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    Rivers and Roads Cafe

    4.0 (215 reviews)
    ModerateCoffee & Tea
    Open 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

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    RIVERS AND ROADS CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Halloween pie
    Tabitha W.

    We drove up to Rivers & Roads Cafe around Halloween, and I loved the fun seasonal items they had available. Everything was really cute, but not necessarily the most flavorful. It was so crowded inside though, so we felt lucky to snag a spot. It was difficult to navigate around people inside. This is an hours' drive for me, so I probably wouldn't venture out this way again since the seating availability seemed iffy with how crowded they get.

    sign in the front window
    Meredith S.

    There was a line out the door and MY GOD it was worth it. Delicious seasonal matcha with a subtle hint of pear, and delicious pastries that basically melted in my mouth on my walk along the "beach." So cute.

    Menú
    Mary M.

    TOP NEW CAFE ALERT. Big fan of the outdoors / national park theme. Big fan of the breakfast sandwich. Huge fan of guava and PR pride. Banana daiquiri latte with macadamia nut milk was delicious -- not overly sweet, had a nutty flavor, delicious espresso. Definitely recommending to my friends and family. Excellent folks behind the counter. Vibe was good

    Asja D.

    Once upon a long time ago, I used to come to this space as a child and had Saturday school here. Walking in here brought back so many fond nostalgic memories with childhood friends and running around causing mischief but although it's since changed to a coffee shop, the warmth of the space has remained. I love the way that Rivers and Roads have utilized this space- a beautiful and welcoming space not just in spirit but also in the various different causes and actions that they support. When they say everyone is welcome, you cannot just feel that, you can see it. I went on a Sunday afternoon and it was popping! Good luck finding a place to sit because you'll be outta luck! Overall, pretty decent space but when it's so packed it looks smaller than it actually is. I had a specialty latte that they offer in the fall and my mom had a regular latte. I also had their cookie- so good Omgosh. I would love to comeback to try the rest of their breakfast menu. The staff was so friendly and they were communicating with each other effectively - there was cohesion between them from my POV and honestly that really affects the flow and mood of the space. Anyways, highly recommend coming here!

    Giardiniera croissant
    Nick R.

    A short walk from the Loyola Chicago campus, Rivers and Roads felt like a hidden gem, but for the fact that it seems pretty locally popular. Friendly informative and quick service, great original selection. Interior is cozy and rustic (per their national parks theme). The Giardiniera Croissant was absolutely delicious. If I lived nearby, I would be here often.

    Marissa M.

    This is a favorite among favorites of coffee shops and such a hidden gem of Rogers Park! I first found Rivers and Roads on Instagram. I've been to a couple of those foodie account coffee shops, and they've all been OK. However, this place exceeded expectation! Great theme. Great food. Great coffee. Great atmosphere. Easy street parking. Friendly baristas. Amazing spot!

    Nazia C.

    Great coffee, fun theme, delicious cookies. The syrups are all made in house and they have a lot of fun options. I had the mango matcha latte and it was delicious. You must try the cookies. We tried three different cookies and every single one was fantastic. There is plenty of seating and it would be a great place to go to work. I noticed a lot of outlets along the wall seating.

    Interior
    Theresa J.

    Very busy coffee shop with great unique flavors. Gives a vibe of Yellowstone amongst a big city.

    Nicholas W.

    Great people, great coffee. They brew counter culture beans, which I'm partial to, and their pastries/baked goods are pretty great too.

    Sausage (turkey), egg & cheese
    Jim D.

    Place was recently featured on infatuation's best breakfast sandwich establishments & seeing as how I'm desperate to find some new establishments I indulged. My initial reaction was that the sausage was reminiscent of play dough & seeing as how we eat with our eyes 1st I wasn't looking forward to this. Sandwich was subpar & seeing as how uber eats wasn't cheap I wasn't pleased. Do yourself a favor & go to loaf lounge

    Halloween cookies- so fun!
    Katrina M.

