Handlebar Cafe

Nantucket, United States

4.8

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards
Free Wi-Fi

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 508-367-1976
Website:
handlebar.coffee
Address:
15 Washington St, Nantucket, MA, 02554
Categories:
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Wi-Fi
Free
Good for Working
Yes

Today

Today 6:30 am – 6:00 pm
Local time (Nantucket) –

Business hours

Monday 6:30 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday 6:30 am – 6:00 pm
Wednesday 6:30 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday 6:30 am – 6:00 pm
Friday 6:30 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday 7:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday 7:00 am – 5:00 pm

Description

Specialties

Espresso Bar — Community Space — Coffee & Tea

«The roots of a coffee shop go beyond great drinks and munchies; they reach to bring people together. Nantucket might be 30 miles out to sea, but technology-​and the open forum of ideas that accompanies it-​increases our ease and reach of communication.» Advertising our «Coffee, community space, and killer Wi-​Fi,» the Handlebar welcomes patrons who are as comfortable sitting quietly with their iPads as they are banishing their phones for an hour to connect with friends face-​to-​face. From the roomy communal tables to the cozy backyard garden to the sidewalk-​facing front patio (complete with a «Bark Bar» for furry customers), the Handlebar has space for all souls.

The Handlebar is open year-​round and seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Get to know us better by following us on Twitter and Instagram via @ackcoffee, or by visiting the island and moseying down to 15 Washington Street-​just steps from Nantucket Harbor and Main Street-​get a handle on some coffee.

History

Established in 2014.

Our first day open was July 4th! Not the best day to open a coffee shop on a vacation island such as Nantucket, but the espresso shots were pulled the second we were allowed to open our doors.

Meet the Business Owner

Jason B.

Business Owner

Jason arrived on the island «for just one summer» back in 1999, and his wife Courtney Bridges came to Nantucket 6 years ago. The energetic Bridges duo founded Nantucket Bike Tours in 2011, and continues to operate the thriving business. Courtney has been immersed in the restaurant industry since childhood, and just finished her fourth year as a teacher at Nantucket Lighthouse School. Jason, a digital marketing consultant and incumbent in this year’s facetious Honorary Mayor of Nantucket office, brings over 10 years of island restaurant experience to the coffee table. In a move that is unconventional for the service industry, Courtney and Jason have hired the Handlebar’s staff based mostly on personality rather than work history. Jason says, «Making a great cappuccino can be learned. Being truly pleasant is built into a person’s core.»

Nearby

Near this location:
10
ft
Leslie Heiden Design
15 Washington St
180
ft
Union Street Inn
7 Union St
200
ft
The Nantucket Lobster Trap
23 Washington St
310
ft
Eldredge & Bourne Moving & Storage
3 Union St
310
ft
E F Winslow Plumbing & Heating
3 Union St
360
ft
Uci Corporation
3 Commercial St

