CHLOE CARRILLO/THE CREIGHTONIAN

Inside Omaha’s historic Rail & Commerce building, just nine minutes from campus, customers can order a variety of coffee’s, tea’s and specialty drinks, as well as food options and have a quiet place to study, meet up with friends, or grab a bite to eat.

Just past the Old Market and Riverfront areas in Omaha is Café Postale, a unique coffee and eating spot perfect for studying, chatting with a friend or grabbing a bite to eat with your circle. 

Café Postale “showcases the rich history of railway postal service in Omaha while featuring modern touches to bring the space to life,” according to their website. This is certainly accurate, with unique seating areas and options. I personally liked the downstairs portion, with high ceilings and tall windows letting natural light and air in.  

The history of the building is also interesting — on each table, there is a little note about how the building is “located in Omaha’s historic Rail & Commerce building, and operated as an essential mail-sorting checkpoint in the United States until the 1970s.” Similar to a variety of other Omaha coffee shops, the building is historic and isn’t traditional, which is something I think can go underappreciated. 

I appreciated the study atmosphere, with spread-out tables, couches and even outdoor seating. It was definitely a quieter, studious atmosphere, so if you work best in that type of environment, the café is perfect for you. However, on a busier day, I can definitely see it becoming a perfect place to chat or catch up with friends.  

In terms of the beverages, there are a plethora of options at the café. I opted for an iced chai latte with vanilla cold foam, which is simple but consequently easy to mess up. And there is a menu for cold foam, which I always appreciate from a locally owned coffee shop. 

I was impressed with the chai. My favorite chai in Omaha was from a now-closed coffee shop called Bad Seed, and I have been looking for a replacement. I think I might have found it. It’s not overly spicy and balances well with the vanilla cold foam, so if you are looking for your next favorite chai, I highly recommend Café Postale. If chai isn’t your thing, they do have an extensive tea, coffee and other drinks menu. 

As for food, I went with the spinach artichoke dip from the sides and snacks menu and was again impressed. The dip came hot with a plethora of vegetables and breads to dip with and was plated better than any homemade charcuterie board I have ever made. In terms of taste, I highly recommend it if you’re an enjoyer of spinach artichoke dip — it was one of the better ones I’ve had. If you’re looking for a full meal or a sweet treat, Café Postale offers those as well. 

Overall, if you’re looking for your next study spot with finals coming up, I highly recommend Café Postale. It’s only nine minutes from campus, has a variety of food and drink options, is open relatively late (6 p.m.), and has good seating options. The business is also connected to a multitude of other Omaha-based businesses, like Ted & Wally’s and Hardy Coffee Co. On your next coffee shop endeavor, leave behind coffee chains and shop locally at Café Postale.