    I really enjoyed studying here. For a packed house, it was surprisingly still possible to focus! Everyone there seemed to be working on stuff so it was not too much activity to get my own work done. I prefer my coffee a little sweeter/more flavor than it was made, but I know that's a personal preference. Lastly, the lox bagel had so much potential but was ultimately way too salty to eat. I got it on a rosemary sea salt bagel, so that was on me, but there is also sea salt on top and I just had to take off the tomato since that's where all the salt was. I'd just ask for no salt next time.

    Iced Coffee - Mocha with Oat Milk
    Shay R.

    Rivers and Roads Cafe is my go-to place to work when I want a change of scenery. Every time that I have visited the staff has been wonderful. Everyone is always smiling and they acknowledge you from the moment you walk into the cafe. They have ample seating to accommodate large to small groups of people. It can get really busy so if you want one of the prime working spots you have to get there early. In the warmer weather they have a decent sized outdoor space. Depending on the time of day the area is pretty shaded and tolerable to sit outside for a longer period of time. I love working at Rivers and Roads Cafe because they have a good amount of plugs for charging your devices. If you site along the wall you are not too far from a plug and I have not run into an issue asking someone to let you charge your laptop at the plug near them if it is not in user. Aside from the periodic bender/coffee bean grinder noises the music isn't too loud so you can take a call at the cafe. My go-to order are the lox bagel. They have a really delicious parmesan cheese bagel that takes the sandwich up a notch. I normally struggle to complete a whole one so you could easily share the sandwich. If you like sweets, they typically have a rotating seasonal cookie!

    Paul J.

    Another stop at Rivers and Roads - this place still keeps the crunchy caffeinated vibe going in Rogers Park. This time we got our various forms of caffeination, all good, especially drinks with oat milk creamer - smooth and delicious. Highlight of the snack was a fruity pebbles-infused cookie that they were giving away for their anniversary. Giving away!? A clear sign that Rivers and Roads is invested in the community. Always a fun, bright stop in my Chicago travels, I'll be back.

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    10 months ago

    Love a themed coffee shop! Wish they had longer hours. I had the house made macadamia nut syrup in a matcha latte.

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    6 months ago

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    11 months ago

    The coffee is good, place is chill, service was fast and friendly. Highly recommend this place.

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    Page 1 of 6

    Rivers and Roads Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

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    Sip and Savor

    Sip and Savor

    3.7
    (30 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    Nice local coffee shop in Edgewater, so much better than any commercial chain with lots of unique…read moreflavors and options. Had to wait a little longer with only one person working but it was fine. The space is big and great for hanging out/studying. Thought it was funny that there was a tip jar despite being cashless...got one of the special lattes and it didn't have too much listed for nutrition/sugar levels, only had a little over half since i felt like i was consuming too much empty sugar (or maybe I wasn't--but it was awfully sweet), but that's on me for not asking. I wish I had a place like this near me.

    I came here to get some work done and there are plenty of tables with outlets. The coffee and food…read moreitself is pretty expensive for the quality. I ordered the Iced Tuxedo Mocha (which was over $7.00) and there was no real coffee flavor while the chocolate tasted cheap. For food I tried the Raspberry Danish and it tasted store bought, which would have been okay if it wasn't $4.25. They also served it on a paper plate which was interesting for a cafe. They did bring it to my table and the staff was friendly when ordering. It was also nice that while she was walking by she took the empty plate later. Overall the food/drink was just okay and it was pricey for a "just okay" experience. The WiFi password is also super long: MoreThanJustCoffee1070!!!

    Photos
    Honey lavendet latte - for the sweet tooth peeps
    Honey lavendet latte - for the sweet tooth peeps
    Sip and Savor
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    The Understudy Coffee And Books

    The Understudy Coffee And Books

    4.3
    (87 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    Love this space! Half of it is a work from home space where a lot of people have laptops out and…read moreare working. The other half of the space is a book store with some great books and little trinkets. I opted to get a Ube Matcha and it was VERY good! Love that the ube was well balanced with the matcha. The baristas were kind and helpful to answer questions about the matcha/coffee.

