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    Arethusa A Mano

    3.9 (129 reviews)
    Open 7:30 am - 3:30 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Arethusa A Mano Photos

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    Vahlrona chocolate
    Lisa F.

    Excellent cafe with high quality coffee and pastries! We stopped in for breakfast and picked up a few doughnuts and cruffins, along with cold brew coffee. Love that they use vahlrona chocolate. A little pricey but great flavors.

    Apple butter filled donut, cranberry filled cronut topped with eggnog cream column, and gingerbread latte
    Susan K.

    ORIGIN: The cafe is one of several Bantam-based offshoots associated with Arethusa Dairy Farm in Litchfield. LOCATION: Arethusa A Mano is located on the main thoroughfare that crosses Bantam. At times the parking lot is crowded, but parking behind Arethusa Dairy across the street is a good alternative. FOOD and BEVERAGES: The cafe serves sandwiches and baked goods that are not commonly found in this area. For example, cronuts -- a flaky cross between a donut and croissant can be found in the pastry case. Likewise, beverages with unique flavors, such as gingerbread latte are prepared and served. AMBIANCE: Beside the order counter and display case are many cafe tables. The white panel walls are fitted with photos from the farm associated with the cafe. Large windows wrap across two sides, allowing a sun-filled dining area.

    Tricia B.

    The "worst" part of Arethusa a Mano is parking - the lot is kind of small, and even though Arethusa is slowly taking over Bantam (for the better, IMHO), parking can be a struggle. The inside is very modern and streamlined in design, accented with a lot of cow paintings. They have a display case for baked goods, a sign announcing the quiche of the day, and rolls/bagels on display behind the registers. I had the Vanderpoel panini, which tasted very fresh (turkey) and crispy from the press. It came with grapes as a side, which was a refreshing surprise. The restrooms were very clean, and the employees were very busy but friendly and answered questions about their product availability.

    Gluten free financier
    Sandra F.

    The pastries at Arethusa A Mano are visually and texturally superb. The flavors are perfection. The inside is clean and sleek. There is plenty of seating and the large windows let in the sunlight which adds to the cheerful atmosphere. The parking lot is small which makes it a bit challenging to park and to leave. All in all I give this spot a ten out of ten or 5 s. P.S. if you are GF a must try is their financier. It's like biting into a pillowy almond puff. Enjoy!

    Egg and cheese on a bagel
    Lizzy L.

    I'm a huge fan of Arethusa's ice cream shop in New Haven so of course I had to make the trip to A Mano! The cafe was busy on a Saturday early afternoon - the attached parking lot was full and we parked in the lot behind the ice cream shop across the street. When our group of four arrived, all the tables were occupied, and we ended up huddling around the corner of a standing table for our first few bites. I ordered the egg and cheese on an everything bagel. The cashier asked how I would like the eggs (over easy, medium, or well) - I asked for medium but the eggs turned out runnier than I would've liked. I also had a matcha rose latte - the matcha was delicious and the rose flavor was not overbearing. Overall a solid cafe for brunch - the dairy products (cheese, creams, butters) are definitely the highlights. I'd love to make the trek again to try a grilled cheese and some of the baked goods. The space is also lovely but I think it would be great if there were few more tables especially at peak hours!

    Francesca D.

    Vacationing up this way and stopped in for a coffee and bagel! I ordered the cheese bagel with scallion cream cheese and an iced coffee. Hit the spot! Bagel was fresh, and coffee was good! Nice little place, quick and friendly service.

    Brioche muffin shaped pastry with cheese Danish filling
    Jason P.

