Visit TRAVELER’S COMPANY Partner Shops in the United States this winter to enjoy the comforts of TRAVELER’S DINER. Alongside the release of the Limited Set TRAVELER’S DINER, we asked each Partner Shop in the US to recommend their favorite diners and café in the neighborhood. When you are visiting the shops, why not make a quick detour to a local diner for some comfort food?
The Down Home Diner – Omoi Zakka Shop
The owner and staff at Omoi Zakka Shop in Philadelphia recommend “The Down Home Diner” if you are in the city and want to visit a diner. Located in the Reading Terminal Market, a local favorite and tourist sightseeing must, the Down Home Diner serves homey plates for decades since 1987. As you navigate the rows and rows of food stalls and shops, you’ll come across the bright neon sign and steel exterior that encases the corner of Down Home Diner.
“When my family moved to Pennsylvania in 1988, one of the first things my parents wanted to do was go to the record stores in town. For lunch, we went to the Down Home Diner which was nearby in Reading Terminal Market. I don’t remember how it looked or what we ate, but what I do remember is that every time we’d go to a diner, my mom would let me order a slice of pie at the end, which was probably easily the highlight of the whole day for 7-year-old me.
I happened to be at Reading Terminal Market recently and walked past and it was as busy as ever, 34 years later. That’s amazing to stick around through all the events of the decades and still be as busy and reliable as ever, with the persistent charm of a business that has probably seen a lot. Cheers to Down Home Diner, I look forward to my next slice of pie.”
Pick a seat in cushioned booths or sit at one of the red retro chairs with steel accents. Take comfort from the fact that you are now expecting a hearty plate of omelet, country farm style. As the crowds flow around the Reading Terminal Market, take a pause and enjoy each bite of comfort food with your TRAVELER’S notebook.
La Teresita – The Paper Seahorse
Located in Tampa, Florida, The Paper Seahorse recommends La Teresita if you are visiting the city. Instead of serving typical American plates, this family-run diner (established in 1972) serves homey Cuban and Spanish fare. The interior houses three horseshoe-shaped counters with retro counter stools that allows patrons to enjoy delicious Cuban food while mingling with other customers.
The wait staff still dresses in black and white and every meal is served with a big basket of hot buttered Cuban bread. If you come on a lucky evening, you may catch the old-timers playing Spanish guitar, and sipping “cafecitos” – the syrupy-strong concoction of equal parts Cuban roast espresso and sugar. This coffee is also served in a full cup as a “colada” along with tinted, thimble-sized cups to share with friends.
“This diner is more than a place to get a great meal for just a few dollars – it is the crossroads of a vibrant community. We at the Paper Seahorse love this diner because even in the face of rapid growth and change in Tampa, La Teresita remains the same. If you go, we recommend trying the black beans and yellow rice, and an order of “platanos” – fried banana or plantains. “
Don’t miss out on the delicious variety of “postres”, or desserts at La Teresita. As you enjoy a bite of sweet flan or a slice of tres leche, sip on strong Cuban coffee while journaling in your TRAVELER’S notebook.
Dot’s Diner – Two Hands Paperie
If you are in Boulder, Colorado to visit Two Hands Paperie for their TRAVELER’S DINER event, make sure to grab a bite at Dot’s Diner, a Boulder Classic Diner. Under its humble exterior, the restaurant serves classic diner fare, Vegetarian, and Nepalese plates with a diner twist for over forty years. Entering the diner, you’ll see comfortable booths and counter seating on top of black and white checkered flooring. The walls are lined with vintage aprons, old photos, Betty Boop dolls, and a hand-painted mural of the original façade on Pearl Street.
While you’re waiting for your food, be sure to forego staring at your phone in favor of people-watching. Or try playing a round of Trivial Pursuit with the cards available alongside the condiments at your table.
“I was first introduced to Dot’s Diner when I moved to Boulder in 1995. It was located on the next block (799 Pearl Street), just west of Two Hands Paperie. It was a fun and funky place with a view of the flat irons, an outdoor patio, and lots of fun local art. Although the location has changed a couple of times, the food remains much the same great diner fare. The current Dots is located in a strip mall- not the most glamorous location, so if you are visiting Boulder for the first time it’s very unlikely you would stumble upon this place. Fortunately, looks can be deceiving, there’s still plenty of charm once you walk through the door.”
