50 Best Cafes near Highland Park

“Best scones! Excited to visit in February!“

“Amazing food and atmosphere! Of course, the tea is great too!“

“Food is always fantastic. The avocado toast, the breakfast burritos, and the lunch paninis are bangers, not to mention the brownies (we always grab one to-go).

The owner and employees are all very sweet and the space is vibrant—in the summer the full windows open and it's just a really pleasant spot to grab breakfast or lunch. Would love to see more authentic, small places like this open up and thrive in the North Shore.“

“Wonder French pastries and the best chicken and mushroom quiche“

“The best coffee shop in Highland Park/Deerfield area! Best customer service and perfect atmosphere for work meeting, reading a book or grabbing coffee with a friend!“

“Wonderful selection of delicious treats with lots of sweet and savory options. Delicious coffee.
Best of all is the attentive staff! I spilled my coffee on the way out, and before I could turn around, 2 employees were cleaning up, asking if I was ok and starting a new coffee for me.
Thank you so much! Will definitely come again!“

“The service is outstanding. The food is delicious.“

“There’s a certain quiet magic in Tala Coffee, Highwood. The flavor here isn’t just good — it has depth, like a story unfolding with every sip. You can taste the attention, the patience, the care.

The space is soaked in soft, voluminous light that feels almost three-dimensional — it moves through the café like air, shaping shadows, warming wood, making everything glow just a little more than you’d expect.

And the atmosphere… calm but alive. Like a Sunday morning that forgot to end. A place where time slows down just enough to let you notice it.

Highly recommended — not just for coffee, but for the feeling it leaves behind.“

“We love Cupitol at all hours of the day, but weekend brunch is the best. Food is top notch, service is fast, and Dylan makes our day.“

“I travel to the area for work and always love coming here! ♥️♥️“

“Eddie★★★★★ customer service, always helpful and positive.

Also, the woman that happened to be on the drinks at this time made an amazing iced mocha tesora!✓

Wheelchair accessibility: Floor level, easy to enter.“

“Non-sweetened almond milk for my lattes, unlike Starbucks.“

“What an awesome addition to the North Side! Beautiful place to have breakfast, delicious eggs with crème fraiche, chives, parmesan fluff, griddled country bread, we got our son the grilled cheese & I ate most of it. Great ambience, it has a very open feel. We would def come back, thank you 🙏“

“the food is one of a kind I love this place so much can't wait to go back and have their chicken pesto pannini“

“GREAT ATMOSPHERE- GREAT COFFEE & that Ham & Cheese Roll was amazing“

“Excellent service, very clean. Too many choices of sandwiches. Great coffee. Love, love this place.“

“Great, authentic Italian cuisine. Never disappoints.“

“Very friendly and comfortable. Coffee was great.“

“Great staff, good dirty chai, always a nice vibe and hash browns!“

“Great, but pricey pastry. Good breakfast and light lunch in a very pleasant setting.“

“Newport Evanston is such a cool spot. I love the clean, modern design. The coffee was incredible. We spent hours sipping and talking, and it just felt right. Unlike the usual dark coffee houses, Newport is light, bright, and inviting. Service was excellent. Parking was easy. The location is great. I loved it and can’t wait to come back.“

“🩷🩷 amazing place to work!“

“this place exceeded in customer service and definitely very please with how clean the place was. we even went over and thanks the women that was cleaning and wiping things down immediately after kids were doing with it. hand sanitizer was everywhere. overall great experience at the mount prospect location. thank you to the amazing staff.“

“Great food and great service!“

“Delicious food. Good service. Great people. Very reasonable prices. I’m very glad I stumbled upon this spot and will be coming back again and again. I loved the southwest style salad with blackened chicken. Their specials are also fun and different. Check this place out - you won’t be disappointed. Enjoy!“

“First time going there after trying to find some different places to eat in the area. I ordered the California turkey wrap and a cookie, and both were amazing! It’s probably not somewhere I’d go to sit down and eat with friends, I don’t think it’s meant for that. But it’s a great place to go and pick up from if you’re looking for good, fresh food. I took one star away because after I got home and saw the email of my receipt I noticed it was a couple dollars more than what I was told as I was checking out. Sure enough there was a $2 tip added. Not upset about a couple extra dollars, but I would’ve appreciated the transparency and the choice to leave a tip. There was no screen that gave me an option to tip so it felt a little shady to me.
Good to note: The office building itself was easy enough to find, but there aren’t any signs to point you in the direction of the actual cafe. You have to go into the west entrance.“

“By far one of the best breakfast joint in the area 😋 🙏 💪“

“The crepes were delectable! The service was prompt, and the food was fresh.“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Outdoor Café absolutely blew me away!

