Lili Cafe

I skipped out of work and went to Lili today for a late morning coffee and a lox bagel. If you ever have a chance, you should do the same. Its a funky, cool little café and coffeeshop nestled in the heart of the famous/​infamous polish hill neighborhood. They do really great veg/​vegan sammiches, but they have real cheese, eggs and lox as well. They have an old lp turntable and i *think* they borrow vinyl from the record store upstairs so prepare your brain for some groovy often eclectic beats while you dine. The coffee here is really good. Im not sure who their supplier is, but i dont drink alot of coffee and i think its pretty good. I used to live close enough to walk to this place, and i really miss it. Toss on an old black band t, throw on some shorts and ride your bike on over to Lili café, grab a coffee and a snack, and if its nice take a seat out on the patio and soak up the sun. So cool.

We stopped here for a quick espresso before our night out. I loved the neighborhood and this place does not disappoint on charm or coffee. Atmosphere is very artsy and very hipster. There were people working on their laptops (ie. free wifi), but the space is small so I would get here early if that’s what you’re planning on doing. I would love to go back again and spend more time here!

Fantastic small jewel in polish hill. Great coffee and treats! Attempt the quiche! It is delish. In addition they make their very own handcrafted ice cream sandwiches.

I never would have known this café existed and thanks to a friend for suggesting it. A hidden gem in Polish Hill. We went for Sunday brunch-​it is a small coffee shop which does have a back room with more seating. For brunch it is a set menu of a few items and the regular menu offered during the week is not available. Def. leaves you wanting to go back on a weekday as they have an extensive menu. This is very vegetarian & vegan friendly. On Sunday we had our choice from a tofu or egg scramble which came with toast and a salad. The salad was fresh with sliced grapes and a tasty dressing. Since I got the egg scramble sans mushroom but with cheese, onions and spinach I got the toast with a whipped chive butter. Everything tasted amazing. As an added bonus your brunch came with tea and they have many flavors. The décor inside is cute and a great place to hang out with friends and enjoy a cup or tea or coffee. Plenty of street parking.

If you live in Pittsburgh, go here right now. Seriously. Everyone go. I’m so glad my friend took me to Lili. I got a simple latte, but it was so wonderful I shed tears of joy, and the environment is really chill and beautiful. Walking into this café is a lot like walking into wonderland. The art, pamphlets, music, everything is fantastic. All of the food looks incredible and most, if not all, is vegetarian or vegan. I can’t wait to try more of it.
Attached are some niche shops that are also fantastic.
I noticed right away that Lili supports a lot of local places too, and that’s the punk thing to do. Local supporting local is a win.
If you guys can’t tell, I’m really excited about Lili. I only wish it were closer. It’s not cost prohibitive (cheaper than Starbucks), and it’s simply lovely. Go. Now.

Brunch here on Sunday is a fixed menu, which we didn’t know.
I went to order and said, «Can I get anything I want?» and the woman at the register said, «You can do whatever you want,» referencing only what I can assume is ‘the man’ and then proceeded to tell me that no, I couldn’t get what I want, it was brunch or nothing. Hahahahaha. We still laugh about it.
Aside from that, our food was excellent. It’s a cozy place and I would definitely come back to try out their full menu. When I’m allowed, that is :)

Love this place. Situated at the bottom of a precarious slope, Lili Café is a neighborhood favorite. I knew I would love this place when I saw the entrance display: «Refugees Welcome.» It is definitely quite hipster in its ambience — you HAVE to check out the inside. Great place to work as well — fast WiFi, many outlets, lots of tables. Also, the food is great for vegans/​vegetarians. Every time I come here, I make sure to grab their avocado toast, which is fresh avocado on top of a piece of toast (rye or multigrain or white). There is also veganaise (vegan mayo) on it, which is quite delicious (and won’t induce a cardiac arrest). Finally, they sprinkle a bit of this yellow garnish (not sure what it is), but it is delicious. I’ve also tried their honey cardamom latte, which is amazing. Finally, their hummus (sprinkled with some olive oil and spices and served with tortilla chips) is extremely fresh and filling. Big fan of Lili Café and will most definitely be back.

