it is quiet but not too quiet (there is good music playing), it is open late, it serves beer as well as coffee, it has some food available, and it is totally cute. the bartender/barista last night was really nice and helpful and kept walking around with more coffee for people who were drinking it (i can't have caffeine after 4 pm so i stuck to beer).
the best part is that the people there seemed to be both much more diverse and overall much older and more laid back than the crowd at sitwell's (which is another place i really like, but i do find to sometimes be overrun by loud high schoolers). there were a number of people who looked like professors sitting with piles of papers and laptops. there was an old black guy and a young white guy playing chess and discussing the meaning of life. there was a group of kids playing board games with what looked like their dad and then a couple other random grad student looking coffee shop patrons. there were quite a few people there alone. almost everyone had brought books with them.
another great thing about highland: their hours. they are open every day from 5 pm to 2:30 am. the bartender told me that occasionally they close early if there is no one there, but they consider themselves the place to go when all the other coffee shops close. i love this because i am always getting annoyed when coffee shops close on me. cincinnati is weird like that, i have never lived in a city before where the normal coffee shop closing time is like 7 pm. so i am glad to find a place that is open late.
the atmosphere is also great. it is in an old house and has wood floors, plants, dim lighting, and interesting/crappy art on the walls. there is also an outdoor patio which was full last night despite the chilly temperature.
i did not try the food or even look at the menu, but they do have it in case you need something to snack on. they also have a bunch of board games available. everyone was really friendly to each other and i even saw one guy randomly walk by an empty table where the person had left their bookbag and book and he just picked up the book, browsed through it, and set it back down. so i am sure you could find a book to borrow if you wanted. they also have free wireless.
basically i love everything about this place and i am so happy to have discovered it. i recommend that you go there immediately for all your late night coffee shop needs.
8 comments:
I have never heard of this place either! And I love places like this!! I will be going soon...
I used to spend a TON of time there in college-- there, Sitwell's and the Buzz (may it rest in peace). I always get Highland's cardamom coffee and a side of bread (they have really good, crusty French bread).
I heart Highland. Many happy memories there, like sitting in front of those overgrown jade plants on a rainy afternoon or trying to play chess on that one board-painted table.
(That and the fact that there is actually attentive service)
(Unlike Sitwell's, which can be super spotty.)
you guys have been holding out on me! quick, tell me about all the other awesome places i do not yet know about...
I used to go there occasionally but not since I saw several roaches scurrying about the floor.
That was several years ago. Nevertheless, fair warning if you're thinking about eating.
So this place is good?
Cincinnati is sorely lacking a good coffee shop that stays open late.
Is Highland and University safe at 2:30 in the morning?
i love it and it seemed totally safe to me. i am not easily scared though. i lived in over the rhine and regularly wandered around there at night and never felt like i was in danger. so maybe others would not agree w/ me.
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