This coffee place is unique and a solid latte all around. They have a mix of matcha and espresso…read morelattes and I initially went to the New York one and was pleasantly surprised when I realized they had a Chicago location. The black camo latte mixes hojicha and espresso and I think they just pair really well together. The military latte pairs matcha and espresso and the earthiness of the matcha is nice and doesn't get overpowered by the espresso The seating is abundant at this location as it's tied to a bar. It's nice to overlook the bar area.

I think Sawada is a little more overhyped than I would've liked…read more The Military Latte was pretty good, and I really appreciated that they offered macadamia milk! That said, the matcha itself wasn't necessarily the best matcha I've ever had. I think there was just too much milk in the drink, so I couldn't really enjoy the matcha and hojicha notes. It was enjoyable, but not memorable enough to justify all the hype - or the price. I really liked the ambiance, and the baristas were genuinely kind. They were also very willing to adjust or remake a drink when needed, which I appreciated. Overall, it's a cute spot with great service, but I genuinely cannot accept the price-to-drink ratio. I'm glad I tried it, but I don't think it lived up to the hype.

Very good iced coffee needs nothing goes down smoothly…read more Staff is friendly and welcoming The place is busy but was happy to find a open seat outside

Definitely one of the most beautiful cafes in Chicago! I always bring my out of town guests here…read moreand they love it. The art deco decor is stunning! Excellent food and beverages. High quality ingredients. The breakfast and lunch sandwiches are great! Delicious pastries too. I love all their coffee and espresso drinks. Their cafe au lait is one of my favorites. They have refreshing iced teas and iced coffees, and delicious smoothies too. Everyone who works here is very kind. Excellent service. On weekends they don't allow laptops and I appreciate that. They encourage social connection. They have a small outdoor patio too and it's really cute. This place is very lively and busy. Very popular and rightly so. Great vibes all around!

Loved the food here so good . The coffee is way better than…read morein fam coffee shops . Try matcha too

We met with one of our friends at TARY, which was highly recommended to her. I wasn't aware of…read moreKazakh cafe culture, so I was excited to try something new. The cafe was very pretty with its ornate rugs and textured materials, and their menu was unique. I got the coconut shaken espresso and cottage cheese pancakes. Both items were delightful. The coconut shaken espresso used coconut water instead of milk, which was different but surprisingly smooth. It also wasn't thin or watered down as I would've expected by mixing with coconut water. The cottage cheese pancakes were pretty good. Fluffy, light, and not too sweet. It came with a sweet sauce with the slightest tang to it. Maybe also created by cottage cheese? Worth trying. Lastly, service was a bit slow. It took about 20 minutes for us to get our food.

As someone who makes their own matcha everyday, it's always a hit or miss when I buy matcha…read moreoutside. After trying two other disappointing matcha shops in Chicago, I definitely think Gathers Tea Bar is a HIT. Their plain matcha latte is not bad, but I would recommend their mango or strawberry matcha latte!

Got stuck in Chicago for two extra days so I was needing a matcha kick badly! So Yelp suggested…read morethis spot. Wasn't far from my hotel and I got on the bus a few stops. Bright and airy inside. Fast service. It was good. The creamsicle flavor is unique. But the matcha here isn't high quality like I'm used to at spots in New York. But Like I said it was still good and I drank it ALL.

#CoffeeShopTour. Follow me #OneSipAtATime…read more The Vibe: The lines here are legendary, but don't let a crowd discourage you--they move incredibly fast! The space is massive, with each floor functioning almost like its own unique shop serving different menu items and experiences. The Experience & Service: Mark greeted us right at the entrance and was an absolute sweetheart. He gave us the scoop on the 50% off tumbler and bottle stands (and of course, I had to buy another cup to add to my overflowing cabinet at home!). We did learn the hard way that the popular blue unicorn drink wasn't available at this location, but my cappuccino was fantastic. I was on a bit of a time crunch to meet up with someone arriving at Nordstrom's, so I couldn't linger as long as I would have liked, but it was still a great stop. Pro Tip: If you're short on time but want the full experience, do a quick scan of what each level offers before you step inside. Head straight up to the fourth floor first, savor the views and sights as you wander back down, then hop in line on your chosen floor to grab your drink and enjoy!

While I was riding in an Uber in Chicago, I don't even remember how the conversation came up, but…read moremy driver mentioned the Starbucks Reserve Roastery on Michigan Avenue and told me it was the biggest Starbucks in the world. Well, of course I had to go see it! Especially because my sister LOVES Starbucks. This is definitely **not your regular neighborhood Starbucks The place is HUGE five levels! The top level is a rooftop area, but unfortunately it was closed when I visited. It's right on Michigan Avenue in the middle of all the hustle and bustle, so don't expect easy parking right out front. I was taking Uber, and my driver dropped me off on a side street, which made things much easier. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted at the door, and everyone I encountered was really nice. There was merchandise available mugs, cups, T-shirts, bags, umbrellas, little espresso cups, etc.--although I expected them to have a little more. And some of those prices definitely reminded me that I was at the Starbucks Reserve! What makes this place interesting is that every level offers something different. There's an area where you can explore different coffees and flavors, another with beautiful pastries, and you can actually see some of the process happening. They had this really cool setup with the pastries moving around that immediately caught my attention. There's even a bar inside Starbucks!** The building also has some really interesting artwork and this HUGE centerpiece running through it. You can also see parts of the coffee-roasting operation, which was really cool. I didn't stand in the lines for the bar or do any of the full coffee experiences this time because it was pretty busy. They were even giving out little coffee samples, though! I definitely want to go back. Next time, I'm going to give myself more time so I can actually sit down, explore the different floors, try some of the coffees and pastries, and experience more of what the Roastery has to offer. Even if you're not a huge coffee drinker, it's worth stopping in just to see the place. It's an experience all by itself!

