Athens, Ohio has several coffee shops for you to enjoy. Although Athens is more recognized for its bar and party scene, its independent coffee houses are amazing. The following are 3 of my favorite independent coffee shops in Athens, Ohio.
Perks, 49 S. Court Street, Athens, Ohio, (740) 594-7375.
Perks is the first coffee house I visited upon moving to Athens to attend Ohio University in 1997. It is located on the corner of Union and Court Streets. Parking is difficult to find in the city, but you can use the city garage located on East Washington Street across from the city. Hall and they walk two blocks down Court Street.
There are small tables and chairs inside, plus a few placed outside the shop. Perks is located right across from Ohio University, so it’s almost always crowded. But the coffee is worth it. Home coffee and teas, plus many specialty drinks. I like that they have many varieties of coffee, including several selections of the ure ureas that I enjoy.
Perks also offers baked goods and frozen custard.
Donkey Coffee and Espresso, 17 W. Washington Street, Athens, Ohio, (740) 594-7353
Donkey Coffee is located on West Washington Street, between Court and Congress, just across from the Courthouse. Parking is hard to find here in the city as well, but there is a parking garage in the next block across Court Street.
As with Perks, there are small tables and chairs both inside and outside. That too sometimes more frequently. Although I don’t find a large selection of regular coffee, you can add many flavors, such as coconut. Many properties have so many drinks, including snacks and drinks that include coffee or tea. I love the flavored frozen coffees offered at Asino Coffee.
There is a decent selection of food available as well, including good pastries, pizza, hummus and organic yogurt.
Donkey Coffee also offers entertainment and you can find many local artists performing here. Check out their website for all that Donkey Coffee has to offer.
Catalyst Cafe, 540-B West Union Street, Athens, Ohio, (740) 249-4203
Catalyst Cafe is a relative newcomer to the Athens area. On the other side of West Union is not the town proper, with a view overlooking the Hocking River, though it is on the opposite side of the road. There is a parking lot that is shared with other businesses, but you will be able to find a space quite comfortably.
The Catalyst Cafe shares space with the Real Athens, but there are a few tables and chairs on the ground level and a lot more on the upper level. From the upper level you can see the waterfall at White River on the Hocking River. There is also a patio out back with two tables and chairs. A variety of coffee and tea drinks are available, as well as shakes and smoothies.
As you can see in the menu, there are various baked goods, and you can either get a quiche, a salad or a soup. It is not as crowded as the two coffee shops above shops, just a little bit from the center of town.
These are not the only coffee shops in Athens, Ohio, but a few that I enjoyed the most.
SOURCES:
1) Personal Use
2) Donkey Coffee and Espresso
3) Catalyst Cafe Menu
