 "Photo: Jennifer Bane")
 "Photo: Jennifer Bane")
 "Photo: Jennifer Bane")
 "Photo: Sarah Rogers")
 "Photo: Sarah Rogers")
 "Photo: Sarah Rogers")
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
1501 W. Morse Ave.
As inviting as its name implies, The Common Cup is a clean, bright, independent coffee shop located on Morse Avenue just down the street from 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 some interesting European candies stacked in dishes in front of the register. It was definitely bustling and crowded on the Tuesday afternoon of my visit, 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.
Taste of coffee: 3.5/4 stars
Solo study: 4/4 stars
Atmosphere: 2.5/4 stars
Special feature: Ice cream with lots of topping options!
Note: Closes at 6 p.m. during the week and 8 p.m. on the weekends.
Ennui Cafe
6981 N. Sheridan Rd.
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.
Taste of coffee: 1.5/4 stars
Solo study: 4/4 stars
Atmosphere: 4/4 stars
Special feature: The window nook!
Note: It tastes like diner coffee.
Alhambra Cafe & Coffee House
1622 W. Morse Ave.
Alhambra is a coffee house for the true coffee lover. Named after a palace in Spain that was built and ruled by Arabs in the 14th century, Alhambra has a unique, European vibe. It is very tiny — just one small storefront — and looks like some sort of classic painting. The décor is very East India Trading Company — rich woods and gold accents. The walls are adorned with Egyptian paintings on papyrus, photos of the original Alhambra palace, local artwork and various other trinkets. Small statues sit atop and surround a beautiful, gold, vintage-looking coffee machine. With the taste of the coffee, the gypsy-esque music in the background and the various statues and wall hangings, it’s easy to be transported from Rogers Park to medieval 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.
Taste of coffee: 4/4 stars
Solo study: 1/4 stars
Atmosphere: 4/4 stars
Special feature: Table service.
Note: Cash only.
Royal Coffee
6764 N. Sheridan Rd.
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!)
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