Yaoz Frozen yogurts et coffee shop
It all begins with an idea.
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No need to hesitate: the man coming at me from this destination’s direction was savoring his frozen yogurt sundae. As I stepped inside, the TV screens of menus—the third method of browsing their many many options—popped against the exposed, tan brick. While my mind recalled NiceCream in Wroclaw, Poland, in reality this spot runs more bubbly and product focused. Rightly so: the statuette of a bubble waffle chock-full of frozen yogurt and a neatly-packed rainbow of toppings—like an abacus with ice cream poking through the lines—is right on the toppings case, the most noticeable element of the display between you and the well-adjusted woman taking your order. The leading element is a rounded counter, with a title label on the front and a decal announcing YAOURT FRANCAIS right on the curvature, that astoundingly separates you and me from every refrigerated ingredient, powder, and piece of machinery to craft the gargantuan menu. Color me always amazed (or in this case in a palette of Microsoft 365) that somehow there is inventory space and also enough room for two employees to dance around each other comfortably. As I stuck around, relaxing in one of the cerulean, metal chairs, the on-it employees did loosen up a time or two—the guy behind the counter pulling out the Cardi B purr at one point and, when an order came in just before 22:00 the same guy whooped an “OK.” It doesn’t default to some aesthetic double-decker, instead striking a cool, approachable tone entirely befitting of fro-yo.
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Drink: Cafe Croc
Honestly, I can’t be and won’t be mad. It’s such a simple, joyous concept. Plus, it’s so easy for them to churn out—just stick the chocolate-lined cone cup under the fully-automated Franke machine, and voilà. While you might fear that it’s small, it’s not. I found it far from stingy. The chocolate stays hard, even after the espresso is added. Yes, eventually it does melt, but it takes time. There’s something to admire with how the cone doesn’t falter, the chocolate doesn’t liquify immediately, and the espresso remains warm and distinct. Never does it become a mess. If you have as much fun with it as I did, it does all fuse together, but not into the expected mush. Instead, it is almost like an espresso, chocolate truffle with the cone adding a dash of ice cream inspiration. Novel and yummy.
••••
Price: Cafe Croc=3€
Hours*: Monday–Tuesday {12–20}; Wednesday–Thursday {12–22:30}; Friday–Saturday {12–23}; Sunday {12:30–20:30}
*And they were STILL taking UBER eats orders at 22:00 ♡
Extra Notes:
There is a WIFI network, but I’ll have to try to hop on when I revisit because with all the limited topping options, you better believe that I’ll be back. Also, their yauort of the month was fruits rouge (red fruits). Not my speed and with April just around the corner...
Maison Roger
It all begins with an idea.
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Another sunshiny disposition—Dijon seems to be full of them. But, caution: never ever take them for granted. As this simple woman exchanged words with me in French, never was there the slightest frustration. Heck, as her older counterpart crossed the counter from the sandwiches and chocolates in cellophane bags, tied up with springy ribbon, to the side of viennoiseries and Kinder Joys, she was apologetic for how long the coffee was taking. No ma’am. You are not my roadblock to coffee, but rather my gateway, and I thank you. Aside from being the fork of Rue de Serrigny and Rue du Transvaal, this break spot has got a lot going for it. The key colors are yellow and black, straightforwardly apparent in the logo on the two-dimensional, cream brick occupying the only free wall, the ceiling’s choice onyx fixture squares (in love with these), and the half-circle, drop-down ceiling right behind the counter. There is a magnificent amount of seating in a small area with a cafeteria feel that in no way spills over into the entrance space. Lit completely by the sun through floor-to-ceiling windows—those stud fixtures proving that they are just for my glee—some people munch on sandwiches, others are stare at phones. However, every single-leg table is trimmed with neon, and the long four-drawer dresser pressed up to the south-west facing window left me agape. No, it doesn’t “go together,” rather it “goes separate” meaning that the cohesion is with the repeating bald men (really, at some point I thought I was seeing double) who always took one of the backless (and heavy and very dangerous) stools at the dresser and the view of the colorful apartment block across the street. It too finds cohesion with the high school kid who walked in and prompted the greeting, “allongé.” The clerk already knew his order and opted for a confirmation rather than a polite salutation. This bakery isn’t well thought out (the black duck tape wrinkling on that support column behind the trash is really some unexpected urbancore), but it serves bread, coffee, and pastry. And, with endless sets and menus, laminated descriptions in an attack of graphic design, you order and choose your own separate way to enjoy.
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Drink: Espresso
I understand why it isn't called a long rather than allongé. It took a HOT minute to pull and it was big. It could have been 6oz? The coffee was fine, a little sharp at the end. Don’t misunderstand me; it isn't good. BUT with a sweet or pastry it won't matter. So get the set and don’t mull over things too much.
••
Food: Croissant
The croissant looks homemade—an emphasis on the crescent, less on any pretty puff. It was soft and pillowy, not because it was ultra buttery or anything. Simply put, I think that it was well made and crafted (even if en masse) with an experienced hand. I enjoyed it quite a lot.
Just a note! There’s also a microwave in the seating area in case you want to heat the croissant up a little. Are the serving trays microwave safe, though? If you’re brave, there’s only one way to find out…
Price: =2.5€
Hours: Everyday {6–19}
La Grange (in La Gloriette at Village Gastronomique)
It all begins with an idea.
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The spatial equivalent of fire dancing: there’s so much happening, you don’t know where to look first, yet there’s something pleasing in it all. But, there’s one catch: unless you’re always on the lookout like me, you do have to know it’s there. Outside of the Pathe movie theater is an outdoor-indoor food market called Village Gastronomique. It’s outdoors as you walk from store to store, however these arteries are covered by clear tunnel roofs, with each store having its own internal independence. Even though it was pouring, a man in a cap chose the patio chairs and burnt red rug right outside this quadruple threat—cafe, bakery, ice cream parlor, and chocolate shop. With the width of the tunnel roofing, he was at no risk of wind kicking up water at him, and with its transparency he could smell, hear, and watch the raindrops fall while he scrolled and sipped. So what about that fire dancing? Oh no, I haven’t forgotten. This moment was like the performers slipping on the hand loops of the poi. First la gloriette BAR A DOUCEURS flips a flame of ice cream in front of you, then a spark to the right is la Grange with its three menu boards with sets, drinks, and their proud creations scribbled in chalk marker. Then, there are the spins: a Crayola box display of teas, a stainless steel set of coffee dispensers including their signature Cafe LE CINQ, produced in conjunction with Vincent Ballot, and simple shelves selling bubble gum in jars, gourmet marshmallows, and even totes of fortune cookies. The second lick of light is chocolatier Maicon Dufoux, a winner of Le Guide des Croquers de Chocolat’s Tablette D’Or award, and a seating area with walls of glass across which enormous hearts dance. The amount of sugar in this place could take down an elephant. And yet, an Asian lady occupying one of the tables is just gazing at it all...her hand entering and exiting a purple bag of potato sticks—another twirl. The barista, the sunniest sort with a septum ginger beard and hair knotted back, spun things again.
