50 Best Coffee Shops in Chicago

“We stopped in today on a tip and what a delicious treat! Highly recommend!“

“Loved the food and coffee! Great place for a nice coffee in the afternoon or to work on your laptop. I tried the ham and cheese empanada, beignets, and Cuban sandwiches! The coffee was also great!“

“loved everything about it!“

“I’ve been to plenty of local coffee shops around Chicago and Sputnik is the absolute best. I stumbled upon this hidden gem a few years ago on my commute to work when they were on 51st. It’s been my almost daily stop since then. I’ve switched jobs a few months ago and a Sputnik pit stop adds an extra 20 min to my commute but it’s absolutely worth it.

I highly recommend a hot oat milk vanilla latte but anything you order will be amazing. They roast their own coffee, make their own flavored syrups, and they’ve done both right. The fresh pastries and growing food options have made Sputnik the best all around coffee shop. If you’re a coffee lover, DO NOT sleep on Sputnik.“

“Savory sausage, velvety egg, and melty Swiss cheese on a perfectly seasoned everything bagel 🥯! Cafe Consume rocks when it comes to serving up delicious offerings in the heart of McKinley Park. Truly a great spot that has the neighborhood vibing with yummy weekend treats and excellent coffee. If you're looking to try out a new coffee shop than this is the place to be!“

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

“Wow, best latte I've had in a while. Definitely try their specialty beverages.
It's easy to walk past it, it's in the lobby of the Virgin hotel with no working exterior door. Worth the effort.
It will cost you a little more than your neighborhood starbucks, but it's worth it.“

“One of the best food spots in Chicago. Love the dip. Tried the French onion soup, incredible. Known for the burger, but everything is awesome. Cocktails are legendary. Hipster vibes and awful leg tattoos are abundant. Think of Austin,TX if it didnt have a dad.“

“It’s cute little coffee shop on a great spot on the corner. It has a small menu of the classic coffee options like latte and cortado, and they have 3 syrup options of lavender, vanilla, or mocha (nope, no caramel!). I forget how small the 8oz is it fits so cutely in my hand but it was a good amount of coffee for my walk home. A bit higher prices but it’s a small business supporting our community! Plenty of seating and space to study, work, or chill!“

“The overall environment is so relaxing, I could literally spend the whole day there“

“Amazing dine-in pizza spot. Unique pizzas by the slice means everyone can try something different. Their pulled pork pizza is the best slice I've ever eaten, bar none. Cheese curds are delicious too!“

“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!“

“Very cool space. The beers were excellent. I traditionally didn't like Guinness but it turns out I'd never had it served properly. For non stout drinkers they had plenty of other very good options.

Ive been there twice now for their bocce ball league. The first time I had their pub burger and a pint, highly recommend. The second time I went with the bangers and mash. Fantastic.“

“Pretty good coffee served via a walk up window. Nothing wrong with it, just many places for good coffee in the area and not the best one.

Update: The owner asked whose coffee we preferred. We thought Pedestrian Coffee and Brew Brew were probably the best we had this trip.“

“I've been coming to Bang Bang Pies for about 12 years! It's one of my favorite places to talk about and visit when I come through Chicago. It has evolved over time, but thankfully has maintained its delicious staples: homemade biscuits, butter, jam, and cheese grits.

It’s a great stop, especially for bringing out-of-town visitors. The menu is simple, the prices are reasonable, and there's always friendly service. There’s seating inside and a nice courtyard with seating outside.

And their pies are the best I've had in the city. Order early for those!“

“The atmosphere is relaxed. The service is pleasant. The Parisienne sandwich makes me realize how wonderful simple can be. I crave that sandwich. I ate it for lunch today and already can’t wait for the next time.“

“Khepri duo Salad was delicious“

“It's amazing to see a chai place right across the street from the millennium Park Bean. I never would have thought in a million years. That Ginger cardamom tea really hit the spot on a freezing cold day. I make my own at home And this definitely passed the test. It was nice and packed a punch.“

“WHY IS THEIR COFFEE SO CONSISTENT AND GOOD?!? I would almost feel embarrassed for one of my fav coffee spots to be a chain but truly - their espresso and espresso drinks are so consistently delicious that I just can’t help but keep going here I guess!?“

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

“Very clean place. A gem.“

“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!!!“

“Great beers Great atmosphere. Friendly staff!!“

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

“We got the egg frittata which came with fresh Portuguese style bread rolls. The egg dish was really good. Super flavorful and the eggs are perfectly cooked. The bread rolls are amazing, freshly baked. We also got espresso and an affagotto, also delicious. I understand now why this cafe has such high reviews!“

“Stopped by Levant for the first time and was amazed. We saw a video on TikTok and tried the Oreo and Tiramisu Latte. Both drinks were incredibly delicious! Best coffee I have ever tried in Chicago. I live about an hour away and already planning to come back. Staff is kind and friendly and place has an aesthetic touch.“

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

“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 🥰“

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

“This is a hidden gem. Amazing! Must try great food, excellent coffee,“

“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.“

“I have stopped drinking Starbucks since maybe the last 10 years and try to support local coffee shops, but I had to make an exception for this place. And you better believe me that it was so good that I had to come back again the very next day. Apart from the logo, nothing that you relate to a Starbucks applies here. This place is massive. There are floors dedicated to coffee, food, coffee based cocktail. There was a queue when we visited, but it took us less than five minutes to get in. I got one of their toffee nut latte, which was amazing. Also got their Matcha cake, which also was pretty good. The prices are not in sale, expensive, and similar to what you would expect in a Starbucks. They also have exclusive merchandise that few of my friends got. Overall put this place in your bucket list when you’re visiting, even though you are not a coffee, fan. Do it for the experience.“

“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! 💕“

“Tried their flagship espresso (en masse) as a macchiato. Had some caramel notes and I was satisfied, but it was a bit too thin for milk, so just go for espresso. I also ordered their dark roast beans to make them at home, and they’re delicious.“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“Unique coffee’s. Cool atmosphere.“

“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.“

“We happened to stop by after getting Pho close by and absolutely loved our coffee! Traditional Vietnamese coffee in a sleek and modern shop! We will be back next time we are in Chicago. Also the guy working the register was extremely helpful!“

“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!“

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

“Extremely good breakfast sandwich - bun is perfectly soft, egg is thick, the sauces are exquisite, and the hash brown is fresh but not oily.

I only wish the sandwich was a little less messy but this was something I’d eat all the time and I think it’s a little underrated compared to other breakfast sandwiches in the city.“

“Local artisan do nut breakfast lunch sandwich shop
Quality ingredients equal great taste texture and variety
One of the best birthday cake donuts
seasonal varieties like apple fritters carrot cake etc
donut and $1.00 coffee special“

“Life changing dumplings!!“

“This is easily the best neopolitan pizza I’ve had in chicago! Haven’t had anything better honestly. We got the pistachio pesto pizza and soppresata - both were super good. It was about a 30 min wait at lunch time so just make sure you have time to hang out or order ahead. One pizza could feed two if you aren’t crazy hungry, although my husband and I finished one each!“

“Everything is delicious.“

“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.“