During a visit to McCaysville, we stopped at Rum Cake Lady Cuban Café while exploring the area as…read morepart of our day riding the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. As a South Florida native who is obsessed with Cuban food, I had read the reviews beforehand and was really hoping they would live up to the hype and thankfully, they absolutely did. Walking into this place felt like a little piece of home while on vacation. The fresh pastelitos, tostadas, house-made rum cake, and a cafecito were exactly what I didn't know I needed that day. Everything is made in-house, and you can taste the care and authenticity in every bite. Finding such great Cuban food in another state truly felt like the cherry on top of the trip. Aesthetically, the space is full of Cuban pride. The walls share the story of how the Rum Cake Lady came to exist, and it's genuinely beautiful to read about the journey behind the business while you're there enjoying the food. What stood out to me the most was how busy the place was long lines and lots of traction yet the staff remained friendly, welcoming, and attentive throughout it all. That kind of hospitality makes a big impression. Thankfully, after a quick search, I discovered there's another Rum Cake Lady Cuban Café location not too far from the cabin we were staying at in Blue Ridge. Of course, we had to go back this time for dinner ordering the classic media noche! If you're visiting the area and craving something authentic and full of flavor, this place is a must. I'm really hoping they continue to expand, because what they've created is truly special.

My friends and I loved this place and had some delicious food! The service was also excellent. We…read moreeven got a mini rum cake to take with us and enjoyed it very much. Don't miss out on visiting either locations during your visit to the Blue Ridge area!

This local bakery deserves some recognition! They have delicious sweets and made to order sweets…read more Their customer service is above and beyond! I ordered a cheesecake and it was amazing!! Stop in and show them some love

Must try! Everything looked so good - I wish I could have tried it all. We ended up getting a dozen…read morebuckeyes and two bottled sodas. I was told everything is made fresh daily! Definitely recommend!

Unfortunately, their hours of operation seem to be optional. We arrived at 4:45 P.M. on a Thursday,…read moreand they were completely shut down. Was hoping to try this place. Can't trust the posted hours of operation.

This was my first visit to Ellijay, and I stumbled across this slightly hidden gem. If you head…read morenorth out of the Downtown Square down N. Main St., you'll find the classy looking white and blue building. Once inside, you enter a world of delicious tidbits, morsels, and tasty bites. Being that this was my first visit, I had to try the very popular pecan bar. I also decided to try one of the cute churro cupcakes. The owners, Jennifer and Charity, we're friendly and welcoming. They greeted me as soon as I entered their shop, and they graciously answered all of my questions. As I was getting ready to depart, I noticed that they also have a large tea room for private parties. It looks like the perfect atmosphere for a British high tea with Victorian looking décor. Needless to say, if I find myself in Ellijay again, I will definitely return to A Little Baked bakery. I highly recommend you try it as well. Cheers

Coffee was wonderful!! The customer service was excellent! We felt right at home and will…read moredefinitely be back to try some sweets!

We saw people walking with coffee and they recommended The Sweet Shoppe. We absolutely fell in love…read morewith all of the positive words on the wall. The bakery items all looked delicious and we wanted them all. We ordered cinnamon bun and had it warmed. I ordered one of the specialty drinks (The Jolene) and my friends wanted just black coffee. They did not have any fresh coffee so they offered her espresso with water, and said they could bring the half and half out for her to add herself. The cinnamon bun was mouth watering and delicious. My friend and I both felt that our coffee wasn't very flavorful, and almost watered down. I would definitely try it again if ever in town, especially for the bakery items!

This is our must stop when visiting the Tellico area. Their sandwiches are so good and so is the…read morepizza. The kids love picking out a treat from the bakery too.

Saturdays they really load up with more products, they must have spent all Friday night baking…read more Everything Sausage Roll, Raspberry-Lemon Brioche and large coffee.

Good sandwiches...the cinnamon rolls are bioengineered, WTF? I figured an Amish store would only…read moresell organic/non-GMO.

This is one of my favorite parts about Blue Ridge. Fresh deli sandwiches & hot bread baked twice…read moredaily. Craft sodas too! Definitely stop in if you're cooking for the weekend!

Great selection of cakes cupcakes and cookies.You must not miss this little hidden jewel.read more

Visiting Blue Ridge and stoped by Mercier Orchards on a perfect cold day. Let me just say this is a…read morepopular tourist attraction so it had its fair share of people so come with some patience. Outside it has some beautiful views worth stopping for a photo and stopping at the bakery inside for some fried pies and cider donuts are a must! The fried pies were okay but the Cider Donuts are a show stopper. They also have tons of other things like fruits and veggies, toys, books, figurines, wine and more!

First things first -- get ready for a drive. This place is…read morenot just "down the street." It's a journey. But let me be very clear: it is 100% worth it. From the moment you arrive, you can tell Mercier Orchards is something special. There is so much packed into this one location that it almost feels like a small village built around apples and everything that comes with them. Inside the main store, the selection is honestly overwhelming in the best way possible -- home goods, gifts, jams, jellies, preserves, baking mixes, sauces, butters, ciders... anything and everything apple-related, plus plenty of other fruit-based goodies. It's the kind of place where you say "I'm just going to browse" and then walk out with bags of stuff you didn't know you needed. Then there's the bakery. Seven lines. All long. And all moving surprisingly well. I eventually stepped out of line after about 15 minutes, but not before getting a solid look at the pastries, pies, breads, and desserts -- everything looked incredible. Even without buying anything that round, the bakery alone is worth the stop. Now let's talk about the apple picking experience -- because this is where the magic really happens. Riding out on a trailer attached to a tractor felt like something straight out of a fall movie. The views, the air, the vibe -- it's peaceful, exciting, and nostalgic all at the same time. The apples change with the season, and the ones we picked were delicious and lasted a long time. No pesticides, just straight calcium. Fresh, crisp, and perfect. And yes... get a bag or three like I did. You're going to want them. The entire place also makes for amazing photo opportunities. Whether it's the orchard, the tractor ride, the store, or the scenery -- this is one of those spots where your camera roll is guaranteed to fill up. The only negative moment of the day happened when I went to grab some cider and one of the guys behind the counter completely ignored me. I actually had to call him out -- like, "Did you not see me standing here?" Not great. But that one interaction couldn't even come close to outweighing everything else this place offers. Bottom line: If you're anywhere in the area -- or even thinking about making a day trip -- you absolutely have to go. It's a little off the beaten path, so I don't expect most people to just "stumble" upon it... but if you plan it, you won't regret it. This is an experience, not just a stop.

Started off our rainy Sunday morning with the Folk Collaborative. This is a really cute little…read morespot with a bakery and apothecary shop with fun items like soaps, beard shampoo, teas, and lotions. The bakery case was filled with gorgeous pastries I wanted one of everything they looked so good! We ended up getting a Chai Tea Latte with Oatmilk for me, a cortado with oatmilk for Bob and my kiddo got an iced sweet tea and a Valentine sugar cookie. There are lots of seating options. It is a really homey and relaxed vibe with great coffee and goodies. Several patrons before us ordered breakfast sandwiches that looked and smelled delicious will definitely have to try one next time! Was super impressed with the pretty latte art so awesome!! Definitely a place worth stopping for am so glad we got to check it out!!

Food and drink were imaginative and tasty, served in a unique folksy setting. I will be returning…read moreand bringing friends and family.