Search results for

Café culture is an essential part of the Austrian experience, and there’s no better place to find it in Salzburg than at the historic Café Tomaselli. Dating back to 1700 and owned by the Tomaselli family since 1852, the great coffees, delicious pastries, and warm ambience mean the marble-topped tables don’t stay empty for long. It’s a place to see and be seen, a traditional institution popular with visitors, intellectuals, and celebrities. Even Mozart was a regular here. His widow, Constanze, later returned to the city with their children and lived upstairs with her second husband, Georg Nikolaus von Nissen, from 1820 to 1826. A Mélange (similar to cappuccino) or Einspänner (mocha with thick whipped cream) are two top picks from the extensive coffee menu. Order pastries separately—from the large selection brought tableside by one of the so-called “cake maids.”

Thailand isn’t necessarily known for its coffee, but Akha Ama is the exception. This is a very small coffee shop in Santhitham. It exclusively distributes coffee produced by the Akha people who live in the village of Mae Jan Tai in northern Thailand. They do all of the fancy café drinks like shakeratos, lattes, and mochas. They also make baked goods, such as muffins, in-house every day. —Andy Ricker 9/1 Mata Apartment Hassadhisawee Rd., Soi 3, 66(0)86-915-8600. This appeared in the May 2013 issue

Bassetts is America’s oldest ice cream company … so they must be doing something right! This is a story about longevity … and ice cream. In 1892, Lewis D. Bassett moved his ice cream operation to the newly built Reading Terminal Market in Center City Philadelphia. At the same time he also opened a retail store. The store that he opened in 1892 is still in the same location today, with its original marble counters. Bassetts is still family-owned and operated. You can get cups, cones, or a freshly-packed pint to take back to your hotel room. Look for the seasonal featured flavors, and if you’re not sure you’ll like something, ask for a taste. My personal recommendation – try the Guatemalan Ripple, which is coffee ice cream with mocha fudge swirls and espresso truffles. “Gadzooks” is the flavor to try if you like chocolate and caramel. A bit of ice cream trivia: Bassetts recently listed its all time top ten flavors in order of popularity: 1. Vanilla 2. Chocolate 3. Mint Chocolate Chip 4. Cookies and Cream 5. Cookie Dough 6. Peanut Butter 7. Butter Pecan 8. English Toffee Crunch 9. Strawberry 10. Coffee

At the neighborhood’s eastern extreme, on Rue Dante, this traditional Italian bakery is renowned as the purveyor of the city’s best cannoli, though it’s a hotly debated issue. They are blindingly scrumptious, that’s for sure, and they come in chocolate, vanilla ricotta, vanilla ricotta with tiny chocolate chips, vanilla custard or mocha. They’re just one of the many sweet treats on offer though, so wander over after a day at the market and let yourself be tempted by the cornetti, the million-layered sfogliatelle, the flaky, cream-filled lobster tails or the dozens of varieties of cookie.

With a coffee shop on every corner in San Francisco‘s Financial District, how do you choose? Well you do want them to have good coffee, after that it is all about the people and the story. Coffee Cultures has it all. Located in a historic building, they carefully designed the shop in a way that highlighted its original architectural details. Details are important for the team here. Like aprons created in the Mission. Like gold spoons that harken back to the post-Depression when good coffee was a luxury. Gorgeous detailing in the 900 pieces of reclaimed wood from barns in three states, and attention to every aspect of the product they serve. They only purveyor of Counter Cultures coffee, house-created syrups and homemade fresh yogurt in the morning and frozen yogurt in the afternoon using locally sourced Straus milk. The staff are about as passionate about coffee as you can find. If it were up to them there would be no menu, they’d ask you what you felt like and deliver it. I can get coffee from any number of places in San Francisco, but with the care that Coffee Cultures puts into its products and people, I choose to go here. And you should too. Stop by, they would love to tell you their story!

This gem in a quiet stretch of the French Quarter earns the French word for bakery—patisserie—for its true-to-Paris pastries. The flaky croissants come in all types, from plain or savory to filled and sweet. Whatever you order, you must get one on the side—other can’t-miss menu items include delicious quiches, chicken or spinach pochettes (pastry pockets) and an array of coffee drinks. Mosey into the charming, personality-filled eatery, grab a snack and a drink, and think of cobblestone lanes and horse-drawn carriages.

In a country that has more cows than people, you can’t visit Argentina without shopping for leather goods. Prune opened its doors in 1999 and is one of Argentina’s premier brands for quality leather goods that are stylish and great value. They sell European-inspired handbags, clutches, leather jackets, belts and shoes. You can find Prune shops in both Palmares Open Mall and Mendoza Plaza Shopping in Guaymallen.

Top Pot is a Seattle area must. The staff is always friendly and kind, and the donuts and coffee are to die for. I try and go at least once a week. I love the raspberry glazed (pictured) but you can’t go wrong with anything here. They have all the usual flavors, plus more. Last time I ordered a blueberry cake, and the time before I tried the Feather Boa, a coconut covered cake donut. This is a place for all, whether you are a business traveler who wants to be the most loved at the meeting, or a family looking for some sweets, Top Pot is the way to go.

While Kumbh Mela occurs every 3 years in 4 different Indian locations, the Maha Mela is every 12 years near Allahabad, just over 100 kilometers from Varanasi. We hired a driver with the intent of visiting two temples along the way and used the Ganges as our guide. First, we stopped in one of only four goddess temples in India, Viandhyanchal, in the village of Mirzapur. This “sleeping mountain” temple was intense. Wafting incense, bells ringing, drums pounding, people shouting and hitting stone walls amidst lots of pushing and shoving to see the female deity represented on the walls. Transcending the din, we planted ourselves on the ground amidst blackened marigolds, little kids poking our heads looking for money, and crowds knocking into us. Next, we went to the smaller Astabhugi Durga temple not far from Viandhyanchal. It’s worth a visit as well, but the actual space is only 4' tall so you won’t spend much time here. Fine with me, as I was ready to get to Kumbh Mela. We were fortunate enough to book rooms at the Maharishi Sadafaldeo Ashram, the closest accommodations to the Mela. The Ashram offers daily meditation and yoga classes, an evening spiritual session, and an Ayurvedic spa along with gracious grounds overlooking the Ganges. The Ashram erected some upscale tents just down the road, which was a very popular location within walking distance of the Mela. Not only were we closest to the Mela - but a short walk to the most auspicious bathing area, the Sangam.

A coffee house, a restaurant, and a bakery: It would be an understatement to say that Daylight Mind Coffee Company only has coffee on their mind. With a food menu and selection of beers, wines, mixed drinks, and, of course, coffee, there is a perfect drink for every item on the menu and every hour of the day. But don’t miss out on the coffee. With names like ‘Eleu and Sweet Waves, there is no better way to drink in some Kona aloha than a shot of local espresso or sipping a mocha with house-made chocolate. Daylight Mind Coffee goes well beyond the beverage by offering a number of events at their Kailua-Kona location, starting with yoga in the morning and live music three nights a week. Visitors can also enjoy cupping events to taste the roasts and there are several classes on coffee brewing and roasting techniques.