: - Fair Trade coffee! - The Chia bagel sando- bliss in a bagel for the veggie lovers out there - The designs the barista makes on my soy latte - They have tofu spread for the vegans out there! - For fresh, local food and coffee, I have to put the prices as a pro instead of a con Cons: - Lack of seating... because of its location next to Berklee, this place gets pretty crowded! - Only one bathroom so there was a line for most of my time there Pavement is an amazing coffeehouse... it is one of those places that entices me to come back to Boston
(5)Keith T.
Came back to Boston after a year and a half. Pavement still makes the same great coffee. Still similar lines. One thing I left out before it's that it's a good spot to get a bagel. They've got a good selection and a number of pastries too; it's not one of those coffee-only places.
(4)Te R.
i was on a fake gay date when i first came here. (we are just friends...) we are having our hot chocolate after a thai dinner next door. and we saw two guys on a (possibly real) french gay date on the corner. and one of the guys glimpsed at us every once in a while. at some point, the guy and i both cracked as we were checking each other out. we said sorry and went back to our respective dates. before we left, the guy said 'au revoir' to me. and i deftly replied back 'bonne soiree. au revoir' and returned the air bisous. why am i saying all this? enough of this stuff... oh right pavement is a very adorable coffee shop. i'm sure this coffee shop is new-ish... this place used to be something else... but anyways, it's much larger than it looks from the outside. there's a plenty of seating although like any coffee shops on the weekend, it gets quite crowded. i haven't tried their coffee yet but coffee doesn't seem to be the main factor for going to a coffee shop anyway. wifi is free for one hour. after that, you can buy wifi for $5 an hour, which i think is not too bad.
(5)Robin Y.
A great place for lunch or coffee. A ton of selections- really unique and delicious sandwiches with quality ingredients. I highly recommend getting a sandwich on a multigrain everything bagel and the Spanish latte. I don't know how people study here, though- it's too loud and crowded for my tastes. Much better for meeting up with friends. Can be a little slow if you're in a hurry, so I don't recommend it if you only have like, 5 minutes to grab coffee.
(4)Angy N.
Best coffee and great food!! We went here just about every morning we were in town for some coffee. We tried their sandwiches for lunch and we also tried some breakfast sandwiches. They have a great vegetarian selection!! My husband was very happy with the meat options he had. My favorite was the eggplant sandwich. The latte was perfection but the chai latte left much to be desired. Next time we are in Boston we'll definitely return to Pavement!!
(5)Kenneth R.
J. P. steered me here, telling me it would be full of Berkeley students. Huh: how could this be possible? I found out when I got here: it's next to Berklee and indeed, there were plenty of young people around the tables in groups. I liked this cafe's atmosphere, and I liked both the pour-over from Colombia that I ordered and the pumpkin muffin that a friend ordered and asked to be cut in two. I'll definitely be back when I'm next in the area.
(4)Joanna H.
Very friendly and helpful staff. I wanted to try the Yerba Mate Latte without knowing what Yerba Mate was and my cashier patiently answered my questions. She even offered to make me another drink for free if I didn't like it. Very reassuring offer. Nice place to study, though there's an hour max to their WiFi. But if you're a Berklee student, you can just sign onto Berklee's network. Overall, a chill place to chitchat or to come do work!
(5)Samantha S.
Rating clarification: 5 stars if you can get a seat; 4 stars if you can't. Really excellent bagels, nicely proportioned sandwiches, yummy sweets, reasonable prices. I like the quasi-bohemian atmosphere, and the music is quirky but only occasionally obnoxious. (Considering that this neighborhood sits smack-dab in the middle of 3 music schools [Berklee, NE Conservatory, Boston Conservatory], you know it's going to be eclectic, to say the least.) And the barista even made a pretty design in my daughter's hot chocolate. The staff at the registers can be a little impatient, but apart from that, this cafe is pretty darn perfect.
(5)Florian L.
Coffe was decent. A lot of staff kind of just standing around even as customers waited.
(3)Mel D.
I've been to this Pavement location a handful of times and I think they are great. I've never been disappointed by the food or beverages I've ordered. It is rather small and can get crowed really quickly, but don't let that stop you!
(4)Emily L.
Pavement is a place for meet ups and chill outs. I've tried coffee drinks, teas, and food here, and they all hit the spot. This location is filled with Berklee students, so don't be surprised if you find a double bass or bassoon parked next to you. I'd recommend coming here during "off peak" hours to get a seat -- and because it can get crowded, bring your earbuds if you want to do some serious work.
(4)Sahil M.
This place, like a lot of Boston places, is a little bit overpriced. However they do serve pretty good sandwiches on bagels. The biggest problem though is the ridiculous amount of time it makes to make one. You can expect to wait over 25 to 30 minutes to make a bagel sandwich as only one person will often be working that line. But they are really good
(4)Zoe M.
I was hesitant when I first walked into Pavement for lunch one day. It looked like another hip, young cafe with overpriced panini and burnt coffee. I somewhat grudgingly forked out $7.25 for a "Pastoral." I had some trouble picking what to order. Everything looked really good. My choice had roasted, herbed sweet potato, green apple, goat cheese, caramelized onion, arugula and was served rustic bread. The description sounded great, but would the end result be? The wait for food was decent considering it was lunch hour. When I finally got my food it was gushing with sliced apple. This was a good sign. Usually when your order complex sandwiches, you get a smattering of everything that ultimately adds up to a pretty empty sandwich. The guy behind the counter knew what he was doing. I had to break open and reposition all the ingredients just to take a bite. How often does that happen? Usually you have to rearrange because everything has lumped to one side and you want to get everything in one bite. The Pastoral was incredible. I was a little weirded out by the sweet potato at first, but wow it's a good addition. Combined with the goat cheese it makes the sandwich a little on the sweet side, but not overpoweringly so. The onions and arugula counter that. Add apple for some freshness and you've got a really great sandwich. The bread was fresh and held up well given the size of the panini. I'll definitely be returning to Pavement for the Beet Down or the Gatherer panini.
(4)Ali U.
A great study spot. Cool atmosphere, good coffee. Place is pretty overcrowded though, and the wifi's slow and only free for 2 hours.
(3)Eric F.
Still a solid coffee shop, but you'll be able to find all the Counter Culture roasts at Render Coffee which happens to do much better pour overs and espresso drinks.
(3)Jennifer S.
I live in the area and have come to Pavement several times. For a coffeehouse, they can't get a basic ice coffee right. Each time, it is bitter and watery. However, I did get an iced mocha once and that was lovely. Their bagels are a hit or a miss. I'll usually come in the morning before work; sometimes the bagels are fresh, other times they are definatley a day or so old. I have had the Ike sandwich a couple times, and that is done well. I really wish this place was a little better bc I live so close.
(2)Lynn B.
On a slow day, this place is just dandy. But get more than five people in line, and more than a few orders waiting, and, well, just go somewhere else. The last time I went there, somehow my boyfriend's order for a simple bagel and cream cheese didn't get in the cue and we waited 20 minutes on a very busy day before he had to ask where his food was. I know, this happens everywhere every once in a while, but even without losing the order ticket, the wait was too long and the staff too slow. The people behind the counter were chatting it up about their saturday night or whatever, slooooooooowly spreading cream cheese, slooooooowly cutting a bagel. Slooooooowly wrapping it up. Here's a tip for the management - train your staff to move orders not chat when the line is out the door. Consider a new work flow - a station JUST for people who want toasted bagels and a separate sandwich-making station. I dont need to wait for 34 egg sandwiches to be done before my bagel gets slabbed w/ cream cheese and put on the counter.
(3)Vivienne P.
Delicious coffee, tasty bagels, good staff. An easy formula for success. Pavement is a go-to in my Boston repertoire that I really miss. The bagels are really good and come in a huge variety of flavors. Their sandwiches are great, but what really wins for me is that they have tofu cream cheese. It's GOOD, too--I don't know if they make it in-house or not, but it doesn't taste like Tofutti to me. I like to get a bagel (usually spinach or something like that) with the veggie tofu spread and add on a few extra veggies. That makes for a satisfying breakfast that will last me for a while, and come in at a VERY reasonable price. Throw in a soy latte or a coffee and I'm a happy girl. Interestingly enough, it's nearly impossible to find places with tofu cream cheese in San Francisco. That makes me miss Pavement even more. Sometimes I get irritated with the overwhelming hipsterdom of the place, but mostly it's no biggie, and although the staff could be on Look At This Fucking Hipster, they're friendly and cheerful and not at all condescending, so hooray for them! I miss this place for its quality and consistency. I never regretted getting anything here, either to go or to sit in and do some work.
(4)Ellie W.
Wee, chai tea lattes and hipsters! My friend and I stopped in for coffee here, and I didn't want to leave! Good coffee and good vibes. It's everything Starbucks is not--homey, chill, well-decorated, and filled with people who actually converse over coffee instead of the antisocial people practically making out with their laptops in every street corner Starbucks. You get the feeling the baristas here actually LIKE coffee and care to serve you a good cuppa joe. Starbucks: angry emo girl who might want to slash her wrists after serving you your caramel macchiato, and indifferent guy who can't spell your name right to save his life. Last I checked, I'm not a man named Al. If their other coffee is as good as their chai tea latte, I might just have to start living here. They've got some comfy couches and a bathroom. All I need. Don't judge me and my simpleton ways.
(4)Andrew F.
Went in here for the first time today to just grab a cup of coffee and do some studying. Great atmosphere. Not a lot of tables to sit down and people tend to stay there for a long time but that's typical of most coffee shops especially when their coffee is as good as theirs. I actually just got their regular drip coffee and it was some of the best standard coffee around.
(4)Erica Z.
A cooler coffeehouse you will not find. The decor alone garners at least 4 stars. I mean my coffee tastes better when I'm sitting on a silver couch, obviously. There's usually a line, but it moves pretty quickly. Sometimes hard to find a seat (which i've already pointed out is the best part about this place). I don't know if staff has changed lately or something because I haven't been in a little while, but I've never had issues with service like other reviewers are mentioning. Very friendly actually. Oh, yeah, and the coffee's pretty good too. I always get the spanish latte because I just love those damn things. Tastes pretty much exactly the same as the ones from Espresso Royale. Cold brew delicious in the summer also.
(5)Liliana C.
Mmmm - the Spanish latte. I love it too much and it lures me out of my office back to this coffee shop every week. Pavement is typically overrun with hipsters from Berklee. Definitely crowded but a beautiful space. I appreciate the variety of seating options. Internet is only free for an hour but you piggyback off of Boston Burger Co next door.
(4)Zach W.
Good coffee and bad coffee all taste the same to me.....or maybe I've just never had bad coffee, because I'm told that Pavement has pretty good coffee. Honestly, I just don't drink coffee enough to know the difference. But, you don't have to like coffee to be a fan of Pavement. Pavement has good food, nice teas, and solid service. Seating is somewhat limited inside and usually overrun with a bunch of Berklee kids who think they're way cooler than they are. But, still, there's a certain charm to the spot and everyone's pretty friendly. You can sit outside and people watch if you prefer too. I highly recommend their sandwiches, which are all pretty reasonably priced and pretty tasty. They have a solid selection of vegetarian sandwiches too for dirty hippies (a side of myself I occasionally indulge in). According to my coffee addicted friends the brown dirt looking drink is tasty and the according to me the food is tasty too.
(4)Juliana C.
