In my opinion, one of the best ways to get to know a new city is to wander around and find a nice place to sit down for a cup of coffee or tea. You can see the neighborhood and people-watch while resting with a sip of your drink of choice.
Tea haus 10/10
One of the best spots I’ve been to in Ann Arbor! It’s a little long of a walk from campus, but it’s definitely worth it. Instead of a cafe, I’d like to call it more of a tea bar and lounge.
From the moment you walk in, you’ll smell the blend of all types of tea, including black, green, oolong, and more. They also have a wide range of options, from refreshing fruit-blend teas that brighten your mood on a hot summer day to a heavier black tea to keep you caffeinated for the fall midterms. If you’re not sure what you’d prefer, the staff are super welcoming and will recommend options based on your preferences!
Tea Haus’ selection doesn’t end at tea. They also carry a wide variety of pastries and desserts to go with their tea. One I would recommend is the Hojicha Chocolate Cake. The chocolate layers are thick and moist, with buttery soft cream spread between the high-stacked cake layers.
If you would like to come, I suggest bringing a few friends, since they have plenty of board games in the back of the shop. However, they have a laptop-free policy, so bring paper and a pen if you plan to work!
Ondo Bakery 8.5/10
My go-to spot for matcha. They have a few matcha options (excluding seasonal choices): Cloud Cream Matcha, Strawberry Matcha, and Matcha Latte. All their matcha drinks are high quality and can be customized with different milk options and sugar levels!
Ondo Bakery also offers a wide range of baked goods and cake options, and their lotus basque cheesecake and strawberry cake are standouts for me. As Ondo Bakery is extremely laptop-friendly, with large tables and plenty of seats, their cakes could be the perfect excuse for a study break!
However, Ondo Bakery does tend to have higher prices due to its prime location next to the University of Michigan’s campus, so keep that in mind when deciding whether or not you want to give it a shot!
Comet Coffee 8.5/10
Located in Nickels Arcade, Comet Coffee is only a five-minute walk from the University of Michigan Diag. Beyond its prime location, Comet Coffee also offers some of the best coffee in Ann Arbor, including pour-overs, which many other cafes don’t offer.
Other than drinks, Comet Coffee also has both indoor and outdoor seating with a beautiful interior and warm lighting, perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon.
However, the only downside is that the store is rather small and can only accommodate a limited number of customers, so if you’re planning to sit and study, it may not be the best option.
unitea café 6.5/10
Like Ondo Bakery, Unitea Café specializes in matcha and other Asian-inspired drinks. They offer a wider variety of matcha drinks than Ondo Bakery, including Banana Pudding Matcha and Matcha Ube. Unitea Café’s drinks tend to be sweeter, so adjust your sweetness level accordingly!
Unitea Café also has a smaller storefront with only a few seats, making it a better grab-and-go option than a place to sit down and study.
Misfit Society Coffee Club
Close to East Quadrangle, Ross School of Business, and Marsal School of Education, making it a convenient spot for a quick coffee break! Misfit Society Coffee Club offers a great study spot, with cozy interiors and warm, themed fall drinks.
They offer a variety of drink options, including coffee, matcha, and chocolate, a perfect place for every single occasion!