coffee shops of chicago

Cafe Descartes

ellen — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 08:30:56 +0000

For all Chicagoans who find themselves forced into a Starbuck’s because they’re downtown you will love this place. The location right on Michigan Ave by Wacker Dr. makes Cafe Descartes a high commodity. The interior is cozy and inviting. it’ s tiny inside so don’t be surprised if it’s hard to get a spot. they offer food and all the standard coffee shop fare and they also have gelato (I didn’t try it though). They certainly passed the espresso/latte test because I drank mine down quickly. I will definately be back a Cafe Descartes next time I’m kickin’ it on Michigan.

327 N. Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60611

cafe descartes’ location

There is a second location I have not been to at

4771 N Lincoln Avenue
(between Giddings St & Lawrence Ave)
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 561-6525

Mercury Cafe

ellen — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 05:13:25 +0000

this place is a comfy couch lovers haven. if you like to spend all day, lounging around sippin’ coffee - come here. they have decent food and beverages but the real attraction is the atmosphere. the place is huge! they have a loaner library, art exhibits, music performances and ample room to kick back. a word of warning, the bathrooms are freezing cold. i don’t recommend it if you’re in a hurry, it can take awhile to get a sandwich. but give it a shot, you’ll find it a favorite hang-out.

1505 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 455-9922

Mon-Fri 7am-10pm
Sat 8am-9pm
Sun 8am-9pm

cafe mestizo

ellen — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 03:41:50 +0000

I found myself in Pilsen in dire need of a cup of jo. i was pleasently pleased to find myself in mestizo. this place is oozing personality. they really seem to invite the community to infuse it’s personality into the place. they had an abstract jazz group playing and regularly have live entertainment. for the music lover, they offer te latest cd’s for sale from local artists and even have a record collection to browse through and purchase. this place is small and cozy. they offer polite service, good product, and a quirk to your day. definitely a place to people watch. it’s a good place for friends to meet up for a chat. business stuff and hard core studying might be difficult at times since there are distractions.

M-F 7am-10pm

sat-sun 10am-10pm

Cafe Mestizo is located just West of Ashland Avenue on 18th Street, not far from the UIC Campus and mere minutes from DownTown Chicago via the elevated ‘Pink Line’ train.
The ‘L’ Train has an 18th St. Stop conveniently located just 1/2 block West of Cafe Mestizo.

New Wave Coffee

ellen — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 03:34:14 +0000

Logan Square has one of the best coffee shops in chicago. It’s called New Wave. it’s on at 2557 N. Milwaukee Ave. it’s right next to the animal hospital. i would have never noticed it due to a lack of signage if it weren’t for having to take the dog to the vet. the environment is open and comfortable. there are couches, lounge chairs, tables, and desks so anyone can find a seating arrangement to suit their needs. they offer a reasonable selection of tasty sandwiches ( i like the caddyshack) and vegan pastries. but the best thing is the baristas. they are the bomb! they really know what their doing and there is universal consistency amongst the staff. they offer metropolis which i am a big fan of. it’s roasted in chicago. i buy the italian roast to take home with me. they of course offer free wi-fi, the music isn’t annoying or intrusive. they are open 7 days a week until 11pm. i recommend this place highly, check it out!!

7a - 11p, weekdays. 8a - 11p weekends

3103 W Logan/ 2557 N Milwaukee | Logan Square, Chicago | 773-489-0646 |

Pick Me Up Cafe

ellen — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:02:05 +0000

Well, this is about the only coffee shop in Chicago that has it together to offer service 24 hours (friday and saturday). I know it seems like a stretch that coffee drinkers might want to stay up late. Who would think a bunch of people drinking caffeine might be up late? I have longed to have a 24 hr coffee shop culture in chicago. In st louis there are 24 hour shops and shops that stay open until 3am. it’s full of students, artists, and people hanging out after hitting the bars/clubs. why can’t we have that here? Since Pick Me Up is one of the few places that stay open late, they are always packed and it’s difficult to get in. The staff can be a little irritable because of this. I get a 50/50 split from the staff. some are nice and knowledgable some are mean and difficult. The coffee and espresso is fine and you can get a bite to eat there. they have pie, too. that’s always a plus in my book.

bottom line, if you’re kickin’ it in boys town or leaving wrigleyville, it’s a good place to sober up. i wouldn’t try to study there late though, you might get ousted by the throngs of people looking for a seat.

