Stopped in to grab a couple of coffees, a scone and a cinnamon roll. The Encounter Cafe is…read moreliterally across the street from our hotel, so this was a no-brainer if you're looking for an upgrade to the complimentary powdered eggs and overused waffle machine offered by the hotel that your staying at. The space itself is large and looks to be separated into two halves. I entered on the one side, ordered at the counter, just like you would at any coffee shop and waited. This place serves a full-service breakfast as well if you're looking for something more substantial (eggs, panini's, pancakes, etc..). I was just here picking up and bringing it back to our room. The coffees were fine, but there was only one gentleman working the counter, and he was a bit overwhelmed. He forewarned me that he had 4-5 drinks ahead of mine, so I ended up sitting there waiting for about 15 minutes for our two drinks. I wasn't pressed for time today, but if I was, this would've been an issue. I ordered a raspberry chocolate scone and a cinnamon roll. The scone was delicious. Not too sweet and was definitely made this morning. The cinnamon roll was delicious as well, but it was extremely sweet. To the point where it hurt your teeth. It would also have been better if it were warmed up. Lastly, they gave me this big cinnamon roll in a bag without any napkins or utensils?!? I had to stop at the free breakfast at our hotel to get a fork, knife and some napkins. So kind of a mixed-bag at the Encounter Cafe. I would give it another shot and try some other things, but it didn't blow me away.

I stopped here twice on a recent work trip as it was close by to the hotel I was staying in. It…read morereally lives up to the other reviews that describe it as a cozy atmosphere with fresh food. The first day I had baked oatmeal with yogurt and it was a huge portion size that was very similar to coffee cake. The next day, I ordered the avocado toast and was surprised to see it come out, layered with egg and bacon and fresh tomato. Their lattes were delicious without being overly sweet. So glad I found this place during my trip. It is worth the stop.

We were driving through and stopped to use the EV chargers across the street and this was a quick…read morewalk across the street for good coffee, delicious pastries and friendly people!

My favorite locally owned coffee shop. Seasonal flavors and cozy ambiance. Take advantage of…read moreordering through the Joe app if you're using the drive-thru. I love their latte's. Staff has always been friendly and helpful, very inclusive environment.

I will start off saying that the whole reason I stopped here was that they have a roast called "St…read moreLouis Blues," but it is still worth a visit. I stopped by before 9am on a weekday, and they were already decently busy. Seemed like a comfortable place to drink coffee and hang out. I ended up just getting the pumpkin cream cold brew, which was basically a pumpkin pie in coffee form. Will need to stop back by next time I'm driving through

Just good vibes. Good workers. Amazing place. I love Java house. They know what they're doingread more

First of all, let me say I WANTED to like this place, based on the reviews and the menu. I was…read morelooking for a local coffee house I could go to on my work break that had creative drinks and might have gluten-free bread to go with their toast or sandwiches. I looked online and on Instagram for a phone number, and couldn't find one, so I couldn't call to see if they had gluten-free bread. I decided to risk it and try it out anyway, because I was exhausted and their Bread 'n Butter latte sounded like the perfect pick me up. I got there and the guy at the counter informed me that they didn't have their toast, gluten-free bread, the Bread 'n Butter latte, or a phone number! I thought about leaving right then, but I decided to try the Let's Get Figgy latte, which was decent, but not good enough to bring me back after the other disappointments. And I could have saved time if I had been able to call them to make sure they had what I was looking for!

A haiku doe this great cafe, serving up kindness, and respite from the busy world:…read more Daydrink is great, A place to escape and rest, Great coffee to boot. Make sure to look for your favorite vintage VHS tapes! Great retro ambience.

There is just something about going into independent bookstores that feels like taking a step into…read morethe past. This was definitely the case when I stepped into Prairie Lights Books. I was in town visiting campus and needed to bring something back for my kids. A friend recommended the store so I walked the couple blocks over from my hotel to check it out. A lot of bookstores neglect books for kids. To my amazement the entire lower level of the shop was for kids. It was fantastic. I walked around for a good 30 minutes checking out what they had to offer. The upstairs has more traditional selection of books. I was in a hurry so I didn't have time to check it out. It was a place though you could easily get lost just browsing the shelves. Looking at some of the reviews I somehow totally missed that there was a cafe attached as well! I'll have to check that out the next time I'm in Iowa City.

Came back for a visit... they had the same old books... exact same stationery goods on the first…read morefloor... the same snooty staff... the same dirty cafe. I'm taking it off my list of places to stop at on trips up north.

A great spot for studying, meeting up with people, or just enjoying a nice cup of coffee. Wonderful…read moreatmosphere with plenty of books to browse.

I LOVE Sidekick. This is my go to work and coffee shop. I always get a Winnie the Pooh latte and a…read morecookie. Their cookies are phenomenal and the coffee is not too bitter which tells me their baristas are properly trained on the espresso machine. Being a barista before, I'm a coffee snob and this place is above average. The book selection is also awesome and there's always someone who can recommend something for you. They also have quiche that is super delicious as well. Sometimes it gets loud when kids come in and parents bring a lot of them but it's nice when that's usually when I leave

Wonderful place with great coffee and service The only downside is that the air conditioning gets…read moreVERY COLD!

Been here a couple times. The ambience is great, but the coffee is a little overpriced ($6+ for…read moreanything other than basic coffee) for the quality. Waited around 25 minutes for two drinks last time - will be trying other coffee places in the future.

Our Alumni Board group had our team dinner here last Thursday. The Coffee Shop closed anyway at…read morearound 5 PM, so we had the whole place to ourselves starting around 6 PM. This was a nice private setting, with great laid back service, and some really good pre-ordered burgers (among other choices). A couple appetizers and dessert helped bookend a fine evening out among friends.

Coffee shop in the heart of downtown Iowa City and easily one of my favorite study spots! I love…read morehow big the space is. It can accommodate a lot of students without ever feeling cramped, and there are tons of outlets which is always a huge win when you're studying. It's the perfect place to get work done alone or catch up with friends over lunch. I haven't tried a ton from the food menu yet, but the Caesar wrap is so good. They also have one of the best iced matcha lattes in Iowa City. The staff is amazing too. Everyone is so nice, cheerful, and genuinely helpful, which makes the whole place feel really welcoming. The music is always great, the space is decorated so nicely, and I love the pencil wall. The bathrooms are clean and well kept, and they really have everything you could possibly need. They even offer a student discount, which makes it an even better spot for college students. Definitely one of my favorite places to go in Iowa City!