There’s one thing you don’t mess with—our morning, afternoon, and (in desperate times) nighttime caffeine fixes. A cup of coffee can change the course of your day, so it’s vital to get it right. Thankfully Chicago is home to lots of cozy cafes and cool coffee shops to grab a cup of joe or tuck into a flaky croissant.

Whether you’re looking for a quick cup along your morning commute, a place to alleviate the 3 pm work slump, or an excuse to mix coffee and cocktails at happy hour, we’ve rounded up over 25 of our favorite coffee shops throughout Chicago.

25 Cafes in Chicago You Need to Try

Sawada Cafe

From the restaurant group that brought you Au Cheval and Gilt Bar comes some of the best latte art we've ever seen at Sawada. This retro Tokyo-inspired cafe is the product of acclaimed latte artist Hiroshi Sawada. The industrial-style café features a wall of windows facing Green Street and includes gallery-style lighting, skateboard decor, a wooden ping-pong table, and even a punching bag. We wish we were as cool.

Wifi: Yes
Where: 112 N Green St, Chicago, IL
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Ralph's

Ralph's opened its first Chicago location in 2022 at the Ralph Lauren flagship store on Michigan Avenue. Stop in for a dose of the iconic green and white decor and grab special blends, espresso and teas, pastries, overnight oats, yogurts, and sweet treats made fresh daily, including Ralph’s Brownie and Ralph’s Chocolate Chip Cookie.

Wifi: Yes
Where: 750 Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL
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Sip & Savor Coffee House

This South Side gem has five locations across Chicagoland and offers a variety of freshly brewed fair-trade coffee (lattes, mochas, frappes), exotic teas, decadent pastries, blended drinks, and more. Their high-top seats are the perfect place to work or read.

Wifi: Yes
Where: Various locations
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3 Arts Club

Located on the first level of a Restoration Hardware furniture store in Gold Coast, this spot is a main attraction on its own or a pitstop after a long day of browsing end tables and armchairs. Recharge with a cup of coffee and fresh pastry, or stay for a power lunch of their shaved salad and a glass of white. It's also a great spot to stay a while and get some work done!

Wifi: Yes
Where: 1300 N Dearborn Pkwy Chicago, IL
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Loba Pastry

A good coffee shop shouldn't be judged solely on its coffee—the pastry supply is another key component. We would be doing a disservice to our readers if we didn’t share with the world how good Loba's sweets selection is. They seek to experiment with their pastries, finding funky flavors and textures (think sourdough croissants), and we are here for it. Grab a spot next to the fiddle plant and enjoy your carbs in peace.

Wifi: Yes
Where: 1800 W Addison St., Chicago, IL
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Hero Coffee

Hero opened its first location on Jackson Avenue in 2014 with a mission to positively impact the community one cup at a time. It has since opened three more locations and continues to invest in the community, donating $1 to local charities from every bag of beans purchased. You'll find delicious lattes, Americanos, and cheesy bagel sandwiches at every location, but the Jackson Avenue spot—with its lit-up sign tucked away in a cute alley—is the most iconic.

Wifi: Yes
Where: Various locations
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Venteaux

This French brasserie is known for its upscale dining and wine and cocktail menu, but don't sleep on the cafe, which is open from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The romantic interior is nothing short of dreamy, with antique mirrors, floral textiles, soaring 40-foot windows, and botanical wall murals. Settle into a plush velvet booth or marble-topped table indoors or grab a croissant and sip your latte al fresco on the picturesque patio.

Wifi: Yes
Where: 230 Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL
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Cafe Deko

Cafe Deko is your go-to spot for organic teas and specialty-brewed coffee. The whole shop has a 1930s-inspired Art Deco theme, and you can even grab some Cafe Deko coffee beans to take home.

Wifi: Yes
Where: 800 W Diversey Pkwy, Chicago, IL
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Standing Passengers

Despite its name, Standing Passengers invites you to pull up a seat and enjoy its undeniable charm. While top-notch coffee is the main attraction, this coffee lounge also boasts delicious sub sandwiches, donuts, retro video games, and a colorful outdoor patio. Oh, and it doubles as an art gallery, too.

Wifi: Yes
Where: 1458 W Chicago Ave Chicago, IL
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Almendro

Nestled in Hyde Park, Almendro serves traditional cafe fare—flaky croissant sandwiches, flat whites, macchiatos—alongside beef empanadas, churros, chilaquiles, and more. The space is warm and inviting, with cafe tables and squishy couches, and the staff is always friendly.

Wifi: Yes
Where: 5030 S Cornell Ave, Chicago, IL
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Froth

Forth introduces coffee to cocktails. They still serve regular coffee shop fare, like lattes, pastries, and sandwiches, but they also have a spirits and cocktails menu. Make sure to check out their rotating list of boozy coffee concoctions, from matcha infused with ginger bitters to a refreshing mint-infused espresso.

Wifi: Yes
Where: 1515 w Monroe Lobby, Chicago, IL
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Colectivo

Colectivo Coffee is the summertime haven that keeps on giving. This Wisconsin-bred coffee roaster has five shops in Chicago, including its first outpost in Lincoln Park, with an outdoor patio and firepit. In addition to its vegan and vegetarian pastries, Colectivo has also released its own beer. You could spend your whole day here—start with a latte, move on to a lunchtime salad, and cap it off with a beer. What more could you want?

