Cafe Zing — Restaurant in Cambridge

I really wanted to like this place more than I did because I love the idea of a coffee shop inside a bookstore! But I was pretty disappointed on all fronts. The service was pretty slow. It took over 10 minutes to get my drink after I ordered and only 3 other drinks were called in that time I was waiting, so it wasn't that busy. I got a maple latte, which didn't really taste like maple at all? It was very spiced and also tasted a little like dirt, so I'll definitely avoid that flavor if I ever go back. I also got a broccoli and ricotta croissant which tasted good but was really soggy and not at all crispy on the outside like a croissant should be. I think they're trying to make do with the space they have, which is why things aren't as good as you'd expect from a standalone shop. That said if I were in the area and needed some coffee I'd still pop in here instead of going to the chain...

UPDATE spring 2025: Ever since Porter Square Books moved, Cafe Zing has skyrocketed to be the number one cafe in the area. Same great coffee and food as before, but now with 5x as much seating plus a public bathroom. Hands down the coziest place around to set up a laptop and do a few hours of work.

Great tasting coffee and a very chill setting inside a book store, with a patio outside as well if you need. The wifi is fast enough for my work needs and the baristas are very friendly and helpful. They have some pretty good snacks too, including weirdly excellent pre-packaged half-sandwiches. I like the chicken breast with sriracha mayo. Beats the pants off Starbucks as a place to work on your laptop or sit and read for a while. Do be advised that on sunny days if you're sitting in the window you will probably get roasted unless you put down the blinds, and a couple seats don't have good...

A cozy and charming coffee shop inside a local bookstore that enhances the pleasure of book browsing in Somerville.

This spot first caught my attention while I was looking for a cup of hot chocolate in the area. The Aztec hot chocolate, which seemed to be their popular menu, was nice and smooth.

On a subsequent visit, I tried their chai latte and blueberry crumble. The chai latte, mild in its spiced flavors, provided a soothing contrast to the blueberry crumble, which was pleasantly not too sweet. I also enjoyed the ambiance, which embodied the causal, hip vibe of Somerville.

Overall, Cafe Zing's experience aligns well with what you might expect from a bookstore coffee shop – good enough to complement your reading experience without being a...