Andrew / July 10, 2007 9:38 AM

Yes, we've asked before, but it's been four years.

Mine is Metropolis. Great coffee expertly made, good snacks and pastries, comfy atmosphere and free wifi.

taJ / July 10, 2007 9:45 AM

4 years already?
still the ones in my neighborhood:
-inteligentia (great people watching on the outside patio)
-latakia (owner is very friendly)
others...cafeexpres on dempster, metropolis, uncommon ground before expansion...

soup / July 10, 2007 9:49 AM

The Mercury Cafe. My neighbor. Intelligentsia. Stumble in on a Sat. morning in my PJs. Talk with Alex the owner like she's an old friend but she's not. Eat a sample. Grab the NY times and my mug, listen to Andrew Bird on a leather couch that I would never own, and feel like I am in my living room. Yeah.

jennifer / July 10, 2007 9:52 AM

Atomix.

Shylo / July 10, 2007 9:55 AM

The Grind in Lincoln Square. Coffee makes your teeth buzz, and they have vegan brownies. What-what!

adam / July 10, 2007 10:05 AM

Although it's not in my neighborhood, I have to second the vote for Mercury Cafe. How a 4000-sq ft room can be cozy is beyond me, but it is. Great staff, great food (turkey pesto sandwich!), and always something interesting going on there. If I lived nearby I'd be there all the time.

Annie / July 10, 2007 10:13 AM

Uh, Starbucks? Is there even another coffee shop in Logan Square? Can anyone help a lazy girl out?

RH / July 10, 2007 10:23 AM

I favor Intelligentsia (the downtown locations, close to my office) and my 'hoodie, The Grind.

kate / July 10, 2007 10:26 AM

I haven't hung out in a coffee shop since middle school. I don't drink coffee and I don't like to lounge. I do enjoy a super rich hot chocolate when it's ass-chappin' cold, and whoever makes it extra thick and with milk is my pal.

My neighborhood feel-good time-killer is a bar. *shrug*

Dave / July 10, 2007 10:26 AM

I'm a fan of Istria Cafe in Hyde Park. It has an interesting location (under the Metra/IC tracks), and it serves pretty decent gelato/sorbetto!

K2 / July 10, 2007 10:36 AM

Swim and Sip for the local favorites, I just wish Sip had better treats. Why don't local shops have Cinnamon Chip Scones? They are my favorite and I can only find them at the Ugh-bucks and Peets, which is my fave for not local coffee. I learned at Peet's that foam in an iced latte does make a difference.

SH / July 10, 2007 10:36 AM

Annie, try NoFriction Cafe at 2023 N. California.

tina / July 10, 2007 10:45 AM

the perfect cup at damen and leland! the owner, anne, is wonderful.

Olive / July 10, 2007 11:03 AM

The Grind - it's crowded and pretty small, but I feel the most comfy there.

Ventrella's Cafe on Damen because I love the atmosphere and I talk to the owner. It would be a great place for a private party. Nice '40s and '50s furniture. Not the best coffee, but whatever...

Haven't been to Metropolis yet, because it isn't in my 'hood. I prefer not to drive too far for a cafe, especially when I usually go to study.

I liked Intelligentsia on Broadway, but again, not close and the parking kinda sucks around there.

kleinstadt / July 10, 2007 11:08 AM

Intelligensia on Broadway-especially when I lived a block away.

Annie and SH- No Friction is indeed the only other option in Logan Square. They serve good Intelligensia coffee and a good variety of food.

Unfortunately he owner has a prominently displayed list of rules you must follow lest you incur her wrath. It's a little too OCD/motherly for me, but not so much it stops me from going there regularly.

skafiend / July 10, 2007 11:19 AM

Well, don't really want to say. You know, that whole keep-it-a-secret-thing-even-though-it's-right-there-for-everyone-to-see. But...

Charmers up on Jarvis. Good snacks, both in the coffee shop and the Dagel and Beli next door, free wi-fi, great coffee that's NOT Intelligensia (Metropolis). Nice.

And also, Metropolis, although the people behind the counter can be too f*cking chipper in the morning sometimes. But lots of cute girls, although they're either with their boyfriends/husbands or they're gay. And it has enough room so that even on a crowded Saturday you can find somewhere to sit. Free wi-fi.

Oh, and the coffee is good too.

