There are enough coffee shops, restaurants, and stores in Harvard Square that a college student could likely spend all four years between Massachusetts Avenue and Brattle Street and never need to venture further for sustenance. Though I’m certainly a regular at Tatte and Blank Street, this week I decided to wander just outside of the Square and onto Auburn Street. There, I visited a new, Mediterranean-inspired cafe: Luxor.
Luxor Cafe includes any coffee lover’s go-to options—you can order an iced vanilla latte, cappuccino, or Americano just like at one of the larger chains in the square. More in the mood for a classic breakfast sandwich? Try Luxor Cafe’s “Harvard Yard:” eggs, bacon, cheddar, and avocado. In addition to this classic, if you’re in the mood for something new, like “Eggs with Pasterma” (Egyptian cured beef), Luxor has you covered. Luxor offers a wide range of Mediterranean-inspired menu items: a Baklava Latte, a Veggie Hummus Sandwich, and Shakshuma to name a few.
Luxor opened just last May, describing itself as “featuring a blend of Mediterranean flavors from Egypt to Turkey.” But its connection with Mediterranean culture does not end with its unique coffees and sandwiches.
Upon entering Luxor, you’ll notice that it has a distinctly different ambiance than other cafes in the area. Luxor’s logo—a scarab beetle with a coffee bean— symbolizes rebirth, regeneration, and protection. Their menu board is adorned with drawings of pyramids and palm trees, and their walls are decorated with interesting art depicting Egyptian hieroglyphs. Potted plants and intricately designed tea cups are dispersed throughout the cafe, making you feel as though you may have stepped out of Cambridge and into a different place entirely.
Sure, Luxor’s Mediterranean influence sets it apart from other cafes. But beyond that, I had a distinct feeling that Luxor was designed to not only be a place that you go, but a place that you stay.
When I walked into Luxor this week, I was immediately greeted by a friendly, warm ambiance. There was a group of women sipping from mugs from home, filled to the brim with steaming Luxor coffee. A leashed dog sat nearby as they chatted and laughed. The employees greeted me warmly and happily answered my questions about the menu. I didn’t feel rushed to immediately pick my order and took my time to take in the unfamiliar menu.
As I sat waiting for my latte, my initial feeling deepened. In addition to the hieroglyphic-adorned walls, I noticed that Luxor actually had a lot of big tables and comfortable seating. On the shelves in front of me rested a collection of board games including Life, Monopoly, and Othello stacked among the potted plants. I could clearly imagine myself sitting with a friend, sipping a Lavender Latte, and snacking on one of Luxor’s specialty sandwiches while engaging in an intense game of Uno.
Though the cafes in the Square are certainly an exciting place to be, I usually find it difficult to find a seat. Luxor’s location slightly out of the Square means that visitors to Cambridge won’t just stumble across it. It seems like a spot more likely to be filled with locals and students, which I believe makes it optimal for a more relaxed environment.
The welcoming vibe, quality coffee, and wide array of seating options make Luxor an ideal place to take a moment to enjoy the moment and the latte in hand. Unfortunately, I fear it may be a place that Harvard students currently miss out on. Luxor has long and inviting hours:
Monday-Thursday: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Luckily, it’s open more than early enough for a croissant and latte pre 9 a.m. math class. Furthermore, it’ll still be open when you come back for an afternoon pick-me-up on your way to a long afternoon at Widener. Luxor’s late closing times on Friday and Saturday mean it could even be the perfect place to get a casual dinner near the square or finish up some work in an environment more relaxed than the typical university libraries.
With the busy schedules that many students take on, some may shy away from taking the extra five minutes to explore a new place and instead revert back to their typical Pavement or Tatte run (no hate toward either of these fine establishments, they see a lot of me). However, I believe that there’s real value to slowing down, taking a slightly longer stroll, and enjoying the medley of people, refreshments, and atmosphere that Luxor has to offer.
Antonia Salame ’28 (amsalame@college.harvard.edu) likes her vanilla lattes with an extra shot.