50 Best Coffee Shops in Chicago

“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!“

“When heading towards Beverly for a property management home inspection, I wanted to find a local coffee joint that I could get a coffee and a snack of some sort. Afro Joe's was calling to me. Walking in, greeted warmly, the adventure began. If you haven't been, check the menu before you go because you will want to order one of each item! Since it was my first time, most certainly NOT the last, I needed a lifeline. Charmaine to the rescue. I don't know if I manifested or she read my mind , but when I asked which sandwich I should order instantly , she said the short rib! Boom! Done. Next up, a drink choice. Again I was not led astray. The option was a blueberry lavender cold brew topped with rose cold foam. As she was suggesting the option, Charmaine lifted the one she was drinking and again instantly sold. No chocolate croissant available since it was later in the morning but the chocolate morning roll was there and three for three, the order was placed. I already know that I have to come back, time and time again.Just walking in such a chill vibe , perfect music, everyone tables either working or chatting with a friend. The open kitchen invites you to see the hustle and bustle. The garage doors roll up onto the patio for warmer days and what appears to be local art work adorns the walls. When I tell you, this is absolutely no exaggeration, every item was on point! The short rib was so flavor forward eith the bite of picked onions, there was a side of diced pickles and onions too. Also a hit. The warm bun had some fruit nestled in its chocolatey tummy, flakes and moist with the richness of cocoa. And for the latte, cold, sweet and the flavors all complimented each other so well. I did opt for whole milk because, why not?!? I had one too many client emails and texts to be able to enjoy grabbing a book from the shelf but note, they even had the sharpest of colored pencils to doodle or write a note with. I have not one complaint, well, maybe one, I wish they were in my neighborhood because this would be a staple place to visit regularly! Until we meet again and I can get my hands on a chocolate croissant next...or any one of the other of their baked goods. Support your Local Black Owned Businesses!“

“Everything a matcha latte should be. Balanced in every way. Also ordered a bagel sandwich which was pretty good - as an East Coaster bagels in Chicago just don’t hit the same however it was decent. Definitely a bit pricey but overall worth it!“

“Visited a friend/wfh for a week and went to this cafe which was a few blocks away. Had it been a lot further away, having tried it already, I would have still gone back every day for my morning coffee! I love everything about this place…the vibe, the nod to a history and niche-ish subject of yesteryear, the friendly staff, and the coffee itself was delicious. One of the owners was present twice I was there and was very friendly - I wanted to buy a shirt but they didn’t have my size and he looked in the back and made sure the size wasn’t available before I left. Anytime I’m in Chicago, I will be back and will be ordering a shirt online. 10000/10!!!!“

“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.“

“Scenes was a regular part of my circuit in my late 20s/early 30s. And now, some 30 years later my daughter told me about Understudy. Finally!“

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

“loved everything about it!“

“Love this place…. Kee helped me out and she was so nice and attentive give her a raise!!!! I tried the rice crispys and they were so good I forgot it was a edible and got extremely high you can’t even taste the thc 😭🫶“

“I enjoyed horror trivia with my london fog!“

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

“Fantastic from start to finish.“

“Delicious fresh Thai cuisine. Staff is friendly and the space is beautiful!“

“Fabulous Chix Sammiche!! More please...“

“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!“

“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!“

“Great space, the band was playing folk music which made it very unique and made us feel like we were in a different place; the server was amazing and not only gave us unbiased opinions on the food but was very attentive and friendly. The food was hit and miss - the fried oysters were on the greasy side and were cooked at different temperatures. The Guinness pours were stellar which is what the main attraction was.“

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

“Ordered the margherita and pepperoni and both were so good! Solid hang, amazing sauce, and great crust. 10/10 on taste/presentation. Ordered pickup, was right on time and extremely fresh. Highly recommend!“

“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 🥰“

“After hearing about Omarcito’s from Triple D, we had to try it. The owner, Omar, is hilarious and has a great personality. He greeted everyone as they walked up and held genuine conversations. My husband and I ordered a few different items, and we were not disappointed. The ingredients are fresh and you could tell the meat is marinated because it was super tender. This place is a must!!“

“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).“

“What a welcomed addition to the neighborhood, small yet intimate. Fabulous food complete w/a fabulous, thoughtful staff - very attentive, always smiling!! My new go to place for authentic Greek food, aroma of fresh coffee, and exquisite orange pie. Not to be missed!!“

“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!!“

“Great little hidden gem for Indian cuisine. live the Chai tea options. hazelnut espresso Chai was especially, delicious 😋“

