1. 14 Jan. 27, 2010
CLOSER LOOK
ROGERS PERK
Closer Look gives you the 411 on six great coffee spots close to campus and perfect for a needed change of pace.
BySarahRogers
Closer Look Writer
I think I can speak for most Loyola students when I say that it’s easy, especially in the freezing winter months, to get stuck on campus. One day you wake up
and realize that you haven’t left Mertz in two weeks except to go to class, or the IC, or occasionally to venture over to Simpson Dining for a change of pace.
What many Loyolans neglect to realize is that there are tons of amazing places to eat, drink, study and just plain relax mere blocks from our little bubble!
Without further ado, here’s a guide I hope will help you find your new favorite study spot or place to grab coffee with friends in our vibrant neighborhood.
THE COMMON CUP
1501W.MORSEAVE.
Photo credit: The Phoenix/Jennifer Bane
As inviting as its name implies, The Common Cup is a clean, bright,
independentcoffeeshoplocatedonMorseAvenuejustdownthestreetfrom
the Red Line stop. Made up of two adjoined rooms, this small café is full of
various sized tables perfect for group or individual studying. The furniture
and tableware have a sort of ’60s mod feel to them, and paired with the
classic Chicago architecture of the building (tall ceilings, tiled floors, dark
wood molding and pale painted walls) gives it a cool feeling — sort of like
being at the bottom of a pool. The coffee is excellent and they offer a variety
of baked goods and other light food at reasonable prices. There are also
someinterestingEuropeancandiesstackedindishesinfrontoftheregister.
ItwasdefinitelybustlingandcrowdedontheTuesdayafternoonofmyvisit,
but it was extremely quiet aside from some light jazz music floating in the
background. The crowd was mostly post-college age, making for a nice
change of pace from some of the coffee shops a bit closer to campus.
TasteofCoffee: SoloStudy:
Atmosphere:commoncupchicago.com
ENNUI CAFE
6981N.SHERIDANRD.
Photo credit: The Phoenix/Sarah Rogers
Located on Sheridan Road a few blocks south and across the street from
our last stop is Ennui Cafe. As you descend the three steps down into
this dim, hole-in-the-wall café, you immediately feel as if you’re going
back to an old library or used bookstore you’ve been to a million times.
Tall fern-like plants line the dusty old windows, and local art and used,
worn books are stacked against the walls. The bottomless coffee (a HUGE
plus for some all-day studying) is served in all sorts of mismatched mugs
that look like something you might find at a garage sale or inherit from
grandma. The seating is beautiful, with chairs and tables of all different
sizes set on various levels and a gorgeous window seat perfect for people
watching. The crowd is a mixed one, but mostly everyone had a laptop out
in front of them. The bakery case isn’t the most extensive on our list, but
they do offer a pita pizza that is pretty good and many types of delicious
sounding paninis. There is a lot of space for studying, and the overall
atmosphere screams brooding intellectual.
TasteofCoffee: SoloStudy:
Atmosphere:

2. page 17CLOSER LOOK
ALHAMBRA CAFE
1622W.MORSEAVE.
Photo credit: The Phoenix/Sarah Rogers
Alhambra is a coffee house for the true
coffee lover. Named after a palace in
SpainthatwasbuiltandruledbyArabsinthe14thcentury,Alhambrahasaunique,
Europeanvibe.Itisverytiny—justonesmallstorefront—andlookslikesomesort
ofclassicpainting.ThedécorisveryEastIndiaTradingCompany—richwoodsand
gold accents. The walls are adorned with Egyptian paintings on papyrus, photos
of the original Alhambra palace, local artwork and various other trinkets. Small
statuessitatopandsurroundabeautiful,gold,vintage-lookingcoffeemachine.With
the taste of the coffee, the gypsy-esque music in the background and the various
statuesandwallhangings,it’seasytobetransportedfromRogersParktomedieval
Spain after spending a short time in there. Although not ideal for studying (this is
the only place on the list that has no Wi-Fi and actually deters computer usage),
Alhambra is better suited for a coffee date or a get-together with a small group of
friends. They have excellent Turkish and European coffee options and the place
isn’t usually crowded. It is a bit pricey, but a definite must for anyone looking for
a step up from the usual local coffee shop.
TasteofCoffee: SoloStudy:
Atmosphere:alhambracafechicago.com
& COFFEE HOUSE
ROYAL COFFEE
6764N.SHERIDANRD.
Photo credit: The Phoenix/Sarah Rogers
Also offering tastes from another land, Royal Coffee, located at Pratt
Avenue and Sheridan Road, brings delicious coffee straight from Ethiopia.
More of a restaurant than a coffee shop, they offer amazing breakfast
options, light lunch options and a few Ethiopian dishes. The long, open
room offers plenty of space for studying both solo and with groups. The
place gives a bit of a different vibe from the folk-music filled, local art-
covered walls of the other spots on the list. A TV plays softly near the
kitchen, and twinkling white Christmas lights warm the pinkish walls,
which are covered with blown up photos depicting the process of making
their signature Royal Blend. Trinkets from Africa and information about
their coffee are available on a bookshelf across from the counter. The
service was absolutely superb and I was incredibly impressed by both
my coffee (it was served on a small tray with a tiny pitcher of cream and
two miniature cookies) along with my friend’s dessert crêpes. (And it was
the least expensive of all the stops, only $1.25!)
TasteofCoffee: SoloStudy:
Atmosphere: royalcoffeechicago.com
STELLA ESPRESSO CO.
1269W.DEVONAVE.
Photo credit: The Phoenix/Jennifer Bane
Located at Devon and Lakewood Avenues, Stella is a clean and warm
café, with a serious study vibe. Decorated in mostly modern décor, it
is full of small touches that give it a unique, eccentric feel. The chairs
at each table (which vary in size and layout) are mismatched, and one
wall of exposed brick lines the back portion of the room. The walls are
filled with local artwork under a canopy of exposed piping. Everything
is color coordinated in rich browns, greens and yellows that are sort
of a throwback to an earlier era. The lighting is pretty dim, and the
place is VERY quiet, with students, professors and what appeared to be
post-college-aged individuals clacking away on keyboards. Other cute
touches include a menu with sections labeled things like, “espresso
snobbery,” “rugrats” and “sweet tooths,” and a shelf full of worn board
games. Overall it is great for studying, and the music choices (courtesy
of the barista, I believe) were superb.
TasteofCoffee: SoloStudy:
Atmosphere:stellaespresso.com
METROPOLIS
1039W.GRANVILLEAVE.
Photo credit: The Phoenix/Jennifer Bane
Though it may be the same coffee you find in the IC, Metropolis is
probably the number one coffee shop for Loyola students and many
Rogers Park and Edgewater residents. Located right down the street
from the Granville el stop, Metropolis, though three-rooms large, always
seems to be filled to the brim with customers. Searching for a spot on
the Saturday morning of my visit, I found myself tripping through a
maze of various chairs, couches, art work, signs, backpacks, musical
instruments, hats, coats, cups, computers and plates — things and
people were everywhere! Offering fair-trade coffee, roasted in-house
and homemade goodies, Metropolis is by no means the cheapest stop
on the list, but its familiarity and warm, inviting atmosphere make it a
popular spot for studying and hanging out with friends. There is a real
community feel to the place, and it is apparent talking to anyone who
works there that they know coffee. I mean, they really know coffee.
TasteofCoffee: SoloStudy:
Atmosphere: metropoliscoffee.com
Design by Sidra Zaidi, Closer Look Editor
15Jan. 27, 2010