We're in Black Mountain about once a year for a conference, and I've always enjoyed the coffee…read morescene. This year, a friend recommended this shop to try out. As a coffee enthusiast, I admit to sometimes being what my wife would call a "coffee snob" from time to time. I'm happy to report that Recess passes every test I have for coffee. The vibe was perfect, with a classic wooden-style to the seating, and even a really great retro/minimalist playground outside for our kids. The Rwandan pour over I had a couple days ago was full-bodied and delicious, with deep red fruit notes. It was made with care using a Kalita wave flat-bottom dripper, and it was clear that the brewer knew what he was doing. It was so good that I picked up a bag of beans they had for sale (from Sweet Bloom roasters), which has been giving me great pour-overs at the house. We also had a butter croissant, which was absolutely delightful. I returned today to try their milk-drink offerings. I had a masala caramel cappuccino to-go, and let me just tell you--these people know what's up. It was a seasonal offering, and it showed a deep understanding of the marriage of sweetness with flavorful coffee offerings. I love it when I stumble up on a truly wonderful shop for coffee enthusiasts, and Recess has my full stamp of approval. I will be back every chance I get.

I happened to be in town so of course I looked up coffee shops in the area. Recess has a…read morebeautifully curated website and Instagram account. I ordered the masala caramel latte. It was a bit too sweet so I also ordered an iced coffee and mixed the two. The staff was nice. I also ordered the ham and cheese croissant and it was delicious. I would definitely recommend trying it.

This place is just delightful. This is my second time there the first time we went the fryer was…read moredown and we were only able to try the cinnamon rolls (which are exquisite and the gluten-free donuts) also excellent. But this time I had a cold coffee that was absolutely wonderful just strong enough no sugar added. I was in heaven. Plus we got to try a different group of donuts this time I have pictures for you, you've got to give it a try. The service is absolutely wonderful. The people there are so kind and really glad to see people visiting their shop. They usually trow in a little something new to try, or one of your old favorites. The ambience is simple but sweet pick up and go or sit down and enjoy. You've got to give this place a try when you're in the mood for a yummy treat. That's just delicious!!

Best doughnuts ever!!! Perfect consistency and friendly service. I love the chocolate glaze. Five…read morestars!

The bartenders were fantastic. Great cocktails, great service, pleasant ambiance. One of the best…read morelocal spots.

Need a break from all the fun stores? Stop at this beautiful and yummy bar/coffee shop tucked away…read morein downtown Black Mountain. So many options to order! Lattes, chai tea, wine, mimosas, cocktails, beer! They even have specials! Wednesdays is $5 wine glasses. Thursday's is $3 lattes. Sundays have $5 mimosas. My friend ordered an iced chai tea with oat milk and said it's the best chai tea she's EVER had. I ordered a glass of the sauv blanc, as recommended by the bartender and it was delish crisp and delightful. Perfect for an intensely warm day!

Cool little bookstore in Blackmountain, NC. I was on a business trip and stopped in here to see if…read moreI could find a book I was looking for. This is a cozy place with areas to sit and thump through a book or just come and sit and read. I did find the book I was looking for and several others to add to my list.

A very cool boutique with toys on the top level and books and a coffee bar on the bottom, Sassafras…read morewas a fun little stop to check out on the corner of Sutton and Cherry Street. We really liked the bottom floor, with all the books and cards for purchase, and the coffee bar, where my wife and I ordered tea and iced coffee. The barista was super nice and attentive as we gave our orders and made our drinks. We liked the little sitting area under a chandelier to enjoy our drinks. Very chill vibes to enjoy and buy a book, a toy, or a knickknack. Sassafras is one of a few stores located either on Sutton or Cherry, where you can check out as you walk around town.

Great coffee and tea options. The food and pastries are second to none! Incredible. Anna who…read moreworks here was so nice and helpful. She went the extra mile! This is a great place to hang out, meet, or just relax and read. My whole family loves this place.

I absolutely love these cute little spots tucked away in small towns. Let's just say, these…read moresmoothies were absolutely AMAZING. I ordered the strawberry sunshine: strawberries, peaches, strawberry juice and orange juice. Omg to perfectly sweet and tart. I could start off everyday with one of these. My friend had the peach blush and she enjoyed it but said it was more berry forward than peach. We got a few scones as well including the chocolate toffee which was absolutely tasty.

We are so fortunate to have The Pure and Proper available to us in downtown Black Mountain. An…read moreelevated dining experience that has a mastery of the basics--from food, drinks, customer service, and personalization. We recently popped in yesterday after securing a reservation via Resy to celebrate our anniversary. We were seated at our table with a thoughtful handwritten card thanking us for celebrating with them! Our waitress was fantastic, and they even provided us with complimentary bubbly half pours to commemorate the milestone. Between the two of us, we split the cheeseboard, Brussels sprouts (which are so unique, and one of our favs!), and the poutine. The cheeseboard really is a nice way to kick off the meal, and highly recommend it--so many goodies to choose from. I love how Resy also allows you to specify where in the restaurant you'd like to sit depending on availability--we went with the high top nook spot, which is really special/cozy for two people. Parking is a breeze--even if their lot is full, the post office lot/tyson lot is just a short walk (and it's still not paid parking anywhere downtown).

The food is always wonderful, the Tartare specifically is to die for…read more Having been here several times, our experience tonight was the best so far due to the exceptional service provided by Mila (hopefully I spelled this correctly). She was personable, provided excellent recommendations and was just a very enjoyable person and we wanted to shout her out!

Me and my wife found this place after 16 years of coming to Black Mountain and Montreat. I always…read morefelt it was a perfect spot for a cafe style businessman. Limited breakfast but Excelent food and drinks; bagel, bacon, egg & cheese sandwich was very good. My wife liked the Chia Tea Latte very much. The lunch menu is much broader and the first day I wished I had gotten the Hotdog with chili, looked awesome. We will be back (-:"

I really love the Tennessee Twister wrap and the waffle fries. I love the paper cups for ketchup!…read moreThe ice cream is really delicious! The key lime pie flavor is great - I think it's even better than an actual key lime pie. I've only been visiting Montreat for a few years, so I never experienced the "previous" versions of "The Huck." I love the views and the seating options in the current cafe. The service can be slightly delayed at the lunchtime rush, but they are very good at keeping up with the rush. And our food was always very fresh.

I have never found myself chuckling in the bathroom of a coffee shop... Until I entered the Short…read moreSleeve's bathroom! This poem got me. I genuinely enjoyed the entire experience here (clearly). Yummy coffee and muffins! Kind workers! I'm glad we stopped here for some fuel before hiking:-)

Trivia: Shipping to Alaska can be an expensive thing. Short Sleeves talks on their website of…read moreshipping everywhere. But do they ship to Alaska and is shipping free? I'm going to go ahead and answer that: yes and YES. WHICH MEANS, there is a lot to love about Short Sleeves. The pastries are super tasty and worth the wait. The ambiance is comfy and tailored to everyone: workers, chillers, children. And the coffee. Beyond my expectations. They blend flavor, attention to detail, and glam. And they ship to Alaska. - - Lots of natural light. A great place to work, chat with friends. Be prepared for a line. Worth the wait.