Four hours ago I was eating leftover chinese in bed. Funemployment? For now, definitely. But day three of rocking pj's past noon has given me a slight touch of cabin fever -- time to get presentable and send my resumes out from somewhere a little less comforter-ble (ohhhh, I went there). So I Yelped "coffeshop." I love you guys. Pavement is fab -- rustic brick, Macs a-plenty, wifi, Tegan & Sara on the speakers, wall-hugging photographs straight from a Hold Steady CD booklet... aaaand super thin Tasty's cookies + a cappuccino that gives every other cap a bad rap (hey D -- if you ever need help writing those weeklies, I'm free [wink]). I think I may make coffeeshop surfing a habit 'til I'm back in the office drone saddle. Stay tuned. PS: Berklee student to my left just used the word "gravitas" in casual conversation. Ensuing snort successfully passed off as a cough.
(4)Austin M.
This place has more potential than a 5 year old Michael Phelps, however it smells like a bathroom inside the three times I've been, it's either that or the cheap cleaning products they use. I want to like this place but why do you smell so much?!!?
(3)Jeff J.
Great atmosphere but like most coffee shops, minimal outlets. And no pumpkin flavored drinks... womp womp
(4)Evan Michael H.
Food and drink are fine. This rating is solely for the staff. They HAVE to be stoned. There is no other explanation. They slowly examine each ingredient that go into the sandwich that they make. Really living and experiencing every moment of putting together my food. It is like they move in slow motion. If they aren't all smoking weed before work I have no idea what their deal is. The atmosphere is great and I bet they have good intentions, yet this whole blazed hipster thing that they have going on might be okay for other people, but its not my thing.
(2)Joe B.
I try not to buy their bagels with cream cheese. It adds up over the course of a month, but the whole wheat everything is great. The coffee is always good too. Here's the closer though- I went in to get my usual whole wheat everything with sundried tomato cream cheese. Menu change. No more sundried tomato cream cheese. Crestfallen and after way too much deliberation, I go with the scallion cream cheese. The manager must have seen my face, which looked like someone told me my house just burned down, because he comped the bagel. On the house. That's real customer service. They keep my business even though this scallion cream cheese doesn't come close to what I was used to. It's great to get that sort of customer service in the city.
(5)Joe M.
Good coffee and friendly staff, but extremely poor operation system. Long wait for any food order, and today experienced my ninth or tenth lost order this year. Add to that the fact that WiFi is free for an hour or $5 for the whole day with no middle option and this place just doesn't cut it. An overpriced shop with poor execution and long lines, only the lack of another independent option kept me coming back. I try to patronize locally owned businesses but today I reached my limit - I'll be at Starbucks from now on. On the bright side for Pavement this place is a utopia compared to their sister shop Espresso Royale, and they are so crowded every day that they won't miss my business.
(2)Kelly A.
Pavement is my new favorite coffee spot in the city. Reasons why: They have Bagel Rising bagels. On my first visit, they had Stumptown Coffee. They have vegan pastries, and they're good. The decor is awesomely minimalist. The baristas are friendly and knowledgeable. Their hot chocolate is bomb. And finally, the pour-over coffee. They don't always have it, but if they do, you're in for a treat. The mister is kind of a coffee geek, and he can't stop thinking and talking about this stuff. Check it.
(5)Jeff M.
Large selection of espresso drinks. Coffee is pretty good. Tasty baked goods. Cool decor.
(4)Alex O.
Wow. I am very impressed with this one. I've been to many coffee shops in Boston since moving here, but this one's been the kindest to me yet: a barista who knew his beers so well that he recommended no fewer than six great bars around town; a chai latte so frothy and tasty you'll want a second one; and patrons ranging from creative ad copiers to Berklee musicians and hackers cranking out code on their iMacs. Can't recommend the place enough!
(5)Anne K.
Coffee is awesome (get a latte). Bagels and cream cheese are really good too. The cream cheese is fluffy. I like to hang out in the comfortable chairs and read or watch the hipsters...there are hipsters EVERYWHERE!
(4)Frank W.
Bottom line: Good coffee, eh to poor service, eh design.. It's more of a take it to go kinda place, rather than a sit and chat kinda cafe. A relative of Espresso Royale, Pavement tries really hard to be delicious. It succeeds in most respects. The coffee has a pleasant taste so you can tell it's quality, however it tends to be a little light. Therefore I highly suggest the espresso drinks, and ditto to all the spanish latte suggestions if you like a sweeter drink. Otherwise, a normal latte is wonderful from here. Their bagel stuff is good, but it's really just the bagel that's quality, not the insides (if you're considering a breakfast sandwich). Especially during the winter the constant door open/close makes this place drafty and the seating is spotty to poor. I usually just get everything to go because it's not worth the frustration to sit here. The staff needs a bit of an attitude adjustment. I get it. You work in a coffee shop. You're supposed to be hipster/expressive/"yah dood" kinda attitude, but I can juuuuust about stand it. Come down to earth a little bit or at least be slightly less airy when you're on the customer side. Thanks Also, they don't take American Express. Which always is a thorn in my side because half the time, that's the only card I have. Grumble. When i'm in the area I come here because I support local. But I prefer other cafes over this place.
(3)Izzy S.
Hipster-ville, but with great sandwiches, the multigrain bread is the BEST ever!!!
(4)Cat E.
Love their coffee!! kinda stinks that you have to pay for your own wifi after an hour.
(4)Jenelle J.
I can only comment on the sandwich as that's what we ordered. We had a sandwich with beef but it was very very light on meat itself. So a little hard to justify getting one here. Ambiance was a fun college-y vibe. I'm sure the coffee is worth a trip back though!
(3)Jill G.
Delicious specialty coffee drinks.. But even better bagel sandwiches. Fresh arugula, veggies, and cream cheese spreads. Delicious, filling, and reasonably priced. Very cute atmosphere with a lot of seating. It is usually pretty crowded- they have wifi and students tend to park themselves there to study. A great spot!
(4)Amy W.
In Boston to cheer a friend on for the Boston Marathon and, boy, what a treat! Pavement's grand opening! A friend of ours raved about the coffee. When I walked in, I loved the vibe. The front red brick and back white brick walls. The place is super spacious. Plenty of room to chill, study or just defrost from the chill. Before ordering, I noticed they had some warm food. I saw a couple people eating their sandwiches which didn't look half bad! I got the chai latte, to be honest it's not the best I had. But ordering, I could tell they were very knowledgeable about their teas. The reason why I gave them 4 stars is my friend said their lattes were very delicious. Another friend of mine got the roobios which was great! They also have this tea called Mate Latte, which I will be trying tomorrow! Additionally, from 5- 8 they have free drinks from their slow bar (think Cappuccino, Macchiatos, etc.)! Which is awesome for those that are not affected by caffeine. The only downfall is I noticed that they're a bit slow.. but since it was so good, maybe they're just adding an extra bit of tender lovin' care! Check this place out Bostonians! It will not disappoint!
(4)Alex E.
Their sandwiches are awesome, the coffee is usually good here (at a different location they were using these really really bitter beans for a while that were just not enjoyable for me). I love the atmosphere here. The thing that I get annoyed with at these places is when they take the whole artsy fartsy hipster barista vibe a little too far and take forever to make your cappuccino because they need to have the perfect foam art on top. I know a lot if people like this, but really, I'm adding sugar anyway so the first thing I'm gonna do is ruin that nice art thing by stirring. I'm only mentioning this here because there is one barista at this location who i think this is particularly bad with. Never once seen her smile and she is so slow and inefficient.
(3)P C.
I'll just preface this to letting you know I basically live in Coffee shops and bakeries. I find it really hard to do work where I live so I pretty much live this nomadic work life throughout the Boston area looking for places that I can get things done in while drinking fab coffee and eating deliciously overpriced sandwiches. I THINK, dear friends, that I have found my new coffeehouse!!
(5)Alex S.
A nutty flavor to the coffee, but a little diluted. I usually like my coffee a bit stronger, but they only have one variety here. This is more of a tea place with a coffee option for someone who must have it. I ordered the Sencha Tea in favor of something bitter. Very nice. Tea bags seem to be made by hand. Probably much stronger in the 12 oz cup. I also ordered a Sunrise sandwich on an everything bagel with no cheese (my typical breakfast sandwich.) Very flavorful, a little lacking in the meat, but whatever. This place has a thing for being minimalist (I mean, look at their website.) I enjoyed the ambiance, although the coziness of everything made it seem a bit loud at times. A pleasant selection of artwork to foster a conversation with my lady friend. Needless to say, I left the place very caffeinated and happy. Kudos.
(4)Patrick H.
It is what it is. Look, it's a good place run by the same people who run Expresso Royale. It's almost always all Berklee students (not a bad thing, just a fact). Seating always seems had to find here... I suppose that has something to do with the prime location. Really great bagels, great Spanish latte. The coffee is alright, the pastries are alright. The one-hour wifi limit is a real pain in the ass, which is why I only come here if I don't have much time to kill. And the temperature gets kind of stuffy. It's not a place you're going to run out and tell your friends you've got to go there... but if you're in the area, why not? I'll finish with a quote from myself earlier in this very review: "[Pavement] is what it is."
(3)Kaitlin K.
Probably a better social coffee house than a place to study. I've only been disappointed in a bagel once, though usually the bagels are all goodness with perfect proportions that satisfy the need for breakfast or lunch. I'm not a big fancy drink consumer, more into just black coffee. But their most basic drip coffee is delicious on its own which is telling, no need to cover up the flavor, right amount of complexity, and most importantly keeps the caffeine withdrawal away. pros: coffee, food, decor cons: no free wifi, sometimes a bit of a wait, can get loud
(4)Sara S.
Any independent coffee shop is a welcome addition in my book! I'm thrilled such a fun cafe has opened in a convenient location within extreme proximity to two of my other favorite local businesses, b.good and Boloco! Pavement has a wide variety of coffee, tea, and espresso options and features different brewed coffee from other coffee shops nationwide. I choose a simple iced coffee, which was brewed stronger than Dunkin Donuts and less burnt than Starbucks. Their variety of milks and sugars (including simple syrup) at the end of the bar are great, we well! For eating, there's a medium sided menu with bagels (and bagel sandwiches) sandwiches, and paninis. I opted for the vegetarian bagel sandwich with their "lite cream cheese", which is not technically cream cheese, but tofu. I wouldn't have known a difference if I wasn't told. The interior is vintagey and almost has a romantic feel, with mismatched furniture and large communal tables and booths. There's also window seating and patio seating for people watching! -1 star for really, really slow service, which I hope improves over time. Will update!
(4)Elizabeth D.
Coffee, tea, and yummy sandwiches are a draw. Plenty of seating, outlets, and free wifi bring this place over the top. I tried the Crimson Berry Iced Tea on recommendation from the staff, and I think I'm addicted. I just love that they have a variety of iced teas. The turkey avocado club is spectacular. I enjoyed it on some nutty wheat bread. This place is awesome; I'm definitely a fan. Beware of their hours though. Apparently, they have summer hours when Berklee is out of session, so Yelp's posted hours may not be correct.
(4)Leslie A.
I had the basic breakfast sandwich and it was amazing. There is lovely outdoor seating right near Newbury St. beautiful interior, great seating options and array of yummy sounding sandwich options. The breakfast sandwich took a while to prepare but it is because they make it from scratch on the spot which is (probably) what made it taste so good. I would absolutely come back in the future. The only reason I am not doing five stars is due to the fact that the staff was not welcoming when I arrived or picked up my order. A simple hello, how are you today, or enjoy your meal would have been nice. Oh well.. next time!
