BarBend

The Online Home for Strength Sports

Where to Eat, Caffeinate, and Explore During the 2025 CrossFit Games in Albany

Written by Julia Papworth
Last updated on July 29th, 2025

Watching elite athletes throw down all weekend is hard work — and you’re gonna need coffee, carbs, and a break from the bleachers. 

Spectating is a marathon, not a sprint, and that’s where this guide comes in.

We’ve gathered the top spots to eat, caffeinate, and pass the time between events, so you can enjoy your best fit-fan experience during the 2025 CrossFit Games in Albany.

  • Remember, this list isn’t exhaustive, so if there’s a great place we’re missing, please email us and let us know!

Best Places to Get Caffeinated

You know you need a strong brew to get you through a long day of action.

  • Motor Oil Coffee is a micro-roastery that serves single-origin espresso, pour-overs, breakfast sandwiches, and pastries. It opens from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is closed on weekends.
  • Alias Coffee serves classic espresso drinks and its own cold brew. They also offer drip coffee, pour-overs, and a small variety of specialty beverages, like high-quality matcha. You can also pick up a snack or two. They are open every day!
  • Stacks Espresso Bar was founded in 2014 as a place for coffee, food, and community. Stop by to enjoy a wide variety of coffee, tea, and other drinks, along with a fairly large food menu. They are open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day.
  • A family-owned roastery and café that has been operating since 1976 is known for its fresh-roasted coffee, tasty breakfast and lunch options, and friendly service. They roast all their coffee beans in-house and provide a wide variety of coffee drinks, along with tea, espresso, and smoothies. Open seven days a week!
  • At Iron Coffee, they pride themselves on supporting the local community. They roast their beans daily in the shop and source their dairy from nearby farms. The Albany location is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • JA. Pequeño
    (Coffee Shop, 466 Madison Ave, Albany, NY 12208)
  • The original Jacob Alejandro location is in Troy, up the highway from Albany, but JA. Pequeño is the next best option. They are open every day and have an outdoor patio. Order a traditional brew or try something a little more unique to pair with a tasty pastry.

Honorable Mentions:

  • Brewtus Roasting – 20 Hallwood Rd, Delmar, NY 12054
  • Cider Belly Doughnuts – 53 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205
  • Uncommon Grounds Coffee & Bagels – 1225 Western Ave #5, Albany, NY 12203
  • The Scene Coffee and Cocktails – 1671 Western Ave, Albany, NY 12203

Best Places to Eat

Whether you’re refueling after a morning drop-in at a local affiliate or searching for a dependable lunch spot before the next heat, these local gems have it all.

  • A Turkish Mediterranean family restaurant where you can enjoy authentic Turkish gyro, made with the finest lamb and beef. They have an extensive menu with many options and are conveniently located across the street from the venue. They are closed on Sundays, so plan accordingly.
  • A family-owned restaurant specializing in affordable, multicultural home recipes that serve authentic Hispanic, soul, and American cuisine. They are open for lunch and dinner from Tuesday through Sunday.
  • If you’re craving seafood, head to Albany Ale and Oyster, just a few miles from the venue. Explore their rotating oyster selection, and even after the kitchen closes, the bar remains lively for another hour.
  • Looking for something simple and straightforward? Head to Pearls. As the only diner in town, the staff takes pride in providing quick service and a great menu. They serve breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and are closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
  • Modern Mexican street food is the hallmark of Ama Cocina, located just a short distance from the venue. They offer a reliable taco bar, along with a variety of snacks, appetizers, and more. They are only open from Tuesday through Saturday.
  • The Skinny Pancake began as a wooden cart in Vermont in 2003, operated by brothers Jonny and Benjy Adler. They offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and be sure to try the crepes, which come in both savory and sweet varieties.
  • Open Tuesday through Saturday, Common Roots is a brewery located at the historic Albany Pump Station. They offer 24 rotating draft lines and a kitchen that features locally sourced casual fare, including sandwiches, salads, and pizzas.

Honorable Mentions:

  • Ria’s Bistro – 113 State St, Albany, NY 12207
  • Viva Empanadas – 90 N Pearl St, Albany, NY 12207
  • Lark St. Poke Bar – 203 Lark St, Albany, NY 12210
  • Dove and Deer – 32 Dove St, Albany, NY 12210
  • Rosanna’s – 23 Dove St, Albany, NY 12210
  • 677 Prime – 677 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207)
  • D’Raymonds – 269 Osborne Rd, Loudonville, NY 12211
  • Villa di Como Ristorante – 286 Lark St, Albany, NY 12210

Join the BarBend community Forum

Looking to connect with fellow fitness lovers like you? Head over to the BarBend Community Forum to ask questions, share advice, and talk all things training.

Join the Conversation

Explore the City

If you have some downtime between events? Here’s your list of things to do, see, and explore around Albany.

  • New York State Capitol Building
    (State St.& Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12224)
  • Enjoy the free guided tours and air conditioning.
  • Schuyler Mansion
    (32 Catherine St, Albany, NY 12202)
  • The Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail
  • A paved shared-use path links Albany and Schenectady counties in the Capital District of upstate New York. The trail is part of the statewide Canalway Trail, which runs along the Erie Canal from Buffalo to Albany and provides some stunning views.
  • Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail
  • A nine-mile trail suitable for bikes and pedestrians, linking the communities of Voorheesville, New Scotland, Bethlehem, and Albany.
  • New York State Museum
    (222 Madison Ave, Albany, NY 12230)
  • Free exhibits showcasing regional history, science, and culture.
  • USS Slater WWII Destroyer Escort Museum
    (141 Broadway, Albany, NY 12202)
  • Docked right on the Hudson River, it is the last remaining destroyer escort afloat in America. It is a fully restored World War II ship offering guided tours.

More CrossFit Stories

Featured Image: @albanyaleandoyster / Instagram

About Julia Papworth

Writer, hairstylist, football fanatic, and CrossFitter, Julia makes her home in sunny Southern California. When not handstand walking, she is writing for The Fantasy Footballers and running the Hair Department for CBS’s S.W.A.T. Her guilty pleasures are animals dressed as humans, babies wearing tiny headphones at sporting events, and every episode of “Arrested Development."

View All Articles

BarBend

BarBend is an independent website. The views expressed on this site may come from individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the view of BarBend or any other organization. BarBend is the Official Media Partner of USA Weightlifting.