Happy Creek Coffee & Tea

Happy Creek is a nice stopping point if you’re going to Shenandoah or Skyline drive. My friend and I were just getting back from a hike in the mountains where we spotted a black bear (!) We were too in awe of the beautiful creature to take a pic. Too bad, so sad. With the lovely memory in the backlog of our minds, we headed to the café for a pick-​me-​up.
Lo and behold, we were delighted to find that the bear took shape in my cappuccino! The friendly barista made a lovely milk outline of a bear. The cuteness alone about slayed me. I would’ve given her 5 stars for her creativity and patience.
One mistake, though — I ordered the cap with almond milk instead of whole milk (my bad?!) thinking it would be somewhat healthier. Never do it for health. The cap turned out gritty in texture with a slight burnt aftertaste. Need to go back again and see if the bitter burnt-​ness was just a consequence of almond milk, or if they really make their coffee like that all the time.
Tea on the other hand was a different story. We also ordered the Royal Fog, yum! It’s a tall, steaming mug of frothy Earl grey milk tea. Delicious and unique in taste.
Seating is all wood furniture (no cushy loveseats a la starbucks tho); there’s also free wifi. I sat here for a while to get some work done. They also have a few board games for you to pick up on the side.
Baked goods, chai, kombucha, hot choco and coffee beans are also available.

I have enough coffee in my body at all times that I could probably caffeinate people in a 5 foot radius just by having them stand in my presence. With that being said, you can probably guess I love coffee, and Happy Creek could possibly be my new home if I ever decide to move to Front Royal.
First is their menu — they do not mess around here. Fresh roasted beans, unique, meticulously crafted drinks, and even nitrogen iced coffee, all in the most unassuming looking building in Front Royal. They let me pick my variety of coffee bean for my pour over and oh did my taste buds sing when I had my first sip. The joy of a simple, well made pour over is something more people should enjoy. The coffee was like velvet in my mouth — complex, fruity, dark and rich but not a bit burnt. After trying a perfect pour over like they do here, you will start to question every Starbucks cup you’ve ever had. In addition to coffee and espresso drinks, they also have a variety of gluten free baked goods as well as an oatmeal and greek yogurt station where you can build your own bowl. I did not get to try those but they did look good.
As I mentioned earlier, the shop is very unassuming from the outside. I almost drove by it when I was looking for it. Inside, however, you will find a large seating area, cozy, rich wood covering the walls, and a very knowledgeable staff. Drinks do take a little longer to make as they are all fresh made, so do be mindful of that. As for value, my large pour over was about $ 4 which is more than your run of the mill coffee shop, but if you saw me sing their praises earlier, it is well worth it. They also offer a discount for a Unilocal check-​in so cheers to that. If you are in the area and need a place to work, relax, or just grab a pick-​me-​up, Happy Creek Coffee & Tea is a top choice.

Such a cute place to hang out and catch up on work. Plenty of seating unlike the large coffee chains and the coffee is great! Pour overs are recommended.

HANDS DOWN the best coffee I’ve had in my life. This is a huge honor seeing as every night I go to sleep I get excited knowing that when I wake up I get to drink coffee. Coffee is my life and I am huge snob. I don’t even live near front royal but have been here twice after camping in Shenandoah. But I would drive from DC to here just for their drip coffee. All it needs is cream. Its heaven in a cup

Craft cold brew coffee … on a nitro tap! Who knew? All the fun of watching your Guinness settle with the kick of a little caffeine.
For a sweeter treat that I haven’t seen anywhere else order the Valencia.

The BEST coffee house in Front Royal! The atmosphere is amazing with all the wood and reclaimed/​recycled tables & chairs. I love the local art featured on the walls and the staff is a step beyond friendly and knowledgeable. They know what drink is my «usual» and always serve it with a smile. Brandon is my favorite barista and never fails to surprise me with the décor on my mocha. The owner’s are a great couple and are genuinely grateful for you business and happy to see me when I come for my coffee break :)

Since moving to the area my husband and I love coming in for sunday afternoon tea. We enjoy the tea selection and cozy atmosphere. It’s the only place in town that is open past 3pm for afternoon tea and coffee which we appreciate. We recommend a wider selection on cakes and pies although we enjoy the ones we tried so far. It all tastes truly homemade. We will be back.

What a great coffee shop. Very cozy, with wonderful live music nights. They have an extensive list of drinks, including smoothies and at least 5 types of hot chocolate. It’s built in what I think was a barn. Very friendly staff also. I strongly recommend it.

High quality coffee, that’s for sure. Kids ordered $ 4 hot chocolates which were pretty fancy but not hot enough. Vegan pastry was good. 4 drinks and a pastry was $ 18. It wasn’t THAT good. I do appreciate it as a beacon of good coffee and ideas in the area but it’s borderline just too much money for what you get.

