Dripolator Coffeehouse was exactly the kind of Sunday morning stop we needed as we rolled east out…read moreof Asheville. Yelp pointed us here and as usual, the algorithm absolutely nailed it. We arrived at around 7:15 am and were greeted by two regulars hanging out front with their dogs, which meant that Mrs. K. got her morning dog fix before we even made it inside. That set a great tone for a good day. The welcome inside was warm in the small town way that feels genuine instead of forced, just easy smiles and a quick hello as I ordered. It was rather quiet when we arrived but the folks seemed to start pouring in as we sipped our coffees. My cortado was excellent even if it was in a paper cup. Mrs. K. was happy with her latte which is the proper test. We lingered a bit, enjoying the quiet and watching Black Mountain wake up around us before getting back on the road. A great little stop just off I-40 and a perfect start for the day. Five stars! [Review 540 of 2026 - 4635 in North Carolina - 25722 overall]

I have to confess that the name Dripolator didn't sound like a place with a hip coffee house vibe…read more I was very wrong. What a terrific find in Black Mountain. First off, atmosphere. Cool, welcoming with a splash of funky. Loved it. Staff. Incredibly friendly and helpful. My wife likes a real matcha green tea latte and what she got was perfect. Made to the sweetness level she likes (not too much) and the barista delivered it while making sure it was to my wife's liking. Very attentive. Coffee. I am a latte guy, no sweetener just good ol fashioned milk. What I got was robust yet incredibly smooth. A great cup of coffee. We did not try their baked goods. That will be next time, because when we find ourselves in the area again, Dripolator will be a must.

We're in Black Mountain about once a year for a conference, and I've always enjoyed the coffee…read morescene. This year, a friend recommended this shop to try out. As a coffee enthusiast, I admit to sometimes being what my wife would call a "coffee snob" from time to time. I'm happy to report that Recess passes every test I have for coffee. The vibe was perfect, with a classic wooden-style to the seating, and even a really great retro/minimalist playground outside for our kids. The Rwandan pour over I had a couple days ago was full-bodied and delicious, with deep red fruit notes. It was made with care using a Kalita wave flat-bottom dripper, and it was clear that the brewer knew what he was doing. It was so good that I picked up a bag of beans they had for sale (from Sweet Bloom roasters), which has been giving me great pour-overs at the house. We also had a butter croissant, which was absolutely delightful. I returned today to try their milk-drink offerings. I had a masala caramel cappuccino to-go, and let me just tell you--these people know what's up. It was a seasonal offering, and it showed a deep understanding of the marriage of sweetness with flavorful coffee offerings. I love it when I stumble up on a truly wonderful shop for coffee enthusiasts, and Recess has my full stamp of approval. I will be back every chance I get.

I happened to be in town so of course I looked up coffee shops in the area. Recess has a…read morebeautifully curated website and Instagram account. I ordered the masala caramel latte. It was a bit too sweet so I also ordered an iced coffee and mixed the two. The staff was nice. I also ordered the ham and cheese croissant and it was delicious. I would definitely recommend trying it.

This place is just delightful. This is my second time there the first time we went the fryer was…read moredown and we were only able to try the cinnamon rolls (which are exquisite and the gluten-free donuts) also excellent. But this time I had a cold coffee that was absolutely wonderful just strong enough no sugar added. I was in heaven. Plus we got to try a different group of donuts this time I have pictures for you, you've got to give it a try. The service is absolutely wonderful. The people there are so kind and really glad to see people visiting their shop. They usually trow in a little something new to try, or one of your old favorites. The ambience is simple but sweet pick up and go or sit down and enjoy. You've got to give this place a try when you're in the mood for a yummy treat. That's just delicious!!

Best doughnuts ever!!! Perfect consistency and friendly service. I love the chocolate glaze. Five…read morestars!

Need a break from all the fun stores? Stop at this beautiful and yummy bar/coffee shop tucked away…read morein downtown Black Mountain. So many options to order! Lattes, chai tea, wine, mimosas, cocktails, beer! They even have specials! Wednesdays is $5 wine glasses. Thursday's is $3 lattes. Sundays have $5 mimosas. My friend ordered an iced chai tea with oat milk and said it's the best chai tea she's EVER had. I ordered a glass of the sauv blanc, as recommended by the bartender and it was delish crisp and delightful. Perfect for an intensely warm day!

