Coffeeshops: The World at Large
Regina Coffee, Ho Chi Minh City
Skopje
- Cafe Amica
***
Gradski Trgovski Centar, 2 sprat, Skopje.
A great cup of espresso or cappuccino, and excellent sweets. The new
location is pleasantly decorated and offers beautiful views of the
city. Very attentive owners and waiting staff.
1/2006
- Blue Cafe
**½
Plostad Makedonija, Skopje.
Fashionable, yuppy decor, good looking chairs, sofas, people,
everything. Illy's coffee reigns supreme. Blue Cafe advertises free
wireless, though it isn't the kind of place where you would find
oblivious souls hunched over their laptops. You go there to see and
be seen. (Other locations in Trgovski Centar and Kapishtec.)
1/2006
- Broz Cafe
**½
Bul Partizanski Odredi bb (across from Univerzalna
Sala), Skopje.
An odd cross between a wannabe Starbucks and a display case of
memorabilia from the time of the late Josip Broz, also known as Tito. Nice layout, with informal
seating downstairs and a trendier setting upstairs (where,
unfortunately, smoking is allowed). Check out their web page.
1/2006
- Slatkarnica Palma
**½
Trgovski Centar Ramstor, Skopje.
An unpretentious pastry shop inside a recently opened shopping mall
serving good cappuccino, but also a great glass of boza.
1/2006
Seattle
- Caffe Ladro Queen Anne
***
2205 Queen Anne Ave N.
On my first day in Seattle I woke up at 4.30 in the
morning, and roamed around the house patiently till 6.30 waiting for
some coffeeshop to open up. Little did I know that the local Caffe
Ladro starts serving fantastic cappuccinos as early as 5am. The inside
has a small but pleasant sitting area, a bit dark (when it rains) but
unpretentiously decorated. The real feature (when it doesn't rain)
are the loungy chairs outside, ideal both for daydreaming and
yuppy-watching.
5/2006
- El Diablo Coffee Co.
***½
1811 Queen Anne Ave N, Queen Anne.
When I was growing up, I was taught to believe that
coffee and sugar are two things that should not be mixed. Sweet
coffee is, as the saying goes, for those whose lives are bitter. I
don't know much about life and bitterness, but the sweet taste of the
caffe con leche at El Diablo is out of this world. Yes, it takes them
about 10 minutes to make your drink, so be prepared to spend a good
part of your day here if there is a line. Not that you'll regret it.
As advertised, the downstairs is devilish, with murals reminding you
that perhaps the inferno is not so bad after all. In case you want
variety, there is a pleasant outside patio, a bookstore next door,
or—you guessed it—a glimpse of paradise upstairs.
5/2006
- Stickman Coffee
(formerly Fremont Roastery)
****
621 N 36 St, Fremont.
I am so crazy about this place that I was reluctant to
put it on the review page. So readers, if there are any of you, I beg
you, please don't ruin it by blabbering all about it to your friends,
friends' friends, etc. The Fremont Roastery is the essential
anti-coffeeshop, if there was ever such a thing. It is the ultimate
fantasy, the private coffeeshop party, something that does not happen,
not even in your wildest dreams. In my five or so visits, I was
the only customer in there. So how do they stay in business?
Perhaps it has something to do with their patron saint: A certain
Vladimir Ilych Lenin of Fremont. Oh, and if you do go, try the
macchiato.
5/2006
(Update: This must be the best coffee in the world.
8/2008)
- Fremont Coffee Company
***½
459 N 36th St, Fremont.
This place is a converted house; the seating space is
divided into little rooms, and it feels really cozy in there. If the
rooms feel too claustrophobic, there is also a small bar, a porch
(favored by smokers), and a terrace with tables overlooking all the
hip Fremont activity. Cappuccinos and macchiatos carry the
day.
5/2006
- Gypsy Trader
***
3517 Stone Way N, Fremont.
Another unique phenomenon, the bulk of the space at
the Gypsy trader is occupied by a secondhand items store. Some of the items
from there have drifted away into the coffeeshop area, and you have a
curious feeling of drinking coffee inside something that looks like a
cross between a hip hangout and your grandmother's house. (But more
like your grandmother's house.) The service is great, and the snacks
are made with care.
5/2006
- Cafe Allegro
**½
4214 University Way NE, U District.
A nice small coffeeshop near the UW campus. The most
amusing thing we found in there is a collection of currency from
around the world.
5/2006
- Espresso Vivace
***
901 E Denny Way, Capitol Hill.
This is the true coffee connoisseur hangout, and it
shows: The macchiato is a piece of art. The space is decorated so as
to appeal to the local Capitol Hill specimen. This is not a bad
thing.
5/2006
- Victrola Cafe
***
411 15 Ave E, Capitol Hill.
