it can get INCREDIBLY crowded, to the point where some customers just leave because there is no room, 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. read more

Very cute campus area coffee shop. I only had the coffee here but it was really tasty. Not a ton of seating 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! read more

Indie Coffee - Pumpkin spice latte and iced latte - Cafes Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

It's a great morning when it starts with a Salami Focaccia and a cup of coffee. This panini has been a fan favorite for over 20 years--and for good reason. Stacked with hard salami, provolone, red onion, spinach, mayo, and just a hint of rosemary, it's got that perfect balance of bold and savory flavors. Grilled or cold, it always hits. That rosemary? Chef's kiss. You can tell this sandwich has stood the test of time--comforting, flavorful, and satisfying every single time. The café itself is so cute and quaint--perfect for a solo coffee run or a cozy catch-up with friends. Total hidden gem vibes. read more

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Such a cute little coffee shop! It is a pretty small location with tables packed throughout. It can get very loud at times so if you are looking for a quiet morning breakfast this is not the first place i would recommend. They do a great job with fun new flavors for the seasons and are reasonably priced for the quality of food and drink you get. Staff was super nice and helpful. My table was dirty when I got there but politely came and wiped it off when I asked. Overall such a fun place to go to catch up with friends! Not handicap accessible due to table layout and stair. read more

Indie Coffee - Cafes Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Great food and relaxing environment. Delicious waffles and bagel breakfast sandwich.

I used to come here in the college days and it lived up to exactly what I remember! The mood of the cafe is quiet yet modern. The staff and kind and quick to take your order. Coffee was great as it always had been, same with the food. Someone I was with got a green smoothie which was also very tasty . 10/10 recommend if you're on this side of town- if you're staying at the Hilton garden inn you're only a short walk from here as well. read more

Indie Coffee - Egg and cheese bagel; money sunrise iced late; green smoothie - Cafes Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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The focaccia sandwiches are very tasty, but a bit pricy. At least, they WERE - prices are apparently increasing. Today I ordered a cheddar chicken wrap after seeing the $9.25 price written on the board above the counter but was charged $10.50 even after pointing out the discrepancy. Only after I selected the tip was I quickly told "oh just don't tip." If that was the end of it, I wouldn't feel the need to leave a bad review, but then I got home and saw that the chicken wrap was cut *diagonally*. The whole point of a wrap is to make the food easier to eat... Everything was spilling out of this diagonally-cut wrap and all of the chicken was confined to only ONE of the halves. read more

This cafe is cute and cozy. The printed menus make deciding what to order easier, as opposed to a chalkboard menu like many places. I ordered a plain bagel with cream cheese that was delivered to my table slightly burnt with a slab of cream cheese on top. The service was good overall, as were the prices. The decorations and wood tables are cool looking and give the cafe a neat feel. Definitely would try here again for a little brunch or snack. read more

My favorite coffee shop in Madison! Can't beat their mocha or iced dirty chai while reading or studying!!

Pictures from various visits to Indie. Baristas are always so friendly and fun to chat with. The shop is a bit small inside and usually packed, but if you're lucky enough to secure a spot it's a great working environment! The patio area out back is a cute place to hangout during the summertime. The works waffle is always an elite choice, melty chocolate chips on top of a warm waffle with crunchy walnuts baked into it. The strawberry and whip are literally the cherries on top! On the salty side of the menu I love the fancy grilled cheese bagel, it's rich and flavorful with the addition of goat cheese. The sun dried tomato bagel itself is also tasty! For the cheesy focaccia melt it has cream cheese, provolone, spinach, tomatoes and roasted red peppers. It was prettyyy good just missing a lil something - add pesto or a chili spread or something and it would be KILLER A+ coffee as always! read more

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Love the coffee. Love the biscotti. Great sandwiches. Staff is nice. Definitely don't go here if you need Wi-Fi. I've been here now two times over the course of two months and the Wi-Fi simply does not work. read more

