I heard great things about this place and had to try it out! First of all, the ambience is incredible. Cozy, quirky, and staff is very friendly. It’s a very unique place right on Lake Ella with a huge selection to choose from. I had the matcha latte and the baked ham and pepper omelet which was literally incredible. Probably one of the best egg dishes in Tallahassee. Overall, a great first impression and I will be back!

My lady friend and I went here for a quick break, just a great view of the lake, friendly service and large selection of hot and cold drinks.It is behind the American Legion, same building.Its a few miles from campus, but worth the drive to get there and relax.

Best Hibiscus tea in Tallahassee. Set by a very nice walking trail lake. The ducks there are very wise to talk to.

Best Frappes In town by far. I’m very picky about my frappes since my mom used to make the best ones in the world… but I must admit, these are pretty close. The frappes are always smooth creamy, and addictive. Try going for the “grey dog”. It’s not on the menu but it’s a mix of the black and white dog and it’s amazing. The quality of coffee and food here is very consistent (I go about 2-3 times a week after work so I stand by what I say). I also really like the setup of this cafe, and the staff is super nice. Great place to study and relax being right under some beautiful oak trees and next to the lake.

I got the Nitro Coldbrew with a splash of Toffee flavor and it tasted phenomenal. Everybody has to checkout the views from this place. Right from the deck, you can enjoy Lake Ella and the spanish moss in the breeze. Picturesque & tranquil

Absolutely love the spice chai and so much fun to just sit and drink coffee next to the lakeside

Best damned Americano I ever had! And I can sit outside on a lovely patio.

Cute coffee shop right by the lake with outdoor seating and some shade. Its a bit dimly lit inside but a lovely atmosphere nonetheless. Lots of flavors to choose from!

This place is by far my favorite coffee shop in town now. I went for the first time today and I was blown away by how nice it was. Not only was the ambience incredible, but the grey dog frap that I had was perfect. Moreover, the ownership and baristas here are top tier. They should be proud of what they’ve got going.

Quit reading the reviews and go experience the place! Today was my first visit on the way to the office and it was just great! Personally I can’t wait to share this place with my family on the weekend!

We really love coming here. The food and drinks are really good, and the view is nice. Pet friendly patio. I also picked up whole beans for use at home, I think its the best Ive ever had, vesuvio roast. I look forward to trying more.

The cold brew and hot chocolate are good things to get here. I would not get a latte as they usually burn their milk. The ambiance of Lake Ella is nice and it’s a great place to sit and get work done.

A pivotal moment in my formative years—Jack and Jen do it right!

This is my favorite coffee shop in Tallahassee. It has a cozy environment; the baristas are friendly; and it features a great view of the tranquil Lake Ella. The prices are also reasonable. I highly reccomdend checking it out!

This has been my favorite coffee shop for many many MANY years. The vibe is always the same.

They are a gracious supporter of our Non Profit, Feline Advocates of Leon County. Thank you!

Small and cozy coffee shop. Its a good place to study, theres tables inside and outside on the patio. Love the location, its right by lake Ella! Service was nice and friendly too. Got the black dog and hot chocolate.

The service was amazing! So friendly! And the coffee even better! With over 40 different flavors to choose and weekly drinks, your coffee is sure to taste good! With board games and books to pass the time!

We had afternoon tea here and it is a nice little place. Very cozy and good ambiance. The employees are very nice and friendly. You can rent board games for free. Really enjoyed it! The lake view is nice and very lively.

Always an awesome experience. Today I had the fresh brewed lemonade, and as always it was delicious!!great location, great food and drink, great customer service!!

One of the best places in Tallahassee. Offers great coffee with a really nice view.

The geese around the lake would’ve been nicer and more competent baristas

Very cool place to have a coffee. Facing the lake Ella and lake Ella park. They have a good collection of coffee. Enjoyed the cold evening (it was 52F in Tallahassee today) while enjoying a coffee cake and a tasty coffee

We were looking for a good, vegan-friendly, and fast breakfast option on our drive and fortunately we found this place! The location itself is amazing and we enjoyed eating our food watching the ducks. The cafe has a great vibe but is also clean and organized (not a typical combo). We had the Rose mocha and vegan muffins, which were great.We will go back again in our next trip!

Love this place so much. I spent so many hours of my teenage years hanging out here, drinking White Dogs (theyre the BEST! 😋🥰) The atmosphere is fantastic and so are the staff!

The barista was kind, helpful and effective to. This coffee shop is a cozy place to bring your family and dog to get a cup of Joe and enjoy nature. I also appreciate that this place is kind to veterans:). I am grateful for the yummy dolce de leche coffee the barista made me. My sister also loved the green tea matcha she made with a little white chocolate. We will definitely be back to this place.