I ordered a custom boba tea with Coconut Matcha and Strawberry, and it was an instant favorite. The flavors were perfectly balanced, creamy, and refreshing, with just the right sweetness. You can tell they use fresh ingredients, and the tapioca pearls were perfectly chewy. The staff was friendly, fast, and genuinely passionate about their drinks. This place is a hidden gem for anyone who loves creative, high-quality boba. I’ll definitely be coming back for more!“

“Absolutely the best pancakes that I have tasted in a very long time.
If you are like me, and steer away from pancakes because they just don't taste as good as your great-grandmother's, you have to eat a stack at this cafe.

The first bite literally took me to my grandmother's table. I could not be happier with my breakfast today.

The service is consistent, the atmosphere is cozy, and.... well you know what I think about the food.

5/5 all around.“

“It is very pleasant sitting at an outdoor table enjoying their delish ish food!“

“I have been dining at LePeep for good 7+ years. Delicious food, decent portions, servers are great, owner is kind, always recognizes and greets his customers. Highly recommend this place. Enjoy good food, good drinks and accommodating servers.“

“Great coffee ☕️ cool vibes“

“Stopped here on our way through town. Friendly service and delicious food in a cute little town.“

“Friendly atmosphere! Nice outdoor patio to eat and sit! Food tasted great!“

“My wife and I stopped into this place on a whim today while in Evanston. We weren't sure what to get, but our server was so helpful in asking what kinds of things we liked and recommending some options he thought we might enjoy. My wife ended up getting the avocado toast (she loved it), and on Trevor's recommendation I tried the Shakshuka. Wow, what flavors! Thanks Trevor for nudging me outside my comfort zone to find my new favorite!! We will definitely be back!“

“The delivery driver forgot to give me my latte. When I called to complain, the manager (Caitlyn) was extremely apologetic and really went above and beyond to make up for the inconvenience. It says a lot when a manager cares that much about the customer’s experience.“

“Try em all.………………………………….“

“I work with many chambers and I must say The Winnetka-Northfield Chamber is the best. The ladies who work in the Chamber are so upbeat and always friendly. Terry has a very unique gift of guiding shoppers with retailers and connecting people with both Winnetka and Northfield.“

“The pancakes are delicious 😋“

“tried this place because I was around the area I usually go to liquid fusion in linconshire a bit further but always great, it was friday around 230pm walked in said hi nothing the guy took my order I said thank you nothing I mean I don’t want people to be extra friendly but okay wow ordered a almond milk tea with boba it was delicious but the customer service is lacking I felt like I was asking for a favor and bothering the worker there I don’t know if I will be going back“

“Thanks to Emma’s Bagels for super fresh bagels and generous portion fish/salad trays for our grandson’s brit this morning.“

“Amazing place! Really knowledgeable and friendly staff. My kids love it!“

“Thank you so very much for the amazing experience“

“If Cheers was in Lake Bluff, it would be Prairie. Each member of the staff has a unique and inviting personality who makes each visit feel personal, inviting, and small town. The regulars are split between morning and evening hours, with a few floaters. We welcome folks to the community, catch up on happenings, and bring a little joy each day. Mandy, the chef, compiles an amazing array of food items, from cinnamon rolls and coffee cakes, to casseroles and egg sandwiches during the morning, and a variety of sandwiches in the afternoons. The spot has outdoor seating on the sidewalk, as well as a dedicated secluded covered alley space with ample seating and ambience. Summertime events include covered alleyway cookouts and inclusion of other local businesses for special bites. Evenings can feature a quiet bar, karaoke, or live music. With a recently announced addition of Jeff Urso, a local restauranteur, to the ownership, 2024 is anticipated to be a great year for Prairie. Would highly recommend checking out this local gem.“

“The soup wasn't as rich as I expected. I had to remind the manager I was supposed to get a treat because I was overcharged on my last order. My breakfast sandwich was good last
Saturday except they forgot the cheese.
I understand why people use the kiosk“