Marilyn Horne Museum Cafe - Bradford

Lovely little cafe, right in the middle of Bradford, with free parking. Recommended.

This was a pleasant surprise while I visited the area. I had time to kill and needed to find something to do. I looked up what was in the area to fill that void and this popped up. At first I was skeptical as I was not sure what this was and where it was. I guess you can say that this is technically part of the Pitt campus they have here, but it is still confusing.It was confusing to get here, and then to figure out if/where you can park without being in violation of some law. Just pull into the lot and be on your way. As long as you are going to one of the three that are included here, you will be fine. When I walked inside, I did not know where to go. The museum is off to your left, but secured to the point that you cannot enter on your own. To the right you have the café/gift shop area. Right in front of you is what appears to be an information desk with many things on the counter. I, not sure what to do, and after trying the door to the museum, made my way into the café and asked for some direction. I was told to ring the bell at the information desk. When I went back out to the desk I found the bell with a fairly small note stating to ring it for the museum. Once I did that I was let into the museum and told which direction this flows and some information on what it was I was about to see.Once inside the museum it can be a bit overwhelming. Especially if you do not know what the museum is about. But you ease into it by reading all the information in front of you and go with the flow.First, I had no idea who Marilyn Horne was. Once you delve into this museum, you know who Marilyn Horne is. She is a world renown opera singer that came from this area. Starting in Bradford and then heading out to the West Coast to pursue music. She has sang at some of the most well-known opera houses throughout the world. As you walk through the museum (which doesn't take long as it is small) you basically walk through her life. Both on the professional level and personal level. You see her grow as a person and performer. You can scope out some of her costumes from shows she was in. You can read over how she has met some interesting people. You can sit down in the theater area where you watch a short documentary with commentary from Ms. Horne herself. I really liked that portion. You sit in the viewing area and they dim the lights to let you know the show is about to start. I think that was a nice, subtle touch.This is one museum that you can do in less than one day and really take it all in. Best of all, it is another free museum to get into!

Great coffee and friendly staff. Nice little selection of salads, wraps, and baked goods!

Caramel Macchiato is delicious! Why go anywhere else and be charged more for a Starbucks like drink.

The Cafe at the Marilyn Horne is a delightful low-key spot to grab a coffee or blended drink. The cafe is a “proudly serves” licensee of Starbucks, which means you can be sure of the quality of their drink offerings. I always have had good, friendly service here and am often impressed with the rotating array of baked goods. I usually get blended drinks, as they are tasty desert-esque drinks with a coffee base that come in a variety of pleasing combinations.The atmosphere is inviting, and it’s location in a historic Art Deco building is a definite plus. The cafe can be accessed from the building lobby, where you can also find the Marilyn Horne museum, and the Museum Gift Store which is well worth a peruse before or after your coffee.Some important things to know, is that because they are a “proudly serves” and not a full-fledged Starbucks, they cannot accept Starbucks gift cards or prepare any of the more exotic Starbucks drinks, however they usually have the tasty seasonal offerings!(P.S, ask for a loyalty card, every 10 drinks gets one free!