Chicago sips…read more.. Sawada has been on our list though being on the West loop are it wasn't easy getting here in fact it was a great stroll after breakfast at Lou Mitchell's was a perfect stroll to walk it off. You know when you get there it starts to get crowded with various eateries and their huge sign of course so the entrance is a cool spot that gives it a downtown rustic vibe. Entrance you need walk up the stairs and thought it was cute to see the menu along the walls made it easy for me to scan and decide so that I'll be ready to order though unfortunately seating is very limited here as the lower level belongs to the bbq restaurant so finding a spot we had to get creative. I ordered the Hojicha Pumpkin Spiced Latte of course it's seasonal and sounds so irresistible and as I asked about one of the various stickers they have the staff gave me one of their logo which was free so nice and unexpected along with a choice of pastries (all made in house) when I told her I was visiting and chose a matcha glazed donut. The downtown vibe here is nice and fun along with the bbq place there was also a ramen in the basement with a singular sign is wild to see the various foodie places Chicago is known for and loved this part of town, my drink was nice and smooth with the Hojicha roasted and slightly nuttiness was nice with the hint of spice wasn't too sweet and was a great choice. Keep this on your list for the fun for something unique and cool as it's always a treat at Sawada. Thank you!

#chicago #flyforfriends #yelpfriends #gourmetcoffee…read more So the real question is what does one do in the great city of Chicago? Well, if you are with Matcha snobs and coffee snobs, you will end up visiting Sawada coffee Located on the second floor at 112 N. Green Street is Sawada coffee. It's together with another establishment. The tables inside the establishment do not belong to Sawada Coffee The trick to securing the seat belonging to the other establishment is to purchase something from that other establishment so that us Sawada coffee drinkers can peacefully sip on our drinks Don't ever think that coffee is just coffee, because it isn't you will learn this if you would to visit with Sawada Coffee if and when you are in the area in Chicago. A post script to this review is I just happen to be traveling with a bunch of people that are coffee and Matcha Kings and Queens I am a pawn still learning

The Ghostly Trio 8/10 is a white miso caramel and black sesame latte, and I loved how unique the…read moreflavor combination was! It was nutty, and I could actually taste the espresso without the miso, caramel, or black sesame overpowering it. The flavors worked together really well, and it was delicious. The Basic 9/10 was a pumpkin puree latte with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice. The pumpkin and cinnamon flavors were strong, and the espresso was delicious. Definitely my favorite of the two! Honestly, I wish this place were closer to where I live because I could see it becoming my go-to coffee shop. I really loved their espresso flavor. The vibes are chill and casual with a strong '80s aesthetic. It's pretty spacious but gets packed, with couches for lounging and water and Wi-Fi available. The music is upbeat and loud, though, so I'd say it's more of a lounge to hang out with friends than a quiet place to work.

Not sure how Matt managed to get hired here, so I assume being rude is part of their training…read more After hearing great things about their coffee and being in town for a trip, I payed Wormhole a visit. I ordered 5 coffees one morning, and all the register guy did was write a few names on some cups and placed it down. I understand tipping culture is a divided topic of discussion, but at the end of the day, it is OPTIONAL. After pressing the skip button from what I believe to be non-tip worthy service, he threw a fit and said "Wow you're serious? After I did all that?" Meanwhile all he did was write names on cups. Now I would understand if he was the barista working hard to pump out the coffees, but two lovely ladies were in the back doing that. He shooed me and my friend out of line as we were still processing what he just said. The next customer orders and he had the audacity to talk about us to them while we're 5 feet away. Delusional as he was, he had the nerve to say we were holding up the line and made him do "all that work", and I could promise you, we knew exactly what we wanted to order the second we got up, and took no longer than 45 seconds. We also witnessed he got into it with another customer, so it seems like he's the problem here. Most wild service I have ever received, all for some milky coffees. I ended up tipping the lovely ladies in the back though. Be warned. There are much better spots.

Great coffee, an amazing staff, and a very cool vibe! Stop by for a great experience if your in…read morehe neighborhood! 5 Pro Tip: outdoor patio to relax on when the weather cooperates!

Great Chicago coffee shop. The vibe is right and the coffee options are a plenty…read more I typically get a cold brew, and a bean and cheese breakfast taco. They used to have great empanadas too but the tacos are soooo good. And they have great salsa to go along with them. They sell some beverages like Topo Chico, apple juices, and Jarritos. I have only had one weird interaction here with a staff member, I asked for a pump of mocha syrup in my cold brew and they basically said it was a dumb idea because it wouldn't mix. I have had that in several cold brews at several different well established coffee shops in Chicago and it's delicious when you need a sugar boost. The barista did it but he also shared it didn't make sense. It was uncomfortable. But I didn't let that mar my experience. I still have continued to order my beverage with that barista. Also they have a great mural in the back.

