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Categories: Coffee & Tea, Music Venues [Edit]
Neighborhoods: University City, Spruce HillMon-Thu. 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sat. 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Just moving to West Philly, I wasn't really expecting much other than a decent cup of coffee while I walked in. The decor is bright, if a little sparse (although the artwork on the walls is quite amusing sometimes) and it had that kind of annoying hipster vibe to it.
I'm definitely a fan now, though. The coffee is OK - I've had better and I've had much much worse, but the price is right. The outdoor tables are a great place to read a book, surf the web, or just people watch. I can see where people say this isn't the most social coffee shop around, but it's perfect for settling in with a good book (or your laptop). And you're never alone in that - the place is always half full of grad students trying to study. Sometimes it's nice to just enjoy your coffee without feeling weird for sitting in a corner with a book.
And I don't understand people's complaints about the staff. They've always been super nice to me and, now that I'm in there pretty much every day for my caffeine fix, they know my order and always take time to chat.
I used to live by the Green Line on Balti and now live two blocks from this one. I drink coffee every day of my life.
However, I never find a reason to justify going here, to either of them. There is nothing cozy about it and I really think that they should be going for such a vibe. Tables are also pretty sparse for such a large space, which also results in an emptiness that saddens me, as if I were in a warehouse. I feel as if the entire interior could disappear overnight with the wind.
The coffee... not great. Small portions for the price. I feel as if I must force down the mochas and chai lattes.
They have some novel vegan options, which is a credit to their politics and culture (and earns an extra star), but that only takes them so far in earning my allegiance. I also need a good product.
Went to the Green Line on Locust. It was ok; the coffee was decent and at a good temperature, but not something that stood out as great. They were serving Equal Exchange coffee, which I appreciate since it is fair trade.
I thought, though, that this particular location had a sort of cold atmosphere to it. But I will definitely try to make it to the Baltimore St. location and try some espresso drinks so that I can give a better judgement.
I don't understand all the buzz about the Green Line. The hot coffee always tastes burnt, and everything is way overpriced, especially the iced coffee.
Yo, hippies at Green Line...get some wi-fi and you'll get all my business
The Green Line on Locust is a nice, big space with a strong internet connection and plenty of outlets for your laptop. It's a good place to sit and mooch internet all day.
Cafe-wise, though, it's mediocre. There's not a big selection of food, and none of it is made fresh and on-site-- they just sell pre-wrapped little sandwiches and cookies and such. The Vietnamese hoagies are decent, but not very filling.
Most importantly, the coffee is bad. Bad coffee at a cafe is a dealbreaker for me. Also they tend to keep the little carton of soy milk sitting out on the counter all day instead of refrigerating it, so it usually has a funny taste.
They do have a large selection of loose teas, which they keep in big canisters behind the counter and scoop out for you into a homemade tea-bag thing when you order a cup. They put a lot of tea in there, so you can get a free refill of hot water and have a very flavorful second cup.
In fact, if they marketed themselves as a tea place and didn't sell coffee at all, I'd probably give them 3 or 4 stars. But there's no excuse for selling very bad coffee and or spoiling your soy milk. I also find the guy who works there on weekdays to be very irritating. He's spacey at best. The service there is pretty dismal in general.
As much as I love it here in many ways, there are days that I'm just so Philly-weary: Days that I just want to go out and not have the world smell like hot garbage, not have people bumping into or crushing against me, not see litter on every flat surface, and not have everything I see coated in grime or dried pools of spit. Call me crazy, call me snobby, call me whatever you want, but there are days where I just wish that my surroundings were pleasant--cheerful even.
On just such a morning I found myself on the opposite end of the neighborhood from my regular coffee shop, so popped into the new Other Green Line for the first time. I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I had heard that it was shockingly nice, but considering the source I wasn't quite sure what that meant. I opened the door and stepped...out of Philly. In the best possible way.
It was like being on vacation. No, it was what I imagine having a summer home in a quaint town somewhere to be like--going into vacation mode and forgetting about the outside worries of the world, but in a familiar setting. How comforting it was to see the same old sugar and cream dispensers; how decadent it felt to not have to sit practically in someone's lap to enjoy my coffee.
I can't put my finger on exactly what it is that gives this place that summer-home quality--I'm not sure I want to, lest I break the spell. I'm sure the spaciousness, all of the natural light, the cleanliness all lend to it. The coffee is good, the people are nice, yadda yadda yadda. There is no one thing that I can is outstanding about it. In any other world, would I give the Other Green Line 5 stars? No. But the Green Line gave me what no other business has: respite from the sometimes-grueling oppression of Philadelphia.
