Atticus Bookstore Cafe

Nice bookstore cafe split in half by the service counter. Friendly staff and a selection of cookies, cakes and savouries. Not a lot of space and can fill up very very fast during term. Sandwiches, panini and a variety of light sweets available as well. The brew coffee is above average

The Literary Soul of New Haven Lives Between Coffee and Pages In an age where independent bookstores struggle against the digital tide and local cafes surrender to chain uniformity, Atticus Bookstore Cafe stands as a testament to the enduring power of place. Since 1975, this Chapel Street institution has done more than serve coffee and sell books – it has cultivated the intellectual heartbeat of New Haven. Named for Harper Lee's paragon of moral courage, Atticus Finch, the establishment carries that weight of purpose in every carefully considered detail. The exposed brick walls and concrete ceilings frame not just a retail space, but a sanctuary where ideas and conversation flourish beneath thoughtfully curated landscape photographs and warm track lighting. What strikes a visitor first is not the impressive selection of books, though that certainly demands attention, but rather the palpable sense of community. Yale students huddle over laptops, their tables scattered with Deep River chips and coffee cups, while professors thumb through new arrivals in comfortable chairs. The space breathes with a democratic spirit – here, the freshman discovering Foucault and the emeritus professor editing their latest manuscript share equal claim to comfort and inspiration. The book collection itself speaks to a curatorial intelligence that understands its audience without pandering to it. Recent displays feature works like "The Art Thief" alongside "Yale Needs Women," suggesting a commitment to both scholarly weight and contemporary dialogue. This is not a bookstore that simply stocks bestsellers but one that anticipates the intellectual current of its community. Yet Atticus's genius lies in understanding that great thoughts often arrive on the wings of creature comforts. The café has built its reputation on more than convenience – its soups and breads have become local legends in their own right. The coffee program stands up to any modern specialty shop, while maintaining prices that don't exclude students or locals. This is sustenance for both body and mind, offered without pretense. The space itself serves as a lesson in thoughtful design. Wide aisles and clear sightlines create an environment where safety feels assumed rather than imposed. Multiple exits and varied seating options suggest both practical consideration and an understanding that different tasks demand different environments. The free Wi-Fi and abundant power outlets acknowledge modern needs without letting technology overwhelm the essential character of the space. What truly sets Atticus apart is its role as a cultural crossroads. Author events featuring Yale faculty share the calendar with community poetry readings. Book clubs gather around the same tables where solitary readers lose themselves in new discoveries. This is the rare space that serves multiple constituencies without shortchanging any of them. Open daily from 8 AM to 7 PM, Atticus has mastered the art of being reliably excellent without becoming predictable. Its longevity – nearly half a century now – speaks not to a resistance to change but to an understanding of which elements of the business are timeless and which must evolve. In our increasingly fragmented and digital world, spaces like Atticus become more than mere businesses – they are anchors of community, bastions of civil discourse, and reminders that some experiences cannot be replicated online. Here, between the coffee and the pages, the soul of New Haven's intellectual life continues to thrive. That such an establishment has not only survived but flourished for nearly 50 years suggests something profound about what we seek in our public spaces. In an era of increasing isolation, Atticus offers something essential: a place where culture and comfort, intelligence and accessibility, tradition and progress coexist not just peacefully but productively. For those who believe in the future of physical books, communal spaces, and the power of face-to-face interaction, Atticus stands as both validation and inspiration.

Matcha latte had a water down taste. Food took awhile… and it was just a basic avocado toast. I like the idea walking around the store and browsing but not much to see. Very convenient when visiting Yale,

I drank a very delicious latte. I really enjoyed it, the staff were caring and sweet. I tried the healthy chocolate bar sold at the cash register. It is also very enjoyable to have it together with the book section. The only thing that disturbed me was the fact that the seating areas were separate and there were beggars coming in. They should take this into consideration!