This is a beautiful little cafe with the best vibes! every employee i interacted with was super friendly. i ordered an iced matcha latte with oat milk and some simple syrup and it was easily the best i’ve ever had! lots of places mess up matcha but this was awesome. i also had some banana bread that was very yummy. i will say that the wifi was a bit slow and spotty, but it was manageable. i’ll absolutely be back here to study and hang out with friends!

The new takeout window opened today! Glad to have you back, Black Dog!Black Dog Cafe has been my only preferred coffee house for over fifteen years. It is my third place, and home away from home. The coffee, tea, food, service, and atmosphere are all top-notch in my opinion. I wouldnt think of going anywhere else for any of my caffeinated needs that exceed the capacities of a Mr. Coffee. That said, they also sell great coffee dry as whole bean or ground to your specification!There simply isnt anywhere else I can think of in Tallahassee where I can sip my favorite espresso drinks, fresh-made, while having stimulating conversation with some of my favorite locals, and enjoying some of the best public scenery in town. Theres also no other place I can think of within city limits where I can sit and relax outside on a hot summer day without sweating too much to enjoy it.In summary, I simply cant recommend this establishment highly enough. I hope to continue drinking lattes and making memories here for many years to come.

Relaxing coffee shop on the lake (Ella). Great hot tea selection and nitro cold brew on tap for the win!Warning: you may overhear conversations of hipster, FSU philosophy majors so bring good noise cancelling ear buds.

A really fun place. It overlooks Lake Ella and is sheltered by a canopy of Tallahassee trees. It is a perfect place to think, study, and enjoy various Black Dog treats.

Love love love love love love this place. Always wonderful service and delicious food and drinks

This coffee shop is a great local place to hangout and drink delicious coffee/tea, eat homemade vegan hand pies, muffins, and much more. There is usually a nice cool breeze on the back porch (which is also pet friendly and over looks the beautiful Lake Ella.) ❤️

So love this little spot .. its great .. right by the lake and the ducks are so ugly theyre cute lol. The teas and coffee ...awesome.. really friendly and the local honey I love

Great coffee, great atmosphere and great staff, what else needs to be said?

Very nice quiet place to work to study, food and drinks are great as well.

Hannah always knows just how to make my quad espresso! I love coming especially to see her :)

Great ice pops for the little one.

Great little local coffee shop. It’s pretty active inside and outside of the coffee shop. A great walking path around a pond with ducks. Coffee was great and the kids loved the popsicles.

Can be romantic daty or night sitting on the decks sipping coffee tea or anything ....the breeze and natural atmosphere and water is conducive too

If youre in Tallahassee, make sure you stop here. The coffee is great, youll be supporting local business, and it is nestled next to Lake Ella. There is an awesome walking path around the lake, teeming with wildlife, where you can take your coffee with you and enjoy the sunshine.

Their breakfast selection is better than any other coffee shop in town. The croissants make the place smell amazing in the morning and their drink specials are creative and yummy. This morning I met a friend and her young daughter; we had the ham & Swiss croissant and then shared a chocolate croissant. She had a black coffee and I had the London Fog (my favorite). Everything was absolutely delicious. The owner came by and brought a small coloring book and some crayons for our four-year-old; when have you ever seen that little touch at a coffee shop? Only at a local staple like Black Dog. The day was nice so we took a stroll around Lake Ella before leaving. Black Dog is a long-time Tallahassee gem. ☕️

One of the great places and their product is fine for 5 dollars, but when it comes to Customer Service I regretfully have to admit that it was devastated by a staff member who is not even familiar of the basic manners, and how to talk or communicate with customers. His attitude and rudeness were tremendously unacceptable which give the impression that he was not raised properly. Furthermore, instead of showing regret, he replaced the WIFI password in order to prove his selfishness. He was not even man enough to step out and talk to me as men,however I was not surprised.

This has been a favorite hangout of mine for literally decades. I no longer live in town, but when I come back to see family I always pay them a visit.

Best cafe I’ve been to in Tallahassee. Atmosphere is fantastic; Though, you must sit outside in COVID times. Good flavored coffee drinks AND fantastic kombucha on draft. If they have the orange flavor when you go there, get it. It ain’t cheap here but it’s worth.

This place is a must stop if youre passing through! Its always filled with locals studying and enjoying some delicious, fresh coffee. The vegan and gluten free selection of baked goods is astounding! The vegan carrot cake is the best carrot cake Ive had outside of my moms home made cake. If you have reservations on vegan or gluten free treats, let Black Dog Cafe show you how delightful they can be!

