Something that I truly enjoy is discovering different cafe/coffee shops not only in my city, but when I travel as well. You would think it would be about the main attraction, which is the coffee or even the pastries. Quite the contrary, that's not even what drives me there. It's truly the calm feeling I feel the minute I open the door, being greeted with soft music, the quiet but busy ambience, and the smell of the roasted coffee beans. My energy immediately shifts and I am excited to take in more than just a great beverage, but also the decor, artwork, and learning additional information about the origin of the cafe. When I decided to visit Ariston Coffee Bar, I already had a busy day planned catching up with friends and family in the city as well as New Jersey, and because I am not there often ( and did not want to pay additional tolls 😂) I thought it would be a great idea to add this location as my first stop! I love to map out and plan my day, and because of that I knew I had to wake up at 5:00 am! Yes!! 5:00 am!! Do you see what I am willing to do for a beautiful cafe?! As you continue to read, you will see why it was all worth it.
I had a goal to be there at 8:00 am, as this is time they open on the weekends. I knew I had my first set of plans with my cousin at 10:30 am, and was aware that if I wanted to make it, being there early would be best. Maybe it was due to the excitement, but my body didn't even need the alarm clock. I woke up naturally at 4:45 am and was ready to go! I already knew what I wanted to wear the night before, which saves time in the morning! Being fly takes time! I packed my book, lip gloss, and wore a YSL Libre dupe (Free from Primark) mixed with an Arabic fragrance called Ajwad (beautiful perfume combo!) Selecting my fragrance is also a big part of getting ready, you would be surprised of the process I take to select what I wear! As I get in the car, smelling amazing, I notice light rain, which I didn't mind at all. I accompanied the raindrops with smooth Neo Soul, and had a calm car ride there. As soon as I arrived, I found parking right across the street! As a New Yorker, finding parking breeds the same excitement as winning the lottery ( so serious 😂.) And guess what?! I made it there at 7:57am, perfect timing!
I walked in and instantly felt like I was transported to the most beautiful floral utopia. I was in awe, mouth open, taking in all of the beautiful plants, flowers, and arrangements. I was greeted by one of the owners, who was so kind and courteous. He was taking care of fresh roses for the shop, and even watching him care for them so delicately was soothing. Everything was so beautiful, after my amazement, I decided to take photos and videos to share with you. However, trust me, the photos are just a glimpse of what it really felt like to be there.
One of the goals I had this year was to start reading novels again, and I started with this beautiful romance novel by Natasha Bishop called "Only For The Week." I heard many great reviews about this book and the theme of a black woman being loved, nurtured, and cared for in the softest way?! Yes, sign me up! I started using my library again, which was so vintage to me! I was able to utilize the library app to request books, and once it arrives, I can pick it up and scan the library card all on the app! This not only makes it easy to get introduced to new books, but also gives me excitement to read in abundance. With being surrounded by all of the amazing flowers, my iced matcha latte, and getting lost in this book- I was having a great time. The ambience internally definitely matched what I was seeing and feeling externally.
I wanted to take pictures of not only the beauty of the space, but also myself! This was the first time I took advantage of the timer to take photos on the iphone, and I figured why not! With creating content, or just simply taking photos, you may not always have someone to snap for you! Due to being one of their first customers in that day, I had the luxury of having the space to myself to film and capture these beautiful photos. As the owner was preparing the roses, he said "here, this is for you," and handed me this beautiful rose you see pictured above. I was so excited because I recently developed a love for roses, and it truly completed my time there. The Ariston Coffee Bar, is definitely a cafe you should visit! The service was great, the decor was STUNNING and the ambience was warm and welcoming. I can't wait to go back!
To see the video about my experience at the beautiful Ariston Coffee Bar, be sure to follow me on Tik Tok and Instagram with the handle: ExquisitelyErica! I value your feedback boo! Let me know what you thought about this blogpost in the comments below, and if you will be visiting this cafe! Once you arrive, you will understand why "Everyday Is In Full Bloom."
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