(4)Ashley D.
pavement is one of three coffee shops owned by the same people: espresso royale, bagel rising in allston, and pavement off boylston. each place has it's own feel but they all have the same menu with great coffee and bagels. the chia bagel is my favorite and i highly recommend it. it comes with sprouts, tomato, avocado spread, and honey dijon mustard and i tend to always go with the whole wheat everything bagel, havarti or swiss cheese, and tofu spread. the sunrise is also great for breakfast (or if you're just in a breakfast type of mood). it comes with one semi-scrambled egg and your choice of bagel, meat, and cheese. the coffee is also really good. and if i feel like switching it up the dirty chai always does the trick, chai latte with a shot of espresso. the space at pavement is a lot bigger than espresso royale or bagel rising. there are a lot of berklee students that like to hangout here aka it can get really loud and obnoxious but if you come in late afternoon on the weekdays or early afternoon-close on the weekends it's usually a lot more calm and a good place to study. also, get one of the red frequent buyer cards (looks like a gift card). buy 10 drinks get the 11th for free, buy 10 bagel sandwiches and also get the 11th for free woo
(4)Stephanie H.
Vegan Tequila Sunrise sandwich is to die for! The best bagel sandwich I've had in a long time. Vegan and veggie friendly. Easy to get a sandwich to go or sit and enjoy a nice coffee or tea. Loved this place!
(5)Rob C.
Ordinarily i'm not one to drink hot coffee on a hot summer night, but as it turned out, it was a fine choice. i'm a big fan of a good Americano, and theirs easily qualifies. They draw lovely shapes in the more froufrou drinks too. It's fancy but much more comfy than snooty. As others have said, it does close rather too early at 9, and they promptly shoo you out. Nevertheless, it's likely i'll be back with my iPad some wintry weekend morning.
(4)Alex B.
Pavement = ERC + Couches
(3)Chris C.
Super attractive interior good with cool tufted metallic fabric chairs and couches - if Ben Sherman had a coffeehouse, it'd look a lot like this. They have tasty b'fast sandwiches and decent teas but the chai latte is pretty dull. I took a star off because I wish the sold loose tea like other ERCs do
(4)Becky E.
Although the staff are friendly, Pavement's system for giving discounts to its frequent patrons is broken. 2 stars because it needs to fix it points/rewards system to be more accurate.
(2)Isis H.
They have excellent coffee from Counter Culture. I usually stick with a cup of coffee and a jalepeno bagel with cream cheese. That is a delicious meal for when I wake up in the morning. As for the space, limited seating inside. They have outdoor seating but its always in the shade which deprives me of my sun time! There is free wi-fi but it kicks you off after an hour, they are catching on to us and it's not cool. Service is good, not especially friendly but doesnt bother me too much. Everyone that works there seems to like it( from what I can tell) . I've also never had any issues with a order which I appreciate.
(4)Kaitlin M.
I went here for lunch today with two friends around 1pm. Possibly not the smartest place to go on a Saturday when you want to sit, but I remembered the awesome coffee from a previous experience. We all had the Ike sandwich on a bagel--chicken salad with havarti and bacon (i had mine sans bacon), I also got a latte--so good. The sandwich was really good too! The only problem was that no one was moving! Everyone who had a seat was planted there for the longrun, which was disappointing when we wanted to sit and enjoy our lunch. So, my friends and I finally glared at someone long enough and they got up and gave us their seat--and we sat around a mini coffee table (kind of like a stool) and ate out of our laps. Had it been nice out, we just would have grabbed our sandwiches and run. I'd recommend this for takeout, but don't get your hopes up for a seat at peak times on weekends.
(3)Irene Z.
They have creative bagel sandwiches, and I have generally liked their taste. They usually run out of bagel selections as well as baked goods, which are dry anyway. I recently ordered a simple peanut butter & jelly sandwich because I had a craving (otherwise I wouldn't pay for one to be made). There were 5 people on staff; no one was doing anything except the cashier. They were dancing and singing along like the customers appreciated a show - maybe that's what we pay for because my sandwich was almost $5!!! Then I asked one of the staff if someone planned on making my order, and she proceeded to start by putting on a pair of gloves, lifting the trashcan with them, touching door knobs and containers with them, and then finally getting to my sandwich with the same pair of gloves! ^insert vomit It took a total of 20 minutes because she had intercessions of dancing like a drunk hippo. Beware the dreamcatcher on her shoulder and a Marilyn piercing. She's disgusting. And if this is some hipster culture to eat germ-ridden food at least put a damn warning sign. Let's end on a positive note though. I like their coffee.
(2)Christopher I.
Good, Quality Espresso Drinks. I ordered an extra dry Cappuccino and was impressed to see the barista reading my order off of a computerized screen, which she used to keep track of everything. My drink, despite this took a bit longer than I expected. I also got a bagel with tofu 'cream cheese' which was REALLY delicious and I would highly recommend it for anyone, vegan or not, who is looking for a tasty, yet less-rich topper for their bagel. The seating is a variety of hip little tables of varying sizes filled with hip berkley kids and their computers. Don't be surprised if you see a guy with a keyboard writing music at one of the tables.... Overall, good quality everything, slightly noisy, often busy, nice atmosphere.
(4)Zahira P.
The first time I visited pavement, I was stumbling in at 7am after my very first red eye transversing the country. I was barely cogent. I got a 'tequila sunrise'. It's not an alcoholic drink as the name might suggest, instead it's the perfect antidote to one: a solid sandwich stacked with jalapeno cheese, eggs, tomato, and onion on a toasted bagel. After polishing off the heavy, delicious super-sandwich, I sat and read for multiple hours. I enjoyed a large, cushioned booth, and there were no signs of rushing or pushing me. In fact, Pavement is an excellent place for doing homework, reading, people-watching, or just a relaxed change of scenery. There's tons of seating inside and out, and I believe there's wi-fi too -- but do check the other yelp reviews. Over a wedding/MIT reunion weekend in July, my husband and I visited Pavement 3 times. All told, we experienced a delicious mocha topped with skillfully done latte art, a cappuccino, and an espresso shot with no flavor nor sweetness. We called the lacklustre shot an accident, and thought that coffee in Boston had taken a step up since our college years here. The Pavement scene has a lively, interesting energy - the staff have unique fashion sense, seem to have tons of fun with each other, and know how to assemble good espresso drinks. There's even a street-DJ who skulks between the buildings outside. He was spinning some Michael Jackson tunes as we left this past Sunday. All in all, I loved this place. I would have come often as a student had I known about it, and returning to Boston as a picky yet caffeine-addicted adult, I was happy to have this delectable place so nearby.
(5)Ainura B.
They have good Spanish coffee, i'd say it their signature. also nice cookies and bangles. Nice and friendly staff, they are always helpful. The only thing is that its always packed and people sit there all day long taking spots. Internet is free only for couple hours and than you have to pay for it, even their free internet is not good, it keeps disconnected all the time.
(3)Bijou S.
Sure, it's pretty, but this place needs a serious attitude adjustment when you're trying to be ERC's counter part. The staff needs to smile or look like they have a pulse a little... or is that not cool? It's apparent working hard isn't cool either, because it takes them forever to get a coffee or a sandwich out. Mostly because they are just busy running into each other. I feel as if the team is not as knowledgable as the people at ERC, and not as nice BY FAR! The space is lovely... but you already have a bad taste in your mouth AFTER you deal with the staff. Also, if you're going to charge so much for a salad, at least make a decent salad. Or at least something with a little more creativity. I get better salads at the Whole Foods easily. Boo Pavement. I'm an ERC person for life.
(2)Emily L.
This place is packed with students that go to Berklee College of Music but it's kind of a nice escape from the standard coffee shops that are around the Fenway area. The staff seem to know most of the regulars and I was beyond satisfied with my cup of joe. Most people seem to come here to have a good chat so it might not be a good place to study but everyone seems super friendly and you can always eavesdrop into someone's conversation to learn when an artist would be in town.
(4)Gwen S.
At the least, the food and tea are worth a stop in. I enjoyed my Chia sandwich on spinach bagel and topped it off with an average if tasty chai latte. My cashier was in a sour mood, unlike the rest of the crew, and my order was up in 5 minutes. I definitely like the diverse types of seating- booth, table, group table, counter, and outdoor tables. The wi-fi was pretty speedy and power outlets were offered. I also noticed the restroom was clean and orderly and employees did wash their hands before heading back behind the counter. The noise level was easily manageable, even though there were only a couple open seats inside and every person was talking on their phone, to their laptops, or to each and every other.
(4)Susie S.
An awesome place for breakfast, lunch, and, of course, COFFEE. However, if you have time, I recommend you to walk over to Espresso Royale on Newbury for the EXACT same menu that's even better. However, Pavement does offer a more pleasant vibe. It's very spacious with a lot of tables and comfortable chairs. It's perfect for studying or hanging with friends. My favorite meal consists of the Tequila Sunrise with sausage and Iced Spanish Latte. Try getting the two together. You will love it. I'm taking out two stars because 1. It's not as good as Espresso Royale 2. The hipsters that work here are rude 3. I'm so tired of seeing the same faces there everyday (a.k.a Berklee students. Don't hate, I was a Berklee student myself) But all in all, this place is awesome. I recommend it!
(3)Marissa P.
I love ERC and I love this place. The bagels are great (See: Chia bagel!) The coffee is even greater. They use a company called Counter Culture Coffee who sources the most amazing coffee beans from all over the world, using fair trade methods. A great cup of coffee. I just bought the Haru Ethiopian beans for my French press and couldn't be happier. A bit pricey, but totally worth supporting a sustainable business. I think I prefer the atmosphere here better than ERC just because it's a bigger spot and it's newer and cleaner.
(5)Stacy H.
if you're not a fan of espresso royale caffe, i'm not sure you'd want to come here either since they're one and the same. pavement's much bigger in terms of the space, and it's closer to me so i come here :) i wanted another chia sandwich, but the cashier/barista/insert label here suggested i try the sahara. thanks, guy! i loved that it had tons of hummus, and was pretty much stuffed with veggies. naturally, i got a coffee with the sandwich -- tell them to leave some room for cream because otherwise they'll assume you drink that stuff black.
(4)Cristina P.
Felt like trying something new this morning. I walk by The Pavement Coffehouse everyday on the way to work, so I figured why not? The coffee was ok. They only have two sizes, a small and a large. Large costs 2.68 (with tax)...not too shabby. They kind of have a Starbucks set-up where you add your own milk, cream, sugar, etc. I only got a coffee but they have bagels, muffins, pastries, lunch sandwiches and few other options, might go back to try the food sometime. Perks - quick, not too busy in the AM, decent prices Cons - prefer cash, will accept visa and mastercard
(3)Maeve W.
Atmosphere It's artsy, but probably can't help but be so just because it sits right by Berklee. You'll find students with large headphones plugged into their keyboards (that was a first for me - such students don't tend to frequent Harvard Square), study groups squinting over used textbooks (lighting isn't outstanding) or laboring over shared problem sets (feels good to not be one of them for once), and a handful of young professionals hunched over their laptops. Conversations you may overhear are about different individuals in bands people know of and where they come from (It seems like the majority of them hail from NorCal, but I don't mean to be a creeper to listen that closely to these conversations; it really just validated my endorsement for the SF music scene - having Berklee music students agree with my views! And here I thought I was so behind on the alt rock scene - the closet high-school indie-lover in me was quite relieved). Drinks & Food They have mediocre Spanish lattes (2 occasions with different baristas: both lattes didn't have enough condensed milk and were a bit weaker in their espresso content) and smaller sandwiches of lesser quality than what you could really just get at the Subway a few doors down (most likely healthier options as well). Their tomato mozzarella sandwich was underwhelming (recommended by a barista as one of their more popular), though I must say that they were kind enough to hand me the extra grilled cheese they made on accident before serving me my correct order (coffee house chains would never). There wasn't that much cheese, the tomatoes actually too juicy to be part of a good TM sandwich, 7-grain bread less textured than it should have been. Issue (for those seeking to be more productive with their time) One issue I have is that internet access is limited to 1 hour, meaning that people are juggling between their laptops and smartphones if they're actually doing. That given... What I will say is that the atmosphere is interesting, there are plenty of outlets lining the walls, and the variety in seating (cushioned, different table shapes/sizes) are versatile enough to make this place a dependable go-to for different occasions. Personally, I'd opt for its Newbury St. counterpart: Espresso Royale, which is less than 10 minute walk if you're in the area anyway. (Refer to: my Espresso Royale review) Recap Good drinks, less-than-good sandwiches, but artsy atmosphere.
