On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: Market East
Loading...
I really enjoy hanging out at The Last Drop. It's open late, located in the scenic gayborhood, has acceptably good coffee & food, plays interesting tunes, and usually the noise level is just right- I'm not distracted while reading, but I don't feel guilty having a conversation either.
Love: Outdoor seating, secluded basement, late night hours!, bathroom graffiti, ATM, free wi-fi
Like: coffee, sandwiches (egg salad is really good, and they use excellent bread), prices (not great for drinks, but the food is cheap)
Dislike: overly dim lighting, conversations between staff & their friends that prevent me from ordering, running out of stuff (no seltzer for Italian sodas is uncool)
For a coffee shop, this deserves four stars. Literally, the only coffee shop that is open late in the whole city it seems. Hipster or not, I like having a place I can get work done late. The coffee is good and the wi-fi is free. I really don't need anything else. I probably wouldn't trust the food but whatevs.
Additionally, the atmosphere is quite unique. It has the charm of coffee shops of days past. It's sort of what I envisioned Chestnut Tree Cafe looking like in George Orwell's 1984. Music is almost always good or at least tolerable but I bring my own headphones anyway.
I used to go here a lot. I used to work in the neighborhood and had friends living nearby. They have excellent coffee. Not sure if they still do, as I had a bottle of water.
However, its still a great place to study,meet friends, and stop in to use the spotless bathroom!
Don't get me wrong, I really like this place. The atmosphere is cool, nice location, open late, and the free wifi is awesome. But the coffee is just not that great. It's average.
If Last Drop would just raise the bar a bit on their coffee brewing, I would gladly give them a 4 or 5 star rating.
Some of the staff will ignore you at the counter if they're talking to their friends, but most of them are nice.
The environment is grunge/laid back, and they have good music going that just lets you zone out for hours. It has a punk rocker feel, so it's not too clean. You'll smell like coffee when you leave, but that's a plus in my book. The food is slightly below average/soggy, but it's also relatively cheap.
I would never give them 5 stars because they're not the best in any way, but they have never given me a single drink with any coffee grinds in it. And every single iced coffee I have gotten there tasted fresh... that means they get rid of coffee after it sits too long, which I respect a lot.
I love everything about Last Drop, except the whole coffee part.
The employees are ALWAYS rude. And like some other reviewers have stated, will finish talking to their friends before they serve you. I think it;s funny because they have a sign taped up that says "We will serve you after your finished with your phone call." I agree but if your going to ignore a customer until you feel like dealing with them, you have no right to ask for that.
As far as the drinks go, their OK. Nothing special & nothing awful. Problem is I always get charged a different price each time I go, but why would I try and correct the ironic-hipster douche-bag behind the counter. The best part about the drink is the cup design itself.
Although reviewers may bash this place, it will never die. People go for the artsy, eclectic appeal. The art on the walls is always interesting and they always have a wide array of interesting flyers and reading materials scattered on a table. A great place to know what's going on around Philadelphia. It's usually pretty quiet so it's a great place to read, do work, or draw.
If it were possible I'd give Last Drop...
5 - Atmosphere
3 - Food/Drink
1 - Customer Service
Loooooooooooooooooooove me some last drop. I was coming here much more often when I was internet-less for the month of August. Since then I have acquired internet and have relinquished my all-day sataturday and Sunday seat. Though I still go back every now and then for a scrabble game with a buddy or just an interesting place to read a book - or what-have-you. I really like this place because it's SO BEAUTIFUL inside. The woodwork behind the counter is so nice, it makes me feel like I'm in someone's home. Though the diry, vandalized bathrooms make me feel like I'm in a frat house. So yeah.. the last drop - somewhere between feeling the safety of home and the disgust of a subway walkway... just right.
This place is alright. It's a typical place for uarts students to go. The atmosphere is quirky, and I'm not a big coffee drinker, but they have a nice selection of tea (jasmine green is my favorite). I have some friends that like to study here religiously. It is quiet enough where you can study, but also can come here to chat with friends, and not feel as if you're imposing. Also outdoor seating is a plus. My only gripe is that they don't accept credit cards. When I'm in a rush to get to school/work I would love to just pop in here and get something, but I rarely carry cash, so it's off to starbucks. Last Drop, please help me stop buying into corporate bullshit.
Reasons why I will not go back to the Last Drop:
-My table was filthy yesterday. I cleaned it myself and the napkin was black.
-They take cash only and the ATM was out of service.
-Their iced coffee was crappy.
