Binghamton University's Student Guide: Top Ten Coffee Houses in Binghamton, NY

Now that you have been accepted to Binghamton University, have planned your schedule, bought your dorm accessories and books, you may be wondering what there is to do in Binghamton. What can you do on a Friday or Saturday night if you don't want to go to a fraternity party or bar. Where can you get a good cup of coffee close by the school? What is the best coffee house to hang out at or to hear some good music? Which coffee house is conducive to studying or reading a good book in? Here are the top ten coffee houses in Binghamton, in order of my preference:

1. Lost Dog Coffeehouse located at 222 Water Street, Binghamton. This unique coffee house and restaurant features and eclectic atmosphere in downtown Binghamton. Parking can be difficult. If you are lucky, a spot on the street in front of the Lost Dog will be open. Otherwise you can park at the Metro Center (be sure to go in the Metro Center and look around at one of the stores to get your ticket stamped, otherwise it will cost you 20 bucks) or better yet, park in the Parking Ramp diagonal to the Lost Dog. It will cost you only a few bucks. This coffee house is known for its unique selection of teas, coffee, espresso and desserts as well as its range of food. Try a delicious appetizer of creamy artichoke dip, baked brie and roasted garlic, lemongrass chicken potstickers. If you are in the mood for pasta, the rigatoni a la vodka or the pasta with greens are an excellent choice. Desiring a sandwich? The Lost Dog features an array of delicious ones such as the sandwiches such as grilled chicken muffaletta, corned beef reubens, parmesan sage crusted chicken, grilled veggie napoleon (balsamic marinated eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes and roasted peppers on a roll) and a deliciously tempting range of desserts such as tiramisu, fried cheesecake with three dipping sauces, chocolate torte and various other cakes and treats. The Lost Dog has music, such as blues, reggae, jazz, soul, and live talks and special events throughout the year to entertain guests. This is a great place to go for a romantic dinner, a night out with the girls or a casual afternoon drinking coffee and reading at the bar side in one of the lush couches and chairs.

2. Cyber Café located at 176 Main Street, Binghamton. This funky café has a tin roof and tile floors, a diverse array of chairs, furniture and couches to lounge about. The back of the café has a chess room for impromptu games of chess or informal tournaments. If you want to go online you can do so using the computers provided for a small fee, charged by the half hour. Live music is featured five nights a week at an affordable price. For a couple of bucks you can hear some of Binghamton's up and coming or established musicians; with an array of jazz, folk, rock and blues. There are even poetry readings which you can also show your talents off in. If you are interested in playing trivia, there is a Team Trivia every Monday night at 8:30 pm. There are over 40 types of beer from around the world, a selection of wines, coffees ranging from the ordinary to the funky such as Snicker's and Almond Joy. A variety of delicious desserts and treats are also available at the Cyber Café and there are daily specials such as pies, chocolate layer cake, carrot cake, cheesecakes, cannellonis, huge chocolate chip cookies, and brownies. Appetizers range from nachos, hummus, and chips and salsa. If you are looking for a more substantial bite to eat, the Cyber Café caters to both vegetarian and non-vegetarian with a variety of daily soups, chili-both vegetarian and not, quesadillas, breakfast wraps any time of day, a huge selection of wraps to choose from such as: tuna melt, chicken parmesan, buffalo wing, veggie, BLT, Greek salad (like the salad but in a wrap with romaine lettuce, cucumbers, feta cheese and black olives), Portobello mushroom, and a Texas pig-n-blanket wrap (pulled pork smothered in BBQ sauce in a wrap). The Cyber Café also has delicious grilled sandwiches served on Foccacia bread including Portobello, the BCC melt (chicken , mozzarella, bacon and BBQ sauce),the SUNY sizzler (chicken, mozzarella, tomatoes and hot sauce), both named after our local schools. This is a great place to hang out, typically quiet enough to study or read and a very relaxing atmosphere to hang out with friends or listen to some funky music.

