Bollo's Cafe & Bakery - Blacksburg, VA
Summary
Bollo’s Café & Bakery is a coffeeshop in Blacksburg, VA. It is walking distance from Virginia Tech. Also, it offers a lively, cozy atmosphere, good service, and great food. Their tea selection is incredible and their prices are very affordable.
Food Overall
Service
Atmosphere
Location
Value for Money
Overall
What I Ordered
Oatmeal Fudge Bar
The oatmeal fudge bar is a huge square of a sheet bake, composed quite literally of oatmeal and milk chocolate fudge. It is very hearty and filling. Also, the oat fudge bar is not overly sweet and is a little on the drier side, so it is great paired with tea or coffee. Overall, the bar is like an elevated granola bar made from scratch.
Black Velvet Hot Tea
Black Velvet tea is one of the numerous loose-leaf tea options at Bollo’s. The tea bag is filled fresh to order and they are very generous with their filling. If you order to-go it is served in a normal paper cup, but if you order dine-in they offer mugs. You can get one free refill of hot water. Moreover, the black velvet tea is an extremely unique blend I have never found anywhere else. The prominent components of the flavor are licorice and mint. It is a very fresh, yet rich flavor with a lot of depth. I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys the taste of licorice.
Overall Food
Overall, Bollo’s offers a variety of freshly made baked goods and well-crafted beverages. They also offer gluten free baked goods. Their offerings change regularly and include items like muffins, bars, and cinnamon rolls. Additionally, the quality of the food was very good. Also, I was impressed by the huge tea selection and large servings. They have an extensive selection including classic staples as well as highly unusual teas.
Service
There is one employee that acts as the cashier and barista at Bollos. The gal working during my visit was incredibly friendly and bubbly. She took my order and prepared it very quickly. I thought she offered great service.
Atmosphere
Size
Bollo’s is a very small coffee shop with about 15 table tightly arranged. There are several tables available outside as well.
Who Goes Here?
Customers include college students and faculty, as well as some older townsfolk. It is an artsy crowd.
Overall Atmosphere
Bollos is a highly eclectic cozy café. It building is older and shabby. The décor is a hodgepodge of industrial features of the building, local art, and miscellaneous cushions, tables, and chairs. The café is jam packed with tables and seating. Though it is congested it feels homey and cozy. The street in front to the shop is currently sectioned off as a walking mall with additional outdoor seating and frequent live music.
Inside, the cash register, barista counter, and bakery window are at the front of the store and the bakery and kitchen are at the back of the store. They have board games and books available to borrow while you visit. The overall atmosphere is very warm and creative. There is a pleasant, jovial, yet quiet hustle and bustle through the café. The crowd that frequents Bollos is very artistic, liberal, and inclusive. It would be a great place to work on the computer, read, or visit with friends.
Location
Bollo’s Café and Bakery is a coffeeshop in downtown Blacksburg, VA one block away from the Virginia Tech campus. It is a great location to walk to from campus or the bus stop. However, there is not easy parking available nearby. The café is in a central location next to many shops, restaurants, and entertainment.
Interested in finding places to eat in Blacksburg, VA?
Value for money
Bollos offer very good value for your money. Bollos has maintained extremely affordable pricing that is a fraction of a cafe like Starbucks. They have a variety of baked goods made from scratch and handcrafted beverages. They also offer unique tea varieties and pastries, as well as gluten free options. Overall, they are an incredible deal.
Overall
Overall, Bollo’s Café & Bakery is a fantastic cozy coffeeshop in Blacksburg, VA. The café is close to Virginia Tech and offers low prices and good quality food and drinks. They have a unique eclectic comfortable atmosphere. I would recommend Bollo’s to anyone looking for a great artsy café atmosphere, a nice snack, or a great beverage. Also, I highly recommend Bollo’s for tea lovers.
