Iris Cafe

I am generally unsatisfied with coffee shops in the West End/​Vandy area. They’re either super-​pretentious, very self-​satisfied and uncomfortable, or plays fast and loose with their hours. All of these are enough to raise my ire.
But Iris Café, on the Peabody campus, is none of those things. I wouldn’t call it a premier coffee place, but it’s generally satisfactory. My main problem with it is accessibility. I searched for this place for ten minutes, to no avail. I then found what looked like an employee, and asked her, who gave me directions, and then I found it fine. But make sure you’re at the Peabody Library (not the admin building) and go to the North end of the building.
I got my regular favorite, an Iced Americano, and it was reasonably good and reasonably priced.
Most of their seating is outdoors, which would be brutal in hotter summers, but was pleasant that day.
If you can find parking, or if you’re already a Vandy student, this would be a nice place to stop and chill for a few minutes. But if you’re not patient with parking, you may have to keep moving.

Iris Café is a reliable option for Peabody students and staff looking for a quick bite between projects or meetings. Daily lunch specials are the best deals for the thrifty among us. In addition to cash and credit cards, students can use Commodore Cash to make purchases.
Provence Bakery supplies the bread and other baked goods, so there are plenty of crusty, delicious options to choose from.
The menu doesn’t change often, so it’s best to pick a few favorites and stick to them. The four cheese panini is decadent – they probably could have stopped after three cheeses, but hey. Tomato-​basil soup is a staple, and comes with bread when ordered on its own.
Generally, prices are a bit steep for what is being sold, as salads and sandwiches are upwards of $ 8 and a bit one-​dimensional.
Staff are generally quiet, yet polite. I prefer to sit outside, as the indoor eating space is a bit cramped and awkward, most of it right next to the main library restrooms.
Overall, this isn’t my go-​to spot, but it’ll do in a pinch.