By Bob Glaze
I love exploring and finding some new coffee shops in Chicago. Here are some of my recent recommendations.
After driving by this new small Greek cafe many times, I made a point to stop in after it was recommended by a friend. Yaya Mas Greek Kuzina, meaning our Grandma, is a small restaurant at the corner of Sheffield, Willow and Clybourn in Lincoln Park. They have a menu of Greek coffee drinks, pastries, pies and other traditional dishes. 100% are made from Greek ingredients sourced directly from local producers in Greece. I enjoyed a latte and a tasty baklava for an afternoon snack. I went back for a great spinach pie and more baklava. The owner and his staff, both from Greece, were very friendly. They have indoor as well as outdoor seating on the side of the building.1755 N. Sheffield.
Located in Humboldt Park is Tasa Coffee Roasters at 4136 W. North Ave. I happened to see it on Google maps and decided to go. Opened in 2020, it is owned by a local couple who have a love of food and coffee and who were raised in Chicago by Mexican immigrants. They roast their coffee onsite and have a large coffee menu as well as pastries, empanadas, sandwiches and tamales. I loved my lavender latte on a chilly Sunday afternoon. I enjoyed meeting Pierre, the owner. I always love supporting local businesses and I hope you will go and support them as well.
Ridman’s Coffee: Located at 4758 N Clark St. in Uptown, this is a small black and woman-owned coffee shop that I really enjoyed visiting and supporting this local business. The owners were so friendly, and it is a great spot to go and hang out. They serve Dark Matter Coffee, Rishi tea and pastries from Phlour bakery which are a favorite of mine at The Lincoln Park Farmers Market every summer. I enjoyed my latte.
And speaking of The Lincoln Park Farmers Market, one of my favorite vendors is Anticonquista Café. This is a local coffee roaster with coffee that comes from their family farm in the remote mountains on the border of southeastern Guatemala and southwestern Honduras. It is Chicago’s first family farm-owned and operated coffee roaster headed by Elmer Fajardo Pacheo and Lauren Reese. I am a big fan of their cold brew during the summer months. Elmer told me that they will be opening a cafe in Pilsen in early 2025. It was opened two weeks ago on March 2nd at 952 W 18th St. I can’t wait to try it.
My most recent find in Pilsen is Dark Matter Coffee’s Sleep Walk Chocolateria at 1844 S. Blue Island Ave. I went by after my Saturday brunch last month and loved the Agave Latte made with agave nectar, chocolate, and cinnamon. It was one of the best coffee drinks I have tried. It has a fun, colorful design and a large menu of coffee drinks. They have a number of creative coffee drinks, plus you can also buy their chocolates. They made traditional chocolates but then began adding other ingredients including herbs and spices including Mexican chiles, cinnamon and vanilla; mezcal and tequila; cacao beans fermented in whiskey barrel; a spicy mole and one called Aztec with amaranth seeds and marigolds.
Another new Lincoln Park find is Soloway Coffee at 2275 N. Lincoln at the corner of Belden. I went on Memorial Day in 2024 when there were no lines, as it is popular, and the lines have been very long when I have gone by in the past. It is a Ukrainian coffee brand started by the owners in the city of Ternopil, Ukraine. It is their first location of an international expansion. In addition to their coffee drinks, they have cookies, croissants, quiche and other breakfast dishes and sandwiches. It is a sleek, contemporary cafe with outdoor seating on Belden. I enjoyed my iced latte and a tasty chocolate mousse. I want to go back to try their pistachio croissant.
Across the street at 2823 N. Lincoln is Coffee Lab & Roasters. This is an independently owned coffee shop and roaster. I went for the first time and was impressed with the quality of my latte and the friendly staff. They also feature tea and pastries from local partners. I enjoyed the experience and suggest that you stop by when you are in the area.
Further north is The Queen B Café at 3072 N. Lincoln Ave. Opened in November 2024, I read about it in a post by The Infatuation on Chicago’s Newest Restaurants on December 9, 2024. It is a casual, neighborhood coffee shop and cafe serving coffee drinks, pastries baked in-house and breakfast and lunch dishes including avocado toast and crepes. It is owned by Greek immigrants. I really enjoyed meeting the staff and having a latte and a Nutella croissant. It was so yummy and was the first time that I had one. Make sure to stop in when you are in Lakeview.
As I was driving up Racine for lunch, I happened upon a fun neighborhood spot, Two Hearted Queen at 1201 W. Roscoe St. at the corner of Racine. I went back after lunch for a latte. It is an attractive cafe with a warm interior that is popular with many remote workers. Open since 2015, it is dedicated to three simple concepts: “Coffee, Community, Culture.” Their coffee is roasted onsite.