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

“Loved everything we tried. The coffee was good as was all the food. The cottage cheese pancakes are really good and the salmon Benedict. The scrambled egg and beef bowl were really good too. The service is great. Definitely recommend trying.“

“The service was lovely and the food was incredible! I highly recommend the kitcha fitfit. Someone who worked there also recommended putting honey on top and dipping in sour cream, which cut some of the heat nicely while still letting the tasty spices come through.“

“Awesome breakfast and drinks, got to chat with the owner-what a great guy! 5 stars all around!“

“Nice place, wonderful burger and good bar selection. Totally disagree with the credit card surcharge, though - no restaurant with $20 burgers should charge guests the comission!“

“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.“

“October Cafe is by far the best coffee shop around Chicagoland…. If you have not tried it you are missing out. The coffee flights change and always come with a wonderful theme. The owners are friendly wonderful strong women who show so much compassion for the community. I am blessed to have found this cafe, as a place that is relaxing and cozy and feels like home. The baristas ring a bell and announce your flight and bring you your meal and drinks if you dine in. So wonderful! Thank you October Cafe for making a place for fundraising, local artists, crafters and other entrepreneurs to sell their items. 10 out of 10 stars across the board. ⭐️ 🎃 Pumpkins you won’t be disappointed trust me!“

“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“

“great place to get a bite to eat and chill!“

“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!“

“Cute sunny corner shop in Bridgeport. Lots of plants, comfy bench seating, soft latin music, and a beautiful offrenda honoring the loved ones of regular customers. Very sweet and warm vibe.“

“Prequel is my favorite coffee shop in Chicago. Their menu is small but it absolutely shines in the coffee department. They really know what they're doing here. The brown sugar cardamom latte is perfectly sweet with just the right amount of spice. The rose and lavender matcha is also a favorite of mine. The florals go so well in the tea, and the strength of the matcha is just right. I have tried their deluxe breakfast sandwich and it was missing something to me, a bit of spice or smokiness or something, and I have yet to try their pastries, but I know I can always count on them to make an excellent latte or cup of coffee, which is what comes first for a coffee shop.“

“Everything is delicious.“

“I left my car keys when we had coffee earlier in the day. After realizing what happened we returned to the branch to ask if they happened to have found them. Thank you to the whole staff especially the manager Tony and Kimberly from security for helping us despite the busy crowded day. Crisis averted! Thank you so so much to the whole team at ☆|R. 🙏“

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

“I took my wife here for her birthday last week. The vibe was lit. The worker behind the counter was so helpful and went out of her way to answer any questions we had. She made us our lemonade to perfection. We also got the infused turtle cheesecake. Everything was great. We will definitely be back here.“

“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!!!“

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

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

“Vibes 10/10
Cortado 10/10
Chit chat 10/10
Patio 10/10
Visited Metric this morning during a short bike ride around Chicago. Without a doubt the best cortado Ive had in this city. Granted my sample size is small, but this was truly an amazing drink. I am very glad I ventured outside of the tourist lands and made the trip. I even got a recommendation for a coffee shop to visit back home from them. Thanks!“

“The chocolate blueberry is the best ground coffee I’ve had and perfect for my French press.“

“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!“

“Y'ALL. Take the extra 30 seconds to walk past the Starbucks and go to Cozy Cafe! Local owner, fresh pastries, WAYYYYYYYYYYY better coffee, and true to its name - it's super cozy. Meeting with your friends for coffee shouldn't be a corporate experience, it should be a friendly one!“

“Great little place. Got there at 5:00, it closes at 6.... but by 5:30 it was packed with dinners at tables and picking up take out. Perhaps stay open until 7?? Seems like there's a lot of demand right after work gets out. Tried several things, but the savory menu was probably my favorite. BLT Biscuit was excellent with lots of thick cut bacon. The Sausage Biscuit was phenomenal, especially with the perfectly cooked jammy egg on top! The Chicken Pot Pie was also good, with excellent crust crammed full of nice thick filling, with plenty of meat. Then we tried the Quiche. Lovely fluffy texture in the eggs and tons of vegetables, again with a great crust. The two sweet pies we tried were the Key Lime and the Chicory Chocolate French Silk. I liked them both, wanted a little more greatness in the key lime - but for those who like the creamier smoother flavored key lines it would be perfect. The chocolate again was good but i craved a little bit more of an intense punch of flavor. Just my personal preferences. There was nothing i wouldn't eat again, and i think it was all very fairly priced. Nice bohemian atmosphere and great service. Definitely recommend.“