Coffee · Montclair
Coffee Shops in Montclair, NJ: 9 Cafés from Walnut Street to Upper Montclair
The best coffee shops in Montclair, NJ by neighborhood: 9 cafés across Montclair Center, Walnut Street, Watchung Plaza and Upper Montclair, checked for 2026.
By Tessa Moretti, our virtual host
Researched and edited by the Chefbouyon team
Updated · 8 min read
Quick picks
- Near the trainRed Eye CafeIt sits on Walnut Street, about a block from the Walnut Street station.Directions
- For laptop workEagle Rock CafeIt describes itself as a space to meet, create and work.Directions
- For pastriesMattarello Bakery + CaféA bakery-café with dozens of baked goods and specialty lattes.Directions
- With outdoor chairsJava Love Coffee Roasting Co.Its Bellevue Avenue café has Adirondack chairs out front.Directions
- For something differentQahwah HouseYemeni coffee from its family's farms, plus cardamom-spiced drinks.Directions
Montclair has one of the most crowded coffee scenes in New Jersey, and the town seems quietly proud of it. There's a café on nearly every corner of its little business districts: Montclair Center along Bloomfield Avenue, Walnut Street by the train, Watchung Plaza and the Victorian blocks of Upper Montclair. If you're searching for coffee shops in Montclair, NJ, the trick isn't finding one. It's choosing.
This guide is built for that choice. It's for the day-tripper coming out from Manhattan on the train, the Essex County local hunting for a new Saturday spot and the friend group that needs one café where everyone gets what they want. Some of these are roasters, some are bakeries that happen to make excellent lattes, and one pours Yemeni coffee from a family farm.
I've organized the cafés in Montclair, NJ by neighborhood, so you can park (or step off the train) once and walk. Montclair is a town of strolls: tree-lined streets, galleries, bookshops, and a cup in hand makes all of it better.
How I picked these
These picks come from research, not personal visits. Every café was checked against its own website or recent local coverage in 2025–2026 and is open as of this update. I looked for a mix of styles, a spread across Montclair's walkable districts, and places that clearly describe what they serve. Hours shift often, so every card links directly to the café.
Watchung Plaza
Local Coffee
Known for A family-owned shop pouring Irving Farm coffee and Tay Tea, with pastries from Balthazar Bakery and Granola Lab.
107 Watchung Ave, Montclair, NJ 07043
Also in Day Trips from NYC
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Local Coffee is the small independent shop at 107 Watchung Avenue, in the Watchung Plaza neighborhood. Its approach is to bring in the best from both sides of the Hudson. Local coverage notes that its coffee comes from Irving Farm Coffee Roasters and its tea from Tay Tea, with pastries from Balthazar Bakery and Granola Lab.
That makes Local a pick for the person who likes a tight, carefully chosen menu: a well-made espresso drink, a good pastry and nothing fussy. It's also a neighborhood shop in the truest sense. Watchung Plaza is a quieter pocket of town than Bloomfield Avenue, with a small cluster of restaurants and shops around the Watchung Avenue train station.
Who will love it? Commuters, neighbors and anyone who wants a calm cup before heading into the bustle downtown. Oat, almond and soy milks are available.
Walnut Street
Walnut Street is Montclair's prettiest little shopping strip, a few blocks of independent stores, cafés and restaurants clustered near the Walnut Street train station. These two pairs make an easy coffee crawl.
Red Eye Cafe
Known for A Walnut Street staple brewing organic, fair-trade Kobrick coffee, known for its cold-brewed 'sludge'.
94 Walnut St, Montclair, NJ 07042
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Red Eye Cafe has been a Walnut Street staple for years, and it's one of the cafés locals mention most when the subject turns to coffee. Local coverage describes it brewing organic, fair-trade and Rainforest Alliance-certified Kobrick coffee and espresso, and serving breakfast, lunch and brunch alongside the coffee.
The drink to know is the "sludge," Red Eye's signature made from cold-brewed espresso and cardamom. It's a reason to stop even if you already had your morning cup. The café also offers an organic CBD add-on for any drink, and almond, oat and soy milks.
Who will love it? Anyone who likes a neighborhood café with personality and a short walk to the train. Red Eye sits at 94 Walnut Street, which makes it an easy first stop if you're arriving at Walnut Street station, and a natural starting point for browsing the strip.
The Corner
Known for A gourmet café (opened April 2015) serving coffee, tea and fresh-pressed juices with an in-house pastry and savory menu.
115 Grove St, Montclair, NJ 07042
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
The Corner sits exactly where its name says: 115 Grove Street, on the corner of Walnut Street. It opened in April 2015 and calls itself a gourmet café serving the finest coffee, tea leaves and fresh-pressed juices, alongside an in-house pastry and savory menu prepared in an open kitchen.
The room is part of the draw. Owner Jeff Munoz, a Montclair local, designed the interior with designer Nicole Roantree to mix urban, eclectic style with the town's suburban charm. Window-ledge seating runs the full length of the south and west sides, so you can watch passers-by while you sip. Local coverage notes it pours La Colombe coffee.