Third place, Flourish on Bryn Mawr. The closest to my house and the least crowded. Probably the best food of all of them, Intelligensia coffee. Wi-fi. Also a great way to snub your nose at Starbucks as you walk past...

kiki / July 10, 2007 11:22 AM

no one has said dollop yet? that's my favorite - nice and cozy, good coffee, fairly friendly baristas. a good neighborhood hangout.

kevin / July 10, 2007 11:32 AM

Atomix- good sammidches...good coffee...

mike / July 10, 2007 11:32 AM

Metropolis, although Intelligentsia is no slouch.

Mikey / July 10, 2007 11:35 AM

Julius Meinl. On Southport.

Great coffees, teas and food, and it's the only location outside of Austria where it's been a staple for well over 100 years...

Josh / July 10, 2007 11:42 AM

Il Cafe. It's like a bar that only serves caffeine. I totally love the Mediterranean vibe...widescreen soccer games, backgammon, pool table, italian sandwiches, plenty of guy talk and no book readers. Lots of cigarette smoking (until January, that is) and the waitstaff is eye candy for the fellas. The place is unusually quiet despite all the activities I just mentioned.

One of the few pleasures of living next door to O'Hare airport.

clodius / July 10, 2007 11:44 AM

Swim Cafe on Chicago near Noble wins in a walk. Fair Trade, amazing treats, Scrabble Sunday, and a friendly staff.

Jason / July 10, 2007 12:08 PM

I've recently become a fan of LaVazza (one on Washington, and another on Jackson), though, thats only because I don't have much of a choice where I live/work.

I can't stand Starbucks and the lines for Intelligentsia on Jackson are too long.

I used to frequent a nice cafe/used bookstore that I believe was called "Travelers Cafe", somwhere on Bryn Mawr(??), though I went there more for the atmosphere than the coffee which was pretty average. Not sure if it is still around.

Spook / July 10, 2007 12:33 PM

Breezy's Place! Originally one of New Orlean's original crack houses, transformed into a changing colored kaleidoscope and spiritual living room of all New Orleans.
This grand institution was located on Soniat Street across from a baseball field over grown with weeds. Its proprietor, Robert Otto Borsodi, looked like Rip Van Winkle on mushrooms and was a, former U.S marine, Yalie, socratic poet, freight train jumper- when it was time for a change of scenery-, radical artist, revolutionary, and play write.

Actually Borsodi cast several theatrical productions- free of charge- at Breezy's Place before he got sick, so unfortunately I never witnessed one. But when the pain got too annoying, he transitioned out by one morning walking off Hale Boggs Bridge aka the "Sunshine Bridge" into the Mississippi River, but not before penning a haiku honoring his Dogue de Bordeaux, Maddy.His funeral was held at night so that all who loved him-
including a few vampires and ghosts- could attend. I’ve never had a cappuchino with so much life in it! RIP Borsodi
Well I guess there's always Cafe Du Monde in the French Quarter.

nattles / July 10, 2007 12:34 PM

josh, you and i are as close to neighbors as you get on the GB.

is this the place in a strip mall on Cumberland?

have you tried any of the little places on Harlem near Belmont/Addison?

annie / July 10, 2007 12:52 PM

Do Swim Cafe and Mercury have WiFi?

hench / July 10, 2007 1:06 PM

i heart swim! it's one of my favorite neighborhood features - cozy, friendly, tasty.

jerry 101 / July 10, 2007 1:15 PM

Annie and kleinstadt - Try Cafe Con Leche on Milwaukee Avenue west of the square, across from El Pollo Loco. Its small, but they have some outdoor seating, great food, and their coffee drinks are a bit different from the standard.

I love Intelligensia coffee, but live too far away, so I buy it by the pound and make it at home. If I venture out for coffee, I often end up at Filter, not because the coffee's great, but because of the bottomless cup. I can sit there and read for hours.

Metropolis makes a great cup, too. Too far away though.

I've been to the coffee shop right under the Damen Blue Line stop, which has Intelligensia, but they seem to carry a limited variety. Specialty's in my building carries 4 different Intelligensia coffees in the morning. Can anyone recommend another coffee shop in the Wicker/Bucktown area where a guy can chill out and read? And not that one on Wood St and North. Their coffee is awful.

