Have you heard of City Java & News?

Located near the corner of Carteret and Port Republic streets in historic downtown Beaufort, the spot is a great place to grab a cup of coffee on the way into work, or take a quick break on a walking tour of the downtown area and historic Point.

Stephanie Fairbanks, general manager of the adjoining City Loft Hotel, remarks that “there’s just a really nice energy in the coffee shop. There’s a fresh vibe and it’s very cheerful.”

The coffee blends are provided by Island Coffee. Four regular coffees are available including a “Sunrise,” french roast, decaf, and Costa Rica organic. There’s also a fifth including a regularly changing seasonal blend — presently “Flores Bajawa Ngura.”

Bottled water, organic no-sugar added juices, and cane-sugar sodas are also available.

A staple of muffins, biscotti, cookies, cupcakes, cinnamon roles, and a 72-layer biscuit with ham and cheese is offered.

For lunch a number of sandwiches, chips, and soups are offered.

There’s plenty of space with a sidewalk patio, and rear conference room that can be reserved for privative meetings with advance notice.

And don’t forget that free Wi-Fi internet is always on.

If you’re in need of a classic breakfast on any day of the week in downtown Beaufort, there’s always one place you can go: Blackstone’s.

Monday through Sunday you can get a two-egg breakfast with hash browns, toast, coffee, and a generous tip for well under $10 at this classic spot at 205 Scott Street.

But they’ve got lots of other things to offer including pancakes, french toast, omelets and more. If you stick around later in the day you can give their sandwich and soup lunch menu a go.

What’s even better is that the spot and its garden courtyard are not even two blocks from the City Loft Hotel.

Check out more photos of Blackstone’s below.

The blue room.

I’m still learning about the City Loft Hotel in Beaufort, S.C., and to get to know it a bit better I spent a night at the spot just off Carteret Street. I also realize that you, dear reader, might also be new to the hotel, so I thought I’d share what a stay at Beaufort’s only boutique hotel is like.

First the hotel is pretty easy to find, just a block from the Waterfront Park. When you arrive you likely notice the coffee shop, City Java and News, and I love the exterior with its chairs for reading or catching a bit of the afternoon sun.

The City Java and News coffee shop off Carteret Street.

To check in you’ll walk upstairs to the checkin lobby that has a great photo of the Beaufort River and the Woods Memorial Bridge that was taken by John Wollwerth of La Bella Vita Photography.

A lovely photo of downtown Beaufort is featured in the lobby.

Checking in is an expedient process and you’ll get an electronic room key and then someone will show you to the room and give you a rundown on the amenities.

The modern interior and subtle color scheme will first grab your eye, then the king size memory-foam toped beds, a wall mounted and adjustable flat screen TV is next.

The Flat screen TV in the room is wall mounted and adjustable.

The bathroom is outstanding, featuring both a stand-up shower with four pivoting shower heads and a spacious tub from which you can watch a second flat screen TV that resides in the bathroom.

As for room service you can have any of the items from the coffee shop City Java delivered to your room (that includes all types of hot drinks, sandwiches, juices, soups, and even wine and champagne.) They’ll also deliver from a number of nearby restaurants (which are some of, if not the best restaurants in town.)

I particularly enjoyed having fresh coffee readily available and the multitude of dining options within a few hundred feet of the restaurant (I particularly love the burgers on Wren’s gourmet menu.)

Loved the pivotable shower heads in the walk in shower.

After a leisurely wake-up, I was able to make good use of the fantastic shower before walking just a block-and-a-half to a breakfast spot loved by the Beaufortonians, Blackstone’s.

The only downside to a stay is that the in-room amenities might keep you in the room and not out enjoying all the history, dining, and sight seeing options of historic downtown Beaufort.