Now that my primary focus is finishing my Master’s degree, I am determined to visit a different local coffee shop each week. I decided to scope out The Monroe in Downtown Orlando to see whether or not it’ll be a good study/work environment.
The Monroe is described on their website as a dining and entertainment space, which is one of the first things you notice when you arrive. The space is massive with a restaurant, coffee bar, and restaurant bar. There are several tables in each space and an outdoor patio (now complete with a beautiful mural) that will be great in the evenings. The location of The Monroe is what is now referred to as Creative Village, and right next to the UCF/Valencia downtown campus. What makes the location unique is that The Monroe is actually located on the ground floor of The Julian Apartments. Imagine living right above a good coffee bar, especially in Central Florida!
Another fascinating tidbit is that The Monroe is inspired by civil rights leader Dr. William “Monroe” Wells. Since the restaurant is right near Parramore, it’s nice to see the infusion of culture/history and nice to know that The Monroe proudly supports the Wells’Built Museum.
Coffee Bar
The coffee bar is open from 8 AM to 4 PM, while the restaurant offers lunch from 11 AM to 3 PM and dinner from 5 to 10 PM. The beans you’ll find here are from Counter Culture Coffee, and there’s a solid selection of teas if you’re not a coffee drinker. I got a matcha latte that was pretty good, and my best friend got the ‘Undivided Attention,’ which is black iced tea, vanilla syrup, orange bitters, heavy cream, and cinnamon. She said it was great!
Parking
I feel like I’d be doing a disservice without mentioning the parking options since they aren’t posted anywhere that I could find before going. There is street parking available right across from The Monroe. There’s also parallel parking and a public parking garage around the corner; both for a fee. The parallel parking around the corner is slightly cheaper than the parking garage if you can manage to get a spot.
Overall Experience: 5/5
This might be due to the fact that there were very few people in the space at the time, but I loved the midcentury modern vibe and the coffee/tea-based drinks at The Monroe. I’m looking forward to going back to try their Café Con Leche while getting some work done! You can find more information on The Monroe’s website and a more thorough guide to the restaurant on one of my favorite blogs, LemonHearted.
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