Foodies, I found the perfect café, and I’m obsessed with everything about it: the aesthetics, the menu, the vibe. It feels like home. From the Indian poster with the South Indian phrase “Aiyo,” a painting of the lady with Veena, to the mini diorama of the café placed next to the sugar and coffee complements, everything made this place instantly click. The cafe menu items have recurring Indian flavors like rose, pistachio, and even Gulab Jamun, a traditional sweet of fried dough balls soaked in fragrant syrup. Their donuts take inspiration from these flavors, making each bite nostalgic, like a trip back home. It’s a bonus that they are a local cafe, so they take their time to ensure each drink is absolute perfection. I want to thank my friend’s roommate for recommending their matcha because the lavender matcha was literal heaven, and it felt like I was floating into another dimension. In the past, I’ve heard the pairing of lavender and matcha together, but I never knew how well the lavender flavors complement matcha so well. The subtle floral flavors of lavender pair with the earthy taste of matcha, creating a complex flavor profile. The matcha itself tasted like it was good quality and wasn’t overwhelmingly matcha flavored but more subtle, not to mention the lavender matcha latte was perfectly sweet — not too sweet.
Most places I visit are along Washington Street, but this was in the silent location of 700 Garden Street, which made it somewhat hard to find, living up to its name: Hidden Grounds. However, when you open Google Maps, it’s a seven-minute walk from campus, especially from the gateway buildings. When you stumble upon the cafe, you will notice that the exterior of the building remains ordinary, but the real allure is all in the interior. Hidden Ground boasts a bold black-and-white patterned tile wall and a textured traditional anaglypta wallpaper (I don’t know the exact style, but it’s charming!) It’s a simple, chill, and thoroughly well-designed coffee shop with the perfect menu ranging from sandwiches to bakery items to drinks. Despite the matcha, they have other cool drinks like the rose chai latte, cardamom brew, and stove drinks that are peak Indian. I love that they also include vegan options, which makes it extra inclusive for the vegan folks out there; they have nice pumpkin or banana nut loaf slices that look mouthwatering. If you dislike the loaves, you have the vegan tahini chocolate chip cookie, which is intriguing. They also have pretty reliable sandwich or bagel sandwich options. But I want to take a moment to emphasize their signature drinks; the names of the drinks themselves sound delectable, like their lavender honey latte, taro latte, and hot chocolate (which my friend testified is pretty good). Overall, I admire the mix of ornate and minimalist design, where they blend their Indian roots with a chic café atmosphere, which makes the space feel both inviting and cultural, and the vintage-style decor pieces like the spice grinder.
