With mask mandates loosening and warmer weather around the corner, trying out cafes is a fun way to get out and explore. At the end of Newbury Street, just a two minute walk away from the Hynes Convention Center MBTA stop, sits Trident Booksellers & Cafe. This independent bookstore and cafe has been situated in Boston for 38 years and it’s the perfect place for a low-key date, brunch with friends, study session or night on the town.
The cafe and bookstore is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and serves breakfast all day. Their menu is extensive and ranges from their breakfast burrito to their vegan cashew chili to their fresh mozzarella BLT, with an assortment of teas, lattes and smoothies. All dishes are under 20 dollars, with many being just around the 10 dollar mark. I would recommend the lemon ricotta stuffed french toast; it smells like funnel cake and is decadently covered in blueberry sauce. Pair it with a smoothie or a rooibos latte and you’ll have a delicious meal that’s worth snapping a picture and posting on your Instagram.
The noise level and sunshine makes it the ideal study cafe; not too loud or too quiet, a beautiful view of Newbury Street, and a downstairs and upstairs dining area, in case one is too full or busy. If you’re going with a big group of friends, you can call and make reservations. You can also just walk up and seat yourself. Once you sit, instead of ordering from a waiter or waitress, they’ll have you scan a QR code, order and pay from your phone. I found that this made it easier for me to add soy milk to my latte, and it took out the hassle of splitting the bill and figuring out who to Venmo. This also cuts down on the amount of times the waiters and waitresses have to come to each table, so if you’re like me and still feel cautious when eating in public, this will help put you at ease a little more.
If you’d rather enjoy the sunshine outside while picnicking on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, Trident also does mobile take-out orders. While waiting for your order, definitely check out the bookstore. If you’re looking for a gift for a friend, a birthday card, Boston postcards or just a fun book, look no further. Because they’re an independent bookstore, they don’t stock their shelves with Amazon books or goods. They have a big sale selection and a wall of staff-picked books with little notes underneath about why they recommend those books. They have classics, newly released and everything in between. If the book you’re looking for isn’t on the shelves, check their website or talk to one of the kind booksellers to see when it’ll be available or if they can order it for you. If you’re not sure what to read next, online they have a Book Matchmaker where they have you fill out a Google Form about what’s been your most recent favorite books and what genre or genres you’re looking for in your next book, then they get back to you with their recommendations.
Another amazing thing about Trident is their monthly list of events. They have Friday and Saturday trivia nights, poetry open-mic nights every other Sunday, writing groups on the other Sunday nights and guest author readings from authors based in the greater Boston area. UMass Boston hosts wonderful events every week, but if you’re looking for a night on the town or to adventure off campus, Trident Booksellers & Cafe is the place to go!