Wondering where to find the best coffee shops in Chicago, Illinois? If you’re seeking artisanal coffee and aesthetic cafes, then you’re in the right place.
In 1837, Chicago was incorporated on the shores of Lake Michigan. Since then, the Windy City has drawn people from around the world.
In 1995, a new generation of specialty coffee roasters set up shop in Chicago. Since then, the Windy City has drawn coffee aficionados from around the world.
So, let’s discover some of Chicago’s famous coffee shops and favorite cafes. You’ll also find our custom maps to plan your own visits.
The following curated selections reflects our firsthand experiences and personal recommendations.
Local coffee shops and cafes rank high on our must-visit list, both at home and abroad. For us, it’s essential to experience the quality, individuality, personality, and community of the local coffee scene.
We’ve personally taste-tested, reviewed, and photographed countless cups of coffee to discover excellent coffee roasters, great coffee houses, and distinctive cafes.
Ready? Grab your coffee travel mug, and let’s go!
- Best Coffee Shops Chicago, IL: Iconic Coffee Culture
- Intelligentsia Coffee Original Location
- Best Coffee Shops Chicago, IL: Downtown
- Goddess and the Baker
- Mojo Coffee
- Big Shoulders Coffee
- Caffe Umbria
- Hero Coffee and Bagel Bar
- Blue Bottle Coffee
- Best Coffee Shops Chicago, IL: Neighborhoods
- Ipsento 606
- Dollop Coffee Co.
- La Colombe Coffee Workshop
- Best Coffee Shops Chicago, IL: Donuts Bonus
- Stan’s Donuts and Coffee
- Map of Chicago, Illinois: Neighborhoods
- Interactive Map: Best Coffee Shops Chicago, IL
- Sources and Recommendations
- Check Out More Recommendations
- FAQs: Best Coffee Shops Chicago, IL
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Special Note: Paul and I (Marilee) have been on a years-long coffee journey around the world. It’s an ongoing quest to discover artisanal coffee roasters, coffee shops, and cafes that focus on the craft of specialty coffee, in particular, Third Wave coffee.
Coffee fuels our travels on and off the beaten path. We specifically seek local gems and also take pilgrimages to legendary cafes. Our purpose is to share wonderful places, people, and stories with you. So that you, in turn, may travel the world, taste the coffee, and tell your own stories.
Best Coffee Shops Chicago, IL: Iconic Coffee Culture
Certain destinations are famous for coffee heritage, such as Vienna, Austria. Where the best cafes in Vienna uphold their proud 19th-century heritage
In the 21st century, UNESCO recognized Vienna’s cafes as an essential part of Austria’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Other destinations are famous for coffee transformations, such as Seattle, Washington. Where Starbuck’s pioneered the pivotal Second Wave Coffee movement in the 1970s.
Five decades later and counting, Second Wave Coffee shops remain popular around the world.
Then, there are destinations famous for coffee innovations, such as Chicago, Illinois. Where a new generation of coffee roasters launched the Third Wave Coffee movement in 1995.
Today, the artisanal Third Wave coffee culture forms the foundation of Chicago’s contemporary coffee scene.
Let’s begin our coffee journey at Chicago’s most famous coffee shop, one of the pivotal places where the Third Wave Coffee movement began.
We’ll discover this iconic coffee shop surprisingly distant from Chicago’s top tourist attractions and major landmarks.
Instead, we’ll find the original location of this innovative coffee house in a neighborhood approximately 6 miles (10 km) from the downtown Chicago area.
Intelligentsia Coffee Original Location
In October 1995, Intelligentsia Coffee founders Doug Zell and Emily Mange opened the very first Intelligentsia Coffee shop in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood.
Over the last 30 years, Intelligentsia Coffee has grown from one small Broadway coffee bar into a leadership role in the coffee world.
Today, Intelligentsia Coffee is part of a multinational corporation with roasting and training centers, wholesale services, retail coffee bars, and coffee subscriptions.
