Cafe 1923

My friend nor I will be back. I came from far away to visit her, bringing us teas (note: that this store doesn’t sell). Once I arrived, we walked to this cafe to get an handful of items to eat, as she had spoken highly of the baked goods. Since I had driven far, we sat down outside for a moment to greet each other and get settled (note: the cafe and outside were entirely empty). A moment later the white male worker makes a snarky comment about where we got the tea from, and how he’s shocked that the “Arabic cafe” doesn’t have a patio, and continues noticeably speaking to the women near him about us. He then engages with us again, and we assure him that we’re both about to buy something. He completely loses it, going on and on about paying his bills, “etiquette,” how other people will just come use the patio for free. Good thing we just told him we’re going to make a purchase! I would understand if we brought a whole feast from elsewhere to eat at the tables or things that they sell here themselves, but all we had in front of us were cups and a bag I was gifting to my friend. I would even understand more if we were sitting inside of the restaurant. After thinking about this interaction, I can’t get past his poor attitude. We tried to be kind and understanding but he was super unprofessional and said we were making him uncomfortable. No wonder he has to trauma dump to random people about paying his bills when he turns away the only customers present. If you feel so strongly about outside items, put up a sign. I’ve never had another cafe have an issue. Lastly, super unprofessional to have your cigarette smoke wafting into your store behind you.

New favorite coffee shop!!! Very casually academia, in an old building and has been here for a few decades. The atmosphere here is wonderful, and they have plenty of tasty options from Italian sodas, pastries, muffins, and lunch options from pop and wraps. Brilliant space to relax and read in with walks of books around. Can’t wait to come back and become a regular!

Awesome little coffee shop. Great baked goods and great service. The Atmosphere is quiet and relaxing. Will definitely be back!

Islamaphobic Bullying Hijabis and Racist Coffee Shop in Hamtramck I’ve frequented this shop for over 8 months now, in my first experience was with my cousin, we shared a heart to heart in that space so the “neighborly” shop became dear to me. The location is very close to home, has free parking, and stays open into the night. Almost everyday I sat there, worked my online job, and bought coffee from Jeff whom is the best baristi. Even suggesting and inviting other friends to visit the location. However it was yesterday I was harassed out the door, like a stranger in my own community. A white male staff member that I’ve never seen before came up to me during their close and sarcastically, asked me if I enjoyed my coffee, I told him I didn’t have coffee today, he asked me what I purchased I told him plainly I didn’t have the money to purchase anything. He said that’s what libraries are for and instead of me explaining to him that libraries require money for parking and close early on Sundays and I don’t have power on at my house so I’m here using the wifi looking for jobs , I asked him if there was a problem trying to bring forth clarity. The tension continues to rise as he pulls me into more passive aggressive interrogation rather then confronting me with grace he made me extremely uncomfortable with his disrespectful attitude towards me. Trying to gain understanding I asked him if/why he was watching me and he said it wasn’t out of the norm to ask customers questions about purchases, however this was the first time I was ever been asked. The only difference was I recently began to wear hijab and I’m afraid that the worker was intimidated by my presence as a black hijabi. I even explained to him his approach was rude and unwarranted and that I would’ve appreciated if he could articulate himself with maturity instead of passive aggression. Still no apology. I understand how to patronize institutions fairly and I understand creating a standard in a space, however I was not prepared to be met with hostility and treated with haste as I’ve invested in the shop over months of stable income. And conveniently, he was compelled to bully me when all other customers were gone. The only other witness was another male white employee I’d purchased from before. Looking for alliance I told the other employee “I’ve bought coffee from you before” he replied “Not today” I said “Did you here the way he talked to me” he said nothing and the other employee continues screaming for me to leave. There is a restaurant just a block away called Sheeba, the day before this incidence I went to spend my last 10 dollars for chicken hadith. When I got up to pay for my meal the cashier wouldn’t accept my money because someone already paid for my meal, AlHamdulilah THAT is the culture of Hamtramck, this coffee shop doesn’t not belong in the Hamtramck neighborhood. Im deciding to no longer invest in this space. Im wiping my hands of this environment Inshallah, I will have the money to purchase a coffee again but the culture of the establishment is vile.

