All semester, I dreamed of venturing out to a coffee shop not to study for an infinite number of exams, but solely to relax and read a book. Most of April was spend yearning for free time and longing for the days of my childhood where I could read for hours on end…okay, i’m being dramatic. In the bustle of the last week, I made two visits to Culprit Cafe & Bakery, and let me tell you, i’ve unearthed Omaha’s best-kept secret.

Culprit Cafe & Bakery is located off 16th St in Downtown Omaha, close to Block 16. The decor is really nice inside, full of food furniture, flowers in glass vases, and artfully placed copies of The New Yorker. There is ample seating, and a variety of it. However, the outlets are a little hidden, ask about that before you sit down if you’ll be needing a charge.

Culprit’s main operation is their bakery, which supplies bread to local restaurants including  Block 16, Nite Owl, and Avoli Osteria. They also feature a selection of pastries and sweets. During my first visit, on a weekday, they had two varieties of scones and a few types of donuts. When I went on a Saturday, they had cinnamon rolls, scones, donuts, and fruit pastries. Their selection definitely varies by day, as do their coffee cocktails, think Spiked Chai, Mimosas, and Spanish Coffee.

My first visit, I had the Cherry Almond scone and the quick press coffee. I’m not a coffee expert, but I definitely like Culprit’s coffee. Its not too bitter and it didn’t make me cringe when I downed the last of the mug that had grown cold (am I the only one who does that?)

The scone was so good, the texture was amazing. A little crunchy on the outside with the hard bake and the sugar and so soft on the inside I thought it was raw. Don’t worry, it wasn’t! The flavor of the almond essence overpowered the actual pieces of cherry but it was still good.

Onto my *magical* second visit. This time we went on a Saturday and it was poppin’! The shop was busy and we were hungry. They have a Breakfast and Lunch menu on the board, so we ordered from both. Zach got the pork belly Banh Mí with pickled onions, kimchi, sriracha, and cilantro on ciabatta. His review is, “tasty!” I tried a little and I enjoyed it as well. He also had the slow pour (not pictured, looks like black coffee though!), which was awesome, no bitterness at all with a smooth flavor.

I had the cinnamon roll and a bowl of soup, the flavor of which is on rotation every week. I received the cinnamon roll first, and since I was hungry I took a bit. OH. MY. GOD. This was, hands down, the best cinnamon roll i’ve ever had in my life. Ot was flaky and buttery, with a healthy amount of cinnamon and a generous portion of thick cream cheese frosting spread on top. As I took more bites, the frosting oozed down and mixed with the cinnamon. I want that cinnamon roll to be my last meal. I want to die inside a giant tub of those cinnamon rolls. It was absolutely amazing. Part of me was speechless after eating this, but I also couldn’t shut up about how amazing it was.

The kitchen was really busy, and after a few tentative bites of the cinnamon roll I still hadn’t been given my soup. After all, I didn’t want to eat the entire roll before my meal! I went to a waiter and checked up on it, and shortly thereafter I was brought my Roasted Red Pepper soup. This was so yummy! It was made of pureed red peppers topped with red onions and chives with a drizzle of olive oil. I do wish I had gotten it with the toast (that’s the regular option) because there wasn’t much variety in the texture, the soup needed crackers or something crunchy for balance. Slurp slurp.

Overall, I really enjoy Culprit Cafe, I wish I would have found it sooner. The staff I interacted with were really helpful, and the vibes are really flexible.  Quiet study spot in the morning and bustling cafe in the lunchtime. Their hours are limited but its worth a visit when they’re open.

Also a plus, they have a beautiful Instagram account. Seriously, i’ve never seen such a curtated and beautiful feed from any other Omaha restaurant or coffee shop. Check it out! If anything, please call ahead and see if they have the cinnamon roll, because it will change your life, I promise.

The Bottom Line

Awesome coffee, awesome baked goods with great vibes. Spend allll of your time here.

Cone Rating: 4.5 Cones 

Price: $ (Under 10$ per person)

Location: Downtown Omaha, NE

On the Internet: Culprit Cafe & Bakery Website, Yelp Page, Facebook Account