-The guy behind the counter was not that friendly.
-I couldn't find any outlets for my laptop.
-Their bathrooms are scary downstairs.
It's a shame, because the first time I was there I liked my cappuccino. If I'm in the mood for coffee and I'm in that area, I'll go to Starbucks, and I'm not a big Starbucks fan.
I find this place aesthetically pleasing, and the coffee is satisfactory.
Outlets are tricky, though. And it's a bit gross here - though I kind of like that.
However, the baristas are hipper than you, and they know it, and they have no need to acknowledge you, even as you order, because they are so much hipper than you that they don't even know you are there. Please don't look at them to remind them of the existence of people less hip than them. It is rude. You are not worthy. They have carefully crafted their apathetic, too-cool-for-school demeanor, and you best not disrupt it.
Actually ... when I go in I am OVERLY chipper and friendly. Obscenely so. I recommend you do the same. If I'm going to be cast into the role of a vapid, simpering fool, I'll at least do it on my own terms.
I drink regular coffee, nothing fancy, but I really appreciate a well-executed regular cup of coffee. And they serve a great cup of coffee here. The inside is pretty small, so I imagine that it could get quite crowded, but in nice weather the outdoor seating is great.
Oh, I wish I loved The Last Drop so much more.
I have been there so many times and every time the baristas are totally rude or distant or apathetic. Call it what you will, but they seem to never look you in the eye but enjoy talking amongst friends or co-workers instead. Gosh, it must be so hard to be a working hipster.
The coffee is ok. Every time I order a drink with Chocolate it is never mixed properly. The place is dirty and dark. It really is just a dive of a coffee shop, but it isn't really comfy.
The outdoor seating is nice. I like their Vegan cookies.
They don't take credit cards either, but they have an ATM downstairs.
It is a great alternative to the Starbucks on the opposite end of the street, but I am embarrassed to say I sometimes choose Starbucks over The Last Drop because the staff there (Broad and Pine) are so very friendly and it is closer to my destination.
I've been on a caffeine kick lately and if the coffee shops near me are full I live by the following mantra: serve coffee, will travel. And so I did - all the way to 13th and Pine (okay so it's not that far).
So the baristas aren't the friendliest...so what? I get coffee, a table, good music and interesting people to watch and I'm happy. The Last Drop has all of those things and food! I've only ever spent much time on the street level but they also have a nice area below ground.
Unlike other coffee shops, Last Drop is less likely to be standing room only - for which I'm grateful when I want a lazy Sunday morning for reading or studying. Less than friendly baristas won't keep me from coming back for more!
I used to go in here and think there was something weird on my face because the baristas were always glaring at me, but I was a wildly self-conscious 18 year old and had no clue that the prerequisite to enjoying your Last Drop experience to the fullest was some sort of ban on smiles and respect.
Whatever. My misery loathes company. I'd rather go to Starbucks. At least when I'm there I don't feel like I have a third eyeball or bizarro mole when I'm talking to the barista. More importantly, there are plenty of other independent coffeehouses throughout Philly with much better, stronger coffee and prices and more warmth. Similar ambience too, just better energy. If that's your thing, warmth. And friendliness. Maybe I'm just an oddball. Apparently.
I will give them two stars for the funky mosaic bathrooms and vegan cookies. But I think their coffee and "service " are equivalent to watery shit.
Everyone that works here is a shithead. The coffee is ok.
Last Drop is the Last Place to go if you are looking for a warm and friendly person to serve up a smile.
The coffee is mediocre at best---it probably would have tasted better if I hadn't accidentally ordered my latte with a dollop of pretension and a few spoonfuls of smugness.
I really wanted to love this place---everything about its physical presence is wonderful, and there are good vibes upon arriving. But when I leave a place feeling judged and hated after dropping $3.87 on a latte, I'm not really tempted to spread the love.
I like this place. The staff is always cool to me, likely because I don't hassle them. I drink my coffee black and quietly do my work in the corner when I need to, or go home. The coffee is good. Don't ask them for change for the meters, trust me. Sometimes the artwork makes me feel weird but that's my problem.
INSIDER TRADING TIP: the reason i will continue to patron the last drop is simple: their ice has real gold and diamonds in it. their ice is so valuable, you should devote 10% of every paycheck you get to invest in the ice at last drop.
i know this, because a regular large coffee is $1.85. and a large ICED coffee is $2.65.
and with that kind of mark-up, you know that ice is made of something reeeaaaal special.