The coffee was just like a coffee icl. The staff was honestly pretty rude. My friends and I got some doughnuts from another store and went on the outside patio to eat them. I bought an Americano. I'd like to mention that other than my group, there were a maximum of 5 other people, none of whom were on the patio. The owner then comes to the patio and starts saying things like, "You're here in my shop using my wifi and have only a cup of coffee (we were all talking and didn't have anything that uses wifi out). Then he asks us where we are from, which I said that we're from Ukraine. After, he says a legendary line, "I don't know how they do it back in your country; it's probably pennies for things like wifi." After not immediately responding, he asks me, "Do you even understand what I'm saying." 😐He also said something about using up the patio. The store was empty and I bought a coffee...

I attended an evening reading for a book launch and poetry. Wonderful venue, great cappuccino, friendly service, a quaint, intimate space.

The guy behind the counter was awesome and super friendly and knowledgeable! Great atmosphere and prices

An absolutely fantastic coffee shop! I really enjoyed the fact that they have a study space as well (though I don't have a picture of it). The coffee was delicious and the vibes were great. I went at 5PM which is an hour before they close; they weren't busy at all and my coffee came out in less than 2 minutes.

First visit to this local Hamtramck coffee shop. I love to see how this house has been converted into a cafe. The coffee was very good. I also had a cheese danish. I don't think it was made on site, but it was very good. They had the normal assortment of cafe type foods. Great place to get some work done. Or, read a book. Multiple rooms with different seating. I loved the jazz playing in the background. The service was friendly.

The last time I visited Cafe 1923 was in 2006. I was surprised to see that 16 years later, this coffee shop still looks pretty much the same, making me feel nostalgic. It's a great place to get some work done, and the decor is fabulous. Today, I ordered the Chai Latte, Caramel Coffee, and French Vanilla Latte. All three tasted great!

I love working from this cafe! They have a decent amount of seating, never too busy or load, lots of outlets, and reallyyyy good coffee. It's definitely on the sweeter side though, so maybe ask for less pumps of flavor or something if you don't have a big sweet tooth. I get the snickers latte, highly recommend, but a little too sweet admittedly. The interior aesthetic in the second half of the cafe is really cool too, with a library. I only took a video so apologies for the blurry picture, but should give an idea of the space.

Awesome little ol' fashion cafe. The coffee is great and the baristas have great service. There are a ton of seating options in 3 rooms and a patio out back. Each room feels like a different experience.

We tried a latte and iced coffee. The iced coffee was weak and the latte was nothing great. I will say that it's a great spot if you are looking for somewhere to study, read, or meet up with a lot of people. Large space with plenty of seats and on a street that has plenty of parking.

Very nice little shop. Always quiet and the people are friendly. Love the old decor. I go there often now

Lovely little place. I've been wanting to find a place that was a chill little coffee shop, and this place has that and a great amount of street parking. The drip coffee was hot and the pricing was extremely reasonable! Had a bag of Better Made chips with a Chicken Salad Wrap that was perfect for a little lunch, though I found myself wishing there were breakfast items on the menu other than plain bagels and baked goods. But that's just wishful thinking, they're a small business and sometimes that means you keep it simple. So no worries there. I can't wait to come back and chill in their walk in Little Free Library (aka the big back room with a wall of books).

Sip and savor. Read and relax. Cafe 1923 has all the coffeehouse feels. Located in a house converted into a peaceful haven on Holbrook in Hamtramck, this place is as close to coffee house perfection as it gets. The only drawback is the limited street parking out front which is pretty typical for this area. When you walk in you quickly notice the cozy atmosphere. There are tables and chairs to the right and the friendliest of baristas behind the counter on the left. A glass case displays muffins and pastries along with salads and freshly made wraps. A big white board menu overhead describes all of the many varieties of scrumptious coffee, tea and frappe options. My coworker and I decided to stop in for lunch one midday during the week. After taking our order, the barista told us to be sure to check out all of the rooms in the house to be sure that we found a cozy spot to enjoy our choices. We walked into the next room which featured floor to ceiling book cases and overstuffed arm chairs making up the obviously pet-friendly "library". Next was a small sitting room which led through the back door to a quaint patio space decked out with chairs and tables. After the walk through tour we settled for a space in the front room near the entrance. Our order of ham and pepperjack, and turkey and pesto wraps were ready along with the best part -- our snickers lattes (YUM!) flavored with chocolate, hazelnut and caramel and topped with mile high whipped cream. It is also customary at the cafe to clear your own table by placing your dishes in the dish room. The free wifi made this the perfect place to get some work done while we were taking a break away from the office. Now that we have discovered Cafe 1923, we will definitely be visiting often.

