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October 2024 by Kate S.
I can't recommend this place in good conscience. I popped in after many years of passing this by, even when the Black Cat and Saturn Club were nearby I just walked by not knowing what it was but I read an article and saw amazing reviews and decided to pop in on my way home. Well there's no prices on anything and I should have asked but I just grabbed 5 chocolate bars, 3 Belgian and 2 German and the total was $96 and in my head I was like woah expensive but maybe it's really nice chocolates like I've been to Teuscher and Neuhaus. But then I looked up these brands online and they are 4-6€ and 7USD online at any number of import places. So paying double the retail is exploitive and extortion and I wish I had a receipt but wasn't even offered one but I have the cc transaction. Don't get me wrong it's good but the German marzipan Niedereregger is $5.79 on Instacart right now and can grab at a variety of stores including Riekers meats and 3Js because they carry imported chocolates??♀️??♀️??♀️ I was in a rush and didn't even think about the total and what I bought but was definitely surprised. Won't be returning especially since the owner was awkward and not very cordial and the store was 80+ degrees inside like a furnace and it's 50-60 outside. Can't imagine this terrarium in the summer
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October 2024 by Alex Yang
Very nice place. I like the chocolate and raspberry black coffee.
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October 2024 by Brianna Ko
Highly overpriced tinned tea and chocolate bars
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October 2024 by Jenna Balestrini
What a gem! The coffee is amazing, the international press is exceptional and inspiring and the owner is a delight.
Trust me, carve out 30-60 min and come here.
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August 2024 by Linfeng Han
Why would a latte + 2 standard-size postcards cost $14?
And the coffee isn’t good.
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July 2024 by Chris Alrutz
Best coffee in the city, maybe the world. John is one of a kind.
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May 2024 by Sammy W.
Lovely selection of teas, cool artsy/vintage postcards, and so many magazines. You can buy tea in bulk or the owner will make you a fresh cup, huge lovely selection. Prices are a little high but the novelty is worth it.
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February 2024 by Lindsay Conlisk
Best rooiboos loose leaf tea. Great place.
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October 2023 by Patrick C.
I happened to be in the area of the 3400 block of Sansom Street today in West Philadelphia and a familiar sign caught my eye from 22 years ago; Avril 50. Avril 50 was a regular stop in my patrol days and I loved walking into the shop. Always the wonderful aroma of brewing coffees and chocolate dancing with other exotic smells and the smells of fine papers and magazines. It always felt to me like stepping from West Philadelphia into a magical pocket of Europe. As it looked exactly the same, I wondered if anything had changed in the past 22 years and as soon as I crossed the threshold, I found that it was the same - like stepping back 22 years, yet somehow I was that much older. The proprietor was still there, still the same and looking no different - something that confirmed my belief that this was a magical and wonderful pocket paradise tucked away on a small West Philadelphia street. A brief catch-up chat, a shopping bag of fine teas and a perfectly brewed double-espresso to takeaway later; I stepped back into the bright Fall sun of West Philadelphia. I found myself smiling as I sipped the espresso, happy that one of the best things for me in that neighborhood has remained unchanged for others to enjoy and to continue to discover. It will not be another 22 years before I make my way back - that is for certain.
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August 2023 by Mark O'Brien
I am so happy to have stumbled on Avril 50. The coffee was fantastic along with a relaxing atmosphere to peruse the very well curated selection of magazines and other written works. I'll certainly be returning.
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February 2023 by Jennifer T.
I have loved this place since my 20s. I was so happy when I moved back to Philadelphia and it was still here. There is nothing like it, I used to dream about it when I lived in Seattle. The selection of magazines, tea, chocolate etc is exquisite. The smell of this place is pure magic. It has more taste and poetry than any other shop I can think of in Philadelphia (not actual poetry books but a sense of poetry).
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November 2022 by SY Kim
best place near Penn's campus.
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September 2022 by Bettina B.
This place is no Rizzoli, but Rizzoli hardly has had an active café in it... sophisticated as New York City has been positioning itself for ... forever. Not sure what all the shouting is about regarding this café. Not many coffee table books and the guy not encourage lingering if they didn't order food for the patio café or points further away...could only imagine this store pre-pandemic, otherwise would be rated 3 stars by me, in normal times. Even during the height of the pandemic there were customers ... Loads of customers these days-high degree of non-maskitude, not something I can afford to aspire to. Maybe it's a "keepin' it local and sustainable", attraction for this little café. Their (non-food) merchandise is getting better. Can't speak as to their food. I look forward to buying the right sized card there. An out of state paper. And eventually being able to beat it out of there.
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February 2022 by Naren Majeti
I've been inside this store once, they have a very unique selection of a lot of things, ranging from teas to cigarettes and much more!
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February 2022 by Joseph A Forte
Best chocolate selection around. Great espresso.