This is a hard review to write because I don't look forward to going here but I am so thankful they exist. I live seven blocks away with no internet, so when I'm in a pinch, Last Drop always comes through.
So what do I love and appreciate so much?
- Their HOURS (open til midnight unless the dude working gets grumpy)
- Their free wifi (not 100% reliable)
- Their endearingly random decor.
What stinks:
- Terribly lackluster tea selection
- I would never eat/trust their food
- It's a challenge to find an outlet
- The servers make me feel bad about life.
I wish they were inviting and friendly like Chapterhouse or Soy Cafe. I spend a decent 10-15% of my week working or writing in coffeeshops and Last Drop is my last stop when nowhere else is open. Blah.
I like this place, because it definitely has character. The guy at the counter definitely seems like he would have some funny stories to tell, the people all are extremely different, and the actual place looks like a music venue turned coffee shop.
Although I do think the music venue turned coffee shop look is great, it doesn't really make for a great studying ambience. It's a little dark, it's a little dank, and the music is a touch too loud for me. And as someone pointed out before me, there is a serious lack of outlets.
The thing I like best about the Last Drop is the lighting. Some describe it as gloomy or unwelcoming, but I've always been one for dim ambient lighting. The coffee is pretty good, the barista friendliness is somewhere between La Colombe and The Bean Exchange, leaning slightly towards LC (this is on a bad to good scale). The total ambiance is quiet and self-contained.
I haven't had any of their vegan food, but when I was studying here I got a cheese croissant. It was a little soggy because it probably had been sitting there for a long time, but it was delicious. The refills are pricier than other places, at $1.00 versus say $0.80.
A very good cup of coffee but in this area you might as well go to Spruce Street Espresso if that is what you are after. Also, avoid this place if you dislike hipsters--BUT if you're a displaced Brooklynite and need a dose of world-weary ironic cynicism with your coffee, both will be readily served up by your morose, cooler than thou barista.
On the plus side, they have excellent pumpkin bread.
I wish I lived close to this coffee shop again, it's the funkiest in the city. The atmosphere is bohemian, the patrons are mostly art students and locals, the indy music sets just the right mood. The baristas are life long, serious coffee people, the same people that were serving me a cup of Joe 4 years ago are still there and happy about it.
The long bench seating along the windows and standard table and chairs in the center of the room are comfy. There is outdoor seating, shaded by big umbrellas. There is a downstairs that is perfect for private conversation and group meetings, all couches and add furniture. The bathrooms are done up with a glass and tile mosaic that is so wild that you just have to see it.
I spent my first year in the city, in this coffee shop every day, typing up my first book and sipping endless mugs of coffee. Outstanding.
Zucchini bread, peoples, zucchini bread.
I've never been ill-treated at Last Drop, nor have I ever been given much of a smile, but I still come in, ever faithful to the caffeine.
It has a layer of indescribable grime that I accept, based on it's quality of coffee and confection. Also, proximity to my house is a factor. And being open late. And, the mother of all reasons to stop in - it's not another motherfucking Starbucks.
Every time I've come in here the "I'm too cool to be working here but I'm working here anyway" baristas are rude. Just today I stood in line for five minutes while the guy behind the counter carried on a conversation with a friend of his. At some point he smirked and said to his friend, "I think the people in line are getting annoyed". He then proceeded to give his friend a free tea before begrudgingly taking my order. So sorry to interrupt you while at work...
Bad service aside, the place is dirty and unpleasant with bad paintings of men with hairy chests on the walls. Not condusive to enjoying an afternoon coffee.
I don't know what http://yelp.com enthusiast Jason S. has against Last Drop employees, but this place is A-OK with me: a nice place to read a book or watch a guy do a charcoal drawing of a wizard.
Way, way, way overrated.
Coffee's a dime a dozen - La Colombe. Atmosphere is all right, and the crowd is, yes, very scene. Baristas are pretty distant, which I dislike - come on, if you're getting paid to pour me a cup of joe and I tip you a dollar, crack a smile at least.
The outdoor seating is nice, and the staying open till midnight thing on weekdays is even nicer. But that's about it. Take it or leave it.
I've been hitting up Last Drop for eight years now since I work right around the corner and often despise the dreadful DEATHSTARbucks around the corner [unless a fellow employee bribes me with free soy coffee to go there].
I've gone through my late adolescent and early adult phases of different haircuts and fashion styles but never was treated any different at the Drop, like some referred in their review. The staff has remained pretty much the same during this time and so has the atmosphere, with the exception that there is no more smoking.