Fantastic coffee and service. Was surprised to find it! Will definitely come back next time I am in Front Royal.

Charming homey country café with an amazing offering. Wonderful oatmeal bar with great toppings by weight. Paleo HCT coffee, homemade baked goods that are GF AND taste great! Free wifi and entertainment and in house toasters make this a winning place. Really glad I came here and didn’t go to one of the greasy spoons in town.

I visited with my husband after a friend recommended the coffee shop to us. Happy Creek Coffee has a great selection of coffee styles. I tried the Valencia coffee (espresso, mocha, and almond milk topped with orange zest). Coffee was delicious. My husband had and was not a fan of the coffee on tap. The atmosphere was cozy for a coffee shop, with a well thought out layout. We will visit this place again.
My one recommendation is hospitality — greeting guests as soon as they walk in the door and connecting with guests, making them feel comfortable will encourage customers to return on a more regular basis. I didn’t get this when I visited.

Best coffee shop this world traveler has been to in a long time, if not ever. Cozy atmosphere, incredible variety of drink options, and friendly owner. In addition to their organic ingredients, they also make their own flavoring vs the artificially flavored syrups you find elsewhere. This is my new go-​to coffee shop.

Fantastic iced coffee! They have their cold brew coffee «on tap» with a forced nitrogen system. While it’s already chilled — I like my cold brew coffee to stay really cold — so I asked them to serve it over ice — which they did — and then added some Half n’ Half to it. Delicious!
The whole place has this cool rustic vibe to it — lots of raw, exposed wood. I felt like perhaps I should have been in the far Canadian Northwood!
The staff was very nice! Love this place!

Happy Creek Coffee & Tea is a coffee shop in a historic building, off of High Street. When you walk inside, it feels like a hip place, with the rustic wood décor, bulk wooden bins filled with various coffee beans, a little dessert case featuring muffins & biscottis, and a menu of cold/​hot beverages (including kombucha). I tried the Valencian (espresso, mocha, and almond milk, topped with orange zest; this was pretty okay, and I loved the orange zest aroma (but you could hardly taste it in the drink); the Royal Fog (almond milk, Earl Gray Tea, and honey; this was pretty okay, too, but it was more honey-​focused); and one of the Sipping Chocolate (the Chocolate Chai; this was actually extremely bitter, as I think it was more dark chocolate-​based; there was a hint of chai spices, but I thought the hot chocolate would be a bit more decadent and creamy). All the drinks take time, as it seems as if each is made with such care. There are plenty of seating in the adjoining room, and it even has a stage area for live music (just check their mini calendar by the cashier). The staff were friendly, and there are some spaces to park your car (just make sure you watch out for cars, as you will be backing out onto the main road)!
+friendly staff
+each beverage takes a little time to be made
+coffee beans in bulk available
+live music

A great place for delicious, slow-​brewed coffee. They also have steel cut oats and plenty of treats to keep your hunger at bay. Don’t like hot coffee? Try their cold brew on tap.

Happy Creek was recommended by a friend who knows my love for microroasters and good coffee. Barista/​roaster Brandon has a passion for coffee and shared the story behind the beans we were drinking. The pourovers and oatmeal bar were great although I wish they had more fresh fruit out. Brandon gave us samples of the cold brew which was SO refreshing. I bought a bag of the Ethiopia beans which were VERY reasonably priced at $ 12/​lb.
The shop itself is super charming and full of history. It’s an old barn from the 1800s turned into a roastery/​café. A great space for the live music they have on some nights. All of their products are locally sourced and they have a great relationship with the community. If you want to support local business/​economy and have great coffee, this is the place to go!

Oatmeal, granola, organic yogurt, and organic coffee and espresso beans roasted onsite. Staff extremely friendly and the place super hip. Make it a point to stop in if you are nearby.

What a lovely place to have a mid afternoon break!
The barista have us great suggestions, everything they make is with perfection and attention to the details just like the old days!
The best coffee place I’ve ever been!

My friend recommended I come here after she’d enjoyed a lovely breakfast with her husband the day before. I made the mistake of not googling Happy Creek Coffee and so was disappointed by the food offerings. It was around lunch time and wanted something other than oatmeal or a salad. I had the oats and yogurt with berries and an oatmeal peanut butter cookie. The cookie was really good, but I didn’t particularly care for the taste of the yogurt. I also ordered a tea and initially thought the loose tea compartment was super cool, until as I neared the end of my beverage, it tipped back and I got a mouth full of loose tea leaves.
The service was really good, but not good enough to make up for the food (or lack thereof) or the tea mishap. All in all, it wasn’t a good experience. If you’re in the mood for an oatmeal bar then this is your place, but if you have celiac or another gluten allergy, and wish to eat regular GF modified food, this is not your place.