This is a beautiful example of a "third place" coffee shop that builds and supports community. It's a destination but also a starting point of a journey. Delicious drinks with ongoing activities to get involved in meaningful ways during times like these - check-out the fliers. read more

Checked out this pretty cozy cafe. It has kind of an African theme going on. Nabala Cafe is one of the newer coffee shops in Uptown. Great place to get going. There's also pastries. Basically it seems like a pretty simple cafe to get breakfast. It's also of course open at lunch. There's also later if you need to get perked up. Has a pretty limited menu. There's a few coffees and pastries. It's about $4 to get a medium coffee. Last time here it was the Cardamom Latte which smelled and tasted so wonderful. It's about $5 to get something to eat. Last time I got a Hummus Pita. Basic. This is just a pita filled with hummus so it's simple. A pretty good thing if eating on the go. The problem is the lack of seats because it's cramped in here at lunch. For sure it's a pretty great place to come and chill. It's got a pretty interesting selection of coffee that's not usual plus some pastries. This is located close to the Wilson Avenue station. read more

Nabala Cafe - Cardamom Latte And Hummus Pita - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great options to pick from and vibe of cafe. The falesteeni breakfast sandwich and iced chai were great!

Nabala cafe is a lovely addition to the neighborhood- perfect for a hot coffee or sweet treat! read more

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Nabala Cafe is a beautiful spot to grab some coffee, a quick bite, and study or catch up with friends. I love the community bookcase, with some great reading material. The space is bright, and the staff were super friendly. This is Uptown, so the parking is always up in the air, but I parked on Wilson because I had some other errands to run, and then walked over to Nabala. The cardamom latte was very good, with nice, but not overpowering cardamom flavor. The spinach pie was great with a nice lemony tang. I grew up in Uptown, and I know how this area was, as well as how it has changed in the last 30 years. At times it's bittersweet, but I can say I love to see new small businesses pop up in the area, especially when they add to the diversity and community that is Uptown. read more

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Was so cute on the inside and has a bunch of fun interesting palestine inspired drinks -- chai, baklava latte, cardamom/rose infused drinks. we got the chai latte with oat milk and it was good for like the first 3 sips then tasted not so good (assuming the sweetner was in the bottom). would've been better if they had mixed the sweetner with the chai concentrate rather than adding it before. also $7.69 for a small chai is a little pricy i think. read more

Nabala Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Whether it's hanging out with friends/family or enjoying some time to yourself, Nabala Cafe is the perfect place to unwind. With the cozy atmosphere, vibrant decor, and ample natural light, the vibes here are immaculate. Nabala offers a nice variety of food - everything from savory za'atar bread to sweet baklava to numerous other baked goods - and of course they have a fine drink selection. Being a big milk tea fan, I'm personally fond of the Chai Karak. If you order a pot, it comes on a beautiful tray with cute little tea cups. Finally, huge shout-out to the staff here. They're all super friendly and this cafe has been through so much since they opened so if you're remotely near Uptown, swing by and show your support! read more

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A Palestinian coffee shop located in Uptown. It serves coffee, baked goods, and some food items. The location is on the smaller side, so the limited seating when I showed up at noon was full. It is definitely a popular local spot. The staff was friendly when I asked questions on their specialty drinks and ended up ordering their Cardamom Cold Brew. It was pretty good and definitely has a unique flavor. The food looked pretty good, but I ate before I came so passed on it this time. read more

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Beautifully decorated and cute shop! Stopped in on a Friday evening and ordered a karak chai which was well seasoned and mildly sweetened. Also tried a few mamoul cookies. Staff is very friendly and gave us extra pastries to go before closing. Highly recommend! read more

Nabala Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Nabala has become a go-to spot when I have visitors in town. It's the perfect setting to sit and chat (if you can get a seat - it gets pretty packed) over a pot of chai or some coffee. We tried some Turkish coffee and chai the last time I went. Love the vaguely herbal flavor in the Turkish coffee, and how the chai wasn't too sweet. Can't recommend this place enough! read more

Nabala Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Chai was soooo delicious! Cute cafe in a beautiful building and beautiful neighborhood. I've passed by it several times without knowing what it was and finally ended up checking it out. We ordered the karak chai with the spinach and chicken pastries, and loved everything. I will definitely be telling all my friends about this place and hope to be back soon. read more

