I have been wanting to check out the Belvedere Coffee Shop for weeks. I heard about it a while back from my dad and have been enchanted with the vintage appeal of hotel in which it resides ever since. Plus, it's called the Belvedere which to me just sounds awesome. The coffee shop is on the bottom left below with the blue awnings.
(photo via Sunny Day Guide)
Finally after pestering everyone I know and love to go with me to the Belvedere, I made my way there for breakfast on a recent week day morning. I was the first to arrive and so I sat down in one of just a handful of booths, ordered a coffee and simply took in the beauty of the view. The coffee shop is directly on the Virginia Beach boardwalk and boasts unobstructed ocean views. With Labor Day behind us, the boardwalk was quiet and only a few people were walking about with their dogs. The ocean on this particular morning was about as calm as I've ever seen it which leant an air of tranquility to the coffee shop and to my experience. By the end of breakfast I felt like I had just done yoga, not eaten eggs and hashbrowns. My particular seat (as is the case with about half in the restaurant) directly faced the ocean and large glass windows provided panoramic views. Fear not if you end up sitting with your back to the ocean, as the wall you are facing hosts a large mirror reflecting the ocean views. I try not to gawk at the dolphins that grace us with their presence in the summer because this is a telltale sign that you are from out of town, but this morning I couldn't help oo-ing and ah-ing over the acrobatics they were displaying.
The restaurant is small and is apparently very crowded on weekend mornings, espeically in the summer. There were plenty of seats available on the that particular morning. The rest of the breakfast party (read: my parents) arrived and we ordered breakfast. We loved the feel of the restaurant -- very minimalist (playing up the great views) but in a classic diner by the sea sort of way.
The menu is reasonably priced. Two eggs and toast was $3.10. Dishes like Steak and Eggs are more expensive, but I don't think anything on the menu was over $10 (including lunch entrees). The wait staff and cooks were very kind and constantly mindful of the blinds, ensuring that views were maximized and squinting from the sun was minimized. We parked in the hotel's parking lot, but were sure to ask for permission from the gentlemen at the front desk. He assured us that it was no problem.
The Belvedere Coffee shop is a Deliberate Dining pick because it reminds us of everything we love about Virginia Beach. The food is inexpensive, the staff is friendly and the restaurant is really the perfect spot to soak in the beach. Check out other reviews
here. The restaurant was also featured in
Frommer's.
Location: 3601 Atlantic Ave Virginia Beach, VA 23451-2706
Phone: (757) 425-0613
Hours: Daily from 7:00 to 2:30
In case you need an excuse to grab a Gingerbread Latte tomorrow, this post is for you. On December 1st Starbucks is donating five cents of every purchase of a handcrafted beverage to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa. Sure five cents may not seem like much, but it is our collective effort and commitment that creates change and brings hope. Heck, grab two lattes, bring one to a co-worker and spread some Christmas cheer at the same time. What is your favorite latte, Pumpkin Spice or Gingerbread?