National J. / July 10, 2007 1:30 PM

Humboldt Pie in Humboldt Park because... they were brave.

Free WiFi, great sandwiches & treats, and now PIZZA!

n / July 10, 2007 1:43 PM

dollop has always treated me well, though I sometimes wish they had sandwiches.

Allan / July 10, 2007 1:43 PM

I have to admit that I don't really relate to most of the topics posted here. Most of the time I feel like I am not hip or cool enough or something. Especially when the topicS are music, book, or food related. When I do get coffee it is usually from McDonald's or Dunkin Doughnuts and I think they are pretty tasty.

lauren / July 10, 2007 1:48 PM

Love metropolis.

Went to Perfect Cup and the staff was super friendly, coffee not bad either.

At work we all hit up Beans and Bagels on Montrose. Of course, they serve Metropolis coffee.

@ skafiend, Flourish has this chocolate peppermint ganache cake that is awesome. Highly recommended.

ahn / July 10, 2007 1:59 PM

kopi's my favorite. i love the menu and the atmosphere. i've been going there for years.

i used to go to cafe express on dempster in evanston back in the nineties when it was a smoky cavern of people from greenwood care and over-sexed high school kids. it isn't the same these days.

on my way to work i sometimes grab something to go from the mini-intelligentsia in the pedway. if the lines are too long on randolph pop downstairs, there usually isn't much of a wait and the baristas are super friendly. it's open from 7am to 2pm.

skafiend / July 10, 2007 2:12 PM

Hey allan... I won't knock The Dunk... their coffee isn't bad, especially when you can put in your own cream and sugar and they don't use that cream-and-sugar hybrid crap that like liquid crack. I even buy a bag of whole bean every now and then.

Josh / July 10, 2007 2:23 PM

Hey Nattles -

Yes, Il Cafe is in that little strip mall across the street from the church (the rocket-ship church, you know what I mean). Most of the regulars at Il Cafe dress and look like Phil Leotardo from The Sopranos. It feels like going back in time, aided by the view of the ranch-style houses across the street.

Have yet to try the Harlem Ave. cafes between Addison and Belmont. The traffic on Harlem makes it a little noisy, although I bet the pizzas and pastries are better. A new cafe just opened on Belmont somewhere between Oak Park and Harlem.

Chris / July 10, 2007 2:24 PM

Second on the Beans & Bagels on Montrose, but I'll always prefer the Rockwell location, half a block from my old place. Same stuff and staff as Montrose, plus a nice shady patio and wifi you don't have to steal from the currency exchange next door.

jennifer / July 10, 2007 2:26 PM

Hey Allan, I love Dunkin Donuts coffee!

Jill / July 10, 2007 2:29 PM

I'm with Kate.....don't drink coffee (hate the smell) and much prefer killing time at the bar. Maybe I also don't hang out at coffee houses because I don't mind paying several dollars for a glass of booze, but I have a problem with $3+ hot chocolate.

Leelah / July 10, 2007 2:45 PM

I don't drink coffee, but this place down the street from my house has it (and has great bread and desserts!)
http://www.goldenrisebakery.com/

m / July 10, 2007 2:55 PM

dollop in lakeview is fabulous. very laptop friendly, as all of the tables have either lamps with outets in them and for those of us who work from home but need a change of scenery, one feels comfortable camping here for an afternoon getting stuff done. also, there are couches for when you don't feel like sitting at a table staring at your computer screen. the baristas are nice and the beverages are good, though i will second n's comment that it would be nice if they had fresh sandwiches.

i'll also give props to the book cellar's cafe in lincoln square, though while it's technically not a coffee shop, they do serve coffee and tea but the best part is that they have wine and beer and a great cheese plate.

editorkid / July 10, 2007 3:17 PM

Metropolis for me as well, but just as a quick run in, buy the beans, run out situation.

Otherwise, *shrug*. I'm hoping The Coffee Studio brings some life to my sleepy little tip of Andersonville.

Hal / July 10, 2007 3:34 PM

Dollop was okay when I was job-hunting, though the food selection was very random, as was their wi-fi (free or otherwise). It's totally in Uptown, not Lakeview (I know, I know, technically Lakeview township according to your tax bill, but really...). Agreed about the servers and the coffee, though.

