By Kaityn Boisvert and Vita Duva –
In the busy life of a college student, it’s hard to sit back and relax. Our preferred coffee or tea drinks are normally consumed during a rushed trip between classes, or late at night while cramming for a test. This gets the job done, but every once and a while it’s nice to just sit in a big comfy chair, chat with friends, and actually enjoy a cup of coffee.
So where does one go to skirt responsibility for a couple hours and hide from those imposing textbooks? Fortunately for us Salve students, Newport offers a wide variety of cozy cafés and coffee shops where one is welcome to order up their favorite caffeinated beverage, snack on a sandwich, and unwind.
Katrina’s Bakery
The bakery offers a variety of freshly baked goods, including breads, morning pastries, cookies and other goodies. Lunch specials include: a whole sandwich with a side of either coleslaw or potato chips, or a half soup/half sandwich, which also comes with a side of coleslaw or potato chips.
The home-style baked Quiches and Morning Glory Muffins are a must have! Additionally, they offer freshly brewed coffee and tea. Seating is available both indoors and outdoors. Katrina’s Bakery is located at 1 Casino Terrace, #5. Contact Information: Call (401) 847-8210 or visit www.katrinasbakery.com
The People’s Café
With spacious and intimate indoor seating, meet your family, friends and loved ones for a relaxing experience. A step up from Starbucks, the café offers unmatched soups, sandwiches and snacks. Tea and coffee is offered in a variety of delicious flavors. Additionally, the café offers free Wi-Fi, making this the perfect spot for local students and laptop zombies. The People’s Café is located at 282 Thames Street.
Contact Information: Call (401)619-1022 or visit www.facebook.com/peoplescafenewportri.
Empire Tea and Coffee
Situated among numerous boutiques and restaurants, the café Empire Tea and Coffee offers visitors a chance to both relax and witness the life of Newport from behind the windows of a very artistic and comforting environment.
As soon as one enters the door of the unique café, all worries dissolve in the presence of brewing coffee and the welcoming atmosphere. The employees are friendly, and customers have many options for seating, whether it be a seat near the window or a couch in the lounging area.
Customers often come to Empire Tea & Coffee not only for its welcoming atmosphere, but also because of the unique menu that can cater to almost anyone, with over 60 varieties of loose leaf tea to choose from. The wide array of choices can comfort customers with a familiar delicacy, or inspire them to be daring and try a new flavor.
From 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., people can come to Empire to get their coffee fix, catch up on work, surf the web, or to spend dear time with friends. The customers inside the café are often students, who use the peaceful environment either to catch up on schoolwork or to spend some dear time with friends.
The café is also a place for social events, with a mini tavern located in the downstairs area that sponsors occasions such as open mics and concerts. This enables customers to get even more of an artistic experience out of their café visit.
Empire’s beverages themselves are impressive, as each one is prepared with care. From standard beverages to more abstract and unique flavors, every drink offered acts as both a stress-reliever and a good fulfillment for cravings. Although all the flavors can boast richness and a good quality of taste, the Dirty Chai is a standout flavor, and one of the personal favorites of the owner himself.
A chai tea mixed with espresso, the beverage delivers a good punch of flavor and lives up to the café’s promise of offering customers a relaxing café experience.
For more information, visit Empire’s website at: www.newportbubbletea.com/hotmenu.php
Phone Number: 401 619 1388
Address: 22 Broadway, Newport, RI 02840
Starbucks
Newport’s Starbucks is a favorite among both townspeople and tourists alike, as its convenient location enables customers to seek temporary rest from their downtown Newport adventures while still getting to be near many of Newport’s beloved sights.
Although many Starbucks are esteemed to be impressive and efficient, the Newport Starbucks earns distinction among its mainstream companions, as it has two floors and offers many chairs and couches for customers to sit down and relax.
The employees display a love and enthusiasm for their work, acting friendly and accommodating to all their customers, smiling at all their visitors, and willingly giving recommendations for the best selections.
The atmosphere is always scented with the aroma of coffee and tea, which helps the environment truly embrace the artistic and peaceful culture of Starbucks.
Unique new selections are always on the menu, and usually fit the theme of the season, such as the Pumpkin Spice Late in the fall and the Peppermint flavored hot chocolate offered in the winter.
212 Thames Street
Newport, RI 02840
(401) 841-5899