Definitely didn't know what I was getting into going to this location of the Green Line, and that's probably for the best. I heard they have poetry readings (though I'm not sure of which location) and so I gave in and decided to visit to "check out the scene." Upon entering the waitress was pretty cold but I got prompt service. The coffee ended up tasting like your average coffeehouse coffee. Nothing special. There were a variety of eatables too, including bagels, wraps, and yogurt.
The atmosphere was calm, comfortable. New Wave music in the background. 30% of the crowd were on laptops. Half of the crowd were in small groups, appearing to be studying or discussing high-intellect topics. The tables are all varied, and though not necessarily practical or ideal, they work and there's a lot of seating space.
I'll probably end up going back, either for a reading, or to do some writing/newspaper browsing. Yes, it's that kind of place.
yay for a new Green Line! Big, airy, bright, with indoor and outdoor tables. And wifi! My only issue here is that there are literally 2 outlets for, oh, 15 or so tables. Seems like this would be a high priority for a coffee shop opening this far into the 21st century. So charge up before you go, or you may be left on the side of the information superhighway (note retro-hip terminology).
do note that this is on the corner of 45th and Locust, not 43rd.
Technically it's no longer The Other Green Line, but I guess that it's one of those names you can't escape once you decide to use it. The Other Green Line was the cafe that they closed down in favor of renovating another bigger spot, and calling it something like "That Other The Other Green Line" would be pretty damn confusing (and would ironically be something that I would probably do).
Now they just call it Green Line Cafe which is equally similar to the other two and pretty plain. But you realize how significantly different it is the moment you bask in it's hugeness and check out a show.
Just Clarifying -
The Not So Other McThrill
Coffee and music are two of my favorite things, so when you combine the two I'm singing in perfect… Read more »
OK-one of my friends used to live above the Other Green Line when it was still located at 43rd & Locust. When I was between apartments, I moved in with him temporarily and we got breakfast there almost every morning. The coffee was terrible but got the job done, the bagels were great, and the service was super-friendly (we got free coffee on the last day it was open).
I've only been there once since it moved down the street and I doubt that I'll ever return. The new place is akin to warehouse. Sound carries really well and every single one of your neighbor's conversations will be amplified (it's usually packed so stay away if you like starting your morning off quietly). The furniture (which is remarkably uncomfortable) is arranged in a weird way and the new baristas are either cold or straight-up mean. In short, the ambiance is offensive.
There is definitely better coffee nearby (Kaffa Krossing on 44th & Chestnut) so unless you are dragged there by your friends who buy into the hype--don't bother.
The Other Green Line has since relocated to the southeast corner of 45th & Locust. Basically, the new location covers all the cons from the previous location: there is plenty of light streaming through the huge windows, lots and lots of space that will aim to accomodate for Green Line shows, and the return of outdoor seating! You won't be quite as awkwardly privy to everyone's conversations anymore. And, get this: there are more outlets for yr laptops. Hallelujah.
The space itself is simple, but gorgeous, and the selection of coffee drinks, bagels, pastries, and sandwiches remains the same as it ever was. Which is great.
What a great addition to the corner. I expect lots of lazy hanging out to occur here.
The building is wrapped in Hipster Flypaper. There's coffee. It's outstandingly generic, but a decent place to take your laptop - oops I mean your MacBook - if you can find a seat.
The green line is solid. They have good coffee/tea and good bagels. The prices are very reasonable (50 cent refills, $1 bagels). One major downer is that the room can often fill up with very loud/annoying patrons who become louder and more annoying because of the awful acoustics. It's really hit or miss in that regards. The cafe setup pretty much sucks. If you're looking for a good cup of coffee that is right down the street, then green line is your spot. If you're looking for an inspirational atmosphere then you're out of luck.
No credit cards. WiFi is really sporadic. Decent music.
As a music venue, green line isn't bad. Saw Joe Jack Talcum/Mischief Brew on a packed saturday night. About 20 chairs set up, sat in, and another 30 or so people along the walls and in the back. You're right there no matter where you are. Sound was good. Bathrooms are clean. Not much more to say. A nice small place to see a band, etc.
Going to this place is kindof like going to a noisy library: rows of people on laptops studying their asses off. Not really too inviting, but what can you do. Plus, the wifi often has issues there, and I swear it's impossible to sit near an electrical outlet unless you grab a pew on the wall.
Plus, their coffee is actually pretty bad, especially compared to the stuff they brew at Kaffa Crossing and Cafe Clave nearby. Tastes like starbucks. Their sandwiches are also usually very bland and in general all of the food they sell is overpriced unless you by the day-old baked goods.
