50 Best Coffee Shops in Chicago

“Great atmosphere and delicious beers! The only downside was the slow service—we had to wait several minutes in between drinks before being able to order another. We didn’t try the food, but our waitress was very kind and attentive when she came by. Overall, a good experience that could be even better with quicker service.“

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

“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.“

“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!“

“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 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 ;)“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

“Luxury and meticulousness are perfectly integrated, and every detail is a persistent pursuit of quality. From warm smiles to comfy bedding, everything is there to make your stay perfect. Here, it is not only a place to stay, but also an excellent choice for you to enjoy luxury and tranquility“

“Very clean place. A gem.“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“When I think about our trip to Chicago, the first thing that comes to mind, is Bang Bang Pies. I have never been in awe of such a place. The staff was so kind and patient. We had the most DELICIOUS pie and breakfasts I can ever recall. I can’t remember what my husband got because I am still drooling over the BLT with those earth shattering tomatoes that tasted like heaven. The biscuits were top notch and melted like butter in your mouth. And the pie! Oh my god that pie. It was the plum blackberry pie that I just know, I’ll never be able to recreate that as much as I would love to. Being from south Louisiana and having such amazing food up north was so unexpected and a wonderful surprise for us. Once we financially recover from all the money we spent while on our honeymoon (one of the reasons we were in Chicago) I’m ordering every single item online that I possibly can because I need to make sure that I can enjoy this place from home.“

“Khepri duo Salad was delicious“

“I've been waiting for this location to open up for years, and I was excited when it finally did. I live in the neighborhood and have been excitedly waiting for the lines to die down before heading here.

I finally made a trip in the other day and got an iced matcha latte, a croissant, and the zucchini loaf. The food was very good, the croissant was pretty fresh and I absolutely loved the zucchini loaf. The iced matcha was my least favorite. It mostly tasted like milk, not much matcha in it, and the to-go cups are so low quality that the lids couldn't stay on. My partner had the same issue with the cups.

Atmosphere wise, it's too crowded currently for me to provide feedback. It seems like a great place to come and sit down and do work, but it's currently too busy (which is great for them!) for me to want to stay.

Ultimately, I think I'll have to give this place a few more tries before I make my decisions of whether or not to make it my regular spot. The food was great, but my go to drink (the iced matcha) was severely lacking compared to other neighborhood locations.“

“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!“

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

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you’re looking for a little slice of New Orleans, Junebug Cafe is the place to be! From the moment you walk in, the aroma of rich, smooth coffee fills the air, and the first bite of their Louisiana hand pies or fluffy, powdered-sugar-dusted beignets will transport you straight to the French Quarter. The flavors are authentic, the atmosphere is warm, and every sip and bite feels like a celebration. Don’t miss out on this hidden gem—your taste buds will thank you! ☕✨ Start your morning with a little taste of New Orleans right here at Junebug Cafe! #JunebugCafe #TasteOfNOLA #BeignetsAndCoffee #CafeVibes“

“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!!!“

“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! 💕“

“Great beers Great atmosphere. Friendly staff!!“

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

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

“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.“

“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,“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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 Staff and food! Tables are nice, very nice clean private bathrooms and awesome environment to hang out or just chill.“

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

“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!“

“Best Coffee, Great Event, we love the spot!“

“My favorite coffee shop…EVER!!☕️❤️☕️❤️☕️“

“Best little Latin restaurant east of the Mississippi! Great food, awesome staff and the perfect little patio to enjoy the spring weather! Keep up the great work!“

“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 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!“