This used to be a hidden gem of a coffee shop, but I feel like it's gained some popularity in the past few years. It has a small, cozy patio in the back and there's some indoor seating as well - great for studying or catching up with a friend (if you can get a spot). The service is kind and friendly, although recently my past few orders have been completely forgotten about or made incorrectly. The food is good, but the prep space (I wouldn't call it a kitchen) is beyond tiny, so I'd recommend you go elsewhere if you have any food allergies. p.s. Skip the chai - it used to be my absolute fav, but they changed recipes and it is SO watered down now (see pic). I confirmed this on 3+ separate occasions. read more

Indie Coffee - (left to right): hot apple cider, iced chai - Cafes Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I feel like word has gotten out about Indie. It has been consistently crowded when we have gone over the years. The waffles and bagel sandwiches are great! Appreciate the vegan offerings too. Hang with the hip kids and feel young again (or at least impress your kids who will love the vibe.) read more

Indie Coffee - Cafes Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Such a classic small town coffee shop! I love it here. Smooth rich coffee and great classic flavors. I stopped in this past weekend on a venture down Regent St. The place was packed with students studying for the new semester and busy professionals. This is definitely one to add to your Madison list. Come on a calm Saturday or Sunday afternoon, grab some coffee, a muffin or baked good and enjoy some peace and quiet while you read, work on school, catch up on your side hustle or just enjoy the ambiance of the others around you! read more

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the fact that this doesn't have at least a 4.7 rating is a disgrace. I am telling you, the waffles were so good that I had what can only be described as a mouthgasm, and the ambience was very nice and peaceful. It only got ruined when I left because a swarm of customers came since it was peak hours, but that is not indie coffees fault and if anything shows how popular and good they are. I also loved the music they played, it was very relaxing and was like a mix between smooth jazz and bossa nova. overall, 10/10. read more

Indie is a great little coffee shop and a good spot to get a bite to eat as well! I've had several of their sandwiches and each had been delicious! They're coffee is also solid! I ordered an iced latte, which was good (although hard to mess up). I did really like the glass they severed it in! The only drawback is that this place is small and tends to get crowded. read more

Indie Coffee - a sandwich on a blue and white plate - Cafes Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

if you're gonna say there's an ingredient in an item it should be there. the amount of nothing on my salami sandwich was astonishing. notice the lack of red onion and spinach on my $9.25 SMALL sandwich. if i'm paying $10 for a tiny sandwich it's gotta have flavor. if you don't want the toppings you paid your hard earned money for this is the place for you! coffee was good though read more

Indie Coffee - notice the lack of spinach and red onion which were meant to be on there - Cafes Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

One of the coziest cafes in Madison. My coffee here can be a bit inconsistent, but if they nail the amount of flavor in the latte then it's really delicious. Good sandwiches too! Outdoor patio is awesome in the warmer weather too. read more

Indie coffee is a great small cafe. The atmosphere is very homey and it's a great place to sit and study or read for the afternoon. I wish their espresso was slightly less bitter and had a heavier body, the the great food and great service make this place worth the stop. read more

I live for the Monet Sunrise. Mom dieu, lavender and honey AND coffee. What's not to love. Great stop for breakfast or lunch. They're waffles are so good. They do not disappoint. You can definitely get away with doing work in there are catching up with a friend. It never gets too rowdy. Go to the cute back patio when it's warm! Sit in the steamy cozy window seats in the winter! read more

I love this place. Yes, it can be very busy. But, the food is excellent and the tables are nice to do homework at. They have a patio outside as well which is nice in the summer. I personally love their vanilla cold brew. read more

Indie Coffee - Bacon egg and cheese bagel // vanilla cold brew - Cafes Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

good brewed coffee. good macchiato. Nice vibe The terrace out back is a nice spot too. read more

I went to Indie Coffee for just the coffee. Once there I was served one of the best cups of coffee I've ever had!! I was enjoying the small coffee shop and cozy atmosphere on a cold morning. When I realized they were serving waffles! So I had to try one. They were light, perfect and not too overly sweet. Next time I'm in Madison I can't wait to go back to Indie for coffee and a waffles. read more