This was such a cute place!!!! The pastries were absolutely DELICIOUS. They tasted fresh and really really good. The staff there was super nice and helpful as well! I asked for book recommendations and the lady at the cashier helped me right away. (will definitely buy those books.) Their books are also nicely organized into sections, which I also really loved, along with even a section for "staff recommendations" which I thought was a smart idea. The atmosphere was super cute and cozy. 100% recommend stopping by and having a quick pastry or food and maybe even check out some books!

Rating only on the bookstore side. I didn’t had the chance to try out their cafe yet. But the selection of their books is very limited.

It's a shame to serve such quality coffee and drinks only in to go packaging. $14 for a croissant and a cappuccino and you have to eat it out of a paper bag at an unclean table. "Everything is served to go and you eat wherever you like" they said. Good products, unfortunately degraded by their service. Put it on a plate. We don't want to drink nice coffee out of plastic lined paper cups

I've been here quite a few times and the food has been good. My main issue has been for a place that offers oat milk beverages, they never have oatmilk😂 Today? I ordered the croque madame and got charred but somehow soggy remains. Completely burnt all round, ham and cheese overcooked and the beshamel soaked through. Never again.

This is a cute, cozy cafe in New Haven and I'd highly recommend checking this place out. It's lively with students studying, working, people meeting and talking. It's an authentic cafe experience, perfect for an autumnal morning. You can sip on your coffee and enjoy breakfast peacefully while looking at the colorful trees outside. The ambience is stellar with the bookstore inside giving it a bookish and studious feel. The service is also wonderful. Water is available too. The food is fresh and delicious. The French toast latte is heavenly. It has the perfect mix of cinnamon and spices without being too saccharine. The frittata egg sandwich is done well, with a piece of thick egg arugula and Swiss cheese. Though, personally, I wasn't a fan of the caramelized onions. The sandwiches are worth trying at least once to form your own opinions. The mixed berry rye bread was moist and delectable with a nice crunch from the oat streusel on top. Overall, I loved this cafe/bookstore!

A great place for books and casual food and drink. There is a separate area for the cafe however you can peruse the book store while having a coffee or other drink. I ordered an Americano coffee to go. The server was friendly. I held the coffee while looking at the cards. Unfortunately the coffee was extremely hot and when I took a sip it burnt my lips, the inside of my mouth and my esophagus on the way down. I'm writing this the day after and still have plenty of discomfort on the roof of my mouth from it. If the coffee spilled it could cause severe burns. This is an unsafe situation. I mentioned that the coffee was too hot to a worker there and she agreed that the coffee is too hot. Thats it.

My lavender latte was delicious and the triple chocolate cookie was even better! The staff were also very nice/service was great :)

Great bookstore/cafe steps from Yale campus with plenty of room to sit and a friendly atmosphere. I ordered the Atticus classic sandwich an Arnold Palmer. Both were very good; though the sandwich may have been better with toasted bread- and be warned that the Dijon mustard is extremely pungent. The pastries on display also looked delicious and very tempting. Service was very quick and straightforward. Nice little spot to get a snack or read!

Quite hectic but expected on a brisk autumnal Sunday. Fair amount of seating but was packed. It was an hybrid of both a cafe and small bookstore! Enjoyed a frittata breakfast sandwich which consisted of a fluffy fritata, dressed with crisply melted Swiss cheese, arugula and caramelized onion all on a potato brioche bread. Everything was fresh and very hot. The flavors of the sharp Swiss paired well with the sweetness of the onions, though felt onions were lacking. Paired well with their signature French toast latte! A little on the pricier side but overall quality was very high along with a pleasant ambiance inside, making the consummate experience worth it.

A cute bookstore and coffee shop across the street from the Yale Art Gallery. The breakfast sandwich was good - fried egg, bacon, and arugula on a brioche bun. Friendly staff.

Atticus is split into a bookstore and a cafe. I stopped by and it was super busy but the wait went by fast. There's multiple tables where you can sit and chat. The crossiant was HUGE. Flavor wise it was a bit dry and lacking the flaky layers. The quiche was not bad. I wished the crust was baked a bit more. Overall, a great place to stop by for a quick snack and coffee. latte sub w oat milk (5.50) quiche ($9) crossiant (~$5)

Cute and cozy bookstore cafe! Unfortunately it was quite crowded when I went so I had to take food to go. I had the daily vegetable quiche which had a delicious rich filling with mushrooms, kale(?), cheese, and tomato -- this went perfectly with the bright and acidic salad. I will echo that while the quiche crust was buttery and tasty, it was a bit too thick and underdone.

