Beatrix is a fantastic escape from the standard conference center fare. After a long night, the…read moreMigas Egg Scramble provided exactly the kind of flavorful, high-protein start that was needed to get through the day. The Hazelnut Oat Mocha was a great pairing--rich and well-balanced. It was also good to see the variety at the table; the Eggs Your Way, Lemon Pancakes, and Overnight Oats all looked like solid, well-prepared options. The staff was friendly and attentive throughout the meal, making for a seamless experience. If you're looking for a reliable breakfast spot in Chicago that feels a bit more intentional than the usual hotel or convention options, this is a winner.

Beatrix is one of those places that looks great on paper: pretty space, glowing online reviews, and…read morea menu that promises fresh, modern comfort food. But once you're actually sitting there, the shine wears off fast. The service is... fine, but mostly in that scripted, personality‑free way that feels more like a training video than hospitality. You get the sense everyone is doing exactly what they were told to do, nothing more, nothing less. It's polite, but not warm -- efficient, but not memorable. The atmosphere is genuinely pleasant -- bright, clean, and stylish without trying too hard -- but the food just doesn't live up to the setting. Most dishes land somewhere between "okay" and "I guess this is fine," which is disappointing given the prices and the hype. Nothing is bad, but nothing is great either. It's the kind of meal you forget about before you've even left the building. Overall, Beatrix ends up feeling like a hotel restaurant pretending to be a neighborhood favorite. If you want something reliable and inoffensive, it works. If you want something with flavor, personality, or any real sense of Chicago, there are far better options.

We had a fantastic experience at the Reserve Roastery! So much to see and to try, and Zach was very…read morefriendly and helpful in recommending something we might like to try - the cold brew malt. FANTASTIC life choice, Zach you are the bomb!!! It was so good even tho it was a tad pricy, I'd come back just for that. Indoors it's 5 levels though the 5th is currently closed for renovations, and it was very crowded so it was difficult to find seating, but it's kept very clean and polished despite the high traffic. Kudos to the staff!!

Cool place - 4 floors with a variety of shops and experiences, as well as different menus of coffee…read moreetc. I ordered a tiramisu latte which was good. This was a nice break from the shopping we were doing on the street there. Quick service.

If your a connoisseur of coffee, then this is the place for you! I ordered a Nutella Mocha…read moreespresso with steamed milk. It was outstanding. The restaurant is large enough to accommodate a group or if you wanna drop in and have a sweet treat and coffee there are plenty of coffee and dessert options. It's a nice place to hang out with friends or if you're studying for a test and you need to chill this would be the place for you. The staff were friendly and inviting if I'm in the downtown area again I'm definitely going to stop in.

cute little coffee shop with vegan donuts from beacon! they have some fun flavors and great tables…read morefor working. i got a honey cinnamon latte to-go and it was quick & great service.

This is my favorite place for pastries and baked items. It's my go-to spot whenever I'm craving…read morecake. This location also has a seating area with tables, and during the summer they have outdoor seating too. You can pick the items you want on a tray and then go to the counter to place your order. I have ordered birthday cakes for my friends from here many times. One time I forgot to pre-order, but luckily they had cakes available to buy right away, which was really helpful. Definitely recommend!

Nice location. Clean. Bright and has a wide selection of delicious looking pastries. Coffee is…read moresolid and the cups right up my alley. Firm. Strong and secure. Friendly workers make it a nice place for a quick snack.

I stopped into Stan's Donuts & Coffee while walking around Chicago and immediately understood why…read morethere was a line the entire time I was there. The whole place smelled absolutely amazing the second I walked in. Since I was just ordering coffee, which I fully regret not getting a donut. I used the kiosk and my order came out quickly. I went with the brown butter latte, and it was super yummy with a flavor that stood out from a standard latte.

The coffee is absolutely delicious, the pretzel bagel is a must-try, and they have such unique and…read morecreative donut flavors. Everything tastes fresh and high quality. Definitely a go-to spot when you're craving something sweet (or savory) with great coffee to match.

Hands down the best gluten free donuts I've had in 14 years since going gf. My husband and son…read morecouldn't tell that they were gf. I brought them back home and shared with my Mom who is also gf and her eyes nearly popped out of her head with the first bite. 10/10 must get when in Chicago

Gluten Free Donuts??? Absolutely!!!…read moreOne of the best tasting donuts we have ever had. Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Friendly staff. Nice outdoor seating available. Highly recommend this donut shop.

The shakshuka here really impressed me! super flavorful and the eggs were cooked perfectly. the…read moreservice was lovely and i will definitely be back

To begin with, the customer service here was great and made the experience even more enjoyable…read more Moreover, the food was just as amazing and definitely worth coming back for. My boyfriend ordered the turkey bacon & egg croissant and absolutely loved it. Furthermore, I got the breakfast with bacon, toast, and hash browns, which I really enjoyed as well. In addition, we decided to get a pecan sticky bun for dessert, and it was the perfect sweet treat to end our meal so delicious! On top of that, everything came out fresh and well-prepared, which made the whole experience even better. Overall, if you're looking for a great breakfast spot, this is definitely the place to go you won't regret it!

