Changing Tides Café — Restaurant in Newburyport

This is a very long overdue review that I meant to write a few weeks ago after visiting the area on vacation. Let me just say, during my week's stay in Newburyport, I tried all the local coffee shops and Changing Tides Cafe was the best one. The staff was friendly, the owner was lovely, the pastries are delicious, and the coffee is phenomenal. They use George Howell Beans, but so do a lot of other places, and I've come to realize that even when using a high quality bean, it doesn't actually matter unless the barista is trained properly on how to care for and use the bean in coffee. These baristas know. I love that they offer pour-overs or French presses of each of their specialty beans and that they never seem to rush the process.

Throughout my multiple visits I tried their breakfast sandwich, peach muffin, white-chocolate raspberry scone, and strawberry glazed donut, as well as 3 or 4 different coffees they offer. I was more than pleased each and every time I came back. The peach muffin caught my eye first because you don't typically see that offered at a lot of coffee shops, rather you get the same selection of blueberry, chocolate, or cinnamon flavors, which they also offer here, but I made sure I tried the unique ones. I'm so glad I chose it. The peaches were sweet and the muffin was so soft and fluffy. The white-chocolate raspberry scone was just as good. Maybe the best scone I've ever had. I took one bite and went "now that's how you do a scone." Most scones you buy these days are overcooked, dry, and crumbly, and there's this misconception that that's how they're supposed to be. Nope. Changing Tides knows how to do a scone. And a decadent one at that. The fresh raspberry and the creamy white chocolate is the perfect combination. The scone's texture and composition is just right; it's not as moist as a muffin, but not dry and stale; it easily breaks apart but doesn't completely disintegrate when you dip it into coffee. Now, let me tell you about this homeade strawberry frosted donut- Just Increible. They only offer donuts on Fridays and Saturdays, and I am so glad I was able to snag one on the last day of my vacation. What a soft and pillowy donut and the sweet, sticky frosting- Just out of this world! They had a whole bunch of other flavors too, of course, but these donuts are like the size of my entire hand! I was blown away.

The atmosphere here is so nice and comfortable, too. I enjoyed all of my visits out back on the patio, which has lots of furniture and different seating options with tables. There's a few tables and a couch inside as well. The bathroom is clean and spacious. The people, not just the staff, but the fellow customers, are so sweet and friendly.

Changing Tides was simply everything I wanted from a local cafe. I of course loved the coffee and treats, but more than anything, I appreciated the humanity behind this business. You just don't get service and quality like this in most places anymore. So to everyone at Changing Tides, thank you for what...

My wife, Ann, and I went to Changing Tides for the first time this morning, as we had heard how good it was from several other locals! We were very impressed with the expansive options. We went for the coffee, muffin and donut. As I was picking up my order inside the shop , I was so impressed with the personality of one the the workers to everyone that she encountered! As I was exiting to go to their very nice outside patio, I asked her if she might be the owner, to which she said that she was. I expressed that this was “our maiden voyage and that we were very Impressed with the shop and the numerous options! Our coffees and treats were exceptional, as was the ability to enjoy a very nice relaxing patio! Now with all that said, the best is yet to come! After being home for awhile, I realized that I could not find my wallet!! First time ever for me! Having no luck checking every thing at home, we set off to trace all of our stops! When we got back to Changing Tides, I asked the young lady at the ordering area if anyone had found a wallet!! The look on her face made me think she had a surprise for me!! Then that very personable owner, that I alluded to earlier, approached me and pulled my wallet out of her pocket!!! She said that she found it on the table we were sitting at after we had left!! She made my day, to say the least!! She said that she saw my drivers license and was going to deliver it to my address appearing on my license upon closing her business for the day!!! I was so impressed by her during our first visit and now I am one of her biggest fans, not only for her personality, her attention to her great business, but her genuine commitment to make her customers stupidity a very good day!! We will become “your regulars, not just because of who you are, but because of your wonderful products!!! Thank you so much for...

Excellent place.

On Sundays my wife and I try to find a different breakfast/cafe place to visit on the North Shore (think area from Wenham to Seabrook to Andover). She needs gluten free so it can be a challenge to find good coffee/pastries/breakfast for both of us. This place did not disappoint. We’ve checked out 20 places (all 4.5 or higher) in the last 9 months and I’d say this place is among the top 5. When we arrived there was a line (good sign) and ordering/customer service/interaction was great.

I had an egg sandwich on an Asiago bagel - enjoyed it very much (9/10). I got a maple bacon scone and white chocolate raspberry scone to go. Those were good (8.5/10). Hot coffee was good (8.5/10). Wife had an açaí bowl (9/10) and gluten free chocolate scone (9/10).

We will be back. Note, we’ve searched for places in Newburyport over the last 9 months… and this place never ‘popped up’ on our radar as we were assuming we should search for breakfast places in the concentrated downtown area. This place is ~ 3 blocks from the downtown area so google maps may not highlight it. If you are in the downtown area, this place is worth the walk. Plenty of street...