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    Intelligentsia Coffee

    4.2 (1.2k reviews)
    ModerateCoffee & Tea
    Closed • 7:00 am - 6:00 pm

    Intelligentsia Coffee Photos

    Business Info

    INTELLIGENTSIA COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for working
    Dogs allowed

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    Charisma H.

    This is the superior intelligentsia location in the loop! It has a moody, old school vibe. I love sitting at the windows and people watching with my cup of morning the winter.

    Linh L.

    Flew in on a red eye so first stop was to get some coffee. I tried their Avena Latte and it was unique. I've never had cayenne with my coffee but it was a nice touch.

    Black coffee with refill
    Roger M.

    good coffee shop down the street from the hotel. Good morning eats, very well, balanced black coffee. With a Krafft refill. Nice casual place to sit and plan a day.

    Not the cutest cafe I was looking for. Tasty brown sugar latte, the sesame seeds were a bit much for an $8 latte with no lid.
    breanna g.

    Not the cutest cafe, would definitely recommend elsewhere however the brown sugar latte was good however the sesame seeds were an overkill.

    Inside
    Rosa F.

    I had this coffee in L.A. and I liked it. A little bit on the expensive side but I have it once in a blue moon. Being back home in Chicago I saw it in downtown and so I decided to have it bc it was super cold today. Walking in I did see it was quaint and nice. The cashier (Alice) did say hi as i did too. Note: Customer Service is key to me I kindly asked her for her name (bc i like to know who's taking my order) and she asked me why, She seemed bothered by me asking so I replied bc i want to know who's taking my order. This action caused me to only give this place 3 stars bc the service needs to be better. Also, after making coffee they need to inform us where the condiments are. The coffee was spectacular. I ordered the Avena Latte with extra Cayenne on top.

    Grace L.

    My favorite coffee in Chicago! I used to work at a cafe that had Intelligentsia's beans, and my oh my, these are my favorites of all time. I bought 2 bags for the road and ordered an iced capp, but the milk felt like skim?? I was a but disappointed that it was so watery :( inside was beautiful though with fresh flowers on each table. Service was great! Ample street parking on the side street right next to it!

    Counter
    Betty H.

    Located in the Monadnock building, entrance on W Jackson Blvd. We were on a "Foodie Tour" and our guide walked us through the Monadnock building. As coffee lovers, we noticed this place and made sure to return after our tour simply because it smelled so good. I ordered their 'Latte' and a 'Snickerdoodle Cookie'. The latte was the best I've ever had, anywhere! The Cookie was delicious too, very soft with the perfect sweetness to go with my drink. Their 'Daily Batch Brew' is also very good. There's plenty of tables to sit and enjoy. They also sell merch and coffee bags. Our cashier, Alyssa was very sweet and welcoming. Overall, we had a great time here enjoying our evening coffee time and will definitely return when in town.

    Avena Iced Latte
    Connie L.

    Tried their Avena Latte which was surprisingly delicious! I didn't expect the cayenne pepper to work, but it did. I wish the coffee flavor was a bit stronger, but still enjoyed it. They also have a good selection of plant based milks to choose from. It's a small coffee shop but VERY busy. It seemed like the baristas were very efficient though, we only waited about 10 mins to get our coffee.

    Coffee
    Stacie B.

    A small and quiet spot for a cup of coffee and a chat, or a place to read a book and get out of the general fray for a time. The area isn't big and has the feel of an Italian or European coffee shop with marble tables and minimalistic decor. It has coffee and tea items for sale as well as a varied menu of snacks and hot beverages. Our group was a bit larger so needed to push a few tables together. I think that isn't the norm for this spot so keep that in mind if you are going, beat for a smaller group or coffee/tea to go. The coffee was flavorful and several who got tea enjoyed it. They have teas not listed on their menu so make sure to ask if wanting another option. My coffee had cayenne which was a bit more than I bargained for, but the barista did ask me and I approved it. So a nice thing to try and fun that they offer specials which I've never heard of before (or unique combos). A great spot to spot in for a warm beverage on a cold day!

    Interior
    Linda T.

    Avena latte is one of the best latte I have, nationwide. The hint of cayenne, which I originally thought it would be weird, turn out to be amazing and warm. Turmeric Pineapple Shrub is a great refreshing iced tea. I highly recommend these to everyone. The location is great, especially for tourists. Grab a coffee and/or tea, like myself, and walk around. You can also do work here or your assignments as there are plenty of seats. Just remember to grab your lids for your cups by the revolving door, if you're bringing your drink elsewhere.

