Café Gato Rojo

i have limited experience at this place, that is to say I’ve only gone once (or as my friends Jewish father used to say: I’ve gone twice, the first time and the last time!) But the capuccino was poor. The ‘barista’ was pretty clueless, probably due to the fact that the school year just started. So know that it is not as professional as you might think in Harvard Square (this is actually on the Harvard campus, and it seems that everyone in there is a student or professor.) And even by the antisocial standards of Starbucks and coffee shops nowadays, this place is positively on the spectrum. Everybody was plugged into the interweb in one way or other. Still it was kind of cozy in a way, if you can find something to drink there.

Why pay for overpriced coffee at Starbucks across the street if you can get a decent coffee for about half the price at the Gato Rojo? Plus, you get a nice intellectual atmosphere (dominated by international graduate students) and a unique mug for free — unfortunately, you have to leave both here.

This is a clean student-​run shop in a cozy basement. It’s light and filled with students, basically the picturesque college café. Unfortunately, the food and drinks just aren’t very good and it’s almost always full, though in good weather the university has chairs and tables just outside. You can’t use credit or debit cards, but the café does take university-​issued Crimson Cash. And finally, the café is closed in the summer and on weekends.

Great place. Inexpensive drinks, lots of tables and chairs, free wifi. Great location.

A charming little nook just underneath Harvard yard! Indoor and outdoor seating. Long exotic tea list and only $ 1.
Chill and somewhat quiet during the day. Cool crowd. Great staff. Lively playlists. Enough music and fun energy to keep you going through the evening.
Little Secret: Scrumptious unsold treats get offered to customers for free before close. Syrupy pecan goodness for freeee! Score.

Love this place — awesome people working here, really nice outdoors seating and super cool drinks. Great location in Harvard yard.

I’m addicted. This place is amazing. Super cool baristas, latte art, below-​factory-​price Tazo Chocolate and, of course, $ 1 teas.
My favorite drink is the Herbal Spiced Chai with Cayenne Pepper, Cinnamon and Soy Milk. For $ 1.
Cheaper and tastier than Starbucks, Lamont café or the Greenhouse café, with delicious variety. Sometimes I can’t help it and have to come twice in a day.
I spend my weekends crying, mourning that the Gato’s not open.

RATING: 3 stars
NOTE: Only went here to grab a drink.
SENTENCE SUMMARY:
«A good place if you need a quick, cheap coffee or tea fix that doesn’t taste awful.»

Great tea selection and open night Mics are always a blast

A hidden gem of cheap eats in the middle of the giant tourist trap that is Harvard Square, Café Gato Rojo is one of the best kept secrets of Harvard students. So well kept, that even many Harvard students don’t know about it! But now I’m sharing it with you. Why?
One. Dollar. Tea.
It’s no Tealuxe, but the Gato Rojo does a pretty damn good job for the price tag. The coffee is pretty cheap, too, as are the baked goods. Nothing is spectacular, but for $ 1, who CARES? If you’re on the Harvard wireless network, it’s also a great place to sit down and chug through a couple of emails – a refuge of shade in the summer time (or not – there is outdoor seating with plenty of tourist-​watching opportunities!) and a warm shelter in the winter.
If you can find it, be sure to check the place out!