Villanova University

Ok, so it's not actually a coffeehouse...but it does have a very nice coffeehouse inside! Most people in Pennsylvania have probably heard of Villanova. It's a private Catholic university in southeastern PA near Philadelphia. Given the number of Joe Sestak stickers I don't think it's exactly a religious Catholic school, but they do have pride in their roots. It's one of the universities that I'm considering going to to get my masters degree in liberal arts. The price seemed reasonable, or maybe I'm just getting jaded. After all, with Corbett in the governor's office, the funding for state universities is set to drop, meaning that as far as price is concerned there won't be much difference between a state university and a private one.

Anyhow, the coffeehouse in question is inside the main dining hall of the student union building, though I heard that there are branches of it in other parts of the campus. The rain was heavy that day, so I was in little mood to explore! It's called the Holy Grounds coffeehouse (those Catholic roots showing again) and it's certainly better than the Starbucks that's crammed into the Shippensburg University library. The ladies at the counter were nice, and they even grind the beans on the spot! Not bad for a college joint. The coffee was strong...a bit too strong for my taste, but then again I don't have finals to study for. Yet.

Definitely make this place a stopping spot if you ever visit Villanova. In fact, if you're looking to sample what the Boston-Washington megalopolis has to offer culture-wise without actually getting into true urban areas, then the Philly suburbs are a good place to explore. Just take money.

Coffee: Three Mugs
Atmosphere: Three Mugs