There’s a fantastic coffee shop in Sylva, NC that by day is a cafe, and by night transforms into a speakeasy cocktail bar.
White Moon Coffee Shop
Address: 545 Mill St. Sylva, NC 28779
Website: https://www.whitemoonnc.com/
By day… You will find White Moon Coffee Shop teaming with locals and weekend coffee warriors. That is, if you find it at all. Oddly enough, the front door of this coffee establishment is found on the back side of its building. While numerous shops and boutiques line Main St. in downtown Sylva; some of the best ‘finds’ are located on the street that runs behind them. In our opinion, White Moon is the best of these.
If you’re looking for a laid-back vibe where locals come and go, then White Moon is your spot. It’s unpretentious and welcoming in the best of ways. It is a coffee lover’s daydream.
Us coffee ‘types’ enjoy just sitting alone at times, with a good read, and secretly observing others around us. Nothing obtrusive or overt, but an honest observation of life. So, White Moon with its fresh white walls and warm wood ‘all-about’ creates the perfect setting. You might see a family playing one of the many games or puzzles, a couple seated in intimate conversation, or a professional buzz in and out. A composite of life itself. But this one is unique – in an American Appalachian mountain town. Perfect.
Then there’s the coffee, oh… the coffee! Just because this is a small, Southern, mountain town, don’t think there will be any step back in quality. Their coffee is rich, velvety, smooth, earthy… These are just a few of the many words that come to mind when recalling our experience.
The Music Behind the Roast
Of the details mentioned, their coffee roast is the most important. White Moon uses both Steamline Coffee Co. and Blue Ridge Bootleg Coffee Roasters. Here, their choices here are very intentional.
First, Steamline Coffee Co. is a western North Carolina roaster that pays tribute to the railway system that developed this beloved part of the country. Their objective is to hone in on the precision of their roasts and partner with area coffee shops who share a similar vision.
Next, Blue Ridge Bootleg Coffee Roasters is a small batch artisan roaster located deep in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. They ethically source single-origin coffees and nitrogen flush all of their coffee when bagging it to insure a stable shelf life. Their POPSKULL PITCH espresso is featured by White Moon, and is also the flagship roast of owner and singer-song-writer Matt King. Check it out in his video below.
White Moon baristas are accomplished Appalachian coffee crafters. Their ratio of coffee to milk on any one of their signature drinks is proof enough. Moreover, the quality of their espresso, and its freshness are superior. It’s like they ache over the very last detail, and we’re certain they do, right down to the foam.
Coffee Shop Contributors
Finally, we love it when a coffee shop offers a variety of milk options, but when those options are also house-made it sets them apart. Consequently, White Moon’s house-made Cashew milk is definitely something to ‘write home’ about.
So, pair any one of their many coffee selections with Maple Springs confections. We enjoyed their gluten-free Maple Almond Cookie which is artfully concocted with Chia seed and almond flour, then half dipped in dark chocolate. It’s perfectly paired with a White Moon Cappuccino. Gosh, just thinking about all this makes me want to jump in the car and go.
Dark Moon Cocktail Bar
By night… The White Moon wanes to the Dark Moon, transforming it into a secret speakeasy cocktail bar. Just slip to the back of the shop and you’ll discover this little-known night spot. Imbibe in a Classic Espresso Martini or a Mocha Negroni.
A Peek Behind the Coffee Shop
Indulgent cocktails, craft beer, wine and charcuterie or the order of the evening. Does it get any better? I don’t think so, but you’ll need to decide for yourself; while you chill over tapas and the specialty beverage of your choice in the candle-lit surroundings of the Dark Moon.
Upon Reflection
Places like White Moon Coffee Shop/Dark Moon Bar make me fall in love with coffee all over again. They are the epitome of the Indy Coffee Movement. Only in venturing off the well-beaten path of commercial coffee shops do we find these gems, and experience the full flavor of coffee, with all its diversity, individuality, and ever-expanding pallet.
If you enjoyed this article please join us in continued exploration on both our US City Guide and Europe City Guide, and thank you in advance for sharing it with anyone you know would enjoy it also!