    Hot latte with oat milk  Black Cat Organic Espresso- Black Cat Espresso
    Alexis Z.

    Super cute warm welcoming cafe ! Coffee was delicious and strong a bit pricy but baristas are super friendly and helpful

    Oat matcha Latte
    Tsegaye K.

    Stopped by and visited a little after the start of the Chicago marathon 2024. Server was amazing and both the Matcha and the mocha were great (the matcha is made with oat milk and unsweetened and you can definitely tell that they use high quality matcha ). our server was great and the restaurant was clean and welcoming. Will definitely be back when I am in the area again

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    1 month ago

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    3 months ago

    Always been one of my coffees in the city. It's the perfect flavor. Small shop with big taste. I just wish they had more locations.

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    10 months ago

    Business owner information

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    10 months ago

    Very very rich coffee shop in my life. Great experience. If u visit Chicago add it to ur list

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Damn, these people sure know how to make a cup of coffee. Seriously best flat white ever.

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    Page 1 of 31

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    Buttercup  - Gelato! Cookie Butter on the left and chocolate hazelnut on the right, served in chilled goblets. So good!

    Buttercup

    4.2(57 reviews)
    1.3 mi•Near Southside
    •$$

    Walked over to Buttercup after checking into my hotel in Chicago to grab a coffee and fire up the…read moreold laptop and get some work done. Though usually one for a hot coffee, it was steamy hot out so I went for an iced vanilla latte with oat milk and was wildly impressed. I was going to sit for a bit so had the latte for there and it was icy cold and the vanilla flavoring was brilliantly paired to the really good espresso notes within the latte. I also went for a Financier, which is a gluten-free banana bread sort of loaf and this was downright silly how good it was. It had a rich banana and sort of caramel flavor to it and as a gluten-free pastry option was one of the finest that I have had. Love that the coffee shop had just about every seat full with people doing work, studying, reading and catching up and the spot was a true neighborhood gem sort of location. Awesome spot!

    Such a cute and cozy cafe! It's a great spot to get some work done, and the service was super nice…read more You order at the counter, and the server helping us was really patient. The Pistachio Mocha (8.5/10) had a great mocha flavor and the espresso strength was perfect. Not too strong or too light. Loved this one. The Lavender Sea Salt Latte (8/10) had a nice lavender flavor, and I liked that I could actually taste the espresso without it being overpowering. The Bacon, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Sandwich (7/10) is only available Saturday and Sunday. The egg was soft, the bacon was crispy, and the brioche bun was nice and soft. The mayo-based sauce was flavorful, but there was almost a little too much for me. I liked how the sandwich wasn't dry though.

    Photos
    Buttercup  - Vibes

    Vibes

    Buttercup  - Buttercup - shaved iced on top.

    Buttercup - shaved iced on top.

    Buttercup  - Welcome to Buttercup.

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    Gathers Tea Bar - Ube Monster

    Gathers Tea Bar

    4.8(351 reviews)
    1.5 mi•University Village
    •$$

    This is one of my favorite matcha spots in all of Chicago! It gets pretty busy sometimes, so expect…read morea wait during their peak hours. It will get a little loud too if it's crowded, so be sure to listen to your order name or number in order to grab your drink at the delivery counter! Probably my 3rd or 4th time visiting, but the drinks always hit the matcha itch each time I love the Strawberry Matcha Latte since it brings a good level of sweetness from the strawberry puree but also the bitterness from the matcha. The matcha has such a deep flavor that with any of the specialty lattes, you don't lose any of that matcha flavoring to the add-ons. The Mango Matcha Latte is also very good! You get a lighter mango taste (in comparison to having a stronger strawberry taste), and you can still taste the depth of the matcha flavor. Even after the ice melting after time, you can still taste the matcha as if it was not watered down. That's how you know you're getting premium quality matcha. tl;dr If you haven't tried Gathers...you're missing out on some delicious matcha.

    Cute and busy cafe! We came midday on Saturday and everyone seemed to be here. Good vibes,…read morefast-paced and so many drinks options. I LOVED their menu because they have a good mix of boba, matcha and other decaffeinated drinks. Boba prices are good too, and regular drink is around $5.5 on average. I got mango matcha and I can tell it's a high quality matcha. Even towards the end, the matcha didn't get watered down much (see one of the pictures). The mango didn't taste authentic, but good quality matcha made up for it. Ube monster was also tasty; it has Oreo crumbs on top. The sweetness was just right. Service was fast and there are so many self-check out stations.

