Swank Coffee Shoppe — Restaurant in Southern Pines

So you know how you can look at an eclair and from the outside it doesn’t look all that interesting? No real hint of of the amazing creamy filling inside? Well that’s a little bit like what Swank is like. There are so many flyers and signs in the windows that even with your nose pressed up against the windows you can’t really tell what a sweet, amazing, fun place it really is.

We walked past Swank a few times in past couple of days and had no idea what we were missing until a local took us by the hand and guided us in. And thankful we were! Not only sweet eclair filling, but trans-generational sweet filling. My 95 year old Aunt loved it, the younger set were at home, my crazy old self was charmed as hell and we all had the wildly different, perfectly prepared drinks. Our small group who had a lot of catching up to do felt welcomed and not hurried and the seats were eclectic and comfortable and we had a ball.

I loved how the old dressing rooms have been transformed into private booths/workrooms, an idea that borders on genius. Swanks is full of gift items that fall on the side of clever and funny instead of cutesy or trite and the art is charming and intelligent instead of being mundane and hallmark. In short, the place is a treasure and if I lived here in your fair town I’d be a regular here.

Swanks shows imagination and creativity. It has all those elements that mix together to make a keystone of a community, an essential part of where history and change come together. As a visitor it’s a wonderful feeling to wander into a place like this, to feel this sweet creamy éclair filling, this living changing part of a town.

We’re going to be back on a plane soon and we’ll be packing a goodly amount of great memories with us. There have been wonderful family reminiscences, incredible food, beautiful drives through horse country, and Swanks is going right in there with the rest. A great little treasure in a wonderful...

First of all, this is a unique coffee /snack shop Casual seating, not huge so it gives visitors a place to chill. A small table outside. The servers are great with pleasantries and of course good quality beverages Love the lattes, with your selection of syrups and spices. Chai tea, spicy or regular are great. A small section in a mini fridge of sandwiches

A splinter of handmade goods, pictures, cards, different jewelry. That would suffice in a gift most likely, as they can be pricey. Overall I cant say enough, what's not to like, handmade beverages and not the long line you might have experienced at Starbucks or DD. It's no brainer...

i used to love this place because the coffee was good and employees were cool, plus it’s a neat atmosphere, but lately they’ve been majorly lacking. i’ve gotten a latte that was full of espresso grounds, i once ordered a brevé and got just a regular latte instead, and my last time going there i could’ve sworn they put an extra shot in my drink that i did not ask for! not only is that careless but it’s also DANGEROUS. luckily, I don’t have heart problems, a mistake like that could kill someone. anyone working in coffee knows that. my friend said the same thing happened to her so now we both don’t go anymore. i think the employees are...