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Build Coffee & Books

4.5 (64 reviews)
Open 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

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Iced vanilla latte with oat milk (decaf)
Clarissa C.

Cute coffee shop next to Hyde Park's farmers market. They have decaf!! Oat/almond milk is an extra $1. I got the iced vanilla latte decaf with oat milk. Really yum! Just the right amount of sweetness and ice ratio.

Mistey W.

I've been seeing this place on IG, so decided to try a remote work day here. I like the decor; bright colorful art. I love that there are books to enjoy. I love that in addition to having some drink options, they have more food options than most coffee shops I've visited. The staff was really great! I ordered the pecan pie latte and it was perfect and amazing and smelled so good! This was probably the best latte I've ever had. I finally decided on the Kale Caesar salad with sardines. To be honest, I didn't like it. There was a fried egg on top that had no seasoning and when I asked for salt and pepper, it wasn't an option. The salad had about six whole sardines which I have no complaints about. There were some good size croutons sprinkled in and the dressing it was really good and the salad was well-dressed, but other than that, it was just a lot of kale. My other complaint is the music and this is just a personal preference. I find the most coffee shops that I go to don't get the music right from me. In my opinion, coffee shop music during work hours when there are a lot of people working should be kind of mellow. They definitely had a wide variety of music playing throughout the afternoon. At points, it was more my vibe which is jazzy, bluesy, mellow music. At other points, it was explicit rap. And at all points, the music was just a little too loud. It won't deter me from returning because I was just able to put on my headphones and drown it out when I needed to. I will definitely be back and cannot wait to have that pecan pie latte again. I will try something different for food, so grateful they have other options. They also had an outdoor space that I didn't get a chance to see because by the time I left, it had closed and the gate was blocking the view but I will make sure I stop by and check it out next time!

Jacqueline T.

It's hard to find a coffee shop that makes great coffee and serves good food and Build is that. I work remotely and visit frequently. I enjoy the vibes. The staff is friendly, the playlist is on point and the space seems genuinely focused on community and being a safe space for all.

Gracie H.

Build is the best coffee shop in the area hands down. After trying most other local spots and being super dissatisfied with the offerings and service finding this place felt like a gift. The coffee was wonderful and I love the vibes inside. The staff was very kind and helpful. It's a bit of a hike for me to walk here but it's well worth it.

a bookshelf with books on it
Polina L.

Small and handy. A good place to work, study, organize events, intellectual games. I like such places because they're quiet. Also, when the weather is beautiful outside, you can sit in the backyard and enjoy the comfy, secluded atmosphere. The coffee itself is average, the price is okay, and the location is close to the University of Chicago, and I expect many students visit the place regularly. You can stop by as well, plus they have books.

Light Sweet
Janet Y.

Stopped by while perusing the farmer's market. I got the light & sweet, and it was wayyy to sweet for me. I love a good condensed milk situation, but would've preferred a larger cold brew to condensed milk ratio. The staff is great though, and I'd come back for the other drinks

Cafe de Olla
Bailey B.

Stopped by with some friends while exploring the farmers market on Saturday. They had a long line trailing up to the ordering window, but it moved quite quickly. The service was very friendly and pleasant and my coffee came out quickly after I ordered it, so no complaints there. Their menu of breakfast sandwiches and pastries looked enticing. My friend who ordered a sandwich enjoyed it. I tried an iced cafe de olla, which had brown sugar, orange peel, and some other spices. It was a beautiful looking drink, but I suspect just not really for me. I prefer sweeter drinks and this one just wasn't sweet at all. It seemed like it would be the sweetest one on the menu based on the ingredients, but I only drank a couple of sips because it was super super bitter. I'm guessing this place is for more serious coffee drinkers than yours truly, so try it out as my more-bitter-coffee preferring friends all loved the cardamom rose latte!

Rose cardamon latte
Sheema S.

This is such a cute spot! I had their rose cardamon latte and it was remarkable! I just love finding places like this to support

Books, Books, Glorious Books!
Kellee F.

Beautiful spot off 57th & Blackstone. Was seeking a coffeehouse spot near a well-known local bookstore and visiting Build Coffee was like hitting two birds w one stone! The Cardamon Rose latte was so yummy that I order two - hot and iced! While waiting for my drinks, I perused the book shelf (a mix of used books and local writers' new books) & found a few selections. Looking forward to making this my usual coffee spot when I visit the Chi!

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1 year ago

Had a delicious breakfast sandwich to start the day and a great latte for the road. Would return!!

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3 years ago

These are not very nice people. Unfriendly service, unwelcoming environment. No thanks

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Sandmeyer's Bookstore - Books, books, and more books!

Sandmeyer's Bookstore

4.3(83 reviews)
6.5 miPrinter's Row, South Loop
$$

Sandmeyer's Bookstore is a gem! Everyone who works there is so friendly and it makes for a great…read moreatmosphere. It feels really cozy inside and I could spend an hour or so perusing the book selection. They also have a nice variety of bookish gifts and cards. The best part is the sale corner in the back where you can find books of all kinds marked down to really reasonable prices. I'll always stop at Sandmeyer's when I'm in the area!

What a gorgeous location to have a bookstore! Sandmeyer's Bookstore sits in Printer's Row and is a…read morevery lit and airy environment. The selection is not too bad, considering they are recovering from a flood. There are so many titles and a vast array of topics available. I found some classics, fiction, a wonderful selection in their non-fiction area, and translated books. They also provide you with lists of books that have won prizes or coincide with different regions in the USA and the world! I thought that was very helpful. It's a medium-sized store, but their displays are quite prominent. Everything is easy to grab (no ladders or staff needed to get to the high books). All the areas are labeled and it's visually pleasing. The staff was nice, too. Checkout was easy and they were friendly. Prices are standard of paperbacks and hardcovers. You are paying for an indie bookseller (I paid about $40 for two books, which includes tax). I wasn't at all disappointed with the price. They also have a loyalty program for those that are regulars. I really am happy I checked out this spot. It was beautiful and friendly. There was a lot of books and totes to chose from, it was hard not to leave with more in my bag!

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Sandmeyer's Bookstore
Sandmeyer's Bookstore
Sandmeyer's Bookstore

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Build Coffee & Books - coffee - Updated May 2026

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