The Optimist Cafe

This cafe is truly a hidden gem in the Jaffrey/Peterborough area! Everything we ordered was so good. The views are beautiful. Service was great. Also, there is a farm stand with fresh produce & eggs next door. We will definitely be coming back!

What a wonderful spot for breakfast and coffee. The staff is friendly and service is great. Coffee was bold and rich. There is a wide variety of take home/eat in baked goods. Tried the lemon cardamom bar and was left speechless. The bagels are made in house and are exceptional. Wife had the blueberry pancakes with lemon whipped cream and they were light fluffy and didn’t need maple syrup. You can tell the amount of care and consideration and love there is in the food. We will be back again and 10/10 recommend you stop by even if it’s just for coffee.

It's the best breakfast you'll have; all the ingredients are made fresh and assembled with care. Every patron there was talking about how amazing their food was; it's so good we were all bonding over the experience! The dining room is a bright, cozy place and very clean.

Perfect cafe for breakfast by Mt Monadnock! Everything they make is with care and high quality. We got three breakfast sandwiches, a cake, and coffees, and they were all yummy. Outdoor seating area has a nice view too. The service was great and the bathroom is clean. Highly recommend for a pit stop by the mountain area!

Went to Burger Night with my husband. The view was gorgeous. The food and Service was the best you can get locally. Well worth the first trip and many more to come.

So excited for Keith and his crews adventures to come.

Update 6.27.2022: Went back for brunch yesterday and picked up Everything Bagels, with meat lovers sandwich and Keith's Sauce the taste was so good. The best taste I have ever had. I love that Keith can finally make food the way he would for himself because it's amazing. We also got an apple Danish yummy. Best Danish ever from the dough to the frosting and apples. We also picked up the lavender lemonade and hot cocoa delicious and refreshing. Last but not least peanut butter bars yummy. So so delicious every morsel. Can't wait for more people to try this place it worth it and amazing.

I found the prices were perfect for home cooked food. It's the same amount you'd pay if you went to any other restaurants.

Everything about their food is amazing, everything is fresh and I swear these were maybe the best bagel sandwiches we’ve ever had.

The service is fantastic, welcoming and nice people. Ambiance is great, friendly and warm.

Absolutely 110% recommend!
Wonderful, warm service and the food was really terrific, fresh, perfectly balanced and clearly is made with great care. I thoroughly enjoyed sitting at one of the indoor tables, but they have a beautiful patio outdoors too. Will be making this a regular stop! Thank you!

My go-to for breakfast! They have the best bagels hands down! I religiously order the steak, egg and cheese on a green onion asiago bagel.

This is an amazing addition to this area. The fresh bakery items are mouth watering and the sandwiches are so wonderful. ( The house mustard is incredible !) Lavender lemonade is so good. What I appreciate most is that they offer gluten free items and have GF bread. The people who own/run this cafe are fabulous and so welcoming. The name is so perfect because I always leave feeling very optimistic !!!!!!!!

We were on the annual holiday cookie tour and this cafe was on the map as one of stops. From the time we walked in and the amazing smell of baked items hit you, you knew you found a new favorite spot. We ordered cappuccino (mocha) and a holiday latte. I got to see the amazing sandwiches going by me while we waited for our order. I also saw a list of bagels and inquired. The very friendly gentleman making our beverages said they were made in house. I got 2 cheddar, and everything bagel, 2 plain, and the 1 left of lavender sage, which he said fly out the door. I got to checkout their cases full of baked items and overheard a few people talking about how fantastic their products are. To be fair, let me share that my family owned a bakery just outside Boston for 54 years, so yes, I'm fussy about quality baked goods and especially bread. We got our beverages, which were fantastic. When I got home that night, the bagels smelled so good I had to try one. OMG probably the best bagel I've had in years. From the tender, just the right amount of pull on the outside, to the soft texture inside, and amazing flavor. I truly wish we didn't live 2 hours away because I'd be at this cafe daily. I'm already planning a trip back after Christmas and bringing my BFF. I'll call ahead and request a dozen bagels be held for me. I'll just freeze them when I get home so I can enjoy them longer. Make this Cafe a must stop if you're a Foodie.

A great cafe run by very friendly people. Their gluten free pancakes are fluffy and taste great. My family enjoys all of the non-GF pastries.

Fantastic fresh made food that's well worth the money. I drive 45 minutes to go there. Keith puts his heart and soul into everything he makes and everything looks and tastes like love!

There is no other place like this anywhere in the area. The food is amazing with many gluten free items.

This is one of the freshest bagels I have ever had! I had a standard with sausage on a mozzarella and pesto bagel and it hit the spot. The mustard was the perfect touch but mostly I cannot get over how delicious the bagel was! I visit family in the area on about a yearly basis and The Optimist Cafe will now be a MUST on my places to stop at while in town. Oh also… this is the best coffee in Jaffrey, hands down. I had a dirty chai and it was excellent. The is staff also incredibly friendly and welcoming. I am begging folks of the region to give this cafe their business so I can return on my next trip to eat these heavenly bagels!!!!

Keith and the staff are absolutely wonderful! The atmosphere is so cozy and welcoming. Food was delicious too! From the coffee, the pastries to the egg sandwiches we ordered, it was a true 5 stars with every bite!

What a gem of a find! We were in town to visit with my sister in Jaffrey, and looking for a Saturday breakfast before heading out. The staff were super friendly, accommodating, and cheery. The setting was sublime, as we ate on the patio, with clouds floating over the farmland. And the food? Exactly what we needed, from the salmon cakes to the lavender Earl Grey. Next time we're in town, we'll surely be back!

Amazing little cafe on top of a hill with great views. The food is delicious. The staff are very friendly and helpful. Great breakfast/lunch spot, or somewhere to simply enjoy a cup of coffee.

This is going to need be a monthly trip for us to try more..bagels(yes you told me I would like your pesto) which were both light yet hearty. Whatever was baking on Sunday afternoon was so intoxicating. And a rarely available Muligatawny soup delightful, we will be seeing you soon. Bringing friends!

Amazing- best bagels, very friendly staff and owner, great lavender lemonade, great iced mocha made with chocolate shavings. High quality food. Beautiful patio. 6 stars, wonderful!

Beautifully asthetic family owned cafe. Quality food and friendly service! Great view of the farm while you dine. Great place to stop for a relaxing cup of coffee, delicious breakfast or early lunch. 😊