“I like your haircut,” he said, noting my four French braids.
I smiled. What really is the distinction between haircut and hairstyle anyways? Things wound up again from there, a blind man accidentally walking into my table, a couple pushing their stroller out the opposite exit, groups taking a seat and that barista soon swooping in to gather orders. Each passing moment seems to bring with it more oxygen, fueling an unquenchable dance. And when our coffee conduit began intensely whistling along to “I Want it That Way” by the Backstreet Boys, it was like the universe coyly confirming my impression of inflamed choreography: “Yeah, you are my fire...”
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Drink: Soy Flat White
The soy milk really struggled to blend with the espresso. Interestingly, the espresso that they use is actually a joint project with a MOF roaster in Marnay named Vincent Ballot. While the soy milk was steamed heartily for contrast, a good inner white and tan top, proportionally the microfoam would be better classified as a cappuccino. I know why this happened. Without it being foamier, there probably would have been very thin contrast if any. Unfortunately, I really couldn’t register the two shots of espresso. While I love the idea of an affordable, plant-milk coffee option, I’d say that a fuller coffee experience necessitates opting for dairy milk. Every attempt should be made to fully appreciate Vincent Ballot’s craft.
•••
Price: Soy Flat White=3.8€
Hours: Everyday {10–19:30}
✓ WIFI
Extra Notes:
This cafe is a GODSEND. Why? Because the city’s BasicFit is right next door. Okay, another question: why is a sweets store a godsend for a gym-goer? Well, because I can’t think of a better way to top off a workout than with a plant-based (oat, coconut, almond, soy) coffee. It warms you up, gives you some nutrients back, and tastes sweet without sweetener. This place is an underappreciated gym asset.
Columbus Café & Co (Rue des Godrans)
It all begins with an idea.
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At some point you just get used to the bear cupids flying on the windows and their menu’s muffin glorification. Still, there’s always a flare that you need to lick your fingers to put out. In this case, there’s a caveau. But wait, let’s set that aside for a moment. Light spills in from windows overlooking this cafe’s corner on Rue des Godrans and Rue Bannelier. The four o’clock shadows cast themselves on the Columbus Cafe & Co. welcome mat. Seating brackets are in most cases discernible by color and ceiling. Yet, in all cases, the differing fixtures set these areas apart. Circular, copper hoods accompany a window bench off to the side of the ordering counter while pendant lamps like black pan lids favor a center table. It seems like the light tropical blue section—with chandelier orbs that serve its light needs up with a little glamor—is where it all ends. Mistaken, you are. There’s a staircase winding down, more beneath. When you descend the cross-hatched, iron steps, with a faux vine wrapped around the ropes of the railing, it’s suede tub chairs and stools. Being in the vault (caveau) means much brown and much comfort lighting that fills in some of the stone worked into the space’s curvature. There may be nothing “stand out,” but you get your coffee and choose your perch…or your underground hideaway. While on-brand, this bear den is a rare Columbus occurrence. For our part, we’re all just keeping it warm.
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Drink: Small Tout Doux Noisette
I want to be mad, I really do. First gripe: it looks nothing like the picture, seemingly a snowy mountain with slopes of gold and hazelnut pieces. Second gripe: THERE IS NO COFFEE IN IT. I blame missing this teensy detail on not having eaten all day, but the description makes this fact clear (“Lait veloute, cremeux de noisette, strop de noisette, creme fouettée pailletee & noisettes concasses”). However, the drink I got (see picture) completely lacked those final hazelnuts and whipped glitter ingredients. I couldn’t help but be severely disappointed AND feel like I had paid for something I didn’t get. If they don’t have the ingredients, they really should offer a price cut or perk of some kind (plant milk for free, a different topping, etc.). So, why am I not slamming this drink entirely? Because it tasted like the most perfect, heavenly, Nutella-kissed milkshake that I’ve ever had. In fact, it achieved a new level of bliss after I dumped an espresso shot in it. It may have been filled with false promises, but it was also filled with whipped cream and deliciousness…a fact that left my priorities completely compromised my priorities.
Expresso
The spelling is their choice, not mine. It didn’t have all the depth that the last shot of Columbus espresso that I had did at the other shop right around the corner. However, that doesn’t mean that it was acidulous or bitter. It is the shot that is promised, and it served finely as the enhancement on the Tout Doux Noisette.
•••
Price: Small Tout Doux Noisette=5.90€; Expresso=1.80€
Hours: Monday–Saturday {8–19:30}; Sunday {8–19}
✓ WIFI
Columbus Café & Co (Pl. Darcy)
It all begins with an idea.
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It may not look it, but this Columbus is a powerhouse. With a view of the Porte Guillaume—a historical landmark that acts as a cross roads of such in Dijon for those either entering the town or escaping it through Jardin Darcy—they do amazing business. Tack on the fact that my visit was an off-and-on rain day, and you have got the perfect conditions for couples, grandmas, daschunds, you name it, to occupy this two-story space to capacity. As expected, when it started to pour is when things got serious, the foyer filling up with more numerous groups, always making the left into the dim main salon—with a crimson bear painted on a panel of wall shingles—with crowded trays and a concerned look until they spotted the stairs. Neither I nor the baristas had any cause to blame them: the weather report has a strange habit of lying, saying all day and at 14:00 that it would be clear at 17:00 to have changed to a 67% chance of rain at some time in those few hours...besides, the baristas were crushing it. They were cleaning and restocking muffins when I came in, and at one point, one of the two ladies bolted down the steps with a tower of Duralex glasses that felt like a Seussian act of defying gravity. Everyone seemed happy, the girl behind me belching and laughing with the guy she was with, two gals in cushiony one-seaters underneath the stairs taking their sweet time with a dry view of the downpour, and even the kid sirening (that’s the only way I can describe the sound he was making). The little guy just seemed anxiously ready to be still, and his Eastern European mother had him and his brother pottied and stable in no time. It’s not a quiet experience, and the melange of pastel and Native American, wood lodge certainly attests to that. Yet, well placed and good intentioned, there’s hardly any harm and resolutely no foul.