I came with a friend on a Sunday afternoon at 1:30. The place was packed with only a few tables left. We got lucky with a table but there was barely any space to sit comfortably or maneuver around people. We claimed our spot and went up to the counter to order. The staff member taking my order was friendly and quick. I ordered their apricot, peach, & pear smoothie and their fig & goat cheese panini. After returning to my seat the smoothie came out in a couple minutes which was nice. It was quite refreshing and you can tell they used real fruit! I appreciated the effort. On the other hand, when the panini came out a few minutes later and was quite disappointing. I wish I took a photo of it but it looked quite sad and was extremely sweet. The panini bread was raisin bread and they didn't use fresh figs but fig jam. The biggest issue for me was that they used way too much fig jam compared to the goat cheese. The panini itself was too sweet and was not worth the price. The ambiance in the cafe was quite loud and busy. Lots of college students trying to study or having a meal with friends. This wouldn't be an issue if the table spacing was further apart. I felt like I was in everyone's conversations like they were talking into my ear. Not to mention everyone having to move chairs when someone needed to get in or out of their seat. If I stuck my hand out and did a 360 I would without a doubt hit at least one person from each table next to me. Additionally, the tables were not being wiped off. There were plenty of crumbs and unknown liquids on the table when we sat down. Overall, I doubt I will return. The food options were minimal compared to other establishments, and after trying that panini I'm not confident in the rest of their menu. Not to mention the lack of personal space. This might be a better spot to grab and go. Perhaps there's something else on the menu that you might find enjoyable. It doesn't hurt to give it a try if you think it's worth your time. read more

Update may 2019 - still my fav breakfast place. Tried the cranberry and walnut multi-grain waffle and it is good. I was worried it might not be crispy on the outside and I was wrong. So good. Update for 2019. My regular stop for breakfast once a week. Still enjoying the coffee, music and the staff. Come on in from the cold to be greeted by a warm smile. Previous review Stopped over for breakfast with friends and found my new fav place for waffles! Had their cha-cha-chain with ginger and cardamom. Very nice drink after walking in the cold. But the best part is their waffles! I had their classic waffle. It has been years since I found a place that can cook light and "airy" waffles. I don't know how else to describe it. You just have to try them and you will understand what I mean. I mean, I can eat 2 or 3 at s time. Space is small inside so expect to make new friends so you can share a table. When the weather warms up, I heard there are outdoor seatings. Staff are very nice and patrons are just as nice. Definitely going to be a repeat. read more

Indie Coffee - Cafes Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Cute and friendly coffee shop. I love their chai shakes and the breakfast sandwiches. The pesto focaccia is particularly amazing. It's quaint, never too crowded and the food and drinks are delicious. The staff is always so kind, too. With quick service! One of the best kept secret coffee shops in town! Check them out and give them business! read more

Best coffee shop in Madison. Went here every week for a while. All the food I had was good too and they got cool posters.

Seriously love this place! The vibes are so cozy, and the coffee is delicious! We went here for my birthday brunch and I couldn't be happier. Delicious, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate waffles, with crispy, fresh focaccia sandwiches really made my day even more special. Totally recommend coming here. read more

Indie Coffee - Chocolate Chocolate Chip Waffle - Cafes Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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This is my favorite place for waffles in Madison. I love there "Red & White" strawberries with whipped cream waffles with buttermilk batter. They also have fun seasonal drinks. The atmosphere is fun with silk screen prints and plaid thermoses. They also have a dog friendly fenced in patio with shade from trees. read more

Indie Coffee - Red & White waffles with buttermilk batter and an iced seasonal coffee hit the spot. - Cafes Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Requested gluten free bread, not bagel. Got a cold non grilled cheese on a bagel! Wasn't good. I waited 15 min for uncooked grilled cheese on wrong bread. Cold brew coffee was bitter as well!! Why? It's a coffee place, it's in the name! read more

Thanks Indie for fueling us up this morning! We drove to UW for a tour and made our way to Indie based on a local's recommendation. Hubby had a bagel with egg and cheese and son #4 had a waffle. I stuck with coffee but treated myself to coffee with Ghirardelli chocolate and hazelnut. It was soooo good! This place isn't huge so there aren't many dine in spots, but most orders were to go anyway. The staff was very friendly and we were glad we stopped in. Thanks! read more

Crowded on a weekday morning. Not in love with the entry, which has a two-person table next to the line as you walk in, and a six-person next to where you order, and means exiting/entrance and seating is all in a space that feels about six feet wide. Almost left just because it felt so crowded and unreceptive. But counter were friendly. Great variety of options with coffee and there were food options. Coldbrew was great. To-go cup has a unusually wide opening in the lid which proved surprisingly challenging to manage. I know, right? Such a small thing that you wouldn't think would matter. But it did. read more

