50 Best Coffee Shops in Chicago

“I absolutely love the vibe at Afro Joe's. The beverages & food are always amazing. I order online, grab it & go when I have to keep it moving. But when I have the opportunity to sit and chill, it's a whole vibe and I LOVE IT! Great job Aisha & Kendall Griffin!“

“My Saturday rest day go to delivery! Best iced mocha latte, empanada, and Cuban sandwich I've ever had... The beignets are also fantastic. 10/10 would recommend!“

“Delish coffee, superfriendly staff 💜☕️

I ordered a capp with an extra shot of espresso, oat milk, and their seasonal apple spice syrup. Perfectly balanced (I even forgot to ask for it half-sweet, like I usually do, but my coffee still tasted like coffee, not like straight sugar 🙌🏼 - much appreciated!!)

Coffee was quick to come up, and there’s plenty of street parking in this sparse industrial neighborhood.
Love it!“

“It’s the perfect environment to sit and read or chat. It’s a beautifully curated space and the drink offering is on point.“

“Excellent coffee and empanadas, delighted owners/staff, easy street parking. Support small and local!“

“My cappuccino was amazing and the croissant was the best I’ve ever had😍“

“we came here because of tiktok and went to the field museum afterwards!

i have a very low tolerance and hardly ever indulge (due to not liking how anxious id get). a huge thank you to the super kind employee that not only educated us on delta 8 but also recommended i add cbd to my lemonade—it gave me a much better experience! definitely plan on coming back! ✌️“

“Khepri duo Salad was delicious“

“loved everything about it!“

“The pastries are very delicious! I have a variety of them. They are some of the best I have had in unexpected combinations. The latte I had was floral and balanced. It was a Lavender Latte. If you love coffee and pastries, you do not want to miss out on this experience. Cafe Calida has a selection that is full of flavor that is truly sure to delight. Visit them today to see for yourself. Check their hours of operation.“

“I ordered a Matcha Chi iced latte and it was BOMB! A comedian also came in that I recognize from LA and said hello. Super cute space & environment 🫶🏾 I also live in Springfield IL and this is my first experience!“

“I LOVE Side Practice Coffee. The atmosphere and ambience create the perfect place to chill with a fantastic cup of coffee. The staff and customers are super friendly. I come here to write in my journal or plan out my projects for the week. I always feel inspired here.“

“TARY is a fantastic little cafe located in the heart of Chicago’s River North neighborhood, offering what seems to be fusion between traditional Kazakh klassics and modern American cooking styles.

I must admit, the rustic decor and furnishings really does make you feel like you’ve stepped foot into a little Kazakh babushka’s living room!

I would absolutely recommend their iced matcha latte with a touch of vanilla syrup. It’s super smooth and pairs amazingly with their luxurious cinnamon roll that’s served on soft, pillowy bread and topped with cream cheese that adds a delicious refreshing factor.

I also highly recommend their scrambled eggs on brioche, they are extra soft and melt in your mouth while the brioche bread is the excellent vehicle for transporting those delicate little eggs down the goblet!“

“My God, this sangwich will make you feel that things might just be ok and forget for a moment what a dumpster fire of a time we live in. The lamination! Look at these luscious layers of pastry hugging eggs and some crispy plancha sausage! Look at them! Few things are perfect or capable of changing your life. This sandwich and these brothers just might be the thing. 10/10 and I’ll definitely be back for more.“

“Girl & the Goat completely exceeded my expectations! very good food“

“This is my favorite breakfast and coffee shop. Everything is good here including the staff and music“

“Love this new local coffee shop! I'm always on the lookout for a good independently owned coffee shop and this is at the top of my list. The iced coffee is amazing - the flavor has a slight sweetness to it which sets it apart from a lot of other brews I've had. The inside is small but has plenty of seating, so a great place to get studying/work done (plus free - reliable - wifi). The icing on the cake is that their mission is to support local shelter dogs - 50% of sales on their merchandise goes to Friends of Chicago Animal Care and Control. The dog-themed decor is also adorable. Highly recommend!!!“

“Wonderful space for black people looking to share their art or make friends. I was immediately welcomed and made to feel comfortable. They do require food purchase but it’s worth it, the quesadillas came with this unique mango salsa I loved.“

