Late light lunch, Hyde Park, option to linger, wifi

Any suggestions for me? My daughter is visiting a friend at U of C, we are meeting friends at 6:30 downtown, so I'll have a couple hours to kill (which I don't really have to spare but that's a different matter) and would prefer to be confortable if possible. Hate to spend the day in a Starbucks or Barnes & Noble....

I searched but its a big topic....

Bonjour comes immediately to mind--pretty nice pastries, sandwiches (I enjoy the croque monsieur), coffee, lots of lingering.

Sit Down Cafe isn't bad either, for lighter options, and for a later lunch I'm sure they wouldn't mind some sitting around. There's also a gelato place just across 53rd and east a bit that isn't bad. I like the very light, very thin 'pizzas' at Sit Down, and they have fruit and terra chips as sides to their sandwiches.

Div School's Cafe (Grounds of Being) is in the basement of Swift Hall, but they're only open until maybe 3.30 or so, though they offer lots of food options from local restaurants. I frequently lunch there.

Not exactly light fare, but I adore Valois, too, and lingering is encouraged. There's even a book written about it. I enjoy the old school, middle American fare. I'm not sure they have things like salads.

Bonjour Bakery & Cafe (in the strip mall, just south of Treasure Island/next to Walgreen's)
1550 E 55th St Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 241-5300

Sit Down Cafe
1312 E 53rd St #1 Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 324-3700

Swift Hall (Div Cafe is in the basement)
1025 East 58th Street Chicago, IL 60637

Valois Cafe "See Your Food"
1518 E 53rd St Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 667-0647

I'm gonna give a couple more suggestions in addition to mtgl's. While Valois has great atmosphere, it's not a common place to see people whip out their computers. Also, the Div School isn't a very comfortable place to camp out, in my opinion. Here are my suggestions for places in Hyde Park to sit and linger in:

Z&H may be your best bet. Have pretty good food options, and you should be able linger there for a while. Free wi-fi as well.

Otherwise the relatively new Cafe 53 on 53rd and Dorchester, and the very new Sip and Savor at 53rd and Hyde Park Boulevard should do you well. Another option is Cafe 57, at 57th and Lake Park (underneath the Metra tracks) has extremely nice staff and good coffee, although Yelp reviews indicate that there's only an hour of free wi-fi.

Of course, you can also get creative in coffeeshop hopping on U of C's campus, as well. You wouldn't be out of place in the Smart Museum's cafe, for instance, or in some of the more hidden away joints on campus (UChicago Press Building's Cafe, the new Logan Center cafe, etc.) You could definitely stay at these places as long as you wanted to. The Smart Museum (which is always free, btw) has food options from local Hyde Park restaurants (reheatable Thai, pastries from the Medici), while the new Logan Center has sandwiches made to order.

Z & H
1323 E 57th St
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 538-7372

(or their less busy 47th st. location)
1126 E 47th St
Chicago, IL 60653
(773) 538-7372

Smart Museum
5550 S Greenwood Ave
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 702-0200

The comprehensive list of UChicago cafes, if you're feeling adventurous. Directions to some of these can be a little difficult, but ask someone on campus and they should be able to help: http://dining.uchicago.edu/page/maroon-dollars-faq

-T Kent

Drove around a lot...ended up at Medici bakery. Not fancy or especially comfy lol but I figured out the wifi and it took much longer to get downtown than I expected so an hour should be manageable. Genuinely appreciate the guidance.

I know this is too late for the OP, but for future reference, the second floor coffee shop of the Reynolds Club (corner of 57th/University) might be the perfect fit.

Reynolds Club, 2nd Floor, 5706 S. University Ave. This large dark-wood space features multiple couches couches, pool tables, artwork, board games, and a variety of food and drinks. A microwave makes Hallowed Grounds a good place to buy or bring food. Open late during the school year.

The only thing I'm not certain about is whether you will be able to access the wifi. If you have no University affiliation, you can get a guest internet pass in the Admin building.

shyne

shyne wrote:If you have no University affiliation, you can get a guest internet pass in the Admin building.

Due to recent relocation of several Admin functions, try Alumni House or the Regenstein Library visitor control desks instead.

shyne wrote:I know this is too late for the OP, but for future reference, the second floor coffee shop of the Reynolds Club (corner of 57th/University) might be the perfect fit.

[snip]
The only thing I'm not certain about is whether you will be able to access the wifi. If you have no University affiliation, you can get a guest internet pass in the Admin building.

U of C is part of Eduroam (where you can access wifi with your home institution's credentials) but they normally don't allow just random walk-up access unless you are sponsored
http://answers.uchicago.edu/page.php?id=21912
https://www.eduroam.us/eduroam_us_institutions

I happen to be, right now, in Cafe 57 at 57th, under the Metra tracks. The wifi is free, the coffee, intelligensia, but best, an assortment of 50's and 60's era rock and roll, including the soundtrack to Elvis's 68 Comeback.