    I've been to Arethusa a Mano (the coffee shop Arethusa) in Bantam a few times, most recently last weekend. I ordered a small black Cold Brew made with a Stumptown blend. It was above average, but not on par with the best CT coffee shops in terms of iced coffee quality. It also seemed like they had fewer specialty coffee beverages than some of the best CT spots. The food is good to great in my experience. My brioche muffin shaped pastry with a cheese Danish type filling from this visit was delicious. It was fresh and had great texture. In terms of atmosphere, you won't find a much more attractive building inside and out. Outside, you'll see new red bricks, white accents and cool signs. Inside, the high wood paneled ceiling crescendos to a point, and decorative stainless steel pipes and counters, white wood shelves, white walls and panels and other decorations are also featured. It's a cool place to hang out. The surrounding area gets top grades for cuteness as well. Since I'm weighting the coffee most heavily, I'm rating Arethusa a Mano 4 Stars, but it would be a bit higher if I could rate in .25 Star increments. Arethusa Ice cream across the street is 5 Stars all the way though.

    Andrew I.

    My wife and I stopped here on our way home. It's located on route 202 in Bantam. Parking lot on the side. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and positive attitude of the employees. Lots of delicious selections of sandwiches, bakery items, and drinks. You can taste the difference in the items that come from there farm. We got an almond croissant which was a nice starter while waiting for our sandwiches. I got a bacon, egg, and cheese on a brioche roll. Very delicious. The eggs were from their farm and the cheese was made across the street at their dairy. It was very filling. I had a bite of my wife's which was ham instead of bacon. It was just as tasty as mine. Just be prepared to spend a little more than at a regular deli. I know you get what you pay for with the high quality of ingredients. However, in the end it's still an egg sandwich.

    caramel latte and drip coffee
    Jenn T.

    It was very clean inside. The employees were sanitizing and wiping down each table as it became vacant. The Vanderpoel panini was crispy, tart and savory. The creamy cheese in it was melting out. It made for a great IG picture if I didn't devour it right away. The croissant was so buttery! At one point I thought I bit into a piece of butter. It was really fluffy and I loved it! The caramel latte was surprisingly not too sweet and was creamy because of their amazing milk! Also, I usually don't add milk to my coffee. I did here because I heard their diary products are made from award winning cows. So I ask for milk with my coffee and it created such a nice depth of flavor.

    Kale Caesar Salad
    Leah S.

    Took lunch to go from Arethusa a Mano to enjoy a crisp fall afternoon. All of their menu offerings tastefully highlighted their award winning cheeses and fresh breads. Kale Caesar salad was loaded with cheese and topped with fresh radishes and tomatoes. Loved loved loved the hot white chocolate latte. We split the Cuban and vanderpoel sandwiches... the pretzel bun served with the Cuban was delicious. We loved the Camembert cheese in the vanderpoel. A little pricey, but not much compared to going out to lunch anywhere else. Can't beat being able to walk across the street for ice cream after.

    Vanderpoel panini and bistro salad.
    Emily G.

    We were so excited to try this cafe after being huge enthusiasts for Arethusa's ice cream! Unfortunately we were underwhelmed. For typical high Arethusa prices, we got a very average panini (The Vanderpoel) and very average salad (the Bistro salad) served on paper plates with plastic cutlery. It felt and tasted cheap which was the exact opposite of what we expected given the decadence of Arethusa's dairy products. It was also disappointing that all of their cutlery is paper/plastic and not even composted. On the other hand, our vanilla latte was delicious. On our way out we got two bagels and a cookie to have at home... for $10. Yikes Overall, meh. We won't be back.

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    8 years ago

    Happily surprised with how fresh & pure every ingredient tasted. What a great find on a weekend in Litchfield! Highly recommend!

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    8 years ago

    Words cannot describe. But I'll try. Extraordinary, creative menu, farm-fresh food and beyond talented chef. Good enough to make me cry.

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    6 years ago

    Best macaroon I have ever had in my whole life. Tried just one. The eggnog flavor. So light and delicious. Definitely worth the visit!

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    10 years ago

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    9 years ago

    I ordered the croissant and glazed donut. I prefer these croissants over any cafe I've visited in LA. Also the best donut I have ever had!