“Great brew!! Pancakes were the bomb!!“

“Walking into Prequel Café feels like entering a space that respects time. The décor is minimalist yet warm concrete floors, soft lighting, and organized seating that naturally promotes a slower pace. Their pour‑over is delicate and surprisingly flavorful clean, crisp, and a reminder that a simple cup can still feel intentional. It’s a place inviting enough for conversation and focused enough for solo moments without ever feeling busy.“

“If you’re looking for authentic Serbian cuisine this is it, being Serbian I’ve been dying for some cevaps and Sarma and we came here from Indiana for my birthday !!!!! Thank you we will be back!!! Friendly caring staff and off the charts yummy Serbian food 🥰“

“the decor is awesome!! but my drink was a little disappointing. i ordered an iced latte with easy oat milk, add cherry & almond syrup. i didn’t taste any syrups at all, it just tasted like a regular latte with no modifications. for $8 i feel like i should’ve been able to taste the syrups but it was too late for me to go back to ask if they would remake it for me by the time i tried it.

EDIT: the owner made it right so i’m really appreciative! will be back! 💕“

“This cafe has a wonderful interior with a lot of seating options. I am a fan of Filipino cafes and was excited to try this one out. I ordered the ube matcha, and they were out of the mango and strawberry matcha. I’m unsure if this is because I went on a Saturday at 10:30a.m., but they may be out of certain flavors. The latte had a mild flavor of both ube and matcha, and if that’s what you’re looking for then I recommend trying it out! If not, then try a different Filipino cafe in Chicago. I didn’t get a chance to try the food, and was honestly a bit confused by the menu. I wish they had the food menu also posted instead of a QR code to ease the process of looking at options. I did not realize they had other food options besides baked goods until after I ordered and looked online. Also, there was some confusion about what baked goods were available bc they were crossed out on the menu (see photo) but the cashier told me they had everything available, including the banana bread, until she checked in the back. Overall, had an okay experience here.“

“I went to the opening for October Café yesterday and had such a good time! The drinks are well made and quickly done. The food tastes delicious and is incredibly friendly to those with dietary restrictions. The staff are incredibly kind and well trained. Can't recommend this place enough!“

“I ordered the fuul and also a mango madness smoothie from here and it was all really fresh and amazing. The fuul wasn’t too spicy, it was very flavorful and the customer service was great. I’m super picky but I’m glad I tried their food I’ll most definitely be back.“

“Deserves more than 5 stars! WONDERFUL experience each time I come here. Everything made from scratch. Not just pierogi ---Gelato, soups, empanadas, tamales, pizza pie (takes 50 mins to make from scratch and worth it!!) Premium Belgium chocolates, shakes, Coffee and most recent.....160 (yes one hundred and sixty) different premium teas from around the world!!.....and more to come! They also own the tea room and book store next to the cafe. Owners are THE BEST! Welcoming, personable and humorous. Dinning outside available and pups are welcome! You can tell they have a passion for the business. HIGHLY recommend! ENJOY!“

“Everything is delicious.“

“I was in town for a football game and googled local coffee shops near the hotel. We came across Kapej and decided to check it out. We were not disappointed! The breakfast sandwich and latte were amazing! We will be back tomorrow before we leave town!“

“Moonwalker is our favorite neighborhood cafe! They have the best sandwiches both for breakfast and lunch and such delicious lattes, the banana bread latte is to die for. All only made better by their incredible staff!“

“Visited the biggest Starbucks Reserve in the world after visiting the one in Milan, Italy. Unfortunately bigger doesn't mean better. That stairway loop and that thing in between the stairs, takes away value space for this store. It's much smaller than it seems and the one in Milan, although smaller, it was much nicer and more comfortable to move around. Do try that coffee beans with whiskey, exclusive only in this location, pricey! But I think the price is worth it for the experience.“

“Amazing vegan sandwiches, ice cream and service! 10/10“

“Stopped there yesterday randomly after a local competitor closed at noon. The barista was very pleasant and happy to take my simple large mocha order. it was made perfect and tasted delicious. i sat outside and enjoyed my cup while also enjoying the free smells of them roasting coffee. Great place. I really enjoyed. TY“