Dope place, lots of places to sit inside and outside. When I went there were people in the corner debating unionization and other lefty political views. It was amazing to hear people talking about what's going on in our world. I got a ham and cheese wrap ( 1/2) it was delicious, pretty simple but good. I also got a latte which was tasty. The line was long as there was only 1 employee making the drinks but it was a nice enough ambiance to forget about it.

Went here for lunch with a coworker. They have a nice selection of snacks and lunch food. I had the lentil stew made by the local Buddhist temple down the street and it was hearty and delicious! The cappuccino was pretty good too.

A nice coffee place to grab a cup of coffee and study. They close early on Sunday which is a downer.

Perfect place for coffee/tea plus working space and wifi. Walkable from anywhere in Hamtramck

My experience here has been good until today when the lady took order was very rude to me and rolled her eyes at me because I was taken my time to order my food and drinks what the hell kind of treatment is this, I work for my pay check too and I don't treat my guest like this. I can't believe this woman who thinks she getting a tip from me and that makes feel uncomfortable. I'm like wow how horrible this is. I've learned manners really go along way when I was grow up we learn respect each other, I really love this place but people suck here really have bad attitudes, I am shocked how poorly missed treat I was! I am coming back but I want to talk with the owner.

A short stop to do some work. Based in a what appears to be an old store and/or home sits this little coffee shop. The front half of the cafe is the coffee shop with barista counter and plenty of more "business" oriented seating for you to do homework and like things. Plenty of seating for when the business sets in, though while I was there it was quite slow and maybe only five customers at the one moment sitting in. The back portion on the shop is more of a home feel. With softer more comfortable chairs, it is easier to sit back and relax while you enjoy your coffee or other caffeinated beverage. A closed off staircase leads up to what i can only guess to be living quarters. The nitty gritty: Though there wasn't any grounds left in the bottom thankfully, the latte lacked a sort of precise flavor and was completely generic in taste. The milk had good body to support that lack of espresso fullness, and completed the drink at just an okay level. It fits the theme of the whole building and business, as a good spot for a coffee that is more craft than your chain places, yet not trying to fight the higher quality locations with much greater espresso and coffee. Stop by and enjoy it for what it is, a reclaimed piece of history sitting in an older building/location maintaining a easy-going coffee shop providing caffeine to us and those who enjoy just the flavor of something different from time to time. Signed, Empty Cup Reviews.

Really nice cozy community space. Came here for a little discussion group on Nonviolent Communication. They've got beverages, vegan meal options via living zen organics, and some dessert bread that I don't think was vegan. My time was limited so I can't really go in depth as much, but I like that it has a like library space where you can organize and have discussion.

Lovely quiet place to have a cup of coffee. Or tea! Back when I lived closer to Hamtramck I was here quite a lot during the winter and liked using it as a mobile office of sorts - the back room with the books is wonderfully relaxing and there's lots of places to sit and focus. There's also sometimes live music, but unlike other coffee shops it's not too loud and tends to be relaxing folk. Not to be cliche, but it sounds like "coffee shop music". In a good way. So props to whoever books bands. One nitpick - I'm not sure if this is still the case since I haven't asked recently, but when I frequented Cafe 1923 a lot awhile back they were a cash-only establishment. So I'd recommend having some extra on hand if you plan on going - I always end up having a second cup once I get settled in, and it's a bummer to have to go out and hit up the ATM and possibly lose your seat.

My favorite coffee shop in Detroit. Cafe 1923 isn't just some hipster cafe, it's an authentic coffee shop with a community feel and good vibes. I can't wait for it to open again once COVID has passed.

