Great way to cool down after a walk along 606 is to have an iced tea from Gallery Cafe. Their staff is cheerful and helpful, the artistic and laid back vibe also adds to the charm of the place. Free wifi and they hold events. read more

See all

Honestly, I'm surprised by the reviews. I typically only order plain coffee at coffee shops. This time was no different, so I can't speak to their specialty drinks. However, the dark roast drip coffee was superb. Some coffee shops are pretentious. The Gallery Cafe isn't one of them. It's a chill, cozy environment. Good energy. The staff was attentive. When I walked in, I was asked to wait for a moment. I didn't mind. I appreciated the communication. The staff member who waited on me was a quirky guy. I'm a little quirky, too. Great! The menu said that high fives were free with purchase. I wasn't going to pass up that opportunity. I paid, then asked the barista for my high five. He completely understood and proceeded to lift his hand about head height. I then proceeded through with a high five motion. I think it was a good high five. I can't speak for the barista's experience. The price was fair. I sat in the shop so I went ahead and paid for a coffee refill with my original purchase. The barista applauded my proactive method which made me feel like I could really tackle the day. Thanks for that. Overall, good experience. I was pleasantly surprised but not necessarily wowed. The tile floor and bathroom decor could use an update, but hey, the energy was on fleek. Thank you Gallery Cafe. You made my day a little better. I'll return the favor my donating a high five to someone in need. read more

Gallery Cafe - Tip jar. This place is laid back with friendly staff. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I really liked the folks working here. They were pleasant and made my first trip a nice experience. Not to bash the great vibe, but my sandwich--The Klimt--was not very filling. It was ok but underwhelming, both in portion and just the general taste. It was also a tad pricey, as were a lot of their sandwiches. The glass plates resembling artist palettes were cute, but the rest of the place felt more student lounge and less quaint cafe. That's not a bad thing, just an observation. read more

Gallery Cafe - The Klimt sandwich, served with a choice of a bag of chips. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Walked in on a whim and loved this location! We had a cold brew (so smooth) and banana mocha muffin (delicious). Staff member was clearly passionate about the coffee and talked with us about the beans he was roasting. We realized that he was there after hours, but he stayed open past scheduled closing & was very welcoming, bringing out an assortment of pastries for us to see. We'll be back! read more

Came here for lunch the other day. Super cute corner cafe, friendly staff and good food. Had the Rivera and I definitely recommend it!

A quirky spot that supports local artists! Its an awesome environment but the coffee was not satisfactory! I was the only person in the coffee shop (super cold day) and it took forever... i got the Rothko.....honey lavender latte. I couldn't taste the honey or lavender and the coffee had a really weird after taste! However, I would definitely come back to try something else, maybe it just was not for me read more

Wonderful coffee, service and wonderful almond croissants! We will be back. Thank goodness to get back to normal life!

Holy cow! I've ordered from this place before and have always enjoyed it. Today was a killer, though. The Spicy Bob Ross was amazing as per always, but whoever is making the coffee today deserves a raise. They came correct. Thank you so much ! read more

This place is a great location for studying! Also, they seem to have some amazing artwork hanging around that adds to the relaxing environment. The owner Geno is super friendly, and he is super passionate about his coffee selection! read more

Gallery Cafe - Love the artwork at this place! :) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Actually, a 1 1/2. I had a delivery, which cost additional coins. Keep this in mind. I ordered a DaVinci: eggs, bacon, tomato and cheese on a bagel. Under special instructions I asked for the bagel toasted with butter, and the bacon crispy. Not too high maintenance. What I got was an un-toasted bagel and fatty, undercooked bacon, and, wait for it, GREEN eggs. Yup the eggs were green. Inedible. Threw it out. Coffee was fine (had a latte; asked for vanilla, it came without -- they charged for what I asked for); the banana nut muffin was ok (but glad to have it since my sandwich got put in the garbage. The smoothie is in the fridge because I simply couldn't handle any more disappointment. What a waste of a Bastille Day breakfast and a bunch of coins. The delivery guy was nice though. Never again. read more

I really like this place, the staff is awesome, the baked goods are delicious and the coffee is excellent. They make a couple chai drinks in house and both are terrific! read more

Good neighborhood place for breakfast sandwiches and nice place to sit for a while. The prices are bit high though, and it's difficult to find a spot on the regular because the space is small and customers park for a long time to use wifi. read more

