This cafe is a great find. They make the best coffee in town and you must try one of their sodas made from their special homemade syrup. Just as their slogan says, "Its not for everyone", this cafe will not please all. There is no WIFI, talking on your cell phone is not permitted and they do not accept credit cards all of which is fine by me. All these things actually help create a very interesting social environment. Its like the Cheers of coffee shops. The owner quickly learns your name and welcomes you as you enter. There are barstools up at the counter where people sip their coffee and chat. Its a very welcoming environment. It worth a trip up there to see if its for you! read more

I've known of The Victory for over a year and can't believe I waited so long to try this place, it will absolutely be in my regular rotation now. First of all lets start with the owner, charming & engaging, unlike any other! Moving on to beverages, he made my friend a chocolate egg cream, and my iced soy latte was divine. Neither of us tried food which we both felt was regrettable after seeing how great other diners dishes looked. A+ music choices that were being played a tad louder than your average coffee shop which was also a perk for me. I loved that people were actually here conversing. It's nice to know what places to go to when you want to have a conversation, and which to go to when you need a library. I loved it. Can't wait to be back. read more

I wish this coffee shop was next door to my house! It's a great little space, serves good coffee (Anodyne, which is roasted in Milwaukee), and, most importantly, has a great feel to it. As others have noted, they don't take credit cards...but the owner operates on the honor system, meaning that he offered for me to pay him the next time I was in (even though I'm not able to be a regular at his cafe). The lack of wifi is unusual, but it is refreshing to be in a place where everyone is not staring at their computer screens. If I were to design a dream neighborhood coffee shop, The Victory would be it. You should definitely stop in and visit. read more

I love americano coffee and this place made it perfect. The staff was super kind and helpful. I did not realize they don't take credit cards, the gentlemen said it was alright and I could just pay him next time. You don't find that kindness anymore. read more

I visited the Victory after reading Yelp raves, fully prepared with reading material since I've read that this place frowns on laptops. I think the owner was the one who served me, I ordered a coffee beverage and a muffin (I believe the muffin was from Goodman community center). It was a fine enough coffee shop, but I felt strange being there because sometimes I used my cellphone's internet to look up some of the information in my book and I was paranoid that I would get "busted" for doing so. I think it'd be a plus if they switched from Goodman pastries to Batch bakehouse. Goodman is closeby, but so is Batch, and frankly, Batch has better products. I wouldn't particularly go out of my way to visit this coffeeshop again although it's a fine choice. I would recommend it to anyone who hates electronic devices in coffeeshops though. Keep in mind that it's cash only, some folks walking in here didn't have much cash on them! read more

Love love their coffee. Never rushed and always fresh! Patrick and the rest of the staff are very friendly. I guess I stop in frequent enough they know my name and what I'm going to order when I walk in. Love my east side coffee shop! read more

Havn't tried the coffee. Walked in to check it out and do some work on my computer. The counter person quickly told me they don't have any outlets-weird but no problem. Oh yeah, and no wi-fi either. I'm all for edgy concepts but a coffee shop with no internet seems to be a death wish for the owner. The only reason i'm giving it two stars is it sounds like the coffee is pretty good and the interior was interesting. read more

Friendly staff. Love their pour over. Retro vide

I know nothing about coffee - I can't drink it. But The Victory has always been a welcoming place. I appreciate that Patrick has decide to nix tv and internet in favor of face to face interaction. Thumbs up. read more

The people working here are so friendly and the pots of loose leaf tea are so cheap! Can't wait to try the food sometime.

Very nice staff. Excellent coffee. Not really a place to sit and relax by yourself for more than 20-30 minutes, it gets busy and isn't that comfortable. This place seems more appropriate for a quick coffee with other people. read more

There are two things a coffee shop needs to do well to succeed - good coffee and a good atmosphere. I pay for both. The coffee was fine as any. As far as atmosphere goes, I have experienced much better. It can get loud in there, between the espresso machine and the music (just the bass is audible, which is fine if you like bass). It is hard to hear over the noise. They have a secret no cell phone policy, which can be fine if it is posted (I just found this out by reading other reviews here). But my experience turned negative when I received a call and was asked to go outside. I left and went elsewhere. There are many other places nearby to go and get great coffee AND great atmosphere - no worries about breaking rules I don't know about (and that is where you will find me). It is easier to make the customer leave instead of fixing the acoustics and solve the problem. The concept can be good, if the customers know about it. read more

Delicious coffee and food. Staff are so friendly it's like they've known you forever. I love this place.

