Avril 50, how I love thee. You’ve probably all passed it once in a while, but most of you probably haven’t ventured in. This is a mistake. Avril 50 is awesome. It’s an escape from Penn; it allows you to pretend you’re in some romantic European city. It’s small, for sure, but it’s packed full of goodies.
Photo by Amanda Shulman
It’s the only place on campus that sells a wide selection of good imported chocolate, loose tea, and coffee beans. Last week, I picked up an awesome Belgian dark chocolate bar with roasted almonds and pear, and a fantastic bag of chai tea. They’ll meet your needs, too. Need to satisfy your caffeine cravings? They’ve got you covered with excellent coffee, espresso, and cappuccinos.
Photo by Amanda Shulman
Hungry? Grab a bagel, granola bar, or sandwich. They’ve also got mini chocolate bars and individually wrapped chocolates (Baci, anyone?) and caramels. On the non-food end, they’ve got an incredible selection of postcards, vintage and foreign-language magazines and tobacco products. Admittedly, Avril 50 is not cheap. But for the occasional much-needed escape and good chocolate bar, it’s absolutely worth it.
Photo by Amanda Shulman
Address: 3406 Sansom St.
Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Sat-Sun 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.