"Yall. Simply the best pastries and coffee I’ve had in quite some time! Went to Black Mountain to celebrate my birthday with my daughter & sister. We ordered one of every pastry and had a taste test of 3 items and took home the rest. THEY WERE AMAZING!! The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, the staff friendly and attentive, and the pastries tasted like they came from a French pastry shop. Will definitely be back soon!"

"We just stopped by Recess Coffee — super cute and cozy spot. From the bakery, we tried a couple pastries with rhubarb and something else — really tasty. Loved that the jam was made with real fruit, not just super-sweet jelly. The pastries themselves were soft and fresh. We also got two cortados — really good, nice balance, perfectly done. Service was friendly, nothing to complain about. The vibe was great too — cozy seating inside, outdoor tables, and even a small kids’ play area. Overall, really liked it here. Definitely planning to come back."

"My wife and I randomly dropped into Recess today on a whim as we visited the area. There was a line out the door at 11 am on a Sunday morning! I’m glad we stayed in line, as the coffee and pastries we got were well worth standing in line for. Today was apparently a Halloween themed week, where all the pastries were inspired by Harry Potter, which was a fun special touch. Also, we got a freshly baked loaf of sourdough bread to go, which was nothing short of amazing! And to top it off, the employees were super friendly, including the store owner, who chit chatted with us for a minute as she prepared bread for the next day. Whenever we come back to the Black Mountain area, we will definitely swing by Recess for coffee and pastries!"

"Simple and satisfying. Love the rustic and welcoming environment plus their playful take on a playful school recess theme. Simple menus excite me because it often means there’s a focus on doing few things excellent vs offering too many options. I love their pour over and fresh baked goods. If you’re in Black Mountain, you’ll become a regular and even if you are just passing through - you need to stop!"

"Mid-run snack, it’s a nice cozy cafe with a good selection of pastries to choose from. The interior had a lot of wooden furniture that gave it a mountainous feeling. The sun-dried tomato quiche was a bit saltier than I expected but the flavors balanced out. Almond croissant had a crunch to it, I would say it’s on the slightly sweeter side but delicious nonetheless. I would 100% recommend stopping by here if you come to Asheville."