While visiting from out of town, we stopped by Bagels Forever, and wow--what an incredible find!…read moreThese bagels were absolutely perfect, with a beautifully crisp crust and a wonderfully chewy inside. At just $0.75 each, they're an unbelievable deal for such high-quality, freshly made bagels. The breakfast sandwich was fresh, filling, and delicious, but the real star was the bagel sandwich--so good that my daughter literally said, "I think I'm gonna cry!" That pretty much sums it up! I only wish we lived in Madison so we could come here all the time. If you're in town, do not miss this place--it's a true bagel lover's dream!

Bagels Forever is a Madison staple! Not to mention they have a wide selection of bagels and bagel…read moresandwich options at a very reasonable price! This establishment is one of my favorite spots to visit along university Ave and the service is excellent. I have been coming to this bagel shop for years and it always lives up to its to the standard (and taste!). Bagels Forever is always clean and the staff are always friendly, plus I am almost always guaranteed to run into a familiar face!

Extremely tasty bagels with creative spreads and combinations…read more Pricey for a bagel but good quality and portion size Takes longer than I would expect so recommend calling ahead. Some inside and bar seating but pretty small. Staff always friendly and helpful!

I had avoided this place since covid because for the longest time you were forced to order online…read moreand could not go inside. So I just forgot about it. We were downtown to watch the Ironman races and needed something quick. We did order online and were surprised when we arrived that you could now order at the counter. Of course the place was jammed with spectators but our order was ready. They have a wide choice of bagels and spreads. We should have ordered the bagels toasted -we missed that on the online form (too many choices). They do have some seating. I am sure these are pretty authentic NYC style bagels but without being toasted they are way too chewy for my liking. I will stick with Bagels Forever...

My go to spot for a good mocha, perfect blend of expresso and not overly sweet. Solid latte art for…read moresteaming with oat milk, which is a bit harder than whole milk. The cafe has a relaxed vibe with lots of seating. Would recommend visiting if you are a coffee lover

This is THE spot for pre-farmers market caffeine! We stopped in right at 9am on a Saturday and saw…read morethey have a walk-up counter serving some of their top, basic drink options and basic pastries. Inside, one can order from their full menu. Their menu is small but mighty having a little something for everyone. I got a hot Maple Latte with oatmilk. The flavor was subtly sweet but paired great with the espresso. The maple syrup was sourced locally and made in house. I'd be very curious to come back and try the other specialty lattes. My husband got their Homemade Chai Latte. It was cozy in a cup and had nice spices in it. We shared the Bagel Sandwich which was the perfect portion for a breakfast snack. The bagel seemed to have fresh seasoning on it and the flavors layered nicely together. Overall, this was a great coffee, tea, food stop. Its right off Capitol Square but order online for pick up to avoid the lines if you can.

The kind of bakery I dream of opening one day. Authentic sourdough process, fresh milled locally…read moresourced grains. The owner took time to give us a tour and answer questions. His passion is evident and the bread is proof. We sampled every sourdough we could find in Madison and Original Breads far outshined the rest.

Origin Breads' retail location is located inside Main St Industries, with the entrance in the…read moreparking lot. The interior of the store is like a warehouse, and it's great because you can see their bakers making their products right in front of you. They specialize in sourdough breads (and other baked goods) made from locally-grown and locally-milled grains, and I really liked their concept and the breads I tried here! I tried the Sprye bread ($7) and one of their focaccias. The Sprye is made from wheat, spelt, and rye, and was really moist and flavorful. The date and goat cheese focaccia ($9) had a really delicious crispy topping, and I liked the chewy, airy focaccia crumb; I also really liked that it wasn't too oily. They have a number of super interesting sounding loaves, including a "spent loaf" made with spent grains from Old Sugar Distillery next door. I'd definitely like to revisit and try more of their breads.

I love their sourdough (even the day old) for sandwiches! They are a great option for your weekly…read morebread needs. Although I haven't tried their Sammie's, they look delicious! Good quick option for a meal on the go. No seating inside. But you get fast service with a smile. And can place your order on the website ahead of time.