Located in Old Town is Dialtone Coffee + Wine Bar at 1136 N. Wells St. just south of North Division. I read about it in The Infatuation Chicago as a new restaurant opening. I went last month, four days after it opened. It is in a sleek, contemporary space that serves coffee drinks from Metric Coffee, tea drinks and pastries from Bad Butter along with quiche and breakfast sandwiches. It the evening you can grab wine, beer and sandwiches. I enjoyed the staff and loved my latte and a yummy almond croissant.
Located at 30 E. Adams, a block from the Art Institute of Chicago, is Happy Monday Coffee. This is a local Chicago coffee roaster that opened here in 2021. It is an attractive cafe with a menu of coffee and tea drinks and breakfast sandwiches. I stopped in and had a great latte before meeting a friend for lunch.
City Skyline Chicago – Coffee Lounge is located in Lincoln Square at 4755 N. Lincoln Ave. Opened in 2023, this is a fun airplane themed coffee shop and lounge with a large menu of tea and coffee drinks. The menu also includes matcha and horchata lattes. I really enjoyed the atmosphere.
North of City Skyline Chicago at 5008 N. Lincoln Ave. is Motherland Cafe. This is a casual, contemporary coffee shop with a menu of food items and pastries as well. The owner, from Egypt, and the barista from Brazil, were very pleasant. I was glad that I stopped in.
South of Lincoln Square is Ritual Coffeehouse at 1821 W. Irving Park Rd. I went for the first time in November 2024 and enjoyed a latte. This is a small, casual cafe near the Irving Park Brown Line station. It also has a large vinyl record collection which are played while they are open.
Two blocks east is a new spot that I recently visited after lunch in the neighborhood. Pedestrian Coffee, at 939 W. Belmont Ave., is a contemporary coffee shop and cafe which also has locations in Logan Square and in Andersonville (The Coffee Studio) where I went a week before. It is an attractive space with many locals working remotely there during the day. They have a full coffee and tea menu along with cookies, muffins and pastries. I enjoyed an iced latte and a great cookie.
Fairgrounds Coffee has a total of four Chicago locations and one that I have enjoyed in Oak Park. I recently went to their Fulton Market location at 1330 W. Fulton Market. They have a large menu including breakfast items, sandwiches, bowls and salads. I enjoyed the staff and a great latte.
I recommend that you stop in at The Understudy Coffee and Books. This is a local bookstore and coffee shop in Andersonville that also hosts play readings, concerts, meetups and other events. I went after my lunch at Hopleaf a few blocks south and I enjoyed my latte, the atmosphere and chatting with the staff. 5531 N. Clark St.
Also in Andersonville is The Coffee Studio. This is an independent coffee shop with an attractive modern space with a nice outdoor patio. I enjoyed my latte outside on a beautiful August day. They have coffee and tea drinks along with doughnuts, baked goods and bagels. 5628 N. Clark St.
Just west of Andersonville in the Bowmanville neighborhood is Side Practice Coffee at 5139 N. Damen Ave. at the corner of Foster Ave. This is a small, casual local coffee shop that is a fun place to visit. They have a menu of coffee, tea and pastries. I went with a friend and enjoyed a great latte on a cold December day. It was started in 2020 as a place for entrepreneurs and creative minds to build community and create a network. I always enjoy supporting small businesses like this with a great mission.
Located in Lakeview, at 2000 W. Diversey, is Hexe Coffee Co. It is a fun spot with great vibe and design. They roast their coffee onsite with a focus on specialty and barrel aged coffee. They also have an on-staff baker and pastry chef with great results. I loved the blueberry scone. They also have a number of other pastries and breakfast sandwiches. I look forward to going back!
When in Bridgeport, I highly recommend that you try Jackalope Coffee & Tea House at 755 W. 32nd St. I recently went for the first time and really enjoyed the coffee and the hip vibe with its art and fun decorations.
I went later in the day to The Stockyard Coffeehouse at 558 W. 37th St. This is a small local coffee shop, owned by a couple and her sister who are from Mexico, but who live in Bridgeport. Here you can order a regular cup of coffee, specialty lattes, espresso shots, cortaditos and their signature drink the Mexican Mocha. They also have breakfast and brunch items. I liked their idea of offering several flights of small lattes with different flavors. These include the Stockyard Classic Flight ~ horchata, Mexican mocha, cafe de olla and coquito lattes. I enjoyed the horchata latte and visiting with the owners. I love supporting local businesses like this.
We all need a lot of caffeine these days, so I hope you enjoy my recommendations!
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