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Meli Cafe

3.6 (836 reviews)
Closed • 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

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MELI CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Classy
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Meli Cafe

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Reviews With Photos

24K Apple Martini
Erin C.

Went here for brunch on a Saturday and the venue is OK. I had a 24 karat apple martini that was really good to drink. I didn't see a meal that I wanted so I got chicken breast and cheddar grits.. I was told that the chicken breast were gonna be good and crispy and well seasoned they were not. The cheddar grits were too watery neither eye or another person in my party finished ours.. Our server was very polite. Answered a lot of questions and was prompt and friendly. The atmosphere is very welcoming there were adults. I didn't really see kids, but I could see that family dining as possible. There is ample street parking. I did not check out the facility so I don't know about that. I don't know if I would return, I was not left impressed.

Kitchen
Gerry M.

Very good! Breakfast brunch. I actually had the special Salmon wrap! We also had chocolate crepes,with strawberries, and cream. The egg bowls were amazing. Sorry limited food pictures but we we hungry!

LaShonda H.

I was here before for a mimosa while killing time. This visit I had time to dine in to thoroughly enjoy the cafe. The food was ok, I didn't finish my meal. The food was greasy and the bacon not crispy like I asked. The cocktails are still good but I'm not sure I'll choose them for a good meal. The service was good but the meal was mediocre.

Jalapeño Bowl

One of the best breakfast spots in Chicago! Always take friends there... Huge menu and everything is great and serves every craving! Also great gluten free options and quickest service !

The Classic Benedict
Audrey E.

Charming little breakfast spot! They had a good variety of food - I ended up with the eggs Benedict - they were pretty good but nothing too crazy or out there. Our waitress was a little short and hard to flag down at times. Would recommend for a pretty straightforward breakfast experience.

Down on the Farm Bowl
Jacqueline O.

River North location -- super cute and more homestyle feeling than the South Loop location. Excellent service, great food. My mom and I came here after yoga!

Marina L.

I was staying at a very nearby hotel and this restaurant popped up! So happy it did! The latte was supreme, they used and arsenic coffee that really woke me up for a day in the city, I ordered the down to farm breakfast bowl and it was great, very well balanced and delicious! They have a very nice menu, like you almost can have whatever you are thinking of. The breakfast came in with a toast on the side! Service was good, they weren't that busy that morning and that made them give us a very good service, I am just looking forward to comeback to Chicago and come to this place again, for sure! Shoutout to that great latte you guys do.

Sandy T.

Came here for breakfast. Cute restaurant. Service was great. Food was honestly just ok. Typical diner food. The potatoes were not seasoned at all, super bland. The rest of the roof I food was okay. Nothing special.

Sam S.

We came here for Sunday brunch and the place was busy, but a table outside opened up just as we arrived so we were seated right away. I ordered the Jalapeno bowl with scrambled eggs and a bagel. The food for two of us came out in a decent amount of time, but the third person's food came later and ended up being a completely wrong dish, so we sent it back. A bit later they came back with the correct dish of Avocado toast but without the requested modification (no egg), but we decided to just keep it and remove the egg as best we could since we were hungry. Coming from New York, my friend told me that bagels in Chicago just can't compare, so I decided to try it for myself and sadly this was true. The bagel was way too soft compared to the bagels I like in NY. The bowl was lacking seasoning, and the egg and hash browns were both a bit too flavorless and mushy for my liking. When we got the bill, they didn't show us an itemized receipt, but luckily I noticed that the price seemed a bit steeper than what we ordered. I'm glad I pointed this out because it turns out that they had charged us for that wrong dish that we didn't order. Overall, too many things went wrong with this meal that I wouldn't come back.

Jazmine P.

The food was good, great chicken and waffle. The restaurant is pretty spacious, so we did a walk in with no wait time. The service was quick and attentive. The menu was pretty diverse too. Would come back again.

Iced latte

Been here twice. Both times were delicious and wait times weren't bad for weekends. Also, a huge thank you for having alternative milk options!

Evan M.

Very good brunch establishment. Portions were solid, flavors were there, and servers were attentive. The interior felt super homey which was appreciated considering its location. Would definitely recommend giving it a try if you're looking for a breakfast like this in the city.

Creme brulee french toast

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23 days ago

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4 months ago

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2 months ago

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3 days ago

Closed for good per a 4 May '26 article. There's still a spot by University Center. It's just okay but there when one needs to eat.

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10 months ago

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2 years ago

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4 months ago

Amazing ambience, delicious food and a great experience overall! Our server was great and help make our experience special!

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11 months ago

Incredible hidden gem! Food, drinks, and service were amazing! Please check this place out. We had brunch and it was out of this world!

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2 years ago

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7 months ago

Slow service. Minimal number of staff. Will not return. Everything is the bare minimum.

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Do they serve alcohol, mimosas?

They serve alcohol-- had some wonderful bloody Mary's!!

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La Malinche Coffee & Tea House

La Malinche Coffee & Tea House

(118 reviews)

$$

Pilsen

A beautiful, eclectic coffee house just outside of Chinatown, La Malinche was the perfect place for…read morea casual late breakfast. With a cozy locals vibe, there was a mix of young professionals on laptops and families starting the morning. The bright aesethics of Mexican heritage and decor celebrating local artists make the space inspiring and energizing. The coffee was great. I got the horchata latte, which tasted even better than I hoped. I also ordered a El Chavo Torta, a deceptively simple sandwich that was incredibly delicious. I don't know what they put in the bread or what magical place they bought the cheese from, but my mouth is watering just thinking about it. When I'm in Chicago again, La Malinche is on my list of must visit spots.