Vegetarian perspective–
Lovely hidden coffeehouse and café gem in polish hill. We enjoy it most for its food menu which is vegan and vegetarian friendly.
Coffee varies from very good to mediocre. Many drinks are on the cheaper side but volume for a small chai (also mediocre) is very small.
We love the tempeh rueben, vegan banh mi, and their salads are fresh and generous portions.
Be aware that on Sunday they don’t do their regular full menu and have a brunch special of the day which we shared once and it (a stew) was delicious and very filling.
Service is always excellent, baristas are super friendly. There is a bathroom and back room seating.

I love the menu, the people, and how the food and drinks are prepared. My two favorite things to eat are the breakfast burrito and the rice bowl. My two favorite things to drink are the matcha latte and honey cardamon latte. Nice neighborhood spot to run into sweet familiar faces, read a little, meet a little, and chill a little. Long Live Lili!

In the words of my partner, the Lili café experience is «a delicious, healthy meal, served with a side of Scorn.»
He and I have been to Lili a handful of times both separately and together, and it always seems like the staff have nothing but disdain for our presence. What is it about our visage and manner that offends them so? Too few tattoos? Not enough vintage Riot Grrl band patches on our bike saddlebags? One example: My first time for brunch we ordered at the counter, but because there were staff milling about tables, I did not think I needed to bus my table when we were done. We got up to leave, and a very pissed-​off-​sounding staff person intercepted me to say, «you need to bus your own table; we don’t DO that here, asshat.» Okay let me emphasize that she definitely did, in reality, not say the word «asshat.» I’m taking creative liberties so you can properly appreciate the scorn dripping from every syllable.
So there’s the Scorn. There is also the tasty food. They don’t seem to much want our type of business, but we definitely want their type of food. I have only had brunch, but my dining partner raves about how their sandwiches are some of the tastiest and healthiest in town with many vegan options. The brunches are delicious fixed-​price plates– usually a yummy vegetarian and a meat option each Sunday. We had some sort of top-​notch veggie scramble with a side of toast and potatoes, if I recall. The front patio is airy and adorable in nice weather. Just be sure to bus your own table ;).

I was meeting someone from Polish Hill, who says this is her favorite neighborhood café. I can see why! It’s cozy and I love how it feels very local (they have lots of flyers up about events happening in Pittsburgh). I found that the menu offered lots of healthy and fresh choices at a great price. It’s the kind of food that you would eat and feel good about eating. I got a kimchi rice bowl that was topped with a fried egg, and a pot of jasmine tea to share with my friend. I usually judge a place by how strongly I want to go back, and I very much want to go back to Lili!
The café has wifi and outlets. I saw lots of people there for work sessions, so if you need a new writing spot, Lili would be a great place to check out. The only downside is that as a person who doesn’t have a car, the buses that go that way are not as frequent, so it will be difficult to go back. I hope I’ll get a chance to soon though!

I went there once on a whim. I wanted to work from a coffee shop, but also some place that served food as I tend to work for hours without stopping.
Lili (pronounced «Lily,» not «Lee Lee» as I had previously thought) has a great menu — vegan and regular. The staff is really nice and I think the prices are just right. I was there for five hours, cozy and unbothered. Definitely my new go to for daylong projects!

Great 3-​level experience coffeeshop/​record store/​book store on a somewhat hidden corner in Polish Hill … if you don’t drive through Polish Hill, you’d never see this place but, it’s worth seeking out and patronizing … a sizeable menu of eats and all the usual caffeinated beverages in a nice bohemian/​homey atmosphere/​vibe …
I had a mocha which was among the best i’ve ever had and bonus points — they had almond milk as an alternative to cow milk & soy milk …
I highly recommend you go upstairs to peruse the book store and record shop before or after you caffeinate … lots of gems to be found …
Only negative was the small number of 4-​chair tables being monopolized/​held hostage by the laptop/​iPad types (and no coffee in sight) even though people who had bought food and etc were looking for somewhere to sit. This is rude passive-​aggressive b.s. and you see this at other places like Espresso a Mano and other cafes… if you’re one of these people that do this — F.U. !!! I’d love to see the baristas/​manager intervene when this is happening …
I hope to return many times … hurray … i love to discover a new coffee joint.

