Love this space! Half of it is a work from home space where a lot of people have laptops out and are 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. read more

Really great vibes inside: the coffeeshop and bookstore combo is the ultimate cozy pairing! Didn't have too much time to browse at the bookstore, but I ordered a seasonal strawberry matcha latte and an americano from the cafe. The americano was nothing special but refreshing on a summer day. The seasonal strawberry matcha was a bit disappointing, due to the lack of matcha flavor (the color was not very vibrant, and the matcha powder itself was likely not super high quality or oxidized) and sweetness. However, I tried the strawberry corn cookie, and it was one of the most delicious cookies I've had. Corn in dessert has been one of my favorites, and the texture of the corn with the strawberry icing to make a sweet and slightly tart summer treat was incredible! Everyone working there was super kind, and if I had more time to hang around, I would definitely bring a laptop and work here. read more

The Understudy Coffee And Books - Americano (left), strawberry matcha latte (right) - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

On our way to class recently, we stopped by The Understudy Coffee and Books for the first time to check 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. read more

See all

The coffee is good, the store is an interesting bookstore/coffee shop combo. The theme here is theater, and that's unique and also the rub. Do you want to drink your coffee surrounded by semi-grown up theater kids, with a gaggle of theater kids behind the counter? If yes, this place is fantastic. People will shout, scream dramatically with laughter, twirl around twice on their way to picking up their order, and be more interested in throwing in jokes back and forth behind the register than acknowledging you or getting your order right. Relentless "Pick Me" energy from all directions, non-stop. If no, maybe take your coffee to go. This place is a lot. read more

Visited this coffee shop/bookstore on a recent trip to Chicago and thought it was really cute! We only popped in for a quick coffee but I enjoyed the ambiance and browsing the books. I ordered one of the seasonal specialties the "purple summer". It was an iced ube latte with coconut milk and I opted to add a shot of espresso to cut the sweetness a bit, as recommended. It was good! The ube and espresso combo tasted almost like mocha - it was a rich, sweet flavor. The color was pretty too. The wait wasn't long either with service being quick and friendly. It seems like a good place to work remote from too with there being lots of tables to spread out. I'd recommend this spot read more

See all

This is such a cute space, pretty big inside and the book selection is great. As you can imagine they have a lot of playwright books. Several versions of Hamlet, guides to the great comet of 1812, incredible selection. The coffee shop is great too, although folks said online they had a breakfast sandwich, this is not true anymore. We came here on a Saturday morning around 10am and we were able to get a seat for three. I got a butte croissant, my child got a chocolate chip zucchini bread, and my partner got the savory cornmeal danish, it has sun dried tomatoes on top. We also got two hot coffees, black, and they carry the Pink Lemonade from Marz. It was all good. read more

See all

The staff here are not self-aware and are SO unbelievably loud. Even worse, they have been given this feedback and ridicule it, which is a shame because it completely overshadows the coffee and atmosphere. I left here with a poor impression - and was shocked enough to do a bit of research about the place. Not only did I find similar reviews about their volume level, I discovered they also made an immature, self-important Instagram post mocking those complaints. This messaging is arrogant and alienating to potential patrons, who might offer you constructive or negative feedback. The baristas were yelling and shouting the entire time, like drunk college students screaming to each other to be heard over loud music, or a group of elementary kids piling onto a bus for a field trip. They are LOUDER than loud and incredibly distracting, yelling, screaming noises, as if performing for an audience. It's as if this isn't their workplace (customers first), an indoor space, or a location designated to provide hospitality, instead, this was their personal stand-up show. Of course, it's admirable that the staff can here can enjoy their work, but it's inconsiderate to subject an entire room (full of customers who often read, work, unwind or have their own conversation) to your banter and oversharing. The sentiment that was suggested to me in-store and online is, "We don't need your patronage, deal with it." read more

Had the special cold brew with cold foam. Yum! Great vibe inside too with the book store and seating choice. Much recommended stop before you shop Andersonville. read more

The reviews are true. The Understudy is incredibly charming - I want to move in! Located just up the road in Andersonville, I'm so happy to have this cozy shop nearby. The space is so pretty and inviting. Exposed bricks, lots of books, natural lighting and big cozy chairs, The Understudy has all the fixings for a perfect coffee shop. I decided to try one of the seasonal drinks made with ube, coconut milk, and a shot of espresso. I loved it because it had the mild, nutty sweetness and the shot of espresso balanced it perfectly! I was able to knock out a couple hours of work here. The wifi is great, but it does get busy!! I can understand why though - I'm already planning my next trip. read more

