Coffee shops are a favorite for cozy vibes and studying after school with your friends. We went around to local coffee shops, sampling their festive, seasonal drinks and soaking in the unique atmospheres. Here are our honest reviews and top highlights of each.
Nixon’s Coffee House
First up is a hidden treasure, Nixon’s! It’s small and local, with a modern twist and excellent customer service. It has refreshing, open lighting, and a bar counter where customers can sip and chat. They specialize in coffee, and we tried the classic holiday drink, a peppermint mocha. Their take on it featured dark chocolate and coffee flavors, with subtle hints of peppermint. If you enjoy bold, real coffee, Nixon’s is the spot for you.
Atlas Coffee
Atlas is an adorable coffee shop located very close to LHS. A fireplace decorated with dangling plants, occasional live music, a Christmas tree, and playful tipping jar jokes are just a few of Atlas’s features. The Snickerdoodle drink was packed with cinnamon flavor, and wasn’t too sweet. On the flip side, sugar-lovers rejoice: the limited edition Mayflower drink was like drinking rich maple syrup. With friendly baristas, tons of food options, and a wide selection of quality drinks, this is one of our top seasonal coffee destinations.
Lost Coffee
Who would think that a gas station could be upcycled into the cutest local coffee shop around? Lost Coffee has a chill, relaxed atmosphere that is perfect for studying. The garage has been turned into windows, letting in lots of bright light. Tons of plants hang from the ceiling, and there is indoor or outdoor seating. The employees are very welcoming, often with super cool style. We sampled the iconic Pumpkin Spice latte, and although it was good, we felt that there could have been more flavor. However, the seasonal Srgt. Peppermint had a unique real mint leaf flavor. If you are looking for a trendy, eclectic spot with drinks that change based off of the seasons, Lost is perfect.
Black Rock Coffee Bar
Black Rock is part of a lesser known coffee chain, and we don’t know why! These festive coffees were some of our absolute favorites. First, we enjoyed a Chocolate Pretzel Mocha that was the perfect balance of salty and caramel sweet. Then, we tried the Peppermint Bark Blondie, which tasted exactly like white chocolate peppermint bark! As for atmosphere, it has a modern, clean look with wooden accents and bright pops of red. We highly recommend it for Christmas-themed drink lovers.
Enchanted Grounds
And last but not least, we went to Enchanted Grounds, which is every bit as whimsical as the name suggests. It doubles as a coffee shop and a Fantasy game store, which is loads of fun. While customers wait for their drinks, they can peruse the wide variety of magical games like Dungeons and Dragons. Or, relax with your buddies and maybe play some chess. It is a casual, yet magical spot, and the drinks were delicious. We tried their Pumpkin Spice latte, as well as a cinnamon apple cider. The PSL was sweet and full of autumnal flavors, and the cider was fruity and spiced to perfection. Enchanted Grounds is a unique experience that we certainly recommend.
That wraps it up for our seasonal coffee shop review. Grab a book, order a hot drink, and cozy up at any of these fabulous places. Make sure to check out our Instagram and YouTube video to see more. Happy holidays!