Gallery Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have seen this spot numerous times and it never occured to me to enter (that's what curb appeal will do...). In any case, I was in the need of a quick lunch, so this seemed like a good spot. So, the food itself was pretty good if you like microwaved eggs. I ordered an egg/cheese/avocado sandwich on a bagel. I was watching her make the sandwich and I was extremely confused as avocado normally doesn't take elbow grease to get out of the container...she seemed to really be struggling. Was it frozen? I'll never know...The eggs were definitely microwaved, but I guess that's what I get for a quick sandwich. Even with these oddities, the food was pretty good - hot and the cheese was melty. However, my main complaint is that this spot is s l o w..... There is no reason this sandwich had to take so long to make. I maybe should have guessed since the person taking the order seemed confused and then the woman making my sandwich was staring at the ingredients in a fog. I was ordering to go...the group in front of me ordered to eat in. I think they ordered some sandwiches...mine, even though I waited for what seemed like 30 min came out first! My coffee also came out first before the group ahead of me. They must have been extra annoyed with their wait. In any case, the food was ok, but not really the home cooked lunch I was looking for and the service is so off that I'm not sure I want to return any time soon. read more

Cute cafe that made a nice strong cortado. Friendly staff and great looking sandwich menu read more

Gallery Cafe - Latte art - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Have gotten breakfast sandwiches and donuts here that are always solid. They have great coffee and atmosphere to hang out (pre-covid). They are currently still open and having artists spotlights that you can paruse while you wait for your coffee! read more

I was drawn in by the clever looking sign and decided to stop for coffee thinking "oh cool, I'll get to check out some art while I'm here". Upon entry though I immediately noticed that for a place called gallery cafe... they have almost no artwork... lots of space for art, but no ACTUAL art. I noticed a total of 4 paintings and they weren't very good even in an ironic way. I noticed the sandwiches were named after famous artists but I'm sure they'd wonder why. The general design was relatively unspectacular and not very hip. They had bananas in a bucket that I wouldn't have eaten if they were free but the house labeled coffee itself was surprisingly delicious.... I drink it black so I was excited about that. It is self serve, $2 for a medium with 50 cent refills. The music was very blah: 60s pop hits.... This place may be nice in the summer with its outdoor patio facing north ave... but I wasn't wowed and most likely will not return. read more

See all

Big fan of this place! Love the kahlo breakfast burrito. I also like the iced mocha and cold Brew read more

Delicious breakfast sandwiches here! Had a lavender latte, which was tasty (just the right hint of lavender). Love that they highlight artists' work in their space! read more

Cozy cafe with friendly service. Dropped in for a quick bite on a weekday and tried the Rodin sandwich (Chicken, bacon, avocado and more) served with chips...will be back! Crowd at noon on a Monday was small, a handful of people talking, working, or in my case enjoying my food while people watching our the window. A steady stream continued to come through for coffee. read more

Gallery Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great coffee roasts! We use Gallery as our roasters for our office and they provide great service and the coffee tastes great. Its nice to have a local coffee versus ordering from larger company. read more

Great art and ambiance. Generally like the music but sometimes I think employees change it up and not a fan of . The Rothko with almond milk is my go to!!!!! Boutique Coffee cafe for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of Starbucks read more

This is such a cute spot! I stopped by with a rather large group to get some work done and the location and spot was perfect. Cute set up , great service, and awesome place to work. I had already eaten that day, but I went with the blueberry tea. Yummy! I'm not a fan of coffee so can't give you much insight into that, but everyone else seemed to be enjoying it. Next time I stop by I'll try out their sandwiches. The girl next to me had one and I was eyeing it. :) read more

Gallery Cafe - Peaceful spot to work on my website Chiataglance.com - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What a waste of real estate. I've been here twice. Both times sucked. Here, in reverse chronological order, is why I'll never go again: Today, figuring a second chance was fair, I walked in and smelled nothing but burned coffee - - you know, that rank smell when coffee has been sitting in a pot, on the burner, for way too long. Yuck. The first time I patronized this place the Americano was so hot it was undrinkable. I told the lady it was way too hot and asked that she remake it. She brought me an ice cube. read more

Every time I come to Chicago the Gallery Cafe is on my "must stop" list. I've had coffee all over Chicago including the premium price, ultra trendy hotspots. You name the brand or the coffee shop and I bet I've had it or been there. I don't do lattes or barista required concoctions. I want dark roast straight up black. And no one does it better than the Gallery. Especially for the price. Proves that the quality of the coffee isn't measured by what you paid for it. They have great sandwiches and wraps - I'm particularly fond of the breakfast sandwich selections, all named after a famous painter. Outstanding. For a small place, they really serve it up huge. read more