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Drink: Exspresso
Well, I'll be damned. This shot has chocolate, so much chocolate. And, even after I sipped it, it had a veil on top like the crema still had work to do after a few sips. It is dialed in a little bitter, but it's not bad. The volume is also off—might’ve pulled a little too long. I genuinely don't care. It went beyond the default "coffee flavor" in a way that I was genuinely grateful for. The glass also felt wrong. but it also doesn't matter; it was Duralex—French glass. Good for them for sticking countryside.
••••
Price: Exspresso=1.80€*
*If you wanted it Lungo, it’s 1.9€ which is not bad.
Hours: Monday–Friday {7:30–19:30}; Saturday {8:30–19:30}; Sunday {9–19}
✓ WIFI**
Extra Notes:
**But, as per usual with the WIFI, Instagram use is questionable.
Urbanités
It all begins with an idea.
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The French cobblestone lead-up is a feat but—walking under the most beautiful dark emerald garage door, past the Flamant HOME INTERIORS vignette, and into what was definitely once just a carport—you make it to your destination...just beyond the plastic bins of bamboo set on the cafe’s third level of entry: a grounded wood patio. The interior seems to lightly blush. What I mean is that there are some wood elements, a trunk core behind the counter, the counter wall, and the first room’s tables, yet one lit peach orb and pinky brown chairs add a little rouge. What more contributes to this tint? The Easter core. This cafe is the only one I’ve seen lean at all into the holiday, and with bunny masks fused to the wall, baskets of eggs and glazed bunny miniatures, wreaths, flowery medallions, and two egg rattan rings on either side of the entryway—almost acting as a continuation of the Urbanites window decals, forever a total eclipse—it takes a dive. It’s not to the scale of every-table overkill, but it’s certainly someone joyously taking part in the holiday. Beyond this main space, the cafe keeps going, one room to disappear into and another that lets you play apparition with a half-frosted window to the outside world and a glassless window into the initial point of entry. Nestled into this glassless window, a cubical cutout, are two gray vases striking a Snowth resemblance and an enormous Illy coffee cup and saucer. There might be something misleading about a name like urbanities, especially if one finds themselves in this grayer room with some lingering woven elements, a bird cage, and a fire engine red crate. However, to that I’d say it depends on which definition you are seeking kinship with. Refinement and courteousness are disputable, but the common understanding of urban life—getting different views from the front, middle, or back of the bus or watching from the roof, second floor, or lobby—is a gratifying translation. Taken together—the feeling the passing wind of a small boy from a family running from the back room to the front to look at the cakes, sitting midway and observing noiselessly with my empty cup, and catching through my wall viewfinder a task-oriented woman quickly taking the first chair she saw and settling in for a latte and some work—educes passable urban, multi-sensory mimicry.
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Drink: Allongé
An Illy allonge that was totally fine. I have no complaints. It had a sensational smell going for it, and the taste was clean. The temperature was also very nice, and it was a decent size. It wasn’t enough to finish my protein bar with it, but that just means that I was able to drink it smoothly—no resistance. I must admit that I’m glad that I didn't get a milk drink. Someone ordered a milk-based drink and I could hear the steam wand: like someone shrieking in a deep down tunnel, a subjection to the lengthening of the sound waves lowering the pitch.
•••
Price: Allongé=1.80€
Hours: Monday–Friday {7:30–19:30}; Saturday {8:30–19:30}; Sunday {9–19}
✓ WIFI
Extra Notes:
Wolf Coffee and Toast
It all begins with an idea.
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The barista has that “your big brother’s good friend” vibe. It’s like anything you come in with you have to let go of as he’s known you since you were five. It’s a surprising dimension for this strictly eggshell interior, whispers of light-catching brush strokes in the wall paint and extremely matte vases standing up the flora (the only real pops of color). There’s no denying some kind of homage to the Asian minimalist style, but with the warmth of familiarity and the two cacti (one seemingly live senita and another bleached ceramic saguaro in front of the COFFEE STATION), it’s hard to convincingly attach this concept design and move on. The counter is a thick, unmovable block of white that braves a curve opposing the main seating, a secondary white block with two beige, suede cushions set into it. While there are many sockets in this installed seat, the tables, low circles, are for enjoying, not for studying or work. In fact, that’s the summary: relaxed not minimal, this cafe welcomes you to recharge, not just by offering many plugs but also by means of thoughtful undersaturation and inoffensive subtraction.
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Drink: Flat White
The barista served this drink in a sort of jar cup? It had the ridges of a Gibraltar glass/Bonne Maman and the lip of a sort of fused glass, chandelier ring. It works all the same. I never mind a little unexpected presentation The coffee itself is from a Dijon roaster, Ours Blanc. The aroma ran very close to kettle corn, and I can say that the taste fell similarly into the domain of sweet-tinged savory. If I were to guess, I’d say that the flavor notes were caramel and perhaps something a little vegetal. After checking the bag, read it and weep: chocolat, caramel, noisette. It’s a honey processed Catucai from Brazil that was roasted 10 days before. It’s satisfying enough, especially the high-contrast, plucked plumeria Latte art.
•••
Price: Flat White=4.50€*
*Coconut and oat milks are free. I wish I had noticed this feature on the menu…but then again, I enjoyed it. So really, how much could I have wished?
Hours: Monday–Friday {7:30–19:00}; Saturday–Sunday {8:00–19:00}
Extra Notes:
BE - Collagène café
It all begins with an idea.
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How did I know that this cafe exists? Classic case of an A-frame in action. Walking down the Rue de la Liberte, the “CAFE + COLLAGEN” on the pink and pine green branded sign needn’t say more. Inside the Galeries Lafayette you must ascend one floor to floor #1. Following the ironwork balcony or walking through the clothes racks, this cafe is a peachy pop overlooking the main atrium, directly across from Digel blazers and dress shirts. What they’ve constructed feels like a set for the cooking network, made even more a reality by the way that the barista behind the counter had to physically pump the water into the sink every time to wash any blender or fill any cup. The woman behind the counter—with oversized squared lenses and rocking the white t-shirt, straight-leg business pants look—didn’t falter, seemingly credulous and motivated. When it was finally my turn to order, she winked at me. Why? Because when you smile a lot, sometimes a wink comes out with a greeting. It happens to me all the time. I stood there at ease as she weightlessly carried herself through my cappuccino. When a beagle popped out from behind the freestanding wall that created the cafe set, she gushed. Again, it’s a disposition know all too well. Whether you’re me and curious, or you’re the couple that walked in with long-sleeves tied around their necks (full 80s prep), this cafe succeeds at serving a wide range of whims with an authentic soul behind the counter and many tables arranged in front of a another freestanding wall printed with positive messages of which, one is the irrefutable gold standard: “good things happen here.”
