Martha Stewart walked into Silk City Coffee in Manchester, Connecticut last Friday, and by the time she left, the café had a new menu item named in her honor. The 85-year-old lifestyle icon and her team ordered roughly 100 cappuccinos and pastries, along with teas and a chicken salad sandwich that the shop has since referred to as “The Martha.”
According to Daily Voice, Stewart was reportedly in Manchester filming a commercial, though details of that production have not been publicly disclosed, according to a post from The Manchester Scoop. Silk City Coffee said serving Stewart and her team was an unbelievable pleasure, adding that her work has long been an inspiration to the café. The shop's staff didn't just serve the crew, they also memorialized the visit on the menu, with the newly christened sandwich serving as a nod to the day Stewart came through.
The stop was memorable. The details of the visit were not specified.
A Café Already Making Global Headlines
Silk City Coffee wasn't exactly an unknown quantity before Stewart showed up. In February 2025, the shop was named to the inaugural World's 100 Best Coffee Shops list, announced at Coffee Fest in Madrid, Spain, making it one of just 14 cafes in the United States to earn a spot on the global ranking, per the Town of Manchester. Selection criteria for that list included coffee quality, barista expertise, sustainability, and community impact.
The café also picked up a more regional honor in May 2026, taking second place in Webster Bank's First National Small Business Week contest, competing against small businesses across New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The award, detailed by 3BL Media, recognized regional businesses that foster local economic vitality.
From Neighborhood Café to Wholesale Roaster
Silk City Coffee - Willimantic is a coffee shop and roastery, according to background provided by Webster Bank. The business later grew its footprint beyond Manchester, opening a second café in October 2025 at 869 Main Street in downtown Willimantic, as reported by Patch.com.
Silk City Coffee - Willimantic is also described as a coffee shop and roastery.
Stewart's Deep Connecticut Ties
Stewart's Manchester stop fits into a broader pattern of her ongoing presence in Connecticut. She has frequently referred to her former home as the original laboratory where her business began, according to the Martha Stewart Blog. She has continued to make appearances in the state.
Her visit to Silk City also underscores the breadth of her commercial profile. That profile extends beyond the Manchester stop.
The Origins of Manchester's Nickname
Silk City Coffee's name evokes Manchester's industrial past. The name reflects the town's history.
