Yeah this will be my last time ordering from this location. I've been in the drive thru for 15+…read moreminutes and I just know they're about to hand me a melted drink because I made the mistake of mobile ordering to try and expedite the process. Crazy work guys.

Oh man, I'm sad to see the ratings so low for this Starbucks. It's my most frequented one *because*…read moreI love the staff there. They are always cheerful, polite, and kind to us and I know that's gotta be hard in the world today. I really appreciate them for it. There's one barista who knows me by name which is probably an indication that I'm there far too often ;) But in an impersonal world of chain restaurants, it's such a sweet thing to be recognized. There was a period of a few weeks where our drinks were consistently "off" if they had any special changes, but that was several months ago and they seem to have sorted it out. Now everything is what I expect to get. My kid and I used to come here and work when they were homeschooled and we were always greeted with kindness. It felt like a true "third place" not just a faceless chain. My other shout out for this particular location is that the cafe is open until 10pm and drive thru orders until 11:30pm. Hardly anything is open that late in Phoenix! This is greatly appreciated after later evening kid activities. Last night our family went in for hot chocolate at 9:30pm after our kids' school play and it was awesome to have a family-friendly place to hang out for a few minutes. Bathrooms and the cafe itself are clean. Straws, etc. are well stocked and easily accessible. This has been a family favorite for 4 years now.

I went here nearly daily for years. Their day pass is a really good value, and the people that run…read morethe spot are insnanely nice. It's cool place to run into and meet people you probably never would be otherwise who likely play the same stuff as you. There's snacks for purchase inside, a subway in the other part of the building, a convenient store that has everything on the other side.. so really there is everything you could ever need. The lighting on the inside is cool, and the computers run everything, are in good condition. The only downside I ever ran into was that sometimes you need to hunt around for a working headset, but other than that . 10/10

Genuinely just not a space for anything besides casual gameplay, the first thing I noticed…read moreimmediately were these plastic bumpers between each desk. Understandably they're there to keep everyone within their designated ~42 inch square but realistically there's no way to aim here, you will absolutely smack your mouse into the bumper if your normal sens exceeds 15cm/180. That math might sound kinda funky but they have a full 100% keyboard with a numpad, so you lose all that space in practice unless you curl up in a wildly unnatural position and rest the keyboard on the plastic bumpers but nothing I did even remotely made this place comfortable. It's as if they've never had anyone play a shooter here, or everyone who ever has had an eDPi of 12000 or higher. They aren't really equipped for MMOs either, every mouse in sight was a Razer Deathadder Essential, no Nagas or Scimitars or even a knockoff 12 button, so unless you're clicking your buttons or reaching to the = key naturally on a full sized keyboard you're crippled. I picked up a 5 hour session off the rip because my buddies in town and I only have one PC in my place, I couldn't even survive 30 minutes here before just giving up and deciding to watch him play, but even a guy who never gets to play, who really wants to play, couldn't survive more than an hour and a half of his five hours. Side note, we pushed in our chair to make space to walk through the aisle and the light rattle of the desk sent a PC for a whole bootloop back to BIOS. If you aren't desperate it's something, but don't come here for Overwatch or Valorant or CSGO or really any shooter.

I am usually not in this area a lot, but my daughter & I wanted to go check out this bookstore for…read moresome used books so we took the drive down. When we arrived, I realized I remembered this spot from when I was a kid, I just hadn't been back since I was younger. This spot is absolutely STUFFED with books, comic books, VHS tapes and more. You could spend quite a long time wandering around looking at all of the books they have to offer. It can be slightly overwhelming especially if you are looking for something specific as there wasn't really any clear guidance on where to find certain sections. We still had a lot of fun though wandering around and seeing what we could find. If you are looking for the prices, they are written in pencil on the inside of the books. You can find a mixture of mostly used books along with some new books. They have a cute shop cat that you can sometimes spot wandering around, or asleep at the front. The woman who was working the register the day we visited was friendly! They also had a cart out-front with a number of books that were free to grab. There is plenty of parking out-front.

