With Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish heating up the college football scene this season, many are flocking to South Bend, Indiana to catch one of the team’s historical games in all its glory. As visitors head to the city rich with history and a firm foodie milieu, South Bend’s cool café atmosphere is often overlooked.
Whether you’re looking for a quick cup of drip coffee, lattes, cappuccinos or espressos, with a bite to eat, don’t fumble through the city looking for fast food joints or a name brand coffee company. We’ve got a game plan best suited to kick off your coffee high and savvy brunch needs in what Livability called one of the best college towns of 2014.
Chicory Café
Address: 105 E. Jefferson Blvd., #103
This laid-back and comfortable atmosphere with an eclectic mix of clientele and activities boasts a New Orleans vibe, complete with delicious beignets, po’ boys, gumbo, jambalaya, and muffuletta. With a diverse menu of authentic creole flair, accompanied by sandwiches, salads, soups and baked mac and cheese, Chicory Café caters to all your hunger pangs without the need for hitting the bayou. Serving a full bar of coffee and tea among a lively and musical setting, this café is not only a great breakfast and lunch spot with a delectable dessert menu that is incredibly inexpensive, but is certainly a city-wide favorite. Yea, you right!
Café at the Overlook
Address: 54721 Burdette St.
Just east of the University of Notre Dame, Café at the Overlook caters to both students and locals with this casual and cozy setting. Featuring a unique and gourmet twist to café culture, The Café is hailed as one of the most artsy and modern cafés in the city, as it constantly updates its inventive menu with seasonal offerings and culinary concoctions to savor every taste bud. Whether you stop by for a meal, a snack, or a study session with friends, the café now serves beer on tap and wine by the glass or bottle.
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South Bend Chocolate Café
Address: 122 S. Michigan St.
Situated in the heart of the city, the South Bend Chocolate Café gives Willy Wonka a run for his money. Regarded as one of the best places in the city to watch live music and just “people-watch,” this café is huge with its own dining area, café, ice cream parlor and candy museum. (Take that, Wonka!) Featuring seasonal drinks that are both delicious and one-of-a-kind, this café has a wide menu of chocolate-y goodness, staying true to its name. Everything is made of chocolate—well, not like, everything. But there’s a lot of goodies on their menu. Order their dark hot chocolate with a shot of vanilla coffee–you won’t regret it. (All their hot chocolates are to die for!) With a large menu of desserts and baked goods too, you really can’t visit South Bend without stopping by.
Le Peep of South Bend
Address: 127 S. Michigan St.
Le brunch, le lunch! This hot spot really has it all with a wide breakfast and lunch menu, accompanied by a diversely flavorful and seasonal coffee. With a staff that is ever polite and attentive to your foodie needs, your coffee cup is never left empty either. Though known as a franchise restaurant, the South Bend location really find itself in its extensive and delicious pancake menu. Light, fluffy, not too heavy, and definitely huge, their pancakes are a favorite among diners!
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The Crêperie
Address: 121 S. Niles Ave.
Located in the historic Emporium Building, The Crêperie adds a little French flair with a gorgeous view to this old college city. With a menu that uses only the most freshest and organic ingredients, this hot spot is slated to reopen next month after remodeling over the summer, adding more space, more menu items, a substantial deck expansion and a liquor license. Preparing a wide range of made-to-order smoothies, crêpes, coffee and more, the “Velvet Presley” and the “Nutella and Coffee” smoothies are delicious and certainly worth trying. What some coffee aficionados might love most about this chic joint is that The Crêperie is one of the only cafés in South Bend that utilizes the pour-over, non-espresso based and organic, Intelligentsia coffee.
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Do you live in South Bend or visit often? What are some of your favorite cafés in and around the city? Let us know in the comments below.
The Hudsucker 
woow..i want going to in indiana..its very cold..?