Aldo's Cafe

I have been frequenting Aldo's ever since I came to UW-Madison in 2016. Its close location to the building where I work is obviously a plus, but aside from this, Aldo's has many great qualities. For starters, the staff are super nice and have made great recommendations. Most mornings I come through I interact with Derek and Sebastian, and they usually bring a pretty positive vibe to start my day. I enjoy coming in and hearing Spanish music from the kitchen, as that reminds me of when I used to do my research in a Cuban cafe back home. In the main area there's always good music that I would also typically listen to while working or relaxing. I have had regular drip coffee, coffees with flavors, and both hot and iced coffees...sometimes too many times in one day. I enjoy the taste of what I usually get, but I'm also not super picky when it comes to coffee! I did do a pretty big to-go order for a coffee set up for an event once too. Everything was ready on time for me to pick up and I was set up with cups, creamers, stirrers, and anything else I needed to serve my public. If you like pastries, come through and take your pick. I haven't explored the made-to-order mucho, but the egg sandwich and breakfast burrito are pretty good. Aldo's is also a great place to hold a meeting with students or with colleagues. I have seen colleagues of mine across a few different departments holding office hours or general meetings. The relaxing, yet slightly formal vibes in the sitting area lends itself to a good setting for these kinds of things. One thing that would be good to add to the waiting area would be some outlets to keep your laptop charged. However, if I'm on a full charge, I'm usually fine to get what I need to do finished up while I drink my coffee. Having an outlet would probably mean I'd post up working and drinking coffee for a few hours though!
Mar 17th, 2024

Disappointing breakfast, the manager decided to make our avocado toast with a brick instead of bread. Go elsewhere if you actually want to be able to eat.
Mar 1st, 2024

Though I have only tried a few of the menu items, I have always enjoyed what I've had! The highlight for me here is the coffee and the PEOPLE! The service at Aldo's has always been friendly, attentive, and thoughtful. I have had such lovely experiences chatting with the baristas and other members of the Aldo's team. Definitely my go-to spot on UW campus...and it doesn't hurt that it's in the beautiful Wisconsin Institute of Discovery building, which always provides a helpful dose of greenery and plant life, especially during a Wisconsin winter!
Jan 17th, 2024

I've always gone to Aldo's since it's so conveniently located, and I've always been perfectly fine with what I get, though some of the food options have been a bit hit or miss. Recently though, the quality of drinks (and especially coffee) has significantly improved! Previously, my drinks there were already fine, but now I'm impressed and really enjoying them every time. Service/staff are helpful and attentive, and it seems like wait times are also generally decreasing, which is especially exciting for lunch times rushes. Would recommend, generally, and especially if you're there for a meeting or to study, since the WID atrium is so lovely.
Jan 11th, 2024

Jan 6th, 2024