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Drink: Small Cappuccino + Collagen
The process for this beverage is interesting: a scoop of their pride-and-joy collagen into a 12 oz. (yes, it was much bigger than expected, perhaps to compensate for the collagen addition) set onto the shelf of the espresso machine followed by a stir from a long metal spoon and a topping of milk—foamed in a generic milk frother—past the brim. On top of this captured cloud, she popped on some cinnamon. Honestly, it made me happy to look at. I didn’t even have to taste it. But after pulling the pink cup to my lips, I remained happy. The taste doesn’t change in any noticeable way with the collagen addition. Interestingly, the blend of Nespresso and the collagen is (unpopular opinion) probably the best. Nespresso is focused on simplifying the coffee process and ensuring that what is tasted is coffee, not the wide range of complexity that coffee wondrously has to offer. So, the collagen mixed with a base like this means that the flavor doesn’t veer off course. While I am not intensely familiar with all the health benefits of collagen (essentially supporting your bone, nail, hair, and skin health according to their sign), it as an additive didn’t taint anything or cause any averse bodily reactions. I have no convincing arguments against caffeination with a little glow.
•••
Price: Small Cappuccino=3.8€ (+Collagen=1.2€)
Hours: Tuesday–Friday {10–18:30}; Saturday {10:30–19:30}; Sunday–Monday {CLOSED}
Extra Notes:
Their business cards have a hot chocolate recipe on the back, and if that isn’t the cutest thing. It’s called “Super Chocolat chard ! Hot hot.”
The mall has WIFI, but it came to an error page (“404 - notfound”). Maybe it will work eventually...
Papy Armand
It all begins with an idea.
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I had options: inside, on the terrace, or to-go. As soon as I said inside, the unimposing figure behind the counter in a dusty blue long sleeve ran over to the mobiles, of dripping lights and pine cones, at each end of the major bench seat—or each accessible corner of the room. On they went as though the man clicked his Deluminator to reignite these twinkling fixtures. Looking around, I couldn’t get over was how everything seemed to work. The busy-patterned wall paper in such a tight space? Recklessly satisfying. The black circulars affixing a few demure sconces with a columnar mirror and skinny chair frames to the interior? Astute. Yes, there is the random high top at the front with tall stools of a coffee brown leather. Twang. But, see it felt like something a coffee person would do. You set out for “interior design” and then are gifted a table or see some irresistible chairs online. When things are all neatly stitched up, you risk staleness. Risk avoided. I’ll only express one wish: more attention to that entry door. WHAT a missed opportunity. A turquoise framed, round top, the door has so much inherent character that should’ve been internalized. As you enter from the square in from of the Eglise Saint-Pierre de Mâcon, the deep green panels of Egyptian inspiration, that look like the preliminary leading of stained glass windows, also steal the show. I don’t make a habit of impressions based on “coulda beens,” so here is where I’ll leave things: I couldn’t take one bad picture in this cafe. Door or no door, when a space has no bad angle, someone is doing something right.
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Drink: Cortado
It's a macchiato. It's a good macchiato, but it’s a macchiato. Watching him scoop the foam on, I quickly realized what I was getting. It doesn’t pain me all that much as long as the flavor is good. The golden rule: at the end of the day, flavor is what matters. And, this Nicaragua-Brazil blend didn’t incite any resistance. The drink comes with a little flattened poop of sugar and butter. It’s like a sliver of a Nilla Wafer. What’s more? Same taste.
•••
Price: Cortado=2.50€
Hours: Monday {12–18:30}; Tuesday–Friday {10–18:30}; Saturday {9–18}; Sunday {CLOSED}
✓ WIFI*
Extra Notes:
No food, but they had a banana-carrot bread that was just BEGGING to be tried.
*A BIG ASTERISK on the WIFI: it is the Macon Public WIFI. It works...most of the time. Sometimes my phone would struggle or Instagram would give me the error message: “Network requests failed. Please try again later.”
Boulangerie Bernollin
It all begins with an idea.
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It’s a bakery first. I know that I’ve written this line before, but if the shoe fits? Arriving at 18:30 on a Sunday night, all the stools were flipped onto the tables—a gentle reminder not to stay or at least not to stay for very long. When I did get my cookie and coffee however, the efficient employee behind the counter offered the duo for here or to go. It’s like asking if someone else wants the last fry: you offer it to be kind, but you’d rather them not take them up on it. He didn’t ask this question this way though, opting for a very sure and kind proposition. Still, I knew they’d be shuttering in an hour, no reason to have the sour on me. It’s a wide aisle between the seating and the glass separating you from pain aux noix, l’everests, cookies, brownies, quiche, and more of a bakery-backed rainbow. The selection is ample at such a late time and on such a day, but there was a steady stream of twos and threes wandering in past the homeless man parked outside the automatic sliding door. I have a feeling that this bakery—with the fire station red industrial door—has hectic times and busy times. The drinks are stocked well, one TV screen retired for the evening while the other shown that they open seven days a week, and the pastry labels—while printed—are fading. Fundamentally, it is about a little dance with discovery, a little cookie consideration, and the white chairs and tables patterned like concrete flooring are politeness...because who doesn’t want the last fry?
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Drink: Espresso
It tasted like a mini cup of good coffee! Like, if someone poured you out a Costa Rican or Guatemalan into an espresso cup. It’s not intense on the acidity or the bitterness and comes off with a little fruit but also a sweetness with nature’s edge (thinking sugar cane or wood-cooked caramel). From what I could find, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the TIVOLO coffee from FOLLIET—a blend with woody and toasted notes. Not an espresso shot, but equal to if not better than many espresso shots I’ve come across.
•••
Food: Noisette Cookie
This is a cookie worth all the money. Heck, I would commit crimes for this cookie. It was a choice between this cookie that looks like it was excavated from a hillside and triple chocolate chip. I couldn’t resist. The small pralines on top made it a dessert on a dessert as do the dollops of what I believe to be hazelnut butter. But, THERE’S MORE. It’s full of chocolate and bulging with whole hazelnuts (which are somehow not rock-hard). I’m convinced that it’s their triple chocolate recipe with one of the chocolate substituted with hazelnuts. Translation: it’s perfect. It keeps together while staying moist, and it doesn’t taste healthy or subtracted from, just absolutely decadent. Fantastic.
