On the corner of Walden Street and Concord Avenue in Observatory Hill, Cambridge, there’s a small cafe tucked in the side of a building that provides a peaceful ambiance to contrast the bustling of the city streets outside. This cafe is Nine Winters Bakery.
Nine Winters in a Korean American Cafe founded by Korean American Marissa Ferola. It opened in early spring of 2025. It is located at 294 Concord Ave and opens its doors Tuesday through Sunday.
I went to the cafe with my friend in the afternoon, but I recommend going in the morning when there is a larger selection of items available. However, we still felt there was an appropriate selection.
From the pastry selection, I tried the Black Sesame Chocolate Chip Cookie and Mugwort Vanilla Cookie. I also tried the Milk Punch and Sotdae drinks.
The most memorable aspect of this cafe visit was without a doubt the black sesame cookie. It tasted like there were sesame seeds both sprinkled throughout the cookie and infused into the cookie dough. To contrast, the chocolate chips balanced the flavor out perfectly, making you want to go back and order another one.
The other cookie we got was also delicious, but felt slightly ordinary compared to the black sesame cookie. The Mugwort Vanilla cookie mostly tasted like a snickerdoodle cookie, although the mugwort did bring in some earth flavors as well. This cookie is perfect for those who prefer subdued flavors.
The Milk Punch was like nothing I’d ever tasted before. At first, I was slightly taken off guard as the drink is a clear liquid with a pink color, however, the taste matches up exactly to its name: a fruity milk. Although unique, the Milk Punch was enjoyable and I could see myself ordering it again.
The last item I tried was the Sotdae. This was my least favorite item out of all the ones sampled. Although the initial taste was alright, the aftertaste felt weird and tangy. On the menu, this drink was described as a fizzy coffee with a sweet milk soda. While I did taste the fizz, I felt the sweetness part was underwhelming, and the coffee flavor felt slightly watered down. However, I have never tried a drink like this before, and it may have simply just not have agreed with my palette.
Overall, the cafe was a very enjoyable experience complete with cute Korean inspired decorations, and pleasant music in the background. I would return to Nine Winters in the future.
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