I fell in love at first sip! Old school no frills great coffee awesome Atmosphere keep it up! I will be back, the paramedic out! :-)

This might be the best coffeeshop in Detroit proper* for people who want to actually do the coffeeshop thing, and feel (rightly) that they are too local, organic, and grassroots to spend their time in a Starbucks or Caribou. You can definitely get some good coffee here, plonk down, and read/study/debate Sartre/discuss Jersey Shore until your heart's content. There are a couple of caveats for people who might come from a more coffeeshop-centered culture, and so might have some slightly unrealistic expectations. The place is not huge. And by that, I mean that it's fairly small. The main space is comprised of a front and a back room, each of which probably comfortably seat maybe 10-15 folks, if those folks wanted to be packed together and chillin with strangers, which they probably don't. The second warning is that there is a premium of comfortable seating, which is all concentrated in the back. Now I, like the next man, struggle on an almost daily basis with the issue of whether to sit in a comfortable upholstered chair or a wooden chair, when I'm in a coffeeshop. The upholstered chair is inevitably filthy (even when you can't see it... just use your imagination), but oh so comfy. The wooden chair is marginally more clean, but oh so wooden. I usually break the tie based on how much skin is exposed on that day. And, in a close second consideration, how long it is until my next yoga class. Nonetheless, I like to have the choice. At 1923, sometimes that choice is taken out of my hands. But, overall, good spot. And awesome staff. * yes, yes, I know that it's in Hamtramck. Whatever.

Great place for a cup of Joe and to relax. Nice little hipster place with a small library in the back. Not that big so you can't make that much noise, so you should probably setup early if you are meeting a group. People can bring their dogs in there which I don't like. My biggest gripe with the place is their smoothies. Hamtramck has so many organic food spots that I didn't expect to get a smoothie full of ice and syrup with no actual fruit. Not only was it not a real smoothie, but it wasn't good. You should probably consider removing it from your menu.

The building, built in 1923 by polish immigrants Paul and Bernice Zukowski was originally a corner store. The front served as the grocery store while the back was a soda fountain. Now owned by the 4th generation of the Zukowski's it is BEAUTIFULLY restored with oak shelving, a wooden cooler, brass meat scale and an old ceiling. Their library is great--full of great books and so wonderfully cozy. They have some crazy drinks including Snicker's and Peppermint Lattes (ooooh I'll have to come back to try those) and a friendly staff. I opted for some green tea though which is in a thermos to the side along with their other coffees. Refills are based on the honor code! .25 cents! -Green Tea: brewed just strong enough! Finally--no one brews tea long enough for me. It's nice FINAL VERDICT: definitely grab a good book or something that will take you hours to do and head over here for a cozy afternoon. It's literally the only decent place around--old-school and homey. They got sandwiches to satisfy your hunger. see blog post + pictures: http://www.where2dowhat.com/eatdetroit/2014/2/15/cafe-1923

After a sleepless night at The Bell Tower I was in some dire need of coffee. Thank goodness my first meeting of the morning was scheduled at Cafe 1923. As soon as we walked in I ordered my usual non fat latte with sugar free vanilla syrup. It's worth noting that they had lots of other syrups to choose from, but when it comes to sugar free the only options were vanilla and hazelnut. While placing my order I realized my stomach was growling, which I didn't think would ever happen again after stuffing my belly to the max at Slow's BAR-BQ the night before. Cafe 1923 had a few food items to choose from. The sandwiches didn't look too appetizing, but the larger-than-my-head muffins were calling my name. I settled on the apple muffin and it tasted as good as dessert! It also did a good job of filling me up because I didn't eat again for 5 hours...may just be the longest I've ever gone! Unfortunately, our meeting ended up being canceled, but Cafe 1923 ended up being a good place to get some work done. Probably not the ideal spot for a conference call though because it got a wee bit noisy during my hour long call. But if you're looking to set up shop, grab a cup of coffee, and eat a GIANT muffin this is the place!

This is the place to go if you are wanting to know what's happening in the city of Hamtramck. You have lifelong residency in the senior plaza down the street; they have great storytelling tales. Along with returning residents who have historically great tales to share with whom ever will listen. The best are the young very diverse new residents who will be lucky enough to continue the history of the wonderful city. The best part of of growing up in hamtramck is, you are allowed to be kids. I Love this place, + the .25 refill.

Been meaning to check this place out for a while and I'm glad I did. Very chill, laidback atmosphere and affordable quality drinks as well as food. I particularly like the apple maple muffin I got. The building is beautiful and historic. I'll be back again soon.

It's really cozy place. I'm giving them 3 because I only had tea. You really can't mess up tea. So when I have their coffee I'm sure it will go up. The vibe is very cozy, 90's cafe vibe. Basically like the coffee shop on friends, but quieter.