(3)Grace W.
So far, my favorite soy au lait in Boston! The atmosphere was cozy on a cold day and the booth seating provided enough space for all my bags, jacket, scarf, etc. My only complaint is that the music is a bit loud, so if you're trying to concentrate hard on something, it might be a little difficult here.
(4)Dennis E.
I am a coffee snob and this place absolutely incredible. The counter culture beans are a nice wake up. Cool staff, great decor, everything you want in a homey coffee house. Will be back soon!
(5)Brenda S.
I've been an Espresso Royale Caffe loyal customer for years now, but I have to say, Pavement has won me over. The vibe in there is very different than Bagel Rising or the ERCs, and I like it much better. It's cleaner, brighter, and more efficient. I really enjoy that there is outdoor seating (when you can get it!) and more comfortable seating inside as well. I love to do schoolwork here, especially because ERC on Gainsborough tends to get really crowded and loud, so I find the environment more conducive to studying at Pavement. The coffee is awesome, the bagels are awesome, the only thing knocking off a start is the one hour internet limit. What gives? It says its an hour per drink, but it's really just an hour per day - there have been days when I have stayed for 5, 6, 7 hours and ordered several drinks in that time, and I've still gotten only an hour of internet usage (there have also been days when I've come in the morning and again in the afternoon and I haven't been able to get back on.) That said, though, at least the internet works - a far cry from ERC Gainsborough where your only internet options these days are going without or stealing it from Panera across the street.
(4)Paran Y.
Get the pour over. It's quite the legal addictive stimulant.
(4)Amber H.
Creative sandwiches, and the one I got (walnuts, chevre, honey & cranberries) was pretty good, though not great. The service could have been friendlier.
(3)Emily W.
Bagels are delicious and the coffee is decent. But the prices are high, and the service on the day I was there was lacking. It seems to be a popular hangout for the college crowd - being right by Berklee, I'm sure that helps. There is also a limit to their wi-fi. You can only use the wi-fi for an hour. Nothing about the experience would keep me from visiting again in the future, except maybe the few days before payday...
(3)Emily P.
Positives: good coffee (they do pour-over style!), good bagels, and outdoor seating Negatives: often crowded, they close at 9:00 P.M. (wtf!), and the internet is only free for one-hour
(3)Melinda G.
Pavement rules. The staff is awesome, the food and coffee are amazing. Especially the Spanish Latte. You really need to try the Spanish Latte. It might change your life. Really have no idea why anyone would even go around the corner to Starbucks when Pavement is right there. Sometimes there's a line. Unless you have absolutely no time to spare, just suck it up and get in the queue. It won't take as long as you expect. Plus...quite often places have lines because they're really good, which I suspect is the case with Pavement as I have yet to see any of the employees slacking off back there when its packed. And to remind you one more time: SPANISH LATTE. Must try it.
(5)Flannery O.
I want to like this place. I want to LOVE this place. But I only really drink tea and every cup of tea I've gotten here tastes like old asparagus. And I know good tea. They appear to USE good tea. I don't understand how this happens. Pretty good grilled cheese panini, though, and everyone's super-friendly.
(2)Michael C.
Great indie coffeshop, great coffee, great servers, great sitting area, pretty-great food. Enough greats? Pavement would be my coffee choice for the immediate area. Ps. Don't forget the pour-over coffee, ask or look for the sheet at the counter.
(4)Kari C.
As a sister shop of Espresso Royale Cafe it is only fitting that they are very similar. The only real difference (and there used to be more until ERC conformed to their menu) is the atmosphere. Pavement is more polished and artsy (awesome sculptures and paintings that rotate), as it caters to Berklee students. Sometimes I get the impression that they try too hard to create that atmosphere. They have featured coffee blends, espresso varieties and definitely try to connect with their customers. The staff is very friendly and makes sure you are kept happy. Pavement is a good, fairly new coffeehouse. I still would pick ERC over Pavement if I had the choice.
(3)Stefan H.
The space is great and so it pains me to be critical, but shops that don't have a well-oiled routine for serving pourover coffee simply shouldn't offer it. Pavement is no exception: I ordered two yirgacheffe pourovers and watched as the barista went into some mind-numbing, laborious voodoo in attempting to create the drinks using Clever drippers. I am not a huge fan of the clever but it can be applied to create a respectable cup...and it doesn't have to take more than 5 minutes. Not so in this case: an aching 17 minutes later I simply had to leave to avoid being late and so just left the two order behind, still incomplete. Maybe I missed the best coffee of my life but I seriously doubt it....
(3)Double J.
This place has gained a little more capital with me. For a while the staff seemed a little on the unfriendly/hipper-than-thou side, but they seem to be a little nicer these days. It's still a little pretentious - plenty of too-bored/too-cool parties of one hooked up to their latest-generation iPricks, camping out and taking up entire 4-person tables. They need to start juicing their coffee with Prozac.
(3)Nat P.
My favorite coffeehouse in Boston! Overall pleasant atmosphere with beautiful design but is still laid back. Comfy seating. They also have one big table which is great for larger groups or for just bumping elbows/mingling with people sitting next to you. Always an interesting revolving art collection on display. This place is CLEAN, unlike some grimy coffee shops out there. Really delicious sandwiches and snacks. Good tea selection. Coffee is obviously the specialty here and you can tell a lot of research and love goes into the selection. Coming to Pavement will improve your day :) I just wish they would sometimes have live music there...it seems like a perfect opportunity for something like that with Berklee and the conservatories so close by...
(5)Mark D.
The food its great and the coffee is good, but the service is just terrible. I've had numerous instances where I've been wrung up incorrectly, messed up the application of the awards card or just made a mess of our bagels. Additionally, unnecessary attitude from the clerks sometimes (this is a trend of all Expresso Royale establishments). If this doesn't bother you, the food is great, but if you want great coffee without the attitude, go to Wired Puppy.
(3)Karen F.
Stopped by here a couple days ago to get an iced drink before taking a long stroll down Newbury Street on a weekday afternoon. Good coffee, decent service... will most likely be back! One thing that was definitely a plus was that they have soy out with the creamer and milk, so I don't have to be a total pain when I order iced coffee with a side of soy.
(4)Jesse P.
I'd give it 4.5 for the awful parking and proximity to Fenway. But then again, I bleed blue so maybe I'm biased. Great coffee, comfortable seating, nice decor. What more could you ask for? Their cortado is especially delicious. Note that they serve Stumptown Coffee... sometimes. They cycle through different bean suppliers regularly.
(5)Karthick D.
I don like the coffee but I like the ambience
(3)Leia K.
Great ambience, alright food, bad coffee--at least their capps, which is all I drink. I live around the corner and come here several times a week, but I come despite the coffee. This is mostly because just being at Pavement makes me happy, but I am starting to resent dropping all that dough for coffee that often tastes burned or just off. They could learn a few capp-making lessons from Render. Now on weekends, I often hike out to the South End--Render coffee and food is that much better. And during the week, Hi Rise in Cambridge is now getting more of my hard-earned cash. All that said, I love the vibe at Pavement -- the size, the layout, the sofas, people studying music and reading novels, the fun to look at but generally unpretentious staff. And it's my neighborhood coffeeshop! So please, manager/owner/decisionmaker: switch your house espresso or devote more care to training your baristas--who, by the way, work hard and provide great service, but for whatever reason, aren't turning out good coffee.
(3)Chris M.
Pour-over coffee is an automatic four stars. It's usually a sure sign that you're gonna get an amazing cup of coffee. Their baristas are very skilled at what they do. Their chefs too. Have a breakfast muffin. (I forget what they called it exactly) Single Origin coffees are the best. And free wi-fi.
(5)Kelly O.
Talk about a hipster haven. I do love the decor, and my hot cocoa was delicious as was the rest of the coffee drinks of my party (props to the coffee art). Not a lot of choices though, would like to see more baked goods and smoothies. Worth checking out.
(3)Madison S.
Warning: Hipster Customer Service I have only been in the morning at like 7am when it's empty, so I would assume my sample is of the fastest customer service I can receive. Now, I am not expecting a well greased machine like Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks, but I have to get to work and I think my order(a toasted bagel with cream cheese) really shouldn't take 10 minutes. There was nobody there before me. Maybe some weekend I'll give them a shot when I can enjoy my coffee at leisure. But not likely, since the food is as unimpressive as their sister store, Expresso Royale.
(2)June H.
They just opened this coffeeshop this year, I heard from my new roommate. This is great, since I'm from the Bay Area in California and need a more specialised café than Dunkin Donuts (yea, not a fan). They also offer paninis and bagels, which is nice to have with your drink. There is also ample seating inside and out, and you've got a great view of people walking along Boylston street. It is definitely hipster central, and I feel very much like I'm back in the Mission in SF as soon as I enter its doors. I ordered an ice mocha today and it tasted alright. Giving 3 stars because it is pretty much the only place like it here in Back Bay/Fenway. I will have to go again and edit to check in again about the other drinks they make. I do plan on making it one of my new favourite hang out spots, for sure. Edit: Actually, as much as I appreciate the location, they seem to take more time and consideration into their bagel-making than their drinks. It shouldn't be called a coffeehouse if coffee is their second priority. On the other hand, the baristas are very nice and friendly, so I have to say that customer service met my expectations. Edit #2: I was so excited when I found out Pavement was offering Ritual coffee from SF, and I ordered a cappuccino. I sat down, started doing my own work, and half way through my drink, I found a hair in my drink!! Minus 1 star!! Ugh.
(2)Jeff G.
I chose this place because of wifi access. Had some trouble connecting but it eventually worked. Had the Ike chicken salad sandwich. It was very good! Also had the Spanish latte, basically a std latte but with condensed milk. Tasted sweeter than std latte but very good. I liked the interior with ample seating and nice decor. This is also a great cafe for working and the AC felt great. Only negative for me was the hard core rap music. It did not seem to fit the clientele. Overall it is a good cafe
(4)Rani P.
Awesome young, urban atmosphere with a little hint of indie meets victorian-- coupled with a great tea selection and fresh brewed coffee, Pavement really can't do wrong. This neighborhood of starbucks, dds and overpriced coffee houses on newbury street needed a local, coffee joint like this to fit the personality of the people living in the area. I love the huge couches and antique armchairs- and the fact I can walk out with spending less than a $1.50 on hot tea.
(4)Kiki G.
If anyone has anything bad to say about this place they're absolutely nuts. I'm a sucker for cleanliness and for the foot traffic that these guys get on a daily basis, the place is spotless. It also doesn't that all of the employees are super friendly and good-looking. & if you're a pastry lover, try their toffee cookie or the pumpkin muffin -- HEAVENLY!!!
(4)Chris M.
Simple Seating inside and out, hot coffee was fresh and priced right. Great location within the college circuit. Easy first choice for next time in the area looking for a morning drink.
(4)Andrew J.