Who will love it? Brunch people. The Corner is a popular weekend breakfast and lunch spot, and it gets busy, so it's better for a lingering meal than a long laptop session. Check its site for current days and hours before you go.
Artazu Bakery Cafe
Known for A coffee bar from the owners of Bloomfield's Rombiolo Bakery Cafe, with espresso drinks, pastries and empanadas.
6 Depot Square, Montclair, NJ 07042
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Artazu is a small bakery-café at 6 Depot Square, a few blocks from The Corner. It's run by the owners of Rombiolo Bakery Cafe in Bloomfield, and its baked goods arrive daily from that sister bakery.
Expect espresso drinks, macchiatos and frappes, with a case of danishes, breads, cakes and muffins. There are savory pastries too, including oven-baked beef, chicken, ham and spinach empanadas. That makes Artazu one of the best bets in town for a quick savory breakfast with your coffee.
Who will love it? Anyone who wants something more filling than a croissant, and anyone exploring the Walnut Street end of town on foot. Grab an empanada and a cortado and keep walking.
Montclair Center and Bloomfield Avenue
Montclair Center is the busiest part of town, with theaters, restaurants and shops strung along Bloomfield Avenue. These three cafés give it real coffee range.
Java Love Coffee Roasting Co.
Known for A woman-owned, small-batch roaster committed to 'coffee with integrity', with cafés in Upper Montclair and Montclair Center.
244 Bellevue Ave, Montclair, NJ 07043
- Outdoor seating
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Java Love Coffee Roasting Co. is a woman-owned, small-batch roaster, and its motto is "coffee with integrity." It began in 2011 with a roaster in a storefront on Kauneonga Lake in Bethel, New York, and says it uses only organic, fair-trade, naturally farmed and Rainforest Alliance beans, roasted in small batches so they reach you fresh. Its compostable cups are part of the same low-impact approach.
In Montclair Center, the Church Street café at 49 Church Street sits in a walkable block of restaurants and shops. Java Love says it's a favorite meeting spot for local business owners and kids after school. It sells "monuts," buttermilk muffins rolled in cinnamon and sugar, some filled with Nutella, plus a breakfast and lunch menu with gluten-free and vegan options.
The Upper Montclair café at 244 Bellevue Avenue is the cozier sibling. It's a place where regulars know each other and a weekly knitting circle meets, and it has Adirondack chairs outside with water for your dog. Java Love also lists a Bay Street café and a café at Montclair State University. It hosts coffee classes, live music and events too.
Paper Plane Coffee Co.
Known for A coffee company with a monthly 'Passport' coffee, pour-overs, coffee sodas and an experimental 'science' drink menu.
61 N Fullerton Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Paper Plane Coffee Co. is the place to go if you like your coffee with a little theater. Its Montclair café is at 61 North Fullerton Avenue, just off Bloomfield Avenue. Local coverage says the shop pours a selection of pour-overs and coffee sodas, such as a cherry-vanilla soda with espresso, and keeps a whole "science" section of experimental drinks that play with temperature and flavors like chocolate, spice and fruit.
Paper Plane also sells its own coffees by the bag, offers a monthly "Passport" coffee, and lets you book its Montclair space for gatherings. Mobile ordering is available through its site at set times. It also runs a second café, The Terminal, in Maplewood.
Who will love it? Adventurous drinkers and anyone who gets bored of the same latte. Bring a friend and order two very different things.
Qahwah House
Known for A Yemeni coffee house pouring organic Arabica from its family's eight-generation farms in Yemen.
493 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Qahwah House brings Yemeni coffee tradition to 493 Bloomfield Avenue. The company describes an eight-generation family story and says it sources 100% organic Arabica from family farms in Yemen, including the Al Hasbani Farms. It now has more than 30 cafés around the country.
The menu is the reason to come. Local coverage highlights the signature Sana'ani coffee, a medium roast made with cardamom, and Adeni chai, a Yemeni black tea with cardamom, nutmeg and milk. Qahwah House also sells beans, loose-leaf teas and coffee gear, if you'd like to try the flavors at home.
Who will love it? Anyone curious about coffee's oldest traditions, spice lovers and friends who want a warm, unhurried place to talk. It's a fine pick for a coffee date before a show downtown.
Upper Montclair
Upper Montclair is the leafy, village-like north end of town, built around Bellevue Avenue and the Upper Montclair train station. Java Love's Bellevue café (above) is here too, so you can line up three stops on one short walk.
Eagle Rock Cafe
Known for A neighborhood café near the Upper Montclair train station, built as a space to meet, create, work or slow down.
202 Bellevue Ave #1B, Montclair, NJ 07043
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Eagle Rock Cafe calls itself a neighborhood café serving carefully made coffee, tea and pastries in a welcoming space to "meet, create, work, or simply slow down." It's at 202 Bellevue Avenue, and its own site notes it's within walking distance of the Upper Montclair train station.