Why so sad? Everyone who works there seemed to be on the verge of suicide or just quitting.....what's up with that? Had a pre-packaged smoothie mixed with mango juice that was average but nothing I could'nt have made at home. Especially for $5. The music was WAY too loud for a Sunday morning.....the location is really all they have going for them. I hope someone doesn't open something better in their immediate vicinity because this shop will go under quickly. I guess I just wish that their was something a little more unique about it.....for being called 'Gallery'. read more

I want so badly for this place to be good. It has a great location and could be such a great replacement for much that has been lost in this neighborhood ... but, it's just not. I won't be as strong about the coffee comments as others, the coffee/food here in my opinion is just okay. What makes this place truly disappointing is the "service"... I'm so disappointed with the level of service here. *Really* slow... they just generally couldn't care less. God help you if you visit before closing. Sadly, you can go just up the street to Starbucks - or North on Damen to several other more friendly coffee/sandwich shops. I'm very hopeful that one day something will change here. read more

walking up to the cafe I was a blank canvas. It seemed a bit minimalist...like a canvas painted black...a new begining. But alas they were open after all as a multi-colored neon announced. The menu board was clearly an excercise in pointalism... So much choice crammed into an elementary school sized portrait of a cafe! Breakfast, lunch and dinner provides many a chance for you to render several studies before completing a masterpiece of an opinion. Many subjects and shades of coffee are on exposition. They take pride in their craftsmanship and artistry. Delectible! Their foods are definitely muse inspired, not your McBreakfast here. These are mural sized and satisfying breakfasts! Lunch appears equally illuminating. If you are tired of being starbucked this is a great place to spend like a starving artist and eat like a patron. Few galleries can house this many great works. It's worth a try! read more

Reasons why I like this place: 1. It reminds me of a coffee shop/sandwich place that I would find down in Athens, Ohio where I went to school. Local, small, good food, cozy feel. I miss Athens and all of it's fantastic food choices, so this brings that feeling back for me. 2. Right down the street from my bf's house. So when he is in desperate need for some food because he is extremely hung over, it's easy to run down there and get the food before he ralphs...ha. 3. Good sandwiches and lots of choices. Reasons why it lost a star... 1. Coffee is not that good. Very bitter. 2. They never put radishes on the one sandwich I get (which in the description it says "radishes") so I have to ask for it on the side!! I like this place and I will continue to come back! read more

I wish I could write a more in depth review of this place because it seemed to have potential. I however spent about 15 minutes in this place, all of which were in a line that never moved. I had sympathy for the one less than rapid guy who was having to do everything, I just didn't have any more time to give to my hopes for an iced tea and a snack. maybe I'll change my mind if I ever muster up enough patience to give Gallery Cafe another shot. Bummer. addendum A: ok, so i made it back in an it moved up considerably for me. Yummy coffee. Cute employees. Carol's cookies. Yummy breads. I'm glad I gave it another chance for a first impression ;) read more

I'm not a frequenter of coffee-shops - they totally intimidate me and I always feel like I have no idea what I'm ordering or looking for or requesting. I depend upon my friends who I'm actually ordering for to give me as many specifics in preparation for any and all questions a barista might ask me in regards to their order. I always feel like I'm the only person who doesn't know where to properly order and then where to pick-up, and I always feel like the baristas are laughing at me... So basically I'm a wreck in a coffee shop - and this place is quite simply a coffee-shop that also sells food. My Chagall was actually really good, but I thought the breakfast sandwiches were slightly overpriced - especially in comparison to the lunch options that came with a side. I ordered at one area, had to pick-up my food at another and had to pick up my friends coffee beverages at yet another - totally across the room. Having to shove my way through the lines of customers to pick-up the drinks one-at-a-time, was not fun. I was such a wreck by the time that I left, that I totally missed a step out front and almost dropped/threw/spilled everything I was carrying and quite nearly broke my ankle as well. Not worth a pretty delicious sandwich. read more

Food is ok, but the hipsters behind the bar don't understand the concept of decorum and treat (more like mistreat) the customers based on their piss poor mood, apparently. If you want a wrap and a sandwich, there are plenty of other options down the street. read more

