This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Temple chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.
Hey, caffeine connoisseur! Are you tired of the same-old Saxby’s and Starbucks on campus?
These five coffee shops are located around Philly (and one on campus!), perfect for when you
and your girls spend a Saturday exploring, you have a low-key afternoon that warrants a trip into
town, or your parents visit for a weekend of shopping with real money instead of Diamond
Dollars.
1. La Colombe
Take the subway to City Hall and one of La Colombe’s most popular shops is located right
when you walk up the stairs to Dilworth Park. They specialize in, you guessed it, Colombian
brews. Take my advice and order a cappuccino with skim; you will not regret it. A (likely)
braless barista will serve it up in the quirkiest, cutest dishware at the perfect temperature for
immediate sipping. Grab a table in their cozy seating area and enjoy; the coffee is dark and
strong, with a deep nutty flavor. If you get there early enough, they might still have their
decadent baked goods made fresh daily at their Fishtown location. The vibe in La Colombe is
perfect for studying or relaxing. Only downside? Their latte art could use some work—why
would I post an imperfect latte leaf on Instagram (joking)?
2. Elixr
Hidden in the heart of the shopping district along Walnut and Sydenham streets is Elixr
Coffee. Walk in and you’ll fall in love with the atmosphere; the warm vibe will make you
feel instantly at-home. With plenty of comfortable seating and tons of power strips for all of
your tech gadgets – Elixr is the perfect spot for catching up with friends, cramming for finals,
having a romantic date or meeting with coworkers. Local artists’ work lines the exposed
brick walls, and mouth-watering bakery items fill the display case. Kind, gorgeous, hipster-
type baristas will eagerly explain anything on the menu. Elixr specializes in small-batch,
locally sourced coffee with a lightly roasted flavor. Not feeling coffee? They also serve
steaming apple cider, big mugs of homemade hot cocoa and fresh teas.
3. Cloud Coffee
In a perfect world, you would be able to jet to downtown Philly every morning for a (pricey)
cup of joe and a pastry, but sometimes you need cheap and convenient. Enter, Cloud Coffee.
Located on Norris Street, outside of Tyler School of Art, sits the magical little food truck.
Cloud is all about cheap and convenient, while still being magnificently delicious. They brew
ReAnimator’s coffee, which is a local coffee shop by Kensington. The coffee has a heavy
body and a mellow flavor. I prefer it black, but coffee is a personal taste, so sweeten it up if
you’d like! While you’re waiting for your drink, glance at the pastry display. Take a word of
advice and forget your diet for one morning, because their buttery, flaky almond croissants
cannot be ignored. So, head to Cloud ASAP; in under three minutes, you’ll have a perfect on-
the-go treat to brighten up an otherwise gloomy day of classes.
4. Mugshots Coffeehouse
Nestled on the corner of Fairmount Avenue lies Mugshots Coffeehouse. While the name is a
bit off-putting, Mugshots has the coziest, warmest, and friendliest environment of all five
coffee shops. They have a full (and mouth-watering) menu, including homemade soups,
warm flatbreads, salads, and breakfast galore! They cater to any nutritional needs and have a
wide variety of drinks. Their smoothies are delicious; I had one right after a tough workout
and it completely replenished my energy without all the added sugar, dairy, or preservatives.
Mugshots brews fair trade organic coffee, fair trade loose leaf tea, and specialty drinks, such
as Coconut Vanilla Lattes and Aztec Hot Cocoa (hot cocoa with a spicy kick). So what are
you doing just drooling on your keyboard? Get over to Mugshots—it’s only a five-minute
drive from campus. My order: Mango Momma smoothie (strawberry, banana, mango and
soymilk) and hot chocolate with extra whip for a friend.
5. Chhaya Café
Located on Passyunk Avenue is the cutest little coffee shop, Chhaya Café. A bit different
from some of the other cafes, Chhaya has brunch and a full café menu. Their pricing is very
reasonable. In addition to just being a coffee shop, Chhaya sells local art, holds presentations
and poetry nights and invites local musicians to perform. Their delicious coffee can be
brewed overhead, French pressed, or siphoned. They also have various seasonal specialties
like pumpkin spice lattes, peppermint mochas, and chai lattes. I tried their hot
chocolate—they don’t mess around. It was the perfect ratio of chocolate to milk, and it even
tasted a bit like hazelnut. Chhaya gets an A+ rating, so definitely make it an option for your
next Sunday brunch; you won’t regret it!