Price: Noisette Cookie=3.20€; Espresso=1€
Hours: Monday–Saturday {5:30–20}; Sunday {7:15–20}
Extra Notes:
Bar (Gare Mâcon-Loché-TGV)
It all begins with an idea.
Click right to take a look around…
Right off to the side of this light-filled cabin—with some tube lights dashing its roof beams—is red. No, not the shuttered AVIS or the plant boxes. Rather, a red circle on a door behind a bar with a computer printed picture of a greyhound, a portrait if you will. Whether or not the red circle was actually a bit of Coca-Cola merchandising that had been repurposed, I cannot say. But, what I can say is that my mind immediately leapt for the understanding of those porcelain portraits found frequently on headstones. Imagine my surprise when the old lady—with a pixie cut somehow of the same shade of red as the espresso machine and the greyhound’s background—stirred something at her feet when turning around to the espresso machine. What do you know! The greyhound was alive and well. Not only that, as his pale body snuggled into a pillow he matched in hue, another greyhound patched with gray and some brindling began to meander. Tenderly brushing his face with her espresso-free hand, she made the two steps back to me. I held back my amusement as best I could as we completed the transaction, but it was all too much. This woman has cracked the code, tossing out “take my kids to work” day for “make the bar home” day. Sitting at one of the tables reserved with peeling paper for “la clientele du bar,” the world felt liberated of argument. If only taking a Greyhound had meant this all along.
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Drink: Espresso
It does the trick. She really grround it out on the Santos (a Silence, or as the website claims “the quietest grinder on the market a 63dB”). I did get a crack out of her yanking the washing machine open to rifle through it for a cup for my coffee. All I see is efficiency. There was a nice crema on top, nothing frilly, and a pleasant taste. It unfailingly filled all 60mL of the espresso cup, and it ultimately passed the assignment. First words out of her mouth in French when I said I just wanted an espresso: cash only. Come bearing change.
•••
Price: Espresso=1.6€
Hours: I have zero idea what the hours truly are. HOWEVER, I did find it open a little before 15:00 and just before 16:00 on a Sunday. This much I can confirm. If we’re going by the hours of the TGV station itself, those are the following:
Monday–Friday {6–23:05}; Saturday {7:10–21}; Sunday {8:15–23:05}
✓ WIFI
Extra Notes:
The SNCF TGV station has WIFI.
Columbus Café & Co (Pl. De La Gare)
It all begins with an idea.
Click right to take a look around…
The woman behind the counter was so unbothered—a normal ponytail in a scrunchie, one long strand escaping following her glasses to grip the side of her head. This energy, this I live for. It’s got the typical Columbus wall coloring of electrified mustard and cups in the palate of your grandfather’s sweater collection, but upon closer look you’ll discover there’s a bit more...the cafe appears to have been built ON TOP OF a bit of sidewalk. That’s the only explanation for the suspiciously familiar tiling (albeit smaller squares), varying only by an inner design of some densely packed pebbles not straying from the tiles’ edges. If this flooring is somehow a design choice rather than an infrastructural remnant, then my conviction is that the cakey stone support wall somehow inspired the decision. (See Extra Notes for something special.) My confidence comes from a very specific component though. No, not the turquoise washboard counter wall or the familiar zigzaggy decorative pillows—what proves that the floor was there first are the the faux oxidizing ironwork pendant lamps over the counter. They look as though they could be straight out of Aquaman’s study, which admittedly might not seem to make sense. But, didn’t I mention that this is a chain? Someone selected what they thought could most closely allude to a city footpath from the company catalogue. For those bothered by this disharmony, outdoor chairs and tables mean there’s always the real thing.
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Drink: Small Con Panna
But they also sell a viennois. I’m so confused…but, I've also committed to trying the whole menu, one store at a time. Con panna it is. As far as my thoughts beyond misunderstanding, the cup was WAY too hot. Even if the whipped cream deterred you from taking it out of the shop, the scorching cup made it impossible. What makes it worse is that the whipped cream is so insulating. Even thought I created a hole for the liquid to pass through, it still came out another side and burned my chin. If you are going to sit for a time with a friend—and you just want something small—this drink is perfect. I think that the coffee remained so hot BECAUSE the heat was kept in by the whipped cream. Really, it should have come in a ceramic piece because of the heat. This mechanical failure forced the drink to stumble. All else unconsidered, I did find the flavor enjoyable.
••
Price: Small Con Panna=2.5€
Hours: Monday–Saturday {7:30–19}; Sunday {9–18}
Extra Notes:
Photo credit: Restaurant Guru
So, um, I got a little nutty on this one. That floor, the fixtures, everything made me curious about WHAT was here before. I did some investigating...this cafe must have opened some time 2019–2020. Google Maps has it pictured August 2020 while in July 2019 the space was occupied by a brasserie, Cafe de la Borie. The floor was the same but the support wall THE SUPPORT WALL was altered! The opposing strip of slathered stones appears to have also to been added for symmetry. I’m a filthy dork, and I apologize for nothing.
Columbus Café & Co (Rue Favre)
It all begins with an idea.
Click right to take a look around…
Someone locked the automatic sliding door open. The ingress is spacious with a centered counter directly in front of you. Yet, while uncluttered, there is no shortage of space to sit, with tables and steel chairs in white, black, and pale green a couch, and vinyl tub chairs with zig-zaggy, decorative pillows...if you don’t choose to sit outside and join the masses. You’ll find your typical Menu Columbus, Menu Plaisir, Menu de l’Ours, and Menu P’tit dej’ detailed up on the yellow wall and the muffins (couer, choco, noisette), buns brioches, cookies, and brookies you can come to expect. Elevated however are the Menu de L’Ours and Menu Brunch which earn their own framed and mounted glamor shots on the support columns just underneath thick, slanted strips of moss, vines, and dripping leaves. The three women behind working the drinks, the food, the register, had the entire operation on lock. It is because of them, I’m sure—all pony tails and aprons, in case they were thrust into a spill-happy post—that this Columbus location exceeded corporate mechanics, functioning with a sort of mechanical grace.
