77 & Belle

Description: A Black woman-owned modern coffee shop in Belmont serving coffee, tea, fresh juices, matcha, smoothies, and pastries. The storefront is designed as a neighborhood cafe where guests can grab something to go, meet friends, or settle in with a laptop. Expect a warm, polished space with a connection-focused vibe and a straightforward menu centered on drinks and baked goods.

Comments: It smells good here, and it's very clean. The aesthetic is calming, like a warm hug, or 2000s Neo-Soul music (we're talking India Arie, Musiq Soulchild, D'Angelo). There are streaks of green turf in the floor that helps break up the tiles, which I think is a nice touch. The lighting is soft. If you've ever felt like most coffee shops these days have harsh overhead lighting, this is the opposite. The seats are plush and comfy, not hard metal or wood, but something you could sit in for a while without your back hurting. Even the tables are sturdy and clearly not cheap. Everything here seems intentional and done with care. It's far from cookie cutter aesthetically.

I don't drink coffee, so I can't tell you how it tastes, but they have a marvelous selection of herbal teas that I enjoy, as well as pastries, including a red velvet cinnamon roll that appears from time to time. It's owned by a black woman, which being black myself, brings me joy. She intentionally wants the space to be inviting for remote workers, which as a remote worker myself, brings me even more joy.