3. Whole in the Wall located at 43 South Washington Street, Binghamton serves a wide variety of international foods. Their famous pesto is sold in grocery stores throughout the US. The Whole in the Wall features art exhibits, live music, and an incredible selection of foods and desserts, which are all homemade, including the whole wheat breads and bagels. Two of my personal favorites are the pasta with pesto sauce and garlic ball (a homemade whole wheat roll served with fresh garlic and melted butter) and the stir fried veggies with brown rice. Other excellent choices include the tempura battered onion rings, creamy mushroom soup, the mideast platter (homemade falafel, salad, baba ghanouj served with yogurt sesame dressing and two kinds of pita bread), the Mexican platter (a corn tortilla with refried beans, homemade hot sauce, topped with melted cheese, veggies and served with fried rice), a variety of tempura dishes, grilled cheese, and a number of pita pocket sandwiches. Be sure to try an herbal teas, latte, or chai, with a slice of homemade pie, delectable cheesecake, peanut butter pie or a brownie sundae.

4. Java Joe's 81 State Street, Binghamton. If you want to catch a ride downtown with your bar hopping friends, Java Joe's is located in the midst of the frequented bars SUNY students go to. Jave Joe's serves a number of different types of delicious and different flavored coffee like kahlua and cream, pumpkin spice, super chocolate truffle, and dutch apple crumb, along with a variety of herbal teas and the like. The raw sugar cane packets are neat to use as well. You can access the internet with the several available computers and check out the various art exhibits that are always on the walls such as paintings and photography from local artists. Java Joe's serves delicious sandwiches and desserts and often has live music in the evenings. You can also sit outside in the back and hang out in the warmer months. I recommend this place for study during the daytime as it can get quite noisy on the weekends and evenings.

5. La Tazza located at 39 S. Washington Street, Binghamton. This neat and sophisticated establishment boasts a somewhat elegant atmosphere as well as a range of desserts, coffees in big cups, sandwiches, decadent gourmet chocolates and truffles, wireless access, and exhibits from local artists and photographers, as well as excellent live music.

6. Starbucks 2540 Vestal Parkway. Since most people are very familiar with Starbucks Coffee, I won't go into too much detail. A variety of hot and iced coffees, teas, hot chocolate and frapacinno drinks can be had here along with pastry such as Bear Claws, cinnamon twists, brownies, raspberry bars, cheesecake, cookies and crumb cakes of all kinds. This café has both indoor and outdoor seating in the warmer weather and is furnished with a number of comfortable chairs and small tables in which you can do work at, eat or have a cup of coffee with a friend. On the occasion there is also music playing in the evening.

7. Starbucks -Barnes and Noble Vestal Parkway, Binghamton. Across the street from the above Starbucks is this café located right inside the bookstore. Perhaps an even better place to study and do work, this small café has numerous small tables and several arm chairs throughout the store to use. It can sometimes be difficult to find a table to use and the tables are close together so if it is very busy, it may be somewhat too loud to study for a major exam if you require absolute quiet. You can also access the internet for a few bucks for a couple of hours, payable by credit card right online. This Starbucks also serves grilled sandwiches and a much better variety of desserts than the regular Starbucks. If you are looking for a soup or sandwich, some dessert and coffee and a good place to use reference books for free, this is it! There are also a number of events scheduled throughout the month such as local authors talking about their books, sometimes a musical event and book clubs.

8. Starbucks 904 Upper Front Street, Binghamton. Further down the road from Binghamton, but right across the street from BCC is this Starbucks, recently built and opened. The beverages and desserts served are the same as the one on the Vestal Parkway and since it is further from Binghamton, tends to be quieter so may be a better choice to study at.

9. Coffee Talk 71 Court Street Binghamton. Located in downtown Binghamton next to Main Street this coffee shop is easily accessed by taking the bus or Binghamton's transportation system which stops right down the street from this café. A small café but a good one for a good cup of coffee, a bit of dessert and some relaxation or quiet time. Located near several shops and eateries.

10. Tom's Coffee Cards and Gifts 184 Main Street, Binghamton. While not a coffee house per se, this is a great place to go to sample some coffee and gourmet treats or to pick up some freshly ground coffee beans with a huge selection of flavors, unlike you will find in Binghamton anywhere else. Tom's also has very unique jewelry, gourmet cookies, salsa, pottery, really unique clothing, kaleidoscopes, and other unusual gifts. They will grind the beans for you or buy them whole. This store is located right next to the Cyber Café, so perhaps you can stop here to walk through the store and check out the unique gifts and items they sell, sample some coffee and goodies as you walk throughout the store, have some coffee beans ground for you and then head over to Cyber Café to study or listen to some music.