SciLi stacks got you down? Tired of having to hear the breathy chortles of people whispering in the first floor of the Rock? When I find myself in one of these situations, I often ride my bike down the gloriously steep College Hill, beyond South Main Street to Rise ‘n Shine, a little coffee spot just behind the Rhode Island State House.
There’s no shortage of coffee spots near Brown’s campus, but sometimes it’s nice to escape the student masses. Instead, Rise ‘n Shine is rife with thirty-something year-olds in beanies, many of whom are on dates with one another. If you don’t mind overhearing some emotionally probing conversations and occasionally dragging silences, it’s a wonderful place to work: cozy with exceptional coffee.
The name Rise ‘n Shine is a tribute to the owner’s great grandfather who became a shoe cobbler in New York City after emigrating from Russia. The cafe is decorated with a shoe-shining bench and a wall of dangling shoehorns, making a play on the name. A family friend of mine once confided that he had called the cafe hoping to get his shoes shined. This is, of course, not a service they offer.
The shop’s baked goods are outsourced from a number of bakeries, but I’m quite partial to the donuts which they get from Knead Doughnuts in Wayland. I’m not crazy about donuts (in fact, I take issue with fried things that aren’t crispy) but the glazed brioche donut ($4.40) is — I’m not afraid to say it — ethereal. The brioche is feathery and melts on your tongue instead of turning back into a doughy mess. If I had to choose a type of bread to sleep on, this would be it.
The croissants ($4.25) are solid and also come from Knead. If you ask, you can get a bit of strawberry jam on the side. Slightly warmed, they’re flaky and chewy, although I wish the aroma of butter was stronger. For those that prefer a savory start to the day, I’d recommend the sweet potato danish ($5.00). Sweet potato coins are plopped atop a smear of goat cheese, and the whole cabal is brought together by a smattering of everything bagel seasoning, which adds a welcome wave of salt and onion to a combination of ingredients that are mild in flavor.
While they might outsource their baked goods, Rise ‘n Shine’s seasonal drinks are made in house. I’m always a bit skeptical of a sweet latte, but at Rise n’ Shine, nothing is sickly, especially not their salted pistachio latte ($5.75). The drink masters the balance between pistachio, an ever elusive flavor, and chocolate, a domineering one. Flaky salt, while overused these days, is warranted here to cut through the sweetness of the frothed milk. Beyond their specialty drinks, they make a good cappuccino — neither acidic nor astringent — with a generous layer of foam. My only notes: once the coffee was lukewarm, and another time the barista forgot my order for fifteen minutes.
I’m sure that one reason my classmates are not to be seen here all that often is that it’s a bit far: thirty minutes walking or ten minutes by bike. In campus metrics, the shop is beyond College Hill so it’s therefore a trek. But if you’re willing to venture, it’s only just outside our bubble. And there’s something perfect about that location: Far enough to be an escape, but close enough to be a convenient one. So whether you’re looking to get off campus or to find a reverie in pastries, I can assure you, the trek to Holden Street is worth it.
Service: relaxed, warm, patient
Sound level: medium
Recommended dishes: glazed donut, In A Nutshell latte
Hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m. - 3 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Price Range: drinks/coffee $2.75-9.00, pastries $2.50-$6
Wheelchair accessibility: One step up to the entrance, 3 foot wide door, no wheelchair-accessible bathroom
★★★/5.
Eleanor Barth Wu ’26 can be reached at eleanor_barth_wu@brown.edu. Please send responses to this column to letters@browndailyherald.com and other opinions to opinions@browndailyherald.com.