#3 in my NEW ENGLAND & NY COFFEE SHOP SERIES A solid coffee shop & bookstore! They have some seats and tables for folks to work, chat, or study. They also have a plethora of classic coffee drinks and food as well. I got a vanilla oat milk latte as it was pretty solid. Not the best I have ever had, but it was good enough for me to go back. The espresso was prepared right and it wasn't overly sweet. Overall, a pretty great work spot to go with friends!

I came here with my friend to browse on a Saturday afternoon. It was pretty packed inside, especially at the cafe. They have a fairly wide selection of books, plus many that are discounted. They also have stationary, games, and little trinkets. It would have been hard not to spend money here!

The combo bookstore-cafe setup is so lovely! What a great place to get some work done or catch up with friends. The pastry selection is inventive and abundant, and the chocolate croissant was excellent! I also had a poblano, potato, and cheese handpie which was only okay. I expected it to be served warm but lukewarm it was really quite dry and bland, and the poblano peppers were stringy. I also had their special honey-tahini cortado, which tasted strongly of honey, less strongly of tahini. Really enjoyed our visit here even if some of the food overpromised a bit... would happily spend many hours here taking breaks between getting writing done and perusing the puzzle selection!

Cute little bookstore with a great staff. We had coffees in the afternoon and came back for breakfast the next morning. Lots of healthy options you can grab and go or enjoy while sitting there. French toast latte was delicious!

I worked here (not in the shiny front facing location, in the dirty pest infested warehouse where Chabaso is housed). When I worked here in 2021, the owner stole wages from chabaso employees for work they did at Atticus. He manipulated undocumented immigrants and refused wage increase requests (they explicitly told me they were scared because of immigration status) and paid white workers like me more, despite less having worked for the company for less time. If you eat these products, you should know Charlie's poor values. He projects an image of hipster bread dad, but money talks more than the "we're a family" BS, and Atticus is not a good company. The people who work in the retail locations were generally treated much better as far as I could tell, but like most big companies (and Atticus is just a hipster sliver of Chabaso), there are dirty secrets where you can't see them.

I love Atticus and have been coming here ever since I was a grad student. Here are a few reasons why I keep coming back: 1) You'll never find the same books on the shelf twice. All shelves, not just the new fiction and nonfiction, get different titles. 2) Atticus stocks recommended titles from its knowledgeable and discerning staff, including take a chance books that are wrapped in brown paper with a brief teaser affixed to the paper. 3) There is an array of beautiful artist-made cards, as well as stationery, journals, and literary-themed games. 4) The cafe. Their chocolate-raspberry kouign amman is a must! Their salads are also delicious. Great selection of Harney & Sons teas. 5) It's right across the street from the Yale Art Gallery, an impressive collection of American, European, Asian and African art. View art and then browse/buy books! Atticus is a perfect one-stop shop you'll want to visit whenever you're in the Elm City.

This cafe/bookstore provides the best coffee shop ambience in New Haven. The music is young and modern, plenty of tables for dining/ studying needs. Two thing to note: there is free guest wifi and there are no outlets to charge your electronics. Patrons seem to be students, tourists, and locals. Their food options include order to serve hot meals as well as premade pastries and salads. The staff provides an interesting mix of young, middle age, and progressive to best serve your needs. The coffee is reasonably priced and standardly comes as a lighter to medium roast. Their book store is quite cute and provides for a vast selection of stationary cards and current books of all generes. They have a nice selection of locally sourced wines beers from New England which are fun to try.

Awesome go to place for books and great food. My family has been coming here for over a decade. The people in the bookstore are so nice and are so helpful.

Coffee is often very hit or miss here. Came in today and ordered 3 drinks. The barista was barely listening as we ordered, very dismissive. As a result, one of our orders was made incorrectly. It was remade, but with lots of attitude. The seasonal lattes were good but the matcha was just okay.

