Beignet in St. Louis

Here you can have a light lunch of excellent hot grilled sandwiches, sip a cappuccino while you study for the LSAT or even blot out a bad day with real-deal absinthe. Located on the edge of Central West End and midtown, the cafe adds a touch of artsy French style to an otherwise industrial stretch. Thanks to the patio and annex, there are always plenty of tables and comfy chairs to occupy everyone from neighborhood SLU students and businesspeople to casual passerby. The friendly staffers take their coffee seriously, but that's just the beginning. Sure, you can caffeinate at Cafe Ventana, but you can also brunch, booze and stave off boredom with trivia, movie nights and live music. On any given night, tables get pushed aside for everything from punk to indie rock -- just a couple of the flavors offered at Cafe Ventana after hours.