Let me apologize for posting to/resurrecting this thread--and yet, how wonderful to find a good coffee house when traveling! (Intelligentisia is still going strong in Chicago). I did so with the hope some others will be able to add their current favorites.

A few additions:

Julius Meinl Coffee, in Chicago (3601 N. Southport, (773) 868-1857). A slightly more formal coffee house experience, the Viennese coffee house Meinl for some reason decided to open up a shop on Chicago's North Side. Features great coffe, stellar pastries and cakes (Meinl's has its own in-house pastry chef), and a generally good selection of food for lunch and/or dinner. Often has music late. Wonderful, because one doesn't have to fly to Vienna for it!

Cafe Central in Budapest. (Károlyi Mihály U. 9). One of Budapest's grand old coffee houses, now restored. Pastries range from okay to excellent, but the service is sharp and the espresso comes out on a silver tray with a glass of water and a cookie. A good selection of food is available. Quite convenient to the Metro. Budapest has a selection of other excellent coffee houses, some restored, some declining, many worth visiting--but I like coming back to the Central.

-Hayden