The small yet surprisingly cultured state of Rhode Island is home to countless cute niche shops. From family made crafts like gourmet dog biscuits, to popular beatnick coffee shops, this state has quite a bit of metro charm within it's small borders. If you're looking for an excellent cup of coffee and a sweet pastry that will make you and your friends come running back for more, you would be surprised at how many of these little places you can find in lil' rhody!
If your tastes are simple, and you love a good coffee and bagel without the extra cents for that hand-stirred foam, your natural choice is Dunkin Donuts. America really does run on dunkin, especially in this small state. In the woods of Cumberland and the brick sidewalks of downtown Providence, you'll see every other person with a Dunkin Donuts cup in their hand. It goes without saying that at Dunkin, you get great coffee and a variety of delicious pastries and sandwiches for less money than you would expect. It's no surprise, because on average, there is a Dunkin Donuts coffee and donut shop every mile!
For some, the younger hip "hot spot" scene is more attractive. If that's true, you want to visit Brewed Awakenings in Johnston. Every teen and young college student with a taste for java finds themselves in this quaint yet almost sickeningly hip spot. Yes, there are couches, and yes, all of the workers are young, attractive, and seem to fit the business' prerequisite for a minimum of 3 facial piercings. Scene aside, the coffee is wonderful, but the food is on the pricey side. I wouldn't ever pay over $2.00 for a peice of almond biscotti, but that's just me. The atmosphere is pleasant enough, and despite my distaste for the strictly generational coffee shop, this place is worth a visit.
If you like coffee and also have a taste for tea, then Tealux on Thayer St. in downtown Providence is the destination for you and your friends. Expect smiling costumer service, because every time I go there, the waiter or waitress is always wearing a huge smile! They have countless kinds of tea in loose dried leaf, and you can even pick the flavors you want and mix them. They bring the tea brewer right to your table, and offer lots of extra goodies too. My personal favorite is the vanilla and lavender mix, which is a tastey combination of sweet and flowery tastes. Thayer St. is a popular destination in Providence, so if you and your posse happen to pass by one night, you should definitely stop in for a taste!
Coffee, pastries, tea, and the calming atmosphere that is associated with these things, are a huge part of daily life in Rhode Island. If you ever find yourself in the Ocean State with a thirst for delicious coffee, your choices are always great!