Honestly Patrick makes the best latte in the city! and the salmon panini is AMAZING..go on support this local coffee shop :)

I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place before. I rave about it to anyone who will listen. The Victory is a slow down, take a breath kind of place. It's an eclectic neighborhood coffee shop where you stop and chat for a while. There are no extras or gimmicks to get you in the door or to make you stay. No wi-fi, cash only. The coffee takes a while to make, so bring some patience. Every coffee drink we have tried here had been worth both the time and price. By shear luck we have always had the owner make our coffee so have never had another barista. By far, some of the best coffee I have had in my life. The only place that has topped The Victory was a cafe in Perugia. Even then it may be a toss up. read more

stopped here a few days ago. made me a good cappuccino. But I didn't feel like it was very inviting for a sit down. They did have some interesting reading material. Annie Leibovitz photo collection I think it was.... Anyway, a friend recommended and says the coffee is very good and they do have an amazing machine. My friend knows more about coffee than I do. Just didn't wow me on my first trip. Will try again sometime. read more

After seeing it everytime I was in the Atwood neighborhood but never having time to stop, I finally got a latte, tomato/pesto/egg ciabatta sandwich, and a couple baked goods at The Victory this morning. The coffee, sandwich, and bakes were each truly excellent, but even more wonderful were the staff. Our server was really sweet and happy to share a recommendation of her favorite sandwich and the owner of the cafe was friendly, open, and generous with us. Also, the place itself has a great vibe, which is apparent even during covid times when indoor seating isn't available, and the artwork hung on the walls (made by the coffee shop owner, the artist in residence!) is really gorgeous and uplifting. I'm sad I didn't stop by The Victory sooner, but I will most certainly be back for more delicious coffee, food, and baked goods as soon as I'm back in the neighborhood. The service, edibles, and staff are really lovely. read more

I love places with character and this fits the bill. Just relocated to Madison from San Francisco and was out walking with the family in the Atwood neighborhood when we stumbled across the place. The staff is amazing and the owner introduced himself and talked with us for a bit. Delicious and simple describe the smoked salmon panini - cream cheese, capers, onion and tomato. I really enjoyed my macchiato as well. They've earned some loyal new customers. Thanks Patrick! read more

Lucky me, I live a block from this gem! The coffee is outstanding, and the atmosphere is superb. They have bakery and empanadas and other light snacks. Note: There is no wi-fi. It's not that kind of place. There are, however, lots of neighbors chatting and socializing amongst themselves. read more

I don't know why anyone would rate this place less than 5 stars. It is the perfect neighborhood coffee shop and by far my favorite in Madison. Patrick and Jamie are so nice and really love what they do. They will quickly learn your name and recognize you as a regular customer, even on your second visit. If you sit in the comfy booth and just watch, they know EVERYONE that walks through the door. They will carry on entire conversations with you, if you'd like. Such a welcoming place and it is super kid friendly (what I would consider far beyond "kid tolerant") The breakfast panini is amazing, the perfect chewy, crusty bread with copious amounts of cream cheese. Top this off with tomatoes, capers and onions and YUM. The lunch paninis are great as well. The decor is quirky and eclectic, another reason I love this place. They are always playing excellent music. Patrons are interacting, playing cards, reading or just watching the traffic in and out of the door. No wifi or cell phones makes for an excellent atmosphere where people actually connect! If I ever move out of the Atwood neighborhood, I would miss this place. I love just walking 3 blocks a few times per week to this absolute gem of a coffee shop. read more

I went in for coffee and stayed for an amazing sandwich. I did find it odd however, that the majority of the people in victory not only had their laptops out but their cell phones as well. They are a cash establishment and well worth the visit. read more

Friendly Staff, no wifi...? Just seems out of place for a café in the middle of Madison. Other than that it was a nice place, but still have to give it two stars, because this is an essential and easy fix. read more

Call me a coffee snob, I don't care - but when I order a cappuccino, I want a cappuccino, and a cappuccino I didn't get. I got a latte, instead. This puts me in an awkward position. Do I return the cappuccino? It costs a lot. I ended up drinking it. As a former barista myself, cappuccinos can be tricky to make - but a little practice can turn out the real deal with frothy perfection. The next time I went to the Victory was another meh moment. I fully appreciate the Victory's support and stand against the present Governor's autrocities - however, I do like looking out the window to watch life passing by. There's too many signs, and not all of them are that attractive. Sometimes, you just need a break from life - and yes, we are having hard times right now - but do I have to be reminded by the barrage of signs when all I want to do is enjoy my cup of coffee, do a little people watching, and see what's going on from that corner in the neighborhood? One or two signs would be good enough. There's too much of a coolness factor, too. Lots of "hipsters" hanging out there, who will give you icy stares if you so much as look at them. Guess I'm not "hipster" enough. Which is really kind of weird. Madison is not really a completely friendly place, anyways - but it is very apparent for some reason in the Victory. I ordered coffee this time - and it was very delicious, but I would have liked more. There's no indication that you can get a refill, and there are no prices anywhere. In fact, there is no menu. It's hard to tell what the beverage choices are and how much it is going to set you back. I was delighted to see gluten free goodies, but alas, no one there knew what the exact ingredients are - and so I couldn't order any of them, having more than one allergy myself. It's kind of ironic - they're so pro-working class, and yet they don't list prices, which any working class person would want to know before spending his or her hard earned money, and meanwhile, there are a bunch of cool cats hanging out at the tiny tables, saying "look at me, aren't I cool" while evaluating everybody else with icy looks. Very entertaining in a way, but not on my dime next time. read more

