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!“

“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 had an oat iced mocha from here, and it was absolutely scrumptious. obsessed with the fact that they put quads in their iced drinks … they know their shit fr ! the barista was also v kind :) i loved their hair & piercings and we had a mini convo ab mine lol, it was a great experience!!“

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

“Super chill, artsy, fun place to get some coffee, slow down and lose track of time for awhile.“

“loved everything about it!“

“Really cool cafe themed after vintage horror movies. They also sell some horror movies merch and blu rays if you're interested in that. They have doughnuts from Beacon and plant milks available for coffee drinks. Vegan cream cheese is available for bagels.“

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

“Many of our staff and friends have enjoyed Khepri Cafe. We are so happy they have a location in Mt. Prospect now.“

“Sometimes it seems like the people are so stoned they can not really explain things if you have never been there. Also pricing can be very misleading if you do not know what your looking at and just thinking oh ill try this with this. They when you get to the register you have a 30$ drink and you have no idea why and doesnt even have an effect on you. Just read and dont feel rushed because there is usually a line. Some of the edibles I think are way overpriced but most are from places like this.“

“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!“

“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!“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“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.“

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

“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.“

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

“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.“

“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!!!“

“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!“

“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 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.“

“Food is super delicious & service was great. We got the fried duck curry and pa ka prow, and it did not disappoint. Veda was our waitress and she was amazing! She was super helpful with the food recommendations and she was super attentive. Definitely will come back for the duck curry.“

“10 years, and I still love them. Everything is perfect at any location. Chicago’s premier roasters.“

“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!“

“This is such a great spot for breakfast and to get some work done! I am in love with their breakfast sandwich – it is such a delicious way to start the day. Every time I've gone here, the staff is super friendly and the atmosphere feels super conducive to getting work done or some reading in. Would highly recommend if you're looking for a nice place to grab a bite, want to catch up with friends, or get some to do's crossed off your work list!“

“The options were lovely. The place is very happening so you need to look at the signs to know where to go.
We had a Chicago roast pour over and Doppio espresso. Both were great and the presentation made the coffee a true experience.
We'll be back probably today for an espresso martini. Review to come.“

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

“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!“

“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!“

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

“The crepes are delicious and filling!“

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

“Longtime donut/breakfast sandwich customer, every menu item is great! First time trying the original chicken sandwich. It was amazing! Crispy and well marinated chicken with a perfect balance of crunchy pickle slices and lettuce. A creamy mayo with a pickle relish in it helps create a unique briny flavor. Hand cut Fries were perfectly cooked. I added a little Cholula to my sandwich and it was a whole different and delicious taste. Friendly staff. Wonderful experience as usual! Stop in and grab a stool!“

“Service was great. Food was excellent. Unfortunately, they could not accept our gift card. The gift card is valid and has never been used. My guess is the server fat fingered it or typed it incorrectly. Either way, it made the experience a more expensive and soured an otherwise enjoyable brunch.“

“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!!!!“

“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).“

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

“Black Fodder Coffee was amazing! They worked on my book signing at Row24 Events and the guests raved about the friendly service as well as the amazing tea and coffee they brought! I would highly recommend them for your next event! Therese Slusher“

“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!“

“Everything is delicious.“

“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!“

“SHOUT OUT TO KAYLA AND SID!!! GEMS!!! they were super helpful narrowing down my order, so I can get the biggest bang for my buck! Thank you so so much for the hospitality!! We need more kind people like them in the work force :)) give this shop a stop if you’re nearby!!“

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

“Best food ♥️, I recommend the restaurant owner super nice“

“10 years, and I still love them. Everything is perfect at any location. Chicago’s premier roasters.“

“Excellent food and service. The breakfast sandwich was fantastic. The coffee was quite good. After seeing someone with the miso chocolate chip cookie, i decided to take one to go. It was one of the best chocolate chip cookies I've ever had. I had sticker shock with the prices. After eating the food, I understand how much care went into everything.“