The Traveller's Cafe Jason refers to is actually called "Kopi," a "Traveller's Cafe" being the subtitle. It's on Clark, about 5 blocks south of Bryn Mawr (closer to Foster, actually). Awesome coffee, food and staff. And the small shop in back is a great source for gifts at all price points. It's not the best for hanging out and reading, etc., but a superb joint overall.

Emerald City at the Sheridan El stop is pretty good, though they really need to be open later than 8. I think they lose a lot of business that way.

Count me among the Dunkin Donuts fans if I'm grabbing and going.

Unfortunately, the best combo of coffee, service, food, and hang-out friendliness (including Wi-Fi) I've found within easy access is Caribou. Unfortunate, because it's a corporate chain. Intellgensia would totally win if it were closer to me. The Unicorn in Evanston is pretty damned good as well.

Winediva / July 10, 2007 3:34 PM

Jason:
I think you're refering to Kopi cafe on Clark St. Somewhere around 5300 North? Its still listed on metromix and centerstage.

CC / July 10, 2007 4:31 PM

I second (or third?) Flourish--the buttercream cakes are like giant cupcakes! Yum! And it's right around the corner for me, though I do wish their wifi was free. BTW, skafiend, it's Metropolis coffee there, not Intelligentsia...not that either one is a bad option.

fluffy / July 10, 2007 5:16 PM

Jerry 101-
You asked about other coffeehouses in the WP area...there's a new-ish place on Division called Blend - I like their Chai and you can sit and eat/read/etc. Almost across the street from it is Alliance Bakery & cafe- I think they have a room to sit and pretend to read or whatever.

I can't relax in coffeehouses - I usually drink coffee to get that caf-buzzzzzzz. The only public places I can go to and relax, read, and spend some time at are libraries. and bars - but only if they're not crowded and full of loud obnoxious people.

My fave coffee place is my apartment. Super strong coffee, lots of sugar, and soy hazelnut creamer. YUM!

Dio / July 10, 2007 5:21 PM

1) Julius Meinl (Southport Ave. Lake View)... all around the best!
2) Cafeneo (Lincoln Ave. Lincoln Square)... new place, nice open environment, with good coffee and even better food!
3) Latakia (Broadway st. Lakeview)... coffee is good, and the owner real friendly.

fluffy / July 10, 2007 5:34 PM

When I lived in Pilsen, I'd meet friends at Cafe Jumping Bean or at Cafe Mestizo. Mexicans always like to meet up for coffee.

Jason / July 10, 2007 6:37 PM

Ahh, Pilsen.

I didn't live there long, though, when I did; I got a semi-decent cup of coffee from a confused hardware store that was owned by my landlord and ran by misanthropes that refused to take Buena Vista Social Club off "repeat". I bet they're still playing it.

a / July 10, 2007 7:39 PM

1. Julius Meinl is especially good for teachers, as 3-5 pm during the week is a ghost town conducive to grading papers and drinking pots and pots of smooth coffe and or tea. I usually don't go during baseball season, though, since the hod is a bit more annoying then. The waitresses are really friendly, too.
2. Cafe Barista on Damen and Iowa has tasty coffee and friendly service.
3. Mercury on Chicago. Holy big room!
4. The 2nd outpost of Mojoe's on Belmont is also great IF you are there when there isn't a pretentious poetry slam going on.
5. Coffee and goods at Alliance are awesome, but there are a couple of counter people there that have a serious case of sass-mouth mixed with snotty demeanor.

Cindy / July 10, 2007 9:04 PM

Mojoe's in Roscoe VIllage!

OR

Unicorn Cafe in Evanston (which will always be my favorite despite being outside of the city).

Sip on Grand near Racine and Ogden is great too.

Emerson Dameron / July 10, 2007 9:42 PM

Humboldt Pie is a triumph of counterintuition. I'm not up in RoPo much, but Metropolis' Mexican blend is not to be fucked with, and I find the staff charming.

Aside from those already mentioned, I dig Cafe Ballou (near Western/Walton) for the strong brew, cheap lunch options and personality.

On weekday mornings, I usually stop at Letizia's Bakery (Division/Leavitt). It's got A-list muffins, and when the weather is nice, I can sit in the back and listen to the fountain before the commute.

