while i was in morro bay, we decided to grab lunch at top dog coffee bar. the bright yellow cafe immediately stands out because it is so bright and cheery. i had a great mexican soy iced mocha which was out of this world! we had our own little “top dog” with us so we took a seat outside and enjoyed the beautiful summer day. if i’m ever back in morro bay, top dog is the first place i will go
one of the odd things about going away is coming back to things completely different than how you left. new places open, favorite places close, new buildings are built and the old is torn down. its such a weird concept that life goes on even when i’m on the other side of the world but that’s life! i love re-discovering the place i’ve lived all my life with new awe and wonder. one place that i’m just now discovering is seventh tea at the oc mix mart. it’s owned by the same people who opened portola, which is in my opinion the best coffee in orange county so even before i tried it, i knew this place would be quality. i love the concept of tea on tap and my iced oolong was great! all i can say is i know where i’ll be spending my time this summer
whenever we go into town, we usually end up going to capers at some point for the best iced coffees i have ever tasted. the cafe has other good drinks and good (but overpriced) foods but their iced coffees just can’t be beat. so maybe i did just write a whole post on iced coffees but this is my blog so i can post whatever dorky stuff i want… right? btw how pretty are my friends? love them!
coffee and great conversations with friends are one of the things i cherish most about being home. casey and i met at milk+honey, a great local spot, and chatted and laughed for hours. the best part about this coffee shop (besides my other best friend ellie working there) is how beautiful it gets at dusk. this was my new camera’s first run and i’m so glad i got to capture these moments
while in wellington, i had lots of coffee but none came even close to flight coffee at memphis belle! back in college, i watched this video by these lovely people and thought the coffee shop in it was just darling! fast forward a few months and i found myself in this same coffee shop across the world completely by coincidence. when i first walked in, it seemed familiar but i didn’t know why. after a while, i realized it was the same coffee shop and was so excited! we ended up getting coffee and hanging out here everyday while in wellington. it reminds me so much of my favorite coffee shops like night owl or alta or gypsy den back home which added to the homeyness of this city. overall, if you ever go to wellington, memphis belle coffee is a must!
while we were in hawkes bay, we went to opera kitchen for a quick after-church coffee. while the coffee wasn’t half as good as groove kitchen espresso, it was still a really cute place with a great atmosphere! it is next to the Hawke’s Bay Opera House which is so beautiful and modern. though i loved napier, this area was my favorite part of hastings, napier’s sister city.
