A friend and I wanted to a cute tea place to check out for a quick check-in and some girl time…read more First off Rise and Ritual is a gem that I always miss in the area, so glad it was discovered! Rise and Ritual is very warm and gives a chill and calming vibe with plants, warm colors and decor. We ordered tea, but had matcha it was very good, the only down side was it had a lot more froth than match, the tea was given half full. I'd love to have it again, but I guess I'd get a larger size to make up for the froth. There is a huge assortment of tea for all the tea lovers! There is sitting space with cool art on the walls and smart gifts displayed about for sale. There was also a nice room in the back, which I believe events are held. The customer service was good, the guy who waited on us was very helpful and accommodating. Overall, Rise and Ritual was a nice experience and aesthetically pleasant to meet up with a friend or to spend some alone time to think, read, reflect or just get away, but not too far from home.

Everything about the experience was outstanding. From the time you walk in the door. Th energy of…read morethe space speaks for itself. So many not only delicious, but healthy tea and wellness items. Such a cozy space to slow down for a moment to sip and breathe. Owner and staff were so personable and knowledgeable. Was able to have a customized tea blend made to-go. Support this business!

Great selection! Knowledgeable associates, lovely customer service. I go here for all my loose…read moreherbs for herbal tea needs!

I am a member with a card who has stopped shopping at Penn…read moreHerb Company after sixteen years. Why? because on THREE separate occasions the owner has treated me quite badly. 1- one time when I was shopping, I needed to use the ladies room. When I asked if I could use it (after seeing other customers go in and out) the owner said that customers are not permitted to use it. 2. This time the owner was at the register (a rare moment in my experience) he verbally abused me for the fact that I pulled an old receipt out of my purse and crumbled it up - and then I put it back in my purse - so no, I was not littering. 3. As I approached the door to enter the store and was struggling to open it due to a badly broken arm and back injury, the owner cut in front of me and slammed the door onto me. That was the last time for me. I am honestly surprised that they are still in business because I have met countless women who have also stopped whopping there after being treated badly by the owner. There are a myriad of other shopping venues that carry the herbs and other medicines and personal care products that I buy.

Great business! I only come in here every few months, but everytime I do I'm met with a positive…read moreaffirmation, new knowledge about an herb or a fun story. Happy to be a regular!

Great customer service. Have so many items to purchase. The Prayed-Up Spray i took to work everyone…read morewants 1. Will be back when I come home. Thanks, you have a customer for life. I got to take a picture with the older. Francine J. Watkins

I happened to be in the area of the 3400 block of Sansom Street today in West Philadelphia and a…read morefamiliar sign caught my eye from 22 years ago; Avril 50. Avril 50 was a regular stop in my patrol days and I loved walking into the shop. Always the wonderful aroma of brewing coffees and chocolate dancing with other exotic smells and the smells of fine papers and magazines. It always felt to me like stepping from West Philadelphia into a magical pocket of Europe. As it looked exactly the same, I wondered if anything had changed in the past 22 years and as soon as I crossed the threshold, I found that it was the same - like stepping back 22 years, yet somehow I was that much older. The proprietor was still there, still the same and looking no different - something that confirmed my belief that this was a magical and wonderful pocket paradise tucked away on a small West Philadelphia street. A brief catch-up chat, a shopping bag of fine teas and a perfectly brewed double-espresso to takeaway later; I stepped back into the bright Fall sun of West Philadelphia. I found myself smiling as I sipped the espresso, happy that one of the best things for me in that neighborhood has remained unchanged for others to enjoy and to continue to discover. It will not be another 22 years before I make my way back - that is for certain.

Interesting little shop. My sister's boyfriend took us here when we mentioned we needed coffee and…read moreI was a little perplexed when I walked in. I'm still not entirely sure what the shop is supposed to be but it was an experience going there for sure. The coffee is self serve and there are several different selections, each with a short description up on the wall. My boyfriend and I each got a medium (I believe it was $2.25 per) and loved our coffee. Both were tasty and exceptionally strong. I'm not sure if they do anything fancier (lattés, etc) but I doubt it. Nonetheless, if I were a student at penn and needed a coffee this is where I would go.

Always quick and friendly service AND good coffee! They also sell MilkJawn ice cream which my wife…read moreloves. They carry a variety of spices as well, so if you need something for that recipe you want to make check it out, they may have what you need. Today they had a DJ which was fun!