See all

Stepped into this place after seeing the neat setting for working on laptop. I ordered Matcha shocked it made instantly like under a minute. I just hope they're making it the properly for $7 and some change. The cafe shop/bookstore interior is beautiful, but the staff were a bit chatty and derange walking around with what I think is bra? I never seen that before, but just not for me in the future lol. Matcha was actually great, good quality. read more

The Understudy Coffee And Books - Instant Matcha Latte - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love books and I love coffee so this seemed like the perfect place. I was a bit disappointed that they didn't have skim milk but my cappuccino was very good. It was very popular place to be as many people were there. The bookstore part is a mostly curated collection of fiction, poetry and plays. If you are looking for a large selection, this might not be the place for you. However, if you are looking for a unique place to meet a friend, read and buy a book and enjoy good coffee, this fits the bill. read more

One of the owners, the manager, and the staff told me that Zionists are not allowed in the store. The owner told me that they made this decision as a community. One female employee told me to "get the F out of the store." read more

The staff were all super friendly and I thought their seating area was super cozy. It can get crowded during the weekend but that's expected at all coffee shops. I got their seasonal matcha and I thought it was delicious but I'd cut back on the syrup a little since it overpowered the matcha flavor. I briefly looked over their books but I'm not much of a reader so my review is solely on their coffee shop. read more

See all

Four stars because the aesthetics and the service are great but the coffee is not that good.... I love coffee, I drink coffee before I drink water so I'd like to think that I have a decent grasp on it. I've been to the understudy about 3-4 times. The first time, I had the pumpkin cold brew and it was great. The second third and so on times, it was a miss for me. The coffee tasted watered down and I even tried another speciality this time. The feel of the place is amazing so I want to believe that I was just unlucky with the latest visits. Also, this place has a really cool selection of books in the bookstore portion of the store, a lot of unique finds from all over the world! read more

See all

How cool is The Understudy? Extremely. Chic coffee shop and a book store?! Amazing. My nerdy little introverted heart feels at home here, especially surrounded by such comfy and cozy seating! read more

The Understudy Coffee And Books - Matcha latte and Thai tea donut - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Really nice coffee and book shop. I appreciate that it is invested with the community and has alot of the community events posted. The environment is perfect for studying, reading, or a coffee date. They have bags of thier coffee to purchase, along with mugs. I had an iced hazelnut almond milk latte. Nice and smooth, and not too sweet. They also make thier syrups in house. read more

The Understudy Coffee And Books - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fantastic coffee and even better service. Everyone is friendly and ready to have a genuine conversation with you. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting. read more

The Understudy Coffee And Books - Theatre Camp seasonal latte - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great space for community, coffee and books. The chocolate hazelnut financier was delicious.

I wandered into this fabulous coffee shop yesterday. I love the cute book store next door. Located in one of my favorite neighborhoods. The Understudy is my new favorite place. The staff was warm and friendly. The iced coffee was perfect. I will definitely visit again. read more

I went to read on a rainy Sunday with a friend which is perfect coffee shop weather. It also meant The Understudy was quite busy. My friend waited 5-10 minutes for a spot to open up. My friend ordered drip coffee and said it was good. It's a cute theme. The music changed during my last hour to upbeat throwback pop songs which was distracting. read more

This place was super cute! Half of it was a bookstore and the other half was a really nice cafe. The vibes are really good and even if you're not getting books its a great spot to stop for a coffee. I got the pumpkin latte, usually something I don't go for the server convinced me to give it a try. It was really delicious! I also got a savory danish, which was surprisingly good. I was kind of impressed with the quality of the food, and the books make it extra fun. I would definitely go back! read more