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Drink: Small Oat Latte
To be honest, it was fine? The Alpro barista oat milk steamed up well enough for them to sneak in a a kind of gingko leaf into the latte art. They left it unlidded just so that I can see it. Unfortunately, it also meant that I got to see that the cup was missing almost an inch of liquid. Maybe that’s because it was a small? Regardless, given the compatibility of the milk texture and the espresso flavor, I’d call this a victory. I wouldn’t rush to get it again, but I would accept it with a broad smile if anyone ever handed it to me. One major complaint: the cup leaks under the lid. This circumstance was extremely frustrating as I walked. And no, it wasn’t just where the opening was or when the drink was sloshing. It leaked when there were drops left because the coffee gets stuck between the cup and lid. It comes out even when the drink is done! It’s the strangest thing. If you put sugar in your coffee, don’t brave taking it to go. You will undoubtedly become a sticky mess.
•••
Price: Small Latte=4€ (+Oat milk=0.7€)
Hours: Everyday {7:30–19}
✓ WIFI
Extra Notes:
Copenhagen Coffee Lab (Antibes)
It all begins with an idea.
Click right to take a look around…
I knew it was coming up, but I had no idea how soon as I discovered the Marche Provençal. Taken by the signs for absinthe bars (a sight for these sore-for-Prague eyes), a man and a woman engrossed in a full table card game, and glowing globes made from a frame of creek rocks, I almost walked past it. But, right there, set back from the market itself, it’s there: a sign made from a metal sheet and a sliding door that is braked in place. A bench and fabric-covered, back buffers (be careful, these aren’t fastened to the wall, so you can knock them around if you don’t directly lean back) are the first line of “to stay” defense. The next opportunity to sit is a small salon in the back, off-white walls only decorated by a power box and a canvas glamor shot one of Copenhagen Coffee Lab’s offerings. It serves its purpose. But, there is a wild card. Two women man the counter, wiping the floor on hands and knees to, taking the orders, cleaning the espresso machine, loading the dishwasher, and everything in between, and one of these women is the most endearing dork I have come across in a long time. The warmth she embodies characterizes her interactions with customers as well as her coworker. And, as a customer myself, I couldn’t help loving being part of the former.
“Good morning,” she said confidently at 18:00 to an English-speaking couple that sauntered in. “Good afternoon,” the man softly insisted in good faith. Craning her neck from the espresso machine, she kept things rolling. “I’m joking,” she said playfully. “I wanted to see the face.” A brunette head, messied up in a claw clip, that—even around the typical onslaught of menu, pictured specials, and bags of coffee with a design inspired by the periodic table—mixes it up. What a super power.
“Here you go amigos,” she called over the last ciabatta loaf and some loitering viennoiseries. And, as I ripped my receipt, she chose to boldly thank me in French for my order—an unmanicured gesture that elicited a smile from me. It’s true that the main fixtures, gold tubes over the counter, are for the pastry case and ordering place. It’s also true that, for the light that the customers emanate, the light switches “on” propter this woman’s unconscious and inconspicuous smacks.
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Drink: Oat Cappuccino
It came out as an inscrutable espresso and oat milk swirl. Mind you, I don’t need latte art, and contrast is much more important in my opinion, but I could see from this swirl that the oat milk was either not made for steaming or it had been a little fried. If I had to guess, I’d opt for the latter. I think the combination of the milk not being cold enough and the Nuova Simonelli not being operated for plant milk, caused the milk to splinter. Did it taste bad? No, not at all. The milk and the espresso are of good quality; it’s just not cohesive.
•••
Price: Cappuccino=4.3€ (+Oat milk=0.6€)
Hours: Everyday {7–19}
✓ WIFI
Extra Notes:
Selah Atelier
It all begins with an idea.
Click right to take a look around…
Bundles of pampas grass greet you and you bend your arm. You’re not waving back but rather applying a little more force to push the door open. Immediately, you are surrounded by warmth. The digital fireplace is on full blast accompanied by a tweed tub chair and a simple artists’ stool playing the role of table. It, of course, beckoned to me. The undecorated Slayer and the glass domes covering marble cake and undistinguished cookies are off to the left of the space. The quarters are close for sure, but you don’t have to fight to get there to this back corner. Stray crown molding, wall molding, and even some exposure of the ceiling supports through torn away plaster are the tenets of identity. It’s all in white while the stone blocks columns support the entrance and add in the natural transition for the white into evergreens and pastels. The walls of this dual flower shop are decorated with some creative arrangements of framed leaf art that play on nature’s brightness while some words allow the cafe to croon some of what it wants: “De la terre a la Tasse,” “Dites-le avec Fleurs,” and “Bar a Fleurs.” As I sat, the man in the deep sea blue corduroy button-down checked on me once he’d gotten off the phone, making sure that the fireplace wasn’t too hot. It wasn’t. Right next to the door that opened and closed a sensible amount, it was perfect. It felt like I was a plant that—all at once—was getting just the right amount of sunshine and shade, just enough of the grow light for my own photosynthesis. And when the barista in the jean jacket and Slayer cap made to leave, he turned to me to ask how my drink was. I echoed his question as a statement. “C’est bonne.” Although he knew I spoke English, it was a French exchange one that—with a smile of approval and an exit—was too helping me grow.
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Drink: Flat White
Where do I begin? How about that? With the beginning...so, I saw a Spanish latte and got curious. I asked about it, and he explained the concept—basically a latte with sugar. I didn’t need the sugar (the day was young), so I went for the flat white/cappuccino option, but not before clarifying the difference. As suspected, there are 2 shots in the flat white and 1 in the cappuccino. The final decision from there was easy. You could take it one step further and pay for a single origin over a blend, but there is no need. If you come back a second time, maybe you could mix it up this way. BUT with the way lomi SHINED—according to the barista, it’s a blend between Brazilian and Ethiopian—you will be more than satisfied going the blend route. It has the chocolate, the sweet, and it’s got a bite—like eating chocolate-covered, candied citrus. It is seamless though…maybe more like orange-chocolate cookie batter? Definitely makes more sense with the velvety milk on top that was shaped into the most beautiful unicorn I’ve ever seen. I was wondering why the drink took so long, but it DELIVERED. I could’ve waited another 15 minutes, heck an hour. It was a drink that was expert and enjoyable from start to finish. Bigger than any flat white I’ve ever had, exquisite in all its augmented parts.
•••••
Price: Flat White=4.40€*
*For those that don’t mind a little explanation: the price for this drink is the same for the cappuccino.
Hours: Tuesday–Friday {8:30–18}; Saturday {9–18}; Sunday–Monday {CLOSED}
✓ WIFI
Extra Notes:
I heard a lady call her drink spicy, so the guy offered to fix it by steaming up some milk and I guess “milking” it down? What a god. I’ve never seen anything like that.
