Cafes near North Riverside

“Today, we hosted a couples shower at Stay and Play Cafe! It was beyond amazing! The owners, Yesenia and Jose were so easy and delightful to work with, the staff was attentive, recommending and teaching games to our guests of all ages, the food was delicious(cheesy eggs and quesitos were scrumptious), and the atmosphere was just perfect! I can't recommend this cafe enough. I look forward to having other functions here and/or coming with a group of friends. I can't wait to start spreading the word to family and friends. Thank you Jose and Yesenia for making our day so special! Anita G.“

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

“First timers and now we will be regulars! The hospitality, atmosphere and fare were outstanding! From the knowledgeable staff, the welcoming management and the hostess that went WAY above and beyond to be sure my disabled husband was accommodated from when we booked our reservation to the end of our dining experience - we couldn’t have been more delighted! See you again soon, Lardon!“

“I have no doubt his place is going to be amazing.“

“This place is the new spot for our cozy family gatherings now! We loved the warm atmosphere and authenticity in every small detail. Tea and Turkish coffee in a pot were 10/10! We were treated like dear friends and will definitely come back!“

“Nos encantó! Muy limpio y elegante, nos atendieron muy bien. La comida estaba muy rica!“

“Get the lavender Hazel coffee iced , it will put you in a great mood for the rest of the day. This is a great place with a great mission“

“What an opportunistic find. Don’t pass by the little green door !!“

“This cafe/restaurant is a must try. For some reason I had a hard time finding it because it looks like a house ? and when you step in you feel like you’re home and you can smell the delicious food.
The cafe is quiet, clean and service was excellent. I got their carmelleto and the wepa sandwich which was both so good ? I plan to come back when I’m in the area“

“What an opportunistic find. Don’t pass by the little green door !!“

“The coolest spot! I live in McKinley & we don’t have many coffee shops but, this is by far the best addition into our neighborhood. The owners of this spot don’t fail at making you feel at home. Will def be my new go to coffee shop ☕️“

“One of the friendliest spits in Chicago. The food is good - outstanding sausage, and you have to have their home-made salsa - and it's an incredible bargain, especially their breakfast "sidewalk special."“

“Saw this place on TikTok. Did not disappoint! The fresh pasta is awesome and the paninis out of this world. Not to mention, large selection of fresh gelato was a plus.“

“Amazing food. Staff was great and the owner likes Kola Champagne lol so he stocks it. Perfect way to celebrate my kids' graduations. Hopefully I can host a Cars and Coffee there. Best of luck, we will spread the word.“

“food is ok but hire staff that at least acts like they wanna be there. they are horrible everytime we go in there. very rude to us everytime. and soooooo slow even when they have no other tables. horrible service everytime“

“Chose to come here because it’s a halfway point between my friend’s and I’s homes, and it was such a pleasant experience! The atmosphere was very nice and calm, the smells were divine, and the service was excellent! We got to chat with the owner for a second and she was absolutely darling! I had a strawberry matcha latte with brown sugar boba and I know in a week I’ll be craving it again. 10/10 will be coming back again!“

“A great latte from a unique shop!
Loved the vibes of the shop, definitely different from the usual typical cafe.
Only thing, I didn't realize the menu was on the counter as a laminated pamphlet until after I ordered. Not a huge deal but they do offer other drinks then the typicals which I might have tried had I known“

“Stopped in this morning after reading about their homemade truffles! Place is SUPER cute. Service was informative and friendly. Truffles = delish!! Can't wait to catch a performance here soon!“

“The products and place are phenomenal! Such good vibes! Thank you to Nashwa, Trina and Joey! I highly recommend stopping in!!“

“Atmosphere is warm and inviting. The crepes are excellent! I had both savory and sweet and liked them both! They were wrapping up a crêpe cake for someone when we were there. It looked amazing! We will definitely be back! (Yes, the staff wear masks!)“

“Best toasted cheese ever. Also wonderful choice of sodas and Italian ices.“

“4LW is one of the best cafes in the city for a picky coffee lover. They also have plenty of things to offer the casual coffee consumer. The baristas always stay calm under pressure which makes the experience really pleasant.

