Blue Bottle Coffee Co.
(1) 510 – 653-3394
315 Linden Street
San Francisco, California 94102

66 Mint St. (corner of Jessie)
San Francisco, CA, 94103

1552 Beach St. #R
Oakland, CA 94608

1 Ferry Building, Market Shop #
San Francisco, California 94111

www.bluebottlecoffee.net

Open Hours:
7:00 am – 7:00 pm  Monday – Friday
8:00 am – 6:00 pm  Saturday
8:00 am – 4:00 pm  Sunday

This San Francisco Institution is named after Central Europe’s first coffee house “The Blue Bottle” in Vienna.  It helped pioneer the new coffee era of small-batch artisan Microroasting.  Serving espresso drinks, drip coffee, French Press along side a nice array of cakes, and biscotti, Blue bottle deserves its reputation.  While it has opened many locations, Blue Bottle seems to be staying true to its roots- serving organic Dairy and remaking coffees; we saw the barista remaking a couple of lattes that had gotten cold as the customer had wandered away and left them on the counter too long.

We visited the Blue Bottle in the excellent Ferry Terminal- home to many excellent local, artisanal restaurants and shops.  Aside from their fare, they also offer a very attractive array of coffee accouterments from french presses and packaged foods to espresso makers.

Caffe Cortado

Arborio Rice Cake, with St George Spirits Sauvignon Blanc Brandy

(above photo © Niall Kennedy)

Caffe Shakerato

Caffe Luxxe
Coffee shop
(1) 310 – 394. 2222
2925 Montana Avenue
Santa Monica, California 90403

www.caffeluxxe.com

Open Hours:
6:00 am –  8:00 pm   Monday   – Friday
6:30 am –  8:00 pm   Saturday – Sunday

Caffe Luxxe was by far the best coffeehouse we visited whilst in LA.  Their glittering Italian coffee machine creates wonderful cups of cafe bliss under the hands of their knowledgeable baristas.  Los Angeles, as compared to NY or SF, seems a bit behind the café curve.  A theory could be do to the lack of pedestrian neighborhoods where these types of specialty shops thrive, rather then the palate of the citizenry.  One of the few neighborhood type places is Santa Monica- and that is where we found Caffe Luxxe.  (There is a second location in Brentwood which we did not visit).

Tall ceilings top white walls which are covered with beautiful, framed coffee photography by Tom Benedek.  A few tables with silver chairs seat about 20.  The main L shaped counter is home to a display of pastries, chocolate bars and croissants.

The cappuccino was quite smooth, while the Caffe Shakerato (hand shaken espresso with milk and ice) was extremely yummy on a hot day!  The Caffe Nico (espresso, candied orange and steamed half&half) was quite strong and made a great dip for the light, airy macaroon.    I sampled an excellent drip coffee as well to complete the test trifecta.

The Caffe Nico

Caffe Shakerato

Cappuccino

Cappuccino

Macaroons

Café Central
43 (1) 512 5765
Grünangergasse 1
1010 Wien – Austria

www.diglas.at.
MAP

Open Hours:
7:00am–midnight

A few steps behind St. Stephens Cathedral (Stephansdom) you will find the Café Central.  Quite cute and full of so many of Vienna’s tasty pastries it is difficult to choose.

Another of the many fine examples of the Viennese coffehouse the Café Central is a great place to escape the throngs.

(above right photo © Andrea Diglas)

(above left photo © juergenmai.com)
(above right photo © juergenmai.com)

(photo © Művész Kávéház)

Művész Kávéház
Reataurant – Cafe – Bar
(36)  1 – 352 1337
(36)  1 – 343 3544
1061 Budapest  District 6,
Andrássy út 29.
Budapest, Hungary

www.muveszkavehaz.hu
MAP

Open Hours:
Everyday

Only a block away from the Opera (the opposite direction from the Callas)  the Művész Kávéház  smolders in  the atmosphere of an authentic eastern European coffee house- which it has been from 1899.   The ambiance is complete with its tall-smoky ceilings, dim golden light and crystal chandeliers.  Upon entry you will find, in the first room, a small bar with a nice selection of aperitifs.   Passing to the second room , you encounter a desert display with a diverse selection of delicious treats.

(Strudel photo ©  Jennifer Hodgson)

Stopping in the lovely Művész Kávéház coffee house before or after the Opera is a wonderful plan.  The desserts are amazing and during the warmer months, the outdoor seating is quite pleasant.

Getting there is very easy as it is quite close to the M1 Opera metro stop, or via the Trolley-bus.

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