Reaching Out Arts & Crafts

Reaching Out is two things in one building: a tea and coffee house run entirely by deaf and hard-of-hearing staff, and a craft shop selling locally made ceramics, jewelry, and textiles. The tea tastings are served on handmade pottery and take long enough that you’ll actually slow down (which, after an hour in the old town traffic, you need). Communication with staff happens through notepads and gesture, which sounds awkward but somehow isn’t.

The craft shop sits at the back and stocks the kind of things you’ll actually want to keep rather than stuff in a drawer. Prices are higher than the market stalls, but everything is fair trade and handmade, so the comparison isn’t really fair. Silver jewelry, ceramics, silk items – quality holds up.

This place has been operating since at least 2004 and the model hasn’t changed, which tells you it works. Come for the tea if you want a break, stay for the shop if you want something to bring home.