Tucked under the 57th Street Metra station, Istria Cafe’s location doesn’t quite live up to its auspicious name. The cafe takes its title from the Istrian peninsula in the Adriatic Sea, which now comprises parts of Italy, Croatia and Slovenia and is well known for its coffee.

No matter the cubby hole-size location; the cafe’s menu meets its ambition head-on. Look for locally roasted Intelligensia coffee, a bevy of hot panini and the best gelato for miles around (12 flavors are made on-site daily, just like you’d find in Italy). Croissants and cookies round out the offerings, though it'd be better to skip the former and indulge heavily in the latter, especially the light, tangy lemon and fudgy chocolate mint.

Brothers Paul and Marc Pribaz (who recently opened a second outpost under the Metra station at 51st Street) say they want to provide primo coffee for commuters racing to catch the train and awesome everything else for people looking to linger with a laptop (free wi-fi!) or a good book. During the summer months, head for the outdoor patio or order a monster-size scoop of gelato (try mixing the lemon and strawberry) and stroll over to the lake—it's less than ten minutes away.

Centerstage Reviewer: Kate Rockwood