Are you planning to visit La Colombe in Philadelphia for the first time? Here’s some important things to know before visiting La Colombe in Fishtown!
La Colombe in Fishtown
What BrewHaha is to Delawareans is what La Colombe is to most Philadelphians.
If you’re scratching your head at that statement, what I mean is that BrewHaha is the local coffee shop in Delaware where in just about any part of Northern Delaware you visit there’s probably a BrewHaha somewhere within a 20-30 mile radius. The locations are intentionally chosen and each shop is reflective of the location it’s in.
Similarly, there are several La Colombe coffee shops around the city of Philadelphia (and in other states), but each one has a unique flair all while staying true to its original origin and character. As detailed on their website La Colombe is founded on the premise that “America deserves better coffee” and it shows in the amount of care they put into their brews. It’s also a plus that their company is heavily involved in helping to make the world a better place. Their coffee is ethical and incredible, which makes drinking it that much more enjoyable.
Up until recently, I had visited every La Colombe coffee shop except for the headquarters in Fishtown. Perhaps it’s because Fishtown isn’t an area we typically frequent for no reason except that we don’t really know anyone in that area, but I’ve never been although it has been on my own personal local to-do list.
One Saturday when the weather was abnormally nice in Philadelphia, we drove down to Fishtown to visit La Colombe’s main coffee shop and experience what they had to offer. Since this location is very different from its others, we thought we’d share with you some things to keep in mind before you go.
(Related Post – A Slow Saturday at BrewHaha)
THE MENU AND VIBE IS DIFFERENT
The first thing you notice when you go in is that it’s easily the largest La Colombe you’ll find in the city. There’s a similar industrial feel with wooden bars and marble countertops as it has with pretty much of their locations, but you’re immediately drawn to some of the other additions that make this cafe so unique. There’s a pizza oven (yep, they sell pizza here!), a bar where you can get alcoholic drinks and coffee drinks on tap, a private space where you can reserve meetings, and a mini-store where you can purchase La Colombe items.
THERE IS NOT A COFFE MENU ON THE WALL:
There is not really a menu above the counter for you to read while you’re waiting in line to order. Similarly to their other locations, they have smaller menus located nearby where the register is for you to browse their coffee options. There is a menu above that you can view to decide on what food items you’d like, however. Being that this location has so many options, it would be a good idea to review their menu before you go so you know what you want as you’re waiting. This isn’t a must, but it does keep the line moving since there’s quite a significant amount of choices for you to choose from.
They update their menu from time to time, so I would recommend subscribing to their blog to stay up to date on what’s new on the menu for that season.
IT GETS CROWDED PRETTY QUICKLY ON WEEKENDS:
Whether you’re visiting on a Saturday or a Sunday, our recommendation is to get there early. Sometimes if you arrive as late as 10 am the cafe is already full of people. The first time we went it was around 11 o’clock so there were already a number of people settled int their seats. Despite the size of the place, it’s definitely a popular hot spot which means seats can be limited very quickly. If you’re planning to dine in, it’s best to get there a little bit earlier, so you can grab a table for you and your guests.
(Related Post – Our Favorite Coffee Shops in Philly)
TRY THEIR OAT MILK LATTE:
One of the drinks that La Colombe has been very popular for lately is their oat milk latte. As one of the few coffee shops in the area that have oat milk as a dairy alternative for your drinks, it is in my opinion, the best I have had so far. It’s literally so good that I have had it twice in one weekend before. The drink is creamy, a little sweet, and has a unique flavor. I had not had oat milk prior to visiting some of La Colombe’s other locations but now I am hooked on it. If I had to recommend one drink that you had to get before leaving, I’d definitely recommend the Oat Milk Latte. Their draft lattes are close second because they are incredible as well, but I think most people have had them by now since you can purchase them from stores. The Oat Milk Latte, however, is one that I have not seen on shelves yet.
Ultimately, La Colombe is by far one of the best places to grab a coffee in the city. That’s saying a lot considering that Philadelphia has a ton of local and chain coffee shops to choose from. If you are looking for a place to grab unique tasting, ethical coffee, La Colombe is certainly your place. If you happen to visit and try the oat milk latte, let us know what you thought!
La Colombe in Fishtown
Have you ever been to La Colombe’s location in Fishtown? What were your thoughts and what tips would you provide?
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