Hydra Coffeehouse — Restaurant in City of Rochester

I had the fortune of visiting this coffee shop on just its third day open, and if not for the fact that I am out-of-towner, I can say that I'd probably become a regular.

The food menu is relatively limited, but covers both of your breakfast tastes, whether they be savory or sweet. I got the cheddar and scallion scone warmed, and it was great. As they dial in their menu (remember, they haven't been open a week at this point!), I am sure there will be plenty of things to satisfy. The coffee drink menu is similarly simple, but covers almost everything you'd expect in a cafe; hot and cold, espresso and roasted. I got the cold brew and it was exactly what I expected (and needed!)

Seating is split between downstairs and upstairs; I had no problem finding seating for just myself on either floor. The downstairs has table seating as well as a convenient bar counter while waiting for your items; I'd say room for about 12 or so people. Upstairs has plenty more, with chairs and couches. The Wifi is blazing fast (faster than MOST homes...), so you should be fine with whatever work you need to get done, but remember to practice safe public internet browsing. Tip: if you need a power outlet, start with going upstairs, as that's what one of the owners advised.

Speaking of the owners and staff, they are friendly and love chatting about anything! I definitely recommend Hydra as a place to work, as a meeting place, or just a spot to grab a...

Me and my husband have been so excited for this place to open and they did not disappoint! As you can see in the pictures, the environment is super nice, they manage to strike a nice balance between warm (couches upstairs for people to sit and hang out) and business (there is wifi and tables set up for the laptop cafe enthusiasts).

Prices are right in line with most cafes, not any more expensive than Starbucks and they offer the specialty coffee drinks like a cortado and americano. I got the pumpkin spice latte, the flavor was delightful, but it was just a hair too sweet for my taste. That being said, I when I go to Starbucks I ask for half sweetness so that's just a me thing. Very friendly to non-coffee drinkers, they have teas on the menu, and my husband got a Brown sugar rosemary steamer that was amazing, and the scone he got was packed with flavor and not overly dry, I was really impressed!

Overall, we are so happy this place opened up and they will be seeing more of us!

Edit: 8 months later, still love this place. I just tried their caramel affogato and OH MY...

Hydra Coffeehouse is a fantastic cafe with a strong "coffee house" vibe that compliments its lazy afternoon atmosphere and overall is just simply a very enjoyable place to be.

The coffee menu is simple but hits all of the cafe favorites, no need to complicate it. There is a small seating section adjacent to the ordering counter, and the most chill, hang out area upstairs if that is more what you are looking for. There is also some outdoor seating - less of a utilitarian setup but pretty cool.

The coffee house is located at the intersection of Monroe and Oxford, making the walk from the East / Park Ave area an enjoyable one. The breakfast sandwiches are decent, there is a small selection of pastries/treats, and Dogtown is next door with food options for those in need of an impromptu Garbage Plate.

Overall, Hydra Coffeehouse is a solid cafe option if you're looking for a place with a strong "coffee house" vibe, or a quiet place to get lost in a book in the...