Whether you’re zipping up the 606, trudging along Kennedy, or squealing loudly on the curve of the El, there’s no doubt about it: cruising the streets of Chicago is just the tip of the iceberg. Immense, shining Chicago is so large, so full of things to try, see and do, that it seems impossible for this native to make a miniature list from the plethora of options for food, drink or anything else delicious in this decidedly tasty city. It was here, in Chicago, that groundbreaking moves were made 30 years ago Smart coffee and teaand then other institutions such as Metropolis AND Dark mattereverything is still going well. Today, great coffee shops can be found from 99th Street to Foster Avenue (though good luck getting an espresso at most of these places after 3 p.m., when most people have probably switched to espresso right away) Wormwood). We stuck to the city limits on this adventure, but of course there’s plenty more where this came from. Join us now on a tiny coffee tour of Chicago’s best restaurants.
AfroJoe
It’s nice to see how packed the patio really is AfroJoeis on a clear day: This former garden store is now a gathering place for coffee lovers, with a full-service restaurant that provides its own roasted coffee program. This coffee shop offers a multitude of flavors and aims to make you feel at home, with an atmosphere that is appropriately suited to the ever-expanding coffee scene on Chicago’s South Side. Narrow coffee bar – topped Astoria coffee machine – opens to the inner/outer courtyard space. You can take a loaf of fresh bread or a cake from it Good quality bread over coffee and don’t miss the calendar of events, from cigar nights to children’s film screenings.
Hurry up
Has the siren song of filthy Western Avenue always called to a quaint little coffee shop? NO? Well, the answer was given despite itself, in form Hurry upopening in 2023. This rose-adorned sweet spot may be best known for its trendy laminated baked goods and oddly geometric breakfast sandwiches, but rest assured the coffee will be on point, too. This space is elementary and sweet, allowing the food and drinks to shine. Pink tiles soften the coffee bar (which houses, among others, Marzocco line), thanks to the polite and amiable service, it became even warmer. Recommended international roasteries include: Calendar coffee, Made by Talor, BabbleAND Heart-shaped coffee roasterswhile signature drinks include the hot El Chupacabra (with smoked salt and chile de arbol) or the rotating Cream Top (we found a bold banana flavor on a recent visit!). Tap away at the keyboard on the stylish double terrazzo countertop or sit at the communal table in the back – a cozy coffee awaits at Allez.
Daylight coffee
GlowThe company’s quirky, stylish business plan includes coffee shops in several major cities: four in Los Angeles, one in Brooklyn, and this rose-pink space tucked away in the back Kimball Arts Center in Chicago. Their aesthetics (and menu) walk an fascinating line between raw and up-to-date, a combination you may not be sure about until you are convinced by the quality of the coffee. The signature drinks menu, from Totoro with activated charcoal and orange blossom to Belafonte a la Zissou with juniper berries and angelica root, is truly insane, and the selection of hand-brewed options at many roasteries (offered at Kalita 155, Origami dripAND AeroPress) is similarly wild, drawing from boutique roasteries in Europe, Asia and Canada. (There are even a few from the United States). The layout of the bars is extremely minimalist, a bench made of poured concrete with a countertop Disgusting system, and the space itself blends into the common corridor of the art center. The hospitality is spot on and unpretentious despite the intense drinks menu and setting. The space is fully accessible, with outdoor seating and a restroom.
A four-letter word
Sometimes you slip through the door of a café and breathe in an immediate sense of relief and homecoming: A four-letter word is this the place in chicago. When I say it has a little bit of everything, I don’t mean a huge space (it isn’t) with a long menu (it’s elementary and sweet). But what it does have is a set of eclectic touchpoints that convey a sense of community and care about coffee. The room here – furnished with a sturdy brick and brass bar, plenty of art and a few standing tables, with a round table at the back for those staying longer – thoughtfully but not annoyingly “curated” in a way. The staff is caring and toasty, the clientele is diverse, and the retail sales – art books and fashion items and 4LW roasted coffees – are exquisite. Espresso drinks that lean towards fruity notes, natural and other processing improvements are drawn to Kees can der Westen Duette Miragewith batch brew, kombucha and a elementary tea menu to complement. Baked goods come from Beacon Donuts and good quality bread. On weekends, it is worth stopping at the neighboring Four Letter Books cafe, which on nice days opens onto the street, where you can enjoy coffee and reading. Interestingly, the company also has an outlet in Istanbul, although the intimate space in Chicago seems perfect for its time and place.
