So if you are in the Louisville area with a few minutes to spare, might I recommend popping into Quills Coffeehouse. There are three locations. I chose the firehouse on Main St. It's quaint yet hip and lively on the inside. The roastery is out back so if you are inclined you can be a child, press your nose to the glass and watch them work. Between the firehouse and the roastery is an inner courtyard that is dog and kid-friendly. It's beautifully landscaped and just the right size. There are benches and picnic tables and best, it is all fenced in.
The menu is creative, fresh and the lattes are perfectly balanced, not too sweet and not too bitter. You can have it to go or in an actual cup with a saucer to sit and enjoy.
The interior is decorated with a limited amount of art allowing the building to hold onto its firehouse feel. The floors are painted concrete and the color scheme is a minimalized grey and white with black interlaced. It is industrial yet inviting, not cold like you would expect from such a color scheme. The other surprising element is that it feels cozy with the way the tables are situated even though it has high ceilings and an open floor plan. Nothing is hidden. The area behind the counter is fully exposed with the only area tucked away being the grill.
The neighborhood appears to be in a boom, transitioning from old, worn buildings to new businesses with the buildings going through refurbishment instead of destruction. It is the type of gentrification that I can truly appreciate. I love old architecture and firmly believe in giving new life to those spaces that have stood the test of time.
So on to the business. It feels like a place straight out of Seattle. They sell small bags of their different varieties of coffee along with an eclectic collection of merchandise to include various coffee devices. My favorite (yet out of stock at the time of this writing) is the small travel mug. It is truly the perfect size for when you are on the road. The staff is friendly, upbeat and all smiles, even on a rainy Kentucky morning.
They have a food menu that, thankfully had some healthy options. For me, it was a veggie breakfast burrito with a side of house-made salsa. It was just what I needed after a few days on the bourbon trail. It was fresh, full of real vegetables (not frozen) and had artichoke hearts in it which were a welcome surprise. The artichoke hearts paired well with the salsa, which is not something I would have ever thought to do but now I will. And it brought a new depth to the salted bourbon caramel latte. Surprised the hell out of me because usually things like that just don't go together.
Anyway, If you are in the area and looking for a good place to sit, sip and connect; this is the place. I will do one PSA, they have a sip and sit policy so you do have to make a purchase to hang out.
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