As school work and pumpkin spice lattes pile up, students frequent local cafes for their afternoon study sessions. The town of Vienna is a mosaic of coffeehouses, each shop with its own aesthetic and carefully crafted menu. With an array of cafes no more than five minutes from school, students have many options for where to spend their afternoons.
Proximity, menu, ambience: these lie among many factors which draw a student to lug their backpack through cafe doors. Of all the cafes in Vienna, there is one new arrival that has flown under the radar and a select three that attract the majority of students.
Located on Church Street, Caffe Amouri is a convenient Vienna institution. Amouri is an easy five minute drive down backroads from Madison, making it a popular study destination for high schoolers.
“It’s a little more authentic than the average Starbucks…it encourages my creativity,” Lizzie Britt (’27) said.
Combining music, community and coffee, Caffe Amouri is vibrant and eccentric. Customers can expect to hear constant streams of music, with artists ranging from Gracie Abrams to the Beach Boys.
“It feels like a library but louder,” Ellen Azar (’26) said.
A cafe with a constant hum, Caffe Amouri is a perfect fit for students who feel most productive with some background noise. In its quirky nature, however, Caffe Amouri does have a few drawbacks. Its well-used wooden tables can take away from the ultimate study experience.
“…sometimes there isn’t enough space if I want to go with friends…some tables are also unbalanced, so writing is hard on them,” Azar said.
On Church Street’s other end, in Windover Square, is 29th Parallel Coffee: a more mellow, bohemian option. 29th Parallel’s open floor plan is adorned with potted plants and flexible seating, fostering an earthy feel that invites students to sip and stay a while.
“It’s really spacious…I love that they have booths,” Maren Meyers (’26) said.
However, for students who prioritize the quality of their coffee over cafe ambience, 29th Parallel may not be the place to go.
“I liked the 29th Parallel environment, but my iced vanilla latte was kind of watery,” Bethany Ha (’26) said.
In search of a more indulgent coffee, students can turn down Maple Avenue to find FRAME Coffee Roasters. As a small cafe tucked beneath an office building, FRAME has a more intimate setting. Though minimalistic, FRAME’s glass walls and booth seating offer open space, making FRAME study-friendly. For students looking to treat themselves after a difficult test, or simply for making it through the school day, FRAME’s menu features some decadent drinks. The Milky Way Latte, for example, has smooth swirls of chocolate malt flavor, and the Vienna Coffee is a signature drink with a honey cold foam; however, these top quality drinks border on overpriced. For students without a steady income, FRAME might break the bank.
Finally, Shilla Bakery and Cafe arrived in Vienna in Jade Shopping Center this past June. Shilla’s layout is comparable to 29th Parallel’s, featuring a lot of open space, and its aesthetic is similar to FRAME’s minimalist look. Inside, sweet aromas waft from the various Korean and European bread. Though its coffee menu is more limited, Shilla offers customers over 25 baked goods to choose from. Shilla came to Vienna a couple months ago, yet, according to a survey of 203 students, nearly 72% of students share they either have never heard of it or never been. For those looking to switch up their study spot, Shilla Bakery and Cafe is worth trying.
Whether well loved or brand new, cafes play an integral role in the Town of Vienna. After seven hours of schoolwork, students turn to these establishments for the reward of a foamy first sip of a latte or the delicacy of a toasted pastry.
“Cafes give me comfort. I like to treat myself after a hard day so I can refresh and be my most productive self,” Ha said.
