Rooms with a brew

Looking for a friendly spot to chillax, chat with friends—or maybe make some new ones? Or perhaps it’s a cozy alternative to the home office you’re after. Whatever the reason, the corner café beckons. But don’t settle for any old java joint: We cruised the city’s most caffeinated neighborhoods to find our favorite spots (and Runners up), and rated their various charms on a scale of one to ten, 50 being a perfect score.

Rogers Park/Edgewater
WinnerMetropolis
(Wi-Fi equipped, Open early for commuters)
1039 W Granville Ave (773-764-0400)

The sunny yellow walls, worn leather armchairs and grooved wooden tables are as comforting as a favorite sweater. And not only does this neighborhood anchor roast its own beans, but you can see employees working the roasting machine in the back.
Coffee quality: 9 Our latte was near perfect: a lovely leaf design in just enough foam, and the coffee was strong and bold. Food: 6 Pastries are provided by local bakeries. Vibe: 9 We could easily spend an entire Sunday here. Pick-up factor: 9 I was getting checked out so much I had to make sure I didn’t have a nip slip. Music: 7 The jazz at a low volume fits well. Total=40
Extra shots: There are shelves of books you can borrow; Wi-Fi is free with purchase.

Runners up

1. Charmers Café (Wi-Fi equipped, Open early for commuters)
1500 W Jarvis Ave (773-743-2233)
Coffee quality: 9 Metropolis supplies the coffee, so you know it’s good. Food: 10 We’re still fantasizing about the bagel with lox, courtesy of Dagel & Beli, next door. Vibe: 7 The wooden chairs don’t invite long-term lounging, but the golden Art Deco wall art is stunning. Pick-up factor: 5 Everyone’s too busy reading the paper or blogging about gentrification. Music: 8 The old-timey bluegrass fit the mellow atmosphere. Total=39
Extra shots: Each sandwich comes with an adorable little box of Chiclets; Wi-Fi is free with purchase.

2. Lakeside Café
(Open past 9pm, later on weekends)
1418 W Howard St (773-262-9503)
Coffee quality: 8 The beans are provided by fair-trade company Equal Exchange; you can almost taste the consciousness. Food: 8 The organic, vegan/vegetarian fare includes a vegan “Polish dog,” an excellent Organic Garden pizza and vegan French toast. Vibe: 6 Pretty crunchy: The herbivore menu and meditation classes offered at the upstairs Inner Metamorphosis University attract hippies. Pick-up factor: 3 Sex is but a detour on the path to enlightenment. Music: 6 New Agey, Asian-tinged music and folk tunes played in the background. Total=31
Extra shots: Our latte was served with a Paul Newman organic “Oreo.”

3. Café Ennui
(Wi-Fi equipped, Open early for commuters, Open past 9pm, later on weekends)
6981 N Sheridan Rd (773-973-2233)
Coffee quality: 5 Our latte was watery. Food: 5 Pastries are just okay; panini include ham and what we’d guess is Kraft Singles. Vibe: 7 It’s quiet and pleasant, with several students studying for the LSAT. Pick-up factor: 4 People seemed too lost in their own worlds to eye paramours. Music: 6 Tracy Chapman and such. Total=27
Extra shots: A conspiracy theorist ranted to us about how Peter Roskam stole the election, butWi-Fi is free with purchase and there’s live jazz 7:30–10pm Sunday.—Laura Baginski

Hyde Park
WinnerIstria Café
(Wi-Fi equipped, Open early for commuters)
1520 E 57th St (773-573-8194)
One of the first things we noticed is that everyone was smiling, from the baristas to the clientele (neighborhood folks and U. of C. students and faculty). The next thing we noticed was the rumble of the Metra overhead. Located beneath the 57th Street tracks, Istria makes up for its location with convenience, snazzy-yet-simple decor and a damn good cup of coffee.
Coffee quality: 10 What it does with Intelligentsia makes coffee snobs snobby. Food: 7 Premium baked goods and fine panini are on offer, plus the gelato is a pleasant surprise. Vibe: 9 There’s a nice equilibrium, with a steady influx of customers but enough lingerers to make it feel welcoming. Pick-up factor: 8 Play your cards right and you could end up walking a new friend to class. Music:7 We heard old-school piano jazz, just right for morning or night. Total=41
Extra shots: This is one of the few coffeehouses in the city that offers real cream; Wi-Fi is free with purchase.