In 2025, Intelligentsia Coffee Roasting Works opened the Roasting Works, “an enormous new 45,000-square-foot roastery,” to quote the Daily Coffee News.
If you’d like to visit the Intelligentsia Coffee original location, the Broadway Coffeebar is still open daily in Lakeview.
This iconic shop is popular not only with coffee aficionados but also locals, students, and digital nomads. There’s free WiFi and a seasonal sidewalk patio.
Just look for the round blue sign proclaiming “Fresh Roasted Coffee” in neon.
Address: Intelligentsia Coffee Original Location | Broadway Coffeebar, 3123 North Broadway | Chicago, IL 60657
(See our custom interactive map for additional store locations)
Best Coffee Shops Chicago, IL: Downtown
Now that we’ve made the pilgrimage to Intelligentsia’s original coffee shop, let’s continue our coffee journey in downtown Chicago.
Next, we’ll visit some favorite coffee shops in the central financial district. Then, we’ll explore a bit farther afield to nearby neighborhoods in Chicago.
Do keep in mind that Chicago is the third-largest city, and Chicagoland is the third-largest metropolitan area, in the USA. Only New York City and Los Angeles have larger populations.
Given that Chicago’s coffee scene echoes the city’s size and scale, we’d opine that a complete list of every good coffee shop would be rather impractical.
And, of course, change is the only constant in travel and in life. Likewise, in coffee.
Two downtown Chicago shops, Café Integral and Two Zero Three Coffee Bar, once rated as long-time favorites. Alas, both coffee shops are permanently closed.
In 2015, Café Integral opened in the Freehand Chicago Hotel. When the eclectic cafe closed, the once-funky space became a swanky cocktail bar.
Two Zero Three Coffee and Wine Bar also opened in 2015. The urbane cafe in the Virgin Hotel Chicago served locally-roasted Dark Matter Coffee. Two Zero Three closed in January 2026.
Despite inevitable changes such as these, Chicago is blessed with an abundance of top-notch coffee shops and baristas.
Goddess and the Baker
The handwriting on the wall at Goddess and the Baker says it all: “Eat Now. Caffeinate.”
In 2015, female founder Tamar Mizrahi opened the first Goddess and the Baker on Wabash Avenue near Millennium Park.
Nowadays, Goddess and the Baker all-day cafes are in Chicagoland and also Wisconsin.
Goddess and the Baker ranks among the cutest coffee shops in Chicago. The whimsical approach means instagrammable spots and insta-worthy presentations aplenty.
Whimsy aside, Goddess and the Baker takes espresso drinks and food menus seriously. Breakfast, lunch, brunch, and baked goods are made in-house.
We feel welcome at each Goddess and the Baker cafe we’ve visited. Our favorite cafe is at corner of Wacker and LaSalle, overlooking the Chicago River.
Address: Goddess and the Baker | 225 North LaSalle Street | Chicago, IL 60601
(See our custom interactive map for additional store locations)
Mojo Coffee
In 2003, married entrepreneurs Julie and Steve Gianoutsos established Mojo Coffee in Wellington, New Zealand.
Steadily growing over the years, Mojo Coffee spreads the message of coffee beans, roasts, and rituals around the world.
In 2017, Mojo Coffee arrived in Chicago. And Windy City coffee connoisseurs embraced the Mojo Coffee message.
Mojo Coffee cafes offer independent designs and unique vibes appropriate to the surroundings.
For example, the sleek 1972 AMA Plaza Building by Mies van der Rohe houses the equally sleek Mojo Coffee cafe in the River North neighborhood.
The elegant 1987 U.S. Bank Building by Philip Johnson and John Burgee hosts the accordingly elegant Mojo Coffee shop in the Financial District.
If your travel schedule allows, we highly recommend doing what we do: Order Mojo Coffee “for here” rather than “to go.”
Next, stroll into the soaring lobby space. Take a seat at one of the marble tables along the upholstered banquettes.