Pavement Coffeehouse is just the latest edition to the Espresso Royale Family. Located on Boylston, right near Newbury St. it's in a prime location to alleviate some of the congestion at their parent coffee shop (Espresso Royale Caffe) on Gainsborough. As far as the shop goes, the differences between Pavement and ERC are minimal, which (if you're a fan of good coffee shops) is a good thing! The cafe has a spacious, almost "cafe of neighborhoods" feel to it. The cafe is built kind of like a hallway/living room hybrid, where the ambiance changes based upon how far into the shop you are. First there is the bar, where you can order a wide variety of coffees, teas, espresso drinks and sandwiches. I reccommend the Cubano (iced because it's the summer) and any of their wide selection of teas. If you get the right barista, lattes and other espresso drinks come with the distinctive fern/heart/whatever pattern (also seen in their logo) in the foam. Now, I don't care how manly you are, drinking a heart is always a good way to start the day. After that, there is a small seating area, consisting primarily of 50s diner-esque vinyl seating, which starkly contrasts the brick wall interior. Further in still it starts to feel more like a living room, big comfy chairs, 1 to 2 person tables and magnificent abstract paintings. Here there is also a long table for larger parties and a medium sized bar table for 3 or 4. The service is friendly, as expected, since most of them used to work at that parent coffeeshop down the street (which I frequented). Only gets 4 because there are a few other coffee places that serve tastier coffee. But when it comes down to it, its hard to beat the location, the service, the music and the free wi-fi that pavement offers.
(4)Christopher T.
A nice college town-esque coffee place. Lots of young people and people doing work or talking about school. Definitely has a chill vibe with high ceilings. The Spanish Coffee (coffee with condensed milk) was delicious. Definitely recommended. The food also looked like it was good. A good place to drop in to have a conversation, read a book, or just sit and daze out while enjoying a quality cup of joe.
(4)Aaron P.
Only had one barista making drinks when I was there... so it took a bit of a wait. very cool atmosphere. the chai latte seemed watered down. but over all, its a cool shop.
(4)Daniel R.
Probably the best bagels I've ever had in my life. Highly recommended for bagels. Coffee is extremely pricey and has been served lukewarm both times I went. Tasted OK, but the low temperature turned me off. It's also a little expensive for what you're getting. Paninis are pretty good but way too expensive. You can probably find paninis for a better value elsewhere. Also a great place to casually observe hipsters, if you're into that sort of thing. The decor is wonderful. Overall unless you're getting bagels or breakfast sandwiches, I'd probably avoid this place.
(3)Charles F.
I live nearby this new neighborhood coffee shop, and after a long delay of its grand opening, it's finally up and running, and seems to be doing very well for itself. This fairly large, audaciously hip joint is easily accessible by the #1 Mass Ave. bus as well as the Hynes Green Line stop. For existing fans of Espresso Royale, you'll feel right at home--in fact, it's actually owned by the same folks. With abstract artwork on brick walls, living room lounge chairs in front of a faux-fireplace, and enough flannel behind the counter that it could clothe Paul Bunyan, you'll fit right in parking your single-speed out front, coming in, and sitting down to the sounds of Band of Horses. Yep, so hipster trendy. No problem with that at all. The employees are friendly and welcoming, the baristas know their stuff and make great drinks, foofy coffees and all. The menu is very similar to ERC's, which I don't mind, considering the degree of my love for their bagel sandwiches. The day old bagel bags are also quite the deal, and as a frugal college kid, I participate often (about 1/2 bagels for $2.75! Eat them quick and keep the bag sealed though, they are a day old after all and will turn to giant croutons on you before you're ready). Around mealtimes, the place gets hoppin' and becomes nearly impossible to find a seat, in spite of the relative size of the place. The rushes seem rather short though, and coming in at any other time you shouldn't have any trouble at all finding a seat, letting down your messenger bag, and pulling out your worn copy of 'The Catcher in the Rye' (last hipster joke; after all, I fall fairly easily into that category). The only downside is the wifi. For me, it's been remarkably unreliable. Sometimes I can get on it, other times I cannot (in fact, I've written this on a word doc as I await for the interwebs to come back online so I can post this). Don't plan on coming here to do a lot of internet browsing because you'll be booted off for too much data consumption. Other than that, I keep coming here, so they're doing something right! (Hint: it's the food, coffee, and general atmosphere)
(4)Peter N.
So far, this is the best coffee house in Boston! The place is small (cozy), the decor is nice, there are ample outlets for the laptop warriors, free WiFi, and (of course) the coffee / lattes are phenomenal. I'm almost hesitant to write this review, I want to keep this place to myself. Thankfully, I've always been able to find a spot to sit when I go there, which is at least once a week. The -1 star is because they close too early. The information above is incorrect; they close at 9pm daily. I was just shooed out of there. :-( update: +1 star for giving free coffee refills if you use a mug.
(5)Steve M.
This place is awful. So disorganized. Saw the staff fighting with each other and the condiment stand go empty. I waited fifteen minutes for my lemonade only to find out when I asked that they forgot about it. Then it turned out they needed to make more. I took a refund and left. Never going back.
(1)Simona S.
A refreshing new addition to the serious lack of good cafes in the Symphony area. Starbies doesn't have (free) internet, and ERC on Gainsborough is my love but it's packed with hungover Northeastern kids who just want to get their bagel on. Well I need to do work, son. So here come Pavement, in the same family as ERC (YES! I get to use my frequent buyer card, swipe THIS boo), fit with lovely comfortably chairs and so many outlets and tables and... it's like a living room straight out of Anthropologie. Though not as feminine. Because it's totally still manly to drink your tea out of a cup while reclining in their crushed velvet sexy armchairs. Menu is a more compact version of what you'd find at ERC except they has SALADS and at $5 with three toppings, I can scrounge in my pocket for that. China Green tea (my preference) comes in an adorable little kettle that I may accidentally take home with me some day. Service is a bit slow though. And this was not the first time there was no one at the register when I came strolling in. There should be a bell. And free wi-fi. And potential Berklee boyfriends. Wait, what?
(4)Qichen Z.
Came here on an early Saturday morning with a friend (who actually works at Pavement, so good employee refs!). Sunrise bagel sandwich on a whole wheat everything bagel was delicious, and a Spanish latte was a great sweet complement. People say it gets really overrun by Berklee kids, but it isn't so bad in the summer. Pavement also has a really fun and easygoing crowd running the place. Super friendly. Great and quick service and the décor makes the place a hip and relaxing place to converse. Definitely looking forward to coming back again!
(5)Lydia L.
I love Pavement. I practically live here- I can be found studying and doing work here almost every day with a medium Soy Spanish Latte in hand. The staff is great, the atmosphere is awesome and the coffee is full and flavorful. The sandwiches are good too- the Santa Monica is my favorite. I also really like the soups they have. Sometimes they dont have seating though and the internet has a one hour limit which is a drag- especially when it's really not busy. Regardless- best coffee shop in Boston- when I come back to New York/Pennsylvania for summers off from college I miss this place. So much love for Pavement.
(5)Annie B.
Excellent place for a quick lunch
(5)Stel B.
Okay, the coffee rocks, the ambiance is a nice change from cookie-cutter Starbucks, the bagels are definitely above average for Boston--and they have some unique flavors too (whole wheat everything? I could kiss you!). But like the missing turkey from a turkey club sandwich--there's are some downsides: 1) if you lack musical talent, you will feel it in the mostly Berklee crowd; and 2) they forgot to put the turkey in my turkey club sandwich(!), which since it was a to-go order, I did not discover until I was to-goed. On a repeat visit I ordered a sandwich called something like "NY Panini" which had the ingredients of a Reuben, but had mmmaybe a measly quarter of an inch of pastrami ("NY"? really?). This, combined with the missing turkey, makes me wonder just how many PETA activists this place has working for them... That said, come for the coffee, stay for the bagels (with non-meat fillings) and you'll have yourself a lovely visit to an artsy cafe.
(4)Jodi B.
I heard about Pavement from a coworker; his son is a coffee buyer for them. Unfortunately, it took me a good month or so to pass by Starbucks and head to Pavement. Finally one day, at the recommendation of a friend, we did just that. My first impression of the place was great. The decor, while very modern, manages to maintain a warm and inviting atmosphere and unlike so many Starbucks, it is genuine. Let me elaborate; Starbucks is very good at creating the illusion of warm, inviting spaces. The walls are painted with rich colors and they have nice cushy chairs but upon closer inspection you notice that everything is really pretty dingy and dirty and the walls are patched with little splotches of paint that don't quite match the original color. It all gives the impression of a movie set constructed to look a certain way but flimsy and temporary. So when I say Pavement's decor is genuine, I mean that it isn't smoke and mirrors. It is super clean with nice furnishings. They offer a standard array of coffees and teas as well as some baked goods, sandwiches and bagels. I have not eaten at Pavement as of yet, so the review is strictly about the coffee. In fact, as I write this I am staring at an empty cup which once held my iced latte from Pavement. It is in my belly now working a magic that only coffee can at 9 AM. My first drink there was a hot latte and the barista made a lovely little leave in my foam. I was so excited I almost squealed. I say almost because at a place like Pavement, I get the distinct impression that squealing would be frowned upon. The barista was very serious, indeed. I can look past that because I believe that what a Barista does is something of an art form and you're allowed to be moody, snotty, or just plain odd. The cashiers on the other hand get no such pass from me. When your entire job function involves people skills, I think a smile is warranted. This was where Pavement lost a star - in the two times I have been there, I haven't felt particularly welcome either time. But as I walked backed to my office and sipped my lattes, a hot one one day and an iced the other, the absence of warmth from the employees didn't diminish the fact that I was having a damned good latte! And as I strolled past Starbucks, I couldn't stop from glancing in the window with a smug smile. Yeah, that's right S-bucks . . . when did you ever make designs in my foam???
(4)Ben I.
" As good as it gets " . I wouldn't go that far .. but I will say I now have a new favorite coffee shop in the city. Pavement does something that no other cafe in the city does : Aside from serving Barismo or Counter Culture coffee, They have a "guest" espresso/pour over coffee in rotation which brings a new micro-roaster every month or so. If you're a real coffee aficionado , and you'd love to experience amongst the best available in espresso-micro-roasts across the US, you'll enjoy frequenting this place. In the past year I must have tried Barismo, Counter Kulture, Blue bottle, Ritual, Stumptown, Intelligentsia and a few others that were quite unique in character and enjoyable. Aside from this lovely specialness, They also have delicious food, free wireless and very interesting art on the walls. Its a great place to meet a friend or three for a nice chat as well. There seems to be a few individuals who work there who truly appreciate the espresso craft(as they should given the Espresso Royale ownership) , while others, not so much. but is that a real problem? Nah.
(5)Katy G.
I was pleasantly surprised with my first trip into Pavement today. I've been a Starbucks/Whole Foods regular for years now (I work right around the corner), but I think Pavement is going to work its way into my morning rotation now! I got an iced coffee- I should have asked for extra ice because it all melted before I was finished. It tasted great, though! The REALLY awesome thing about Pavement is their food choices. Not only do they have bagels, sandwiches and more... they have VEGAN choices! I haven't found another place for breakfast that offers tofu spread/vegan cream cheese AND in FOUR variations. I ordered an everything bagel with veggie tofu spread, and it is really good! I'm kinda a bagel snob, and this is one awesome bagel. The service was a little slow, hence the four stars. They will be seeing me again.
(4)Stella K.
Rooibas latte is so amazing with honey and vanilla! the place itself is adorable with nice decor and a warm/comforting ambience, but good lighting for studying. will definitely be revisiting this place to try out their coffee sometime very soon
(5)Simone R.
First time coming here today, and have to say this place is terrible. Was extrmeley disappointed. The decor and overall atmosphere of this place was great, loved the options on the menu, but when actually given my coffee and food I was apphauled. I'm not sure if my standards for coffee/ lattes might be a little high as I live back and forth between LA and NY but if you think this is good coffee then I feel sorry for you. I ordered a Spanish latte and it was watery. WATERY. Never before in my life have I had a watery latte. Ordered a Nutella bagel and the bagel made my jaw hurt as it was so tough to chew. They didn't even bother to put the Nutella on my bagel. My boyfriend ordered a dark roast drip coffee and it took them about 15 minutes to get it to us, almost completely forgot about it in general. This place is riding solely on appearances and hipster cred as far as I'm concerned, ordering from here was the worst decision I made on my short trip here. I threw out my latte maybe after 3 sips and immediately went to a starbucks down the street. Would not recommend this place to anyone. The only reason I'm giving it two stars is because the decor was nice but that is it.
