Visit Eclipse Coffee & Books the Next Time You're in Montevallo, Alabama

Nestled in the heart of downtown Montevallo, AL, Eclipse Coffee & Books is a wonderful little coffee shop just off Highway 119. A spacious porch greets visitors, and the comfortable atmosphere of the place is obvious from the moment you walk in the door. The porch opens into a small bookstore with a fairly eclectic collection of books, including local authors and pieces of handmade art created by local artists, many of which are students at the University of Montevallo, just down the street.

The main room of the shop is large, with ample seating, though the haphazard layout of tables can make it difficult to navigate the place if there's a large crowd. An older building, Eclipse is subject to the whims of the weather, but several ceiling fans help beat back the Alabama heat and keep the place comfortable, rain or shine. Most of the tables are unfinished hardwood, and the variety of table designs combined with comfortable iron chairs lends the place an eclectic, but homey atmosphere.

On a given day, Eclipse offers a selection of three to four blends of coffee, including some unique flavors such as Blueberry Muffin or Banana Nut Bread. The coffee is reasonably priced: at the time of this writing, a large coffee costs $1.50, with refills costing fifty cents each. Also on the menu are a number of smoothies and milkshakes (including a pecan pie milkshake, described in the menu as "Yes, we really do throw in a whole slice of Priester's Pecan pie"), and the typical array of cappuccinos, lattes, mochas, and other espresso-based drinks. A selection of alcoholic drinks are also available.

For a coffee shop, Eclipse offers a surprising variety of food items, including breakfast items available all day, and-served in the evenings-quesadillas are a local favorite. Most of the food is prepared upon order, including the sandwiches - Eclipse makes an excellent grilled reuben, and every day, a selection of two soups are offered: the Chicken Tortilla soup is particularly good, as is the Chicken and Sausage gumbo. Meals are reasonably priced for a coffee shop. The food is delicious, and the staff is very friendly and eager to make recommendations about menu choices.

During the morning and daytime, Eclipse is a fairly peaceful place, and its offer of free WiFi makes it a great place to study or work over lunch. During the evenings, business picks up, and it can be hard to find a parking spot, especially on weekends. The parking lot is a little inadequate, both in space and in ease: part of the lot is dirt, and given Montevallo's frequent rains, it can be a bit muddy at times.

Events are frequent, including a weekly game night. Local artists, poets, and musicians are featured now and again, including exhibitions by some of the university's students.

Whether you just pop in for a cup of coffee or settle in for several hours of studying, Eclipse's comfortable and unique atmosphere is sure to draw you in. The excellent coffee, great food, and reasonable prices will have you coming back for more.