Carlotta / July 11, 2007 12:59 AM

Intelligentsia on Broadway because
--it's practically around the corner from where I live
-- they have great coffee
-- I love to pet the dogs when their owners are having their coffee
-- the staff greets me by name & remembers my "usual" (large cafe au lait, skim).
I wish they had a few more "real food" offerings other than those odd salads & Trotter-to-Go sandwiches, though.

But if I want to meet a new date who's driving, it's either The Perfect Cup or Letizia's because the parking is better in those areas.

Letizia's scores a lot of points for a large, comfy seating area out front and a serene, gracious patio in back -- not to mention the food and their coffee.

Honorable mentions: Grind, Kopi, and the soon-to-be-R.I.P. Filter in Wicker Park.

Kristy / July 11, 2007 7:03 AM

My favorites include:

- The grind - great coffee, great food, great location, all around awesome coffee shop.

- CafeNeo - a good place to go when the grind is full, also has, pretty good coffee and tasty food.

- Dollup - this place is by far my favorite, but not as close to my place of residence as the other two. It has the best atmosphere for a coffee house, coffee is great, but food leaves a lot to be desired. Still, a very comfy and warm place. Good for meeting w/ other people.

- Intelligensia (Jackson) - I'm so glad this place exists so I can get coffee during the day (at work) because I would have to go without otherwise (I refuse to go to starbucks and office coffee is beyond nasty).

Why oh WHY do people have their meetups or SnB groups at starbucks when all these other wonderful and local places exist? I just don't get it...

Ron / July 11, 2007 8:09 AM

Coffee & Tea Exchange, Aldine/B'way. Especially when they used to allow dogs, I'd take my schnauzer in there and she'd hunt for random espresso beans on the floor - yikes! Still cool though, cup o' joe for just $1 (!!!) and nice when you can sit outside in the summer. Runnerup: Caribou across the street. The gays' version of Central Perk.

miss casual / July 11, 2007 8:53 AM

there are a few that i love in wicker park. letizias is my favorite for many reasons... not the least of which is good coffee and huge pink cupcakes.

but i also love half and half and alliance.

Brandy / July 11, 2007 9:19 AM

Metropolis. It's been fantastic addition to Edgewater. A real community meeting place. Love the coffee, the wifi, the staff. The arrival of Southport Grocery food and CUPCAKES is awesome.

fluffy / July 11, 2007 9:44 AM

Jason,

if you're talking about the hardware store on Cermak, between Damen & Hoyne ...I don't think that was coffee.

BooBoo / July 11, 2007 10:01 AM

SO sad about Filter in Wicker Park. But I second the thumbs-up on Barista Cafe at Damen and Iowa. Free WIFI and friendly service.

Justin / July 11, 2007 10:24 AM

Sweet Cakes next to Dodo on Damen. Beside the shady courtyard, Emily and Vern are nice folks who stole my heart with biodegradable utensils and the promise of vegan donuts. Two tiny blocks from home.

k. vincent / July 11, 2007 11:07 AM

I'm a fan of Pause, right by the Berwyn Red Line. Sure, the neighborhood has limited choices, but the location is great, the design of the place is fantastic, and the coffee is pretty decent. Free Wi-Fi and it's got outdoor seating. I often spend several hours working there in the morning when I don't want to hit up the office.

Props to the Grind, too - sorry I rarely go back to it.

Schmidt / July 11, 2007 11:17 AM

Atomix and the Map Room, and I am looking forward to auditioning Sweet Cakes.

Jason / July 11, 2007 11:52 AM

Fluffy:

nah, this was something different. I believe it was called something like "The Hardware Cafe", near 18th & Halsted across from the laundromat. I believe its long gone now.

mike-ts / July 11, 2007 2:19 PM

I don't know if it's more of a restaurant or coffeehouse, but I'll put my vote in for Caffe de Luca. Very friendly staff, and always feels as comfy as home. Love the people watching there, too. And they considerately put a black fabric foyer on the outside of their door in the winter to minimize the draft of door opening from hitting the first seating block of customers by the door.

Swim Cafe is a great place (both the people working there and the customers are quite attitude free and agreeable) and the seating and tables are really great. Uncommon Ground is a terrific place to warm up after cold April Cubs games. Sunday afternoons are jammed, though, but the open-air part in front is outstanding for a lunch on a warm summer day.