This spot has the most delicious espresso martini I've ever had! Wow. I'm so glad we came across…read morethis spot. They had a live band the afternoon we were there, who were playing great 70s classics. I had so much fun enjoying the music and sippin on the espresso martini. They definitely didn't skimp on the alcohol either. Next time I'm in town I will definitely be back!

Cool little bookstore in Blackmountain, NC. I was on a business trip and stopped in here to see if…read moreI could find a book I was looking for. This is a cozy place with areas to sit and thump through a book or just come and sit and read. I did find the book I was looking for and several others to add to my list.

This store is so fun. They're two stories many options of everything there's a book there's toys…read morefor older kids younger kids in all ages unfortunately, you don't have pictures, but I definitely recommend going there.

Great coffee and tea options. The food and pastries are second to none! Incredible. Anna who…read moreworks here was so nice and helpful. She went the extra mile! This is a great place to hang out, meet, or just relax and read. My whole family loves this place.

We stopped for breakfast on our way home from Asheville. The coffee was good. The breakfast…read moresandwiches on croissants, pressed and heated, were great. The pecan praline scone was amazing. I don't remember the name of our server, but she was attentive and so pleasant. It is definitely worth a trip to Moments.

The food is always wonderful, the Tartare specifically is to die for…read more Having been here several times, our experience tonight was the best so far due to the exceptional service provided by Mila (hopefully I spelled this correctly). She was personable, provided excellent recommendations and was just a very enjoyable person and we wanted to shout her out!

Celebrated a birthday here. Great southern American ambiance. Service was friendly and generally…read moreattentive. Our food came out with great pacing. Bread, 2 small plates, and 2 larger plates were more than enough for 3. Everything was tasty. Focaccia was fresh, toasty, and buttery. Plump mussels, tender monkfish. Duck slightly dry. Small surprising flavors in all the dishes (including curry, coconut, rosemary, saffron). Chocolate cake (complimentary) was fine, I just prefer a softer warm cake to a cooled harder cake. On par with other upper scale/casual NC spots.

I really love the Tennessee Twister wrap and the waffle fries. I love the paper cups for ketchup!…read moreThe ice cream is really delicious! The key lime pie flavor is great - I think it's even better than an actual key lime pie. I've only been visiting Montreat for a few years, so I never experienced the "previous" versions of "The Huck." I love the views and the seating options in the current cafe. The service can be slightly delayed at the lunchtime rush, but they are very good at keeping up with the rush. And our food was always very fresh.

Stopped in for a hot coffee. Enjoyed a hot mocha. The staff is welcoming and very friendly! I asked…read moreabout the beans they use because the coffee was perfect, not a bit of bitterness! I inquired about buying and they told me where in town to go. The coffee is Dynamite and local. The coffee used for my mocha was the "espresso".

Trivia: Shipping to Alaska can be an expensive thing. Short Sleeves talks on their website of…read moreshipping everywhere. But do they ship to Alaska and is shipping free? I'm going to go ahead and answer that: yes and YES. WHICH MEANS, there is a lot to love about Short Sleeves. The pastries are super tasty and worth the wait. The ambiance is comfy and tailored to everyone: workers, chillers, children. And the coffee. Beyond my expectations. They blend flavor, attention to detail, and glam. And they ship to Alaska. - - Lots of natural light. A great place to work, chat with friends. Be prepared for a line. Worth the wait.

We stopped by today for the first time and we got a dark chocolate mocha. We really enjoyed it. It…read morewas very relaxing inside with very friendly baristas. The coffee had a pleasant earthy flavor with a nice texture. We will plan to go again.

A clean and bright coffee and cafe shop next to a super thrift shop…read more I got a hot chocolate and it was reasonably priced and very good. The young lady working was fast and friendly. Most of my group got coffee and loved it so much they went to buy some ! The menu has both breakfast and lunch options . Some outdoor seating and plenty of indoor dining. All of the proceeds go to the nearby children's home. I will return! I will return!

Very good, cozy cafe situated next to Mountain Home Thrift Store, where all the proceeds go to the…read moreBlack Mountain Children's Home. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, fresh sandwiches and baked goods to choose from, and a delicious latte selection. I went with an iced matcha with lavender and a chicken salad sandwich on sourdough (delish!). The couches in the corner were so comfy and the artwork was stunning. Can't wait to return and thrift some more!