At the top of Ledoux Street, Loka (112-E Camino de la Placita, 575/758-4204, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Sun.) is a spacious gallery/coffee bar, a wonderfully sunny place where the baked goods are as gorgeous as the contemporary art on the walls. The food is on the pricier side ($3.50 for pastries, $8 sandwiches), but it’s undeniably delicious. As a historical side note, it occupies the former offices of El Crepúsculo de la Libertad,the paper started by Padre Antonio Martinez.

The location of World Cup on the corner of the plaza (102-A Paseo del Pueblo Norte, 575/737-5299, 7 a.m.–6:30 p.m. daily, $3) makes it a popular pit stop for both tourists and locals—the latter typically of the drumming, dreadlocked variety, lounging on the stoop.

If you want a bit more room to maneuver, head to The Bean (1033 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, 575/758-5123, 6:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Mon.–Fri., 7 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Sat. and Sun., $6.50), which serves a full breakfast menu till 2 p.m., along with pastries and incredibly strong, organic coffee. This is an all-day hangout for some regulars, who start with a crossword puzzle and move on to grander projects, all while most of the rest of town files in and out.

Handy for people staying on the south side or in Ranchos, Mondo Kultur (622 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, 575/751-7712, 7 a.m.–10 p.m. daily) is a major social hub, slinging fair-trade coffee, full breakfasts, rental DVDs, newspapers, and concert tickets. Free Wi-Fi and an active bulletin board provide yet another reason to hang out.