We're in Black Mountain about once a year for a conference, and I've always enjoyed the coffee scene. 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. read more

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I happened to be in town so of course I looked up coffee shops in the area. Recess has a beautifully 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. read more

Recess Coffee And Baked Goods - Ham and cheese croissant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

First time at recess, coffee and bakery while visiting Black Mountain. The menu sounded delicious as well as the baked items. They said they were out of a few baked items, but I chose the lavender blueberry pastry. It was delicious! For coffee, I ordered a carrot cake latte. It was good, but I would've liked if it had a little bit more sweet spiciness to it. I loved the vibe of the place it reminded me of my childhood. Will definitely be back! read more

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What a cute spot! Upon walking up, there is a line out of the door, so I knew this place was going to be good! I got 4 different pastries - the baklava danish, chocolate croissant, blueberry and lavender eclair, and the strawberry and lemon tartlet. Aesthetically, these are beautiful. You almost feel bad eating them! I will say they have their croissant dough down pat, seriously so good. My one downside is that any specialty pastry was (to me) extremely sweet, even though I have a very big sweet tooth. I thought the chocolate croissant was perfect in all its simplicity. The other pastries, because they had so much going on, were very sweet. I could only take a bite or two without feeling overwhelmed. Price wise, they're pretty expensive. I paid about $28 for the four that I got, but the quality is definitely worth it. I can't wait to come back and try some of their bread, sandwiches and coffee! read more

Recess Coffee And Baked Goods - baklava danish, chocolate croissant, strawberry and lemon tartlet, blueberry and lavender eclair - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

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This bakery is so beautiful in every way. The pastries are works of art and the interior is elevated and cozy with an intentional, unique design concept. I would come back to this town just to come here and support this amazing bakery. I can't recommend enough!! read more

Recess Coffee And Baked Goods - Almond croissant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

Absolutely adorable coffee shop located in the heart of black mountain. Amazing service, super tasty pastries,fantastic coffee. You are missing out if you skip out on Recess! read more

My friend told me about this place and we decided to check it out. It was super fun! I loved the theme! We came towards the end of their day, so they didn't have a complete selection of goodies, but what I had was delicious! I got the carrot cake seasonal drink, and it was a bit too cinnamon-y for me. I was hoping for a variety of carrot cake spices instead. Next time we are that way, I would love to try something else! read more

Recess Coffee And Baked Goods - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

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2nd time wandering in to Recess. Came in for coffee, but they do offer a wide range of sandwiches and fresh bread. Place is amazingly cool on a hot day. They do have outdoor seating available. Service was very quick. Coffee was perfect. read more

Everything you want from a mountain town coffee shop. Incredible interior setting, elite food options, and solid coffee. Never paid so much for a bakery item, but it was honestly worth it. You can tell this is the most popular coffee spot in town but they have a lot of space to accommodate the demand. Absolutely worth stopping in if you're in Black Mountain. read more

Recess Coffee And Baked Goods - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

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It was a chilly morning, so we sought a hot coffee stop in Black Mountain. I was excited to order a specialty latte made with apple. I greatly anticipated a fun Autumn flavor. The workers were pleasant, & the coffee shop had a great vibe. Unfortunately my latte did not deliver on flavor. I could just taste coffee, milk, & a sprinkling of cinnamon on top. So I was a little disappointed. Still Recess was decent, it just was not excellent. read more

Recess Coffee And Baked Goods - My latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

This is a great themed coffee shop with bakery. The staff are incredibly nice. The coffee is really good and local. The baked goods are very well done and prepared. Really love the macadamia nut cookie and the olive bread. Blackberry cobbler focaccia bread is out of this world. I'll be back here. read more

Recess Coffee And Baked Goods - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

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I have been coming to Recess at least once a month since it opened. I thoroughly enjoy the new pastries that rotate each month. They are usually pretty busy and on multiple occasions have sold out by the time I get there. Since I drive about an hour one way, I will usually call ahead and ask them to hold the pastries for me. The coffee & matcha are OK, but not my favorite. It is their pastries, which are beautifully presented and very delicious, that make the trip well worth it. The atmosphere (if you can come on a slow day) is very nice. Otherwise it's rather chaotic (for me) in a small place. Overall, highly suggest visiting and grabbing a pastry, just make sure you come early or on a weekday if you don't like crowded spaces. read more

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Best coffee and bakery in Black Mountain! There's always a line because it's that good. Croissants are incredibly flaky. A beautiful selection of baked goods that has seasonal variations. Never disappoints!! read more

I went for a cup of coffee today and a simple pastry. they had no cinnamon rolls or croissants at 10:00 am (sold out). I then I waited for 20 fricken minutes for my coffee. I'm done. read more

