Deep in the residential wilds of Capitol Hill is 15th Street, a final stretch of commerce before the eastern slope of the Hill descends toward Lake Washington. At the south end of 15th is Insomniax, a relatively new addition to the coffee shop business. The charm of Insomniax is in the ultra-casual feel of the place. Stuck in the bottom corner of a medical building, Insomniax has nothing to prove. There is no theme, no hipster vibe or European flair. This means that the staff at Insomniax can concentrate on good service and better coffee.
Order a plain old latte at Insomniax and the barista will welcome you as if you were a seasoned regular. The clientele represents a true cross-section of Capitol Hill's population and the seating areas afford an easy view of the surrounding neighborhood. Locals are just as likely to be chatting up one another as they are to sit quietly and use the provided wireless internet service to check e-mail and surf the web on their laptops.
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