Third World Cafe
Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: Hyde Park1301 E 53rd St
(between Kenwood Ave & Kimbark Ave)
Chicago, IL 60615 (773) 288-3882
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Wi-Fi: Paid
51 reviews
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
"Damn near perfect. The baristas were friendly, the music agreeable, and the space is absolutely gorgeous. I want to meet whoever put…" read more »
11 Reviews for Third World Cafe
Good coffee. Food is OK. I've always gotten good service.
Atmosphere could be improved. They need to deaden up the space a bit, perhaps some carpet or anything to soak up the sound. They could do one better by making it something of a venue, hosting music or other talent a couple evenings a week.
4 stars for good coffee, good location and being independent in a corporate town.
I haven't been there often, though it is my corner coffee shop.
The coffee and baked goodies are really good. The only time I've tasted Metropolis (is it still Metropolis or have they switched?) coffee and really liked it. That's where the 3 stars come from. Their sandwiches look appetizing but haven't tried any.
I never come here to study because, like others said, the layout is AWFUL and it just generally seems like a place I'd get too easily distracted. I also boycott because of the name. Seems ridiculous, I know, but seriously. What is third-world about good coffee in Hyde Park? Is it your sparse 'n shitty "African" wall decor?
This is a great retail space and I would go there EVERY DAY for studying and coffee and people watching (the MASSIVE walls of windows are perfect for this) if someone did something attractive with it. Instead, I head to Istria Cafe at 57th/Lake Park or their new location at 51st/Cornell.
The staff are friendly if you are.
Please Third-World: read your Yelp reviews and make some changes!
I really wish I could give it more like 3.5 stars. Walking by one Starbucks in the area, I asked a local where the closest indie cafe was.
She directed me to Third World Cafe. Cool
When I can in from the rain, I first noticed that there were a good number of people. But, the lay-out is REALLY bad. They could arrange tables, chairs, etc, to make it much more friendly to computer users. It seems like they want people to hang out, but it sure ain't built for it. Few outlets and sparse tables has many a back-aches in here from trying to get settled. The decor and design seems disjointed and without a theme, almost like it is not quite finished. Also, my iced-coffee was served in one of those plastic cafeteria cups. Not kitschy nor cool.
Still . . . the vibe is cool, wi-fi with purchase of $4 and it's the only thing around here apparently. They should hope it stays that way.
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I want to like this place, I really do. It's one of the few, if only, non-University owned coffee houses that actually has sufficient seating. Honestly, I'm not even sure how it stays open, except that people down here are so desperate for a non-Starbucks, non-U of C cafe. Simply put, Third World is just poorly run. Their service is slow and lousy; most of the time you feel as if you are intruding or causing a great deal of agony to the person behind the counter. No one really knows if the Wi-Fi is working, and what the policy is. Probably the lowest moment was the day when I was informed that there was a new $4 minimum per hour to use the Wi-Fi, so I sucked it up and bought a muffin. Then the Wi-Fi was down! It's always crowded too, and part of that is due to the poor lay-out. They also are constantly changing their hours, so you think you have a few hours to sit and get some work done, and then you find out that under the "new" business hours, they close ridiculously early (I think 5 on a Sunday).
I am hoping that a Jumping Bean or Daily Grind-type establishment will come to Hyde Park soon. Until then, it's the U of C's Hallowed Grounds for me!
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Third World Cafe has really good coffee, particularly iced coffee, and I believe it's also cheaper than either Dunkin' Donuts or Starbucks.
I wouldn't come here to eat (it's not particularly pricy, but their sandwiches aren't nearly good enough to pay $6 for), and the few times I've come here to work I've been disappointed: when I've been lucky enough to find a seat, I'm continually distracted by the high-volume conversations going on around me and the ear-achingly LOUD blender they use to make frozen drinks. Not to mention the inscrutable art they have hanging on the walls.
They do have good coffee, though.
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A great community- and globally-conscious alternative to Starbucks. They make the best chai (Oregon brand!) in Hyde Park at better prices than Starbucks.
The breakfast foods are delicious, and the lunch foods are great too, if a little pricey.
The atmosphere isn't great, but it's nice enough for a college-town feel, and the staff is really friendly and helpful.
While out biking up and down the lakefront path, I wanted to grab a bite to eat. I knew there had to be some independent place to Hyde Park, so off the beaten path I went. I passed Third World Cafe, and not thinking it looked like much on the outside, I ventured in. I could tell they haden't been open too long. Things seemed kind of new, I guess. Anyway, I ordered the Mediterranean sandwich and it was very good! I spoke with the owner, and he was very chatty and friendly. Now, I am not a computer cyborg, so I don't care if they had wifi or not, I go to cafe's to EAT, I do my computer work at HOME. I did not try any coffee drinks either, so I can't rate them. But I will go back the next time I am out biking in the area.
Way too much foam in the lattes...way, way, way too much. But, whatever. The oatmeal chocolate cookies are gigantic and tasty. Everything is baked on the spot. The sandwiches are all pretty good also. But, I suggest getting your food to go...the atmosphere sucks. Tables are awkwardly placed, shaky, and can't really fit both a notebook and a plate comfortably...Also, the wireless internet has been down every single time that I've been there.
Yeah, I just don't like the place. But, the food is good, I'll give it that much.
Although I'm not sure what constitutes it's "third world" status, this is probably the favorite coffee shop of mine to support in Hyde Park. It's a small shop, usually full of students studying and such, which is what I used it for.
If you buy something, you are presented with the secret wireless internet code (which I'll sell to you for a dollar if you want to park out front for a few hours)!
And now we'll compare this establishment to Starbucks and Borders, the two other cafe/coffee places where I sometimes did work while living in H.P.
--Borders is open late, has lots of tables and good food/drinks. But the tables are notoriously full and the cafe area is loud. No free internet.
--Starbucks is small, but usually more quiet. No free internet.
--3rd Way Cafe - great food, drinks and atmosphere. Usually decently quiet. And I read somewhere that the cafe is completely vegetarian. Neato. BUT - (Big Gripe) closes unusually early for a coffee shop - 7:30.
Looks like the Third Way is the way to go, unless you study late like me.
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A lovely little neighborhood joint in Hyde Park. It's always mystified me that a neighborhood so full of university students could go so long without a stable independent coffeehouse to serve them, but considering the reputation of the students at the U of C, I suppose they must be making their own coffee in some subterranean dormitory library-bunker-coccoon rather than going out and interacting with the public. In any event, Third World is pretty low-capacity, and the tables could be a tad more spacious, but the vibe is nice, and the food and drinks are satisfying. I've gone only during the day; if, as the previous reviewer says, it closes at 7:30 PM, that's a serious minus, for which I've docked it one star.
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Been coming here quite regularly since it opened 2 years ago. Very good cappuccinos, lattes, and espressos. The bagel with lox is a fav dish. Free Internet is a plus, (weekends at 4pm). On the downside, the place can get crowded at times (Sunday ~ 11:00..), and having a family with 2 toddlers drumming up the place right next to you is a karma killer.
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