French Coffee Shop (Montluçon)
It all begins with an idea.
Click right to take a look around…
I present to you a mall cafe that does you one better. How, you ask? In a laundry list of ways. First of all, it isn’t manned by an unamused child in their twenties. Rather, a pleasant-mannered man is behind the counter in a black, Lacoste long-sleeve, amicably leading you to your order. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with the moody, mid-twenties character, but it was nice to break from that cliche with such a blithesome someone. Second, this coffee spot isn’t a counter or an enclosed circle. Instead it sits on a triangular wood panel, inlaid into the floor; seven pillars then give it corners and sides while stands of barrier tape designate what is cafe space. It’s as though an arrow points to the Carrefour, Claire’s, Marionnaud PARIS, CARRADOR, and others further within. In no way are you obligated to grab coffee and continue on—there is seating and the gentleman offers a convivial “for here” option. But, we’re waiting, is there anything else that makes it one better than the other mall cafes? Sure. There’s one more thing (and no, it’s not the numerous POUBELLE signs on loose leaf paper hung in every line of sight). The third thing is the various light forms. Someone knew that the radiating discs above weren’t going to cut it, so they added white neon above the counter, a back-lit logo on one of the pillars, and finally a screen box the size of a vending machine at the triangle’s apex. This last feature acts dually as an exit tempt, before getting eyes on the menu and a way to privatize the seating area. Could there be symmetry, more sophisticated design, a sense of cohesion? But, of course. Does it serve its purpose (and coffee) ad rem? Coffee, as far as I’m concerned, is relevant to any outing, including one to the mall.
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Drink: Allongé
It was really nice. That might sound backhanded, but it’s absolutely not. I have no complaints. It’s punchy, but not full on brawl, flavorful but nothing that would be unfamiliar or combative to a casual coffee drinker. And, one more not-complaint: it went well with the donut.
•••
Food: DONUT MYRTILLE
What a surprise all around. The case it’s in is refrigerated, so it is served cold. To be honest, I didn’t know what “myrtille” meant in French, and I didn’t really understand the employee’s explanation. I definitely heard the word “rouge” in there, which really confounded me. I couldn’t believe that it was blueberry because a blueberry glaze shell was just not how I’d ever come across a blueberry donut. Normally, they look like an old-fashioned donut with blueberry pieces inside. But no, no blueberries inside, just pureed and encasing a donut with a very soft consistency. Frankly, the donut itself reminded me of challah—soft but not too sweet. While many layers of odd, the donut wasn’t off-putting, and it sure was unique. My parting thought on this pastry is that offering it as donut holes would be PERFECTION.
Price: Allongé=1.90€; DONUT MYRTILLE=2.90€
Hours: Monday–Saturday {9–19}; Sunday {CLOSED}
✓ WIFI
Extra Notes:
The mall has WIFI, and it’s a super easy sign on.
A PICPUS
It all begins with an idea.
Click right to take a look around…
Looking for that spot your uncle said he would stop in everyday on his way home from work? I’d recommend adding this tobacco shop to the list of places to inspect. The woman at the counter is young with an approachable demeanor, while the large, black gauges along with her medusa and labret hint that she can handle you and whatever else you might be packing. If all that wasn’t enough, her dijon-colored hoodie, printed with the One Piece graphic of Shanks’s WANTED poster, made it clear that she’ll sell you your cigarettes, but don’t think about getting cute. A Chupa Chups tower, stacks of Kinder Bueno, even a bar top plastic display of Pringles tins are just some of what is available for munching. The magazine stand is fully stacked, and so, of course, is the wall of cigarette boxes, warning labels composing a poor pixelation. In the back is also a bar counter with some hard liquor and an impressive syrups shelf. What it really comes down to is a feeling of regularity. Two old women, short-haired bundles with bags and canes, took a seat at one of the five tables with learned ease. The four beer taps seem to court a certain customer, but—with a closer look—one of them is just “Eau” or water. It’s not dull and also opts out of the frill. Metal bistro chairs and stools fight to keep their ivory paint, while each’s camel or cocoa seat pad disputes mere convenience. It plainly pieces together, a comfort for your uncle before going home to all that your aunt had it store. harmless.
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Drink: Noisette
This noisette is a 3, I guess. Really, I only score a drink with a 2 if I don’t like it. 1 is if it is undrinkable or just plane abominable in some way (think Starbucks caramel macchiato, too much disrespect). But, it gets a 2 because it is just so darn unremarkable. Can one use the term underremarkable? Like the many letters that make up that fictional term, this noisette had the equipment to be more (it was pulled off a two-group Nova Simonelli, somehow serviced by cafes Folliet 1880) and ultimately flopped. It tasted like it came out of a fully-automated machine. So, the 2 is disappointment marking down the 3. If you want a bathroom and a pack of cigarettes and are in desperate need of coffee, then sure, tack it on for a one-stop shop.
••
Price: Noisette=1.6€
Hours: Monday–Saturday {7–19:30}; Sunday {CLOSED}
Small World Coffee
It all begins with an idea.
Click right to take a look around…
If this cafe is the small world that all the animatronic dolls were singing about, I’ll go ahead and start singing too. When you go to a place and your espresso machine fascination sparks a telephone game through the line waiting to order of How Exactly Do You Pronounce Cimbali?, it is undebatable that something special is happening here.
“Well, he’s straight from Italy and says it’s chim-balli, so I’m going with that,” the other half of the counter duo said, gesturing to the composite of blue cap, orange-red waist apron, and swift set of hands currently whipping up drinks.