Great 3-​level experience coffeeshop/​record store/​book store on a somewhat hidden corner in Polish Hill … if you don’t drive through Polish Hill, you’d never see this place but, it’s worth seeking out and patronizing … a sizeable menu of eats (mostly vegetarian, unfortunately) and all the usual caffeinated beverages in a nice bohemian/​homey atmosphere/​vibe …
I had a mocha which was among the best i’ve ever had and bonus points — they had almond milk as an alternative to cow milk & soy milk …
I highly recommend you go upstairs to peruse the book store and record shop before or after you caffeinate … lots of gems to be found …
Only negative was the small number of 4-​chair tables being monopolized/​held hostage by the laptop/​iPad types (and no coffee in sight) even though people who had bought food and etc were looking for somewhere to sit. This is rude passive-​aggressive b.s. and you see this at other places like Espresso a Mano and other cafes… if you’re one of these people that do this — F.U. !!! I’d love to see the baristas/​manager intervene when this is happening …
I hope to return many times … hurray … i love to discover a new coffee joint.

You want to know what’s fucking bullshit?
Lili’s not being close enough to where we live, that’s what.
This place is awesome, way more awesome than most coffee spots. Every now and then you’ll see these lists created by some self-​proclaimed know-​it-​all who names the top 10,15,20 must go to coffee shops in Pittsburgh and these goofballs seem to forget about Lili’s.
The place makes great coffee, serves great food for the price and provides a cozy atmosphere that is super fucking kid friendly.
The little bastards have their own little kid cave filled with cool kid shit.
The staff and clientele are good people, the kind of people you don’t have to fight the constant urge to prevent yourself from punching them in the face repeatedly…
Even though we reside in greenfield for now, we still make the trip on a fairly regular basis.
P. S. Good sturdy chairs they have.

A clean, well lighted place for coffee. Quiet too!
A friend of mine recently introduced me to this unknown spot hidden among the steps of Polish hill.
They make excellent espresso drinks and a great cappuccino (To me this means a smaller cup with a thin layer of rusty foam containing a strong, bitter beverage.) They have a small assortment of pastries to go with your beverage.
The are three areas to sit: a small outdoor seating area that terraces up the hill, the main room seems to have plenty of empty tables seating up to 4, and a back room that is both quieter and not as warm on sunny days. Lili’s has free wifi and there are ample outlets for your laptop.
Great place to chill and have a quietly productive afternoon.

This is a great little local café in the Polish Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. They offer a variety of teas, coffee and other specialty drinks. The back room is adorned with some local art for sale and there is the cutest little nook with some books and toys for kids. Maybe not the best place to go if you’re looking for a super-​fast breakfast. This is more of a sit-​and-​chill kind of place. While the service can be a little slow depending on the time of day and the crowd, the staff is always very friendly and the place is kept very clean!
I would recommend stopping by on a Sunday for brunch – a full meal with juice and tea/​coffee for only $ 10. (Just beware– they open later on the weekends!)The food is always fresh and healthy! They have a pretty large menu that is very reasonably priced, but the food availability greatly depends on what is able to be pre-​made and what they have left. They have a lot of vegan and gluten-​free options as well. I was very surprised at how delicious their Tempeh Reuben was!
This place is definitely a little gem of Polish Hill and I highly recommend it!

I stopped in for iced coffee and late breakfast before a busy day. This place is great. It’s small and covered in artwork, with tables both inside and outside. There’s even a play nook for kids! I ordered the iced coffee and bagel with lox. The coffee was good, and im picky. It definitely hadn’t been sitting for too long. The bagel and lox were good as well, with a generous portion of the fish. The atmosphere is quiet and laid back, if I was a student I would study here. The menu is fairly extensive in terms of food, with everything from granola and fruit to tempeh and bang mi. The prices are very reasonable, with all the food topping out under $ 6. Overall everything id want in a coffee shop!