Soon afterwards, a Mojo Coffee teammate will personally deliver your order. Then, relax amidst the gold-leafed grandeur. And revel in an impeccable coffee.
Address: Mojo Coffee | 190 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60603
(See our custom interactive map for additional store locations)
Big Shoulders Coffee
In 2017, Patricia Coonan and Tim Coonan founded Big Shoulders Coffee with sustainability, quality, and community in mind.
Their “fresh-roasted, no-nonsense artisan coffee” is available at several Big Shoulders locations, including Lincoln Park, West Town, and Midway Airport.
We especially enjoy the small yet mighty Big Shoulders Coffee shop in the Chicago Loop. Here, two distinctive elements by interior designer Meghan Dawn Tucker enhance the experience:
First, a charming mural by artist Nickalas Goettling. Secondly, an inspiring description by poet Carl Sandburg:
“Hog Butcher for the World / Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat, / Player with Railroads and the Nation’s Freight Handler; / Stormy, husky, brawling, / City of the Big Shoulders” (Carl Sandburg, “Chicago”)
Address: Big Shoulders Coffee | 213 West Lake Street | Chicago, IL 60606
(See our custom interactive map for additional store locations)
Caffe Umbria
Are you dreaming of living la dolce vita and sipping il classico cappuccino in Italy?
If travel to Italy isn’t on the agenda, then book a trip to Chicago, a city with deep Italian and European roots.
Caffè Umbria is a third-generation family business of coffee roasters dating to the 1940s in Perugia, Umbria, Italy. Its wholesale business provides fine coffees to luxury hotels and leading restaurants.
The company also operates its own coffee shops across the USA, from the Pacific Northwest to Miami Beach, Florida.
Two locations presently express the Italian spirit in the Windy City. Caffe Umbria is located in the River North neighborhood, plus another location in Logan Square.
Beyond the classic cappuccino and other espresso-based beverages, the coffee menu includes pour-overs and cold brews.
PS: The barista may even have a Bialetti Moka Pot behind the counter! Yep, that’s right, the classic stovetop espresso maker beloved by generations of Italians.
Address: Caffè Umbria | 346 North Clark Street, Unit 4709 | Chicago, IL 60654
(See our custom interactive map for additional store locations)
Hero Coffee and Bagel Bar
While strolling down East Jackson, you may notice a narrow brick-lined alley emblazoned with the words “Coffee.”
We suggest that you turn into this quaint little lane, home to Hero Coffee and Bagel Bar. Owner Michelle Martinez opened Hero Coffee Roasters in 2014.
More than a decade later, Hero Coffee is still a favorite place for espresso drinks, bagel sandwiches, and, yes, selfies.
You’ll place your order inside the historic bar, a vibrant albeit tiny space with basically no seating.
During patio season, enjoy the cafe tables and chairs lining both sides of the picturesque alley. In colder months, expect to take your order to go.
Additionally, Hero Coffee and Bagel Bar has a second location in the Lakeview neighborhood. This colorful coffee shop offers significantly more seating.
Address: Hero Coffee and Bagel Bar | 22 East Jackson Boulevard | Chicago, IL 60604
(See our custom interactive map for additional store locations)
Blue Bottle Coffee
Similar to Intelligentsia Coffee flying the Third Wave flag in Chicago, Illinois, Blue Bottle Coffee led the Third Wave in the San Francisco Bay Area, California.
The Chicago Tribune Tower, located on the legendary Magnificent Mile, hosts one of the Chicago locations of this now-global coffee corporation.
Blue Bottle Coffee serves an array of hand-crafted espresso drinks, matcha, fine teas, and pastries.
Sidewalk tables and chairs expand the interior seating options. We find it’s a nice place to sit, sip, and savor the urban environment. And then take a short walk to the lovely DuSable Bridge and Mag Mile’s high-end shops.
PS: Speaking of shopping, Blue Bottle’s exclusive retail includes gifts, coffee subscriptions, drinkware, and brewing tools like the best-selling Pour-Over Kit.