The Understudy Coffee And Books - savory danish, sweet seasonal danish, pumpkin latte - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The understudy is a great place to get a tasty coffee and snack, and stay for the good vibes. Acting as a coffee shop and a book store, the place is split into two sections. You can enjoy some sunlight in the front of the store or go to the back and get a bit more cozy. The drinks are well done - I enjoyed their cold brew and although their pastries are from local bakeries, they have a wide option of unique vendors. I appreciate that they put the allergens that are included in the pastry on the display. I got the butter croissant and it was fresh and fluffy. We also got a pecan bar that was delicious. The place has spare outlets but there are some and the wifi is solid. I worked from here for a few hours and I enjoyed my time hanging out. I'd come back to check out the local book selections and get a good drink. read more

See all

A very cool coffee shop with a small bookstore attached. The barista was friendly and the menu had some unique seasonal options. I enjoyed the coffee but wouldn't say it's the best in the city. The seating area had hipster/library atheistic. It is definitely a popular spot so it was a little tough to find a table for two but it gave us a reason to wander through the book section. It's at the "end" of Andersonville so a little out of the way, but if you're in the area I recommend checking them out. read more

I found it, I found the coffee shop with every I need in a coffee shop. Small, but not stuffy. A variety of comfortable seating, welcoming smiling staff, sound appropriate GOOD music: and an excellent selection of coffee, teas, drinks, and baked goods. I love it here. The lighting coming in is spectacular. The neighborhood vibe is felt but not overwhelming. THE WIFI IS JUMPIN' in here and the restrooms are immaculate. This right here is gonna be my space for now... see you when you come in. (TRY THE PASSION FRUIT LEMONADE!) read more

The Understudy Coffee And Books - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Boy, this coffee/book shop deserves 5 stars for its execution of a theme! An homage to the theater, this coffeeshop had a stage and walls covered with scripts. All the books being sold had something to do with theater (whether plays or about famous actors or something in between). The decorations are immaculate too! I did not try the coffee, but i know I must be back! read more

The Understudy Coffee And Books - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I don't live in Chicago, but I visit pretty often- 1-2 times a year. On my last visit a couple of months ago, I finally took a long walk and ended up at this place. It is such a cute, cozy and pleasant coffee shop; lovely atmosphere and aesthetics. Kind service and clean environment. One side is the coffee shop, with ample seating. The other side is the bookshop, with more seating and a wide selection of books. I could spend hours here reading, people watching, etc. The only reason I knocked a star off was because the coffee just wasn't good, I'm sorry to say. I ordered a hot americano and added splash of half & half, my usual. Something about it just did not taste good. Maybe on my next visit to the windy city, I'll go back and give it another try. read more

The Understudy Coffee And Books - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Took me a while to get to this side of town to visit, but this cute bookshop-cafe combo lives up to the hype. 1. Metric drip coffee is delicious 2. Baked goods (also by metric!) are exceptional: squash rosemary scone didn't sound like it worked. It worked. 3. Bright and sunny corner plus warm wood floors and fantastical creature wallpaper = ideal vibe. 4. Staff are rambunctious and friendly and somehow know how to chat with each other behind the counter but also instantly be attentive to customers: uncommon. read more

See all

Can't rave about this coffee shop enough. First off the interior is so hip and aesthetic. The service is always great and friendly. And their coffee is really good! Their beans come from METRIC coffee and basically anything you get will be great. I dont typically order anything outside the regular latte with whole milk (no sweeteners), BUT I HIGHLY recommend THE FOLKLORE (Understudy's version) read more

Super cool selection of books, fancy good coffee, and a welcoming atmosphere :) I would advise against sitting at the window seats in summer sun, but other than that, no notes! read more

The Understudy Coffee And Books - Two ice coffees - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The Understudy Book and Coffee Shop is a cozy haven that blends the perfect amount of quirky charm with an earthy, plant-filled vibe--like a comforting hug from a houseplant with a mischievous grin. I had their seasonal coffee, Two Black Cats, which was deliciously haunting in all the right ways. The owner, who took our order, was incredibly friendly and made us feel right at home, even going out of his way to suggest other local spots (we're from out of town). Honestly, his warmth and hospitality are one of the reasons we're seriously thinking about moving to Chicago. This place, with its queer-friendly atmosphere and subtle nods to classic horror, would easily become one of our favorite haunts--pun absolutely intended! If you're looking for a coffee shop that feels like a mash-up of a cozy forest, a horror movie marathon, and a friendly gathering, this is the spot. read more

