Front Porch Café

The Front Porch Café in Manteo, North Carolina should be considered a hidden gem. This café was spectacular. Manteo was the most gentrified and modernized of all the towns on our road trip. There were beautiful restaurants and stores throughout the entire town, as well as beautiful views. But in a general sense, there seemed to be a vibe coated over this whole town that can only be described as “a relaxed family-friendly community." 

But out of this entire town, Front Porch Café stood out to me. It was our first stop in the morning and it started my day off right. 

The minute you walk in, you are greeted by the baristas' glowing smiles. I automatically felt welcomed. Their selection of coffee and accompaniments went as far as the eye could see. You were able to get an iced chai latte or a double-shot espresso. You could ask for any type of milk you wanted, oat, regular, almond, or even coconut. There were also multiple types of syrups if you wanted to add them in; I added vanilla and Gayatri added lavender. 

I honestly thought that I had died and gone to heaven. The aroma of this café was just impeccable and it felt like a warm hug the minute you entered through the front doors. 

The coffee was not the only impressive selection they had. Their pastries were out of this world. They had three different types of croissants, four different types of muffins, apple turnovers, and even more. It was mouth-watering just to look at all of it. 

After at least 10 minutes of trying to figure out what to order, I got a large hot oat milk vanilla latte and then a chocolate-filled croissant. Gayatri decided to order a medium iced cold brew with lavender and CBD oil drops and then a spinach and feta croissant. 

Along with the coffee and food that was at the front of the store there was also a lot of merchandise along the right-hand wall. They were selling a bunch of Front Porch Café t-shirts, mugs, tumblers, and sweatshirts. Along with the actual merchandise they sold, they also sold a bunch of other brands. The one that caught my eye was Lake Champlain Chocolates. I grew up with these so to find them again in the south genuinely made my day. I bought their caramel-filled chocolate and hot chocolate mix. The experience we had at Front Porch could not have gotten any better. That was until our order was ready.

My croissant came out first and it was spectacular. Usually, chocolate-filled croissants can be very overbearing when it comes to the actual chocolate flavor, however, this one was perfect. There was a perfect ratio between the pastry, the filling, and even the powdered sugar on top. And to make it even better, they warmed it up.  

The coffee was also just as amazing. I have a specific way I like my lattes made, I do not like when I am unable to taste the actual coffee. However, luckily for me, it was made exactly right. 

While I did not try the coffee Gayatri ordered, I did have a bite of the spinach and feta croissant. And it was delicious. I wish I was joking when I say that I cannot stop thinking about it. It was warmed up and melted so perfectly. It also looked so beautiful when we were both trying to figure out what to order. 

The Front Porch Café was one of the best cafés I have been to in my lifetime. The decorations and actual merchandise were beautiful and seemed just so authentic. Then the actual coffee and food they sold were made to make your day better. I wish there was one close to Elon so that I could show people just how amazing it is. I would recommend this spot to anyone who is looking for a comfortable place to get just a really good cup of coffee. The vibe is amazing and now I want to go back.

--Caroline Kilborn