Due to its close promixity to the university, A.'s caters mainly to the student budget (around 8,-EUR for a meal) as well as the student schedule, which means no weekend service. During the week, however, the chic cantina really does serve as a center of respite for anyone with--forgive me--a lot on their plate and offers small reductions to that effect. The vegetarian selection is limited: two sandwiches, a salad, and a lasagna-type Armenian dish called soubeurrek filled with feta and parsley. The cucumber-and-beet gazpacho isn't half-bad, and certainly won't leave you complaining at 3,-EUR. Superb teas, too.

Because I'm sure there are better places to get bagels. HOWEVER, I AM a creature of habit, so Bagel Co. (formerly Bagel Station, an offshoot of the chain in Vienna), has since become my go-to place for my favorite breakfast item. The staff are used to visitors and so don't think anything of hungry non-German-speaking bagel fanatics such as myself.

Owners are very friendly and serve Ethiopian coffee for either walk-in or drive-thru customers. Yes! This is one of the few non-Starbucks I know with a driver-thru. After all, the cafe has been converted from a garage, which adds to its charm. Outdoor seating popular on sunny weekend afternoons. The only negative is that the cafe is not open too late (til 6 on weekdays, I believe).

' Surely, I can get bagels at Best or City Bagels, but I like hanging out with my dear cousins a little bit more because they're very nice, and always have the time to have a pleasant chat. 6,-EUR bagel lunch specials will have me coming back for more, along with the carrot cake, the "love cake," the milkshake...I could go on. Note: it's easy to pass by the storefront, so if you can't find it the first time, try again; it's across the street from the blaring orange of Nathan Coffee. You'll be richly rewarded, though go after noon if you don't want to be suffocated by the crowd.

My spirits were nevertheless lifted just by one glance at Cosmen & Keiless' window display of succulent pastries; little did I know that this was the rebirth of the H&S firm. To tell you the truth, I have yet to try their bread, but I can definitely vouch for the cheesecake brownies--yes, that's right--a dangerously sweet concoction that took me one day to fully comprehend and savor. C&K's creations will definitely give Entremigas a run for its money.

The clientele varies according to day--especially during weekends, quite popular at night thru the wee hours of the morning with young-ish folks who probably idolize Sartre, Ayn Rand, or maybe even some more obscure philosopher of whom I've never heard. When it's light out, it has a more casual, less pretentious vibe. The service (to your table) also varies, but it is usually friendly. Local art decorates the walls, the hummus sandwich is pretty darn good. If it weren't one of the only "cool" cafes open late at night, well, then, I guess we would have other (better?) options, obviously.

It has that boho college vibe. I've seen a lot of headbands and blazers in this place. Nothing wrong with that, and if you're into that sort of thing, there are sometimes worthwhile opportunities for avoiding eye contact. What you're really after is a steaming cup of coffee and besides the perpetually smoke-filled interior, that is what the Red Angel specializes in. On warm, summer days, though, the terrace is quite inviting. Too bad the 30 other patrons are thinking the same thing.