What was once question was now an open-and-shut case. Here’s the thing though: while this discussion was settled, nothing about this cafe was shut off. The staff behind the counter went full-on stage performer and grabbed my phone to snap a picture for me of the espresso machine’s shelf side. The drink magician, and proclaimed Italian, even pretended to photo bomb. Despite my encouragement, he fell back quickly, a resumption of his off-camera personality. While most grab and go, there are a few circulars that offer the space a little more strip to those not immediately looking to take off. Even with all the cafe commotion, it was possible to tell that my dad and I weren’t from around these parts, prompting an older gentleman—part of the Cimballi town hall—to direct an endorsement of the Witherspoon location at us as he departed. Coffee aficionados and cheer squad-doubling clientele—as a cafe, what more could make it on your Christmas list? Opaque fixtures and a disco ball (a disco ball?!!?) drop down from high ceilings tiled in white bas-relief while behind the counter potted plants seem to be stuck coming down a window pane elevator or growing above everyone’s heads like trunk less trees. Shelves of merchandise on both sides don’t crowd; rather they add dimension and offer the space warmth in the form of wood and cork. The cafe’s masterminds even left room enough to invite local artists to exhibit, the acrylic naturescapes of Nicky Belletier up at this time reminding all of the light of sunsets and dawn-saturated lakes. As you look around, you’ll notice the panels of their roast designs enlarged, a little alien-lookin’ fella on some of the mugs that read “sleep is for the weak.,” and even a push-letter board with a simple evocation: “SEE ME I AM HERE.” But, what you’ll see most is the logo. Maybe it is a sunburst, but I’m pretty sure that it is a coffee bean at first crack, oriented ever so slightly to resemble an “s.” Why does it matter? Well, this stage of roasting is when heat transfer turns convective and, like the beans that begin to effect other beans, I could feel the warmth of every coffee bean soul that entered. You’d be right to consider a visit to this cafe a magnificent tumble in the Small World drum.
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Drink: Forte
This drink was news to me. But, you name a drink “strong” in Italian, and you’ve blinded me to any other option. On the menu it listed 10 oz. Okay. What makes it strong though? When I asked for clarification, they said it was a cappuccino with two shots. An industry-standard cappuccino (to my knowledge) is 6-8 oz. with two shots...looking again at the menu board, I noticed that their standard cappuccino was 10 oz. single or 12 oz. double. What you’re getting is a Forte SMC (Small World Cappuccino) or a larger and milkier staple cappuccino. It’s not that there’s anything wrong here; it’s simply a menu item that I think requires a little more breaking down and rebuilding. As for the flavor, I took made my best guess while looking at the bags of retail beans and epically fumbled. The House Blend was on the hopper. Apparently, they only do the brews (like the Grumpy Monkey or Number 5 Blend that I thought it was) in the morning. The rest of the day they brew House, but it’s always on the espresso drinks. For a sense of what you’re getting, the House Blend profile: “complex, symphonic, vibrant.” The other two roasts are not recommended for espresso brewing. Jeez, with such a spice-forward espresso, I wonder what the other two roasts (with “bold, bright, spicy” and “chocolatey, spicy profiles respectively”) taste like...next time.
•••
Price: Forte=$5; Flat White=$4.75; squash, maple, and pecan muffin*=$4.95
*While I didn’t get or try any food, my dad did get the muffin. When I asked him how it was, he said that it was a little dry. That’s all I could get out of him.
Hours**: Monday–Saturday {6–17}; Sunday {7–17}
**Grill open until 14:00.
Extra Notes:
They have a retractable, glass wall system out on the patio for when it gets cold. Never cold at Small World ♡
Mimi's Coffee House
It all begins with an idea.
Click right to take a look around…
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day. Oh shut up Shakespeare, this cafe is a triumph of vibrancy, marrying eclecticism, awareness, and Afro-pride without seam. Why start with this Anglo-absurdist then? It’s much more than just my lived path coinciding with this cafe in summertime. If you must know, it’s because the process my brain went through while taking in the painted skateboard parts at the counter, the vines and hydroponic plants lining shelves and centering tables, the main window painted with unrefined flowers and butterflies along its border, laptops occupying their landing strip ran the same endurance. From the outside, it looks like a open-and-shut case: a red-brick, gabled structure, capable of small town appeal, with a highly probability of temperate prairie style. What an example of the inside defying the outside, an inside that demands that those who walk in curb their expectations, assumptions, and everything else that could reckon schismatically with the soul. There is so much more I want to say—so much more I CAN say (many were perplexed by my outward fascination with a painted tribal pitcher made of gourd up on a shelf), but here to speak is to not hear. Nothing encapsulates it all quite like the chalked blackboard: “Love changes everything, so fill the world with it.” Should only Shakespeare had come across this saying under such a lead-panel ceiling in Elizabethan times...surely with this cafe, we’d have ourselves a twice fuller world.
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Drink: Oat Cortado
I was in tears the entire way through. Saying this cortado is perfect would be the undersell of the century. Somehow the barista did some serious magic, achieving a new level of silk—silk, I say. The contrast was stunning. The temperature was the conscious of the counter-to-table that I’ve ever experienced. And, THE FLAVOR? My god, it was gorgeous. The Counter Culture Gradient was dialed in to perfection. If the drink lasted longer, I’m sure I could have savored each tasting note (dark chocolate, roasted nuts, berry), but what I’m certain of is that they were all there, blended into one beautiful coffee unit. I have no idea who runs this place or who trained them (and consequently their staff), but everyone EVERY HUMAN, should take note.
•••••
Price: Cortado=$3.75; Oat Milk Substitution=$0.5*
*This is an inexpensive sub, I’lll have you know.
Hours: Monday–Saturday {7:30–18}; Sunday {8–17}
✓ WIFI
Tarrytown Pastry Chef
It all begins with an idea.
I put my coffee down on some stacked chairs for a moment.
“Can I help you?”
“Oh, I was just going to take a picture.”
“No pictures. Sorry.”
But the woman behind the counter wasn’t sorry at all. Please don’t say sorry if you’re not. It’s one of my biggest pet peeves…
There was no explanation. So, why I couldn’t take a picture of the space, I could not tell you…eh, no matter. Respecting the refusal, I didn’t take a picture. To be honest, my job is much easier now. I can keep this description short and sweet: no need to come, no need to stay.
Here’s where you should go instead:
The Bakehouse is just down the road (cough*hill*cough) at the train station. This location is second to their one in Ardsley (and—unlike that store—has coffee) that’s been operating for 70 years. I can confidently recommend their blondies and their apple kuchen. Dominic’s Deli a few doors down makes better coffee, and the people are superb. Coffee Labs is right on Main Street with everything needed to please a coffee-lover’s soul. And, Muddy Waters, a block down from Coffee Labs, mixes things up without sacrificing an ounce of cafe cool.
There are so many ways to support local businesses in Tarrytown, so do it—don’t be discouraged. Keep on walking. There is something sweet and welcoming, and you’ll find it somewhere else in no time.
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Drink: Small Coffee
You go for a round of twenty questions ("Hot?" "Sugar?" "Cream?" "Small?") with the bright Latina behind the counter. What you leave with is a cup of drip coffee in need of no commentary. No really—you're expected to take your “Anthora” cup, blasphemously sleeved, and go.