(2)Taylor M.
Nice room, nice seating, but the coffee was thin and tasteless. The decaf was not brewed, and very watery. The bagel was no better than Starbucks. Worst of all, the counter staff was not friendly, didn't look me in the eye and seemed unhappy about being there. Considering the atmosphere and furnishings, it has great potential, but they need to step up their game in service and especially the coffee! The line to the bathroom was primarily homeless, dirty men. I know that's harsh and uncharitable, but it gross and really brought the place down.
(2)Kevin P.
When I lived in the area, this was my go-to place for a nice cup of coffee. It was a big welcome for me when it opened (3 years ago?) since the only coffee closest to there was a Dunkin and Starbucks on Mass Ave. Though I'm not living nearby anymore, if I happen to be walking by, I'll usually more often than not stop in real quick. I always enjoyed the rotating espresso offerings, and I've not once been disappointed with my macchiato or cortado. There's tons of places to sit here, which is a rare jewel in the world of coffee joints like this, so I've had mostly good luck finding a place to park myself, though there have been a couple exceptions. The sandwiches here were always a bit of a hit-or-miss for me, and the bagels tend to be a little dry for me, so after having several, I just stopped getting them altogether. Not a huge issue for me, since I usually only come for the coffee anyway. If you like solid, well-crafted coffee, be sure to check this place out.
(4)Lisa M. K.
I really liked this place. Having lived around the corner for quite awhile in the 90s and having worked around there for many years, I was curious to see what sort of addition Pavement was to the neighborhood. I had about an hour to kill before I met some friends so I popped in there for a snack and a chai. I found it friendly and the customer service was very good. Definitely a solid indie vibe without it being cloyingly so. I hung out in the back room for about an hour, reading my book, munching on a bagel and enjoying a very tasty chai. The room was very comfortable and cozy without it being dark or gloomy. Painted/exposed brick, exposed beams and comfy mish-mosh of furniture are pretty much the theme here. I had a very pleasant stay and sort of wished I had more time to kill. The only negative was that for the first 25 minutes I was there they were playing a CD of really smarmy Beatles jazz covers. Ew. Love the Beatles but, sorry, that was just not my thing. :) I'll definitely be back there if I am in the neighborhood and if I like it as much the second time, I'll probably re-review and up it to 5 stars....
(4)Julian T.
I like Pavement! I've been looking for a coffee shop for a long time in Boston. This city is not known for it's cafe culture but Pavement and a few other spots are doing their best. Pros- The food is tasty. I got a bagel and cream cheese for cheap which is all needed with my coffee. Free refills on the house drip coffee. They have Ritual and Stumptown coffees, two West Coast Roasters I enjoy. Great ambiance, large space with high ceilings. Comfy booths and arm chairs if you can grab them There were a lot of Berklee kids there as well as grad students. Wifi is free. Bathroom is clean. I usually bring my own music but there were several times where I took off my ear phones to rock out to a jam playing overheard. This is the kind of place I like to hunker down in for hours of studying. Cons- They need to heat their mugs. It really makes the coffee get cold too quickly. I am kind of a coffee snot and I like pour over drip coffee when I can get it. I had it twice at Pavement and both times it was that gross lukewarm stuff that is too warm to be iced, like they gave you someones left overs, eww. I saw them make mine fresh. I am just describing the taste. Next attempt I will ask for them to warm the mug and see how that goes. Over all great spot.
(4)EC S.
Best espresso in the greater Boston area, hands down. If only Pavement weren't always full of freshman Berklee students, it would be the perfect coffee house. The hipster-watching is fun but I can only listen to suburban kids acting cool and worldly for so long. This is why I like to sit up front at one of the four bar seats at the window. As long as you're ok with a lot of movement behind you, (it's where they're making the drinks!) it's a much better place to get work done. The prices at Pavement are very good; a $2.50 cortado can't be beat and a breakfast bagel for under $4 isn't too shabby either. And a big YES to the dollar chocolate chip cookies. They have instituted a card minimum of like 4 or 5 dollars but they're not hard-asses about it, which is a welcome relief from so many places. In short, Pavement is THE place for espresso.
(5)DJ G.
Caught this opening day after a Sox game. Great latte with fresh ground coffee. Also enjoyed a Sunrise bagel sandwich on a tasty jalapeño bagel. My partner got a GREAT bagel. Not too sweet for once. The space is chic and comfortable. Nice artwork on the wall (painted brick) and a nice mix of music. And two big chairs to lounge in at back. Most certainly worth a visit!
(5)Juju K.
Great coffee, awesome artwork/ ambiance, pretty decent staff. Trust all of the other reviews that call it a super hipster-y-ish type of place. But don't worry, my fellow 9-5 "professionally dressed" friends...if you happen to show up in something other than your vintage, thrift, torn and tattered skinny jeans you wont be the odd guy/ gal out.
(4)Mike R.
Great place to have a coffee and get work done. They have lots of tables, great coffee, free wifi, and good bagels. I have not tried the tea. It can fill up with Berklee students, so check the back before you plan to settle down with a latte and a good book. Sometimes, the coffee is lukewarm.
(4)Julian W.
Everything bagel toasted with Veggie cream cheese or the vegan veggie spread is pretty much as good as it gets in my opinion. The inside of this coffee-shop is so unique and visually stimulating with pretty wild art all over the place. I talked to a really cool guy working there about Guild guitars while waiting for the other guy behind the counter to make my favorite bagel combo. I would suggest this place to anyone as it is probably one of the least expensive places to eat in all of Boston but besides that it is also some of the best food. Most everyone I know loves the coffee here and a few of my friends who always went to the Starbucks have switched now to Pavement for their coffee needs. I'm happy they're in the neighborhood!
(5)Anne T.
To all Pavement employees: Hey dudes, how's it going? LOVE your plaid shirt, by the way, very original. Anyway, just wanted to let you guys know that, uh, people can TOTALLY HEAR YOU when you criticize people's orders and then proceed to call your loyal customers "c*nts." Not cool, bro, not cool. I have a friend who likes to go into Pavement/ERC and order a large iced chai without milk. Sound like a weird/ridiculous order to you? If it does, it doesn't really matter because it's what she wants, and she pays for what she wants and tips her baristas. Last time she was in there she overheard this from behind the counter from a couple of dudes after she ordered: "This fucking girl comes in here all the time and gets a chai 7/8 of the way full. Do you know how expensive that is?" and then the other employees shook their heads and said "fucking c*nt." Wow, let's just unnecessarily drop the c-bomb, guys! This isn't what Larry dreamed of, I'm sure. I just want to let people know that I am a very tolerable person. 1) I will tolerate elitist twenty year-old hipsters in plaid shirts. 2) I will tolerate so called 'baristas' having the right to be coffee/tea/chai snobs. I get it, you KNOW coffee. 3) I will tolerate someone who is not showered while they make my delicious coffee drink. 4) I will NOT, however tolerate ANYONE calling my friend a 'c*nt.' Today is a sad, sad day yelp readers. Why? Because now I have to boycott Pavement, as well as Espresso Royale. I would like to say that I have lived in Boston for 5 years faithfully patronized both ERC and Pavement for their good coffee drinks, and so did my said friend. She was one of their most loyal customers I know. Now I'm pretty sure all of my friends are going to be boycotting these establishments. Where are we gonna go? I don't know. Not cool bro, not cool.
(1)Kristina S.
Pavement was a lovely experience. My cashier accidentally "forked" the chocolate cupcake I'd asked for, and so it was gratis! Which was swell. And the coffee was amazing. And they swirled the milk into a leaf-shape. Which I am such a sucker for. I loved the artwork, the Euro-student vibe, and the ambience in general. It was a bit kitschy, but that's kinda the point of these types of places, isn't it? Are we not paying an extra 50 cents to the "indie" vibe? Let's be honest. I am totally for paying a bit more for some good jazz, artwork on bed sheets, and free cupcakes. I will surely return.
(5)Maria S.
One of THE best hot chocolates I've ever had topped off with a heart design that was unexpected and simply beautiful! To accompany the sweet I had the lox on an everything bagel which rocked this world! It was incredibly yummy and obviously made with a lot of love...and very fresh ingredients! :)!
(5)Tad B.
This place is wicked good! Great coffee, good atmosphere, free wifi (all in the correct order) -- does it get any better? To answer my own question, NO.
(5)Erica K.
Great place to study...the seating is pretty spacious, you don't hear coffee grinders all day and the music is kept at a pretty decent volume. The food and drink selections are great too. If you're looking for a nice place to do homework, read a book, or catch up with a friend, I recommend this place. Its a much better alternative to Starbucks, which in my opinion sounds like a warehouse, not to mention, you couldn't get a seat there if you were in line at the time of open.
(5)Ben K.
Reminds me of the coffeehouses I used to frequent in high school and college- comfy, a little funky/edgy, and baristas who are as into their coffee as they are their Natural Spirits and tattoos. I loved the decor, the feel of the place, and my decaf americano. To top it off, they are doing free coffee samples and began with Counter Culture coffee from my hometown in NC. Yeah, daddy! I'm psyched to stop by this place on my way to/from work and enjoy all the other menu items...but SO glad this place has graced Boylston St.
(4)Chuck A.
Looks like a coffeehouse...feels like a coffeehouse and delivers! I was disappointed that the barrista could not make the Red Sox logo for my latte art, but quickly got over it after tasting a superior latte!
(5)Huong P.
My fellowship led me to trekking up to the Symphony Hall region that I was not familiar with. If you are on Boylston Street, or getting off at Hynes Convention Center T station, this coffee shop is nearby. I decided to go here since I needed a place to get my caffeine fix and to spend long hours of studying. Having heard raving Yelp reviews, I was curious about why this place was getting all the hype. Having visited there, I have to say I quite enjoy Pavement! I love their outdoor seating--Today was the first time for the real sun and warmth to grace its presence to us Bostonians and I got to sneak a peak of the seating outside and thought it would be perfect for people watching! Entering inside, I ordered a small iced coffee. As I have been to the Expresso Royale locations on Commonwealth Avenue and Newbury Street, I know that the quality of the coffees are great. Long lines of people were constantly there waiting to order yet the Pavement workers were quick and efficient. I love how they are not stingy with the splenda sugars and milks like other shops have (*cough cough I'm talking about you Dunkin' Donuts!). Moreover, they have a large space that is great for studying. There is a great vibe and I just liked everything about the store, especially the convenient electric sockets to plug my laptop in to do work. As I will be by the area, I will definitely come and grab another coffee here!
(4)Traveling B.
I happened to be in the Fenway area running a race, and the day before the race went to get my bib, decided to walk and found this place. Fantastic iced coffee I thought as I strolled down mass ave. Day of race, took a friend in as well and yet again, another fantastic iced coffee. Service was great, place looked great, and the Iced coffee, well it was fantastic. If I'm in the area again I will make a detour to try something else of theirs, with perhaps another fantastic iced coffee.
(4)Simone W.
Pavement is one of the best coffee places in the area. I love the Fairy Tea and the latte, and it's a great place to hang out and relax with friends for lunch or to study. The cafe is so comfortable and all the seating is nice and the food and drinks are delicious. Super good prices!
(4)Jaime P.