This is the most work-friendly café in this guide. Eagle Rock pitches itself to entrepreneurs and creatives, describes a space with high ceilings and lots of sunlight that suits teamwork or solo focus, and offers a private room you can reserve. Local coverage notes it brews Intelligentsia drip coffee and espresso drinks, from flat whites to cold brew, with almond and oat milks.
Who will love it? Remote workers, writers, and anyone who wants a bright room and a long, quiet morning.
Mattarello Bakery + Café
Known for An Upper Montclair bakery-café with dozens of baked goods, specialty lattes and gluten-free options.
254 Bellevue Ave, Montclair, NJ 07043
Checked against official sources Nov 2026
Mattarello Bakery + Café is the sweet stop on Bellevue Avenue, at number 254. Local coverage describes dozens of baked goods and specialty coffees. Among the lattes are a Nutella latte and a dulce de leche latte, and the bakery's treats include Nutella bites, St. Joseph's cream puffs and a gluten-free chocolate caprese.
That gluten-free option makes Mattarello a thoughtful choice for a mixed group, and its pastry case makes it the place to pick up something for later. Oat, almond and soy milks are available.
Who will love it? Pastry people, families and anyone heading to a weekend gathering who needs to arrive with a box of something lovely. Pair it with a walk around Upper Montclair's shops, or with a visit to the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens, a short drive away, if you're there in late spring.
Getting there and parking
Montclair is one of the easiest New Jersey towns to reach by train. NJ Transit's Montclair-Boonton Line stops at several stations in town, including Bay Street, Walnut Street, Watchung Avenue and Upper Montclair. Some trains run directly to New York Penn Station, and others connect through Hoboken. Each of this guide's neighborhoods sits near one of these stations, so you can hop between them. Service is lighter on weekends, so check NJ Transit before you plan around a train.
If you're driving, Montclair has metered street parking and municipal lots in its business districts. Weekend brunch hours are the busiest, so arrive early or plan to walk a few blocks.
When to go
Weekday mornings are calm. Weekends from about mid-morning through lunch are the peak, especially at brunch-focused spots like The Corner. Fall is a lovely season for a Montclair coffee walk, with the Victorian streets turning gold. Late spring brings blooms to the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens in Upper Montclair, which pairs nicely with a pastry from Bellevue Avenue.
Planning a bigger coffee trip? Compare Montclair with our guides to Hoboken coffee shops, Morristown coffee shops and Princeton coffee shops, or start with the statewide best coffee shops in NJ.
Every place in this guide, on the map
- Local Coffee107 Watchung Ave, Montclair, NJ 07043
- Red Eye Cafe94 Walnut St, Montclair, NJ 07042
- The Corner115 Grove St, Montclair, NJ 07042
- Artazu Bakery Cafe6 Depot Square, Montclair, NJ 07042
- Java Love Coffee Roasting Co.244 Bellevue Ave, Montclair, NJ 07043
- Paper Plane Coffee Co.61 N Fullerton Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042
- Qahwah House493 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042
- Eagle Rock Cafe202 Bellevue Ave #1B, Montclair, NJ 07043
- Mattarello Bakery + Café254 Bellevue Ave, Montclair, NJ 07043
Questions people ask
What is the best coffee shop in Montclair, NJ?
It depends on the neighborhood you're in. Local Coffee in Watchung Plaza, Red Eye Cafe and The Corner on Walnut Street, Paper Plane Coffee Co. downtown and Java Love in Upper Montclair turn up again and again in local coverage. Each has a different style, from Irving Farm pour-overs to experimental 'science' drinks to an in-house roaster, so pick by mood rather than ranking.
Which Montclair coffee shops roast their own beans?
Java Love Coffee Roasting Co. roasts small batches of organic, fair-trade and Rainforest Alliance coffee, and it sells beans and subscriptions online. Paper Plane Coffee Co. sells its own coffees, including a monthly 'Passport' feature. Qahwah House sources organic Arabica from its family's farms in Yemen. All three are good stops if you want to bring beans home.
Is there a coffee shop near the Upper Montclair train station?
Yes. Eagle Rock Cafe, at 202 Bellevue Avenue, says it is within walking distance of the Upper Montclair train station. Java Love's Bellevue Avenue café and Mattarello Bakery + Café are on the same stretch of Bellevue Avenue, so you can easily compare all three on one short walk.
Where can I work on a laptop in a Montclair café?
Eagle Rock Cafe in Upper Montclair is the clearest choice. It describes itself as a place to meet, create, work or slow down, says it's built for teamwork or solo work, and offers a private room you can reserve. Busier brunch spots like The Corner are better for a quick coffee than a long work session.
How do I get to Montclair from New York City?
NJ Transit's Montclair-Boonton Line stops at a string of Montclair stations, including Bay Street, Walnut Street, Watchung Avenue and Upper Montclair. Some trains run directly to New York Penn Station, and others connect through Hoboken. Service is lighter on weekends, so check NJ Transit for current schedules.
Spot something out of date, or know a place we should add? Tell us. Corrections are read first.
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