Cafe 1923 has the potential to be a great spot in Hamtramck for socializing and multi-cultural engagement (through the love of coffee and books). But I can't recall a single time I've been there and the baristas were welcoming. Doesn't matter who's behind the counter. Their attitude is always very dry and uninviting.

Prices are appropriate, the product is decent, and it is convenient. I've been here several times for all of those reasons. I don't think I'll be back anymore though. The staff has always been a bit cold and unwelcoming, but I dealt with it. My most recent trip however, the regular barista seemed bothered by my presence, and rolled her eyes because I was taking a phone call(I understand this isn't the most polite thing while getting coffee, but I was getting coffee to go, which was self-serve). I'll take my business where it is appreciated, and where I don't feel like a burden on the staff.

It's nice, generally quiet, parking is easy because it's not downtown, coffee's great... I've done a lot of work on my laptop here Just a good proper coffee shop

Great spot in Hamtramck for coffee and lounging. I truly enjoy their products they have from the Detroit Zen Center for $5 ! East access with street parking. Lots of great space to sit and read a book or just chat with a friend.

I love this place. Perfect spot to do homework, or read... Or socialize! It really is for everyone. Sometimes the staff act like they're too cool to talk to you but I don't even care because I love this place so much

Delightful cafe that I hit whenever I'm in Hamtramck. Pluses: 1) wonderful old restored pharmacy space with several rooms, different places to sit, patio, wi-fi; 2) excellent homemade carrot cake and the like by a local, Agnieska Jablonska; 3) above-average coffees; 4) they give you a heated cup for coffee; 5) free street parking. Note: I have not tried the sandwiches.

This is an excellent place to enjoy a variety of specialty coffees. My personal favorite is Mexican coffee. Great people who always greet you with a smile.

Beautiful spot, great coffee, cool workers . A 5 star place, only gets 4 because I was in there a few weeks ago and forgot my wallet and no one in line offered to pay for me. Thought that was a little rude considering how much I seemed like I needed a good cup of joe but that's hardly the establishments fault. Tip: I like sitting in the room at the back of the cafe that's also a storage space.

Turn-of-the-century charm takes a nosedive into contemporary working class Hamtramck at Cafe 1923, and oh, do I love this joint. One of the main reasons I love this place is that it offers indoor smoking, so you may not! Smoking is allowed in a inviting back room full of books and kitsch. I love smoking, books, and kitsch, so it's more comfortable than my own apartment. In the summers, the cafe offers an adorable outdoor courtyard. The front parlor of the cafe has beautiful hardwood floors, art from HATCH, a Hamtramck arts collective, and a gorgeous bar counter fashioned from a neighborhood bowling alley lane. The cafe's original freezer room, dry goods drawers, and classic ornate ceiling survived. This ain't no brand new Starbucks, the building's been around. The brewed coffee's a bit weak if you're a burn-your-tastebuds coffee drinker like me, so I go with Americanos here. Baristas are nice, owners quirky, regulars quirkier, and prices right. Only open until 9 pm M-F and 7 pm Saturday and Sunday, as long as you've got good evening plans, this cafe is perfect. Wifi, of course. Several reviews complained about 1923 not accepting credit cards. Look, folks, need I repeat: this is not Starbucks. Also, this is Detroit. Very few small local businesses are going to deal with credit card fees and hassle for your $3 latte. Prices are cheaper at local joints like 1923, so save a buck, and pony up at the ATM.

As you may have gathered from my other reviews, I'm not much of a coffee drinker. But hey, I love coffee shops. I love the smell of coffee, I love tea, and I love snacks. I also, in a more practical vein, also often need a place to camp out for a few hours and work. For this, Cafe 1923 was perfect. The barista was really friendly and the crowd was pretty much tied up in their work, quiet and satisfied. My coworker Andrea and I ended up here the other day because we had a meeting. Fate intervened, and the meeting was not to be (that day, a least), but we still had a great lil' place to do some work. While Andrea got her caffeine fix, I sipped some lovely tea and nibbled on a ginormous muffin. 'Member that part where I said that I love snacks? The muffin went almost beyond snack, to almost a meal! This was good, as it tided me over until dinnertime. I honestly just wish this place had been open a few years ago when I lived less than 2 blocks away! Cash only, so just make sure you've got some on ya.

Cafe 1923 is my favorite coffee shop. Their coffee is just simply the best. I like the laid back atmosphere.