In any other city, this could be a three and a half,
even four star coffeeshop. But come on guys, this is Seattle, where
Victrola is just another place to have coffee.
6/2006
Cafe Diablo, Seattle
Los Angeles
- Kerckhoff Coffeehouse
**½
Kerckhoff Hall, UCLA Campus, Los Angeles.
Don't be discouraged by the slow service; yes, it is
typical to have 15 baristas behind the counter all run into each other
and your drink goes through least 6 hands in the making. The great
thing about this place is the outdoor seating. Enjoy the sun and the
cheerful students around you, forget your worries, and sip your latte
with pleasure.
10/2006
- The Bourgeois Pig
**½
5931 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles.
The drinks are mediocre, the service is snappy, the crowd almost
hostile, but there is nothing quite like an evening with your friends at
this trendy locale in Hollywood. The vintage furniture and purple walls
give this place a remarkable atmosphere, and one could waste countless
hours in the comfortable plush armchairs.
3/2004
- Insomnia Cafe
**
7286 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles.
This place has a lot of character with its velvety couch, yellow walls
and high ceilings. The service, however, is horrendous, and unless
you fit the image of an aspiring writer or artist or whatever, don't
expect to feel welcome. Not a great place for the conversationalist
either. The coffee is okay.
5/2008
- Zephyr Coffee House
***
2419 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena.
This coffeeshop and creperie is located in a beautiful
house on Colorado Boulevard. Each room has a few tables, and there is
also nice seating in a garden outside. Zephyr doubles up as an art
gallery, and it is not hard to imagine spending the whole day in these
pleasant surroundings. 10/2006
- Zona Rosa Caffe
**½
15 South El Molino Ave, Pasadena.
Zona Rosa advertises itself as a coffeeshop just like
in Mexico City, so I gather that coffeeshops in Mexico City are set to
look like living rooms. The roasts are European style (they use
Danesi brand), so if you are one of these types that find American
coffees too bitter you might enjoy it in there quite a bit.
10/2006
- Europane Bakery and Cafe
**½
950 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena.
Nice atmosphere, good coffee, excellent baked goods.
3/2004
Boston
- Toscanini's
**½
899 Main St, Cambridge.
Renowned well beyond Cambridge for its fantastic ice cream, Toscanini's
also serves superb coffee and a good selection of breakfast bites. The
modern decor is original but not tacky, making Toscanini's a very pleasant
place to spend time reading, relaxing, meditating, or chatting with
your friends.
(Update: The coffee quality has deteriorated.
6/2010)
- 1369 Coffee House
***
757 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge.
Located about halfway between MIT and Harvard, this coffeeshop appeals
to urbanites from both institutions, more often than not immersed in
their laptops or thick stacks of paper. The lattes are excellent, and
the bagels here make a perfect breakfast.
- Crema Cafe
***½
27 Brattle St, Harvard Square, Cambridge.
A pleasant coffee place in Harvard Square. The inside is
spacious with a loft-like upstairs space from where you have a panoramic
overview of all the action on the espresso machine. The coffees are quite
good, and there are also lots of baked goods and sandwiches to choose from.
6/2010
- Pavement Cafe
***½
1098 Boylston St, Boston.
Providing maybe the tastiest cup of coffee in Boston,
Pavement is also an eclectic space with vintage furniture and the crowd
from nearby Berklee College of Music to go with it. If you can't handle
the hipness, there are also some nice spacious tables outside.
6/2010
- Espresso Royale
***
736 Commonwealth Ave, Boston.
Part of a mini-chain of local coffeeshops, this location
near Boston University is pretty quiet, although a bit dark inside. The
coffee is nice and the bagels are pretty good too.
6/2010
Pavement Cafe, Boston
Tel Aviv
- Ilan's coffee
***
90 Ibn Gvirol St.
They take their coffee seriously here, with dozens of
varieties from all parts of the world. The flavor is quite strong and
the baristas are helpful in navigating the vast menu. The space is a bit
small with lots of fancy coffee equipment packed inside, but there are
some nice spaces by the window overlooking the street.
5/2010
- Cafe Noah
***½
93 Ahad Ha'Am St, Sheinkin St Area.
A beautiful place just off the lively Sheinkin Street.
The outside garden is extra pleasant, but spaces fill up quickly. A nice
place to spend long hours chatting, working, or just thinking.
5/2010
- Flawless Coffee
**½
Rabin Sq SW corner.
This is more of a lunch place serving sandwiches and
all, but the coffee is nice and the service is great too: warm and
pleasant but not too chatty. Inside there are a couple of tall chairs
and tables, good to sit and read if you come alone. The outside
seating has views of the nearby square.