Is the Bourgeois Pig still around? It's been ages since I've been up in their area. Great people place, though quite over-cozy (i.e. sardine can) when it's busy. Still, the Pig is good.

jennifer / July 11, 2007 3:10 PM

"2. Cafe Barista on Damen and Iowa has tasty coffee and friendly service."

Sure the coffee is good, but the service is poor. Over the weekend I waited 10 minutes for in iced coffee because the girl behind the counter wouldn't get off of her cell phone. Then she had to whisper-ask (so as to not interrupt the person she was speaking to on the phone) me to repeat what I wanted three times.

In my experience, the service is overall generally slow. I constantly feel like telling them that they don't have to wait until the shots are done to steam the milk, that they can do it at the same time!

annie / July 11, 2007 3:20 PM

April at Barista is a pal, she makes your day and the best damn iced tea ever! Blend is straight up freaky (to me), I think someone tried to convert me to some religion the only time I was there, there is a big faith/christian vibe in there, just not my scene. And ever since Sweet Cakes opened I set my alarm to 7:55 on Sat. morning to be there right at 8 for a warm corn muffin stuffed with a hard boiled egg, best thing I've had in a long time.

BenC / July 11, 2007 11:42 PM

How about a roll call of great independent, locally-owned coffeehouses that were run out of business by Starbucks? I remember Scenes on Belmont, and Blue Vervain on Southport from the late '80s and early '90s. R.I.P.

Carlotta / July 12, 2007 12:34 AM

BenC, I'm glad you asked that question. Of coffeehouses that went under (regardless whether Starbuck contributed to their demise):

--Caffe Pergolisi, where HB Home Bistro is now on Halsted just north of Roscoe. Scruffy, with a sign that said "If you are in a hurry you are in the wrong place."

--And the place on Jarvis & Greenwood: Don's Coffee Club. An outpost in a troubled area.

--What was the name of the place on North Avenue just east of Milwaukee? There's a Cheetah Gym there now. That was a great open space, exposed wood beams.

--There was a coffeehouse just south of the Davis Theater: another dark, scruffy place with a wooden Indian (if I call correctly) & old magazines galore.

I'd spend many a Saturday night in these places.

Carlotta / July 12, 2007 12:39 AM

Oh, and the coffeehouse at North Broadway & East Sheridan Road in the building with the protuding metal profiles of eagle heads, where there is now a (gulp) Starbucks. It was a large comfy space, with romantic vibes. It was said that gangs threatened the owner for protection money & he fled town.

Olive / July 12, 2007 1:59 AM

I am so glad I got to go to Don's Coffee Club once in college. I always wondered what happened to that place. I guess it's no surprise that it closed.

That coffeehouse south of the Davis Theater was called The Nervous Center. I would pass it all the time, and wonder what the heck it was. It looked sort of like a cafe, but it looked too foreboding to actually go into.

Cletus Warhol / July 12, 2007 9:22 AM

The Nervous Center may have looked foreboding, but it was pretty cool, with a downstairs performance space (which looked like every stoner basement I frittered away my youth in) that hosted avant-garde music performances and such. After it closed I felt sad that I hadn't hung out there more often.

NSH / July 12, 2007 9:47 AM

The back porch at Cafe Luna (99th and Wood) is the most serene spot to enjoy a coffee on a sunday morning in all of Chicago

Java Express on 107th & Hale is not half bad either.

Taylor / July 12, 2007 10:00 AM

Clearly Intelligentsia offers the best coffee in the city, but their Broadway cafe can be a little too cramped and busy unless you're there mid-morning on a weekday. I'm thankful for their downtown Monadnock location, so I have a place near my office to buy beans. I've yet to visit the Millennium Park location.

As far as other shops, Dollop is a great place to have a cup and read for an hour or so (and it's right by my place). They're a little on the slow side even if you're the only one in there, which is somewhat irritating but nothing too bad.