Location: 3408 N Clark St - 60657 Phone:773.248.6613 Hours:Sun-Thu 11am-3am, Fri-Sat 24 hours

35th street cafe

ellen — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 05:29:56 +0000

i went with marcin to help him pick out a new sofa and we decided to stop off for a coffee when we saw 35th Street Cafe. i was glad we did! the decor is cheery and the staff was inviting. We both enjoyed our drinks. i’m always impressed when i get a latte served at the proper temperature.

in addition, they have something to offer almost anyone. they have a full menu including breakfast and lunch. there is a room available for parties and they even deliver. you can go there for a bite to eat or stay to study (free wi-fi).

at first i thought this could be just another shop with some pre-ordered sandwiches and bagels but when i saw their pastry display i knew there was a touch of home involved. i noticed that the desert selection went beyond the brownie and had to inquire. the reply was simply, “yes we make everything here”.

i don’t live in the neighborhood but if i did i’d be a regular. if you find yourself there you should make a stop.

Hours: Mon-Fri - 6am-8pm, Sat - 7am-6pm, Sun - 7am-4pm

Phone: 773.523.3500

Location: 1735 W. 35th St. 60609

Dollop

ellen — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 03:48:43 +0000

dollop is a top notch coffee stop. the neighborhood is heavily populated and its populace utilizes dollop’s convenience. what’s really surprising is that i come all the way from west town to buy beans from them. they use metropolis coffee and i love it. metropolis is a CHICAGO roasting company. they roast beans from all over the world. my favorite is italian roast. the flavor is dark and rich and i love it. while i could go to metropolis coffee shop i prefer dollop because the staff is knowledgeable and they are talented baristas. it’s a bonus to get the good coffee drink and atmosphere. the exposed brick walls are often hosting some good artwork too.

dollop sells some sandwiches and has an icecream cooler.

4181 N Clarendon
Chicago, IL 60613

Mon-Fri 6:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

(773) 755-1955

http://dollop.tumblr.com/

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Atomix

ellen — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 23:16:06 +0000

Atomix has all the little thrills. Their zucchini bread is Delicious. A big feature is the button machine. for the bargain price of 2 quarters you get a little plastic egg that has a unique button you can wear or give to a friend. killer! they have a funny postcard with an alien ship pictured and their slogan- ‘The Future of Coffee’. this place has a unique character. Atomix’s coffee is decent and their espresso drinks are well crafted. they also have an extensive area set aside for information on what’s happening around town. it’s the sort of place i pop into but don’t spend all afternoon there. as it turns out, the future is not a comfy place. But a stop there is guaranteed to provide entertainment.
other food options include:waffles, bagel sandwiches, panini, pastries. they have many vegan and vegetarian specialties.

coffee topics: some fair trade and organic but they buy what they like. they sell beans.
Mon-Fri 7am-9pm, Sat-Sun 9am-9pm

1957 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60622-5580
Phone: (312) 666-2649

Swim Cafe

ellen — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 01:45:05 +0000

Swim Cafe is great! Their coffee and espresso drinks are good and there’s alot of variety. they also sell beans. the baristas never burn the milk when they steam it. Swim only uses free-trade all organic coffee. they have a good selection of non-coffee drinks as well (teas, naked, chai, etc..) they bake on site so you can get fresh mini-muffins -yum! they also offer stuffed croissant sandwiches and a full menu of sandwiches, salads, and soup. this place has lots of little extras that make it special. the sandwiches come with a little salad, the tap water they serve always has something to flavor it like orange, cucumber, or lemon slices. the owner is often working and her husband organizes local art exhibits in the shop. the staff is SUPER friendly which is a big plus unless you’re in a really big time crunch.

The environment is bright and friendly. the seating is kind of weird, but cute. they have rows of benches and the backs of the benches are made into waves (swim cafe..ha ha). the place is small and popular so if you’re at the small tables by the coffee counter it’s annoying. i like to sit at the counter in the window and watch people go by. they have a patio in the summer but it can be tough to get a seat. It’s a very convenient place to go because it’s right on the chicago bus line (route 66) which comes about every 7 minutes.
here’s the info…

www.swimcafe.com

Weekdays 6am-8pm.
Weekends 6am-6pm