Nabala Cafe - karak chai, pastries - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

if i lived in chicago, this is where you would find me as a second home. the entire cafe is like a big, warm hug as soon as you walk in. i get emotional in such community spaces so maybe it showed on my face as i ordered, but the servers were family-like kind and sweet. it felt like i was home with my cousins who were making me tea in their home kitchen. i am in love with the grassroots decor, i could spend hours reading every sheet of paper, flyer, and picture inside. the leave a book, take a book concept only added to the connection. i enjoyed my iced mint tea, muhammara, and chicken fatayer. i asked to order zaatar to finish off my olive oil dipping and they provided it complimentary. since we can't enter palestine, this cafe brought palestine to us and im so grateful. read more

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So glad this spot just opened! It's a wonderful Palestinian-owned cafe and community space with amazing staff, patrons, and books to borrow/browse. Their drink selection is tasty and unique (really enjoyed the cardamom cafe au lait), and the food is solid and affordable too. It's perfect for working remotely, as they have long hours (from 7am-7pm or 10pm on most days) and spacious seating. I only wish that I lived closer that I could frequent this spot more often! read more

Nabala Cafe - mint chai, cardamom cafe au lait - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came here on their very first day of their soft opening and am just thrilled to have them in the neighborhood. They're a Palestinian coffee shop with options like Turkish and Arabic coffee plus the typical coffee stuff. I also saw pastries/food but did not partake as I was about to have lunch elsewhere. Will need to come back to try them! The employees I encountered were friendly and the vibe overall was nice. I'd imagine as the establishment works through any kinks and whatnot, this place will be a perfect place to come by and do work, read, or catch up with friends. Excited to have you in Uptown! read more

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One of the few POC cafes in my neighborhood. It's nice to not be oggled at by a certain demographic with the amount of diversity here. Based in every way, especially in their forward and earnest societal and politcal stances. Playlists are consistently a vibe. It's my default WFH place when I'm not in the mood to work from my place. Day time hours are solid for work, evenings usually have community events that can (pleasantly) catch you off guard if you're not following their socials. Coffee is affordable. Espresso could be more consistent. read more

I couldn't love the staff more, but coffee wins the day! Chill vibe and community feeling. Mrs R read more

I went here to get a latte which is really good it was about seven dollars I believe which is a typical price I pay but it was a nice lowkey coffee shop they were pretty busy inside. I did get my order right away. Most people that was inside was already sitting down working and talking to each other so I got service pretty quickly which is great. It was a lot of information about Palestine inside I believe this is a Palestinian business, so it was nice to see that they were doing well! Also, they had a really cool bookshelf and I wanted to take a lot of the books to read because I love reading books but I didn't so I'm definitely go back to sit and read at some point it was kind of loud in there only because it was a lot of people so I'll probably wouldn't come a day that they're not super busy on the inside so I have some silence but other than that it was very nice read more

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Delicious chai! Super cute and cozy. Great location and amazing service! Would absolutely suggest people check this place out! (: read more

Nabala Cafe - Oat Chai - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Local cafe. Very cozy and comfy setting. Delicious chai served in pots and little cup. Bak lava was delicious as well. A must try for the experience. read more

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The wait for this place is finally over...and the time to write this review is finally here! For context, I currently live in Buena Park/Uptown so I have been following the buzz around this place opening for the past 4-5 months now! As we're aware that there are more than plenty of awesome cafés that are operating in this neighborhood, I truly don't believe that there is one as special as Nabala, for more reasons than one. The interior has one of the most coziest set ups in any café I've been to in Chicago. Multiple long tables fit for large groups alongside some nice ez chairs to lounge about while sipping on some amazing drinks. This place is always packed so make sure you can come at a decent time to be able to enjoy your drink in-house and take in the incredible Palestinian-owned art plastered around the walls and the wonderfully curated playlists that are playing at all hours. Get the cardamom cold brew, get the cardamom latte, get the Turkish and the Arabic Coffee as well. Everything I've tried here has been spectacular and I will gladly spend my final dollar here to support this wonderful business and its employees. They're very active on IG so give their page a follow on updates on the store. They've been having game nights lately as well as watch parties in support of people attempting to be reprimanded by awful landlords (seriously). You won't regret your time at this café. Put the Starbucks away forever and have a seat at Nabala. read more

