Circus Cooperative Cafe is a welcoming café and restaurant in Cambridge, MA, where thoughtful service, quality food, and a relaxed atmosphere come together to create a place people love returning to. With a strong 4.70 out of 5 rating from 163 reviews, it has earned a reputation for consistently delivering a dependable and enjoyable experience.
Guests are drawn in by the cafe’s great coffee and impressive tea selection, making it an ideal stop for a morning pick-me-up, a quiet work session, or a comfortable place to meet friends.
Whether you are starting your day with breakfast, stopping in for lunch, or arriving for dessert, the cafe offers the kind of inviting, well-rounded menu that makes every visit feel worthwhile.
What makes Circus Cooperative Cafe especially appealing is the variety of ways it serves its customers. You can enjoy dine-in service in a casual, cozy, and trendy setting, or choose takeaway, delivery, or on-site services to fit your schedule.
The menu is designed to satisfy a wide range of tastes, offering coffee, comfort food, quick bites, vegan options, and vegetarian options, all prepared to support both convenience and quality. Table service adds to the overall ease and comfort of the experience, while amenities like Wi-Fi and a restroom help make longer stays more enjoyable.
It is a great place for solo dining, a casual meal, or a relaxed break during a busy day.
Accessibility and convenience are also important parts of the experience at Circus Cooperative Cafe. The cafe includes a wheelchair-accessible entrance and wheelchair-accessible toilet, helping ensure that more guests can visit with confidence and comfort.
Planning a visit is simple, with reservations accepted and multiple payment options available, including credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments. Located at 31 Putnam Ave in Cambridge, the cafe combines practicality with personality, offering a dependable neighborhood destination where excellent coffee, satisfying food, and friendly service create a memorable experience for every guest.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at Circus Cooperative Cafe
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
Turkey, Swiss, Avocado, Mayo, Herb Vinaigrette, Tomato Lettuce, on Sourdough
Rare Roast Beef, Brie Cheese, Sriracha, Sundried-Tomato Pesto Mayo, Red Onions, Lettuce, Tomato, on Sourdough
Spicy Korean Chicken Salad, House-made Pickles, Cilantro, on Sourdough
Cold Marinated Garlic-Ginger Tofu, Vegan Coleslaw, Vegan Garlic-Ginger Mayo, Bell Pepper, Cucumber, on 7-Grain
Hummus, Sliced Bell pepper, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Olive Oil, on 7-Grain
Tomato, Fresh Mozzarella, Herb Vinaigrette, Lettuce, on Sourdough
Brie Cheese, Caramelized Onion Jam, Arugula, Olive Oil, S&P on Sourdough Bread
Chickpea Salad Wrap with a homemade garlicky zhoug sauce (made with cilantro and jalapeno), vegan mayo, Cucumber, Arugula
Turkey, Swiss, Avocado, Mayo, Herb Vinaigrette, Tomato Lettuce, on Sourdough
Rare Roast Beef, Brie Cheese, Sriracha, Sundried-Tomato Pesto Mayo, Red Onions, Lettuce, Tomato, on Sourdough
Spicy Korean Chicken Salad, House-made Pickles, Cilantro, on Sourdough
Cold Marinated Garlic-Ginger Tofu, Vegan Coleslaw, Vegan Garlic-Ginger Mayo, Bell Pepper, Cucumber, on 7-Grain
Hummus, Sliced Bell pepper, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Olive Oil, on 7-Grain
Tomato, Fresh Mozzarella, Herb Vinaigrette, Lettuce, on Sourdough
Brie Cheese, Caramelized Onion Jam, Arugula, Olive Oil, S&P on Sourdough Bread
Chickpea Salad Wrap with a homemade garlicky zhoug sauce (made with cilantro and jalapeno), vegan mayo, Cucumber, Arugula
Peaflower blossom tea sweetened with lavender syrup added to lemonade. The tea is blue and turns purple in the lemonade !
Peaflower blossom tea sweetened with lavender syrup added to lemonade. The tea is blue and turns purple in the lemonade !
Greek yogurt, cinnamon-maple cranberry granola, and house-made seasonal fruit compote *Gluten-Free*
Overnight Oats topped with figs, apricots, and coconut
Greek yogurt, cinnamon-maple cranberry granola, and house-made seasonal fruit compote *Gluten-Free*
Overnight Oats topped with figs, apricots, and coconut
2 Eggs over-medium, Cheddar Cheese, Bacon, Avocado, on Sourdough
Breakfast Burrito, 2 scrambled Eggs, Bell Pepper, Red Onion, Black Beans, Cheddar, House-Made Pico on flour tortilla
Two scrambled eggs, pork sausage, potatoes, sauteed onions, cheddar cheese, and Cholula hot sauce on a flour tortilla.
Avocado, Veggie Sausage, Shredded Potato, Onion, and Cholula hot sauce on a Tortilla
SPECIAL! 1 scrambled egg, sausage patty, and cheddar cheese with maple syrup on an English muffin
2 Eggs over-medium, Cheddar Cheese, Bacon, Avocado, on Sourdough
Breakfast Burrito, 2 scrambled Eggs, Bell Pepper, Red Onion, Black Beans, Cheddar, House-Made Pico on flour tortilla
Two scrambled eggs, pork sausage, potatoes, sauteed onions, cheddar cheese, and Cholula hot sauce on a flour tortilla.
