When we are traveling and want a cup of coffee I am always optimistic that the next little town will have a great place with ambiance, good pastry, fine coffee and be a “perfect” place. Occasionally I am right. We won’t go into percentages here. In New Market, Virginia in the Northern Shenandoah Valley on old Route 11 is my perfect place. All five of us were searching for coffee and a block away we located the place in an historic old hotel (civil war era) - first bonus points. They had a fire (2nd BP) comfortable chairs and tables (3rd BP) very good and reasonably prices coffees in actual mugs (4th BP). Additionally, excellent pastry, historic photos on the walls and a welcoming staff. (+BPs). I would leave I-81 any day of the year to stop here. Highly recommend this oasis of comfort and caffeine if you live, are traveling through or need a nice place to visit for a bit New Market has some quite nice shops, history, the New Market Battlefield and a superb museum. GO.
One of several well done signs and photos.
This photo of the VMI Cadets marching on Main Street en route to the reenactment of the battle is interesting for in it you see why the National Park Service begun in 1917 use the style of hats they do today, taken from the military ones of the time.
I do recommend that you check for “shady” characters hanging out nearby. The General Store was a find full of unique and interesting Virginia items.