Runners up

1. Medici Bakery on 57th
(Open early for commuters, Open past 9pm, later on weekends)
1331 E 57th St (773-667-7394)
Coffee quality: 3 The best we can say about the Equal Exchange brew is that, um, it’s brown. Food: 10 Medici’s bakery, which features a mouthwatering array of fresh-baked breads, pastries and goodies, beats the full-service hangout next door. Vibe: 7 The bakery concentrated on loading people up with breadstuffs to go, but it’s not a bad place to sit. Pick-up factor: 5 You’ve got a great view of the street; those people you meet will likely head out the door soon after. Music: 3 Was there music? We can’t remember hearing it over the din. Total=28
Extra shots: Medici gets props for letting you watch the bakers at work—a wonderful sight while you’re waiting for your cappuccino.

2. Third World Café
(Wi-Fi equipped, Open early for commuters)
1301 E 53rd St (773-288-3882)
Coffee quality: 6 It gets the job done, but won’t win any awards. Food: 6 The vegetarian/vegan menu is limiting, but it also proves a nice alternative to the same old muffins. Vibe: 5 There’s more space than this café knows what to do with, and less charm than one would hope for. Pick-up factor: 5 Families and unkempt loners aren’t the best prey for would-be lotharios. Music: 4 It’s possible, even if our brain tried to block it out, that we heard Norah Jones, or at least one of her lite clones. Total=26
Extra shots: This spot provides a vegan and vegetarian refuge in a spot surrounded by pizza, barbecue, fried chicken and other unhealthy comfort cuisine; Wi-Fi is free with a $3 purchase.—Joshua Klein

Lakeview
WinnerJulius Meinl
(Wi-Fi equipped, Open early for commuters, Open past 9pm, later on weekends)
3601 N Southport Ave (773-868-1858)
Meinl represents a triumphant attempt to meld the American Wi-Fi café with the traditional Viennese coffeehouse. This isn’t necessarily the place to visit if you want to get some work done, but the Austrian flavor makes it distinctive among Lakeview’s hordes of hipster coffee shops.
Coffee quality: 9 Meinl’s own blend combines mild flavor with a deep, rich texture. Food: 9 We loved the soft baked eggs with salmon, cream cheese and dill. Vibe: 8 Meinl is the perfect combo of high-quality restaurant and artsy hangout. Pick-up factor: 4 It’s just too busy most hours for romance. Music: 4 The café supposedly plays classical or jazz, but we couldn’t hear it. Total=34
Extra shots: Live jazz and classical music are offered on weekends. The café has Wi-Fi, but it’s $2.95 for 20 minutes or $3.95 for an hour, and strangely, it’s available Monday to Friday only.

Runners up

1. Pick Me Up Café
(Open past 9pm, later on weekends)
3408 N Clark St (773-248-6613)
Coffee quality: 6 The Metropolis blend isn’t perfect, but it’s got a nice flavor. Food: 6 The Kahlúa Pancakes are a bit heavy on the Kahlúa. Vibe: 8 It’s retro-downscale, with some purple booths and a bicycle hanging from the ceiling. Pick-up factor: 6 You might get lucky, if you don’t mind interrupting someone’s meal. Music: 7 Hipster rock like Interpol. Total=33
Extra shots: It’s open till 3am weeknights and 24 hours on weekends.

2. Uncommon Ground
(Wi-Fi equipped, Open past 9pm, later on weekends)
3800 N Clark St (773-929-3680)

Coffee quality: 8 The Intelligentsia Black Cat blend coffee is rich without being dominant. Food: 9 The Bacon, Egg & Cheddar croissant has uncommonly fluffy eggs. Vibe: 6 There are some leather chairs for lounging, but it’s more of a restaurant than a come-and-go joint. Pick-up factor: 5 Flirting is unlikely when the brunching yuppies have control of the dining area. Music: 4 Nothing’s audible over the clank of plates in the back room; the front room boasts a soft bass thwump. Total=32
Extra shots: There’s live music nightly, and works by local artists on the walls. The Wi-Fi situation is kind of complicated: It’s free between 9am and 5pm. After 5pm and on weekends, it’s $2.95 for 20 minutes or $3.95 for an hour.

