Cozy Connections

There’s something about walking into a local café that reliably fills my heart. The scent of espresso mixes with the aroma of baked pastries, pieces of art from the community decking the walls, and of course a warm yet sassy greeting from the barista. It can feel like home no matter where you are in the world.

A local café is where you go to get right, reset, connect—be it with friends or just you and your caffeine addiction. If you happen to be away from your regular stomping grounds, a pop into a local café can be used like a “cheat code,” giving you an inside glimpse of local life—pretending for a minute that you live there, eavesdropping and people watching, absorbing the good stuff. 

I learned from a young age that warm beverages in places we enjoy and the art of having someone make it just for you is nothing short of magical. Like many of my peers, I was a child of divorce, and from ages 11-18 I traveled solo from Cape May to see my father in Seattle, Washington. This put my angsty tween self right in the middle of the grunge and coffee scene—it was Nirvana, pun intended. My dad and I would walk the colorful streets of the Capitol Hill neighborhood, rocking our flannels with cappuccinos in hand, feeling the absolute coolest a pre-teen could (okay, I had tiny mochas for the first few years; I wasn’t that cool). The baristas in that city were legendary. Effortlessly slinging espresso and steaming milk, folding liquid into comestible beauty right before my eyes while they talked about their latest gallivants on the city scene or the sad state of the world. They were both refined and raw, full of good ol’ razzle dazzle. I was smitten.

It’s probably no surprise that I had dreams of opening my own coffee spot one day. I chose to spend the majority of my early working years as a barista while perfecting my own flavor of sass and grit managing a myriad of cafés. While those dreams haven’t yet come to fruition, I’ve been easily pacified because the Cape May community has developed quite the variety of our own cozy corners waiting to be discovered. Each one of them is unique, with signature personalities that shine through in how they curate their aesthetic, eclectic menus, and loyal followings. 

Of course, a direct route to telling people who you are is in how you name your offerings. Show me a list of cheeky concoctions with a drizzle of this and a sprinkle of that and you really can’t go wrong. Now that it’s one of my favorite times of the year, when the drinks switch from iced and refreshing to warm and comforting, I’m here for it, and to break down the best of the best. I’m not saying I pumpkin all my spice, but I welcome the wave of festive flavors, finding extra reasons to treat myself or meet up with friends to soak up the less tourist-dense “off-season.” 

The first stop on my cozy Cape May Café Tour was to Ostara’s Coffee House on Park Boulevard in West Cape May to pour myself a “Cup of Ambition” from their seasonal Dolly Parton-themed menu. Usually when faced with a “specials” menu, I’m drawn to one or two, but this season’s theme made it difficult to choose. I’m both a huge Dolly Parton fan and a sucker for the warm flavor profiles (toasted marshmallow, pralines, cinnamon!) but I went with the “Hourglass Fig-ure” because who can pass up house-made fig syrup? Temperatures are cooling off now, but it was still acceptable iced latte weather, so I went for the added “coffee cubes” and it carried me through the afternoon. Ostara’s is also well known for hosting pop-up vendors and community events, so I’m bound to be back to try more before this menu stumbles out of bed and into a wintrier wonderland that December holidays bring. 

As the Cape May winds picked up, my next stop was one that defines cozy, Out There Coffee, on the edge of the Washington Commons and—lucky for me—very close to the Cape Publishing office. For a classic choice, I ordered their Chai Latte, which is brewed in-house and showcases the depths of delicate spice that can warm the soul like a hug from a good friend. The owners have quality dialed in. “I put a lot of effort into sourcing, and bringing the right blend in house is something I’m really proud of,” said co-owner Craig Stonis. Those high-quality goods, bustling energy and central location have you set up to perfectly capture that festive feeling on the Washington Street Mall this time of year. 

While the seasonal hours of Cape May businesses can be a bit of a guessing game, one café that you can count on has been here for 14 years. Magic Brain Café is at the front of the Carpenter’s Square Mall, and it has the local scene on lock. You can catch many workers from Cape May’s various shops and restaurants popping in for an afternoon pick me up and a giant cookie (or maybe that’s just me). This shop doesn’t do your typical drink specials, as their menu is geared towards customization, but you won’t be disappointed with their well-selected flavor options. They of course have seasonal favorites like Pumpkin and Peppermint, but they also delve into my personal go-to order, a London Fog. [Editor’s note: same.] It is typically made with Earl Gray tea, steamed milk, and a dash of vanilla sweetener, but on my last visit I was offered lavender syrup instead, and what a delight! [Editor’s note again: get both.] In addition to tasty beverages and baked goods, they also sell a selection of cheeky earrings from a local business that are smartly displayed right next to the order line. I can almost never resist them, and I bet you won’t be able to either. 

