The opening of Playa Bowls in Wellesley’s Linden Square last semester has, in my opinion, been the greatest thing to happen to the Ville in recent history. As an avid acai bowl enthusiast, the proximity of such a delectable establishment has been life-changing for me. I often find myself craving fresh fruits (especially good berries), and Playa Bowls offers the perfect solution. My go-to order is the “Stupid Cupid Bowl” which consists of a strawberry banana blend topped with fresh fruit, cacao nibs, coconut flakes and a chocolate drizzle. The creamy base paired with fresh fruit makes each bite delightful and leaves me feeling energized — both physically and emotionally.
And, if you’re looking to experiment with two different acai flavors, I recommend choosing two different “half” bases in your bowl. I recently ordered a “Pura Vida” bowl (blueberries, strawberries, granola and honey) with half-acai and half-green base. The acai base is slightly tart and packed with a berry flavor, while the green base has a more subtle earthy taste consisting of kale, pineapple, banana and coconut milk. Together, these ingredients create a light but filling meal with a diverse mix of flavors, textures and colors that add variety to every bite.
Playa Bowls doesn’t just offer frozen bowls, but smoothies as well. I’m not as well-versed in their drink offerings, but I can vouch for their strawberry banana and green smoothie. Delicious, refreshing, healthy, energizing… I could go on. The smoothies are also quite filling and make for a good study drink or pick-me-up.
Each bowl falls within the $10-$15 price range, and smoothies are around $9. It’s not exactly a sustainable everyday purchase, but it’s great for an occasional off-campus sweet treat. Each bowl or smoothie is fiber-packed, colorful and gorgeous to photograph. Each visit to Playa Bowls –– located less than ten minutes away from Wellesley’s campus –– has hit the spot for me, leaving me feeling renewed and refreshed. It’s truly become my light at the end of the tunnel during stressful times, and I absolutely would recommend it to anyone craving a refreshing but filling treat.