Found this little gem in Phoenix last week when I was on the hunt for a used copy of Song of…read moreSolomon. I called and they said they have the 1984 edition for $6, which was a great price. Once I was got to the store, I had to explore. I think that if one were to regularly visit Books, he/she would find some rare editions and other gems. Also, they had what looked like reproductions of banned book announcements posted around the store: all were of classic novels that we can't imagine not having access to as students. (See photos: Charlotte's Web, Huck Finn, Fahrenheit 451...) They were quite entertaining, in a disturbing way. They had the effect of making me feel so grateful that past efforts of censorship in the US had failed. In 2024, this is still a real threat. Tiny stores like this one are real treasures. Let's keep them in business.

If I could give a place 10*s, Lux has more than earned the title…read more Cool space coffee shops are definitely a thing in Phoenix lately--but Lux was the "design-genius-with-a-latte-machine" long before coffee shops were even a thing here. I've been frequenting this architectural marvel for over 10 years. While so many new shops try to mimic this vibe, none of them are Lux. Lux is King! The 11-Year Flashback: I looked back at my review from 11 years ago when I docked them a star for the "nightmare parking." Back then, I was a "to-go" only person who never envisioned myself as a laptop-hipster hanging out. Well, times change! I'm bumping them up to 5 stars now. Maybe it's the new competition nearby or my better timing, but the parking is a breeze, and I've officially embraced the "comfy chair" lifestyle. The "Cheers" Factor: What really sets this place apart is the people. After a decade of visits, it truly feels like Cheers--where everybody knows my name! Getting to know the folks behind the counter makes every visit feel like coming home. The Sip of the Night: I shifted from my usual plain Cappuccino as my target drink to include in a review to feature their Espresso Martini. I went with a Reposado base instead of the typical vodka, and it was stellar. With two full bars in addition to the coffee and pastry bar, craft drinks truly abound here! (Note: they have an amazing cappuccino too) The Comfort Classics: You cannot leave without the food. My go-to favorites? The Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese and the legendary Chocolate Chip or Red Velvet cookies. Return Factor: 100% I've been coming here for a decade, and it's still the gold standard. As I said in my review 11 years ago: "I see a book, comfy chair and cocktail in my future! Stumble home... Repeat." Still true today! #PHXCoffeeShopTour #1CupAtATime #LuxCentral #PhoenixOriginal #EspressoMartini #FlashbackReview

Coffee is spectacular no complaints here besides it being a lil expensive…read more The shop is also a great vibe feels very hidden and secluded, music is great and seating is eclectic but there's enough of it. The baristas lowkey always look at you kinda weird no matter what you order.

It was fine, but not much more…read more Heard good things so swung in for lunch and coffee. The shop was cute with lots of local art and event info on the walls. There was a wide range of people working and hanging out, which is always nice to see. The young woman behind the counter was of no help whatsoever in deciding what to try. We ended up getting a dirty chai and an iced coffee with some cream, a panini, and a bagel. When the coffees were up there was no marking which was which. I tried to ask but the barista vanished. The cook was scrolling on his phone and said he didn't know. We sorted out which was which, and they were both fine. The bagel was good and the cashew cream cheese was tasty. The panini took a long time, maybe because it was competing with TikTok for the cook's attention. It was... fine. Which is just how I felt about the whole place after leaving. If you're nearby and want a coffee, I'll always support a local shop over Starbucks. But not a place I'd go out of my way to try again.