So on a whim, my fellow co-worker and I decided to try this place- considering we pretty much walk by it every day.We needed a change from the every day dunkins/starbucks routine. I am so glad we did :) The coffee is nothing special ..actually kind of tasted like starbucks, and they let you add your own sugar, milk etc. They have many different kinds of bagels, muffins, pastries and paninis for lunch. I got a bagel with veggie cream cheese which was so creamy and fresh. Pretty much made my whole day. I would compare it to Bagelworld in Reading. The inside was nice and cozie (and not crowded in the morning which is defintely a plus!) The staff was friendly and didn't seem too robotic. I will be sure to go back to this quaint little coffee shop on Boylston. I'm just upset now because I have no bagel left!
(4)Lauren M.
The vanilla soy lattes are awesome here. I love the place's vegan bagel options (this place is affiliated with Uncommon Grounds and Bagel Rising). People watching here is the best. One time the guy next to me beat boxed for 10 minutes - there were sounds coming out of his mouth I never thought possible. Another time, a guy was rocking a raccoon hat. Bahaha.. love it. It's also nice when it gets warmer out to sit and read the paper or do work on the patio. I'd give it 6 stars if I could.
(5)Jonathan K.
This place has a great house blend that easily beats Starbucks' Clover coffee, but they lack the selection and customization that Starbucks has. I tried this place when going to a meeting in Fenway, and the house blend really impressed me. It's got a heavy wood and nut flavor and was surprisingly bold. The coffee there isn't that cheap, but the staff are pretty nice and the shop is pretty comfy. They have a great location AND outdoor seating, which is great for summer sipping. Despite there being a very nice Starbucks (with Clover) a block away, I still recommend this place as worth checking out. For those who love their Starbucks Gold Cards, Pavement also has a card that works at the Espresso Royale and a few other places as well. Sadly, it's not gold.
(3)Jen L.
Great latte but do not try the awful pastry. Got a scone late at night and it was rubbery and chewy, so disgusting. Would give 5 for its latte but the exception was for the pastry. What the heck was that!!!
(4)Mike S.
I enjoy going here now. The music used to be so loud I couldn't think. Now I can read and not get completely distracted. Front service at the registers has vastly improved, i.e., employees actually seem to want to help you. There should be a special rating for most improved establishment. Keep up the good work!
(4)Henry P.
Full disclosure: I'm a veteran in the coffee and tea wholesale world but I do not know the people working Pavement. I watched a barista make a drink and said to myself, "if I were making a training film on how to do each step perfectly, I could be all done with a single take filming this guy." I have never had that thought before. I'm talking twenty plus years. I've been a judge in national barista competitions thirteen times. Go here. The Third Wave has arrived in Boston. It's at Pavement.
(5)Aga S.
Really cool, independent coffee shop. I really like the welcoming vibe of this place; it just feels much more homey than any Starbucks or anyplace of that kind. I've been here bunch of times, but I decided to write this review after my most recent visit about a week or so ago. I was headed to work in the South End and I really needed a huge cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich. Convinced that Pavement would satisfy my both needs, I walked in and headed straight toward the counter. I ordered a large coffee and Tequila Sunrise sandwich. The coffee was alright, though I think I just needed at least 2 of them to really wake up. The sandwich, on the other hand, was humongous and I ended u having a half for breakfast and then another half for lunch. The staff was friendly, but you gotta make sure you have plenty of time to wait, especially if you are ordering food. It took them at least 15 minutes to prepare my sandwich - it was worth it though!!!!
(4)Connie L.
Pavement is a great addition to this part of Boston. Lovely, bright space for studying with a cup of coffee and a pastry. Salads and sandwiches are small and just average, though. The coffee is better at The Thinking Cup on Tremont Street. I would pick this location over both TC and Espresso Royale if you need to hammer out a paper or want to enjoy a book, though!
(3)Anna M.
So bummed out that my soy latte was made with milk. My rumbling belly and nausea and burping are what I try to avoid by ordering soy. And the barrista announced "soy latte"! Otherwise I have liked this place, independent, decent food, pleasant ambience...
(2)Runar B.
This is basically an Espresso Royale. The coffee is very good. Amazing latte.
(4)Danny D.
Great ambiance, good food choices (bagels with stuff on them), but the service is uneven. Some days you get someone that cares and does it right (it's not that hard), and other days (like today), you get a clueless chickie who can't remember anything. Whole milk free pour 16 ounce latte for here. I got a 2%, no foam latte to go. Go figure. Heated croissant. I got a cold croissant. Go figure. Cool place to chill, good music.
(2)Lynn R.
I'm not a coffee connoisseur but I adore Pavement. Coming here for my coffee puts me in a good mood. I love the atmosphere - I think the sitting area is brighter than most Espresso Royales. I get the Santa Monica bagel which has lox and guacamole. Their guacamole spread is great!
(4)Ian H.
Everyone is friendly and pretty, and none of the tables are too close together. The art on the walls is exactly one notch above standard coffeehouse decor. I can't say that the coffee or bagel I had was anything special, but in a lot of ways the stuff served at these places is secondary to how it feels to sit there for a while. I would rank it as positive in that respect.
(4)Lisa B.
I love the look of this place, it reminds me of an art warehouse, seattle-style coffee house where I would go to read literature in high school and dream of foreign, philosophical adventures. The espresso and coffee are of quality (counter culture) and they have guest coffees, recently Sight glass.
(4)V P.
This is probably my favorite coffee house in Boston. I guess that's not saying much when compared to the ones I've been to in San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, and Sydney. But STILL, A+ for effort. I've always had friendly service here. I usually don't come during peak hours so I can't attest to how fast their service is. But things I really like are: -the service -the espresso -the space -outside seating, especially during the summer. -that they're a bit removed from Newbury St. while still being close to downtown
(4)Erik S.
I'm a bit torn on this review because this establishment clearly cares about their espresso but a couple of factors keep it from getting 5 stars. Right off the bat parking around there is a real nuisance, so I was already a little perturbed before I even walked in the door. Given that, when the cashier said that they wouldn't make me a latte with their guest Barrington espresso blend, I was less than enthused. The other option was a Barismo blend which they serve at Simon's so I wanted to try something different. On the verge of exacerbation, I ordered a cappuccino instead of my revered cafe latte. The espresso was on the mild side, but it had good flavor. It wasn't as deep as it could have been but it had nice undertones. The microfoam was good, but not great. The drink was served at the proper temperature though; always a sign of an excellent establishment. My wife said that her latte was tasted good (she had the Barismo) and the latte art was nice. Not that it was important because I rate the espresso at coffee houses, but I bought a bagel which was quite dry. I guess the bottom line is that I'll go back next time I'm in the area.
(4)Chris A.
Went here the other day to do some work and get out of my house. Coffee was pretty darn good, the comfy chair I got to sit in was great and the bagel and cream cheese were pretty good. I know they have the one hour limit for a reason, but it would be convenient if I could pay like a buck to go for two hours or something. I know people would be in there all day, but still. Mainly, the negative was having to deal with the pretentious artsy crowd in there. "Yah, he was playing such sell out, poppy music, and I stuck to my roots and played what my soul said I should play. I'd rather stay true than do what he did to get a gig... yahhhh." Or the guy making fun of someone walking by for wearing khaki's and boat shoes and being a drone.... really? Come on hippie, get a f***ing job and stop hanging around the coffee shop all day. Ugh. Not the shop's fault that they are stuck next to Berklee, though.
(3)E A.
I've been coming here since they opened. I love their espresso drinks and their bagel sandwiches are very good. The atmosphere here is really nice and laid back. The one thing that sometimes annoys me is that during busy times, they don't take coffee orders before you get to the cash to pay. Sometimes, the people ahead of me are ordering sandwiches and drip coffee and I see that the barista has nothing to do. This isn't a huge issue and I'll keep coming back!
(4)Eben S.
When this place opened the coffee was lightly better and I miss that. But it is still very good and worthwhile. The sad part is that the food and even the baked good are a bit sad. Still, I will back again and again for the very tasty lattes. I don't care one way or the other about the hipster vibe.
(4)Amy B.
my new favorite coffeeshop. The coffee is great and they serve healthy food and actually quite reasonable. I can't wait to go back...
(4)Jasmine K.
It was the first cafe I could say I LOVE in boston. The furniture and atmosphere is amazing. The staff are friendly, the cappucino was wonderful - and they drew a heart shape with the foam which was so cute! I got a turkey sandwich and it was great too. The honey mustard, the turkey, the toasted bread and something crunchy they put in inside was just perfectly delicious. With them having free wifi, I have absolutely NO reason to go to Starbucks when I'm around here.
(5)Sonia G.
Oh Pavement, I so desperately want to give you a good review. But I just can't. I'm relatively new to the area and was thrilled to see an independent coffee shop in my neighborhood since I work from home and need a good "go-to" place to work. But the internet woes at Pavement have got me down. At first they had the sloooowest internet known to man with a terrible connection. They seemed to fix that problem in the past couple weeks, but in fixing, they have added a ONE HOUR MAX time for internet access. Why, oh why must you do this Pavement?!? I want to hang out, I want to work... I want to give you my money for all the breakfasts and lunches I would eat there. But alas, you're pushing me away. So now begins a new search for another independent coffee house in the area. I really don't want to go to Starbucks around the corner, but I guess I will if I can't find something else convenient. 2 stars for the potential. Please give us back the internet, won't you?
(2)Marwan A.
great vibe coffeehouse
(4)Xiyan W.
Came here on Valentines day morning for a little caffeine and lox. We always walked by this place to go to Steve's pizza and wanting to step in and check it out. I had the best cafe au lait while my valentine had the americano and he was pretty impressed. I ordered the Santa Monica which was lox on a bagel with cream cheese, and all the fixings. But this place takes it up a notch by adding creamy avocado spread to the sandwich. Everything looked and tasted fresh. Can't wait to come back for more.
(5)Laura N.
It's so refreshing to find such a lively yet peaceful spot in the area. Lots of seating in the back - a great place to spend a few hours reading or working People are friendly and whip up a pretty tasty espresso or cup of coffee. One of my favorite coffee houses in the area!
(5)Oriana S.
I never knew this place existed until today and I go to Mass Ave. a lot! Pavement is a hip coffeehouse right near the Hynes Convention Center T stop. I really liked the decor-- lots of natural light and exposed-brick walls decorated with original art work. The interior is pretty large and there's outside seating too! A great selection of sandwiches, bagels, paninis and coffee. I got a grilled cheese sandwich (for only $4.25) and a small cafe mocha. The grilled cheese was excellent. I know it's hard to go wrong with a grilled cheese, but this one tasted especially good: a blend of fontina and cheddar cheese, with sliced tomatoes on white bread (they ran out of any other kind). My coffee was delicious too! The only qualm I have with this place is that I waited about 10 minutes to get my food. The place seemed understaffed and the two Batistas working were visibly overwhelmed. Many customers began to complain, and to their credit the Batistas remained calm and politely addressed each complaint. Although I got impatient, my food (and drink) was worth the wait! Will I go back? Hell yes!
(3)Sarah M.
Begin: GLADIATOR FIGHT TO THE DEATH. I can't have TWO favorite coffee shops in Boston, now can I? Crema cafe is so amazing, but then I found this place, and...and...It's too amazing too! So, for the first time in my life, I am counting Cambridge as an entirely separate entity, and naming Pavement my favorite in metro Bostonia. I have two words for you: Spanish latte. This is, without a doubt, my favorite coffee drink on the planet. Duh, Starbucks doesn't have it-it's a specialty drink, made only in indie coffee shops. Espresso Royale has them, but the best one I have ever had is from Pavement. Just the right amount of espresso, milk, and the special ingredient: condensed milk. It's perfect iced or hot, and you don't have to add any sugar. Pavement is in the middle of uber hipster land-I'm talking, these cool kids are making FUN of the cool kids of Allston. Elitist by wearing old clothes, whatever. Just be prepared for that. Mostly, the employees are hipsters, but also pretty friendly. They also happen to have the most delicious molasses cookies I have had in years...takes me right back to being a sticky 4 year old kid. Also: an outlet at almost every seat, clean bathroom, big tables, quirky decor, and an outdoor patio. Dear Pavement: I love you, you are perfect, let's get married.