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    amazing!!! best quiche ever!!! amazing egg sandwiches!!! great grilled cheese!!!! very nice staff

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    Page 3 of 4

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    Krafted Brew Lab - Iced Americano with a Single Origin from Papua New Guinea

    Krafted Brew Lab

    4.8(24 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    This is an updated review based upon my first visit to Krafted's new location in the same building…read more I suggested their old location wouldn't win any beauty contests. Well now, they're Miss Freakin' America. The space is gorgeous. And they aced the talent competition too. I almost exclusively drink iced coffee, and I don't always love Iced Americanos. But here, they were up front about the fact that it would be an Iced Americano, when some places are sneaky about it. I appreciate that. I also liked that they offered three single origins as options. I went with the Papua New Guinea. It was great. Krafted is serious about coffee. Now they have a serious location too. 5 Stars

    This tiny shop serves the absolute best latte I've had in Connecticut or elsewhere for that matter…read more This is truly the definition of a hidden gem! This coffee roaster is tucked away on the side of a building and offers the best beans you will get anywhere. They roast their own in house and so far my husband and I have tried the Bantam, Mexico and Nicaragua blends and all are fantastic and so unique. Our go to order is the maple latte which I will rave about until the end of time to everyone. They also have a small but delicious selection of baked goods to choose from but our personal favorite are the chocolate chip cookies! The workers and owner are also so kind and have great recommendations! Krafted Brew Lab is a must visit!

    Photos
    Krafted Brew Lab - Iced Americano

    Iced Americano

    Krafted Brew Lab
    Krafted Brew Lab

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    Espresso 59

    Espresso 59

    4.5(45 reviews)
    2.8 mi

    I sniffed in here with dad and we got java and pastries…read more The CANNOLI BAR candy bar tasted more white chocolate style and had shrapnel from a cannoli shell. It was not my jam but could work for some. They offer real maple syrup from the White family for a $1.00 charge. I do not know if my MAPLE _________ latte had it or not, but it was too legit to quit. Not too sweet either. Clear maple taste. Whole milk requested. Served in a mug with quality java. RATING = A. The interior is country quaint basic and not going overboard but rather erring simple and open without crowding with stuff. The location is great at the bottom of the slope in downtown. APPLE FRITTER with MAPLE GLAZE: -- I would have preferred a plain cake donut or old-fashioned cake with maple glaze, but this was good -- semi-firm -- medium-sized -- moderate amount of maple glaze has authentic color and taste -- not a sugar bomb -- dark color to bread -- not soft inside, medium-soft inside -- up to medium sweet -- not oily or greasy, tastes more on "slightly" healthy style RATING = A- SFOGLIATELLE pastry: -- this clam shell looking pastry is filled with sweet ricotta cheese -- moderate amount of cheese -- lightly sweet -- tasty -- bread is semi-firm -- I am more of a Zeppole fan, but this is good RATING = A They have bags of Ethiopian coffee which is funny because everywhere we go we see Ethiopian coffee for sale lately. The last time was in September in Portland, Oregon.

    Definitely 5 stars from my first visit, but I don't give 5 unless I go to a place a few times…read more A wonderful woman welcomed us, gave my lils a small cookie and made two delicious cappuccinos for my husband and I. Very friendly service, clean area and clean bathroom. So glad we stopped here. Next time in the are I will definitely be back!m The other desserts looked amazing! The cookies and the giant peanut butter cookie was delicious as well.

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    Espresso 59
    Espresso 59 - Iced lavender oat latte--10/10

    Iced lavender oat latte--10/10

    Espresso 59

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    Wilson’s Bakery and Cafe - Smoked salmon on cheddar jalapeño bagel

    Wilson’s Bakery and Cafe

    4.4(63 reviews)
    12.3 mi
    $$

    I go hiking and then check out reviews of local bakeries. It's what I do…read more I love morning glory muffins and have had them at quite a few places. Everyone seems to use pretty much the same recipe with some slight variations. The muffins I had here were weird. I don't know what that dominant spice they used is but it was really kind of awful. Weird is just the only word I can think of to describe it. And the muffin was not dense at all. It kind of fell apart when you bit into it. I took a "sour cherry" pastry home snd it was ok. The apricot scone was bleh. I think this place will be a skip in the future.

