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    Goddess and the Baker, 181 W Madison

    4.0 (128 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

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    GODDESS AND THE BAKER, 181 W MADISON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Pumpkin spice danish
    Lisa W.

    Good coffee shop. The line gets super long and crazy and when you order, there's really no space to stand around, it's sort of chaotic at times. I went on a non busy day, so it wasn't too crazy. Ordered my usual, chai latte with oat milk, and the lady sold me the last pumpkin spice danish, which was delish, very sweet though. Plenty of tables outside if inside too packed. Location is bigger than the other one.

    Outdoor patio
    Phylise H.

    If happiness had a café, this would be it. From the moment you walk in, Goddess and the Baker gives off pure good-vibes energy with warm lighting, fun decor, and that heavenly smell of espresso and fresh pastries. I stopped in for a quick coffee and ended up staying way longer than planned (because how could you leave?). The menu is packed with creative drinks; think colorful lattes and seriously smooth cold brew, plus delicious food that's as beautiful as it is tasty. I tried the avocado toast and a slice of cake, and let's just say... the name "Goddess" fits. The staff were friendly, fast, and clearly love what they do. Whether you're grabbing something on the go or settling in with your laptop, it's the perfect spot to sip, snack, and people-watch. 10/10 would recommend. If you're in Chicago, this is your new happy place.

    Kale Crunch Salad
    Katy C.

    I've had food from other Goddess and the Baker locations, so when I saw it on DoorDash while in town for work recently, I decided to order a salad for my lunch. I was looking for something healthy and wanted to try something different than my usual Sweetgreen. I got the kale crunch salad (grilled chicken, rainbow kale, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, blue cheese, sliced apples, and toasted almonds with honey mustard dressing and parm crackers). When the salad arrived, I was surprised at the "parm crackers" which were more like... flaky flat biscuits. They were tasty but not quite what I expected. I really liked the honey mustard dressing, and the chicken was tender and not overcooked. I did have a few chunks of Brussels sprouts stems that were inedible but otherwise the salad itself was pretty good and the ingredients seemed fresh.

    Bacon, egg and cheese sandwich with GF bread
    Keisha M.

    Walking inside is like pastry heaven. Delicious baked goods all on display. Yummy. The inside decor is so very lovely and cozy. Expecting to get a salad, I was pleasantly surprised that they have GF bread! Therefore I enjoyed a bacon, egg and cheese on GF toast. Delish! Also they have my fav......MATCHA!! So good and sweetened perfectly. I will be here on my lunch break often and with a good book. Very nice restaurant!

    Rise & Shine Muffin (V, GF)
    Holly S.

    Rise-n-Shine Muffin (vegan and gluten free) is an excellent choice for a satisfying bakery item. Perfectly topped with sugar crystals, seeds and toasted coconut. The muffin has bits of zucchini in it, so it is very moist and what I think is the perfect amount of sweetness (not overwhelming). Very "fluffy" for a gluten free item. As do most gluten free items, the muffin doesn't hold together once you cut into it or break it apart. The strawberry matcha latte with oat milk was fair... decent strawberry purée, but the cup was barely 3/4 full, also ordered the drink extra hot and it was far from hot, let alone extra hot Service was good, and the interior clean.

    Chicken Tinga
    Natalie T.

    Great lively and comfy breakfast spot with so many pastries and options! This place knows how to handle the morning rushes well and still provide good service and good food. Coffee was tasty as well! We got the Huevos rancheros and chicken tinga - loved the tortillas that came on the side with it!

    Breakfast Menu
    Eric H.