Last Drop's coffee is by far better than Starfucks' but you'll rarely see the executive types hanging out at the wooden or mosaic tables chatting up business deals or playing with their Blackberry. Thank God! The place is more the ideal for the neighborhood indie types, bike messengers taking a break, art school kids, and anyone else who refuses to support the corporate conglomerate. They offer a few blends regularly and the espresso drinks are amazing.
Being an indie business, their prices are going to go up when factors like gas prices and milk prices escalate [compared to corporations who can afford to loose a few pennies a drink] so be prepared to fork out $4 for an espresso drink. They are also cash only, but there's an ATM located at the bottom of the steps.
The drop has an incredible selection of sandwiches including egg salad, tuna, bagels with lox, and an avocado and red pepper sandwich that is just divine! They also have an assortment of breads including banana bread, pumpkin and zucchini bread as well as more vegan treats than I have seen at any other coffee shop.
If I remember correctly back in the 90s and early 2000s they used to have open mic. It would be great if they still did but for now they feature local artwork in the upstairs.
So if you're in the neighborhood stop in for a bite to eat and a refreshing iced coffee. It'll be good till the Last Drop! [yea, corny I know].
This is my favorite coffee shop to "hang out" or catch up with friends. It's really peaceful. Great to bring a laptop or some homework. The basement is really chill. Dim lighting, chairs and tables both upstairs and downstairs. Very easy to get comfortable..
The coffee is really good from what I've had. The only thing I don't like about The Last Drop is how sometimes the workers have a very pretentious attitude. As if whatever I ordered is the stupidest thing on earth.
Besides that, though, I adore this coffee shop.
a little bit pricey for a Mocha but hey its local, so I won't budge, the Sandwich which I had was pretty good . Not so clean restroom . The place just depicts like an Edgar Allan Poe novel, dark and antiqueish and dirty looking shades of black and gray and rust. I did mention pricey cups of coffee but they were better than the coffee of the shop on the corner of Pine and Broad, way better.
Do not expect your typical WiFi mad guy with his khaki's and J.Crews around this shop, expect a whole different persona for the peeps who come here. When you enter its like Paint it Black by The Rolling Stones playing. More books read here than Websites i suppose.
It's getting increasingly impossible to avoid Starbucks, but I do my best. Dimly lit, hipsters seem to reproduce my mitosis, coming in and out with their self knit mittens. It must be something about the torn couches or music that is so hip or so old that it wouldn't even show up in an Ipod commercial.
Nonetheless, it's not a bad place to go to study. I have long since given up on the coffee there, but get the chai latte with soy milk. The internet connection is good, but if it doesn't work just and you ask for help be prepared to be directed to "http://anything.com" by the staff. Thanks, jerks.
There is also only 1 working electrical outlet, though there seem to be many non working one scattered throughout the room. 1 working outlet?? Oh, it is a power strip so bring an extension cord if you're unfortunate enough to be on the opposite side of the room from the power strip.
2.5 stars.
I stopped in to get recaffeinated after a nice lunch at Mixto. The coffee place has a good feel/look to it. Its warm and not IKEA/sterile. There weren't too many hipsters or people for that matter. I"m not sure whether that's because everyone was at class, its vacation time, or the normal patrons were conducting satanic rituals in a secret room downstairs(I'm joking, don't get your underwear in a twist).
I ordered an ice Americano to go. I had to encourage the cashier/server to stop his conversation with the young pretty woman he was talking to first though. Of course, I failed to see the "CASH ONLY" sign until after I ordered. Thankfully they had an ATM on the premises. I let the server know i was going downstairs to get cash while he whipped up the drink.
I came back upstairs after looking around and seeing some cool stained glass window(s) downstairs. Once again, the server had to part company with his frauelein before I was able to pay up.
The coffee was good without being either too strong or too weak. Have to give the guy props for making a good drink.
I might stop by again sometime and see how the atmosphere is for a sit down/extended stay. Until next time, same Yelp time, same Yelp channel..........
Maybe I'm more hip than I realize or maybe art school drop outs are really into older woman or perhaps I just don't get as bothered by someone who isn't 10 kinds of smiley at work, but I've never had an issue with the Last Drop employees. Are they as suspiciously cult-like and happy as most chain employees? God, no. But I wouldn't be too happy, either, with the attitude that many consumers have about their shopping experiences. I don't know about those of you complaining about their prices, but I'd personally rather pay a little more money for something that doesn't taste like Dunkin Donuts swill and is privately owned.
