Neighborhood Series – Cafes [SUMMER IN THE BURGH] [Bloomfield/Lawrenceville edition]

Hello my cafe-loving friends! It’s been awhile, but I’m back…and with a bubbling list of cafes in a neighborhood I’ve yet to explore in my posts – Bloomfield/Lawrenceville!

Ineffable Ca Phe, 3920 Penn Ave

I’d say this cafe is like a hidden delta in a sea of the Lawrenceville neighborhood with a Vietnamese twist to it. A motorcycle shop-turned cafe, you’re guaranteed to experience some ‘traffic’ as soon as you enter the cafe…

A huge green light to welcome customers to little Vietnam in Pittsburgh. You’ll never have to worry about waiting on a red light xD

Once you’re in, there are a slew of drink and food options to choose, ranging from your regular coffee drinks to bubble teas and other small pastries. But coming to the Ineffable Ca Phe, you have to try their Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches and cafe sua, Vietnamese iced coffees. There’s even several flavors of the banh mi to choose from, to satisfy the meat-lover and vegetarian.

Banh mi with tofu paired with a custom brewed iced coffee…#idealweekend #treatyoself

Gluten Free Goat Bakery, 4905 Penn Ave

This next stop brings you to another small bakery cafe sandwiched in a historic but up-and-coming neighborhood. While it’s on the slight pricey spectrum of cafes, it’s certainly a healthier option for those craving sweets whose more health-conscious and/or gluten-phobic. There’s pastries ranging from cupcakes to the familiar apple-cider donuts that Tazza D’Oro also sells at our very own Gates cafe. So I don’t recommend getting the apple cider donut, try something new that you can’t get back at CMU.

Bantha Tea Bar, 5002 Penn Ave

After a journey through Pastry Lane at the Gluten Free Goat Bakery, come de-stress (and energize yourself) at the Bantha Tea bar just around the corner. It’s a bar for the non-alcoholics and heaven for the tea-lovers. I’m proud to have found it and to add it to my list of ‘tea’ places that before this consisted of just Dobra Tea. While you’re in, you’ll experience a sub-Saharan (or Sonoran if you’re not feeling African desert) adobe cave-like feel. From the classic English breakfasts and Asian Oolong teas to the medicinal or soothing Kava teas, there’s pretty much something for everyone. Additionally, they’re playing the World Cup on TV as well, so for the sport fans out there, stop by and enjoy some tea and World Cup. And if you’re feeling courageous, try something out of your comfort zone. You’ll never know whether you’ll like it (or not) if you didn’t try.

Caffe D’Amore Coffeeshop, 5400 Butler St

And finally, last but certainly not least, further up along the Allegheny is the Caffe D’Amore. Situated just slightly north of the Arsenal along Butler St, just another reason to take those extra steps to the Stanton Heights neighborhood. I recommend getting their shrub soda in which they make it mixing fruit (or vegetables, depending on the flavor), apple vinegar, and seltzer/sparking water to create an organic taste of soda (or pop for those who prefer to call it that). And while you’re there, check out the used bookstore right next door and waft the smell of books and wisdom. Paperback sci-fi books are just $1 right now!

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Eric Huang | Undergraduate Economics 2019

Eric is a recent alumni and graduated with a B.S. in Economics (concentration in Strategy and Markets) and a double major in Chinese Studies and minor in Business Administration. He studied abroad for two summers in Shanghai and London and was involved on campus as a Resident Assistant, Emerging Leaders, and cmuTV. He enjoys cafe-hopping and am glad to be in Pittsburgh full time at PNC as a Model Risk Associate.

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