3. Intelligentsia
(Wi-Fi equipped, Open early for commuters)
3123 N Broadway (773-348-8058)
Coffee quality: 5 The cafe’s own Black Cat blend was surprisingly weak. Food: 4 Eat the La Bamba Salad if you’ve got that I’m-in-college-and-don’t-mind-the-fatty-chicken mind set. Vibe: 5 It’s all about hipster-intellectual—Thoreau readers, test preppers and loners in berets. Pick-up factor: 7 If you’re reading something of the same author, period or genre, you’re in luck. The place also gets crowded, necessitating shared tables. Music: 4 We heard unobtrusive emo. Total=25
Extra shots: Coffee accessories, Vosges Haut-Chocolat bars and dog biscuits are also sold. The Wi-Fi costs $3.50 for 30 minutes, $4.70 for an hour.—Ben Kenigsberg

Lincoln Square
WinnerVentrella’s Caffe
4947 N Damen Ave (773-506-0708)

This Ravenswood hangout has a midcentury-modern feel, with a 1950s magazine rack and an old-school jukebox pumping out obscure oldies. And if you’re brewing to make a new pal, the friendly staff is on a first-name basis with almost everyone in the place.
Coffee quality: 8 Our latte was delicious, but just a smidge small. Food: 9 The tasty pear and gorgonzola panini are made with tender lovin’ care. Vibe: 10 We can see why it’s easy to become a regular here. Pick-up factor: 5 It just doesn’t seem like that kind of place—but that’s not always a bad thing. Music: 7 Rockin’ tunes like Wayne Hancock and the Sonics were a good match for the spot. Total=39
Extra shots: The staff remembered our order when we returned a second time.

Runners up

1. The Grind
(Wi-Fi equipped, Open early for commuters, Open past 9pm, later on weekends)
4613 N Lincoln Ave (773-271-4482)
Coffee quality: 8 The coffee was a strong Intelligentsia blend, and our latte was solid. Food: 9 We always order the quiche (we love the tomato and basil), and we’re never disappointed. Vibe: 7 You’ll never feel lonely in this chummy little shop. Pick-up factor: 8 This place is packed with some good-looking coffee drinkers, and it’s easy to strike up a conversation. Music: 5 It was barely audible, but on previous visits we’ve heard coffeehouse faves Beck, Neko Case and Miles Davis. Total=37
Extra shots: The staff is ridiculously friendly, and the Wi-Fi is free.

2. Beans & Bagels
(Open early for commuters)
1812 W Montrose Ave (773-769-2000)
Coffee quality: 9 Strong and dark—just the way we like it. Food: 7 If you have bagels in your name, they better be pretty darn good. And they are. Vibe: 6 Don’t let the hippie vibe fool you: One staffer kept moving a dude’s cup around the counter every time he tried to reach for it. Hilarious! Pick-up factor: 5 This is definitely a morning place. Music: 8 You can’t go wrong with Leonard Cohen. Total=35
Extra shots: Local art, employee photos and flyers on the walls give the place a nice communal feel.

3. The Perfect Cup
(Wi-Fi equipped, Open early for commuters)
4700 N Damen Ave (773-989-4177)
Coffee quality: 6 Our latte seemed on the watery side, but the drip coffee was solid. Food: 5 Our lemon–poppy seed muffin was, well, good enough. Vibe: 6 The soft lighting and recently painted walls aren’t stunning, but they’re not bad. Pick-up factor: 7 The place was full of singles with wandering eyes. Music: 7 An eclectic mix suitable for the NPR/coffee crowd. Total=31
Extra shots: You’ll rarely feel crowded in this spacious room, but you’ll pay for theWi-Fi: $2.95 for 20 minutes, $3.95 for an hour or $7.95 for 24 hours.—Kevin Aeh

Ukrainian Village/West Town
WinnerSwim Café
(Wi-Fi equipped, Open early for commuters)
1357 W Chicago Ave (312-492-8600)
The large space is nice, but we say set up toward the front, where foot traffic gives you something to look at. You can also watch the baristas at work, smiling as they strike up conversations while prepping great cups of joe or mostly natural or organic selections from the menu.
Coffee quality: 8 The 100 percent fair-trade co-op Just Coffee brew was quite tasty, and the latte a perfect mix of milk and java. Food: 8 The recently baked bite-size orange-ginger scones were fresh and tasty. Vibe: 10 The café is bright and blue, like a day at the beach but with less sand in your suit and no chance of sunburn. Pick-up factor: 6 It’s hardly a mingling mecca, so you can probably skip that spray of cologne.Music: 9 Johnny Cash! Joni Mitchell! What’s not to like? Total=41
Extra shots: Scrabble tournaments are held Sundays, and the Wi-Fi? ’Tis free.