I respect the Luddite stance toward wifi and phones. Coffee is middle-of-the road, no major complaints. The guy running it can be sarcastic (OK with me) and nasty (not OK with me). Maybe this is a nod to Brooklyn somehow, but I like living in Madison and don't have a Brooklyn fetish. read more

Cutest little coffee shop in Madison! They have waffles and an excellent staff. After stopping by for cold pressed coffee three days in a row. Patrick new my go-to! I mentioned just moving to the neighborhood and my drink was on the house!! We definitely moved in to the right neighborhood! read more

The Victory is a great place with great coffee. I'm extremely picky so that's saying a lot. The fact that they don't have wireless makes it a great place to hang out with friends or relax and not have to worry about everyone around you being annoyed that you're actually speaking in public. And no one is screaming into their cell phones. I've never witnessed the baristas be rude to anyone about the no phones/wifi, but I have witnessed several people be incredibly rude to the baristas about that. Really uncalled for. I love the Victory and would recommend it to anyone who is a decent person. read more

The Victory has a strange vibe from the moment you walk through the velvet curtain. Staff were nice, but their iced coffee was awful (I actually ended up throwing it away and went to Zoma down the street) and there was no Wifi (which is a must). With so many great coffee shops in close distance, unfortunately The Victory is probably going to be less than victorious, in my opinion. Hit Java Cat, Zoma, Mermaid Cafe, or Mother Fool's, all of which are within 5 minutes of The Victory. All have better coffee and a better vibe. read more

the Victory is quickly becoming my favorite place to get coffee in my neighborhood. The coffee's fantastic, the decor is eclectic and inviting, and the staff is not only completely competent, they're friendly and patient. It's great to be welcomed by name (they know my name and my daughter's even though we only pop in every few days) and to be able to sit and converse without being glared at by folks who are using a coffee shop as an office, which is a big pet peeve of mine at other spots. No, they don't have wireless internet, and they don't want customers to chat on cell phones-- this is refreshing to me and I've met new people on each trip to the Victory. That's what happens when we're not all buried in our screens! we chat and smile and make eye contact. Don't get me wrong, I'm tethered to my smartphone most of the time, but the Victory has created a warm, neighborly atmosphere that is a welcome change of pace from most other coffee shops. The reading material is ever changing and so are the pastries from Goodman Center and the adorable chalk drawings at kiddie eye-level. read more

Easily a favorite. Really great atmosphere, great staff, incredible coffee and espresso. Vegan panini option too. Except wait I think I decided to add lox to it. Haha. But it could've been vegan. Love this place. read more

I can't say enough great things about this place! The owner is the friendliest guy I've met in a long time, despite his insistence that he is actually a stubborn and crotchety man. Yeah right, as he sneaks free treats to little kids and remembers your name the second time you come in. The coffee is the best in town; get the chemix, it's delicious. I personally love the no cell phone rule. The whole point of coming here is to interact with the people around you, read an actual newspaper, talk to your neighbors. It's not like they just hate technology- no, you won't be "busted" for looking at something on your phone, just don't make the real human standing in front of you wait while you do so. It's just a place that really cares about building community. And coffee. read more

My 1st & last time in this place. When I asked the barista if he controlled the volume & could turn down the loud music I was told "Yes I control the volume & NO I won't turn it down." I was flabbergasted as there were only a couple people in the place & have never experienced something like that in my entire life........ read more

Nice place. Good coffee. Good day old bakery and sandwiches. They were playing Gram Parsons the first time I went and Steve Earle the second time. It's nice not to have all the silly laptoppers ordering one drink and camping out at a table for hours read more

When I walked in, there was a dog inside the coffee shop. I am not comfortable around dogs even on leash and I don't think you are supposed to bring your dog inside public places. I hesitated to go inside because of the dog and the dog owner saw that but they didn't bother to take the dog out and worse than that the Victory staff didn't make any move to make the situation better, they basically did absolutely NOTHING. My husband confronted the dog owner but instead of being reasonable, he and his wife judged us that you are the people the type of people that drive fast down the street and should live on the west side !!! That made a lot of sense why they felt they had the right to bring their dog inside a coffee place!!!! To get away from the situation I tried to order something, I wanted water and I got water with no ice and the staff didn't even ask me I wanted ice or not. Clearly the staff were nervous about the situation and not only they did no action but they gave me a poor service for causing the problem! Yes people if you just dare, put a sign there that the dogs are allowed inside so someone like me at least knows not to step inside!!!So it was a very bad experience, a very unique experience for a place like Madison and the staff clearly don't care about the satisfaction of their customers. read more