Updating based on customer service alone as I was not able to make it back in for another try before leaving town. Great customer service! The owner reached out to me about my experience and wanted to make it right... I know this would have been done if I were eating in the cafe and able to say something at the time. They were genuine and I could tell they really care about their products and customers' experiences. I do plan to go back when I find myself in town again and I suspect there will be a following great review based on my second try of their food and drink. read more

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We love this place. We live in Hendersonville but routinely make the trek to black mountain just to get some coffee and amazing baked goods. The staff is so friendly providing excellent service and the environment is so nostalgic and cozy. We love recess and will be back this coming weekend read more

Recess Coffee And Baked Goods - Great coffee shop! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

When I arrived, the line was to the door! The staff were friendly and welcoming. They already have "regulars" who the staff know! We can't have the baked goods (no gluten-free options), but they look amazing! The dining area is bright and welcoming. Definitely a cool place. But I came for the coffee, because we're both Gluten-Free. The coffee is okay. My wife and I both concluded that we prefer Dripolator. If I could have the bread, just based on what I saw and the comments I heard while waiting in line, this would probably be 5 stars. 3 stars for Coffee plus 5 stars for service yields an overall 4 star review. read more

Recess Coffee And Baked Goods - Menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

We were driving through Black Mountain and wanted some caffeine. My wife had the Yuletide latte and I had a regular coffee and both were very good. The star of the show though was their chocolate cookies. The store has a great vibe and would highly recommend if you are close by. read more

Amazing coffee and baked goods. The latte and matcha were both strong yet flavorful and you could taste the quality. Ordered the strawberry poptart, almond croissant , and honey croissant. All were very good but maybe could have had more filling. For that I am knocking it down 1 star, but I would definitely recommend it all!!! read more

I have traveled the world as an airline crewmember and pride myself on finding the golden nuggets in coffee and pastries. Black Mountain is blessed with one of the best and it's called Recess. I was so overwhelmed by the friendly (Cheers type) atmosphere; the incredibly creative croissants; and the awesome coffee! Put it on your bucket list, I've done the research! You won't be disappointed! read more

Tasty, clean, brilliant food and drink. The casual and loving atmosphere and staff reflect the inspiration and intention of the gorgeous owners. This is a truly exquisite creation and experience. Black Mountain is blessed indeed. read more

Absolutely in love with this coffee shop. Visiting the area, and I knew I wanted to stop here for coffee. There was a line, but it moved decently and to me was well worth it. The folks working there all seemed lovely. I ordered a pour over and a monkey bread cruffin pasty. Everything they still had left for the day pastry wise looked amazing, it seems like you can't go wrong with what you choose. The space is cozy and unique with enough space inside and out. Will definitely be back when I'm in the area! read more

Overly optimistic local hoping things will be different each time I go. I blame myself. I will stick to the Dripolator and Peri Social House. Pros: in the best little mountain town:) Cons: Expensive, which I could tolerate if it was banging. Customer service, When their pricey products are not good- ie a caprese sandwich doused in mayo they make no offer to make it right. It never would have occurred to me they would put straight mayo (not aioli) on a caprese so this is also a PSA. I suggested they note it on the menu so no one else will be victimized, since it was like $15 wasted dollars. In the past: totally forgot my order, complaining about customers to each other at the counter, and avoiding eye contact/acknowledging customers at their bar. Last Con: Merch, this mostly just annoys me because it feels hollow to be so merch focused when your prices are not commiserate with the quality of your products and your staff is so bothered. read more

This is the cutest place ever. I highly recommend the service is incredible and the vibe is very homey and welcoming. read more

Recess Coffee And Baked Goods - Champagne pear croissant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

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I must have fallen for the hype. We went during the Harry Potter event. We tried many options and all the pastries tasted like they were made several days ago. And very very rich. Too sweet for my liking. We also had a croissant with BEC. But they added mayonnaise to it. It wasn't noted as having mayo so I was super disappointed. It was not great. Me. My wife and two young daughters spent around $50. Yikes. Maybe we just hit it on a bad day but I think you're paying for hype more than quality. read more

Recesses a cute old school atmosphere. It is a kid and dog friendly place! They even have a playground area for the kids. The baked goods, coffee and service were amazing!! The food was so good we walked out of there with 2 big boxes of baked goods and 2 loaves of sour dough bread. Everything is baked the same day. read more

Recess Coffee And Baked Goods - In and outside of Recess - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