Stumbled on this adorable bookstore / cafe / bar while on a day trip to New Haven and looking for a place to park my laptop and send off some emails. This is an adorable progressive bookstore right outside Yale's campus, with ample seating for small bites and coffee. It appears they serve some beer and wine as well. I ordered a mushroom danish and black coffee. The coffee was solid. The danish was superb. The ambiance was reasonably quiet. There is an array of small tables and some bar seating surrounding the kitchen. Lots of table space for working Extra shoutout to their kind service staff, who watched my laptop while I went to the restroom. Metered is available on the street outside the shop.

Atticus bookstore Café has changed considerably since their beginning on Chapel Street. I used to frequent the restaurant at least twice a week. The staff was friendly and treated you as if you were a guest in their home. The quality of their baked goods are still lovely to look at. I haven't eaten inside there in a while but the hot chocolate to go was wonderful.

A fantastic bookstore with even greater baked goods. We came here for a quick breakfast before we left New Haven. Sure it's filled with college students who are busy working on projects or studying together, but what do you expect from a college town? We tried their cheese danish, bacon and egg sandwich and avocado toast. The breads were absolutely fantastic. The quality of ingredients were incredible. Can't wait to go back!

A sneakily tasteful cafe on yale campus. The andana (? I think) cookie was super chewy and crunchy and had a unique deep and tasty flavor. The coconut chia pudding was a simple and light good bfast. Good ice latte. Just a plain enjoyable time 2 me

Really good quiche and salad combo with a croissant at this bookstore/cafe! It was really busy in the morning but we were able to snag a seat and have a quick bite :)

Place: This place both has brunch, library vibe cafe. I enjoy the ambience it brings. There are books and little knick knacks you can browse around. Additionally there is a lot of seating so you don't have to worry too much. I am not sure about if there are cords that are accessible for each table (if you need to charge). Service: The service was good. Just a simple order and wait. Food/price: There are brunch options but we just ate so we got coffee instead. I got the apple cider and my friend got a fancy latte (i kinda forgot what kind it was but it was under their specials). The price is a standard $5+. Sometimes I think cafes are expensive but I am pretty productive around people. Audience: Many college students and young professionals work and study. Many books and stuff for kids to look around as well. Recommend/tips? I recommend this place. Great to study or do work.

Easy to preorder, great selection, fresh, delicious, fast, and you can pick up a bottle of wine or a greeting card.

Cute place, love the bookstore cafe vibe. Hardworking staff. But, the iced coffee I had was very weak. It tasted more like ice water with a dash of coffee. I only drank two sips then left.

Was at Atticus on a Sunday afternoon. No wait staff, two staff behind the counter. Only one was taking, preparing orders, other was cleaning. The old Atticus seems to be gone.

Disappointing food and service. The woman working the counter was exceedingly rude from the start. I had to ask 3 times if breakfast was still being served before she answered me and she continued to act as if I was a nuisance throughout my ordering. The salad I got was underwhelming and felt like it needed more dressing (and I'm not a big dressing person). I have fond memories of Atticus from my Yale days, but I won't be back.

Atticus is dear to my heart, a long standing business in New Haven. I remember being in high school and reading or studying here, just people watching. It is no different today, with a bright cafe and bookstore. I had gotten a regular latte with their zatarr seasoned pastry. I wasn't sure what it was exactly at first, but seems to tastes just like seasoned bread that was a bit expensive for a singular item. It's a great unique spot, but I would not find the highest quality espresso or pastries here!

This is mainly a review of the cafe section. It was really interesting and cool to see they have a bookstore and alcohol as well. The cafe was being worked by two kids, a girl and a boy. We saw the girl being very rude to some of the customers not sure what was going on there but it looked super unprofessional telling them "don't act nice now. You can leave. You are not welcome here". We ordered our drinks and they came out terrible. Everything just tasted like regular hot or iced coffee. We got their special drinks like the white chocolate raspberry latte and the French toast latte and they just tasted like regular ice coffee. The two hot drinks our friends ordered were also not very good according to them. The girl seemed like she absolutely did not want to be there and the boy sounded sick, was sneezing and sniffling. Around 15 minutes before closing, the girl came and kind of started yelling saying they're closing in 15 minutes and she needs to clean our section when she could've just said it in a normal tone. We responded in a nice manner and left. Overall a really weird experience. The workers do not want to be there at all.