1/2007
- Segafreddo
**½
Dizengoff St (at Frishman).
I don't know if this place has a real
name other than this popular Italian brand that it serves, but it
appears to be better known for its cookies than for the coffee. The
two go together very well; the food, on the other hand, is mediocre. Nice patio if you are not bothered by the cigarette smoke.
1/2007
North America
- Big Sur Coffeehouse
***
Big Sur, CA.
Excellent espresso drinks, and locally baked goods, at yuppy prices in a
beautiful setting.
5/2005
- Caffe Carpe Diem
***
3401 1st Ave (at Upas St), San Diego, CA.
The round windows, the mirror in the gilded frame, the safe deposit
boxes vaulted into the back, and other extravagant objects give this place
an unusual feel. These curiosities work well and the space is very
pleasant. If it is too much, there is also a nice porch looking out
on the street. The coffee is excellent (organic, free trade, etc.)
6/2008
- Red Emma's Bookstore Coffehouse
**½
800 St. Paul St, Baltimore, MD.
This bookstore and coffeehouse turned out a very pleasant surprise in an
otherwise dreary town. Teas, espresso drinks, and mattes (an incredibly
bitter brewed drink not to be confused with a latte) can be sipped in
the company of anarcho-socialist-radical lesbians enjoying their free
wireless connection to the world.
5/2005
- Quartermaine Coffee Roasters
**½
4817 Bethesda Ave, Bethesda, MD.
For a one-coffeeshop town, this one is pretty good. The coffee is a bit bitter but quite strong and aromatic. When you order an americano, you have to instruct them how to make it short, but the staff is very friendly and you will be recognized on your next visit.
5/2009
- The Salt Lake Roasting Co
**½
320 E 400 S, Salt Lake City, UT.
Situated in a spacious two-story building, this shop boasts
offering "the perfect cup of coffee", which unfortunately I didn't have
a chance to try. The place itself, however, is quite plesant, and
offers beautiful views of the spectacular library building just across the
street.
5/2004
- Brûlerie St. Denis
**½
3967 Rue St Denis, Montreal, Canada.
A very pleasant shop with great outdoor seating. For a place that roasts its own coffee, however, the coffee could be more aromatics. It is not bad, just a bit weak. But on a sunny day the nice setting more than makes up for it.
6/2009
Brûlerie St. Denis, Montreal
Europe
- Classic Cafe Pajton
***½
Maršal Tito 85 (Širok Sokak), Bitola,
Macedonia.
Decorated in a tasteful cross of classic European and
Balkan / Ottoman style, serving excellent cappucinos, featuring great service,
Pajton is arguably the most pleasant coffeeshop in Macedonia. Ideally
located for observing Bitola's nightlife.
9/2006
Cafe Gramofon
***
3 Tünel Meydanı (next to the Tünel
funiculary entrance), İstanbul, Turkey.
This looks like a popular music venue in the evenings
(charging a substantial cover). However during the day it is a
beautiful coffeeshop in a city where finding a decent shot of espresso
can be a challenge. 1/2007
(Closed and replaced by a branch of the chain Simit
Sarayı. 1/2009)
Zen Cafe, Tokyo
East and Southeast Asia
- Yanaka Coffee
***
Ookayama, Meguro Ward, Tokyo, Japan.
This is a tiny coffeeshop with merely enough space for two stools, a short counter, and a gigantic coffee roaster. Fresh roasted coffee in a small cup: The anthithesis of the tall-grande-venti philosophy. You can go for the latte if you want, but regular (drip) coffee is fantastic in Japan, and this place does it as well as any other.
3/2010
- Zen Cafe
**½
near Mitsukoshimae Metro Station, Tokyo, Japan.
The coffee here is not that good, but you can get a fabulous tuna sandwich and great atmosphere to enjoy them in. The coffeeshop occupies a little three-story building and seems to attract the usual assortment of book readers and web surfers.
3/2010
- Regina Coffee
***½
84 Nguyen Du St, Dist 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Coffee in South Vietnam is such a wonderful affair that,
of all the places I have seen, only Seattle comes somewhat close to it.
You cannot go wrong with any place, but if you want to go fancy Regina might be just for you. The menu is long, but skip over all the European drinks and go for a refreshing cold coffee with condensed milk.
12/2008
- Cafe Fresco
***
361 Sisowhat Quay, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Phnom Penh is a chaotic city, and the sleek, beautiful Cafe Fresco feels a bit like a mirage in the desert. There are several nicely decorated rooms inside, with fancy chairs and modern art on the walls, and a nice terrace. They serve western snacks, sandwiches, ice cream from New Zealand, and generous cups of cappuccino. It is about as good as Illy coffee can taste.
12/2009
Cafe Amica, Skopje