By Kathy Chouteau
Every once in a while you discover something that immediately becomes your “favorite thing.” For me, this happened last weekend when I visited a new outdoor coffee shop in Richmond, Flor Hermosa, located on lower Cutting Boulevard. Suffice to say, it’s a “beautiful flower,” just as its name suggests in Spanish.
Flor Hermosa is nestled within the spectacularly lush environs of Golden Gate Palms, California’s largest subtropical nursery. It first opened on Cinco de Mayo, when the nursery was having an “Avocado Festival,” an apropos opening day given the coffee shop’s owners are of Mexican descent, Alondra Topete Navarro and Miguel Navarro of San Pablo.
On Saturday, when Flor Hermosa was donating half of its earnings ($1,510) to two nonprofits serving immigrants and their families, my family stopped by. We found parking outside the nursery and the coffee shop right inside the front gate, a charming little oasis amidst towering palms and incredible plants. It had ample seating that included a vintage VW van, equipped with a table inside. Clearly this wasn’t solely a coffee shop—it was an experience.
On the menu are hot and iced coffee drinks, such as a variety of lattes—with flan and sea salt caramel toffee being standouts—mochas, flavored energy drinks like prickly pear and strawberry watermelon, and agua frescas. Self-serve coffee is available on a side table for free, with complimentary milk/creamer served by a very friendly staff. A selection of breads and pastries are baked daily in Napa, according to Alondra Navarro, as well as cookies made locally. The coffee shop’s pink cookie got a shout-out on Yelp for tasting like “the strawberry shortcake from the ice cream truck,” according to Ernesto U. And not surprisingly, you can even purchase a mini succulent.
Aside from serving quality products and service, the coffee shop is one of a kind because of its unparalleled location inside the gorgeous nursery. After or while sipping your coffee/drink, I recommend taking a stroll around the coffee shop’s surrounding nursery—you’ll not only find a lovely and wildly intriguing greenscape overflowing with many plants you’ve likely never seen before, but also numerous additional “hidden spots” to sit and relax. Props go to Golden Gate Palms’s owner Gary Gragg and his staff for creating a beautiful Richmond wonder.
The Navarros eventually plan to expand their coffee shop into the building directly next to them within the nursery, according to Alondra. Both husband and wife also hold down additional jobs, so before visiting Flor Hermosa, be sure to check out the current hours on Instagram. Also be sure to check out the videos of the shop and grounds.
As summertime is on the horizon, the time is right to visit Flor Hermosa at 425 Cutting Blvd. in Richmond. Questions? Reach out to them on Instagram messenger.