The coffee is so much better than the standard Gayborhood alternatives (i.e., Cosi, Dunkin Donuts or $tarbuck$) and they have some great vegan baked goods, too! The last time I was there, they had these amazing chocolate chocolate chunk cookies with swirls of vegan marshmallow in them. So rich and non-vegans love 'em, too.
The Last Drop offers free internet that works surprisingly well, a cool little punk rock/art house/yuppie atmosphere, and you actually get to support a local coffee shop that isn't out of the way. Stop in and see for yourself before dismissing it based on the negative reviews.
Grungy with appropriately grungy staff who have given me service over the years ranging from "Dude, can't you see I just don't want to be bothered", to "OK, if we really have to do this, we can". But it's a neighborhood place all the way as parking in the 4 blocks in any direction surrounding this corner is among the most difficult in the city, I have an easier time around City Hall. But the coffee is LeColombe, the pastries good and the iced mocha drink in summer outstanding. Really a moot point for me as the last 3 times, I simply couldn't park. The pedestrians win here.
this place use to be great
WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?
someone please smile!!!
There is definitely a certain crowd that enters and exits what is called 'The Infamous and Famous Last Drop Coffeehouse'. It's been at the corner of 13th and Pine for as long as I've been attending the University of the Arts and probably longer. I do like the interior-look of it's western-woodwork and the rather huge mirror that takes up mainly the whole first wall as you enter. There is also mozzaic-styled tables to rest your cup-o-joe on. Then if you're brave, enter the hidden basement where you'll find bathrooms decored with tiles and religious figures watching you do a number two and a nice extension of seating with a beautiful stain-glass door/window giving a charm and splendor to what little else this place has to offer.
On a whole the coffee is good, as is the food, and even with the dreaded Starbucks monopoly opening it's doors little then a block right off of the busier traffic of S. Broad, the Last Drop has maintained and kept most of it's patrons and daily passer-byers.
The only problem which most people agree is the attitudes of Last Drop's employees consisting of mainly art school grads or drop-outs, some possibly from the school around the block. They are bitter and angry... Why? I can't really say. Maybe they're just not where they want to be but a job is a job right? Yes it is. But I believe there are boundaries too. Heck, even I like to wring peoples necks that just nag or really abuse 'The customer is always right!' policy. Though these guys don't even give you the opportunity to give them grief. They slam things around, stare right through you, and don't even respond to a simple 'Thank you' as they hand you your coffee. I believe if you actually touched any of these people they'd explode from all the frustration their building up over nothing important at all. You're just serving coffee guys.
The best thing about last drop is that it is cheaper than Starbucks. The coffee sometimes tastes like a liquid ash tray, but now and then it gets better.( I guess somebody cleaned the pot) The place is truly the dive of coffee houses. I never had a problem with the help. I think the terminally hip are laugh.
Cool music, good atmosphere, good coffee.
I started reading Anna Karenina there, and I'm pretty sure that the coffee shop had some effect on me, because I most certainly wasn't feeling a) defeated, b) bored, or c) self-loathing... which is how I feel about 200 pages into the novel here in SF.
A solid cup of coffee. Homemade pastries covered in saran-wrap that have been sitting in the case since Grey's Anatomy was still a good show.
Biggest pet peeve - None of the outlets work so your laptop will inevitably die within an hour of you getting there.
They open and close whenever they want, so don't expect a drink on the go in the morning... The doors are open for business but the barista tells you "We are not open yet".
They have a tip jar that says, "Making coffee is hard to do", and it clearly is because it takes them 3 times as long as anywhere else in the city even when there is not a line.
Pros- the internet ALWAYS works; making fun of the place with your friends!
Cons- VD in the potty, snotty hipster baristas, pathetic tea selection, horrible customer service, outlets are not functional, length of time it takes to place an order, no credit cards accepted
It's cheaper than Starbucks and pretty tasty in my opinion. They do only take cash only which is a drag sometimes when I just want to use my card but it's worth it for the environment. So artsy and funny. I love the art on the walls. It's a cool place and I love the seating inside. Good use of the space they have. I've never had an issue with a barista. They always have conversation and smiles with me when I'm there.
Neighborhood: Washington Square West
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Bella Vista
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Logan Square
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: South Street District
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: University City
Category: Restaurants
When procrastination got the best of me (like…
No Dunkin Donuts. We're talking freshly roasted…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Cafes that close at 4 pm suck. Here are all the…
These are my locals...pubs, coffeeshops,…
