This cafe is absolutely beautiful. The service is fantastic and the food and coffee was outstanding, and you really cant beat the location. I drank a seasonal latte and had a breakfast sandwich on their back deck overlooking the lake, and listened to and watched the birds. It was such a pleasant experience.

Amazing cafe in a relaxing neighborhood. Great outdoor and indoor seating. Indoor seating is Covid safe with many options both on the main level and below. Outdoor seating had a nice view of the beach and lake. The baristas are friendly, very attentive and serve a great experience of drink, food and conversation.

Really good food, good prices and friendly staff.

Charming Cafe located right on the lakefront with a small walking path straight down to the beach. Ample selection of breakfast and lunch sandwiches, paired with a fantastic selection of craft coffee and syrups. Worth stopping by purely to enjoy the outdoor seating just slightly removed from downtown Madison.

Excellent food and drink. Great views of Lake Monona. Great staff and atmosphere. Quite neighbor just a few minutes from downtown Madison

Come for the chicken curry sandwich on ciabatta. Stay for the views and cozy atmosphere

The coffee is amazing! Get a coffee and drink it there for a great drink and experience! Lattes are great! Food is good too. Good safety as well!

I absolutely loved this find while passing through. Food and view were just as amazing as the chi tea I got with oat milk!!

Good coffee, food, location, great seating options, but very slow service. I think they’re either severely understaffed or not managing orders well. Several times recently it has taken 15-20 minutes to get a scone and cold brew, both of which are ready-made. On less busy days, it’s often still over 5 minutes. If you’re happy to sit and enjoy a nice morning (like I often am), Lakeside is a great choice but don’t expect a speedy cup.

Fantastic cold brew and veg bfast sandwich this morning... yes its as good as it looks!

My first visit, and it feels like Ive always been coming here. Cozy, friendly, nooks, wide-open areas, tables for two. They offer more than a tasty cup of coffee but food, baked goods, specialty beer, and more. There is a full variety of live music. Check their schedule for dates and times. There are two entrances the front main entrance and the lower lakeside next to the parking lot.

Lovely inside and out, and good sandwiches and coffee.

Food is tasty and service is friendly. Great outdoor space and views of the park and Monona Bay. This is a sleepy neighborhood coffee shop, so dont come if youre in a rush :)

Love the atmosphere!

New efficiency in ordering. Safe indoor seating available. Nice.

The coffee is wonderful the food is fantastic and the service is the reason why I go back.

Very cool atmosphere, good coffee and the granola bowl I had was delicious - lots of Greek yogurt and honey

It was great for a chill coffee, but now the wait is almost 20 minutes+ just to get a latte and theyre always fixing something while its open so its super loud.Edit: also why do they ask me to give a dollar tip for a 3 dollar coffee? Do they not pay their employees working wage?

House hunting and found this gem.

Kind and welcoming staff, super smooth espresso. Such a charming place. I’ve had a lot of memories here and it’s a really special shop.

Ive been a dozen times before and the dining room is a gorgeous wood interior with a beautiful view of the lake coast, it really is one of the best locations in the city. Miles does the sandwiches and I recommend the capicola if its still there, its sourced from Frabonis and the pickled mustard/garlic aioli is damn good. Please give compliments, idk if theres a sandwich scene here but hes doing some good work in it.

I like the place, not because of the food or the coffee or the beer, its the location. You can get a window seat and look outside at the beautiful lake and the capital. They have sandwiches and salads and desserts, but nothing earth shattering. Its the ambience that makes people come back. The WiFi is free and no pressure to leave once you are done. Staff is friendly and the service is quick. Giving 4 stars as the menu could be improved on. By the way, you can book the place for private events.

Friendly staff, clean nice distancing set up with beautiful options for inside and outside!! Sandwich with side salad delicious!! Many wonderful options for beverages hot or cold!!

What a delightful experience I had at this artistically decorated, warm atmosphere coffee house. It has helpful and positive staff. I ordered a breakfast item that each bite was worthy of savoring.

Love this little coffee spot! Calm, peaceful, and a beautiful view. I lived in town a long time before I finally discovered it and it almost hurt to know I hadnt known about it sooner so I could have spent more time here. So lovely!!

Very nice coffee shop. Friendly staff and my sandwich was very yummy.

