I’ve been on for seven consecutive terms in Hanover, surviving solely on the Ivy Unlimited Plan. I’ll admit that I’ve actually come to like most of Dartmouth’s food. But I am off this term and residing at Summit, so I opted out of the meal plan and attempted to cook and sample the Upper Valley’s restaurants.
The biggest loss? My morning breakfast routine: a blueberry muffin and black coffee. It’s a tradition I’ve carried on since I was 10, when my dad would take me to Dunkin each morning before my Little League baseball games.
On campus, Novack Cafe enabled this habit. And honestly? The Novack muffin is great. It’s large, warmed up, rarely dry and reasonably filled with blueberries. The coffee, on the other hand, is passable at best. Bitter, watered down, overpriced. Not worth the trouble, especially when living off-campus.
Thus my quest for Hanover’s finest black coffee and muffin combination began. The guidelines: no cream, no sugar and only muffins — no Nutella-slathered cupcakes pretending to be breakfast. I visited five local establishments, rated their muffin and coffee by taste, vibe and if they provided me any joy and energy prior to 9 a.m.
5. Umpleby’s Bakery and Café: 3.5/10
Umpleby’s has all the makings of an A-tier cafe: cozy interior, welcoming staff and an ambience perfect for banging out a 2,000 word paper. Not to mention, the food is great! Their sandwiches are among the best in town.
So imagine my shock when their muffin was ... stale. At 8 a.m., no less. It was completely dry, hard and had barely any blueberries. The coffee was a little better — strong with a good roast — but it had a strange, almost burnt aftertaste that lingered too long.
I still love Ump’s, and you should too. Their sandwiches and atmosphere are both excellent … just maybe skip the muffin and coffee.
4. My Brigadeiro: 6/10
Here’s where I’ll begin: I love My Brig. It is not, however, trying to be a coffee shop — and that’s okay. The atmosphere is more boutique bakery: almost too bright, slightly cramped, and featuring an unusual color scheme that almost makes me feel as if I’ve stumbled onto the set of a Wes Anderson movie — not ideal for a casual 8 a.m. coffee.
If you’re there for a sweet treat or sandwiches, this is an excellent spot. But if you’re trying to find that quiet corner to sip coffee and gather your thoughts before class? Not so much.
Their muffin — blackberry lemon, instead of blueberry — was fine. It was a bit light on the berries, but decently moist. Not great, but not memorable. The coffee, however, was fantastic — smooth, bold and surprisingly better than most dedicated coffee shops.
Ultimately, My Brigadeiro wasn’t made for the nostalgia I’m chasing, but it’s a nice enough little spot to visit when you’re seeking a more alternative, bright vibe in the morning.
3. Dirt Cowboy Café: 8/10
Dirt Cowboy has always felt like Hanover’s most mysterious coffee shop. You walk in to burlap sacks of coffee on the ground, small walkways, minimal seating and frequently, the cutest little dog greeting you at the door. It isn’t set up for lingering with a laptop, but the experience still earns a solid B.
The muffin itself was irregularly shaped — flat and broader than normal — but tasty nonetheless. Moist, loaded with blueberries, and containing just the right amount of sweetness, it was easily one of the best-tasting muffins on the list.
The coffee, though, did not stand up to its competitors. It wasn’t bad, it was just forgettable: slightly bitter, watery and lacking the richness I’d expect from a legit coffee shop. Compared to Still North or The Nest, the coffee simply doesn’t cut it. Where Dirt Cowboy lacked in coffee, though, it made up for in charm. I would’ve rated it a seven, but the impossibly adorable dog brought it up to an eight.
2. Still North Books & Bar: 9/10
If I could start each day at Still North, I would. It’s the ideal combination of productive energy and creative calm. The atmosphere is a nice mix of readers, students studying and quiet conversation. Whenever I enter Still North, I immediately feel more productive, even when I go on to do absolutely nothing.
The coffee was excellent: smooth, dark and complex. No notes. The muffin, however, has a catch. They get them from King Arthur Baking Co., so they’re only available on specific days. If you know when to stop by, you’ll be rewarded with an amazing muffin — light, not too sweet and filled with real, juicy blueberries. Unfortunately, the irregular availability prevents it from getting a perfect score. It’s difficult to build a morning routine around something that isn’t always there.
1. Lou’s Restaurant and Bakery: 10/10
Lou’s is exactly what you’d picture if you were to imagine a small-town diner. Yes, there’s always a line. Yes, it’s packed. No, you’re not going to get any work done. Once you’re inside, the extremely friendly staff zips around with the speed and efficiency that only comes from decades of good business, and the whole place hums with a kind of old-fashioned charm that makes it feel like a genuine piece of Hanover history.
The muffin was perfect. It was golden, warm and generously studded with real blueberries that didn’t all sink to the bottom. Fluffy on the inside, with a delicate crisp on top, it becomes the standard by which all muffins I will have in the future are judged. The coffee, served in a classic white mug, is rich, hot and reliably strong. Nothing fancy, just good comfort to start your day.
If you’ve got some time, take a seat at the counter and soak it all in. Between the coffee, food and atmosphere, it’s easy to see why the Lou’s Challenge — and Lou’s itself — is legendary here in Hanover.
Final Thoughts
What first began as a quest to find a Novack replacement became something much more meaningful. I wasn’t just looking for a better muffin or coffee, I was seeking that comforting feeling of routine, quirkiness of the day with something I could count on. There was magic in each of the stops: the eccentricity of Dirt Cowboy, the refined focus of Still North, the charming warmth of Lou’s. Novack will almost certainly return to my default once I’m back on a meal plan, but now I know where to go when I’m craving something more special. And while Lou’s may have been my top pick overall, I came away from Main Street with the realization that every spot offers its own kind of charm.