Diners are like TRAVELER’S notebook where the interior collects and display ephemera of all sorts over the years. Take time to slow down and admire the photos, artwork, and posters that decorate the walls. Maybe you’ll find something interesting to write about in your TRAVELER’S notebook.
The Diamond Charlotte – Good Postage
When you visit Good Postage in North Carolina, owner Jane recommends The Diamond Charlotte as a diner you should try. The large neon sign with the word “Diamond” on the restaurant is hard to miss. This classic diner is celebrating its 77 years of serving locals traditional American, Southern, and Greek dishes. You can pick from counter seats with swivel stools or faded blue and black retro booths to sit down and enjoy a hearty meal.
“The Diamond is a Charlotte staple, not just for the food but also for the community. It’s been open since 1945 and is located in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood of Charlotte. It is classic diner food as well as southern staples like hush puppies, fried okra, and collard greens.”
Hand-crafted sandwiches at Diamond come with a healthy serving of fries. Coffee is served in classic white mugs with no fuss, just like the rest of the décor. The diner’s simplicity is the most comforting sight for when you just want a warm meal.
Kellogg’s Diner – Yoseka Stationery
Kellogg’s Diner is an iconic diner located in Williamsburg in New York City. It is also recommended by the staff at Yoseka Stationery as a must-visit when you are in the neighborhood. On the exterior, bright neon lights wrap around the building in the retro style of the 80s. Kellogg’s has been in business since the 1940s, and it serves traditional American and Greek cuisine.
The interior is designed to look like a retro dining car. Comfort food is served on colorful plates, blue, yellow, and green. The servers bus around the room with brisk efficiency, perhaps a taste of the New York City no-nonsense attitude. The large portions of breakfast fare will for sure slow you down a bit as you prepare to explore the rest of the city’s glamor.
“There aren’t that many businesses in New York that have stuck around for as long as Kellogg’s, which originally opened almost 100 years ago, during the heyday of diners in America. It is as classic and quintessential of an American diner as it gets—from its flashy neon signage and chrome facade visible from blocks away to its colorful booth seats, stools at the counter, and extensive menu offerings of any comfort food you can think of. If you’re craving a filling and satisfying meal, you can’t go wrong with their Belgian Waffles, omelet of your choice, or chili cheese fries with a Cheeseburger Deluxe. And of course, there’s nothing quite like an endless coffee refill limit to satisfy someone’s craving for a hearty meal and a healthy serving of nostalgia. “
In New York City where people linger late into the night, a classic diner like Kellogg’s is the perfect retreat for a warm bite. From chicken and waffles to bacon and pancakes, enjoy breakfast fare at any time of the day. Lay down your TRAVELER’S notebook next to the plastic spiral-bound menu and write about your day’s adventures.
Fuller’s Coffee Shop – Oblation Papers and Press
There is a lot to explore in Pearl District in Portland, Oregon. When you are visiting this neighborhood, the staff at Oblation Papers and Press recommends visiting Fuller’s, one of the last remaining diners in the city. The diner first opened in 1947 and had withstood the test of time as the city sprouts new condos and other businesses come and go. The iconic u-shape counters serve a mix of working-class regulars, tourists, and the young and hip crowd.
This diner tries to hold on to the comfort of cheap eats and familiar vibes. Cinnamon rolls and bread are home-made each morning. White plates carry timeless American classics such as burgers, chicken fried steak, and creamy omelets. Even the coffee is old school – no espresso machines, only fresh pots of coffee kept full.
“Fuller’s is an old-school lunch counter serving American comfort food like breakfast and milkshakes. It’s also in the Pearl District close to Oblation and Powell’s City of Books, a welcoming oasis for analog and book lovers. The horse-shoe-shaped counters open up conversations between you and other customers in the diner, and their hashes have a crispy edge that no one can deny. “
You can find the staff of Oblation hanging out here over a plate of eggs and sausage while writing in their TRAVELER’S notebook. Choose a corner seat on the U-shaped counter so you can chat while eating, kitty-corner. Although it no longer serves its food for 24 hours, it’s the perfect breakfast place when you are in town.
With these diner recommendations, we hope all traveler’s can enjoy the experiencing TRAVELER’S notebook at Partner Shop and its neighborhoods.
Have a nice trip!