This place has great kitche items, a movie camera from days gone by, a fan of the same era, framed pictures and posters from the decades ago...very attractive and the coffee is great. Small area with hook ups for charging the phone or being on your computer. The only thing I didn't know was if it had a parking lot. I parked down the street. If your looking for a place to enjoy your coffee and some great stuff to look at, this is for you read more

Good light snack and coffee place. It was a cute locally owned store and had a few options for snacks, dessert and ofcourse coffee and tea. They also have a community table for people to sit at. It was very quiet there. We tried the vegeterian wrap and waffles. Photos attached. Both were really good. read more

Indie Coffee - Waffles - Cafes Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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We came here on a weekday morning. The place was packed but people were friendly and left so that there was room for new patrons to sit. We ordered a chocolate chocolate chip waffle, a salami focaccia, a chicken focaccia and a classic mocha. The focaccias were amazing. The salami one had spinach that was blanched, so not raw, although I don't mind raw. That was interesting. I think I would prefer raw although I know some people don't like it raw. But I didn't like the cold wetness of it. But the sandwich was still amazing. The waffle, of course, was perfect. Can't really ruin a waffle. And the chicken focaccia was tasty, which I was surprised by since chicken breast can be tasteless and dry. Overall, a great pick. read more

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I just just trying to eat but then took over a fucking hour for them to get my food. They weren't even busy. #neveragain read more

Indie Coffee - No food - Cafes Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Small place along busy regent street... I almost didn't notice it. Cozy place with very friendly staff and great coffee. Perfect place to study, meet a friend, or just pop in for a quick cup of java. 5 stars from me. read more

A statewide high school sports event at Camp Randall keeps Regent Street fairly busy and I park on a side street walking a few blocks to Indie Coffee through a neighborhood of vintage apartments and student housing, grade school, church, hospital. What was Indie Coffee before it was Indie Coffee? The narrow vestibule-type entrance, trapping cold air, is the initial sign of consideration for patron's comfort. A mantelpiece over a once-upon-a-time hearth, whitewashed and easy to miss, draws my curiosity set as it is in the front of the deep and high-ceilinged coffee house. There's the overall feeling in the place that is welcoming, fulfilling a hospitable mission bred in its bones. Even though I sit just feet from Regent Street the surroundings lend cozy comfort--it's always the little touches, like the small lamp on my table, the natural light from the tall north-facing windows, that bring me all the way in, settled. My mission is a continued search for the good, better and best hot chocolate in town. A smiling and attentive woman at the counter takes and affirms my order for the Monona (16 oz.) Hot Chocolate ($3.00) with whipped cream ($0.25) and a Buttermilk Waffle ($5.25). The Monona, made with Ghirardelli chocolate, is warm all the way through and rich and delicious to the last drop. It's one of the best and I am happy to have found my way to Indie Coffee today. The buttermilk waffle is reason to return again and again. A bottle of Jameson catches my eye, set back on a shelf behind the counter alongside the coffees. When I ask, the staff tell me it's usually ordered up as shots on game days. But they do make an Irish Coffee. Which gives me my next mission: the good, better and best Irish Coffee in town, and I'll start with Indie Coffee's version. read more

Indie Coffee - Buttermilk waffle and Monona Hot Chocolate. - Cafes Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I love indie coffee. Their coffee is simply great. Their waffles on top of that are sweet and filling. The atmosphere is cozy but they are always poppin with business. The staff are friendly and helpful. I've had many great experiences here! Always a good spot to bring friends visiting from out of town read more

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Dropped in here to study for a couple hours. Good internet. Bike posts out front. Didn't try any food (waffles) but the strawberry ones looked delicious, at least. I would definitely come back to this place to try the waffles. I got a small iced latte which was pretty standard. Soy and almond milk available for those looking for alternatives. Note that there isn't too much seating, and this place gets fairly full during the day. The two seater tables are better for a quick bite and less for studying (a bit small esp for more than one person). Cute place, good for a quick bite read more

Indie Coffee - Iced latte - Cafes Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin