We discovered Sunn Cafe while visiting Cave of the Mounds in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin.
This cave has some of the oldest formations in the Midwest, some caverns up to two stories tall! There is even a part so deep that there’s no cell signal.
Near the caves was a little town called Mount Horeb (about 30 minutes from Madison)., as we drove in, we noticed Trolls adorning every shop and restaurant.
Mount Horeb is known as the Troll Capital of the World — and for good reason. More than 40 hand-made troll sculptures line the streets of this small Wisconsin village, earning its main drag the nickname the Trollway. Rooted in the town's deep Norwegian heritage, each troll is a one-of-a-kind work of folk art, carved by local and regional artists and steeped in Scandinavian folklore.
Legend has it that, in 1939, when the Cave of the Mounds was discovered on the Brigham Farm in neighboring Blue Mounds, the earth opened up, and trolls sprang forth! They made their way to Mount Horeb and quickly fell in love with the jewels and gems of this community – the beauty of the rolling hills, the fertile soil, their unique small businesses, and friendly residents. They liked Mount Horeb so well that they settled there and now stand guard over the gems that continue to make the community special to this day.
Sunn Cafe is one of those gems. After a day in the caves, we were searching for a lunch spot on Happy Cow… Sunn Cafe had a good-looking menu, gluten-free and vegan options, and local kombucha. With sandwiches like the Sunn Slayer (classic house-made hummus, Colby cheese, avocado, red onion, pepperoncini, tomatoes, greens & herbed oil) and the Thai One On (house-made spicy basil peanut butter, Havarti cheese, avocado, greens, red onion & Sriracha-strawberry jam) we were intrigued. In addition, they had extensive list of deli salads like Lime-Cilantro Quinoa, Chickpea-Sunflower and Sesame Noodles.
We arrived at the quaint space and ordered our gluten-free and vegan items (sandwiches, salads and desserts) and the chef came out of the kitchen to chat with us. “We just got in a new vegan cheese, and you’re going to love it!” she said.
She was talking about Violife cheese (now a staple in our fridge) and Sunn Cafe is one of the few restaurants where we’ve found it! And she was right. The food was spectacular and consistently delights every time we visit! (The lemon bars are out of this world!) Check out the menu here: Menu | Sunn Cafe
Recommended for all weary travelers and amateur spelunkers alike :) Sunn Cafe is a true destination spot.
