Whether you attend Kent State University, live nearby or just want to explore someplace new, Downtown Kent is a great place to spend the day. With tasty restaurants, shops and boutiques, cafes and more, Downtown Kent is sure to have something for everyone. I’ve made a short list of a few of my favorite places that I recommend everyone coming to Kent should visit. Hopefully, you discover something new that you will love as I did!
- Peace, Love & Little Donuts
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These are arguably the best donuts in town! Mini and piled high with the yummiest toppings, these donuts are the perfect remedy for your sweet tooth. They have a variety of crazy flavors and combinations to choose from, and in my opinion, you can’t really go wrong with any of them (especially the coconut donut, my favorite)!
- Tree City Coffee & Pastry
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After getting your donut fix, make your way right across the street to this big and bright coffee shop. I’ve enjoyed every drink I’ve gotten here, especially the Apple Chai Tea I got during my last trip (which literally tasted like fall in a cup). It’s also a laidback place to sit and get your work done if you love a cafe environment. They serve pastries, bagels and even peanut butter sandwiches, and I will definitely be trying those sandwiches during my next stop there.
- Bent Tree Coffee
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Bent Tree is another coffee shop I have tried in Kent that I really liked. I was greeted with a warm and cozy vibe, especially because it’s a smaller cafe. I got a hot Apple Pie latte (it’s clear that I’m a fan of the fall flavors), and it was delicious. I also enjoyed sitting in there to read and catch up on some homework. I left Bent Tree happy, with a cute little sticker for my laptop and this Instagram-worthy picture I took.
- Dan Smith Community Park
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Now that you’ve filled up on coffee and donuts, the Dan Smith Community Park across the street is the perfect place to sit on a sunny day. There are swing seats to lounge on, outdoor tables and chairs, a playground and corn hole boards. Also, live musicians and entertainers like to perform here, so make sure you keep an eye and an ear out for them! Grab some friends and family after exploring downtown and bask in the sun in this charming little spot.
- Handcrafted
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Handcrafted is a boutique that features art, decorations, jewelry, gifts and more that are all handmade by Ohio artists. If you love unique items and want to support small businesses, you will love this place! I recently bought a Banana Bread scented candle here, and I absolutely adore it because it smells so good and brings me back to the best memories with my family.
- Twisted Meltz
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Twisted Meltz can be found right through Downtown Kent’s Acorn Alley. It’s a restaurant serving up some awesome combinations of grilled cheeses, salads and soups, and you can even order a giant pretzel appetizer that can feed your whole team. When I eat here, I like to build my own melt, but there are tons of crazy melts on the menu named after famous KSU alumni to dig into. After your dinner, they also serve a variety of ice-cream flavors, milkshakes and sundaes, and let’s be real: ice cream makes ANYTHING better.
- Red Letter Days
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I stumbled upon this stationery and gifts store while walking around downtown one day, and I instantly fell in love with it. It’s filled to the brim with pretty notebooks, witty cards and one-of-a-kind knick-knacks that would make the perfect gifts for anyone you know. If you’re a writer, reader, artist or anyone who can appreciate creativity and a good aesthetic, this place is for you.
Now before anyone from Kent comes after me, I know there are lots of restaurants and places that didn’t make this list. There are so many good ones that it was hard to choose, so I typed up just a few of my favorites from Downtown Kent! I’d love to hear what you think of the places I included, and I hope you get to check them all out soon!