Runners up

1. Atomix
(Wi-Fi equipped, Open early for commuters, Open past 9pm, later on weekends)
1957 W Chicago Ave (312-666-2649)
Coffee quality: 8 Our latte was excellent, and the drip kept us warm and happy. Food: 7 The cookies and other treats are baked in-house, and they also have vegan and vegetarian snacks. Vibe: 8 Retro-futuristic kitsch and mod cool—but with houseplants—make for a homey atmosphere. Pick-up factor: 6 It’s a great place to meet up with friends, but the back-to-back layout makes it tough to meet someone new. Music: 7 NPR-chic, including the Talking Heads. Total=36
Extra shots: A photo booth is always fun, but Wi-Fi costs $2 for 30 minutes or $6.95 per day.

2. Mercury Café
(Wi-Fi equipped, Open early for commuters)
1505 W Chicago Ave (312-455-9924)
Coffee quality: 5 The Intelligentsia drip and latte turned out to be completely average. Food: 6 The sandwiches aren’t terribly distinctive, so we’d recommend sticking with the cookies and pastries, including the chocolate-covered spongecake lamingtons. Vibe: 7 Mercury doesn’t quite make the most of its massive space, but it doubles as a performance venue and fills its various nooks with books and other diversions. Pick-up factor: 5 At 4,500 square feet, it takes some effort to make the rounds. Music: 7 Nick Cave early in the day? Elliott Smith? Heavy stuff, but you can’t argue with the quality, and classic Bowie always lightens the mood. Total=30
Extra shots: The place has a cozy DIY feel, which is augmented by the free Wi-Fi.

3. Muse
(Wi-Fi equipped)
817 N Milwaukee Ave (312-850-2233)
Coffee quality: 3 The custom-blended drip from Coffee A.M. was forgettable, and our latte may as well have been all milk. Food: 4 The menu changes with the seasons, so maybe the smoothies are better than the shrink-wrapped muffins. Vibe: 7 The place seemed mellow and moody, but the barista was welcoming and conversational. Pick-up factor: 4 Anyone looking for love is unlikely to find it here among the solo readers. Music: 5 Light (but not lite, thank God) jazz. Total=23
Extra shots: Muse often hosts poetry readings, concerts and other performances. You usually won’t have to pay for those shows—nor will you pay for the Wi-Fi.—Joshua Klein

Pilsen
WinnerCafé Mestizo
(Wi-Fi equipped, Open early for commuters)
1646 W 18th St (312-421-5920)

Coffee shops are supposed to be social places, but Café Mestizo seems slightly, well, socialist. The walls display a DePaul study documenting the rapid gentrification of Pilsen, and the friendly staff members are more than willing to explain what that means for them as well as the neighborhood. Weigh your complicity over a custom-made Intelligentsia blend that, like all the café’s specialty coffee drinks, is served in a pretty handmade ceramic mug. Mestizo still feels a little like a work-in-progress, and the bathroom is dark, dingy and drafty. But there’s a word for that: character. Pull a sweater over your Che T-shirt and deal.
Coffee quality: 10 The drip conveyed a hint of spice that the latte’s creamy froth didn’t eclipse. Food: 8 Nibble on Mexican comfort food, such as the delicious Tamales Oaxaqueños wrapped in a banana leaf, at low prices. Vibe: 6 It’s a little dark in the back, but the window perches make up for it. Pick-up factor: 4 If you want to meet a hottie, be prepared to make cutie-pie faces during the Party meeting. Music: 8 We heard Dead Can Dance, the perfect soundtrack to meditative gloomy-day sipping. Total=36
Extra shots: We love the creative mochas—such as the spicy Chile Ancho, top left, and the Cafe Azteca. We also love the free Wi-Fi.

Runners up

1. Jumping Bean (Wi-Fi equipped, Open past 9pm, later on weekends)
1439 W 18th St (312-455-0019)
Coffee quality: 6 The custom blend from Coffee & Tea Exchange is perfectly acceptable, but nothing, er, jumps out about it. Food: 5 There’s just the usual baked goods. Vibe: 9 The place is a chatty, picture-perfect hub for study sessions and neighborhood hangs alike, although some longtime locals refer to it as the “Yuppie Bean.” Pick-up factor: 5 People were too lost in conversation or the respective task at hand to notice anyone staring at their ass. Music: 5 The rock & roll neither rocked nor rolled hard enough to break us out of our gradual morning wake-up. Total=30
Extra shots: There’s a pleasant view of—and from, given the gorgeous, rustic facade with floor-to-ceiling windows—the street. A good seat provides the perfect spot to take advantage of the free Wi-Fi.

