East Bay Coffee House: Downtown Charleston
The first thing you notice when you stroll through the door of the East Bay Coffee House is the goodies lining the front café bar: cream cheese Danishes, shortbreads, buttery croissants, and giant, chocolate muffins. Why anyone would bother with the fruit bowl exiled to the end of the counter is beyond me.
When you manage to stop drooling and focus on the coffee menu, the truly awesome and friendly baristas will make you some of the best lattes and mochas on the peninsula. As a self-proclaimed coffee snob, this is not an exaggeration. I take my vanilla lattes very seriously.
East Bay Coffee House has a European feel, but without the pretense. Even if you’re not a voracious travel reader, at this point you’re probably rolling your eyes at how unoriginal that description is, but in the case of this café, it’s true. Possibly the best adjective to describe it is cozy. But cozy in a classy, inviting way, and not in the rustic Bavarian Inn sense.
Divided into two rooms, the atmosphere from front to back is quite different. The café storefront is floor-to-ceiling glass, so for the people watchers out there, you can sit for hours and watch the foot traffic along East Bay. And it’s well lit so you can actually read the newspaper without straining your eyes. Past the dark wood carriage doors, the bar/lounge area is much more intimate, with olive walls and dim lighting. Recline on the leather sofa or sit at the bar and order from the bar menu, which offers martinis, wine, beer, and a variety of liqueurs and cordials.
So, if you’re looking for a morning jolt of java, a place to meet friends, to rest your legs after a day of sightseeing, or somewhere for late-night desert and a glass of wine, this is the spot. It’s within walking distance of most downtown hotels, historical sights, and some of the best restaurants in the city.
The East Bay Coffee House serves lunch daily and offers a full desert menu. They are open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. & Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.
East Bay Coffee House
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: 843-723-3446