    Photos
    Gathers Tea Bar - Strawberry Matcha Latte

    Strawberry Matcha Latte

    Gathers Tea Bar - Brown Sugar Hojicha, Brown Sugar Matcha Latte, Black Sesame Matcha Latte

    Brown Sugar Hojicha, Brown Sugar Matcha Latte, Black Sesame Matcha Latte

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    Starbucks Reserve Roastery Chicago - 2nd floor order station

    Starbucks Reserve Roastery Chicago

    4.1(2.4k reviews)
    1.1 mi•Near North Side
    •$$

    9.7.2025 1 French 75…read moreand (2) Starbucks Souvenir Cups later, this place was absolutely amazing !! It's nestled along the magnificent mile and super busy! Great food and beverage options, classes to make cocktails and more offered! The decor is Starbucks Reserve trendy. Certainly picture worthy. Each floor serves a purpose. I enjoyed the oooo's and ahhh's of everything this place had to offer. My French 75 was pretty great !! Slow sip worthy. The atmosphere was a vibe. The novelty store section was great! A lot of everything associated w Starbucks Reserve for purchase, often in different styles. I look forward to returning back very soon !!

    Coffee madhouse! As if caffeine is not enough, once you step into this 4 story massive Starbucks,…read moreyou'll be amazed, excited, confused, overwhelmed, impressed and filled with many emotions. Great attraction that's a must visit for all coffee lovers if you're visiting or in Chicago. Each floor is amazing in its own its own way allowing you to explore everything Starbucks has to offer and more. As a Starbucks on steroids, be prepared for long lines and wait times to get in and to purchase items. They offer an expanded menu with great food items. Coffee from around the world. Coffee with a liquor twist. Huge roasting machines. Only wished there were more seating options around as the store is nicely decorated and organized, but limited seating compared to the massive crowd you'll likely face! Foot traffic can be better organized as it can be hectic inside with large crowds. A must visit as it's not your typical Starbucks and it'll be an amazing to experience.

    Photos
    Starbucks Reserve Roastery Chicago - All kinds of places to sit & relax

    All kinds of places to sit & relax

    Starbucks Reserve Roastery Chicago - Coffee beverage & pastry area

    Coffee beverage & pastry area

    Starbucks Reserve Roastery Chicago - Inside on the top floor by the bar/tasting area

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    Inside on the top floor by the bar/tasting area

    Froth - Iced ladybird

    Froth

    4.3(188 reviews)
    1.8 mi•Near West Side, West Loop

    I would say the logo is phenomenal, the seating and ambience is very nice. It reminds you of a time…read moreback when hotels had dim lighting and sets for a nice scene. This is where the ball drops, the coffee is way too bitter and lacks flavor as well as there's no bodied flavor in the drinks. We're going just based off of coffee. I feel like the espresso lacks flavor and is very harsh. If you are getting an ice drink with sugar, you will notice it less obviously, but I'm speaking, purely from a Coffee perspective that it just does not have well body flavor, and I have tried multiple drinks that are espresso based. I hope that they can make a change to the espresso blend to complement the ambience and great setting. I unfortunately did not even take a photo of the Coffee because I was very disappointed.

    On the way to visit Froth, I stopped to browse the menu that was posted outside and took the time…read moreto select exactly what I wanted. I had my heart set on that Royale with Cheese! As we made our way up to order at the inside counter, I realized that the outside menu had been outdated and we had to choose completely different drinks. I went with the El Platform, and my husband had the False Spring ($7.50 each). We also got a Feta Tortilla ($13.65) that was tasty. It's nice and spacious inside with outside tables as well. I love the idea of Frothtails, and I hope they bring back the Royale with Cheese so I can try it!

    Photos
    Froth - Inside

    Inside

    Froth - Active Tea; Blueberry Muffin; Oat Raisin Walnut Cookie

    Active Tea; Blueberry Muffin; Oat Raisin Walnut Cookie

    Froth - Matcha latte was amazing. Great vibes

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    Matcha latte was amazing. Great vibes

    Intelligentsia Coffee - coffee - Updated October 2026

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