A skip down to the beach brings us to one of the newer kids on the block, The Buoy Coffee Shop. Easy to miss as it’s tucked into the beach access walkway on the north side of Convention Hall, this little shop offers standard cafe drinks as well as healthy smoothies and convenient bites. What’s more, they have a running club! This makes good sense as their location is one of the best places to go for a run or walk while taking in the salt air and incredible views of Cape May’s beachfront. Be sure to make your stroll count by walking down to The Cove to “touch the pole” and then turn around and get yourself back to Buoy for a little something nutritious and a pick me up to go with it. 

Also along Beach Ave is one of the most well-known of the Cape May cafés, Coffee Tyme. Reeling folks in with a classic pun, a fast-moving line, and a big love for this town, they offer traditional flavors as well as creative seasonal selections—and now delectable donuts. Their recently added third location in North Cape May rounds out their Washington Street Mall and iconic beachfront locales. A unique attribute of this café is that they offer free drinks to Coast Guard recruits; it’s made Coffee Tyme a community staple. On my most recent visit, I went for their Iced Snickerdoodle latte which they even dolled up with non-dairy whipped cream for me—truly a treat. And if you are headed to the West Cape May Christmas Parade this year, you can grab their most popular drink of the season, a rich hot chocolate, to keep your mitts and your belly warm. Now, where is my Santa hat? 

I can’t mention the holidays without bringing up West End Garage. It’s the perfect place to escape big box shopping, brimming with just-right treasures. Bundled-up shoppers weave through the aisles visiting a variety of vendors, and the intimacy of the space allows for casual and earnest interaction with strangers sharing a similar experience, something we all like to be reminded of this time of year. Now factor in that Beach Plum Bakery & Café is housed in the same building and you have yourself a merry little afternoon. Simply put, they have excellent coffee, La Colombe to be precise. But just as tempting is the spread of delicious baked goods, they are an art form. You can grab a specialty cookie, scone, a slice of cake, even a pie from their ever-changing offerings as you peruse the wares of over 70 vendors. 

Across the street you’ll find Golden Stop. Formerly the home of Cape May Market, this beautifully renovated space has an unmatched clean and serene aesthetic with ingredients sourced in the same vein. Their Dirty Golden is what brings me in during the chilly season. The “house-made golden turmeric latte with a twist” is smooth and earthy, and you get the anti-inflammatory health benefits of turmeric with your daily dose of your liquid energy. I swear I can feel an inner glow long after I’ve finished my cup. Pairing this with a selection from their sophisticated toast menu along with their spacious seating area makes it a great spot to break out a good book or your laptop to sit and stay golden a while. 

I love watching the communities our ever-expanding café scene nurtures; as you go about daily life, you start seeing their stickers or shirts around town as they blossom from new to familiar and frequented. It’s a good reminder that we build our world(s) by our choices, and I’m so grateful that Cape May has a vibrant society of small businesses we can choose to support. Another plus is that once you fall in love with a place, you can follow them on social media and stay connected to them, even if you are making your coffee at home most days. I find that their flavors come through in their profiles just as much as in their beverages, and love seeing the varying updates, trends, and POVs—all which help keep my feed balanced along with my sanity. 

While I could go on about this for days, especially if I included the many other Cape May cafés that are nestled within various restaurants and hotels (and that I encourage you to find in your travels), I’ll wrap it up with two cafés that opened in 2025. The first is just a quick hop over to Wildwood Crest to Crest Coffee Company. This new spot is run by a sweet father-daughter duo (right where my love of cafés began) who opened this summer and has quickly become a local favorite. They serve Philly-based Rival Bros Coffee and hand pulled espresso, smoothies, and tasty baked treats. After ordering from a team that feels like family and spending a bit of time on their quaint porch, you’ll feel like you just caught up with a dear friend at their home in a bustling neighborhood. 

Last, but certainly not least, we’re taking a trip up Route 47 South to Harbor Coffee House in Goshen—on the way to Cape May (you can thank me later for the earworm). This chic spot opened in an area akin to a cafe desert and the people are rejoicing, sharing rave reviews from all over the county. They have jazzed up flavors on your favorite classic café drinks as well as breakfast and lunch offerings, and the updated building’s modern look set amongst the tall grasses of Delsea Drive pulls you in. Worth a stop the next time you find yourself driving along the marshy highway. I mean—a pumpkin latte with a vanilla bean bourbon cold foam… yes, please! 

For so many reasons, Cape May during the holiday season is something to behold, with a draw that seems to grow bigger every year. These special spots are to be shared and treasured, so I urge you to forge your own caffeinated quest by checking out the cozy corners mentioned in this love letter to local libations. And maybe bring your favorite angsty teen along for the adventure, because while each phase of life can be challenging, it is certainly better when your hands are wrapped around a warm beverage on a winter day.