I love D of V and come here at least once a week. The atmosphere is very chill and eclectic as most reviewers have mentioned. The multiple rooms lends itself to more studious, quiet spaces or to more chatty, open spaces. And outside is great and sunny in the daytime, and cool in the evening when they bring the DJs and the nightlife out. I also love that the art changes frequently and that the bathroom offers hilarity in the form of graffiti.
That said, there are a couple of things that have me tottering on the edge between three and four stars here. I was first leaning towards three stars because the smoking policy is very lenient here and it's bothersome. I have an infant that I like to bring and it makes me angry that I'm sometimes walking her through someone's puff of smoke as we enter because people just tend to light up their cigarettes on the porch. There are laws for a reason--secondhand smoke kills--and there's little to no enforcement of this policy from what I've seen.
The second reason is due to the quality of coffee. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's not so great--it seems to vary depending on the barista and the time of day. I've had lukewarm coffee (disgusting) or it just tastes bland, like the coffee beans are not up to par. I think a little more training for the baristas might help improve overall quality.
Overall, though, 4 stars because the coffee is decent, the food is delicious, and everyone here is very nice. They really have cultivated a great little dynamic spot: a place to chill, study, eat, hang out, listen to music, see art, debate politics, and stare at the stars.