I'm consistently impressed by the quality of espresso pulled at The Grind in Lincoln Square--the baristas are as good as any who work at Intelligentsia. I always have to stop in whenever I make a trip to Laurie's Planet of Sound for some new vinyl. If I live closer, I could see myself in there every day.

ahn / July 12, 2007 10:32 AM

oh, i have to third the don's coffee club love. i used to go there in college and play cards until the middle of the night, it was absolutely brilliant and then it died.

i miss smoking in cafes. i know i should quit, and i know it's better for everyone that there's no smoking in cafes anymore blah blah blah but there was nothing like intense coffee and cigarette fueled late night conversations at don's.

paula / July 12, 2007 12:32 PM

Intelligensia in the Monadnock Building. It really feels like it belongs to the regulars, loop workers and students, since it is only open weekdays until 5:30. The baristas try really hard to remember everybody's name and drink.

paula / July 12, 2007 12:33 PM

Intelligensia in the Monadnock Building. It really feels like it belongs to the regulars, loop workers and students, since it is only open weekdays until 5:30. The baristas try really hard to remember everybody's name and drink.

eric / July 12, 2007 1:05 PM

Carlotta:
--What was the name of the place on North Avenue just east of Milwaukee? There's a Cheetah Gym there now. That was a great open space, exposed wood beams.

Urbis Orbis!

emerge / July 12, 2007 2:32 PM

Stubbs on Lincoln ave. has great coffee, roasted locally by Fratelli. Also tasty sandwiches & treats, i'm a fan of the monkey bread that shows up on the weekends.

re: Nervous Center
it provided an outlet for experimental & electronic music, i regret not hanging out there more too.

old centerstage article

emerge / July 12, 2007 2:38 PM

http://centerstagechicago.com/music/articles/nervous.html

Tobermory / July 12, 2007 3:39 PM

I guess either the Grind or Beans & Bagel on Rockwell. Now that the condo blight has hit my immediate area (Foster & Lincoln) I'm keeping my fingers crossed that one of the retail spaces will eventually house some sort of coffee place because for me to frequent someplace regularly it really is all about the (lack of) distance. I'd prefer a non-Starbucks but ultimately I'd take anything with a couch and comfy chairs.

Am I missing something in the neighborhood? There are a couple of eastern european cafes but I get the distinct "you're not wanted here" vibe from them.

adam / July 12, 2007 3:46 PM

annie: Mercury definitely has WiFi, plus plenty of room to work on your compy without someone watching you.

I remember doing performances with Old Town School jazz classes at Urbis Orbis about 5 or 6 years ago. Such a comfy place and great location.

And I can't believe I forgot about Kopi. Used to be there at least once a week, usually in the cushiony section up near the window.

skafiend / July 12, 2007 8:57 PM

Wasn't there a coffee shop right next to the Village North?... The Atomic Cafe! Probably the best example because a Starbucks pretty much occupies the same exact space now!

Beth / July 12, 2007 9:50 PM

I usually swing by Cafe Mestizo on my way home about once a week. I like going into Marshall McGearty's for a cup of coffee and a smoke when I'm in Wicker Park, but that doesn't happen very often.

ladyfingers / July 12, 2007 11:54 PM

Can I say the coffeeshop I work at is my favorite? I've been at the grind in lincoln square since it opened, and I just can't fall out of love. It really tickles me pink to see the love people have for the grind!! When the times come and the grind and I need some time apart, I really love atomix, does pick me up count? and intelligensia on broadway!!

ladyfingers / July 13, 2007 12:02 AM

Can I say the coffeeshop I work at is my favorite? I've been at the grind in lincoln square since it opened, and I just can't fall out of love. It really tickles me pink to see the love people have for the grind!! When the times come and the grind and I need some time apart, I really love atomix, does pick me up count? and intelligensia on broadway!!

ladyfingers / July 13, 2007 12:03 AM

Can I say the coffeeshop I work at is my favorite? I've been at the grind in lincoln square since it opened, and I just can't fall out of love. It really tickles me pink to see the love people have for the grind!! When the times come and the grind and I need some time apart, I really love atomix, does pick me up count? intelligensia on broadway, and uncommon grounds because they have booze too.

ladyfingers / July 13, 2007 12:05 AM

wow... screwed that up.

Ronny P / July 13, 2007 8:36 AM

When I worked in Evanston, I fell in love with the Unicorn cafe. Aside from the coffee, their panini sandwiches totally rock.

That's all I've got - there's not too many coffee shops in Belmont/Cragin. :|

Doyle / July 13, 2007 1:20 PM

For anyone west of Damen on Division, Letizia's has the most incredible oatmeal-chocolate-chip muffin...ever. Their espresso drinks are solid as well (Umbria brand).