In Twin Peaks—David Lynch’s 1990s TV show that was both the first prestige series and a primetime soap—central character FBI Agent Detective Dale Cooper is almost always filling time between cups of coffee. Fandom lore (and an “autobiography” of the fictional character that was published in 1991) says Cooper first sipped the hot stuff when he was a nine-year-old hitchhiking home from a Boy Scout Jamboree. Maybe you developed a taste for coffee later in life, but in the midst of fourth-wave coffee culture, there’s never been a better time to be a bean obsessive, always on the hunt for an elusive cup that could live up to Cooper’s review of being “damn fine.”
When it comes to your home perk setup, you’ve probably got your own system—heck, you most likely have a ranking of the best cafes in your neighbourhood or the city at large. But when it’s time to hit the road this summer, where will your next cup of coffee come from? We gotchu with this list of some of the top espresso-pullers around the province, all of which also offer local and handcrafted treats to nix any caffeine jitters in their tracks. Each location's address and hours are below, alongside how far a drive it is from the Halifax Common (a central point of reference) for your planning needs. But back to the treats: Cooper himself almost always had a slice of cherry pie alongside his cup of coffee, which he ordered “black as midnight on a moonless night”. We won’t tell if you ask for some oat milk in yours, though.
Famous Town Pie Shop
From the top, Famous Town Pie Shop had a lot to live up to—even aside from the manifesting at play in its name: If you’ve thought the butter-yellow homestead this cafe-bakery resides in looks familiar, that’s because it was the home of lauded resto-cafe The Biscuit Eater until last December. Luckily, it isn’t just the paint that’s buttery, but the crusts of Famous Town’s titular pies, too—featuring a mix of adventurous and traditional offerings (think apple-rhubarb with double crust or cheeseburger hand pies), it’s a sweet (and sometimes savoury) way to usher in a new era for the historic property, tucked in the heart of Mahone Bay. If the spot’s Insta presence or supply of Roastery 46 espresso hasn’t got you packing the car, maybe the bakery’s buttercream-slathered cakes will: They look straight out of a scene of Sofia Coppola's Marie Antionette.
16 Orchard Street, Mahone Bay (one hour drive from Halifax Common)
LaHave Bakery
Chances are you already know this South Shore staple, since many HRM grocery chains stock its loaves. Consider this three-hour round-trip micro-roadie, then, the proverbial trail of breadcrumbs that leads to the mother loaf: Fresher-than-fresh buns, boules and bagels await inside the bakery, which also doubles as an adorable, old-timey general store with coffee to go. Pick up a plethora of provisions, and scarf ‘em down while watching the nearby LaHave ferry make its crossing.
NS-331, LaHave (one and a half hour drive from Halifax Common)
Ploughman’s Lunch
While the working definition of a ploughman’s lunch is “a cold meal based around bread, cheese and fresh or pickled onion” (bonus points if there’s an apple or some chutney in the mix), The Ploughman’s Lunch is an altogether more robust offering: French pastries and confectionery, espresso, sandwiches and a seasonal soft-serve bar. If you’re taking the 331 to Rissers or Crescent Beach, you’ll be driving right by, so there’s no excuse to miss this one.
4645 NS-331, West Dublin (one and a half hours from Halifax Common)
The Barn Coffee & Social House: Bridgewater
The second location of this South Shore caffeine centre (its sibling location, which is also worth a stop, is in Mahone Bay) means that, at long last, Bridgewater’s Tim Hortons has some worthy competitors (the other being nearby Fancy Pants Cafe). The baked goods game is as strong as the espresso here, while the inviting interior turns Joanna Gains’ signature style on its head. Bonus: The Guy's Frenchy’s Bridgewater location is a mere seven minutes away.
446 York Street, Bridgewater (one hour and 12 minutes from Halifax Common)
Main & Mersey Home Store & Coffee Bar
Tucked behind its tastefully curated decor shop that’ll put your best Pintrest board to shame is Main & Mersey’s Coffee Bar, a small, sun-soaked room that’s never short on shots of espresso that hit the perfect midpoint between bold and smooth. Aside from the extensive bevy options, there’s also a solid selection of in-house baked pastries at this downtown Liverpool hub. Pro tip? Order the Cinnamon Twist Croissant, a best-of-both-worlds meld of cinnamon roll and laminated dough.
216 Main Street, Liverpool (one hour and a half from Halifax Common)
Rose Bay General Store & Bistro
Wedged between Sand Dollar Beach and Conrad Island, Rose Bay General Store is full of perfect picnic fodder, thanks to its local produce and in-house baked treats. If you’re more of an indoor eater, though, the adjoining Bistro has you covered with a mean latte or a plateful of something yummy.
3452 NS-332, Rose Bay (one hour and 22 minutes from Halifax Common)
The Periwinkle Cafe
The on-site breakfast, lunch and coffee spot for Cape Breton destination hotel The Salty Rose, The Periwinkle Cafe is a can’t-miss pitstop on your next Cabot Trail trek. A tight menu of perfectly executed sandwiches and baked goods contrasts with the airish dining space that updates the seaside aesthetic for the social media age. If you can’t help but linger over a second coffee (and trust, that’ll happen), take it out for a stroll in the on-site gardens.
36056 Cabot Trail, Ingonish, Cape Breton (almost five hours from Halifax Common)
Gerrish & Grey
You were gonna stop part way on your drive to the Annapolis Valley, anyway—so why not at one of the Windsor area’s chicest coffee houses? Of course, java isn’t all that’s on offer here: A weekend brunch menu and daily lunch menu offer lots to love, but the pro move is saving room for any and everything that in-house pastry chef Stephanie MacNeil is pulling from the oven that day. 134 Gerrish Street, Windsor (46 minutes from Halifax Common)
