La Colombe Coffee Workshop — Restaurant in Lower Merion Township

I love La Colombe, but it isn't for everybody. It's perfect as a place to meet and talk with someone, but not great for studying. They also don't have wifi.

In a nutshell, La Colombe is that college kid who went abroad and now only talks about how it changed their life. An odd, conflicting existence that sits squarely between being woke and completely superficial.

I recommend it as a place for good coffee, pastries, and conversation. I do not recommend it as a study space or for meeting more than one person, or if you're annoyed by turmeric tea and oat latte athleisure culture.

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Their pastries are unmatched and the coffee is great, but good luck finding table space if you have anything more than a book. I have trouble fitting a drink and snack each for me and a friend (2 cups, 2 small plates) at any of their tables. If you want to spread out with a laptop and notebook, you won't have room.

If you like the "lively" coffee shop vibe (aka loud), then this is a great place. It's the modern industrial design with little to no sound dampening, so it can become overwhelming or difficult to study in when busy. If you're here for conversation, it's perfect - not so loud that you can't hear each other - but not so great for concentration.

They specialize in good craft coffee, but they certainly have more sugary drinks too. Not the Starbuck's syrups, but any of their canned draft lattes are sweet enough to send a toddler to the moon - even the unflavored ones. I'm not a fan of their weird teas or health drinks (I'm not gonna drink a shot of ginger and turmeric, and I don't need sage in my green tea), but they have all that overpriced Los Angeles health kick fad stuff if...

La Colombe has been a consistent stop for me for close to a decade (even over the pandemic when they only offered take out). The coffee and espresso is excellent, there’s a good selection of teas, and the baked goods, while pricey, are quality.

There has never been WiFi at La Colombe nor have they ever advertised it (at any location, to my knowledge). People who do work at this cafe, like myself, get creative if they need WiFi - they either piggy-back off of another nearby business or use a mobile hotspot. For most of us, it’s honestly never been a problem, so reading all the negative reviews that are WiFi related are a little annoying.

The 4/5 star review is related to a few recent experiences that have made it less pleasant to sit or work in the space. This location recently underwent some repairs and got a giant ceiling fan installed to help circulate air. While it’s normally fine, there have been a few times where it’s been turned up unnecessarily high, to the point where it’s unpleasant to sit under it and napkins are blowing off of tables. There have also been moments where a staff member is playing music in the kitchen at such a volume that it is audible underneath the music that is playing in the cafe/dining space. Not only has this been incredibly annoying, but for my friend with an auditory processing disability, it has also been very distressing. Posting here as part of the review in the hopes that it can...

La Colombe is one of the original coffee roasters in the Philadelphia area. It is not a mass produced coffee like Starbucks but more of a fresh local brew. I would not say it’s better than the aforementioned competitor’s, but a different impact on the coffee palate. I say this with great respect and admiration. Being in the heart of the Main Line, some of the customers seem a bit on the haughty taughty side, however, the staff is your typical young generation X barista who are down to earth and seem to be in another dimension, somewhere between Star Trek, the Outer Limits, and The Twilight Zone. They are vegan, listen to XPN, and don’t own a car but Uber it here and there. I love and admire these kids who are so independent and mindful and seem to have their priorities in a good place. I say all this because a coffee shop is not just about the coffee and brioche. It is more of a happening and a daily experience that should enhance your day by a momentary escape from the reality of our mixed up unnatural world and dangerously divided country.

La Colombe is that place of enchanting escape and therefore I hope you consider a visit to please your palate and...