Address: Blue Bottle Coffee | Tribune Tower, 435 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 1 | Chicago, IL 60611
(See our custom interactive map for additional store locations)
Best Coffee Shops Chicago, IL: Neighborhoods
Just as the Chicago River flows from Lake Michigan, so too does the Chicago coffee scene flow from downtown into different neighborhoods of Chicago.
Ipsento 606
Logan Square is a hot neighborhood for art galleries, chic boutiques, historic architecture, and hip restaurants. Not to mention, craft coffeehouses.
Ipsento 606 certainly holds its own among these Logan Square hot spots. Open since 2006, this independent single cafe serves the community as a stylish coffee bar and a cocktail bar.
You’ll delight in espresso drinks and light bites inside the bright, airy coffee shop. And also outside in the adjacent small green park.
This green space, Chicago Park No. 567, also invites you to access the wonderful Bloomingdale Trail, also called the 606.
Similar to the High Line in New York City, the Bloomingdale Trail in Chicago was formerly an abandoned elevated railway line.
In 2015, the city unveiled its transformation into an elevated urban park and paved path for pedestrians, runners, and bicyclists.
The Bloomingdale Trail runs 2.7 miles (4.3 km) through Chicago’s West Side. It connects four Chicago neighborhoods: Bucktown, Wicker Park, Humboldt Park, and Logan Square.
Landscaping and public art line the elevated urban trail. For instance, the vivid mural on the park-facing exterior wall of Ipsento Cafe 606.
In 2016, artist Jeff Zimmermann created the “ConAgra Brands Mural.” This impressive public art measures about 42 by 90 feet (13 m by 27 feet).
Address: Ipsento 606 | 1813 North Milwaukee Avenue | Chicago, IL 60647
Dollop Coffee Co.
Their motto is “brewing something bigger than coffee.” And Dollop Coffee Company walks the talk of their tagline.
Each Dollop Coffee shop across Chicagoland is individually designed. Local art and music create a different mood in each cafe.
We appreciate Dollop’s vibes in various cafes. Nonetheless, if pressed on our preference, hmm, perhaps the Gold Coast location.
Located on a quiet, tree-lined residential street, the Gold Coast coffee shop makes us feel like neighbors popping in for our flat whites.
Inside the Gold Coast café, cheerful hues and comfortable seating create cozy charms. The outdoor patio is a bonus in warmer weather.
Address: Dollop Coffee Company – Gold Coast | 860 North Dewitt Place | Chicago, IL 60611
La Colombe Coffee Workshop
Andersonville is located on the north shore of Lake Michigan. Andersonville is part of the larger Edgewater neighborhood in Chicago.
Sandy beaches, city parks, and the Chicago Lakefront Trail put Edgewater on the map of Chicagoland summer hot spots.
Late 19th and early 20th-century buildings put the Andersonville Commercial Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.
Meanwhile, espresso and ambiance put La Colombe Coffee Workshop on the list of cool coffee shops in Chicago.
La Colombe’s minimalist cafe offers a quiet space in bustling Andersonville. As well as West Loop, Wicker Park, Gold Coast, and other neighborhoods.
House-roasted coffee beans figure prominently in La Colombe’s coffee menu featuring both traditional and trendy drinks.
Their trademark Draft Latte lineup offers both favorite flavors and seasonal specialty drinks, such as Pumpkin Spice or Peppermint Mocha Draft Lattes.
Trendy drinks notwithstanding, we commend the La Colombe cortado in a traditional Gibraltar glass.
Fascinating Facts: In 2025, Men’s Journal reported that La Colombe became the Official Coffee and Cold Brew Partner of the U.S. Soccer Federation. Now, that’s a fun connection between coffee, community, and sports!
Address: La Colombe Coffee Workshop | 5158 North Clark Street | Chicago, IL 60640
(See our custom interactive map for additional store locations)
Best Coffee Shops Chicago, IL: Donuts Bonus
Let’s agree, shall we, that a great cup of coffee is even better with delectable baked goods on the side.
