The shoreline offers a wonderful selection of coffee houses that stay open throughout the year and into our long, cold evenings. Some offer entertainment, some simply offer a quiet, relaxing place to read or visit with friends. The list is long, but here is a sampling.

Green Marble Coffee House

8 Steamboat Wharf, Mystic

860-572-0012; greenmarblecoffee.com

Hours: Open 7 days a week;

Mon-Sat: 7 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun: 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Tucked away off Main Street, this charming coffee house brings back memories of the style we enjoyed in the Sixties. No smoky haze, but great art on the walls, eclectic decor, and fabulous coffee. I enjoyed a steaming cup of Indian Mysore and my friend drank the Ethiopian decaf; both were delicious. A nice selection of bagels and muffins are baked fresh each day. Pricing is very reasonable, with a small coffee costing $1.60, and lattes and cappuccinos around $3 to $4. Every month, the Green Marble features local artists in photography exhibits and art shows. All work displayed is for sale.

Bean & Leaf

463 Bank Street, New London

860-701-0000; blackhallroasters.com

Hours: Mon-Fri: 6 a.m.-8 p.m.;

Sat: 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun: 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Bean & Leaf is a cozy coffee house café with every menu item made right there. The decor is classic with wood floors and ceiling fans, and the staff is friendly and attentive. The coffee is organic fair trade, and locally roasted. I ordered the House Blend: three beans and wonderfully strong ($2.50). Back to the food: excellent. Try the Breakfast Scramble with Swiss cheese and avocado, and a side of black beans ($7.50). Finish with a warm bear claw pastry, flaky and lightly sweet. Other menu offerings include smoothies, salads, sandwiches, soup, and a lunch special such as lasagna. At 5 p.m., the venue changes to Carmelo’s Italian café, featuring a dinner menu, soft lighting, fine wines, and a beer garden.

Perks & Corks

62 High Street, Westerly, R.I.

401-596-1260; perksandcorks.com

Hours: Open 7 days a week; Mon-Fri: 11 a.m.-1 a.m.;

Sat: 9 a.m.-1 a.m.; Sun: 5 p.m.-1 a.m.

In a word: delightful! During the day, there is plenty of space and places to write, read, or work on the laptop. No loud music and a very relaxing atmosphere. Come evening, the pace picks up, thanks to live entertainment every night and a menu of 50 signature martinis. Warm, lush colors on the walls, complemented by comfortable furniture arranged throughout the different rooms invite one to stay awhile. The menu is limited to gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches; I enjoyed a generous Bacon Mac & Cheese on Sourdough for $10. Other offerings include flavored drinks and coffees. The nightly entertainment covers a wide range of musical styles.

Washington Street Coffee House

13 Washington Street, New London

860-437-0664; washingtonstreetcoffeehouse.com

Hours: Open 7 days a week;

Mon-Tues: 7 a.m.-6 p.m.;

Wed-Thur: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.;

Fri-Sat: 7 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Off the beaten track, but worth tracking down, this is one of the best places to grab a great breakfast and outstanding coffee. The space is large, with high ceilings and huge windows, and seating is randomly arranged. There is a play area for little kids—a nice touch for parents. On my Sunday visit, the house specialty was the Egg Taco paired with a mug of Brazil Fincaqua decaf for a cost of about $8. Both excellent. Other menu items include breakfast sandwiches on English muffins, many different bakery goods, salads, sandwiches and tacos. The coffee house offers entertainment on a regular basis, with such events as folk singers, poetry readings, open mic nights, book signings, jazz bands, and art shows; all the art on the walls is for sale.

Bartleby’s Coffee Café

46 W. Main Street, Mystic

860-245-0017; bartlebyscafe.com

Hours: Open year around,

7 days a week: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

A perfect match for the quaint atmosphere of Mystic, Bartleby’s sits on a corner at the west end of Main. Step inside to a cozy charming space where local art hangs on the walls (all for sale) and the aroma of fresh coffee greets you. One corner features easy chairs within reach of newspapers and books for patrons to enjoy; a nice selection of games is also available. Menu offerings include sandwiches, wraps, and salads as well as a scrambled egg breakfast and a selection of bakery items. We tried a small Mountain Water Mexican decaf coffee ($1.40), which was excellent. House favorite from the menu is the Reuben ($6.95) or the vegetarian Goddess ($8.95). A charming spot to begin or end a visit to Mystic.