Hot spots in Greenville: Coffee shop hopping edition
photo of Tandum Creperie and Coffeehouse by Chloe Watson
Chloe Watson, Staff Writer
A little backstory – I love coffee shops. I’ve only started getting into coffee in the past couple months, but I love the smell of coffee and baked goods, I love the fun aesthetics and peaceful atmosphere.
Last week, I went to three different coffee shops in Traveler’s Rest, all in the same day. I went in, grabbed a coffee and a bite to eat, and took a few minutes to take it all in. It was a lot of fun! If you’ve never done anything like that, you really should.
I should probably note that I’m also not from the upstate area. I had never been to any of the places mentioned in the article before, so these are pretty much just first impressions. If you’re looking to support local businesses and get some delicious food, these are for you. Also to note, they are all less than fifteen minutes away from the main Tigerville campus.
So, in no particular order, here are three wonderful coffee shops that you should really check out.
1. Leopard Forest Coffee
The store is snuggled in the middle of a strip mall, so it is pretty easy to miss. Don’t let the unassuming outside fool you, however- the inside is serene and cozy, with a very rustic feel. It was very quiet – though pretty big, with a sitting room that is separated from the main counter area. It seemed like the kind of place you could go and write some poetry in the afternoon. They import their coffee from all over the world, primarily Zimbabwe, leading to a very rich, earthy flavor. You can buy bags of their coffee blends online, as well as in store.
2. Tandum Creperie and Coffeehouse
The design of this one is very modern, filled with bright, cheerful colors. They are fairly well-known in the area for their crepes, but they also have a wide selection of coffees and other breakfast foods. The staff are extremely friendly, and the service was very fast. One thing to note, however, is that it is usually very crowded. I tried to go twice – once on a Saturday morning, and the line was out the door. I went again on a Wednesday morning, and it less crowded, though still difficult to find a parking spot. It seemed like the kind of place where you could go get brunch with a group of friends, as long as you didn’t mind waiting.
3. TRee House Café & Studio
I’ll be honest, I thought the establishment’s name had a typo in it, the first time I saw it written out. (Traveller’s Rest)ee House Café & Studio is half coffee shop, half art gallery. Patrons can walk around and admire the art while sipping their coffee; it also has a play area for kids. There are many unique and interesting items on the menu, such as Mexican lattes. Of the places I visited, it had the strongest aesthetic. It was dark, but colorful, with couches instead of tables and art covering every available wall.
So don’t just get stuck in a rut of going to Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts. There are so many awesome places out there – it’s only a matter of finding them.
