42 Best Cafes near Highwood

“Absolutely love Tala. I firstly want to emphasize how friendly the staff is. They've helped me many times as a new-to-coffee drinker and are always very accommodating. The menu features many classics but their specials menu is where it's at, and rotates throughout the year. But their matcha is the best and has officially made me a matcha lover. Also love their small but delicious baked goods options, which include gluten free muffins! Great atmosphere, plenty of seating, and typically quiet atmosphere with easy parking, but can get quite busy at peak times, especially weekends.“

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

“Wild roasters have one of the best-roasted coffee in town. They make sure everything is freshly made and is served to perfection. Highly recommended and a must-try.“

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

“Great thrift, bake shop and cafe! Haven’t visited the other services yet!“

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

“This is my family's go to for breakfast most weekends. Very friendly staff and the food is always delicious. 5 out of 5 stars.“

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

“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 🙏“

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

“That Little French Guy makes us happy every time we head that way. The Champs de Élysées doesn’t have better! It’s being back in Paris, every unique French delight. Thank you for our favorite place to visit often.“

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

“From the minute I walked in here and saw their charming interior space I sensed that this was going to be the best diner in the Chicagoland area. When I saw the fresh creative menu I knew the food was going to be fantastic and when I tasted the food (which came quickly) my instincts were confirmed! This place is GREAT. Add the sweet friendly service and this place rules!! I’m still here eating but can’t wait to come back!“

“Try em all.………………………………….“

“Great food and great service!“

“My parents and I were looking for a place eat in Northfield after driving an hour to pick up the ashes of our dog who passed two weeks ago from blood cancer. Found this place two minutes from the pet hospital located in an office building. Owner was super chill made our food fresh and was super generous. They had these cookies by the register I think the owners baked themselves they all looked really good we got one of each (pecan, cookies and cream, m&m, and this one with caramel on top) and the owner gave us two for free and chips with our meals and reheated my dad’s soup when asked (dad’s picky) to be super hot (dad was happy). We took our food to go and ate right outside the office building by this little fountain which I think is the way to go if the weather accommodates it. I got the chicken pesto panini I don’t even like pesto but I liked this panini the bread was crisp the cheese melty and the vegetables happy (not soggy). Honestly the cookies I enjoyed the most; cookies and cream was really good it had like these big chunks of white chocolate which were awesome but the best was the caramel one CRAZY GOOD definitely get one. Anyways I miss my dog love you Beowulf rest well now.“

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

“Best scones! Excited to visit in February!“

“Great, authentic Italian cuisine. Never disappoints.“

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

“Best coffee shop in town. Highly recommend!“

“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!“

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

“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!“

“Excellent cut above breakfast/brunch located in the heart of Mt. Prospect. Indoor and outdoor seating. Very good parking around rear of the building. Indoor noise level is happy without being overbearing.
The menu is extensive with plenty of sweet and savory choices.
The crepes and French toast with fresh fruit are good choices.
I'm always looking for a special country fried steak. Found it here. Nice piece of beef, no gristle etc , with excellent tasty super crisp breading. Country gravy had the perfect amount of bite, however I added a little crushed pepper to taste. Eggs, hash browns, and sourdough toast to boot.
Topped off with a mimosa and LaVazza coffee for a perfect Sunday breakfast.“