20 reviews of Handlebar Cafe

No registration required
Place rating: 4
Greenwich, CT
Latte I had was simply perfect in taste and texture. If I had to nitpick it was just slightly cooler than I prefer, but that really is nitpicking. The place blows the Bean away and is worth the very slight detour from town. Friendly staff and comfy vibe.
Place rating: 5
Manchester, CT
The place is small and has a ckean, uncluttered feel. The serving area is small but it is worth going to. The espresso drinks are constantly great. A wonderful local place I would visit often.
Place rating: 4
North Platte, NE
This little coffee shop was the perfect place to grab a coffee and catch up on some work. It is also one of the only coffee shops on the island.
Place rating: 5
Nantucket, MA
Amazing coffee and cool vibe. Very comfortable to bring your laptop and work the morning away or meet a friend and chat. Our dog loves the Bark Bar outside too!
Place rating: 5
Fall River, MA
Friendly Service! Great Latte! Barista was informative! Comfortable seating! Right across the bus station.
Place rating: 5
Paddington, London, United Kingdom
Great coffee, great service, love the atmosphere. If you are in the know, check out the secret garden seating!
Place rating: 3
Brooklyn, NY
I live a few blocks away from Blue Bottle Coffee in Brooklyn so all my coffee comparisons are based on them as a standard. Handlebar is ok. Nice people, nice place, but if you are used to Blue Bottle or Stumptown, then Handlebar is just is ok…
Place rating: 5
Manhattan, NY
This was a gem of a little café near the bus terminal in the downtown area. It is slightly hidden but if you find it, you will not be disappointed. Inside there are a handful of tables to relax at if you need to get off your feet. They have your standard caffeine fix and I would highly recommend the espresso as it was strong and flavorful. They had a limited food menu, but it seemed like everything was prepared to order which was nice.
Overall the prices were fair, service was quick and friendly and the barista was even Italian so you know it has to be good :)
Enjoy.
Place rating: 5
San Clemente, CA
Ok, so we’ve visited Nantucket a handful of times and our typical coffee stop is at Downey Flake while grabbing some donuts. However, this year we stumbled on the Handlebar Café, and WOW! We like our coffee with cream and sugar (to hide the BITTER taste), but HONESTLY, the coffee beans are so good, you don’t need sugar AT ALL! Great place to hang out and friendly service to boot! Ask about the story behind the coffee beans!
Place rating: 5
Austin, TX
Probably the best cappuccino I’ve ever had! Delicious flavor, smooth finish. The café space is fresh yet cozy and very comfortable. We’ll find a way to get there a few more times before vacation is over. 5 stars in my book.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Good iced coffee. I would expect them to have great espresso drinks, but I didn’t get one myself.
Place rating: 4
Medford, MA
Recently jumped to the top of my list on island for several reasons. A good reflection of the owner’s interests (bikes, coffee, atmosphere, style) and good coffee options. Reasonable place to hang out — not loud, crazy, or too quiet either — just right. Go Jason and Courtney. And thanks!
Place rating: 5
Altadena, CA
I was very impressed with my drink. The café was a hole in the wall which I love (especially for cafes).
I ordered the mocha latte just for a little snack and it was amazing. The best mocha latte I have ever had. If you happen to be walking around Downtown Nantucket definitely go to the Handlebar Café.
The best coffee I have ever had.
Place rating: 5
South Berwick, ME
I’m a self-​proclaimed coffee snob and I’m always looking for a great cup of coffee during my travels. A Nantucket native took us to the Handlebar the first day we were here and we returned every day for the next 4! The drip coffee is quite nice and the lattes my wife ordered (decaf w/​almond milk) were excellent. The kids behind the counter were friendly and helpful. There’s a nice place to sit inside and an equally nice area outside. We sat outside by the sweater-​wearing tree and enjoyed our coffees while becoming acquainted with several local dogs who had brought their owners out for a walk.
Place rating: 5
Needham Heights, MA
Best latte I’ve ever had. Seriously delicious, no sugar needed. It’s such a great place, friendly and arty. Great vibe. Owners are wonderful.
Place rating: 5
Framingham, MA
Perfect. That’s the word to describe the Handlebar Café. It’s nicely situated on the east side of town near Main St. Very cute and friendly café. Loved the local artwork that was on display. The coffee was excellent — definitely our new go-​to coffee spot whenever we’re in Nantucket.
We had seen the owners Jason and Courtney on HGTV’s House Hunters. So we introduced ourselves to Jason, who was very nice and shared how they came about starting the Handlebar Café. It was great to see how they’ve made the café into a central community gathering spot. As we sat outside drinking our coffee, it was great to see the number of locals stopping to grab coffee in the mid afternoon.
It’s such a nice spot, we had to come back a few more times during our Nantucket stay. Handlebar Café gets an A+ in my book. Looking forward to returning to Nantucket — and visiting the Handlebar Café again.
Place rating: 5
Manhattan, NY
It’s been years since there was a place for passable coffee and espresso beverages, and this is light years beyond what we used to have!
To start with the atmosphere, the small brick walkway and patio in the front is very charming. The knit tree-​sweater is cute! Upon walking in, the atmosphere is bright and clean. The bicycles on the walls are so neat! The photographs being shown are great — it’s hard to find genuinely original photographs in Nantucket!
The order was taken quickly and attentively, and each one was carefully crafted. The drinks were delicious — we had a chai latte, latte and cappuccino — all very good.
We sat on the couches towards the front — comfy and in a space of their own. Overall, an enjoyable experience that we can’t wait to repeat. Don’t wait for any other coffee place to open or get better, this is where to go!
Place rating: 5
Bar Harbor, ME
Coffee is tasty, blueberry muffin was well made, and the atmosphere is great.
The bike theme is well done. The owner, Jason, is extremely accommodating. If you are in the downtown Nantucket area and need a break this is the spot to be.
The only thing I could see that people might complain about is the music — I personally thought it was a tasteful mix of modern and classic songs but no accounting for taste.
Place rating: 5
Groton, MA
Finally!
I don’t know how many years we have been going to nantucket and wondering why the espresso based drinks are terrible (cough the bean, cough).
Like other reviewers here, I am a snob and have tried the best all around the world. I’m not saying this is the best in the world, but it was absolutely the best on Nantucket.
We tried a chai latte and a vanilla latte (oddly they do not have any sort of signature latte, but they said this was their most popular).
We both were very happy, and will certainly return. Yum.
Place rating: 5
Norwood, MA
Why I’ll go back: The first truly artisanal coffee place that I’ve come across downtown… finally!
You HAVE to order: Some flavor of latte — they make them with care and high quality ingredients, one at a time.
Tony’s Tip: It’s a relaxing, fairly quiet place so you can comfortably read the paper, catch up on email, or chat with your coffee buddy.
My search is over. Love ACK, but besides great sushi (sorry Lola), the only other thing lacking on this island for me has been a true café with carefully crafted coffee drinks. Well, good thing we vacationed late this Summer because Handlebar only opened a month ago. Love the coffee (I did a mocha this afternoon), love the sexy, chill music, and appreciate the openness of the space. I think this place is gonna blow up big time — so congrats to them for recognizing a void and filling it.