Their latte it's pretty good but the muffing was amazing I'll definitely recommend it, at least the…read moreblueberry one :)

Ralph's is a great spot to shop, or enjoy coffee and ice cream. The decor is fantastic, and it…read morecreates a comfortable setting for relaxing and having a good conversation. I especially love their soft-serve ice cream. It's a pleasant surprise and definitely worth trying. After finishing your coffee, you can walk right into the shop and pick up some Polo pieces, which makes the whole experience feel seamless. It's a unique place where you can enjoy a little bit of everything in one visit

Eataly Chicago is a massive 63,000-square-foot Italian food hall in River North that perfectly…read morebalances a gourmet market with high-end dining. It's a "choose your own adventure" destination--great for a quick espresso, a sit-down meal, or souvenir shopping. * The Food: The second floor is the heart of the action. La Pizza & La Pasta serves incredible Neapolitan pies and authentic pasta. For something more casual, grab a slice of Roman-style pizza or fresh gelato on the ground floor.I could live my entire life on that fettuccine Alfredo; the kids spaghetti was also spectacular and so was the pizza . * The Market: You'll find top-tier imported olive oils, house-made mozzarella, and a massive selection of Italian wines. It's an excellent spot to pick up specialty ingredients you won't find at a standard grocery store. * The Vibe: It gets very busy on weekends, so aim for a weekday lunch or early dinner if you want to avoid the crowds. If you have time, check out their cooking school for a hands-on pasta-making class. Pro Tip: Head to the central "Piazza" on the second floor to enjoy a glass of wine and a cheese board while people-watching.

PSA! PSA: There may be nearly 5,000 good Yelp reviews but that was from Eataly's heyday. Any good…read morecustomer review now is only because they got extremely lucky on their visit. This location is not what is used to be and has gone downhill in recent years. The staff they hire have gone downhill. Certainly not on par with the prices they charge, nor for the pretentious experience they are trying to create. Today 5/17/26, I ordered 4 items to-go at the Cafe Lavazza station on the first floor: three food items and a drink. I got home, and realized one of my items was missing. My immediate thought was the cashier did not bag my 4th food item. I was also open to the idea that maybe she never even rang the 4th item up but since they did not give me a receipt I wasn't sure. I only had my bank charge amount. So, around 12p, I called and asked for a manager. An AA female manager got on the phone and right away gave the lazy vibe that she was irritated, and bothered that she had to help a customer. I explained that I was missing an item but wasn't sure since I was not handed a receipt. I further explained that I was open to the fact that maybe it was never rang up, and that I was hoping she could check my receipt to tell me either way. She finally found my receipt, in an annoyed manner told me the 4th item was never rung up, THEN hung the phone up on me. I was shocked - but not really because as I mentioned, Eataly's recent hires have gone downhill. I was disappointed to experience a "manager" behave this way. This sorry excuse for a manager is the reason I will never frequent that station again. Eataly do better and please hire intelligent, capabable, and helpful managers in the future. And get rid of that one.

After a day shopping on Magnificent Mile north of the river in Chicago, we stopped at nearby…read moreCafecito on Chestnut. It was early Sunday afternoon, and we were too large a group to arrive without calling ahead. You walk up a lovely old half-flight of stairs under an ornate ceiling. After a short wait, half of our party went elsewhere, and the remaining four of us were quickly seated. The front area is mainly a café, with maybe 10 seats at tables for two. Farther back is a hallway and a larger room with seating in booths and at high-tops for maybe 40, and maybe 6 more at a small bar. The staff is quick and friendly. The food is delicious and fresh and hot! And the music is loud and festive :-) We had the thin-cut savory palomillo steak, a generous serving, pounded to tenderness, served with classic wet black-beans and white rice, sweet soft platanos maduros plantain pieces, and some greens and tomato. We had a lovely colorful medium-sized Mojo Shrimp in tart garlic citrus mojo sauce, with sateed red onion crescents, tomato chunks, and parsley. And we had the huge slow-cooked tender shredded-beef Ropa Vieja pressed sandwich, sauced lightly with slightly-tangy creole sauce, served with platanos maduros and black beans. All of their food delightfully authentic. We liked it so much, a few days later we ate at their South Loop location, too!

Cafecito had my favorite sandwiches in the city - all time favorite is the ropa vieja. It's meaty…read morefrom the steak and slightly sweet from the plantains - so delicious. Their shrimp and guava-q sandwiches are also other go-to sandwiches for me. The one on wells is perfect for a lunch in the loop. If you want sit down service, the gol coast location is decent. The location on Fullerton kinda sucks - service is just really slow there so if I get sandwiches from there, I exclusively go the take out route. But all in all, the sandwiches are amazing!! And the yucca fries are good too. Oo and the guava cheese pastry is nice if you want a sweet treat after.