    One of 3 locations downtown, this one is housed in the northeast corner of 181 W Madison. It's got a revolving door entrance, relieving you in front of a neon logo. If you glance left, you'll notice the floral mural adorning a wall, but looking right, you'll first notice the pastries on display. Menu screens display a rather diverse selection of items, but if you need to squint in a brief line, there are menu pamphlets that the staff there offer up. Seating here is ample and comfy. There is plenty of counter seating lining the windows, as well as several interior seating options tucked away. If you bring a laptop to do some work, note that there are a couple signs posted requesting to limit your time to no more than an 1 hour. If you're looking for gluten free options, they offer to make any sandwich with gluten-free bread. The bonus is that bread is reminiscent of a croissant. After ordering, you'll be handed a number, and the staff will bring out the food to you. What we've tried so far: 1. Golden Milk--essentially a spiced tumeric almond milk latte with additional pink peppercorn, ginger, allspice, lemongrass, and black pepper incorporated. If you like turmeric and spices, you'll enjoy this. 2. Tuna Croissant Melt--but with their gluten-free bread instead of a croissant. Features tuna with cranberries, capped with a melted slice of cheddar, and topped off with some of those pink pickled onions. What's nice about this is their gluten free bread slices actually give off a croissant vibe, which I thought was pretty impressive. 3. Chicken Tinga--a scoop of tinga de pollo, accompanied by two eggs, caramelized onion, poblano and jalapeño, as well as avocado with cojita and some sour cream. 4 miniature tortillas come with. Pretty comfortable food, and satisfying flavor combos if you ask me. 4. Almond Croissant--they offered to warm it up and bring it out. it's adorned with almonds on the exterior and some almond paste within. You get almond, croissant, and sweetness from the marzipan within. Croissant-wise, in terms of the structure, it's fine (actually on the denser side), so I'd say it's a good-ish croissant, but not a great one. 5. Shakshuka Danish--dry version of shakshuka in danish form (egg, peppers, tomato). No complaints here. 6. Avocado Toast--it has its very own section on the menu. What's nice about it? The avocado seems lemony, but it is also topped with arugula and some radish slices. But what brings the flavor out is the contra cheese sprinkled on top, accompanied by chili flakes and seeds. It's quite nice atop their sourdough. 7. Garden Goddess Wrap--pretty much think of a veggie wrap, where the dressing is tart and savory. Features carrots, hummus, avocado, cucumber, tomato, beets, and lots of arugula. Plus their goddess dressing. If you like these veggies, you'll be fine. On busy days, they are able to maintain speed, accuracy, and order within the store. On St Patrick's day, they'll guide you to where in the store to line up, and they're surprisingly speedy. Something like barely a couple minutes before one of the things you've ordered comes out. I appreciate their quickness and super friendly staff. Note, they have a pinball machine in the back, and two bathrooms. When it's busy, you'll probably wait in line for the bathroom.

    Lavender latte (front) and turkish delight (back)
    Song K.

    We needed a quick breakfast before leaving for the airport and this place did not disappoint. My iced lavender latte was the perfect balance of sweet and weird lol my bf's turkish delight coffee was good as wellwith a light rose flavor. Nothing too strong! The Iron man eggs were also yummy and not too greasy. If i lived in the city id be a regular for sure.

    Berry Mini Bundt
    Ashley H.

    A solid place in the loop to beat the afternoon slump with a coffee and sweet treat! During the week, the shop can get super busy at mealtimes, so I would recommend visiting in mid-morning or afternoon if you want to snag a seat and avoid a wait. They have an impressive pastry case with seasonal items and an extensive specialty beverage menu. While everything looked delicious, I ordered the berry mini bundt cake and a drip coffee. The cake was actually filled with a strawberry-rhubarb compote that tasted homemade. The outside was lightly glazed and slightly crispy with a super soft, buttery and fresh interior that melted in the mouth. The coffee also had a nice flavor (bonus points for Metropolis beans) that perfectly complemented the sweet pastry. I can't testify to the kitchen menu, but I will definitely be back to try more of the pastries at least. Definitely recommend to those in the area!

    Strawberry Matcha Latte
    Christina R.

    Best strawberry matcha of my life!!! Not overly sweet and tasted natural, highly recommend!! Their salad portion was huge, but so healthy. Only downside were the prices, but I guess that's more a downtown Chicago thing.

    Ariel B.

    This was a good and decent meal. I work less than 500 steps away and this is a very valuable and easy lunch spot. It's usually busy but not anything that the staff is not able to handle. I'm always greeted with a smile. The food is really basic but good.

    Croissant Chocolate
    Anthony D.

    Attached to 181 W Madison this Goddess and the Baker is great for a quick meet-up in the Loop. They have plenty of seating and friendly staff who get out orders quickly. It is important to note that there is no entrance from 181 W Madison and the only door is in the front. I wish I knew this sooner as I made a loop through the building to find this out. The flavor and freshness are consistent with any other I've been to, so no complaints from me!

    House Coffee LARGE TO GO
    Christopher F.

    We woke up a little bit late on a Saturday and had some time to enjoy a cup of coffee and some bakery items. As we were leaving the hotel, some guests were enjoying some food and we asked where they had gotten it and they confirmed our choice of goddess in the Baker. A bit of a line to get ordered but great service. I had the egg ham and cheese biscuit which was incredible. The sauce that they put on the sandwich really sets it off and the ham is salty yet sweet and delicious. We sat in a window seat And were able to enjoy the sunshine even on a pretty cold day. This is a great choice for breakfast in the area on the weekends, especially when most other coffee shops are closed. We always go back.

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    3 months ago

    Amazing baked goods, coffee, and service. Loved the vibes ..walked over from my hotel every day for breakfast while in town.

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    The atmosphere was great, food was delicious. A bit busy and a little bit of a wait but worth it!

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Goddess and the Baker, 181 W Madison

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    Goddess and the Baker, 181 W Madison - breakfast_brunch - Updated May 2026

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