    On our way to class recently, we stopped by The Understudy Coffee and Books for the first time to…read morecheck it out. The coffee shop was bustling and almost full around 12:30 pm. We were lucky to grab the last small round table for two.  The pastry case was only 40% stocked at this point. We were happy that they still had our favorites -- 2 almond croissants ($14 for 2) and a cappuccino ($5 + $0.50 Oat Milk) to go.  The cashier was very friendly, patient, and welcoming. The decor of the store is modern and charming.  There were a variety of seating options, and many customers were working on their laptops while enjoying their drinks, giving the café a cozy yet lively atmosphere. The bookstore occupies about half of the space and features an impressive collection of books focused on drama and theatre.  If you are interested in theatre, this thoughtfully curated bookstore is for you. We noticed a sign indicating that The Understudy partners with Defloured Bakery, which also partners with a long list of businesses, including another coffee shop in the neighborhood that we frequent a lot. We have enjoyed almond croissants and other baked goods at that café very often, they were just as delicious and large, since they were sourced from the same bakery. However, The Understudy charged $7 for an almond croissant, while the other café charged only $4.50 for the exact same pastry. That's a significant price difference. The cappuccino was another slight disappointment. It was only lukewarm rather than hot, although I am not sure whether the oat milk substitution may have affected the temperature. Judging by how popular The Understudy was during our visit, it's clear that many people appreciate its ambiance, curated bookstore, and friendly service. If those qualities are important to you, you may find the higher prices well worth it.

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    Iced vanilla latte, chocolate croissant
    Iced vanilla latte, chocolate croissant
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    Kopi A Travelers Cafe

    Kopi A Travelers Cafe

    3.9
    (627 reviews)
    1.4 mi
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    a wonderful atmosphere. catching up with a friend, on a date with someone new, just need to take a…read morepitstop, this is the place to be. incredibly kind and attentive staff. wide selection of coffees and treats. the second the smell of my coffee hit my nose hairs I knew a member of my community had brewed it. you can taste the in every sip. carrot cake was moist and delicious. absolutely adore this spot

    I love this place!! I've been here a few times and it's a special place…read more Excellent service, food, beverages, desserts, and a cool shop. Really cool vibes!!! They have regular tables, and then there is a fun section where you can sit on the floor. Outdoor seating in the front and back too. The shop in the back is cool and has a nice variety of clothes, jewelry, books, and gifts. Lots of travel items to match the theme of the cafe. The desserts are homemade and so impressive! The pear Bundt cake was really moist and flavorful. I loved the peanut butter and chocolate pie that was vegan and gluten free and awesome. So delicious! The milkshakes are amazing! I had a boozy one and it was so smooth and easy to drink. They also have good cocktails. I enjoyed a margarita here. The coffees are fantastic! I loved my Thai iced coffee. The matchas are wonderful. I've had the matcha latte and the matcha freeze. I've loved everything I've had so far. Tasty bagels and eggs. The bagel and schmear hits the spot. Nice salads too. The pear and blue salad is delicious. The menu here is expansive and I look forward to coming back and trying new things. I definitely recommend coming here!

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    Happy Monday Coffee Roasters

    Happy Monday Coffee Roasters

    4.8
    (9 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    Absolutely love this coffee shop! Happy Monday in Edgewater is such a small and hidden coffee shop…read morewith the best service! It always seems to be a hit and busy on the weekends. And that is because it is only open on Saturdays and Sundays! It is dog friendly, trendy, and such a hit. Highly recommend this local joint.

    UPDATE: Wow, what a speedy response, thank you. I usually…read morechat with the guy who runs this location who says he is a co-owner. I figured the limited hours had something to do with the menu. Now that you all have gotten rid of the DJ table and added more chairs, it does feel more like a standard cafe! I'm looking forward to the menu changes. Thanks for your consideration! Previous review: I really enjoy their beverages and I keep coming back. That being said, there is almost no price transparency. The only prices they have on their menu are for the THC additions. I've mentioned this to the owner twice (he's a cool guy) but he has always sort of shrugged it off. It bothers me every time I'm in. Sometimes my latte with oat milk comes out different prices. Price transparency is so important for consistency . Not including the prices is a bit elitist, especially when the average drink is $6-$8. You should want folks to come in and comfortably order what they can afford. I hope this suggestion is taken into consideration. The drinks are good and like I said, I keep coming back but this has been a sticking point for me for a year plus.

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    Rivers and Roads Cafe - coffee - Updated July 2026

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