GREAT coffeehouse with different flavors and blends. Atmosphere is inviting and outdoor seating on Lake Ella is always comforting. Delicious coffee drinks and snacks without breaking the bank!

Blueberry bread, magic bars & espresso with a caramel ice cream chaser!!! Hello diabeetus, nice to meet you 😁 WORTH IT!!!

Cute community coffee shop on the lake. No indoor seating, but the service is worth it. Get an americano from Kaitlyn she’s a sweetheart!

The drinks and atmosphere are great. I have been going here for years. Unfortunately, the baristas have been rude lately. A lot of eye rolling and sighing.

Amazing Coffee!! Superb atmosphere!! Thank you Black Dog 💜

Listen up people: youve got to visit this coffee shop. Amazing atmosphere (plus outdoor seating, right along the water), the coffee is delicious (great specials too!), and plenty of room for studying (free wifi). If youre into aesthetics, its got quite the charming, yet down-to-earth feel. Favorite place to grab a cup of joe in Tallahassee!

Great place!!! Delicious cake and coffee.Cozy environment.

Always kind people working the counter. Great drinks!

A quiet place under the big oaks on Lake Ella with good coffee and pastries.

Wonderful service, lovely location with really pretty outdoor seating.

Black Dog Cafe is a perfect example how they value money over customers. Located at a PUBLIC park, you’re not allowed to have “outside food/drink”, cant use their WIFI without paying, and if you look homeless/“suspicious” the owner gets very upset. The community is already struggling and small businesses like this would rather profit off every corner than supporting each other. Ok Jeff Bezos

Best coffee place in Tallahassee Florida. One u open the door the wonderful smells of fresh coffee is welcoming u even before u met the beautiful owner. Wonderful view

Really great and creamy frappe, reasonable pricing!!

The owner of this place was flat out rude and out of line towards me and others. Upon coming out of the bathroom not even time for me to adjust and put my mask on she yelled at me to put it on, and proceeded to heckle and yell at me outside in front of customers that seemed astonished by her. Couldnt believe this ladys actions who seemed to be the owner of the place, and was even told by others in our group that she was rude to them, and witnessed her being rude and on edge with one of her employees. I understand the need to be careful with this virus, especially with those who arent wearing a mask, but in this situation I was, but thats no way to treat customers at all. Great area but horrible establishment run by a psycho!

Typically slow service, but that is part of the charm of the place. To not be in a rush.

The staff is nice and efficient. Their baked goods are some of the best that Ive had in the state and love to pair them with their latte. Also you cant beat the view outside from the patio

Seriously its going to sound like a joke but youve got to order the white dog.You can thank me whenever. 🙇🙇

Great local coffee right by Lake Ella park. Outdoor seating.

A blue dot on a red map: a great atmosphere to play games, talk with friends, take a date, study or work.

The best coffee/cafe ever. The honey bee latte has been my favorite out of any coffee shop around the US. Also their cinnamon rolls are out of this world! They usually only serve them on the weekends and some mondays, just a heads up. Also being on lake ella accompanied by a great outdoor space works well during covid due to their window service.

My favorite cafe.

Nice new window for ordering on deck under beautiful oak tree!

Small but mighty! Try the black dog frap!

That place is way worse than just awful. Rude staff, unprofessional customer service, and the overall experience is just horrible. Never coming back.

Whats not to love? Okay, the coffee is great. But its all about the atmosphere, right? Great date location. You can rent a game for $1; pick up wacky joke mugs or fun candies with a lefty-bent. Plus there are t-shirts and other unique items to round out the whole funky coffee house vibe.Its as if Starbucks never happened. (I like Starbucks) but if youre on the younger side and dont remember coffee houses, this is what they were like. And they tended to veer pretty hard to the left. With flyers for peace marches, buy local t-shirts, save the environment rallies, you name it.Because it is a locally owned business, i try to make it a point to go.Downside? a tad cramped inside, but a huge deck by the lake. (also check out All Saints Coffee downtown)

Thanks so much for being so helpful and awesome! The coffee was amazing after I finally got it, lol my boyfriend dropped two cups before he got it to me! But you were kind enough to give him another each time.Hard to find such beautiful souls anymore. Thanks again!

Great place to relax and chat with friends.

I had their iced vanilla latte. VERY good. I had a date with my 17 yr old daughter there. She loves it. Pandemic aside, great atmosphere and a beautiful setting next to Lake Ella. Need coffee in Tallahassee? Go here

Friendly staff. Never been there before and am out of state so I just said just make me whatever you think is good( I normally dont do this because its annnoying). She asked a few questions and made very good drink. It was different and delicious. Ask for the pumpkin head !