“Absolutely AMAZING pizza. The dough is just perfect. The salads are outstanding and their take on sandwiches is completely out of the ordinary. The owners and people who work there are so nice and welcoming. I highly recommend this place. 5 stars!!!!“

“The owner is so welcoming, and let’s not even get started on the food! I had the chorizo and veggie skillet, and he was kind enough to let me try a bit of both. The coffee was amazing, too. My friend ordered the poblano crepe (of course I had to taste it), and that was absolutely delicious as well! Like he said, “when you go there, he wants it to be more than just good food …he wants it to be an experience”, and he truly delivers!“

“I’m in love with this place and the people working there are sweet and nice I’m addicted“

“great cookies, stellar coffee, incredible staff. consistently high quality environment to meet friends and colleagues alike.“

“I haven’t tried everything in there but the coffee drinks and different juices I’ve had are really good and the staffs super nice friendly always smiling.“

“Can’t say enough great things about this place. The word that immediately leaps to mind when I think of it is…comfort. It’s a comfortable space with a very relaxing vibe. And old school coffee house vibe in many ways (and that’s a HUGE compliment in my book).“

“I brought my three little girls here after playing at Indian Boundary Park and received absolutely wonderful service from Ricky. The coffee was tasty, the girls loved the herbal tea he made for them at just the right temperature, and the holler deal for a pastry and beverage can’t be beat! He even took the time to bring out some coloring books and colored pencils to give the girls something to do, though I think they were most entranced with the working rotary phone. We will definitely be back!“

“Beer is great, of course. I liked the nitro English Ale the best. Pretended it was Kilkenny. Oysters were fantastic. German breakfast was underwhelming. Reuben was enormous. Service was slow despite uncrowded restaurant (11:30 Saturday am).“

“Best coffee we drank during our visit to Chicago. Really nice employees!!!“

“Great food, Christian book Store“

“clean environment, friendly staff and AMAZING coffee ☕ 😋“

“Small coffee shop with a solid selection of specialty drinks along side a few sandwiches and pastries.

Seating is very tight, maybe space for 10 at most. Decor and art are nice and the place has good vibes.

Sandwiches could have been a bit better, maybe needed some kind of sauce. The drip and specialty drinks were very good though.“

“We had your coffee Unicorn Blood at a new coffee shop in Kenosha Wisconsin (Kenosha Coffee Roasters) and it was absolutely amazing! I’m an original Chicagoan and was glad to see such a great coffee company back home when I looked you up. We will visit one of your shops when we are back home. Meanwhile, I’ll pick up bags locally! Bravo and good luck to you all!“

“We had your coffee Unicorn Blood at a new coffee shop in Kenosha Wisconsin (Kenosha Coffee Roasters) and it was absolutely amazing! I’m an original Chicagoan and was glad to see such a great coffee company back home when I looked you up. We will visit one of your shops when we are back home. Meanwhile, I’ll pick up bags locally! Bravo and good luck to you all!“

“Thank you, Backlot Coffee, for letting us use our personal cups again and helping to protect the environment.“

“The staff is super friendly and helpful. This was my first visit and I will be back again! If you are a tea lover, this place has a large selection of loose leaf teas and accessories.“

“I’ve been loving Loba’s pineapple sourdough muffins. They are beyond delicious! I’m not vegan, but these vegan pastries are life changing! I also am a big fan of their cold brew. This Christmas, I decided to try their take-n-bake kouign-amann; and OMG my family and I were IN LOVE with the Ham & Gruyere kouign-amann! I will need to reorder this again next year!! 100% recommend!“

“This was my second time eating here but 6th time having their food - I think I have confidence in this place to be consistently good. So when I brought my family here visiting for the first time time, for dinner, I was rest assured. We had come in at 8, and put in our order by 820 - all vegetarian with veggies and tofu. 30 minutes go by (nearly closing) and they come back to say they’ve run out tofu. Understandably, we were disappointed. We reluctantly made the modifications to our dishes as it was too late to go anywhere else. 30 more minutes elapse and we’re wondering where our food was; lone and behold, the restaurant had gone out to procure tofu for our dishes. Despite the bad taste the first half left in our mouth, the second half of them going above to fix the issue and make incredible food made up for it. Will come again, but just will confirm the tofu availability beforehand ;)“