Amazing bakery offerings with limited book genres. Coffee was average. Better selection at Starbucks.

The place to go in New Haven for coffee & pastry. The day of the dead bread was flavored well but a touch dry. The kouign amann was fabulous. It's also a very cute spot to hang out or browse books and other small items. There are some other shops nearby you can walk to and just enjoy the area. Parking is on the street - you're better off parking a few streets away.

I highly recommend this independent bookstore over any run-of-the-mill evil empire corporate chain for your literature needs. Please allow me to share my experience. As I entered the place I instantly noticed an amazing, unique selection of books. Then I noticed how the staff interacts with the visitors and " T " the manager. I spoke to T and immediately felt like I was in a comfortable environment. T is intelligent, understanding, and caring. As for the cafe, the pastries are delicious and the tea is excellent. This place is definitely worth visiting.

Located right next to Yale campus. This was a lovely cafe and spent my afternoon here doing my work. I tried the vanilla iced latte which was delicious and strong too.

The line was crazy long and took a while for food to be ready, but it was definitely a popular place for a coffee and breakfast. I got an americano and classic breakfast sandwich, which was average. Lots of great books and super cute!

What a unique very "millenial" location! It has the coffee and the breakfast that is perfect for the neighborhood spot. The store is also next level with how unique the items they sell are, everything from liquor syrup in yuzu flavor to extra large pasta.

Beautifully positioned right next to Yale's campus, this is such a cozy spot to grab a coffee/quick bite and look through the bookstore. The employees were very friendly :) The star of the cafe is the mac and cheese. This is by far the best I've tried. The truffle and garlic flavor added depth to the dish and it was so soft and gooey...easily could've gone for seconds I don't recommend the vegan mushroom sandwich to those who aren't looking for meat taste

Atticus made my day- and week. :) Met a group for lunch and when I got to the register- no wallet. The server, Othello, and Tnaisa, the manager, could see the panicked look on my face as I looked from my purse to the table where my friends were eating. Tnaisa said, Don't worry about it. You're good. I was stunned and so relieved! It's rare today to experience another human being be compassionate and empathetic in a time of need. Thank you, Tnaisa, for picking up the cost of my lunch. The Roasted Pear Salad and Iced Chai was out of this world. :)

Didn't recommend at all. The waitress's attitude is extremely bad. Didn't recommend at all. The waitress's attitude is extremely bad.

Chai Latte was probably the best I've ever had! It was quite sweet so if you don't want a lot of sugar, you might want to ask them to add less. You can see spice specks in your drink and the microfoam was perfect and lighty but creamy until the end. The Croque Monsieur was recommended by our server and I liked it a lot. The generous coating of gruyere cheese oosing off the sides of the thick sliced bread was absolutely delicious where it had caramelized on the pan. The mushrooms were well cooked through and nicely scattered underneath the cheese. I liked the ham as it was well smoked and not too salty but there was way too much. There were two thick slices where one slice would have more than sufficed for me. My only complaint is there was a long hair embedded in my dish and I know this sort of thing happens accidentally all the time, but I hope the kitchen staff ties their hair. I felt a littled grossed out and ended up not eating the rest of the Croque Monsieur. What a waste!

Cant' rate the actual bookshop, but had a great tea here. But they were out of most baked goods late in the day. I went because my friend had given me a bread, which was so delicious. With chocolate and raisins-- can't figure out what it is called, but will return again to see if they have that delicious bread! I say it's worth it for a coffee/tea/baked good break.

I used to love stopping by Atticus for lunch, but the quality of their food has really decreased recently, especially the meatballs. When I ordered these for brunch with friends recently, they were dry, overcooked, and the sauce was much more runny than I remembered. Service is ok, but could definitely be better.