Came here for the first time on Saturday (2/2/08). I desperately needed to get out of the house because I was going stir crazy but really needed a relatively quiet place to study. Gallery Cafe was perfect. Music was good, tea was good, service was fine and I got my shit done. All in all -- a good experience. Oh, and easy-to-use free internet. Fantastic. read more

I love this place cuz u can chill at a booth or table and get free wi-fi for hours, not like the chains (S-bux or Argo) where it's only 2 hours(sometimes it acts up but the staff will happily fix that for u). I am a regular here to support local, everything I've tried on the menu so far is pretty good--they have a good veggie selection. The coffee is alright but I usually get tea or lattes which are delicious. The staff is usually very friendly and the locals who frequent it here (like me) are nice & respectful of your space. read more

The first time I came to Gallery Cafe, it was when my roommate and I were freezing our asses off during an apartment search in Wicker Park. Looking for some food and hot coffee, we stumbled upon Gallery Cafe. Thank goodness we did. We both ordered the Rembrandt breakfast sandwich (eggs, avocado spread, tomato, choice of cheese - i like swiss). It's especially delicious on a toasted croissant. I try and come in here anytime I can (although I've started duplicating the Rembrandt at home). Usually order breakfast, but the lunch sandwiches are good too. I love how vegetarian-friendly this place is - I never have trouble finding something to order. Coffee choices are good and they also have smoothies/blended coffee drinks. The java chiller is great on a hot day. read more

Cafes, cafes, cafes...having decided to check out as many independent cafes as possible this year, I realized I pass or drive by the Gallery all the damn time so I headed over there this morning for an official look-see. The gimmick is cutesy -- each sandwich is named after an artist -- get it? The menu des artistes looked comprehensive enough with lots of options for a decent breakfast or lunch as well many choices for vegetarians and even vegans. Counter staff were a bit on the "I'm cool cuz I work at a cafe" side although I actually made one of them smile by getting really psyched about their tea, which is the Republic of Tea brand and my absolute fave so I was excitedly blithering and bathering about that. I settled in at one of the booths, which was notably comfy, and contented myself with a spate of people watching and tea sipping. Overall, the Gallery cafe is comme ci, comme ca. I would certainly go back but in terms of neighborhood cafes I feel there's a handful of places with a better atmosphere. C'est la vie. read more

I live right around the corner from Gallery Cafe and decided to give this place a shot. Their coffee is amazing, one of the best I've had. I decided to try one of their breakfast sandwiches one day and ordered the DaVinci. Pure bliss. I ordered it with turkey sausage, pepperjack cheese, and tomato bread. Their wifi is reliable and fast. They have plenty of tables and outlets for you to work on, and if coffee refills are only .50! I could stay there all day and work, it's a nice cozy setting and the staff never pressures you to leave. They mind their own business and let you do yo thang! Only reason I gave it a 5 star is because it's a little too hipster for me, but it's all good in the hood. read more

The cafe looks and feels stale. The service isn't awful but is a little too snotty for comfort. The coffee is alright and the sandwiches, while they taste good, seem a bit light for what you're paying. I never feel comfortable hanging out here for any amount of time. It's not a horrible experience coming here but the vibe here is always kind of poor and I'd rather go down to Milwaukee Avenue and drink coffee at one of the places there. read more

When I ordered a BLT sandwich, it took forever to make. They finally called my name, but I discovered that they had a question about my order. They hadn't even started making it yet! Aaaggh! Oh, the question was a good one. "Do you want lettuce on that?" Um, yes. I do. What did they think the "L" stood for in "BLT," I wonder? read more

I think I'm the only person that comes to this coffee shop for the smoothies, but they're legit! Made with 100% fruit, they're my personal favorite on the menu. I've had the coffee before and I think it's a little too bitter. Also, it's always extremely hot in here, not sure if the air is broken or what's going on. 3 stars for a decent ambiance with no frills but no complaints either. read more

I really enjoyed this place. I ordered a large Iced Tea and a tuna sandwich since I was dying due to lack of protein. I don't eat fish but it was my last choice and so I went for it. I noticed that their tuna has no mayo in it which was a plus. The guys at the counter took a while to notice I was ready to order. Lol. So heres what made coming here a great experince...they were playing all the songs from SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK!!!!! I was totally feelin it!!!! I was in love. The Iced Tea was good. Very refreshing. The tuna was good. I had no complaints. It had carrots which added a nice texture to it. Overall the food was good and the experience was ok. The staff needs to pay a bit more attention to the customers though. read more