Beautiful environment to have something to eat maybe cup of coffee and look out over Monona Bay

This is a fabulous coffeehouse. Its huge with the front having a bar with beer and wine and lots of table and chairs. Then, in the back is a room that has local art hanging on the wall, more seating options, the cafe with coffee, tea, and food menus. Off this room, there are to areas of outside seating with shade and great views. The drinks and food are tasty. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is relaxing and welcoming. I really enjoyed my time here this morning as I worked on my art and read a little too.

Great location. Great view. Next to park and playground.

Great coffee, convenient, and great spot to relax inside and out.

Everyone enjoyed everything they ordered and the service was good

Beautiful spot! The staff is very friendly, the coffee is great and the food options are delicious.

Friendly staff and quick service. Perfect for bike ride or walk around Lake or neighborhood.

The coffee was incredible! I got the To Infinity and Pecan. Their customer service was really great, they brought my oatmeal to me. The staff seemed very kind. The location had a pretty view of the water. The atmosphere was like a cozy beach house. I will definitely come here again!

Good coffee in a lovely quiet spot. Excellent atmosphere and a great place to relax.

Been here a number of times pre-pandemic and was saddened to hear they had to limit themselves to carryout for a while. But now, they allow outdoor and indoor seating again (indoor limited to 2hrs though).

This place was a great pandemic (social distance friendly) visit! Tables were either outdoors or very spaced apart. Good food and drinks and lakeside charm.

I absolutely love coming here. Excellent atmosphere, delicious food and drinks... and outstanding customer service! Best coffee shop in Madison!

Always a Great Coffee House & Great view. Bonus Saturday morning live music.

This coffee place looks small from the outside, but has a lot to offer!

Really cool atmosphere with a nice view. And my white chocolate peanut butter iced latte was delicious as well!

Great bakery and a good view of the park and bay.

This place is so cute! Super friendly staff and speedy, kind service despite a weekend rush and COVID restrictions. Great views and a nice place to sit and enjoy the lake.

One of the cozier more bohemian coffee shops in Madison. There are two large rooms, upstairs, a basement room, music on Fridays, and a nice porch for sunny days. Plus you literally have a view of the lake if you sit by the windows, which is dreamy. Im not a coffee drinker, but my husband who is likes coffee never complains. There is a lovely tea selection. The baristas are always nice and easy going. Highly recommend! Meet a friend or write your next novel. Lakeside is the perfect spot for it all.

Delicious espresso. Duel vibe. Front of the shop feels cozier. Back of the shop feels more expansive. I want to thank the owners/management for sharing, or donating use of, their space for Jennifer Schmitz annual memorial flamenco scholarship fundraiser concert. Thank you for supporting the arts and the memory of a dear friend.

This is my place! Great place to meet friends, listen to live music or catch up on some work on a weekend. Friendly staff. Great coffee and many food options. So glad to have discovered this place not long after moving to Madison.

Great cold brew coffee. There is a nice patio in the back with a view of the lake, along with a public park that has swimming area.

The atmosphere is wonderful, the building spacious and pleasant with fantastic views of the lake. Staff have always been pleasant and helpful. But their food is consistently meh. This would probably not stand out in any other city, but Madison has such phenomenal food options that I cant bring myself to spend money on food here. Ill still go to Lakeside to meet a friend or have a meeting, but after too many lackluster orders, I now only buy a drink.

Surprisingly large, but cozy. Good play area for kids. Tasty food and drinks. Love the live music. Great view of the lake. One of the best coffee shops in Madison.

Great staff and good cafe treats in a chill vintage building.

Great outdoor patio

This place was amazing!! The seating options are endless it seems. There was a small bar area at the front of the shop for purchasing wine, and beer too I believe. The coffee and food ordering area is at the back of the building (layout like and old school house, but open conception the two areas.There is a seating area downstairs with a kids section. Tables and chairs outside in the front and the back. Plus for an added bonus...a small park with a small beach a very short walk out the back door!! Yes you can get to go cups if need be.My wife and I order french vanilla iced lattes, a sausage and gouda quiche and a veggie breakfast sandwich. The quiche was hands down the best one weve ever had. Not dry at all and loaded with flavor!! The breakfast sandwich was good as well! The iced lattes were the perfect addition for this hot afternoon 😊The staff was excellent and very helpful. We are definitely going to go back in the future!! 😀

A wonderful large cafe with a lake view, and cozy bar sectionTonight just saw an incredible free show with an extraordinary Madison musician, playing slide steel guitar, traditional and original blues, country, folk, rock and ragtime. Very reasonable price for nice choices of coffee, beer, wine, and cafe foods. Check it out any time of day!