I had earmarked Goddess and the Baker as a place to go before visiting the nearby Art Institute of…read moreChicago. It is a vibrant, modern cafe staple known for its standout bakery items like their Strawberry Cream Croissants (that looked incredibly decadent), artisanal coffee drinks, and reliable breakfast sandwiches. They do have some gluten-free baked options like the pistachio muffin my wife enjoyed. Also, they have non-bread breakfast and lunch options if you are gluten-sensitive or celiac. The place is popular, based on the queue that went out the door when we went there over the past weekend. Due to its proximity to major downtown attractions like the Art Institute and office buildings, long lines will happen during morning work rushes and weekend peak hours. But it's worth the wait. For my money, the chocolate croissant, stuffed with rich chocolate mousse, is class, and will ensure you won't go hungry. At all. In fact, I had half of it in a Ziploc for two days, and it still tasted amazing. The chocolate mousse alone will give you a rush that will send you blasting into outer space. Their morning sandwich was pretty good with scrambled eggs, cheddar, bacon, avocado, and tomatillo sauce on toasted semolina. Although, admittedly, I was full from also indulging on the croissant, so I had leftovers. Their coffee drinks are also divine. I went with their Vietnamese cold brew, made with condensed milk that I enjoyed immensely. If I worked in the area, I would be coming here quite a bit.

A popping spot for a reason! The first day we walked by, the line was literally looped out the…read moredoor. We were there during a busy weekend, so I'm not sure if that was busier than usual, but it definitely looks like this place can get crowded, and I see why! The coffee was amazing and they had so many options that it was honestly hard to choose. Since it was raining, I went with the warm cinnamon date latte and was very happy with my choice. It even came with a little date on the side! I also got the avocado toast, which was a good size and really good. And of course, I had to get the Chicago dog croissant to-go because why not while in Chicago?! The pastries all looked amazing too. Overall, a great spot that I'm glad we came back to!

Came here twice during my trip to Chicago! Both times got the Avena latte which was delicious…read more Staff was nice and got my order fairly quickly both times. I can see that the decor was minimal but imo drink quality over ambiance. I didn't get a chance to visit other intelligentsia locations so as an outsider I think it was pretty great for my drinks!

Didn't love this location. It felt fairly bare bones compared to other Intelligentsia locations…read moreI've been. Almost like it was part of a hotel lobby/ office building. The coffee was okay, but again not nice as other Intelligentsia locations.

I had a really good experience at 3 Arts. I wasn't able to get a reservation for Sunday brunch, so…read morewe made sure to arrive before opening. There was already a small line of guests with the same idea, but we were able to get on the waitlist. While waiting, we checked out the small coffee shop inside the gallery and browsed the furniture, which helped pass the time. Our wait was about an hour before being escorted to our table in the courtyard. Initially, we were placed at a low coffee table with couch seating. It's a cool lounge style setup, especially for drinks, but not ideal for a meal. It would have been pretty awkward trying to eat comfortably. We asked to be moved and were told that table preferences should be requested when joining the waitlist. Since it was my first time visiting, I wasn't aware of that, and it also wasn't asked by the hostess. Thankfully, they were able to accommodate us and moved us to a table in the wine cellar. The wine cellar had a completely different vibe, dark and moody, compared to the bright, airy courtyard with its beautiful glass ceiling and natural light. We ordered the lobster roll and the RH Burger, both with fries. The food came out fairly quickly and was well-presented. The lobster roll was served on a buttery brioche with just the right amount of seasoning, and the burger was juicy and flavorful. Overall, I had a great experience and would definitely visit again.

Went with friends for an evening dinner in a cool atmosphere. We were not to disappointed there…read more Was a beautiful rainy Chicago night. Unfortunately for us we were a table for 3 and despite having mad that reservation weeks in advance were placed in what was obviously just 2 two tops pushed together. And not in the main atrium area. Look it was still a beautiful atmosphere and our company made it a lovely evening. Why don't they have a liquor license here? Ok the food. The burrata salad, so nice and summer fresh. We also had the crispy artichokes meh. What saved my night was the chicken salad. The crispy bits...amazing all through the salad. So good. Let's talk dessert, the butterscotch crème brûlée so good. Coffee and a port wine.... Good, but where is the cheese board. This place would benefit from real liquor and a desert cheese board. I mean I must believe that RH has a cheese board on offer somewhere. Anyway, nice evening and decent food in a mostly lovely place.