    An adorable and bustling cafe in Kent! It was extremely busy on a Saturday morning in October, but…read morefortunately the line to order at the counter moved quickly, and there was enough turnover that we were able to get seats without waiting too long. However, they were out of a lot of bakery items by noon, so I'd recommend getting there early on the weekends. I went for the Smoked salmon bagel, and I kid you not, it was a religious experience. By far, the best jalapeño cheddar bagel I've ever had. I don't know how they made it but angels most definitely had to be involved. Order it with the scallion cream cheese and pay the extra $0.50 for the capers, it's worth it. I don't live in the area, so I will pray to the food gods to present me with an opportunity to return & eat that sandwich again.

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    Wilson’s Bakery and Cafe - Brilliant breads

    Brilliant breads

    Wilson’s Bakery and Cafe
    Wilson’s Bakery and Cafe - Interior

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    Interior

    The Loaded Goat Coffee Company - maple white chocolate mocha latte ($5.80)

    The Loaded Goat Coffee Company

    4.6(123 reviews)
    18.8 mi
    $$

    All about the vibes in here, the place is filled with CT memorabilia and Naugatuck HS year books…read morewhich was super cool to see esp since I have many friends that went there. The interior is modern rustic with a twist of bohemian indie style. There are so many things to look at and be entertained by. The seating options are great and comfy. The service was quick, sweet, spunky, and helpful. I got a frozen matcha with the suggested cheesecake blackberry flavor via the barista and it didn't disappoint. I haven't tried any of their readily available pastries in their display case but I know I will one day. My matcha was around nine dollars, which is what I'd expect from a privately locally owned place like this. Worth it though, esp if you're hanging out for awhile and like great quality. I can see myself coming back one morning and hanging out with someone here. Also, HUGE fan of punk rock so blink 182 in the background is making me stay here until I have to go to my eye doctor appointment around the corner. I feel totally in my element. I'll be back, thanks loaded goat !

    Met some friends here and sat by the fireplace, the space was cozy, though it is pretty tight and…read morethe line was out the door when I visited. I like my coffee sweet, so the self-service bar was perfect for customizing. Somewhere they say this is the #1 coffee in the state... I'm not so sure. Probably wouldn't go out of my way to come back, but you can tell it has a loyal crowd!

    Photos
    The Loaded Goat Coffee Company - X-mas Tree Cake Latte (seasonal) Cheesecake, vanilla and mocha

    X-mas Tree Cake Latte (seasonal) Cheesecake, vanilla and mocha

    The Loaded Goat Coffee Company - Pot o gold iced latte (march 2025 special)

    Pot o gold iced latte (march 2025 special)

    The Loaded Goat Coffee Company

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    Bantam Bread

    Bantam Bread

    4.3(69 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    I do not write a lot of reviews, but I absolutely love this place…read more Bantam bread is a phenomenal baked goods shop Breads, dirt bombs (yummy treat), and all the goodies that they sell are simply delicious. The food is Clean, wholesome, healthy and the bakery family owned, it's the only place we buy bread and bake goods for our family. they make food the way it was intended to be made, the old-fashioned, clean and honest way. It's worth the trip every single time and I cannot give them a more positive review. The staff is awesome and kind and knowledgeable. It's simply a tremendous resource for our community. and the prices are very reasonable as well! Treat yourselves and your family and come here. You will not be disappointed! Their breads are unbelievably delicious!

    Since I've been on a Keto diet for the past year, I keep my carbohydrate levels very low, so that…read moremeans "no bread". I broke that rule this week, and dropped into Bantam Bread to purchased a loaf of sourdough bread. Brought it home, had a few slices with butter, it was good. My Mother In Law & wife really liked the sourdough too. All the breads are made there fresh daily, of course. Bantam Bread has a nice selection of baked goods also. Can't say that I'll partake in those anytime soon, but I could always bring some home for the non-carnivores living in the house. Since I pass by this shop four days a week, I know I'll drop in occasionally to pick up more sourdough bread, even if it's not for myself.

    Photos
    Bantam Bread
    Bantam Bread
    Bantam Bread

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    Arethusa A Mano - bakeries - Updated May 2026

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