Went to Stalzy's, this morning and picked up 2# of corned beef. The person waiting on me went to…read morethe back of the store to slice and package it. I couldn't really see it until I got home, and unwrapped it. It was so fatty that, after I trimmed it, it was at least 1/2 fat, or 1 pound of fat, and 1 pound of fatty slices. Not happy. Never coming back. $36 wasted.

Such a cute cafe! Stopped by after going to the farmer's market and it was the perfect pick me up!…read more The interior is super cute and there's a lot of seating inside and outside. They also had another area that had lights - super cozy! I ordered the fruity pebbles matcha latte (already came with oat milk) and it was so good! The matcha was good quality and the flavor was spot on! Definitely would love to stop by again to try their food!

Ancora Cafe is a Madison must. They have seasonal drinks throughout the year, but my favorite has…read morebeen the fruity pebbles matcha. It is so good and lives up to the name. They use fruity pebbles milk, making the flavor so rich. The same goes for their fruity pebbles latte! Service is always great, and it's a perfect spot to catch up with friends or get some work done!

What an intoxicating combination - coffee and fiber fumes!!! Had a delightful time browsing the…read moreyarn - got a skein of local to Wisconsin dyed yarn - and then enjoyed my iced latte. I wish I had more time to sit and knit. Lovely place!!!

What a treat! We loved this spot so much that we visited twice during our couple day visit to the…read morearea. Tucked I a cozy house, the Sow's Ear is part coffee shop part knitting craft store. They offer a variety of knitting classes and community offerings under this roof. It was bustling with warm energy during both of my visits. They sell baked goods form Madison Sourdough Company, a variety of coffee and tea drinks along with a few gift items like jams, coffee beans, and earrings. We ordered the protein oatmeal topped with walnuts and pumpkin seeds (twice since it was so good- and healthy) and the toast with rhubarb jam. On one of the visits they were willing to make cinnamon toast for my sister who was sick at the hotel with the flu. A family comfort food. "They also make a delicious "fierce mocha with chocolate and cayenne. Highly recommend this charming spot in Verona!

it can get INCREDIBLY crowded, to the point where some customers just leave because there is no…read moreroom, but overall it is a wonderful place that is within walking distance for me. the food was delicious, ESPECIALLY the waffles. I felt like my taste buds were having an o*gasm, pardon my choice of words. the workers are very kind and chill, and while it sometimes takes a while for food to come, it is almost always due to there being so many customers and not because of any lack of effort. the only suggestion I have is that, if or when the owner retires, it gets converted into a worker cooperative so that the business is much more resilient and is owned by the employee. overall, 5/5, amazing business to go too if you don't mind waiting a bit for food.

Very cute campus area coffee shop. I only had the coffee here but it was really tasty. Not a ton of…read moreseating inside but they do have a back patio area with extra seats. Their menu has tons of vegetarian and gf options as well which I really appreciated. Service was excellent even with it being crazy busy in there. I can't wait to come back and try their awesome food menu!

Perfectly seasoned shakshuka and TERRIFIC olive cake (lemon)…read more Try the "Ain't No Challah Back" sandwich if you like brisket, red cabbage, and huge portions. (Oh, and also really clever names!) Clean, bright, minimalist interior and fast, friendly service. Reasonable prices. COVID-19 prevention measures in place.

One of the best pastrami sandwiches I've ever had. We placed a lunch pickup order for a work team…read moremeeting. It was fresh, correct, packaged well, and ready on time. And everyone loved their sandwiches. So it was a definite hit.

Decent coffee drinks, reasonably priced food, great ambiance. One time a guy was giving away free…read moredonuts. Sometimes there's live music which can add or detract from the vibe depending on the day.

Date of visit: January 25, 2026…read more I was looking for a little pick me up before grabbing breakfast and I noticed that Cargo Coffee East was just a couple blocks down from where we were staying at the Hotel Indigo. Despite the frigid temperatures, I braved the cold for a quite good peppermint mocha. The place definitely has a hipster vibe to it, I would not have been surprised if someone yelled "Suit!" at me as I entered or exited! Staff were not the friendliest, and the extra table between the cashier and you made it hard for her to hear me, and she was clearly annoyed at having to ask me to repeat myself and didn't ask me if I wanted a receipt, either. WiFi was solid and there was a fair amount of space to spread out, but definitely didn't give me the warm fuzzies and I would seek out other coffee the next time I am in the area.