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| - The Barriques off the square is my second-most frequented. In the past few years, I've graduated to Barriques on Monroe, which could fit three times over in the cavernous, two-story space that the Barriques on West Wash occupies.
The downtown Barriques has its own distinct vibe, as do all the locations. Here, the busy times give it a hustle and bustle that none of the other locations ever quite muster. It can be overwhelming to come in on a Sunday afternoon, prime homework time, and be confronted with tables piled high with law casebooks and laptops at every outlet.
That having been said, a relaxed summer evening is a great time to drop by Barriques for a glass of wine on the outdoor patio. The Capitol corridor streets can have a windtunnel effect, and the constant beeping of the crosswalk signal can be irritating, but with the right group and a relatively breeze-free day, the patio spot can be one of those great Madison places to see and be seen.
Inside, the coffee drinks are as consistent as they are at all Barriques locations. The local chain scores points for their choice of Milwaukee's own Alterra coffee, which results in fine espresso beverages of all kinds. The vibe at Barriques is laid back and mellow when you are there off-peak, and you will have your option of sunsoaked window seats or more removed seating in the balcony area upstairs.
The downsides here are the same as I mentioned in other Barriques reviews: baked goods that don't live up to the promise of the other food items and trouble getting seating at busy or peak times (based on UW campus schedules). The upsides are many: a fine and varied selection of reasonably priced and good wines, good consistent coffee drinks, helpful and friendly staff and generally good vibes.
Bottom line: The Barriques outlets are some of Madison's best and most reliable cafés and we are lucky to have so many flavors of them from which to choose.
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