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Good local cafe. Quick service! I need to come back soon! I want to buy a shirt and Kefiyah scarf! read more

I have stopped by a couple of times and it is always packed. It is definitely a cute place to study and work. I got the zaatar flatbread and it was amazing. I always get a cold brew on the go and they work quickly and are super friendly. I would recommend this place to anyone! Glad to see more Palestinian places! read more

Nabala Cafe - zaatar flatbread and iced chai - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A HAVEN FOR EARLY MORNING RISERS. I live in Uptown and decided to walk over to Nabala one morning before work to get some reading done and just to slowly wake up before a busy day. Overall, I had a great experience. The coffee was strong, the snacks were good, and the shop was cozy and quiet. The perfect place to sit in peace on a week day morning. read more

Nabala Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is such a beautiful addition to Chicago's Uptown neighborhood! The decor and vibe are super homey and aesthetically pleasing, you can tell that so much attention is given to detail. The food (homemade pita and garlic hummus) and drink (hibiscus sage iced tea, yum!) are delicious, and the staff are so warm and kind. I could spend a whole day here reading, people watching, sharing stories with other customers and the staff. Really such a special gem, come by because you won't be disappointed! read more

Loved the spreads on pita! Super friendly place with great tea, coffee and food. The cardamom drinks are esp good

Great food and friendly staff! I strongly recommend coming in for lunch. The ambiance is also lovely.

Their chai and coffee are delicious! Staff are really friendly and service is quick. The 50% off pastries in the last hour they're open is a great deal and I try to stop in near closing to satisfy my sweet tooth. read more

Amazing service and ambiance, I love the chai here! They're great at getting the community involved with the events they have here as well. Please continue doing exactly what you're doing. read more

Friendly, welcoming vibe. Small, but the cozy side of small rather than cramped. The cardamom coffee was fantastic, so don't sleep on that.

The vibes, the values, the people/staff. If you want a good, go-to coffee shop, Nabala Cafe is the one. Not only do they have good coffee, but event at night with the creatives of Chicago. My favorite part (other than the warm staff that make your drinks with love) are the book shelves in the back! If you want to spend your money wisely, kindly, etc, etc. come to Nabala! read more

Delicious coffee drink, chill, calm atmosphere. Love the free library. So grateful for a space that celebrated the beauty and resilence of Palestinian culture. read more

The pastries and iced chai i had were remarkable, and i love what they do for the community. Wonderful service and recommendations from staff! And they create an amazing vibe with the library and activities they offer. read more

Can't wait to come have some coffee when I'm in Chicago! Amazing community hub for relaxing and connecting

One of my favorite cafes in Chicago, especially for pastries and cardamom-infused drinks. Also a fan of the books. read more

Good Vibes! and of course great food. Picked up some merch while we were there too! read more

This space is so cozy, beautiful people who work there are always friendly and one time when the card machine was down they just gave me my drink anyway! The food is delicious and it feels so good to be in community with people supporting local business. We have monthly meet ups there with some friends! And the board game options are icing on the cake! A true gem! read more

Thoughtfully curated menu and delicious coffee drinks that sustain your need for caffeine and your need for comfort. The atmosphere is grounding and inviting--the staff is friendly and warm. I attended a film festival event here and was impressed by their ability to turn a cozy cafe into an art space honoring the fight for liberation. Proud to live in the same neighborhood as Nabala Cafe! read more

Great food and amazing service! Always come here when i'm in the area!Deserves all the love in the world! read more

Nabala Cafe is a sweet little coffee shop with a free book swap and art to purchase! Their vibe was very chill and their treats and drinks were yummy. read more

This place is great. I had a car appointment nearby and needed a place to work for a few hours during the wait and I happened to stumble upon Nabala Cafe. The staff is super kind and the customers all seemed to be very kind as well. It was busy, but no one minded if you sat at their table and spaces opened up often. Highly recommend if you're looking for a homey space to chill read more