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I couldn't recommend this place more. The pastries are incredible and changed monthly. They're some of the best pastries I've ever had. We got the pumpkin, sweet potato, and cranberry and they were all fantastic. The coffee was also delicious. We will definitely be back! read more

First visit- will be back! There was a bit of a line when we showed up. It moved along nicely and before we knew it we were in front of the lovely case of delicious baked goods. We ordered a pumpkin cruffin, monkey bread, almond croissant and a raspberry pastry. We also ordered the sleepy hollow (psl), a mocha and a hot chocolate. My family decided the pumpkin cruffin was worth the stop on its own and proceeded to text a few friends that they must go. We enjoyed the cruffin because the filling wasn't overly sweet. I really enjoyed their house made pumpkin flavoring for the sleepy hollow. It was well balanced and it let the pumpkin flavoring come through instead of just sugar. The place was crowded but tables opened up quickly and they had outdoor spots with heaters. There were board games to use and an outdoor play area for kids. The staff were friendly and welcoming. Only one con-we live six hours away but will be a place we continue to stop on our visits. read more

Recess Coffee And Baked Goods - Monkey bread, almond croissant and pumpkin cruffin. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

Awesome atmosphere. Delicious food. Lexi and Harrison have created a welcoming place for fellowship and ama zing croissants read more

Recess Coffee And Baked Goods - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

I have been a frequent visitor to the Black Mountain area for over 30 years. There are so many great places to eat and shop, so it was wonderful to be introduced to Recess during my most recent visit. It has such a great vibe. The pour-over was amazing (drink it black), and both the sweet and savory pastries were delish. Folks should def check it out! read more

I stopped here with my partner on a long drive across NC a couple months ago. This coffee shop is super cute and the coffee is delicious. The employees are incredible and the service is beyond anything I've ever experienced. They literally washed the coffee stain out of my shirt. I might have to plan a trip just to stop by again! read more

I like this coffee shop a lot. Coffee is good. The food I've had is good. The shop is neat and has a great layout. Service is great. But, I'm blown away by how expensive it is. $6.50 for a pastry. Spent $3.50 on a very small cup of black coffee and then to get a refill it would have been another $2. Most shops might charge $1 for a refill. Many give you one for free. But it being $3.50 to begin with and only being about 8oz feels like refill is a reasonable thing to offer. read more

I'm a visitor of Black Mountain 2 to 3 times a year and like to support the local businesses this place is a cute little place with great croissants and coffee!! read more

Recess Coffee And Baked Goods - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

So glad we stopped by Recess for coffee and breakfast while visiting Black Mountain! A friend recommended it and it did not disappoint! The shop is adorable with its vintage school room decor and the staff were so friendly! They seemed to know everyone who came in! We enjoyed sitting at the cozy bar. Our coffee was fantastic and the ham and cheese croissant was delicious! Would definitely recommend! read more

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Recess Coffee is an AMAZING place. I love it so much! The staff is incredibly friendly and kind. I have gone a few times and love the atmosphere. They are already well known and loved, so there can be a decent line, but I promise it's worth the wait. Their coffee and baked goods of any kind are incredible. They sell fresh sourdough too! They have board games and games for the kids too. Definitely my favorite place now to come to. Sorry Starbies I have a new favorite. read more

Recess Coffee And Baked Goods - In June, they had a lemon meringue croissant that was AMAZING. They change their menu monthly, so it isn't there anymore. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

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The inside is so cozy and a great place to hang out. The croissants are unmatched and i loveeeee their coffee. It does taste different depending on the barista but all of the difference are divine read more

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New favorite coffee shop in our little town! If you like delicious coffee and amazing bread then you found the perfect place. Space is beautiful and staff are friendly. I had the speciality blueberry latte and the ham and cheese croissant, both were SO good! read more

Recess Coffee And Baked Goods - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Black Mountain, North Carolina

Such an amazing bakery! Pastries, coffee and tea this good are so hard to come by, especially with awesome customer service as well. Can't recommend enough!! read more

First time finally in Recess bakery because the last couple times I tried I was in a hurry and the line was out the door! A good problem to have and testament to what they're offering. Harrison took my order for two iced lattes that he began making the moment I placed the order. He took the time to chat with me about being new to the area and took pride in being a new business. Friendliness like this goes a longer way than anything, but that latte was excellent!! Eyeballed a homemade poptart that looked too good to be true, I'll be back very soon to grab one of those Being right in downtown black mountain this is a perfect spot to have a cafe, the inside of the bakery was clean and well kept, nothing but stars for this place, can't wait to go back! read more

We vacation based on Bakery locations. The creations are some of the best, service is friendly and caring and a great place to sit still and savor top shelf items that never disappoint. Can't lose here! read more