The Black Dog Cafe combines the best aspects of a high end coffee house and a local community center - excellent coffee and other treats, and a deeply welcoming sense of community connected by person-to-person engagement. The cafe is one of several unique local businesses that surround Lake Ella city park with its geese, ducks, and turtles, and its porch-swings, benches, and small gazebo. Lake Ella is a fulcrum for a wide variety of events and local vendors. Today, for example, was the Santa Paws Walk with a veritable rainbow of mutts and their people showing off their elf ears and wiggles and manners and costumes. Black Dog Cafe is one anchor of that fulcrum. Dont miss it if you are a visitor, make it a habit if you are a local. If Im there when you come, maybe we can play a game of Scrabble.

Beautiful location @ Lake Ella. Take home a jar of local honey after you havevsome of the best coffee in town.

They definitely know what they are doing! Their coffee is great, I am hooked.So far my favorite coffee place in town, and Ive tried most of them.They play it very safe regarding COVID, but most importantly their coffee is just really really good.

Great little coffee house.. With views of lake.

Super nice atmosphere, good food, reasonable prices. Has a nice area to walk around and an interesting surrounding area

It is an odd little house turned into a coffee shop. We got our coffee and muffins and went out onto a huge deck area overlooking a pond with a sidewalk trail and water fowl on the water. Spent several hours there just visiting with family that we hadnt seen in several years. Indoor seating is scarce and most tables were occupied by students studying. That was a good sign to me about how this place is viewed by the locals.

Top Quality Café. Locally owned and pretty much a Tallahassee staple.

Friendly, laid back, and great coffee and frappes! My favorite is Earl Grey frappe with lavender! Omgosh, YUUMMM!

Favorite local coffee shop in town! Great location right on Lake ella. The outdoor seating has been great during social distancing times & the service never disappoints.

My wife and I enjoy topping off a date night with a pot of tea at Black Dog. A perfectly cozy way to wind down an evening.

Really Bad attitude from servers. Stay away

Service was slow, but the staff was super courteous. We both ordered the nitro cold brew. It was very balanced and not bitter at all.

This place looks amazing and I am excited to come back here. However, there is no WiFi during the day on the weekends. This is a great policy for families and those who need a disconnect. But if you have a Monday deadline and need the Internet to meet it, this is not the place. Since I was in this position I did not get to hang around and enjoy the food, drinks, or atmosphere. I plan on coming back but I didn’t see this detail online so I only found out after I made the trip.

I like their coffee... However there are a couple of the employees that are obnoxiously rude. Most are very friendly but the couple bad apples have me coming less frequently. Mainly the mid 20s lady with glasses who scoffs and doesnt acknowledge hows it going have a nice day or even thank you...

Great coffee, great atmosphere.

Great placement next to lake Ella. Friendly staff, small little cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. I wish they had at least a non-vegetarian breakfast sandwich or something, and their policy for turning off wifi on the weekends is counter-productive and outdated. Nonetheless, I love coming here. The menu they do have is good, and they seem to promote good values. Lake Ella also serves as my quiet spot.

Delicious coffee, tasty tea, and flavored sodas can wash down the yummy treats. Vegan and gluten-free options are available and also delicious. The atmosphere is cozy with ample seating and table space inside and on the deck, which overlooks Lake Ella. Service is good and friendly. Do yourself a favor and visit. If you have too much tasty goodness you take a stroll around the lake.

Fire af as always

The outside ordering window on their deck is great for quick orders without having to enter the building.

Had a nice latte here. The place has a very interesting style. We had our coffee out on the porch and looked over the lake. Was pretty nice.

Loved it. Amazing view of the lake from the deck.

Local spot with lots of love

Awesome little place by Lake Ella! Great coffee and cozy atmosphere.

Great little cafe on the lake, Great atmosphere, Great location.

I almost lived in this cafe for 3 months while studying and living in Tallahassee. The building is an old building that absorbs the sound really well. If you are the type who enjoys background white noise to focus, this is the right decibel. A lot of cafes these days have shiny plastic-y materials that reflect sounds to deafening levels with pretentious designs. This place is peaceful. Great place to sit and read on the porch in the fall as well.Coffee beverages are made with quality and care. The staff were really nice and friendly. Jen was my favorite barista. She was always super super kind and professional. She made amazing Lates. They have good vegan pastries as well.The owner is lucky to have such kind and caring people working all hours of the day as if they owned the business themselves. She could be nicer to her staff.I recommend this place to everyone over any other cafe in town.

A coffee house for the ages, nestled under grand live oaks overlooking Lake Ella and its vibrant people scene. Inside are cozy nooks, books and board games, and insanely wonderful coffee concoctions. The menu is short but sweet - - I love the toasted bagel with homemade hummus and cucumber slices. The large outdoor deck is lovely almost yearround.