Fantastic coffee shop in general, and one of the best around if you have young children with you. Lots of seating in multiple rooms, including some nice views. Extensive menu in addition to coffee and other drinks, from bakery items to a full lunch. For kids a SEPARATE, downstairs play area with plenty of toys - and plenty of adjacent seating for parents and groups. Theres also a small park and beach a stones throw away during nice weather.

VERY nice jewel in a busy city accluptic atmosphere good place

Cozy cafe thats a perfect place to grab a coffee and get some work or studying done. They have several different rooms including a downstairs area thats great for hiding away in and cranking out work. The main area had a wonderful view.

This is officially my new coffee place in Madison. First off, the friendly service. Everyone is so nice. Secondly, good coffee and drinks. Today I got a Golden Milk Latte (or something like that) just for kicks. Great drink. The atmosphere us perfect and theres PLENTY of space to plop down for a chill time. I will be here a lot more. Seemed like a really good community coffee shop without being a bit pretentious like some other places. Really stoked about this place.

Amazing view, coffee and vibe

Staff is great. Beautiful place overlooking monona bay.

Really enjoy the vibe of this place, great for studying or reading, very spacious. I only wish that the classic breakfast sandwich came with salsa like it used to! (Or is at least an option.) That was my fave

Delicious specials and quiche with lots of space for larger groups and a beautiful backyard view of the lake. It seemed far too understaffed for a busy lunch hour which required a 15 minute wait in line to place an order, plus another 25 minutes to have an already-cooked quiche delivered to our table.Still a great spot when you need to waste time and find a spot to meet.

Fantastic!

So cute! Many seating options: main level, outdoor next to the train tracks (trust me, its nice), outdoor deck with view of the beach, or downstairs where they have a play area with toys for kids. Coffee tastes great, menu is limited but good for snacking. Donuts from Green Bush bakery are great! Snack plates are a little expensive.

One of my favorite coffee places. It is cozy, has good work space and outside seating. Is a good bike up spot to take a stop at and friendly staff. Pretty charming!

Very eclectic mix of furnishings, very home-like. The hot cocoa and grilled cheese were delicious! Pricey, but worth buying local. Our group met there for a book study. It was easy to hang out and discuss- nice and quiet.

I am not a Madison liberal or a millennial and was apprehensive about going here for a holiday party for my wife’s job. I couldn’t have been more surprised. This is an awesome place with great service, nice people and really good music. I highly recommend.

I hear lots of great live music here, theres probably a stool there with my name on it. One of Madisons best-kept secrets. Awesome beer and wine selections, a menu of healthy eats.

The food and coffee are excellent, both fresh.

I have been going to Lakeside for many years and like the teas, coffees and the basic food offerings. I recently attended a lovely live music night with classical guitar. It made me wish I had checked out the music offerings years ago.

I love this place. Its an ideal cafe. Pick an adjective, this place all of them.First of all, its spacious. Upstairs, downstairs, patio, lawn (on the lake), and approximately 40 tables.Second, the atmosphere is very nice. Decor is cozy, eclectic and vintage.Finally, location is amazing. 1 mile off the Beltline, quiet residential neighborhood.Fantastic place to relax on your own or meet your people.

Friendly staff, good food, great atmosphere and views. Right on the bay so easy to walk and bike to. The downstairs area is nice for meetings and groups, has tables and chairs and also comfortable couches while being secluded from the main area.

Relaxing place to spend you day with the bean juice. I like the staff alot as well, couple of chill individuals! ✌✌✌

Fun spot near UW-Madison. Lots of drink and food options. Eclectic atmosphere.

Quaint & charming (like from the 40s not victorian) ... very neighborhood focused & friendly ... front is music and bar; back is the coffee shop, and down stairs is an even more casual party area. The space is technically large, but always feels intimate, and downstairs is super cozy!Beer & Wine selection is always top notch, tho never very long. If you ask, the night staff will usually get you stuff from the coffee shop.

Love the view. Coffee is amazing, they serve kin kin black and tan blend, which is my personal favorite. It is a very laid back environment, great for weekend mornings. But, dont come here in a rush before work or something expecting the barista to go out of their way to make you a latte in 30 seconds so you arent late. Rather, come with a friend(s) or family, grab a seat with a great lake view, and just enjoy the laid back setting.