Strip Mall -- Midtown/7th St The Quick Sip: A clever,…read morehigh-design nod to Phoenix's roadside architecture with a surprisingly sophisticated coffee menu. The Vibe: Cozy, eclectic, and incredibly friendly. It has that rare neighborhood feel where you could easily lose track of time hanging out on the patio. The Order: Hot double-shot cappuccino with light milk. First Sip Reaction: Smooth, rich, and absolutely worth the 7th St traffic! Study-ability: 4/5 Finding a free table was easy, and the chairs are actually comfy. They have a great counter-height table equipped with outlets--perfect for getting some work done. Parking might not be as easy. The "X-Factor": The connection to Monsoon Market. The ability to grab a world-class espresso and then pop next door to the "coolest bodega in Phoenix" for natural wine or snacks is a total 1-2 punch. Final Verdict: Definitely a recurring stop on the tour. It transforms the 7th Street commute into a destination rather than just a drive. Return Factor: 60% (Solid odds for a repeat visit!) #PHXCoffeeShopTour #1CupAtATime

I loved the vibe of this coffee shop. The art, decor and overall aesthetic is fun, trendy, yet…read morestill cozy They have plenty of seats if you want to dine in. Or you can order ahead take it to go Like most coffee shops you can find most all of the signature coffee drinks, tasty pastries, and if you're not a coffee drinker they have smoothies, teas, etc The staff were incredibly friendly and professional. Our order took slightly longer than some of the other coffee shops we visited, but there was only one barista, it was a weekend, and each drink was handcrafted. We certainly didn't mind Everything tasted great, and it was just the pick-me-up we needed to start our day Some tips: If you're into CBD they have a CBD cold brew. If you want to throw a party and need a fun space reach out to them and check out their website for ideas and pursue their gallery They open fairly early (by 7am), and they close relatively late (4pm) Cheers!!

Great service, drinks came out very fast. Space is clean and…read moreaesthetically pleasing. Loved my drink, got the tiramisu coffee! Would definitely recommend. Fair prices as well!!

From the moment you walk through the door, Brick Road Coffee wraps you in a sense of belonging. The…read morestaff -- shoutout to Jordan & Vivian, who were absolutely wonderful -- are warm, conversational, and genuinely helpful with recommendations. This is the kind of place where you immediately feel like a regular, even on your first visit. What makes Brick Road special goes beyond great coffee. They've created a space that's proudly queer-friendly and welcoming to everyone, full stop. The vibe is cozy and eclectic -- there's a small library tucked in, tasty pastries to go alongside your drink, and when I stopped in, The Golden Girls was playing on a projector. Honestly, perfect. I don't find myself in Tempe often, but Brick Road Coffee has officially earned a spot on my must-visit list every time I'm in the area. Do yourself a favor and stop in.

I LIKE coffee.... A lot. We just recently moved to the area…read moreand have been trying all of the tea and coffee shops that have solid reviews. The line here was crazy long like I had to stand outside and wait to get in and stand in their line inside. All good though it's mostly just because of the odd layout of tables and furniture and things. Overall an excellent place and the coffee was good! Just need to have plenty of time waiting for coffee ...

This place is such a hidden gem! It's just off University, but tucked away perfectly. I loved the…read moreatmosphere and the coffee was very good. My only complaint is that they didn't have caramel for a caramel latte. I ended up getting an iced coconut caramel latte and it was $8 for 12 ounces, which seems extremely expensive for a small coffee. The coffee was good, but strange that they didn't have regular caramel.

I love Cartel Coffee. Such a comfy spot to sit on campus…read more I get the Pumpkin Latte the last few times I've gone. It's so good... it's a house made syrup and it's a really unique fall flavor. Not overwhelmingly sweet, which is hard to find for PSL's. The staff is kind and service is super quick.

Black Cat has turned into one of my most frequent go-tos because they are reasonably priced and…read moresuper consistent. My usual order is a shaken espresso and it's delicious every time. I have also tried their London fog and it was perfect on a cloudy winter morning. The service is also consistently great and often the barista already knows what I'm going to order lol. The shop is decorated with local art which is fun and adds an eclectic vibe.

I loved this coffee shop I found in AZ. The staff were so friendly. Matcha was delicious! The shop…read morewas so cozy and inviting. If we didn't have plans I would have stayed for a while and enjoyed my drink. See my pics