Stopped by La Malinche Coffee & Tea House in Pilsen to try something new. Place is nice and quiet…read more Bright pink walls, little decorative hearts, alebrijes all around and full piano in the room. Felt cozy right away. The staff were really welcoming, for an early morning. I got the hot chocolate. Honestly that's exactly what I needed that morning. It had that real Mexican chocolate taste. Thick, creamy, smooth and rich. The cinnamon came through warm but not too strong, plus a little extra on top that hit your nose before the first sip. Sweet and it almost had this slight earthy note too... hard to explain but good. It even had that little design on top, like the ones they do on cappuccinos. Didn't expect that but it was cool. I finished it slow. Didn't wanna rush it. Just sat there taking small sips and enjoying it while it was still hot.

Dolce Arte - Veggie Skillet

Dolce Arte

(69 reviews)

Bridgeport

Not sure why I had not reviewed this soot earlier, I come here often, in fact I'm here right now…read more Great spot! Set in an old warehouse that is now an art gallery event space and restaurant nestled in an older warehouse district in Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago. Beautiful decor and laid out perfectly. The natural wood floors furniture ie tables chairs etc and iron work throughout sets the ambiance for old meets new. It works. The wide spacing between tables makes for a comfortable dining experience. So many folks come in to do their work and dine here. What a super addition to the neighborhood that less than a decade ago was essentially a street that was more a run down semi-truck alley. Great menu with neighborhood favorites leaning toward the old school Italian dishes. Sandwiches, soups, salads, and breakfasts just to name a few are all excellent. The pastries are insane and a must take home deal. I love the American Breakfast. Three eggs your way, thick diced America potatoes, thick cut bacon, and sourdough toast. Accompanied by what I believe to be home made jelly and for sure homemade gardiniera. Caruso's gardiniera actually. Diced into a relish unlike most standard gardiniera it's easier to eat with many dishes. Excellent flavor and just the right kick to it. FYI Dolce Arte also sells a to go line of homemade Caruso products from their gardiniera to past and past sauces and more. Yes, their coffee is really good too. Lavazza products I believe. The service is always on point. Casual but on point. Very friendly staff from diverse backgrounds. This is the place you bring people close to you, business lunches, meetings, formal ir informal, or like me, save it for myself as my own getaway spot. It's an artists dream and sets a positive time for any gathering.

The staff is amazing and so is the food! The twins and I…read moreate everything! There was so much left over we ate it for breakfast the next morning! Next time I'm adding photos! Sorry it was so good I forgot to take any .

The Stockyard Coffeehouse - Horchata latte

The Stockyard Coffeehouse

(140 reviews)

$$

Bridgeport

This southside coffee shops offered a variety of drinks (caffeinated/ non-caffeinated option) but…read morethe best part in my option is their flights. Why would you not order a flight to try a variety of drinks all at once? We had the hibiscus lemonade and matcha flight, the mango con crema and banana con crema were the standouts. We went on a weekend and there was a long line but it moved pretty quickly. Limited seating space but there are also chairs and tables on the outside. Street parking available. They also offer brunch food items which we did not get to try. But overall cute shop with a variety of speciality drinks that I will definitely try in the future.

Stockyard Coffee House in Chicago, Illinois. Overall, I really liked it. The only small downside…read morewas that it felt a bit warm inside, probably because it was already a hot day outside. The staff--at least the person who helped me--didn't feel super welcoming. Not that they were rude, just not particularly warm either. I get it though, because even I get a little irritable when it's hot, so maybe that played a part. What I love the most is that it's Latina-owned, and that's something I truly admire. I always try to support Latino entrepreneurs when they're doing things right, and this place is definitely doing something creative. We ordered two flights--one with coffee and one with matcha. Each flight comes with four small samples, and they were all seasonal fall flavors, which I thought was such a fun and unique idea. It's cool because you get to try different drinks in little cups, almost like a tasting experience. The coffee flight (we got it iced) was amazing--the flavors were bold and had that strong coffee taste I personally love. The matcha flight was also fun, but I would have preferred a stronger matcha flavor in some of them. They also have plenty of milk options--we ordered ours with oat milk and it was delicious. On top of that, they have a pretty wide food menu with bagels, sandwiches, wraps, and more. We tried the tuna sandwich and it was really good, definitely worth recommending. The café has little chairs outside, the vibe inside is cozy, and I loved that they were playing Spanish music. That's something you don't usually find in most coffee shops here, and it gave the place extra personality. The only thing I'm still unsure about is the price. For two flights (coffee + matcha) and the sandwich, the total was around $55. Maybe that's a bit expensive--or maybe it's just the nature of ordering flights, since I had never tried that before. Either way, it was worth it for the experience and the flavors. In short, it's a cute, cozy, and creative spot that's definitely worth checking out--especially if you're into seasonal flavors, want to try something unique, and love supporting Latina-owned businesses in Chicago.

Meli Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated May 2026

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