I came here this past Tuesday with a group of teachers to enjoy a nice lunch before a Professional Development session across the street at the Yale University Art Gallery in the afternoon. There were 9 of us. We walked in and got in line, all trying to choose what to order. When we were noticed that we were planning on staying, the staff promptly started to clear and push together some tables to accommodate us. It was a really nice gesture. We were even brought menus to look at instead of ordering from the counter. I had the half & half combo with the turkey club sandwich and black bean soup. Both were fantastic. The black bean soup was topped with diced onions and even came with sour cream that had cilantro folded into it. It made me want to go home to recreate it (though I haven't just yet). So good. I also had a iced Chai, very well made. I hate when I get iced Chai and it tastes like milk water with little spice. This had a great balance. Next time I go back and have more time to check the whole place out, I'll be sure to get a sweet treat too and look at the children's books for our son.

Cafe worker has a shockingly bad attitude! My husband and I went to Atticus yesterday for lunch. He is visually impaired and walks with a cane. We entered and he sat down at a table. I approached the counter and asked the woman working there if she had a menu I could take to the table so I could go over it with my husband. She barked at me that they don't have menus. I explained that my husband is visually impaired and couldn't read the menu board which is high up and has small-ish lettering. I asked her to accommodate his handicap but she was inflexible, unhelpful, and acted like I was being a pest. I was shocked that someone who works with the public could treat a customer with disabilities with such rudeness.

I have always loved the food at the Atticus Bookstore Cafe but I had not been there since before Covid. Clearly the pandemic has had a terrible effect on this place. The once excellent salads are now served boxed up with dressing in a little plastic cup, chicken was dry and tasteless, and the whole experience was nothing like what I remembered. Please bring back the real food you used to serve!

Browsing through the other reviews, others have stated already that Atticus does not lend itself too well for studying with a laptop and multiple notes. I am putting in this in yet another review so it is a bit more visible since I had to do some digging to find this online. In fact, like many others, I came to Atticus thinking the bookstore and the cafe were incorporated seamlessly. It turns out that the cafe is separated and feels more like a restaurant. The tables are too small for a computer aside a coffee or pastry, and outlets are sparse to non-existent. With that being said, it still is nice place for students who have a small tablet and/or a few written notes that they want to review. The bookstore section has some fun reads, but is nothing too unique or special. It does feel awkward to bring a book from one side of the store into the dining area given the set-up but I don't think anybody would scold you otherwise. The food and coffee here is decent overall. I normally get a cappuccino when sitting in at Atticus that tends to be slightly on the bitter side for me, but is still well-prepared otherwise. The portion sizes are not over-the-top big, but a single dish can be shared for a light snack. Overall, Atticus feels like a nice place to catch up with others over coffee or brunch with a separate bookstore next door with a wall knocked down. On the flip side, the bookstore is a nice location to kill some time with a few pulp books with while enjoying pleasant scents of pastries and coffee in the air.

Nice place to sit for coffee, dessert or lunch. Cool concept with all the books around. We had coffee and cheesecake, then bought some desserts to take with us.

this store had really cute cards! i was impressed with all the small brands they had. so many different ones too. staff was very friendly. i also liked the selection of notebooks and notecards. i bought a water from the cafe too.

As a disclaimer I've only gotten a coffee here so I can't speak to their food or other offerings. But this is a great place to get a coffee and pass the time by borrowing some books to read in the cafe. Would come again!

Good place to stop in for a casual lunch. There's a pretty good variety with the menu - sandwiches, soups, salads. Wish I could try them all! The sandwiches are a very decent portion. On one of my visits, I ordered the turkey club and asked to add avocado. They forgot to add it to my sandwich, but brought me a side dish of it and in the end didn't charge me extra. You can also mix and match your lunch with half portions of salad/sandwich/soup. Lunch time can get busy, so expect a bit of a wait. Or you can order to go. They also have some pick up items at the register and pastries as well. Staff could be a bit friendlier like some have mentioned, but I enjoy my visits overall every time I come!