(5)B L.
I came here for this first time this week. I was there on a weekday, early afternoon, so there was plenty of seating and really nice natural light. The iced coffee was delicious. I give only 4 stars because the service was preettyyy slow. My friend waited about 7 minutes for his latte, and it took them about 5 do toast my bagel. (But it was tasty!)
(4)Jessica L.
Hands down my favorite place to go every Saturday morning. Bagels and sandwiches are delicious and their coffee is the best in Boston!! Very inviting atmosphere and the staff is very friendly.
(5)Happy Eater B.
Pavement Coffeehouse has many strengths: Cool decor. Creative, interesting local art on the walls. Exposed brick. Comfortable seats, practical tables. Terrific coffee. Free refills! Good food. Fair prices. Sufficient seating. I can usually find a place to sit down. Friendly, positive staff who are sincerely helpful. They participate in Bicycle Benefits and there's always a place to lock my bike outside (to a parking meter, etc.). Things that need improvement: -the line for the counter becomes very clogged and crowded. I don't see a good way to deal with this, given the size of that part of the store and the popularity of the place, but it is still inconvenient. -the menu needs more options. perhaps a weekly special would keep things fresher and more interesting.
(4)Jess R.
Yay, I can get Bagel Rising bagels near my office without putting up with the attitude problems of the Espresso Royale Coffeehouse staff! The Pavement folks are every bit as hipster as their Newbury Street brethren and sistren, but with much less attitude--Pacific Northwest or NoCaro instead of NYC. They make fine coffee, although the service is kind of slow (hence four stars instead of five). If ever I get bored of their bagels, their tuna melt sandwich (served not on a bagel but on thick-cut bread) is also tasty. The decor of the coffeehouse is also very nice. Check out the fantastic old wooden bathroom door (looks like it was the front door of a Victorian house in its last life). I do question the wisdom of having wood floors in your bathroom instead of tile, but what do I know?
(4)Lara S.
Love this place. Great study atmosphere - lots of laptops and the conversational buzz is at a minimum. The appropriately hipster staff are always friendly and for-here coffees come with FREE REFILLS. Awesome. Outlets aplenty, but the WiFi is sometimes spotty. The coffee is delish. I love that they only serve small capps (keeps them from being too milky) and the Uganda coffee is fantastic. In terms of food, I've had the Chia bagel which was very good for anyone into veggie and a blueberry muffin which was nothing special, but definitely tasty. They also have salads, but I don't recommend them; the one I had was a little too basic and came with packaged dressing (yes, I am a snob). Overall though, great place. Definitely come here if you're looking to spend a few productive hours with great coffee and cute, friendly people.
(4)Peter K.
I am fairly knowledgeable about espresso. I home roast, and have used pro quality gear in my home for years including mazzer grinders and 45 pound Italian espresso machines. Pavement Rocks! I am not there a lot, but it's real third wave coffee in Boston. If you think espresso is best served with spooned on milk in a 16 ounce cup you need schooling.
(5)Mark C.
Cool, funky place with excellent coffee and nice decor. Since opening the place has been packed with a lot of Berklee students and staff which is pretty cool. I hope they find a way to get some live music in there. Service is adequate, not great - which is why I give it a 4.
(4)Joshua L.
Ate their tequila sunrise breakfast sandwich and had a large latte, and while it was a bit on the pricey side I did really enjoy the food. The sandwich was unique having jalapeño cream cheese in it to give it a nice bite. The service was a little slow as well but exactly what you would expect for an urban coffee shop.
(4)Stan S.
This would be a great coffeehouse, if it weren't for the service. It's the slowest service I've ever had in a coffeehouse. If you've got somewhere you've got to be, and there are more than 1 or 2 people in line, go around the corner to Starbucks. Today I waited while the girl running the empty register chatted with her friend, while the other girl rang her up. Finally, girl #2 switched registers with the chatty Cathy, so she could attend to the other 10 people in line, Cathy kept on chatting! This is right at the Berklee campus, and most of the clientele are students and faculty. I've talked a number of folks who won't come here because it's impossible to grab a coffee between classes, it's just too slow. That said, I love the vibe, the menu tasty, and the coffee pretty good. I just make sure I have at least 20-30 minutes before class or I go elsewhere. By the way, I tried to e-mail them, and the address on their website bounces :(
(3)Carrianne C.
+ Consistently good iced and hot coffee, whether you get espresso or not. + Spanish lattes + Huge tea list, with 3 types of iced teas - my favorite is the mint. + Baked goods are VERY good, and a little different than your typical cafe pastry options. I'm
(4)C P.
Maybe I received an ill-constructed sandwich. Purchased the Awakening breakfast sandwich made with focaccia bread, goat cheese, spinach, red onions, whole cherry tomatoes and scrambled egg. The bread was soft and chewy, good but could have been toasted. Upon opening the wrapper, the whole cherry tomatoes fell out of the the sandwich. Therefore the bite was without tomatoes unless I crush them myself. There was 2 spinach leaves for the entire sandwich and the goat cheese was hardly present. The egg was either from a carton or powder, a disappointment. Hopefully, this level of quality is not consistent.
(2)Shannon M.
Came in for a breakfast sandwich and a chai. Really liked the tequila sunrise but the eggs on it were like those circular pre mixed stuff that fast food places have. Not sure if you can ask for a real round egg. It was delish nonetheless. Chai was made from concentrated tea and was very good too.
(4)Tom R.
Great place. Definitely my go to for coffee and sandwiches for lunch. If you're in back bay in between Hereford and Exeter St. it's definitely a solid option.
(4)Robert K.
What was once a reliable spot for fantastic bagels near my apartment is now little more than another generic cafe offering below average bagels to go along with slow, indifferent service. Whatever recipe they're now using for their "made in-house" bagels isn't working and is far cry from "Bagel Rising" which previously supplied their bagels.
(2)Ami P.
My mint latte was on point! My friend was upset because she said that she ordered a Spanish latte but they only gave her a regular. She said this happens frequently which makes her upset so hopefully this will change. They gave my other friend the wrong scone but my vegan muffin was great.
(3)Trina T.
It was a nice sunny spring day I'm Boston and I needed to find a cafe to do some work. This place had a great ambience and great drinks. People were just coming in and out all the time. The decor was nice and they had a big big big seating area, probably to cater to the student population at BU. the music they played today was a few years old but it's what actually made me love the place more! The only downside is that free wifi is only 60 minutes so I had to work around that.
(4)Candice H.
Great little coffee house w/ ample seating, but parking is a nightmare because everywhere is residential parking only. When it snows, good luck finding a meter. Got a capp and was served w/ the perfect size cup (large capps are my pet peeve, because then I would just order a latte folks). My mom ordered a pistachio muffin and wholly cow it was delicious. Ample seating in the back and a very clean coffeehouse.
(4)Robert S.
I was taking a 2 day course at Berklee and needed some breakfast so I got the vegan sunrise sandwich with their house coffee. The sandwich was excellent as was the coffee. The staff were all very friendly and the atmosphere was cozy and inviting. Great place to grab a cup of Joe and relax.
(5)Yan C.
I wished I had read other Yelpers' reviews before coming here. Then I probably would have gotten a Spanish latte that everyone raves about. And just maybe, I would have enjoyed my coffee more. My friend and I stopped by Pavement to get some coffee to keep ourselves warm on a freezing wintery day. I got my usual - a cappuccino. The prices are on par with other coffee shops but the sizes of the coffee are much smaller. Service was slow. My coffee art wasn't spectacular either. In fact I couldn't tell what it was supposed to be. All of these details wouldn't matter as much if the coffee itself was amazing. Unfortunately this was not the case. My cappuccino was weak and sour to taste. My friend thought his regular coffee tasted "weird" as well. The place was packed with students, but we managed to snatch two seats after waiting for a few minutes. Some things I liked were the comfy armchairs and cool coffee tables. Note that wifi is only free for the first hour. Overall I was not impressed. Not sure if I will go back.
(3)Laurie K.
Excellent coffee. Great seating. Nice environment. Terrific sandwiches. Cool vibe. Free (reliable) wifi for the first two hours. While the prices are a bit high and the free wifi access is limited, the overall high quality makes a visit worthwhile. The experience exceeds the services, products, and environments found at the independent and chain coffee shops in the city.
(5)Steph A. K.
Pavement Coffee House has one of my favorite coffees of all time- and I'm not even a regular coffee drinker. It's their Spanish latte. It really does remind me of a nice, warm café con leche. They'll turn it into an iced coffee for you if you wish, but I don't think the flavor or presentation is the same. I keep getting the same thing time after time, but I hear they have great hot chocolate too. I've been to the location at Newbury and on Boylston. I prefer the latter due to the comfortable space and all the Berklee students hanging out with their instruments. Really brings out that coffee shop feel.
(4)Regina W.
I'm visiting my old roommate in Boston this weekend and he happens to live close to this coffee shop that is apparently also the go-to place for Berklee students. I needed some place to both grab coffee and work for about 2-hours, so I decided to come here since I had only been once before about 4-5 years ago. I knew before I came that they had free Wi-Fi, but found out after I got here that you can only use it for an hour for free. Even though it would be nice if the free Wi-Fi was available longer, this didn't bother me too much. I ordered the Spanish Latte after I saw that it was recommended on Yelp and it did not disappoint. I was told that it comes with condensed milk along with regular milk which gives it its sweet flavor. For food, I got the Veggie Sunrise which is a veggie breakfast bagel sandwich with eggs, spinach, and cheddar. This breakfast sandwich hit the spot and I would definitely order it again if I was in the area and needed a quick bite. As far as atmosphere, there are a lot of students both talking and working on their laptops. I also heard at least a couple different languages being spoken. It was super crowded when I went, but I was still able to find a seat by the window so I was happy. Overall, I would come back if I was already in the area and wanted a solid coffee drink and good breakfast sandwich.
(4)Cath M.
Thank you for saving me from going to SB! Walked in... good, welcoming ambiance. The staff were friendly and fast. I ordered a soy mocha... first sip... redemption! Instantly became a fan! My mocha was chocolatey, not bitter and guess what, not scolding hot without me telling to make it 140 degrees! Also ordered a sunrise bagel sandwich -- scrambled eggs / bacon / cheddar on everything bagel: perfect to last me until 2 pm (conference sessions galore!) Overall... it's walking distance to the Hynes Convention - if you want a decent cup of coffee - well worth walking and I definitely recommend! PS: decent prices!
(4)Dominic A.
Only one visit, so take it for what it's worth, but the macchiato was excellent, the chicken salad on toasted million grain was very good, and they get an extra star for helping me with quarters for parking and serving the sandwich 15 min before lunch was officially supposed to start. Service was friendly and fast, and the atmosphere was cool. Hipster vibe which I normally hate but it was missing the pretension. I'm not into coffee houses but if I lived or worked nearby I would be a regular here.
(5)Nicole H.
I sat on the large outdoor patio which was perfect for studying and people watching. I ordered a dirty chai and it was perfectly balanced with spicy chai and a little bit of sweetness. The baristas were friendly and fast!
(5)Gary A.
Pavement has the trappings of a great coffee house. Good roaster on tap (Counter Culture), hipster baristas, pro equipment, art on the walls, appropriate sizes for the drink ( e.g.no 16 oz cappuccinos). Unfortunately the coffee is sloppily made. The milk in my wife's latte was poured quickly into the cup. The milk in my cappuccino was heated to a unpleasant sweetness and the espresso was on the bitter side. Not a total bust, but with a little more care in the prep it could be better.
(3)