Hopscotch Hipster Adventure

More than just experiencing new places, I love being able to travel. So last weekend Luke and I visited his home in Winchester, Virginia. An hour outside of Washington DC, Winchester is found in the Shenandoah Valley of northern VA. The area is surrounded by low mountains, beautiful forests, and deep history.

I have been excited to review Hopscotch Coffee & Records since I first got the idea for this blog. The shop is ranked among the top local coffee shops in Winchester (Check out this blog post on Discover Winchester to find more local coffee shops in the area).

Hopscotch is conveniently located just outside of the historic downtown area, and it is the hip, go-to coffee shop for millennial Winchester locals—it was also Luke’s high school hang out spot, so it was fun to see where he spent his time.

Atmosphere

Hopscotch is hipster in every sense of the word—unconventional, trendy but not mainstream, different, stylish, independent.

When you first enter, an inviting counter and chalkboard menu surrounded by corrugated metal walls set the mood and style of the coffee shop. Off on the left is a small, quiet seating area with a window bar, couch, and a table. The mid-century modern furniture combined with wood walls and rustic decorations give the room a western desert vibe. The look is completed with plants necessary for any hipster oasis.

Downstairs is a completely different setting. Collections of tables and couches make it the perfect place to study or just hang out. Edison bulb string lights draped from the uncovered ceiling beams shed a soft light on the extensive collection of framed prints and posters.

Oh! One aspect I haven’t addressed yet—an entire record store is housed in the corner of the downstairs. Cubed shelves filled with record after record line the tall walls. You could spend hours browsing the collection and talking to the owner about his passion for it.

The lower level has the feel of a semi-finished basement or garage turned into a hipster music hub (with an old pin ball machine added into the aesthetic). The homey-hip atmosphere encourages people to stay, relax with their music, and enjoy their coffee.

Drinks & Prices

Speaking of coffee, Hopscotch knows how to do it right. They sell their own roasts from Lone Oak Coffee, focusing on the rich flavor of pure, well-made coffee (that’s what I was told at least, and Luke agreed). Plus, I love the way fresh coffee makes a space smell.

Moving toward the chocolate side of things—Hopscotch has especially good mochas but only okay hot chocolate. I guess that just goes to show how focused they are on coffee quality.

In terms of price, Hopscotch is inexpensive for straight black coffee, but definitely on the expensive side for more specialty drinks.

So. Do you like good coffee? Hipster vibes? Vintage, vinyl records? If you’re ever in Winchester, you should definitely check it out.