The cafe is incredibly cute and a colleague and I decided to meet up here after seeing the great Yelp reviews. However, the coffee was horrendous - it can rank as the worst latte I have ever had. Several of my friends told me later that they also had the same experience. I had the peppermint patty latte ($5) and it tasted burnt and bitter. The coffee was over-extracted and does not have the smooth taste of coffee or latte. Rather it hits you in the face - I could not finish. Perhaps tea or baked goods are good here - would not recommend the latte or is cafe at this point

I sat here for approximately....9 hours. 9 blissful, independently brewed hours. Sipping Michigan Cherry coffee (delightful, though I think I OD'ed, and thus will never be able to drink it again), sinking into the weathered, comfortable couches. It smells of books. The front area has a line of small tables, most conducive to one person per table paired with a laptop. They are quite close together. This area houses the barristas (oh! the lovely barristas!), food, coffee and front door. The middle area is more spread out with lower tables, couches, scattered lounge chairs. More available for longer courses of coffee shopping. It also has a door. Lots of escape routes! The back patio area is sparse, but will do just fine for a quick breath of air. We outlasted the morning gentlemen, who was just as sociable and sweet as the afternoon lad who came to relieve him. Both were very friendly, very willing to provide me with over 10 cups of coffee (refills are a quarter, third cup is full price, and the cyle continues). They made me a salad. I had carrots and hummus and Greek yogurt (all fairly well priced). They ran me a tab. I tipped them well. They were really quintessential coffee men. I liked it. I'll likely never return, but you should. To work. To sip. To chat. To read. It's comfortable, and happy. *Cash only *Free wifi

Fantastic coffee that they roast in-house (the Michigan Cherry is my favorite! Even just the aroma....mmmmmm..... Cafe 1923 seems to be the great denominating spot for all of the beautiful, diverse people that live in Hamtramck (and quite a few not from Hamtown, but go out of there way to come here anyway!). All ages, ethnicities, and styles are found here - from the young artistic crowd to the old man reading the newspaper. They have a nice selection of sandwiches, salads, and baked goods, and the prices are reasonable. It's a very laid back, home-like atmosphere...which can lead to the service being a little less than speedy. Still, 1923 is worth the wait. :)

This place is simply perfect in the morning. The sunlight comes in from the east and the coffee is great. I ordered a large Americano, and my friend a large coffee - the tab was less than $5. In the era of spending three dollars alone for an Americano from Starbucks, this is awesome. It is a converted dry goods store, complete with the monstrous weighing contraption to the right of the register. The service is friendly. There are moist baked goods and oatmeal. And there is a large sitting area in an adjoining room with very comfortable seating. I'll be back here when visiting my pal Froh.

Hamtramck's signature coffee shop offers an extension of the shabby post-grunge vibe broadly characteristic of metro Detroit's most interesting and active enclave. With perfectly acceptable prices on a solid variety of brews, as well as smartly chosen imported baked goods (coupled with home-prepared lunch offerings I have yet to try), Cafe 1923 does well enough in comestibles and potables on its own. Beyond that, it's not quite clear which direction the coffee shop is trying to go...much like the uncertain future of Hamtramck itself. (Is The Ham going to become America's greatest hipster hideaway? An immigrant mecca? A preserved Polaroid of postwar Polonia? All of the above at the same time?) Cafe 1923's front room is a restored pharmacy or something like it, while the back room looks more like a tired old reading lounge. It's not quite sprightly enough to feel urban, and not cerebral enough to feel collegiate. It's tired, and the staff, while cordial enough, never show enough élan to be called "friendly". While music is always playing in the background, the place still feels sedate and quiet, as through it's inappropriate to carry on a real conversation...even though nothing would prohibit it. In the end, the place succeeds, thanks to adequate plug outlets and respectable wifi, at being a great place to get work done. And sip some pretty good coffee. A winter hideway. Cafe 1923 is just a comfy pair of threadbare winter woolen socks.