Big coffee shop, but it is still cozy. I had a nice cappuccino here.

I love this place. The staff is fantastic, and the space is great. I love all the natural light that the large windows provide. You certainly dont want to miss this special place in Madison.

Great atmosphere, great view from the porch outside, great coffee, great sandwiches! I had the Turkey apple melt and Ill definitely be back for it again.

The food is fine, and the coffee normally quite good, with compliments to the quiche first, and everything else second. Good baked goods, not great bread for the sandwiches. Staff is pleasant, but they can get rushed very quickly, as it is a huge place. The best thing about Lakeside is the environment. Their main area is at the back of the building with a lovely view of the bay. They have a basement lounge area that makes me feel cozy (like Im in a youth-group room at a church, which isnt a bad feeling)... At the front of the building is a more formal bar area which I understand is a wine bar at night. Theres a little something for everybody here, and outdoor seating as well, for those who like unfiltered air.

Space with an eclectic range of furniture on the main floor and downstairs. The view of the lake is beautiful and being right next to a park makes it an ideal place to bring your kids. The menu although not large has something for everyone.

This is truly one of the best off the beaten path coffee/bars spots in Madison. Great coffee, great brews, great views. Definitely make your way here!

Lakeside Coffee House is a very nice place to relax with a cup of coffee and enjoy conversation with a friend.

Great environment! Big windows out the back with beautiful views, local art on display, and for sale. Quite up front area for those who like that, seating for days in the back and downstairs. Didnt order anything myself but the vibes were great :)

I love this place. Theres nothing else like it in Madison. It feels like a large, cozy old house. Theyve got good food, good coffee, nice staff. Plus, the view is lovely.

Great local coffee spot. Absolutely love it ❤

Excellent coffee! Nibblies such as cookies are out of this world! Eclectic decor with beautiful views of the bay and outdoor seating, even a playground for the kids. Wonderful live music and jam sessions. A great place to work on your computer, too! Open and spacious with tons of tables and books. Very pleasant workers. Altho perhaps off the down-town beaten path, its worth the trip, its joy to visit here!

Wonderful ecclectic and homey coffee house. Great coffee & food.

My favorite coffee shop in Madison. The coffe is tasty, the food well made, and the view is second to none. Sit in the front room with cozy chairs and grab a glass of wine or beer, or sit in the main room looking out the large windows on to the lake with a perfect view of the downtown skyline. They have live music events most evenings, so you can catch a local groups playing a variety of styles. They are family friendly too, they even have games for the little ones to keep them happy.

Large warm lovely space on the lake. Good coffee and baked goods, friendly staff, outdoor patio thats perfect for summer days. Great place to wile away a morning or afternoon of pleasant conversation.

Loved it. Great space for coffee with a lake view or have a local micro brew in the front of the house. The Madison Classical Guitar group plays here every other Friday starting at 7 pm.

This coffee house is a wonderful, eclectic space. In the daytime, its a neighborhood spot with a view of Monona Bay and at night its a music venue with local talent. Coffee and sandwiches from the coffee bar overlooking the lake. On the street side, theres a bar serving beer, wine and cider. This place pays attention to its local community, sourcing its products from the state.Lakeside has a long history in the neighborhood. The space used to be combination yarn and fiber store with a chef-led cafe in the back portion. The energy of the yarn store is missed, but knitters still gather to work together over coffee. Richard Weigel performs monthly on a Thursday evening.

This is a cozy coffee shop with lots of seating and views of Monona Bay. They have lunch items and a bit of beer as well. Weekend evenings they often have live music and open the back bar.

Cool place to hang out with a chill atmosphere and nice view.

Great coffee with delicious pastries. The playground by the lake next to the cafe gives it a very peaceful atmosphere.

Great iced tea. The place has charm to burn.

Probably good if you can find a place to sit

This place feels free. Check out the classical guitar jams if your looking for a something more laid back.

I give it most stars for atmosphere. Very homey environment inside and great view outside. The order area is awkward and coffee refills are pricey imo. Asking for a to-go cup is met with suspicion. Still a nice feel with board games to use.

Had a delicious organic roast. I went with the mild brew as opposed to the spicy one. They ran out as I filled up my cup and the barista quickly brewed a new pot. Highly recommended.

Great old building structure with view of Brittingham Bay.