The artwork on sale is always pretty cool, though, and I like their wide selection of loose teas: bagged in-house and good for free hot water refills. Ultimately I gave this 3 stars because it's a solid place, and nothing more, despite it's vaguely hipster vibe.
Why so surly? I really don't know why, but no matter what I order here, whoever's at the bar seems unhappy about it. This location is open late and has a big lovely window, so despite the mediocre drinks and whiff of pretension, I wanted to like it. But I just don't enjoy being here. There are nicer, warmer options all over the neighborhood and even right down the street.
OMG vietnamese hoagies. Heaven. Perfect for hangovers.
The new and improved other green line (45th & Locust) makes me hopeful. The space is bigger,… Read more »
All right, Other Green Line. I like you. I've stopped in a couple of times since you relocated, and I am pleased. Your coffee is excellent, your seats are much more comfortable than the old ones, your patrons are mostly cool (though there is an extremely loud couple sitting across from me as I type this), and your location is totally badass. I love the giant windows (though all this people-watching is not conducive to working - which was the whole reason I came here) and I love your fresh coat of paint. The absence of a British man cursing my friends out over their choice of t-shirts is also a plus. Keep that dude away, plz, and clean your bathroom a little more and I'll up you to five stars.
I want to like the other green line. It's on my block! It's got a nice atmosphere! The coffee is… Read more »
I had the pleasure of The Green Line Cafe on 45th street today and I am now a fan! The space is totally set up for events and the music is eclectic as well as the clientele. Today, I had the French Toast Bagel with Cream Cheese. Nothing special about, but good nonetheless. They also have a variety of vegan delights which has become the standard these days. "I'll take the Blue Line to The Green Line anytime"!!! Hey, that should be there marketing campaign!!! Remember, you heard it here first!!
Great neighborhood coffee shop.
Things are decently priced- hooray for day old bagels at half price!
Wireless internet is pretty slow and not too reliable. It can get a little crowded, but there's usually a seat. Great place for meeting, doing some work, or getting a quick cup on the go.
(never been to a concert so no-comment on that)
I'm pouring out some of my coffee for the recently relocated Other Green Line, affectionately known as "OGL" within my circle of friends. This space moved up the block, and is now known as the Green Line on Locust (aka "GLOL," sigh). I'm not feeling the vibe there anymore. There's decidedly more parents & babies, which if you avoided the Baltimore Ave shop on account of them, oh well. The new hires can't blaze through the line like the folks at OGL could, and this disappoints me. And the configuration of the milk/sugar station behind the line kills the efficiency of the place. I'm sure these things will change as they grow accustomed to the new space.
Yea, the only thing missing in THIS Green Line Cafe is the crowd. Business-wise, I don't see why a neighborhood cafe would open its second location just three blocks away. Anyway, as the other reviewer notes, THIS Green Line Cafe is right next to the laundromat where I used to do marathon laundry sessions, so it made an ideal place to hang out while my socks tumbled around.
I really like the Vietnamese hoagies, which, apparently, are not made on location but are delivered daily by some distributor. They're always spicy and delicious, and if you're on a budget, as about the day-old hoagies, which go for some ridiculous price, definitely no more than $2. The difference between the full-priced hoagies is almost indecipherable.
I sort of like the dark, more bohemian vibe in THIS Green Line Cafe (whereas Andrew R. claims it's a turnoff.) Sometimes, the bustling Baltimore Location, with its huge sunny windows, doesn't end up being the ideal place to study or read a book that everyone seems to think it is.
Small, cozy and more dimly lit Green Line Jr. I remember being able to access wireless internet here, although I don't remember if I was mooching off some neighboring apartment's. Coffee and teas taste the same as the big Green Line, and all the usual suspects are present (for example, the Vietnamese sandwiches). It can get packed on the weekends, but if you want to come early to grab a table, this is coffee place with a cozier vibe than its bigger brother.
It's a lot smaller than the original Green Line, the coffee as Andrew R said is exactly the same...I can't however say the same of the staff. I've been in only a few times and doubt I'll return, because the staff members always seem so unhappy. I personally don't like guilt and depression with my coffee.
Indeed, the second incarnation of The Green Line Cafe. This one's a bit smaller and darker than the original on Baltimore Street, but the coffee's just as good. Convenient to the laundromat next door. Well pulled espressos + decent assortment of pastries and other baked goods as well as sandwich selection.
Neighborhood: University City
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: University City
Category: Music Venues
Neighborhood: University City
Category: Music Venues
Neighborhood: Fairmount
Category: Music Venues
Neighborhood: University City
Category: Music Venues
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