Best Coffee I After an early 8 a.m. class or a long day of homework and exams, Espresso Royale pro- vides a much-needed solace with its cushy chairs, soothing music and hot coffee and tea. Its ability to create an invit- ing and homey environment has earned Espresso Royale a warm place in the hearts of the Ann Arbor community. Conveniently situated on both State Street and South University, the coffee shop is never more than a short walk away. The baristas are always friendly and quick to help. The service is very efficient and you may have coffee in your hands almost as soon as you order it. The menu offers a large repre- sentation of delicious coffees and tea. The shop also offers a variety of warm baked goods and sandwiches that make it easy to grab a quick lunch when on the go. Royale's many chairs, tables and couches make the shop per- fect for afternoon study group meetings, cramming for an exam or just leisurely reading and book and sipping coffee on a couch. Whether providing stu- dents with a place to escape from the cold winters or unwind after an exam, Espresso Royale pro- vides Ann Arbor with a unique local coffee shop that caters to its student's needs. -EMILIE PLESSET Best Ba ge I B FLI(ge Where I grew up, we didn't have Bruegger's Bagels. So unlike many of my peers who grew up with a Bruegger's on every other corner, when I came to the University, the restaurant was an entirely new concept to me. Tucked into a small storefront on North University, the chain is unassuming among the more exotic cultural findings Ann Arbor has to offer. Hiding behind Bruegger's simple fagade, however, lies the best selection of warm, dense, cream-cheese-laden bagels in Ann Arbor. Possibly the greatest joy of my childhood was the few times every year my babysitter would take me to Krispy Kreme. (Simple pleasures, I guess?) I was surpris- ingly indifferent to the donuts, but fascinated with looking through the glass windows at the perfect machinated conveyor belt spitting out donut after donut. Walking into Bruegger's for the first time you get the same visual experience; as you order your bagel from choices including the savory asiago parmesan, decadent chocolate chip and traditional everything, you can watch soon- to-be-bagel dough floating to the top of a giant metal bagel-maker - a magical collision of food and science. Though simple, Bruegger's sup- plies classically delicious New York style bagels with a nostalgic view of the way they are made. At just $3 a bagel, it's hard to not appreciate this fast and functional meal. -NATALIE GADBOIS 8 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com