“My neighborhood meeting place. Great food, drinks, people, and atmosphere“

“If I could give this place more than five stars, I absolutely would. From the moment I walked through the door, I felt an immediate sense of comfort, warmth, and genuine hospitality that you don’t often find anymore. This coffee shop has perfected the balance between great ambience, exceptional coffee, and truly memorable service — and that combination makes it stand out above the rest.
First, the atmosphere:
The interior is beautifully designed: cozy but spacious, modern yet still incredibly inviting. There are comfortable seating options for everyone — whether you want to tuck away in a quiet corner with a book, spread out your laptop and get some work done, or sit at a window table and people-watch. Soft music plays in the background, at a perfect volume that adds to the vibe without overpowering conversations. The space is bright and airy during the day, thanks to the big windows, and feels warm and intimate in the evening with the soft lighting. It’s the kind of place you walk into and immediately think, “Yes… this is where I want to spend some time.”
Now, the coffee — absolutely phenomenal.
You can tell that the baristas here genuinely care about what they’re doing. The espresso is rich, smooth, and expertly pulled; the lattes are silky and balanced; and the specialty drinks are incredible without being overly sweet or artificial. Everything tastes thoughtfully crafted. I ordered a latte (my usual test of a new café) and it was one of the best I’ve had in a long time — velvety microfoam, deep coffee flavor, and perfectly served at the right temperature. I’ve since tasted a few of their signature drinks and each one impressed me: creative, unique, and absolutely delicious.
Their pastries and food deserve a shout-out too.
Fresh, flaky, and flavorful — exactly what you want alongside great coffee. You can tell they pay attention to quality and don’t just rely on pre-packaged items like many shops do. Whether you grab a croissant, a muffin, or something more hearty, everything feels intentional and homemade.
And I can’t forget the staff — truly wonderful people.
Helpful, friendly, and genuinely welcoming. They greet you like you’re a regular, even if you’re here for the first time. They take time to explain the menu, offer recommendations, and somehow stay patient and cheerful even during the busy rush. They strike that perfect balance of being attentive without hovering.
All in all, this coffee shop has become one of my favorite places to relax, work, or meet friends. It’s the sort of spot that makes you want to linger, order one more drink, and come back again the next day. If you’re looking for high-quality coffee, a comfortable atmosphere, and staff who truly care about offering a great experience, look no further.
Absolutely 5 stars — can’t recommend it enough! 🌟✨“

“What can I say: the bakery, food, and drink offerings here are outstanding and the owner is incredibly friendly and clearly passionate about what she's doing.

You really can't go wrong with any of the grab and go cake, cupcake, or pastry items. We've gotten many of them, and we've also gotten special order cakes from here that have been wonderful. Their breakfast burritos (vegetarian or not) are a great quick breakfast option. The quiches (which are relatively new) are exceptional. The hibiscus agua fresca is a lovely refreshing drink for a hot day.

I hope this place stays here for a long time because its popularity has added liveliness to the Roger Williams area.“

“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 😋“

“Amazing place! Delicious onion soup!!!!l love it 😍“

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

“Honestly the most organized, fast, clean and airy and sunny Panera around. I have sip membership and I parked myself at this Skokie Panera for the most day when I work from home. I over hear some of the most genuine conversations from people who gather here to meet friends regularly. There tend to be a lot of senior and influential retirees there talking about important topics if you listen and watch people. It’s such a great “third” place for me and many. Thank you store managers for running such tight ship. Every employee there is always helpful and courteous and smiling. It makes it very easy to want to be surrounded yourself here when you just want to put your heads down and keep the coffee flowing…“

“Very good food and reasonably priced“

“Another beautiful night on the patio. We ate at 7:00pm as the sun was going down and the temp was about 66*.... The patio is spacious, and far enough from the road to allow for conversations and night sounds. Food is always great. Had friends in from outta town and they loved it. Service was great. Great food, great service from server Joey!“

“I often buy my lunches here, and mostly I pick something below $10. Guys are fast, attentive, and nice. My food is always ready in 10 minutes, and it's always fresh and hot. Meals are tasty and most of them are healthy. God bless you, guys, for feeding me ❤️“

“my God the egg roll and bi col express..you'll miss the half miles of your life..pag di no Natikman...believe me....“

“Tried this location this past January after roaming around Northbrook Court and just as good as any LF location I've been to.

I apologize in advance that really the only thing I've ever had at any Liquid Fusion location for the most part is bubble tea.

Had the Strawberry Bingsu once which was good at the SW Northbrook location (it really is Glenview) but it's mostly the bubble tea my family & I come for.

My now 10-year-old son loves Taro bubble tea which is really the only flavor he's ever ordered in any boba house we've been to.

Good boba at fair prices in a clean & laid back atmosphere with friendly service. We live pretty far north in Beach Park but if ever in the area again, Liquid Fusion is a GO.“

“I went there for breakfast, but the available soups were quite limited. The sandwiches we ordered were okay, but the bell didn’t ring, so we didn’t realize our food was ready. The place was quiet though, which made it nice for a calm morning meal.“