The only criticism I have is that some of their signatures are way too sweet. The Ube and Pandan Vanilla syrups, while delicious, have some of their notes drowned out by sweetness. I wish there was a half sweet option for these flavors.“

“Please is perfect in all aspects.“

“Bright, open, comfortable space for people meeting up in pairs, groups, or working solo. Outlets available along walls under bench seating. Two bathrooms divide the front room from the more dim/ "cozier" room in the back, which offers additional seating in the form of larger, wider tables. Acoustics are decent for the size and height of the ceiling /open brick space. Ironically this cafe has a quiet ambience that makes it great for working on a laptop with headphones on without getting distracted by the typical loud, jarring sounds normally heard at smaller or more common cafes. Music is not too distracting or loud, and features a wide range of genres. I think the staff changed it up manually to mix it up every hour or so. It didn't sound too generic or predictable. Also, the staff here are extremely friendly, knowledgeable, sweet, and cheery, and made suggestions to customers while they ordered. I loved my cold brew and Lorraine Croissant which was heated up. The absolutely gorgeous and enviable "living wall" full of real plants ? at the front is an AWESOME use of vertical wall space. It is always great to see businesses using real plants. I also appreciate the subtle stylish additions like the pretty chandeliers and beautiful metal hand-created signage on the other walls. Metal chairs at the tables near the other side of the cafe are not that comfortable after awhile, but not terrible either. Bathrooms are accessible for all needs and there is a high chair near the bar if you need one for a kid. Parking is tricky as the lots in the front and back can fill up quickly at the start of the day/midday.

Wheelchair accessibility: Open space allows for wheelchair accessibility at tables, in bathrooms, and when ordering. Doors do not open automatically though.“

“Yum. The food was fantastic.“

“Cute little coffee shop. Excellent cannolis. Very friendly service.“

“The cafe is awesome! Great people and always great service! They giving you the best they got and it’s at highest standards! You will not be disappointed!“

“I love love love this place. It’s a gem on the Westside of Chicago. I love their beverages (hot and cold), their sandwiches, their paninis, their friendliness! I love what BeeLove represents and what it offers the community.“

“I went for the very first time. Wow! this place is amazing. from the service to the food I am so impressed . I'm so glad I live close to this Hidden Gem that I found. Great Job! Highly recommend!“

“Love this Place! Stop by 3-4 times a week to eat or get work down.“

“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!“

“Local gem - great boutique retail shopping area too!“

“I love this place. I usually order delivery but it is reasonably priced and so good. We usually order the breakfast sandwiches and breakfast burrito. This is the first place I've had cafe con leche and it was so good. We order all the time.“

“Went in for a coffee and came out with coffee and pastelito. It was delicious and Customer Service was amazing. Super friendly and did I say the pastelito was delicious.
I went in for a coffee and came out with coffee and a cake. Super delicious and the customer service was phenomenal. The boy and the girl are very attentive. I recommend it!“

“excelente cafe chapaneco y sus tortas exquisitas!!“

“Byłam z mężem na obiad w Polish Paczki Cafe bardzo smaczne i świeże dania obiadowe Polecam każdemu kto lubi dobrze zjeść! Pyszne ciasta i pączki, bardzo miła obsługa ?“

“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!“

“The sandwiches & soups were great! Left us almost too full for pie.“

“My granddaughter loves their Boba tea, as do I. My daughters grew up coming here during their grammar & HS years & now my granddaughter 10 Loves it.“

“The food was absolutely so delicious. I ordered a steak shawarma plate and it tasted very fresh and warm. Everyone who works here is so kind and the cashier was a young girl who read me the whole menu and helped me choose what to get. She was so nice and I loved everything about this cute cafe.“

“The prices are reasonable, but the drinks, for example, I think they are overpriced at 6.50, for a 20-ounce water, I think it is too much, I also asked for only a glass with water and ice and they charged me 1.50, in other places the water is free, in short everything else is fine.“

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

“Would probably run in traffic for the pinto/cheese/jalapeno & the ham/egg/cheese empanadas. Only giving an overall four because some of the other ones I’ve tried have only been ok but that doesn’t mean that other people wouldn’t enjoy so I highly recommend stopping in. Could def use a little more sugar in the apple pie option though!

Vegetarian options: M“

“I just tried a mini pumpkin pie that was served at a wedding a few days ago. The pie was delicious and the crust was still flaky and perfect - and that’s after a few days! I can’t wait to take my family to the shop. As a mother to a daughter with Down Syndrome, I absolutely love supporting businesses like this. Thank you for creating job opportunities for people like my daughter!“

“This place is so adorable and everything is fresh. We got watermelon, kiwi, and lemon which were all Delicious especially the watermelon. We also got the churro cheesecake bites that were to die for! The woman was so sweet to give us a sample of some tomato soup, as well. Will definitely be a new regular!“

“First off this was my 1st visit to this location and it is so cute!!! The atmosphere is so chill and inviting. The owner is super nice! Tried the Crepes for the 1st time and they were delicious! Now I usually visit Tower Nutrition because it's by my house, but this is his wife's location and closer to my job so... I was ecstatic to learn I could get my healthy eats while at work as well.“

“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.“

“Creative coffees and cozy atmosphere!“