14 TH

E

IM

PR

OP

ER

B

OS

TO

NI

AN

CA

FE

BY

SA

LO

N: M

OV

E M

OU

NT

AIN

CO

.

These new spots offer a little something extra with their coffee. / Cathryn Haight

BEAN THERE, DONE THAT

In the BlackEver since the eighth grade, Samantha Kane has had her heart set on cutting hair and, after nearly nine years in the biz, the mane maven has blown past that dream with Blackroom. The South End spot, which debuted in March, eschews the sterile salon aesthetic in favor of black walls, warm wood accents and touches of gold on floor-length mirrors and Moroccan lanterns. Kane hopes Blackroom’s interior will be a cozy spot where customers can treat their tresses to cuts, coloring and hair extensions in addition to services such as eyebrow shaping and makeup application and lessons. What makes Blackroom a bit rare, however, is its gender-less pricing—based instead on time, skill and amount of hair. On her hopes for the salon, Kane says: “We just want to be ourselves, give you good hair and laugh a little in the process.” / Cathryn Haight

Blackroom Salon, 61 Berkeley St., Boston (617-426-2525) blackroomsalon.com

COFFEE + INTERIOR DESIGNInspired by the French parlors of the Gertrude Stein era where notable arts and literary influencers would meet, Beacon Hill’s Cafe by Salon is only one facet of interior design studio Salon—which is filled to the brim with curated treasures from 67 global designers and makers. The coffee bar, decked out with leathered marble counters and a palm frond light fixture, holds its own against the other eye-catching curiosities. Habitués can savor a macadamia milk cortado, made with beans from Portland’s Tandem Coffee Roasters, while lounging on vintage and modern furniture for sale and sam-pling pastries baked by the South End’s Café Madeleine. “We want customers to feel like they are entering someone’s home when they come to Salon,” founder Amanda Pratt says. “We want them to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee while trying out a chair that could easily be a work of art, or browsing through beautiful one-of-a-kind pieces sourced from across the world.”

126 Charles St., Boston (857-449-3970) salondesign.us

COFFEE + LIVE MUSICHoping to fill what he saw as a need for an all-day/all-night gathering place in Roslin-dale, Anthony Giordano was inspired by Back Bay’s late Other Side Cafe and his love of live music when he opened the Square Root in February. Patrons can line up at the brightly colored spot’s striated bar during mornings and afternoons to enjoy beverages crafted with Sudbury-based Karma Coffee—Giordano recommends a simple espresso—as well as treats like pastries and breakfast sand-wiches. In the evening, the space—adorned with local art—transforms into a bistro that serves small plates and slings wine and beer. On his vision for the venue, Giordano says: “A place for the community to meet, enjoy great food and drink in a cool space surrounded by art and music.”

2 Corinth St., Boston (617-477-3392) squarerootrozzie.com

COFFEE + BEERAs far back as 2014, beer wasn’t the only thing brewing at Night Shift. The gang would sip pour-over coffees and talk specialty beans in the early morning hours while crafting their first batch of beer. Now at the newly minted West End taproom, Night Shift Roasters boasts beans roasted in-house and a funky interior

inspired by the brand’s beer labels. Customers can sip the staff-favorite cortado before noshing on breakfast sammies like the avocado, egg and cheese on brioche and then washing it down with some suds when the adjacent taproom opens at 11 am. “Craft coffee should be delicious and complex, but it doesn’t need to be intimidating or pretentious,” says Michael Oxton, who founded the company with Mike O’Mara and Rob Burns. “That’s what we strive for in craft beer, and we are thrilled to bring that ethos to Night Shift Roasting.”

1 Lovejoy Wharf, Boston (617-456-7687) nightshiftfamily.com

For even more coffee, head to newcomer Ripple-House Cafe, which set down roots in Dorchester in February after a year as a pop-up. Owners James Guerrier and Elle Ducheine are crafting hot and iced drinks made with Counter Culture coffee and planning future partnerships with local businesses and charities.

Night Shift Roasters

Cafe by Salon

April10_CoffeeSalonMiniExtra.indd 14 4/4/19 6:50 PM