Should you decide to take a trip out to
Nashville, Tenn.
, you'll find more than country music and vintage heaven. You'll also find amazing coffee.
Barista Parlor
is a great example of how well-intentioned design and professional brewing meld together to create a marketable (and delicious) product and inviting coffee-drinking atmosphere. The environment is hip-yet-classic, laidback-yet-bustling-- it is an environment of contradictions, but nonetheless impressive.
The baristas operate with a variety of brewing methods, ensuring you have the perfect hand-crafted drink. They use Slayer espresso, which is rich and bright in flavor. Some of the coffees they have generally includes a list of those such as: Stumptown, Sightglass, Coava, Counter Culture, Intelligentsia, Verve, etc, with menus dedicated to informing you of the variety of flavors and brewing methods inherent in each. They also have fresh-made baked goods and a wide selection of artisan chocolates (Mast Brothers, Olive + Sinclair, Askinosie, etc) and often have special events, like brunch or breakfast (with amazing biscuits and sandwiches!) The end result is several local and artisan goods that you can't find at most coffee shops, which creates a memorable treat for visitor and local alike.
The design of the building itself is probably my favorite aspect of it. Not only do they have great products, but the artistry and care in selecting the interior (and exterior) designs and furnishings is impressive, to say the least. Even the bathrooms are cool in their own way. The interior boasts several sitting areas, as well as bar seating for those flying solo. And if you're craving the great outdoors, they've got you covered, too: a built-on patio makes for great, comfortable seating to take in the view of the stage/parking lot. It stays pretty busy, admittedly, but most folks seem to be just passing through, so there's usually seating available even on the weekends.
The location is interesting because it is almost entirely hidden from view from the street. It has that hole-in-the-wall appeal that makes it magical. You turn the corner and it is a hip, happening place full of people from all over. It's one of those places that is so memorable and unique that you won't soon forget it. Their whiskey caramel alone is worth the road trip.
xo,
D+T
