It was and is awesome and has always met and exceeded my expectations. Archive is pretty much the pinnacle of hipsterdom in Salem. Their space is modern and relaxing with an urban feel. They've decorated it to give off the vibe of a den or library. Half of the bar area is dedicated to all things fancy coffee and the other half is devoted to all things fancy alcohol. They also have a kitchen in the back and serve a variety of foods throughout the day. And in true hipster fashion, they really really care about what they do. That's what I love about them. They want their food and drink to be a true quality experience for you. And, everyone I've ever encountered working there is genuinely nice, accommodating, and wants you to have a meaningful and classy time.
Now that I've set the stage, let's get into one of my recent trips to Archive. I'm actually blogging out of order and belatedly now as this trip took place a few weekends ago. Archive is only about a block away from my apartment, and I love going there for breakfast, but it rarely happens because I am not a morning person. But on a recent Saturday, my friend and I made a plan. She would jog from her house in west Salem (about 3 miles away) and I would walk about one block from my apartment. We'd meet up there and I'd give her a ride home. Pretty fair deal on my part :).
So when Saturday morning came, I made my way across the street and down the block to my favorite place.
The scene that met me was what I expected and appreciate - dim lighting, calm music, and just enough activity happening that it wasn't too busy or too quiet.
I went to the coffee side of the bar to order. One of the reasons I love Archive in the morning is the fact that all of their pastries are gluten free. It's funny because they don't overtly advertise it, it just *is.* For someone who's gluten free, it's kind of cool that it's just normal there, and nice to know that there won't be cross contamination. Plus, their pastries are amazing. I ordered one of my favorites - the strawberry balsamic parmesan scone (though the blueberry muffins also looked tempting), along with a latte.
Another thing you need to know about Archive is the fact that they are not, nor would I want them to be, Starbucks. They don't keep a ton of syrups around. They won't make you a frappuccino. I love coffee in it's unadulterated form anyway, especially when it's quality coffee, so this is exactly how I want them to operate. One time I brought my dad here for coffee and he tried to order a hazelnut latte but had to settle for their house-made vanilla syrup instead :)
After I ordered, I pulled out a giftcard that had some money left on it still. I knew it wouldn't quite cover my bill, so I handed it to the barista and asked how much more I owed. He told me that he would just "round down" and I didn't need to worry about the rest. They are seriously the nicest.
I got my scone and my latte - with foam art of course (just the way I like it), and headed to find a seat by an outlet so that I could work on my computer. I settled on the barstool seating by the window. The hipster looking guy down the bar from me fit in perfectly. He was wearing rolled up jeans and had an old timey backpack, and later rode off on a motorcycle that fit his ambiance.
I sipped my latte - it was great as usual, and nibbled on my scone - also yummy like usual. As I typed away on my computer getting ready for a bridal shower I was hosting, and blogging a little bit, I had time to take in my surroundings. The clientele that morning was made up of a mix of younger hipsters and older (retirement aged) people. Parents with small kids also made their way in and out of the coffee shop.
I especially enjoyed observing the people in the outdoor seating area right on the other side of my window seat. There were two guys who were younger and hipster looking who seemed to be there together, but at the next table over from them there was another guy who was a little bit older and looked to be enjoying a rest after a morning run. The three of them were in a great conversation, and I wish I knew what it was about! When they were ready to go, they kept earnestly shaking hands with each other a couple times before they finally parted ways. I couldn't help but think that Archive was spawning meaningful conversation and bringing people together.
My next people-watching subjects out the window were less pleasant. A couple came and sat at the table directly in front of my window seat and proceeded to kiss quite frequently. I attempted to use my computer screen as a barrier between me and them. But don't worry, it didn't really damper my Archive experience.
Before too long, my friend completed her trek. She ordered an iced coffee (which they serve with a trendy metal straw) and opted for the same scone as me per my recommendation. As she ordered, I said hi to one of the baristas who just so happens to be another urban dweller in my downtown apartments.
As we settled into a booth seat, they brought over water in a unique serving jar. My friend tried the scone and couldn't get over how much she enjoyed it, especially since she normally doesn't like scones! Win! She's even returned there since this visit to patronize their pastries again. I love being a good influence on people :)
After we took some time to visit, it was back out into the warm Saturday downtown air, and a quick window shopping detour to the consignment store on the corner - Top Drawer. It's one of those stores where people can rent a space and sell their unique wares. It's fun to look around there.
Then it was off to my urban-ly parkade-parked car to keep up my end of the bargain and provide a ride home :)
Archive for breakfast is definitely a lovely experience, and you should try it too.
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