Wifi: Yes
Where: Various locations
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Love & Light Cafe

Love & Light is a gem of a coffee shop in Hyde Park, known for its delicious coffee creations and fresh smoothies, but it also has a menu full of salads, sandwiches, pizza, and more. The Black-owned space is colorful, the staff is friendly, and the wifi is free, so you can pop in for a quick remote work sesh alongside your Buffalo chicken panini and vanilla frappe.

Wifi: Yes
Where: 1429 East Hyde Park Boulevard, Chicago, IL
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Ipsento 606

Ipsento has stolen our hearts with its craft coffee and cocktails. Located near The 606 trail, this part-cafe/part-bar works to provide coffee from globally sourced beans, making it one of the most well-rounded brews you'll find in the city.

Wifi: Yes
Where: 1813 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL
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Dark Matter Coffee – Osmium Coffee Bar

Osmium Coffee is a Lakeview favorite. The space is filled with funky decor like neon lights and graffiti art hangings, and they have an outdoor patio, perfect for sipping a cold brew on a sunny afternoon. The quality of their brews is easy to taste—they use a plant-to-cup process with beans sourced from Guatemala, Mexico, and beyond.

Wifi: Yes
Where: 1117 W Belmont Chicago, IL
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Good Ambler

Good Ambler is a cafe, bakery, and chocolatier in Fulton Market that makes most of their sweets in-house, including the delectable candy bars. The chocolatier sells breakfast pastries, specialty cakes, and, of course, coffee. If you’re looking for a place to help turn your coffee break into a sugar rush, Good Ambler is for you.

Wifi: Yes
Where: 216 N Peoria St, Chicago, IL
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Heritage Coffee

Bikes and coffee might not seem like they go together, but Heritage blends them in a way that just makes sense. The laid-back vibe at the bicycle cafe makes it the perfect spot to work from home (their wifi is solid!) while you wait for a tune-up. Watch out: After a cup or two, you might just walk out with a new ride.

Wifi: Yes
Where: 2959 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL
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Plein Air

Nestled on the University of Chicago’s campus, this airy, minimalist space is drenched in natural light and has a spacious, breezy patio, reinforcing the French name Plein Air, meaning “in the open air.” It's the perfect place to get some work done—after you treat yourself to a housemade biscuit sandwich.

Wifi: Yes
Where: 5751 S Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, IL
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Fairgrounds Cafe

Become the coffee connoisseur you've always aspired to be at Fairgrounds. Offering a myriad of coffee and tea varieties from all over the country, Fairgrounds will take you to Portland with Stumptown today and shoot you across the country for a little Lamplighter in Virginia tomorrow. Built on a platform for equality (coffee and tea, that is), both are priced the same, thus making it...fair grounds.

Wifi: Yes
Where: Various locations
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Oromo Cafe

With Spanish tiles, pistachio-milk lattes, and Turkish delights, Oromo transcends the traditional coffee experience. This health-forward cafe is innovating the coffee culture throughout Chicago. With vegan-friendly recipes extending from their brews to the food, their Turkish coffee is just the cherry on top. You'll find them in Lincoln Square and Bucktown. Bottoms up!

Wifi: Yes
Where: 4703 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL / 1912 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL
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Intelligentsia

Intellegista is a Chicago-based coffee roasting company with three locations in the city, including Logan Square, Millennium Park, and Old Town. The coffee bar serves all the classics, but the Broadway location includes a patio space and a Sweetgreen outpost.

Wifi: Yes
Where: Various locations
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Nomad

Nomad Chicago is a female-founded business that supports and elevates women-owned brands. Located in River North, the coffee shop also sells globally sourced products, such as handcrafted goods from women in Oaxaca, Mexico. It's worth a visit for the coffee alone, but the gorgeous warm interior and expertly curated goods will keep you coming back.

Wifi: Yes
Where: 820 N Franklin St, Chicago, IL
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Kusanya Cafe

Kusanya is a cozy nonprofit cafe located in Englewood with large, light-filled windows, exposed brick, and pretty tiled floors. There's a lot to love here, from the all-day breakfast to the freshly roasted coffee, but its community involvement is what sets it apart. Swing by for yoga, open mic nights, and even mindful coworking sessions.

Wifi: Yes
Where: 825 W 69th St, Chicago, IL
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Afro Joe's Coffee & Tea

Afro Joe's is a beloved Southside cafe that sells unique coffee blends named after famous Black Chicagoans. They host community events, from monthly art exhibits and talks with the artists to live DJ sets and more. The restaurant's rotational menu highlights seasonal ingredients, but don't leave without trying the short rib grilled cheese. You're welcome.

Wifi: Yes
Where: 8344 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL
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Philz

Get a taste of San Francisco in Chicago. This Bay Area-based brand is making waves in the Windy City for its convenient locations and delish cups of Joe. They have a few locations in Chicago including in Old Town. Evanston, and Lincoln Park, all with a solid menu of caffeinated beverages and pastries, and breakfast sandwiches.

Wifi: Yes
Where: Various locations
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food & drink ·

Published April 2, 2024

Chicago's Best Cafés

by Chicago Bucket List

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