Coffee & Treats in Coeur d'Alene

The Scoop's friendly staff welcomes visitors into its shop under hand-painted and cut-steel lettered signs, which hint at the quirky small-scale philosophy that earned the shop praise from the Pacific Northwest Inlander. The beloved neighborhood treatery serves 16 rotating, unique small-batch ice-cream flavors from local Brain Freeze Creamery. Customers savor scoops of ice cream piled into cups or handmade waffle cones; but rather than traditional vanilla and chocolate, they experience flavors as eclectic as horchata, Malties Falcon, Freshly Minted, and lemon blueberry custard. To complement the frozen treats, the menu presents Roast House coffee, The Flying Pig baked goods, Belgian liege waffles layered with toppings such as yogurt and bacon, cranberry-turkey sandwiches, and roasted-red-pepper paninis. Many items are vegan or gluten-free.

Even though Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory has locations throughout the world, it still maintains the small-town candy-store feel envisioned by its creator and CEO, Frank Crail. Crail founded the original location in his adopted hometown of Durango, Colorado, filling the sweet-smelling space with homey accents, such as candy-making demonstrations and games of Pin the Tail on the Chocolatier. Behind the counter, staffers roll fresh granny smith apples in dense caramel and mold lumps of rich fudge on old-style marble slabs. Other fresh confections include mint bark, chocolate-dipped pretzels, and boxed chocolates.

Dealing primarily in drive-up and delivery service, Renee's Espresso and Delivery's small yet robust storefront dishes out a menagerie of café beverages and breakfast and lunch edibles. Intensely smooth coffees such as seven different mochas complement sultry chai teas and refreshing fruit smoothies. A smattering of bagels and pastries tends to appetites, and breakfast burritos, BLTs, and house clubs satisfy through breakfast time and lunch space, which Einstein’s equations explained in plain terms.

Shakespeare’s Corner Shoppe imports products from across the pond and welcomes neighbors for afternoon tea, served daily with finger sandwiches and cakes. An extensive online and in-store inventory spans everything from canned jellies, curds, and jams to animal collars patterned with the British flag. Should an item of desire elude shoppers or Sherlock Holmes, store associates occasionally place special orders. The tea experts stock a selection of English bone china, which is available to purchase or rent for an at-home garden party or a sophisticated rave. The store's quaint outdoor patio is home to daily afternoon tea, a British tradition that the crew has modernized to include vegetarian and sugar- or gluten-free delicacies.

Tea is said to lower stress, boost alertness, and taste like tea. Loosen your leaves at The Random Tea Room & Curiosity Shop, a zen-steeped Northern Liberties tea shop abrew with artisanal teas, house-blended herbal infusions, baked goods, French-press Old City Coffee, vintage goods, and locally made jewelry. This Groupon gets you $10 worth of anything in the shop for just $5.

Though Pastry and More opened in 2010, owners Andy Renfrew and his sister-in-law Becky have been baking for decades. Andy spent years working at a local bakeshop while whipping up specialty cakes for family and friends in his free time. After collaborating with Becky on baking projects, the duo of skilled chefs decided to spearhead their own bakery where they would use their expertise to craft a variety of specialty cakes and baked goods. The team stacks their display cases each day with creamy cheesecakes, savory meat and veggie quiches, and an assortment of sweet pastries—including their signature orange rolls. The bakers like to flex their culinary creativity when it comes to specialty cakes, mixing fresh eggs, dairy, and premium ingredients into towering ornamental wedding cakes, cheerful, brightly colored 3-D birthday cakes, and lifelike, jelly-filled effigies of a customer’s favorite Brady Bunch cast member.