This place? A whole vibe. Half mini-mart, half café, all flavor. I originally came through on a Too…read moreGood To Go haul, and now I'm here constantly--sometimes for a deal, sometimes just 'cause I need it in my life. Let's start with the mini-mart side, aka my happy place. They carry these crack-level addictive injera chips in rosemary, mild, and spicy--YES, I've tried them all, and YES, they're all elite. I keep saying I'll pace myself, but nah. Also obsessed with their zero-sugar digestive cookies?? I don't even know where else to find these, and honestly, I don't wanna know. Alif is my plug now. On the café side, the hot Ethiopian food is consistently . My all-time fave is the yellow split pea dish (Kik Alicha)--so flavorful, creamy, and comforting, like a warm hug from someone's grandma. It comes with two glorious rolls of injera, soft and tangy, perfect for scooping up every last bit. If you know, you know. There's a cute little seating nook to the right of the register, plus a few outdoor tables for soaking up some sun with your sambusa. The staff? Super quick and helpful whenever I ask questions--they always know what's up and don't mind me geeking out over new snacks. Also came by during the Dollar Stroll and tried their Ethiopian wraps, and--whew. How do I describe them? Imagine rich, spicy, savory magic wrapped in injera and handed to you for ONE DOLLAR. I was shook. It's no wonder I've been back like five times... and probably forgot to check in at least half of those visits. Oops. ‍ TL;DR: Alif Brew is my comfort café + snack haven rolled into one. If you haven't been, GO. And grab me a bag of spicy injera chips while you're at it.

I'm so lucky to have this place in my neighborhood! I've…read morenever, ever seen a cleaner, more organized convenience store!! The folks that work there are always so friendly and helpful. The selection of food items is outstanding. They also make some pretty good sandwiches that are cheaper than most places around. There are some tables inside to enjoy your food.

Amazing corner store that actually sells fresh food! I'll echo others' comments in that you never…read morereally know what you're going to pay but in a pinch, they're lovely! Always friendly and have what you need from cat food to beer to soda - they've got you. Would definitely return (probably sooner than you think lol)

I'm beyond lucky to live near this cozy gem! Vegan…read moreeverything. I've likely had everything on the menu and every single thing was delicious! Try the chili with cornbread or the tuna sandwich or...

This spot is such a vibe!…read more Completely vegan and so many options for food, teas, coffee - it really checks off all your brekkie brunchy checklists. We were able to find street parking nearby and it was free for our Sunday visit! The inside is decorated very hippy dippy with local artists works displayed throughout. It's a small spot that packs a punch. Some seating for 2 mostly and a few tables were set up for 4. The major bar area is where the food and drinks are ordered and then they come and deliver it to you wherever you self seat. We ordered their mega açaí bowl, the hummus wrap, and tried their vegan pastelillos. My wife got their iced guava kava and I got their chai masala in oat milk. Everything came out as it was made and it was delicious! We both reallly enjoyed the açaí bowl and our drinks. The service was awesome and super helpful explaining all of the different things on the menu that we were unfamiliar with. We grabbed a chickpea brownie on our way out and looking forward to more visits!

This is a cute place to grab coffee or tea! They have a good variety of coffee drinks and also tea…read moredrinks. I have a citrus Matcha that was made with Yuzu and sparkling water. It had a good citrus flavor. The Matcha was good without being too strong, sparkling water made it very refreshing. We also had the croffle- across between the croissant and waffle. It had a chocolate sauce on it and whipped cream. It was yummy.! Several tables are available inside. It has a large windows that bring in the light. The light is needed because this is also a plant store. Lots of different plants are available to purchase as well as books and other little gifts The person who waited on us was friendly and helpful, and explaining the different drinks

Love the shop itself, love the customer service, love the variety of drinks offered. But I have to…read moresay that their boba drinks aren't my favorite. I tried on a couple of occasions and the pearls themselves were not to my taste. They were a bit mushy and grainy instead of springy and chewy. With so many places that specialize in bubble tea in the city, I had to cut my losses on making it work here. On the other hand, I've really enjoyed the coffee drinks. They have some really nice syrups and come up with fun drink specials and combinations. Be warned though that specialty drinks can easily get into the $8+ range. Also, their little shop area has cute items to browse while you wait. You might be able to find a little gift or trinket here that makes you smile.