Donuts undoubtedly hold a special place in many hearts. Despite a mouthwatering array of options such as croissants, cakes, and other pastries.
Well, let’s simply say no city does classic, gourmet, and artisanal donuts quite like Chicago does.
Stan’s Donuts and Coffee
Made-from-scratch donuts and retro-cool cafes make Stan’s Donuts and Coffee one of the biggest Chicagoland brands.
Stan’s cherry old-fashioned donut certainly is delicious. And the locally-roasted coffee is quite good, too.
You’ll find Stan’s Donuts and Coffee in numerous neighborhoods from Magnificent Mile to Uptown, as well as the Chicago suburbs.
Some shops are designed primarily for take-away or drive-through. Other shops have cute seating areas with mid-century modern vibes. Think: insta-worthy pale pink button-tufted banquettes.
One downtown location specifically made a difference for us on a recent trip during winter:
While visiting the magical Christkindlmarket Chicago in Daley Plaza, we needed a break from the bitterly cold weather. So we popped into the nearby Washington Hall food hall.
Happily, we spied Stan’s familiar neon sign. Obviously, a strawberry old-fashioned donut and a strong drip coffee warmed us up pronto.
Address: Stan’s Donuts and Coffee | 15 West Washington Street | Chicago, IL 60602
(See our custom interactive map for additional store locations)
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Map of Chicago, Illinois: Neighborhoods
Interactive Map: Best Coffee Shops Chicago, IL
Sources and Recommendations
Bryman, Howard, “Intelligentsia Coffee Thinks Big at New Chicago Roastery,” Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine, February 19, 2025.
Easto, Jessica, How to Taste Coffee: Develop Your Sensory Skills and Get the Most Out of Every Cup. Agate Surrey, 2023.
Hoffman, James, The World Atlas of Coffee, 3rd Edition: From Beans to Brewing – Coffees Explored, Explained, and Enjoyed. Octopus Books, 2025.
Hoffman, Jim, “U.S. Soccer Just Partnered with This Iconic Brand to ‘Power the Future of Sport,” Men’s Journal, October 23, 2025.
Rardon, Candace Rose, Stuff Every Coffee Lover Should Know. Quirk Publishing, 2021.
Sandburg, Carl, “Chicago,” Carl Sandburg: Selected Poems. Edited by George and Willene Hendrick. HarperCollins Ecco Press, 1996.
Check Out More Recommendations
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FAQs: Best Coffee Shops Chicago, IL
Where is the Windy City, Chicago?
The Windy City, Chicago is located in the state of Illinois. Chicago rises on the shore of Lake Michigan. Not only is Chicago the largest city in the Midwest, but also the third-largest city in the USA behind New York City, IL, and Los Angeles, CA.
What is the most famous coffee shop in Chicago?
The most famous coffee shop in Chicago is Intelligentsia Coffee. In 1995, founders Doug Zell and Emily Mange opened the first Intelligentsia Coffee bar in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. Their focus on sourcing, roasting, brewing, and serving artisanal coffee helped start the craft coffee movement known as Third Wave Coffee. The Intelligentsia Coffee original location is still open at 3123 North Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657
What is a cortado vs latte?
A cortado and a latte are both espresso coffee drinks with milk. A cortado is equal parts espresso and milk, topped with a limited foam. Cortados are traditionally served in 4 to 6-ounce glasses. Conversely, a latte is one third espresso to two-thirds steamed milk with a creamy foam. The barista may add special flavored syrups to create specialty lattes, for instance, vanilla or pumpkin spice lattes. Lattes are generally available in various sizes ranging from 6 to 12-ounce cups.
All opinions expressed are Spotlight Sojourns’ own.
All content and images are original, created with care by yours truly, Marilee Kostadimas and Paul Kostadimas. We’re the Hidden Gemologists® of Spotlight Sojourns: Award-winning travel experts and slow travel storytellers. Because slow travel is meaningful travel, part of a meaningful life. And stories enrich the meaning.