Kim's Bake Shop — Restaurant in Hillsborough

Met a friend for coffee and a treat Friday, May 30th. Charming and legit are the adjectives the first come to mind- it was charming to receive my cup of their standard coffee in a French press with a wooden/glass timer that was perfectly brewed at my table when the last grain of sand fell into the bottom of the glass timer-also charm galore in the nostalgia of the Historic James Pharmacy decor and presence in the sticky original glass and wooden double doors as you enter. Legit in the fresh doughnuts of the day selections along with all the confections sweet and savory you could dream up for a coffee date w a friend! My friend and I chose well: brown sugar pop tart, cranberry orange scone, and the savory egg and ham galette- Unexpectedly the big surprise for me was the VIDL wine selection that Kim herself took the time to tell me about. I selected the red that promised the best “funk” that natural wine lovers know and love. It lived up to its promise. Thank you Kim for your craft and love and sharing it generously with the folk in and around...

A required staple in every small town’s downtown. A quaint, reliable, well crafted coffee shop. I was in Hillsborough for work and needed to hop on the WiFi to take care of some calls and emails. Walking in, it feels like it should with the smells of the bakery and espresso - the new pieces matching the old architecture. A young lady with a local college sweatshirt on behind the counter kindly waits for you to order anything from a french-press to the scratch made tarts. Not to mention that it’s conjoined with a bottle shop and meat market. I was able to eat a little bite and have some incredible coffee, then turn around and grab some donuts for the next morning, a craft beer 4-pack, and a couple packages of farm raised beef for the weekend on my way out. Honestly, it is not far off of 85 and well worth the stop even if you had no business being in Hillsborough. Thank you Kim’s for setting the standard and even raising the bar when it comes to local coffee shops. Every...

Artisan bakery and coffee/tea house with lovely employees and a lovely vibe. Pastry’s are a level up from many triangle bakers; They are made with quality ingredients and the pastry skills are there. Kim’s can by no means compete with the Owl bakerys, Hole Donuts or Bolted Breads of North Carolina. Flavors are punchy and interesting but not quite in balance. I’m glad Kim’s isn’t afraid of a little bit of sourness, tartness or bitterness in their baked goods. But the harmony of Ingredients isn’t perfect. With a little tweeting Kim’s could get there. Tea cakes are extremely moist. Danishes are flaky. And finally someone in this area is serving a cardamom bun! I’m seeing a lot of potential. With a few more years of practice and experimentation Kim’s may start producing baked goods that people go out their way for. In the meantime, if you’re in the area stop in for a delicious treat and great...