Comfy chairs, $5 sandwiches, and tons of space for wifi'ing. There's a cafe area with tables and chairs, or a more loungey space with couches and pillows. And pierogies are only steps away.

recently my favorite place to study. i've been coming here weekly for the past month or two and i almost always get a lot of work done in a great atmosphere. there are a lot of regulars and the people who work here seem to know just about everyone who comes in. sometimes people are doing social things like hanging out or chatting, but most of the time i've been there it's a studious bunch. (not that i at all mind background chatter.) the music is always good - familiar and not intrusive. the coffee itself is fine though i don't know much about good coffee. refills are a quarter. i usually get americanos and i got one here once, but i didn't like it. i've just gotten regular coffee since and my friend usually gets a tea, which never disappoints. the pastries are mostly good, though i'd always get the pinwheel bakery ones to be on the safe side. i've never gotten the food, but one time someone did and it smelled good haha. in the front room where there are tables, the seating along the wall are church pews. i like the aesthetic but they are incredibly uncomfortable as anyone who has recently been to a long catholic wedding knows. when i came here a long time ago, there was a table and chairs set up on a dais looking out of the window. it's not there anymore and i hope they don't bring that back, because the light from that window is pretty. it's a few miles out for me, but i like it every time.

I love this cafe! Originally I came here to meet from friend Sarah, who had just started working as a barrista at 1923. And I have to say that my friendship bias aside, this really is one the truly great undiscovered gems in our area. People have raved about the book room (it's true, great browsing books, not just trash) and the comfy sofas. The restroom is ALWAYS clean! Most of all I love the patio in the back. It's like hanging in your backyard, but with yummy drinks and snacks (that you don't have to make) only a step away.

So I promised to upgrade this puppy to 4-stars once the smoking ban took effect, and I'm here to honor that promise. My more comprehensive review can be found in my early commentary - it all stands. But NOW, it's smoke-free entirely, and just got so much better. Amazing place to kill a few hours in a comfy chair in a very cool library reading room drinking excellent bevs. Super place!

Unexpectedly tucked away on Holbrook in a Hamtramck neighborhood Cafe 1923 is the perfect spot to grab your morning cup of joe, work on that college essay, or meet and chat with friends. The vintagey coffee shop offers a variety of caffeine laden drinks, a selection of teas as well as a pretty solid list of sandwiches and salads. I've never eaten any of the sammies, but the salad I had was fresh and crisp. In addition, they offer a tasty selection of foods from the Zen Center like the kale salad and raw kale chips which I am horribly horribly addicted to. Patrons and staff alike are as friendly as all get out and seem to know when to leave you alone and when to chat about everything from politics to pop culture. You wanna talk about nice?The barista even steamed my soy milk before I added it to my delicious Italian roast coffee . Simple pleasures, people. Cafe 1923 is tiny but it packs a hard punch. There is a comfy, library spot in the back of the shop with wooden bookcases filled to the ceiling with amazing reads and cozy chairs. In addition, there is a small patio area which was wonderful on the brisk morning I decided to revisit the joint-and I'm glad I did. So to hell with Starbucks and Caribou I pick Cafe 1923!

I had no idea this funky little bit of coffee heaven existed in Hamtramck. It's a perfect spot to get some work done or have a small meeting. The barista regaled us with stories of exploding eggs and vodka lattes while he made a pretty damn perfect café caramel. And the coffee didn't burn my tongue when I took my first sip, which is always a bonus. It's quiet, but not library quiet; it's comfortable but you won't be tempted to take a nap. If you need a distraction or break, take a look at the artwork or grab a book off the shelf. This place just earned a spot on my "where to go to get some work done" list.

After visiting the Detroit Zen Center, I was looking to chill at the coffee shop and found Cafe 1923 on Yelp. It has a comfy, cozy vibe, and it was wonderful to sit in the back room with the bookshelves. Prices were standard and there were lots of baked goods/snacks but no gluten free friendly ones. One downside was that it kind of smelled like dirty, like BO. I'm not sure if it's always like that or perhaps it was just someone sitting near me that day.

I would love to give 5 stars because everything in there is delicious! But it's the nasty unwelcoming attitude I have received on each visit. This place isn't around the corner...I make special trips. A smile, hello, thank you, have a good day...these would be nice. To sigh and have the attitude you hate your job...horrible. I fear ordering...because they give no feed back and if you change your mind...just walk out

I love Cafe 1923. People are incredibly friendly, music is always good and not intrusive (for the times I go there to actually get work done) and when there isn't anybody interesting to talk with, the bookshelves are stocked with mostly interesting books (to be fair, some look entirely boring) Overall, I go out of my way to stop at Cafe 1923, its a fantastic local business that I love to support.