Residents of the South End will be quick to point out that I’m overlooking several beloved coffee shops, but after surviving what can only be described as a brutal winter followed by a cold, rainy spring, I’ve not ventured far to get my coffee fix. Fortunately, my neighborhood makes it easy to grab a cup of joe.
Within a two block radius, I have four coffee shops; each in their own right attract a strong and loyal following. The four profiled today are: Mohr & McPherson Cafe, The Greenlight Cafe, Wholy Grain, and The South End Buttery.
Mohr & McPherson Cafe
460 Harrison Avenue
This coffee shop is located inside Mohr & McPherson and is easily accessed from the parking lot. Furnished and decorated entirely with the beautiful Asian antiques from the store, this has the funkiest of vibes. The cafe serves good coffee (my favorite local tea MEM) and a variety of sandwiches, salads and treats. Best of all – they provide 50% off same day baked goods starting at 3PM. The free wireless and comfy seats makes this among the neighborhoods best kept secrets.
Greenlight Cafe
560 Harrison Avenue
Greenlight’s food is from the delicious kitchen of Gaslight Brasserie. As a result, this cafe offers a wide selection of food, snacks and treats. There is ample seating, great natural light and a patio in good weather to enjoy. The coffee is the same you would find at any of the Aquitaine Group restaurants and the staff is friendly and fun (I love Izzy). Greenlight provides 50% off all their baked goods starting at 4pm. Note that this cafe is only open until 5pm and is closed on weekends.
The Wholy Grain
275 Shawmut Avenue
This is the latest coffee shop to open near my house. Located just diagonally across the street from the Franklin Cafe, this tiny coffee house is cutely remodeled with outdoor seating in the front. The space also has a back which provides the owners the option of creating an additional, more private patio. Of all the cafes, this probably has the fewest options, but what they serve is delicious and worth trying. The sweets are all over sized and I’m a sucker for their Jordan Marsh blueberry muffins. Like their rivals, they too offer free wireless.
South End Buttery Cafe
314 Shawmut Avenue
This cafe which has expanded into a full-fledged restaurant was one of the first to open in the section of the south end that I call home. It replaced another coffee shop and thanks to the efforts of the owner it is completely transformed (for the better). The food options, coffees and teas are all delicious (they too serve MEM tea). In addition, they provide outdoor seating, wireless and a constant stream of patrons which make this the best of the bunch for people watching.
Other notable coffee shops
As I mentioned above, since there are so many places to choose from in my neighborhood, I only focussed on the four that are within two blocks of my place. However, other neighborhood favorites include: Berkeley Perk Cafe, Flour and Francesca’s. Now that the weather is a bit nicer out I might even venture beyond my two-block radius to be tempted by their flavorful brews and tasty treats.
The French Open (one of the four tennis majors) started earlier this week. This year’s tournament has proven to have its share of drama and upsets in the first week; notably the Women’s number 1 being knocked out in the third round by the number 28 seed.
BosGuy 