Bookshelf Cafe

Super friendly staff; cosy, quirky space; not too crowded. My friend got the Amish breakfast bar and said it was delicious. I had the tomato bisque, which was suuuper tasty, and the spinach quiche, which was great and came with an enormous side salad (other side options were available — potato salad, fruit salad, chips). The cakes look amazing. Great place to sit and work on a Sunday when all the other coffeeshops are full to bursting.

Wonderful coffee shop tucked away in an unexpected place. The coffee is excellent and the food is very good. The atmosphere is inviting and there is some community programming, a board games night, open mic night and a lecture series.
The staff is very friendly and helpful. There’s a cool vibe here, and I enjoy going back.

I needed to be in Highland Park so in my quest for the perfect space to work, I tried out the Bookshelf Café today. Although I’m not going to be adding it to my regular rotation, it’s a nice space with potential.
Pros:
–good coffee with a range of accoutrement like agave nectar
–huge baked goods and delicious-​smelling food (nothing g/​f so I couldn’t try anything)
–comfortable furniture with some nice cushions to sit on or put behind your back
–good music at an appropriate volume
–tons of books to borrow or even buy
–games to play and a scheduled game night!
Cons:
–the building vibrates constantly – a heater or humidifier?
–it kinda smells like a basement
–no gluten-​free food options
–the barista didn’t seem to want to be there; she wasn’t rude, but she definitely wasn’t friendly or welcoming. The owner mentioned in the other reviews was clearly not around.

It’s got a kind of «Good Will Hunting» feel to it: super intellectual in the middle of a rather industrial community.
I had a Braddock Smog which is essentially a London Fog with a shot of espresso. It was delicious! Walking in feels like walking into my grandma’s living room. It’s comfy, nice foliage, and books EVERYWHERE.
My barista/​the owner let me know that there’s an open mic night on Thursdays, a speaker series coming up and game nights galore.
It’s totally a cool place. The only ick thing was that while I was making this my office and getting work done, there were a bunch of high school kids with loose lips and an affinity for profanity. But they left soon enough and it was back to chill vibes and great coffee.

This place is very cool. The neighborhood seems to be full of young families. I love «walking» neighborhoods like this (real clean city feel). Very good service, coffee was just right. Kudos to the young owners.

So happy to have a friendly, cozy coffee shop in the neighborhood. Very friendly service, delicious coffee and pastries. I have yet to try the paninis or soups, but I highly recommend the spinach quiche breakfast! Looking forward to spending more time studying, reading, and socializing at the bookshelf

An awesome café with nice atmosphere and friendly staff. Looking forward to try this place more.

The Bookshelf Café is a cozy and charming place to get some delicious coffee, snacks, and do some work or play a round of chess. Jeremy and the crew are personable and make excellent drinks (the Green Tea Latte and Thai Iced Tea are delicious to the last drop, but so are the main staples like lattes, coffee, etc.). On top of the excellent service and tasty drinks/​food, the décor and atmosphere is very laid-​back and welcoming with all of the plants and books. I hope they remain in Morningside for years to come — I’m so happy to have them in my neighborhood!

Service is FANTASTIC! We stopped in on a Sunday with our young kids and had a lovely lunch! The tomato soup was so delicious, like travelling back in time to eating soup in your mom’s kitchen! The panini’s are fresh, hot and flavorful, especially the capicola! We were expecting more of a coffee shop with a few food items, but they have a really full menu, and a delightful selection of pastries, cookies, and even CAKE! So grateful to have Bookshelf Café in our neighborhood! Check it out, enjoy it all!

This place is terrific! Firstly, let me say, it is one of the nicest spaces in Pittsburgh for coffee: the space is light and airy, with really beautiful décor. The coffee is good, as are the baked goods and lunch foods! I had the turkey sandwich, which was delicious and came with a side of top-​notch potato salad. My son loves the smoothies too: he has tried all three and keeps wanting to go back for more! A great little coffee shop and café!!!

Great new spot in Morningside. Good coffee at great prices. They have pastries, soups and sandwiches. The staff and owner are friendly and knowledgeable. Refillable to stay cups and a great environment with outdoor seating make it a place to spend some time!