Good vibes, good beer, good coffee. Walk up to the counter…read moreand it feels really between a bar and a cafe in a great way. Always good seating, space to work, space to talk. Been there to be productive and to catch up with people and it's a great spot for either. Food is pretty good too, but some dishes a little plain salty for me. The beer selection is great tho and with the coffee it's easy to find s good complement

Trying to gate keep this place, but there are so many amazing things about it that I do want to…read moreshare. First off - pickle beer - if you know, you know. It's the life juice. Second, are the recently added craft drinks and I cannot stop thinking about the Hugo spritz - made just right. The service is impeccable, good food options and you cannot beat the patio - no matter the weather. 1000/10 recommend! P.S. If this location is not up to snuff for you, there's one more in Wrigleyville and OG in Milwaukee (trust me, it's worth the trip).

What sets this coffee shop apart is the over-the-top fin de siècle interior. The operators really…read moreput a lot of thought into the design. My out-of-town friends love it. It's cool, but if you're like me and like modern interiors or at least historically authentic spaces, this may not be your thing. This place is usually busy. Sometimes we can't find a seat and have to go elsewhere. When it's packed, the space can feel too rushed and noisy for us. It can be hard to converse or hard to just read and sip a cup for an hour. The coffee is more old-school, comforting, and predictable than you'd find at a third wave shop. I was disappointed with the last cup I had which tasted as though flavoring was added either to the beans or perhaps from a residual preparation. For a purist, this can be a let down. It's great that they offer a few pastries and light sandwiches, although they are a little pricey for the portions. The counter staff and baristas are usually very friendly.

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

I love Volumes! Every time I stop in, I always find a new book to add to my TBR. I trust the…read morestaff's recommendations. I have come here numerous times to find a gift for a friend or family member, and have always been successful in my mission after my visit to Volumes. The staff is so helpful, too! I love supporting a local, indie bookstore! In addition to that wonderful perk, Volumes also offers a ton of classes and events. They definitely foster community here.

Great selection of new books. Also, has a small coffee cafe on site. Definitely worth checking…read morethis place out if you're in the neighborhood and love books.

There are lots of places to work, the bathrooms are clean, and the drink menu has a lot of variety…read more When my drink didn't come out they fixed it right away.

I used to be a devotee of their Thursday trivia, but they cancelled it for the winter with no…read morenotice. The whole thing just seems weird. It's supposed to be a bar and a coffee shop, but now the bar part is almost closing for winter? I don't get it. Plz bring back trivia!

I've had their black sesame hojicha (regular menu) and pumpkin cream hojicha (fall seasonal) at 50%…read moresweetness and both are FIRE. Gathers does not miss when it comes to hojicha - the flavor is always strong, earthy, and never overpowered! They also have the cutest cups! They have some outlets but no wifi, and it can get crowded, so not super ideal for studying. But it's a nice spot to sit for a bit and take a break!

I've always stood firm in disliking matcha, but the Gathers Strawberry Matcha changed my mind. It…read morehad the right amount of sweetness while still keeping its matcha essence. After school/work hours, it does get very crowded inside, but service is quick. It would be nice if the space was larger to permit more seating. Overall, it's a cute place to visit to grab a beverage and I look forward to trying more flavors.

Cozy and huge coffee shop! They have my beloved oat milk for lattes. And tons of donuts, cakes,…read morecroissants, cheesecakes and also custard and pies! And cookies and danishes and muffins. Oh my! The pies kind of look like homemade individual sized pizza pockets with either spinach, chicken, veggie or zatar. They're on the bottom shelf in the picture. All kinds of pastries from savory to sweet. I was eyeing the chicken pie for a future visit during lunchtime. If you want to work on your laptop, the free WIFI is good and there are charge cord plugs all along the wall. I like how spacious and bright it is inside, not to mention the high ceilings. When I get cabin fever it's nice to "escape" to a clean and friendly location like this.

A group of us were in the mood for dessert after a delicious dinner nearby and stopped by here. I…read morebelieve Qamaria is a chain so I think I've been to another location in another city, but this is my first time at this one in Chicago. We got an array of desserts to share: the pistachio cheesecake, Dubai chocolate cheesecake, Ferrero Rocher cheesecake, and a kunafe custard. I thought everything was yummy and we all had different rankings of what was good/our favorite. I think I really liked the kunafe custard but I appreciated that each of the items had a distinct flavor that felt worth trying. I would definitely come back.

I wish I found Ritual sooner! I have been searching for a delicious and consistent chai, and this…read moreis the spot. I have yet to find a hot chai as good as this one. What made it even better was enjoying it on the back patio on a sunny day. It's a great spot to go study or read while knowing you'll have a great caffeinated drink to pull you through. Cannot recommend enough!

I had high hopes for this little place. The server was a little rude that I was standing in the…read morewrong place to order (no biggie, but it was my first time here). But my drink: awful. I took a sip. Yuck! I waited a few minutes, thinking, maybe it wasn't THAT bad, and tried another sip. Yuck! On my way out, I brought my drink back to the counter. It was still warm. I told the guy that the drink was terrible, that it tasted like warmed up Hersheys syrup. He took my drink and said, "Oh I'm sorry about that." I paused a second; he had nothing else to say. He didn't offer to make me a new drink. Didn't offer a pastry. Didn't offer a refund. I'm out $6 and I did not get to enjoy a treat. We're urged to support local, but experiences like this remind me why I like to go to the consistent chain that ALWAYS remakes my drink if there's a problem (which their rarely is), no questions asked. Totally disappointing. Would not go back because my drink was terrible and the customer service didn't exist.