This place is AMAZING! Literally one of the most unique and cutest coffee shops I have been to. Everything from the great coffee to the awesome vintage and artistic décor should lure people in. I just found this place and can’t wait to go back.

holy Fuck… where else can you hear black Sabbath @ 7 am… I thought I was the only one to do that! egg/​cheese on rye… with veganaise… Awesome! common place coffee… hell yea…

Nice little story book coffee shop on the hill.
Picturesque spot.
Great for people who live in the neighborhood or visit from afar.
You’ll see tattoos, bicycle messengers, townies, guys holding their babies in those sling support things that look really weird to me on some guys :), and people walking their dogs that sit down with their coffee at the outside tables.
It’s a great hangout type of place that you don’t find too often anymore.
You should go and support them and keep this type of place alive in Pittsburgh!

One of the coolest spots in the city. Polish Hill has its own identity and Lili seems to fit it. The correct décor with awesome coffee. But really, I come her for the Tempeh Reuben. Vegetarians (and vegans) should run immediately here to try it.
There’s also multiple rooms and multiple businesses happening at once at in one building which is such a positive force and a great model. An easy 5 stars.

I was in search of a coffee shop one late morning and remembered Lili. I’d heard and read about this little coffee shop tucked away in Polish Hill, downstairs from Mind Cure Records. I decided to give it a try.
The atmosphere definitely has a locals-​only kind of vibe, somewhere between hipster and hippie. It’s not that I felt unwelcome there, but I wasn’t really feeling the love either. Service was not overly friendly or helpful, but not rude either. I decided I needed a lot of caffeine and went with a latte and one of their signature drinks called the Mind Cure. The latte was a latte. I wasn’t sure about the Mind Cure, a combination of coffee soda, espresso and cream, but once all the flavors mix together it became my new favorite drink.
I’m stuck between 2 and 3 stars because I would stop by again but I wouldn’t necessarily go out of my way. I admit I see the appeal as a neighborhood hangout (as several people were camped out there with books and laptops). However now that I’ve been able to recreate the signature drink, it’s a little closer to the 2 stars.

My favorite place for coffee and vegetarian healthy food.
Lili has a true old school coffee shop vibe and there is usually a good record playing.
Killer Sunday brunch and the best smoothies!
Lorne

Stopped in for a quick cup of espresso and had no complaints. Strong brew with lots of crema. My wife had a latte and it was well crafted as well.
Not much seating, but definitely a good place to stop alone or for two. We didn’t have a chance to try any of their food but it looked good and wasn’t too pricy.

Four stars for the brunch, but two for the service and atmosphere, so three stars fairly sums this place up. For starters, the pastries, coffee, and brunch offerings are all very good. The brunch in particular is a great value! In addition to a full plate of hot, high-​quality food you get an orange juice and coffee for only $ 10! It’s the price of a cheap diner, but with far better offerings. The menu changes weekly, and it’s always something fresh and delicious with the option to make it vegan if necessary. They also seem to alternate between savory and sweet brunches, which is nice. It keeps your options open. I went with a group and we had savory goat cheese and pepper stuffed french toast with a raspberry drizzle on top. There was also bacon and a spinach side salad with a delicious vinaigrette dressing. Everyone loved it! I’ve also been back for cups of coffee, which were quite nice. I love a simple cup of coffee and a place to read a book more than almost anything else.
The problem I have is with the clientele, employees, and general atmosphere. I get it, you all love living in Polish Hill and want it to stay small and undiscovered. Does that mean you have to be rude and unfriendly to everyone without an inch of grease in their hair or ten facial piercings? I’ve never once been smiled at or given anything more than gruff, brusque service here. Sorry my day job requires me to look a certain way. I promise it’s still okay to treat me like a human being, not an inconvenience to be gotten rid of. The snobby atmosphere (coming from people who probably haven’t even been to Portland no less) is the biggest drawback about this place to me. I love the food. I love the visual appeal of the place. I love that there is a record store on the upper floor. I just rather dislike feeling hazed every time I come here.

Trendy little hipster place in Polish Hill neighborhood. Nice corner entrance, outdoor seating, small but quaint and a bit late 1960’s retro. The coffee here is solid. I had a Guatemalan on this morning, was very earthy, very good. Pasties and treats are abound. Good little place to go find if you’re nearby.