Discover the Boston Area's Best Cafes: A Food Tour Guide Part IV

By Adam Branco

It's been far too long since I put up a blog for all of you, but I've visited some more great cafes and moved to a wonderful new neighborhood with plenty of them, so this one is long overdue. Those who haven't read the previous installments can click here for Part I, here for Part II, and here for Part III. For those who are already caught up, here's Part IV:

It Means Magic at Jadu

Jadu: Let's set it off with a new cafe in my new neighborhood in Jamaica Plain that's quickly becoming one of Centre St's great hangout locations. From the word meaning "Magic" in Hindi, Jadu is barely 6 months old but has been nothing but packed to the brim each time I've gone. The menu is largely inspired by the owner Maya Mukhopadhaya's time in India and Lebanon, and they get their chai from Dorchester-based Madhrasi (I met them in Union Square's weekend market; they're very nice people). They also started serving wine in the evening about 3 weeks ago, and they have a spacious out-the-door-and-around-the-corner patio that they share with Vee Vee. I had Remnant Brewery in Union Square, and now I have Jadu in JP.

Boston's Only Cinema Cafe at The VU

The VU: Does it count as a cafe if there's no seating? It's my blog and my rules, so I'll allow it. Short for Video Underground, The VU is Boston's only video rental store, a small-batch coffee roaster, and a full-service coffee shop that truly encapsulates the JP community. Go more than twice, and Kevin will be able to call out your order the next time you walk in before you even say a word. If you do in fact have a DVD player, they have about 4,000 titles available for rental. Prices are also shockingly low, which is a breath of fresh air. Just don't ask him about Forrest Gump.

Nourishing Food and Soulful Community at Ula Cafe

Ula Cafe: Extremely cozy and decked with local art, this cafe, located in JP's Brewery Complex, is a black-owned, woman-owned, and veteran-owned cafe, bakery, and lunch spot. The whole complex is a pretty fantastic case study of mixed-use development, and Ula has become a classic JP staple. Come in, get snug with everyone else trying to get some work done, and enjoy.

Imagine a Nameless Cafe at Kismet

Kismet: Out of the countless social media phrases regarding food & drink that have become exhausted and watered down, some random Instagram reel or TikTok calling the 10th different spot of the week "viral" has become particularly irksome; there's no way all of these spots are that great. So, when my friends sent me a video of a "viral nameless cafe" in Cambridge about 1.3 miles northwest of Harvard Square, I rolled my eyes. However, I wanted to give it a shot, and I'm happy I did. This is one of the cooler hangout spots I've been to in a while. Created by the team behind Iggy's Bread, its official name is Kismet and is also referred to as Imagine Cafe. Nicole M. Hernandez Abud from the Harvard Crimson said it best:

"The small space is beautifully decorated with furry carpets, fluffy cushions, and a fireplace whose lively flames warm the room. A monochromatic palette — off-white, beige, and light grays — is complemented by the dark wood of the counter and the pops of green from the succulents spread around. Although limited, the seating is arranged at the edge of the walls as a continuous banquette to be shared by all customers, rendering the place more inviting."

It's certainly worth the trek.

Funny Business at Circus Cooperative Cafe

Circus Cooperative Cafe: A vibrant employee-owned and operated cafe at one of the former Darwin's locations on Putnam Ave by the Central Square stop has gone through, as Cambridge Day called it, a bohemian reboot. With turquoise walls and couches suitable for Sunday naps, this cafe is as quirky as it is inviting and certainly encapsulates what a hip Cambridge hangout spot should feel like.

Turkish Delights at Sip of Joy

Sip of Joy: In the South End for this one, Matt, who was an absolute joy to talk to, and Burju Sari make small-batch Turkish coffee (along with George Howell coffee) to go with Turkish and American small bites in a tremendously relaxing space. The South End is one of the great Boston neighborhoods, and this is a terrific addition to it.

Join Up & Adam Food Tours

If you'd rather try some new food in the area instead of a new cafe, come join of one of my food tours! Check out upandamfoodtours.com, and email me at info@upandadamfoodtours.com or message me at (508) 271-7124 for more details.