Gather 256 - York, Pennsylvania

Kate Brennan

Gather 256 is so much more than a cafe. It is a community hub, a meeting place, a third space for all of York. In addition to wonderful food (with plenty of gluten-free and vegan options), they make the best latte in town, hands down.

There is a second floor that boasts a corner kids' play space, large tables for meetings and other little cozy nooks to work. During the warmer weather, there's an outdoor terrace with a sandpit for the kids.

What's more is that the space is always full of inspiring artwork. If you need a gift, it's a great place to stop -- earrings, pottery, wall art, books. There is even a pay-it-forward wall to donate meals and a little plant propagating area to share plants. How cute is that? They host third Fridays with programming, book clubs and more.

Gather 256 reminds me of the coffee houses of my teenage years -- homey, comfortable, welcoming, a place to work when you need to be alone, a space to connect when you need a friend. We are so lucky to have it here in York!

It is definitely the best coffee shop in town.

Chadwick Franklin

Escape the daily grind and treat yourself to a revitalizing experience. This coffee shop provides the perfect environment to unwind and recharge. Upstairs, a tranquil haven awaits, inviting you to relax and indulge. Whether you're seeking a cozy nook to work or simply a comfortable spot to savor delicious food and exceptional coffee, this is the ideal destination. Immerse yourself in the soothing ambiance and let your creativity flow. Admire the captivating art adorning the walls, available for purchase to add a touch of inspiration to your own space. Indulge your senses and elevate your day at this exceptional coffee shop.

Ryan

Cozy and cute place; such a shame they’re so slow.

It was a Saturday morning around 8:30am. There were people seated, no one in line, and the place wasn’t even halfway full. We ordered our drinks and received those promptly, but our food took half an hour… for a breakfast sandwich and a piece of French toast.

I can’t be certain, but it appeared that the owner was seated in the dining room. His young daughter had free reign of the place and often wandered behind the coffee bar. A member of staff came over a few times to sit and chat with them. Meanwhile, we’ve nearly finished our drinks and our food is nowhere to be seen. No one set any sort of expectation for us (hey guys, just so you know, food will take us 20-30 minutes, is that okay?), nor did anyone check in (your food will be out soon, thanks for your patience!). It’s really not that hard.

I hear Chef Mike (aka the microwave) putting in some serious work somewhere back there in the kitchen. My French toast was almost certainly nuked in there.

This place is definitely more of a gathering place and less of a restaurant/coffee shop. Their 10 year old superautomatic espresso machine was a (scary) sight to behold, and the overused microwave doesn’t instill any confidence in the consumer.

M V P

This place is so beautiful! I came for a book club meeting and was truly blown away. The staff is kind and welcoming. The delicious lemonade butterfly tea was so refreshing! The garden is breathtaking. The space is inclusive and queer and trans friendly as well which was my main incentive for visiting! A great place to meet with friends or sit alone and enjoy some relaxation. I did not get to try food yet but have heard great things, they even have vegetarian and vegan friendly options. I will be coming back here regularly!

Michael Brett Lavenstein

The food was a bit of a wait as they are a smaller cafe with a smaller kitchen but it was so worth the wait - the food was delicious! We got the bangin breakfast bowl each with the salsa, avocado, and hollandaise sauce. I also loved that they had plant based meat options too!

Millie F

This was the next stop on our list and it did not disappoint. Parking was awesome. We were able to get right in front. Let me start by saying as soon as we walked in the door we were greeted and welcomed by the manager. She was pleasant and helpful! We both ordered the thin mint lattes which were served in a real mug not those paper take out ones.I ordered the baked french toast and wow, it was beautiful and delicious, a huge portion to enjoy later. Hubby ordered the ironic breakfast sandwich and said it was good. The chef/owner came over to say hi and check on us. It was amazing. We ventured upstairs to see more seating and the plants. Wow, what a space! They have vintage clothing and items for purchase. As we were leaving, we wanted to check out the outdoor space. Plenty of seating and beautiful. Flowers, plants, veggies. We will definitely be back. If you are looking for a nice, cozy spot for coffee and a bite, stop in!

Dylan Strine

Got a large hot coffee added two pumps of syrup and it was 6 DOLLARS! Then you go over to pour your 6 dollar coffee just to find out it taste like someone threw some coffee grounds in a street puddle scooped it up and threw it in a warming pot. Definitely not impressed with the coffee or food but the shop itself it cool

Victoria Simpson

We came on new years so not sure if they have these food options all the time, but the breakfast bowl and the lemon poppy seed waffles were very good!