Milli according to the birth certificate
It seems like Chicago had to wait forever Metric to open a “real café,” but their patience was rewarded tenfold with the muted but dazzling Milla, opening in overdue 2025 near Kedzie and Belmont. The longtime Chicago-based roastery has had a long-time presence in Fulton Market, where there was a tiny counter (and a few tables on the sidewalk) in front of the expansive roastery, but this… this is something else entirely. The multi-room space (formerly an classic shop) contains many details: from the lighting, to the carved brick arches, to the way the windows cast geometric shafts of delicate across the rooms. The coffee here continues the established Metric vibe – a bit sedate, but trying not to offend – and is offered via ModBar espresso modules, PourSteady PS2 potting machine and more. With Metric’s full coffee menu on hand, you’ll have several pour-over brews to choose from, as well as SO espresso or blend, plus a miniature list of savory, signature drinks. Home-made baked goods include Paradise Bun – a refreshed version of a cardamom bun with cherry compote – seasonal eclairs and the ubiquitous canele. Look for menus that transcend dayparts and will evolve over the coming months. These types of coffee shops are very welcome in this area (and Chicago in general), it’s great to see such good work done.
Necessary and sufficient amount of coffee
Only this little women-owned place in West Wrightwood has a good atmosphere. You’ll feel like a regular guest the first time you walk into this amiable, window-serve shop serving coffee from an established roastery nowhere near Chicago Olimpia Coffee. Necessary and sufficient runs a more elaborate café on Printer’s Row, but it’s this corner spot – equipped with just a few benches around the corner and a clever shade umbrella for the sunlit lines – that feels most special. Take an espresso drink and a cake Michele Millan’s patisserieor maybe a breakfast sammie and continue walking the streets of Chicago.
Prequel cafe
Prequel is a fancy place for those of you looking for a little splash in your selfie. The aesthetic here is color blocks, pop art, twee stuff, cartoons and Los Angeles, all wrapped up in a sunlit, shiny package. The coffee is roasted by Four Letter Word along with other rotating guests and shots are taken in dazzling white Synesso 200with pour-over and batch brew options, as well as a seasonal menu featuring fun drinks like Hazelnut Latte or Lavender Rose Matcha. The cakes are homemade but not too fancy (think spiced banana bread or lemon loaf), and they’ll have no problem making a breakfast bagel for you, too.
Side practice
What’s not to love Side practice? This semi-subterranean coffee nook breaks the mold of sterile, nu-modern coffee shop design and transports you to the grand living room of chilly cousins you never knew existed. The space’s raison d’être goes deep into community engagement, marketing itself primarily as a space to showcase and support people’s “side projects.” Special events, artist residencies, all kinds of pop-ups and commissioned works of art are not “…and” elements of this café, but they give the impression of real focus. Therefore, the atmosphere in this space – the atmosphere of the carpet and the living room, the anime projected on the wall, the rack of fashionable items mixed with coffee – constitutes an organism in itself. This Filipino-owned café brings founder Francis Alameda’s touch to its signature drinks menu (and it has an eclectic vibe, too), from Manila Matcha to plenty of pandan. The bar is stocked with La Marzocco FB80 for espresso, as well as batch brews and a weekly pour-over. You’ll wish this was your local spot (and you’re lucky if it is!) as you sit on a refurbished skate stool and munch on a cardamom roll. This inclusive space has both a bathroom and a children’s table with books and activities. Don’t sleep on coffee shop related companies like RiceMusubi place next door, or Team DripWest Loop’s sister café at Side Practice with gourmet drinks and weekend DJs.
