It’s so easy to become overwhelmed
in Philadelphia, from the historic must-sees to the shopping that lies on each
street corner. What I was searching for in Philly was coffee. As my friend
Mariah and I ventured out to Philly for the day, we knew we wanted to spend
most of the day in Philly’s Old City. Once we reached the point where our faces
were melted off, lying in a puddle next to some tourist’s feet, we set out to
find Old City Coffee. Old City is one of my favorite parts of the city because
of the quaint feel, brick buildings and quiet side streets. It is on one of
those quiet side streets, Church Street, where you can find the Old City Coffee.
This is a must stop while in Philly, and as I walked up to its front door I
could already see why. With two chairs separated by a small table outside of
the door, elevated on a small block of cement, your perfect outdoor seating was
there for the claiming.
As I opened up the heavy front door,
I realized the quaint feel of Church Street was not just for the viewing but
for the experience. There were a few people ahead of us which was comforting
since Mariah and I were standing in awe of the menu. They had espresso in all
its forms, enough teas to make the devoted tea lover stop dead in their tracks
and a collection of lattes to make everyone happy. Once we had acquired our
drinks, and after I had awkwardly walked around the tiny front room taking
pictures, we headed to the back room. It was a much bigger space than the front
and the large windows in the front let us adore the outside weather without
dealing with the heat. Whether it was the employee who stopped by on his day
off or the stream of regulars who caught up with the girls behind the counter,
I was able to tell that this was the café to be at. It wasn’t too crowded nor
too quiet and it wasn’t too touristy which was quite the pleasure. (Being a
tourist myself, I tried my best to act like a local throughout my coffee’s
lifespan, but my awe and adoration was probably visible in my wandering eyes).
As we said goodbye to the dapper
middle aged man reading the paper, the two women on their business meeting, and
the line of coffee grounds enticing costumers into their caffeinated arms, we
left feeling recharged and ready to explore the streets of Philly. If you ever
find yourself in Philadelphia I would advise you to make sure to stop by Old
City Coffee for a drink or a quiet rest
from the city of Brotherly Love.