Avocado, Veggie Sausage, Shredded Potato, Onion, and Cholula hot sauce on a Tortilla
SPECIAL! 1 scrambled egg, sausage patty, and cheddar cheese with maple syrup on an English muffin
2 Eggs over-medium, Cheddar Cheese, Bacon, Avocado, on Sourdough
Two scrambled eggs, pork sausage, potatoes, sauteed onions, cheddar cheese, and Cholula hot sauce on a flour tortilla.
Breakfast Burrito, 2 scrambled Eggs, Bell Pepper, Red Onion, Black Beans, Cheddar, House-Made Pico on flour tortilla
SPECIAL! 1 scrambled egg, sausage patty, and cheddar cheese with maple syrup on an English muffin
Avocado, Veggie Sausage, Shredded Potato, Onion, and Cholula hot sauce on a Tortilla
Bagel toasted with cream cheese, lox, capers, tomato, red onion
Bagel toasted with cream cheese, lox, capers, tomato, red onion
Hear from our valued guests
Clear cut drink menu, decent assortment of pastries and lots of space to sit and chill out. The baristas were quirky & friendly. The strawberry tart has a nice lemon twist and the London Fog was smooth and delightful.
Circus Cooperative Cafe has a nice vibe and is good for casual coffee and snacks. However, if you are looking for authentic, flavorful Indian food, Singh Dhaba Boston truly stands out. The taste, portion size, and desi-style cooking make Singh Dhaba Boston a must-visit restaurant—highly recommended over others in the area.
Love the ambience of the place. Tried their seasonal special, Irish Cream Latte, and it was perfect for me. Wifi also works well which is a big plus!
Love this place! The Oldboy sandwich is one of my top sandwiches across Cambridge and that's some tough competition. Great drinks, pastries, and staff as well! Wait can be a bit long if a gaggle of tourists appears but that's life
Cozy, welcoming, and unique atmosphere. Incredibly friendly staff. Great food - I especially appreciate that there are more unique vegetarian and vegan options.
So excited that this cafe has opened up! The workers are so nice and are really bringing this space back to life - and the return of excellent sandwiches and coffee to the neighborhood. The workers own the business as a cooperative, so it’s a different and better atmosphere, because they are going to build this cafe as they want it to be and as a benefit to the community around it. The iced coffee was smoothly brewed, no bitterness even with no sugar or syrup added. I’m excited to return!
Cozy little local cafe in a quiet Cambridge neighborhood. Recently stumbled upon this place while on my way to grab coffee in Harvard Square. Embodying the cozy charm typical of local Cambridge cafes, this spot seemed to offer a soothing start to the day along with consistently satisfying food and drinks. During my past two visits, I tried the Gingerbread latte and the Rooibos latte. The former was very mild on the coffee and was mostly sweet, so it was more reminiscent of hot chocolate than a coffee-based latte. On the other hand, the Rooibos latte was excellent. Its light, slightly earthy sweetness, coupled with a buttery aftertaste, made it an excellent pairing to the breakfast sandwiches. Comprising eggs, beans, peppers, onions, and a light touch of cheddar, the MIT burrito tasted like a simple homemade burrito. Similarly, the Harvard sandwich exuded a comforting homeliness. The classic combination of bacon, avocado, and cheese with the runny egg oozing out of the sandwich made each bite rich and satisfying. Circus Cooperative Cafe somewhat reminds me of the cherished Gypsy coffee culture in Mid-Cambridge. It’s one of those places that encapsulates the essence of Cambridge's coffee scene. Will definitely be back to try their lunch sandwich offerings.
We had a latte, hot chocolate and chocolate croissants. Everything was really good! They also sell a high quality organic extra virgin olive oil.
Super friendly, cosy, and community-focused spot. They're stocked with free covid tests and masks, and other personal hygeine stuff for folks who need, and always have flyers/posters for interesting campaigns and events going on in the area. There's also free WiFi, seats where you can use a laptop (and others where you're asked not to), and an air purifier in the middle of the space. Aaaand the coffee is really tasty!
Lovely space—great food (I got the Mt. Auburn and devoured it), excellent community vibe, and so many resources offered to patrons. Definitely coming back to support this space and will try to be a regular.
Common questions about Circus Cooperative Cafe
Circus Cooperative Cafe is located at 31 Putnam Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States, Cambridge, MA, United States.
You can reach Circus Cooperative Cafe by calling +1 617-945-7437.
Circus Cooperative Cafe has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 based on 163 customer reviews.
Circus Cooperative Cafe features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
Circus Cooperative Cafe features the following service options: On-site services, Takeaway, Dine-in, Delivery.
Circus Cooperative Cafe features the following highlights: Great coffee, Great tea selection.
Circus Cooperative Cafe features the following popular for: Breakfast, Lunch, Solo dining.
Circus Cooperative Cafe features the following offerings: Coffee, Comfort food, Quick bite, Vegan options, Vegetarian options.
Circus Cooperative Cafe features the following dining options: Breakfast, Lunch, Dessert, Table service.
Circus Cooperative Cafe features the following amenities: Restroom, Wi-Fi.
Circus Cooperative Cafe features the following atmosphere: Casual, Cozy, Trendy.
Circus Cooperative Cafe features the following crowd: Family friendly, LGBTQ+ friendly.
Circus Cooperative Cafe features the following planning: Accepts reservations.
Circus Cooperative Cafe features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
Circus Cooperative Cafe features the following children: Good for kids.
Circus Cooperative Cafe features the following parking: Difficult to find a space.
Circus Cooperative Cafe features the following pets: Dogs allowed outside.
Business Features
We look forward to welcoming you. Make a reservation or stop by - walk-ins welcome!
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