2. Kristoffer’s Café and Bakery (Wi-Fi equipped, Open early for commuters)
1733 S Halsted St (312-829-4150)
Coffee quality: 6 Intelligentsia supplies, but the coffee somehow doesn’t make the most of the beans. Food: 8 During our visit the owners were hard at work making fresh salsa, a perfect complement to the Mexican offerings and staid gringo fare. Vibe: 7 This spot is bright and friendly; we even bumped into an old friend. Pick-up factor: 4 It’s a bakery, first and foremost, so the constant in and out of people could distract you from getting your in ’n’ out on. Music: 4 It’s the only one of this Pilsen trio that plays Latin music, though it was largely for the benefit of the folks behind the counter. Total=29
Extra shots: The ChocoFlan—a half-chocolate, half-flan layer-cake monster—is rich, flavorful and huge. And the Wi-Fi is free.—Joshua Klein

Wicker Park/Bucktown
WinnerMarshall McGearty Tobacco Artisans
(Wi-Fi equipped, Open past 9pm, later on weekends)
1553 N Milwaukee Ave (773-772-8410)

This cozy spot has a strong Ralph Lauren vibe: Clusters of antique lamps and distressed leather couches and chairs provide private, peaceful sitting areas. But we found it nearly empty—probably because people mistake this newcomer as a place to smoke (it is) and drink (ditto), not as a spot to sip on top-notch, exotic blends of java.
Coffee quality: 8 Our latte was lovingly crafted and served up in a classy monogrammed mug. Food: 5 The “highly recommended” spinach-and-cheese croissant was nothing special. Vibe: 10 We’re considering moving in. Pick-up factor: 8 Because smokes and drinks are offered, it’s easy to transition suavely from coffee chatter to a romantic glass of wine. Music: 7 Good ’70s tunes, like the Kinks’ “Lola.” Total=38
Extra shots: The barista was so friendly, we think we have a new BFF. And the Wi-Fi is free, to boot. Open till 2am Friday and Saturday.

Runners up

1. Filter
(Wi-Fi equipped, Open early for commuters, Open past 9pm, later on weekends)
1585 N Milwaukee Ave (773-227-4850)
Coffee quality: 7 The Intelligentsia blend—custom-made for the store—was delish, but the latte was light on foam. Food: 10 We loved the maple syrup–drenched pancakes. Vibe: 7 A blend of grungy couches, Formica tables and quirky lamps makes this spot feel worn-in and chic. Pick-up factor: 5 The mohawk-sporting hipsters and skinny jean–clad trixies stayed far, far apart. Music: 7 Tunes by bands like the Killers, played not too loud and not too soft. Total 36
Extra shots: Filter brews coffee and cooks up breakfast by 7am for early risers. This spot has Wi-Fi, but it ain’t free: It’s $2.50 per hour, $8.50 per day and $21 for an unlimited monthly pass. Open till midnight (11pm Sunday).

2. Half & Half
(Open early for commuters)
1560 N Damen Ave (773-489-6220)
Coffee quality: 8 They serve Intelligentsia several ways—half caf/half milk, for instance—and they’re all good. Food: 7 The wraps are cheap and tasty. Vibe: 5 The space has four tables, so you’ll likely take your order to go. Pick-up factor: 6 The El is just a few steps away, so if you spot a cutie, strike up a conversation and finish it on the way to work. Music: 3 We barely heard some stuff playing in the back along with the dishwashers. Total=29
Extra shots: Flavored syrups and several bottles of liquid sweetener are free at the cream and sugar station.

3. Caffe de Luca
(Wi-Fi equipped, Open early for commuters)
1721 N Damen Ave (773-342-6000)
Coffee quality: 10 We dug our velvety latte and the Caffè Umbria blend of joe. Food: 6 A chicken breast on whole grain was $9, but big and yummy. Vibe: 4 The spot is cute and homey, but a 45-minute rule for laptop carriers (on busy days) didn’t make us feel warm and frothy. Pick-up factor: 4 The waitstaff aggressively turns tables on the weekend, so it’s hard to flirt with other patrons. Music: 3 We could probably go the rest of our lives without hearing “Brown-Eyed Girl” again. Total=27
Extra shots: When I asked for a to-go cup of java after finishing up my latte, the refill charge was nixed. Wi-Fi is free.—Liz Plosser