The ELEVATOR PITCH
She’s the kind of gal who is the embodiment of peace and serenity. She’s that homebase at a large party when you just need a break from small talk. She makes you feel like you can chill on your phone in your PJ’s and veg out without worrying about awkward silences or pregnant pauses.
When you step onto Sumaq’s premises, you are immediately teleported to an oasis of greenery, rattan accents, light wood, and black lettering on frosted glass inspired by her Peruvian roots. Sumaq holds an authority that counters the chaotic bustle that is South Tryon Street, her confident presence carving out a beautifully crafted space that inspires encounters, conversations, and connection. Her kitchen churns out beautifully crafted food whose flavors are true and deep, with drinks that are smooth and nuanced. Every nook is soft sunlight and bright vibes, making Sumaq the perfect location to work remotely (there is an extended side room for collaboration), get creative, or grab an aesthetic photo.
Sumaq is, through-and-through, a high-quality catch that none of us deserve to find. The only flaw that mars her perfection is that the new WiFi isn’t consistent, and since we like to co-work in other spaces, we don’t come here as much… 😢
menu items
Reviews on the munchies pictured above:
Moccacino: delicious mocha flavor with a thick milk cap; would definitely order this again! (rating: 9/10)
Matcha Lemonade: refreshing, not too sweet, seriously perfect for a hot summer day. The matcha flavor was light, and didn’t over power the drink. (rating: 9.5/10)
Vegan Strawberry Cake: a wonderfully moist cake that is very much strawberry, in a non-artificial way. Not too sweet and very enjoyable (rating: 9/10)
Alfajores: dulce de leche filling in between shortbread cookies. The flavor profile was good, but I personally don’t prefer the texture of a lot shortbread in a dessert (it gets so crumbly), so wouldn’t be something I order often. (rating: 5/10)
Reviews on the munchies pictured above:
Wasi House: didn’t expect the chicken to be shredded, otherwise, the flavor profile was interesting and tasty with the pineapple and sauce that was used! (rating: 7.5/10)
Wallpa Quad: also didn’t expect the chicken salad vibe, the menu description doesn’t make that super clear. The bread felt airy and one-dimensional (apply this to all of the sandwiches, but it was extremely apparent for this one), and the sandwich overall could’ve had more “stuff” inside. (rating: 6.5/10)
Panka Pesto: I had different expectations going in… Yelp/Instagram had this being a two-decker sandwich, and I didn’t expect the prosciutto to be the thick-cut, jerky-like kind. So overall, the portions were smaller than expected, and the thick prosciutto made the sandwich bite a little difficult. Flavor was decent though! (rating: 6/10)
Empanadas: my friend got 1 chicken, and 2 beef empanadas. I didn’t try any, but he enjoyed both.
the RÉSUMÉ
address // 6259 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28217
operations // Monday - Sunday, 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM (in the summers they are open till 9:00 PM, so make sure to double check their hours when the seasons change)
logistics // limited parking in the front (also there’s an incline so I don’t prefer to park here), but there’s a lot of space behind the building
vibes // so relaxing; lots of natural light + the high ceilings; there’s a decent amount of space between tables so you don’t feel like you can hear the conversations of the party next to you
amenities //
2 public restrooms (no changing table)
free WiFi with password posted; though not reliable…
outlets are available on the walls/pillars at the high top; select syrups are made in-house (i.e., Dulce de Leche + Sumaq Latte)
menu //
beverages ($4.00 - $6.00): coffee + espresso, tea, chai, lemonade
⭐the Sumaq and Dulce de Leche lattes use house made syrup!
⭐coffee uses local Jags Head Coffee
baked goods ($2.00 - $5.00): cookies, slices of cake (tres leches!), sweet rolls
⭐house made
food food ($3.00 - $10.00): empanadas, sandwiches/melts, waffles
site // Sumaq Coffee
This is lovely! So glad I found you on Substack, I’m also in CLT. Sumaq is my favorite coffee shop 💛
THIS LIGHTING IS CRAZY