See all

I have been waiting for The Understudy to open for months, and was excited when they announced on Instagram that they were ready for the big day! I didn't make it to the grand opening but came in a few weeks later. The decor in the shop is gorgeous, and I love that an owl seems to be their mascot; I have a bit of an affinity for owls myself. There's street parking only around here, so plan accordingly. This store's niche is that it focuses on plays and theatre. While they did have a section with a few books that aren't plays, or dramatic analysis or the like, most of what you'll find here is the latter. It's the brainchild of a couple of DePaul Theatre graduates, and it's just a really cool idea. In the bookstore section, toward the back, there were a bunch of folks and lively discussion taking place when I was there wandering around. I'm not sure if it was a bunch of friends or if it was some sort of impromptu gathering, but I like the community feel that it lent the place. I can't wait to see what sort of events they might end up hosting here. The cafe takes up about half of the shop. They don't have an extensive menu, but they do have interesting specials in addition to their standards. They have some delicious looking pastries if you get here in time; I snagged a cheese danish that was yummy. My chai latte was good, but less sweet than what is served at the other coffee shops that I've gone to. It wasn't bad, and while I can't say it was my favorite chai I also would not hesitate to get it from here again next time I stop in. I love the vibe here, and will be back. read more

See all

Hands down my favorite place to study. Very good playlist, adorable space, good sunlight, nice staff. The coffee is good too, but expensive. There's also cute seating in the back, where the books are. I will say the ambience borders on stimulating -- the music is loud, the staff are chatty, and there's movement near the bookstore. It's up to your preference. The book selection is pretty great, too. read more

See all

The Understudy Coffee and Books is so adorable. I love the mix of a legitimate coffee shop paired with books. It reminds me of the Borders or Barnes and Nobles days of my youth. Like many of the newer businesses in the area they invested a lot in their decor. The inside reminds me of what I would expect to see at a cafe in Wicker Park; mixed match furniture, plants, random wallpaper, and upbeat music. The staff is unbelievably friendly. Whenever you enter the shop someone is going to greet you with a smile. The energy from the staff is infectious. They have only been open for a few weeks and I already observed them acknowledging the regulars by name and having small talk. The inside of the shop is on the louder side. They have trendy music playing and it is always bustling with people. If you want to score one of the prime tables you have to get here early. They have ample sitting but a lot of the sitting is at high tops. They don't have a lot of plugs available so if you want access to one of the few you have to get here early. I tired the quiche and iced mocha. I loved both of them. The quiche was a nice size for the price that you pay. I got a solid meal from it without feeling like it was too much or too little. The quiche was more solid which I loved because I've experienced quiches that are too soft in the center. The iced mocha was nicely made. It was a little more of the chocolate side but not too overpowering. I could easily see myself coming back here if I want a cafe with a vibe. The amount I spent for my visit was reasonable based on the amount of time I stayed. read more

See all

We are very excited about this new coffee shop/theater themed bookstore in our Andersonville neighborhood. The coffee shop utilizes Metric coffee, which is always a solid choice. For my first visit, I did a black house coffee to stay, and it was solid. Plus the to-stay mugs are adorable. The menu is simple and straightforward with some exciting seasonal drinks to jazz things up. Prices are very reasonable for the area. Refills on to-stay mugs are one dollar. It also appears that they have pastries! I cannot wait to try them in the future! There is ample seating throughout the store for folks to work. The only thing to note is that the tables themselves are fairly small, so know that you won't have tons of room to spread out. But coming to read, work on your computer, or catch up with a friend is perfect for the seating layout. The seating is also cozy, warm, and spread out. The store itself is wonderfully designed. I would divide it into three sections: (1) the chic coffee shop, (2) the beautifully rainbow color-coded theater themed bookstore, and (3) the main seating area + seating nooks throughout the store. I can already tell that I'll need to come back several times to notice all of the wonderfully thought out details in this store, and spend time looking through the books. I'm here doing school work at the moment, but I definitely want to return for a leisurely exploration. Finally, the staff are warm and welcoming as they help all of us get acclimated to the store. Also, they store is clean and welcoming. And there are restrooms! What more could you want! I can already tell that the Understudy is going to become a staple of our neighborhood and I cannot wait for my next visit! read more

See all

This is gonna be a split review for the book store and the coffee shop aspect. The book store is larger than you'd expect to be paired with another business, and the aesthetic of the place is really nice. I don't feel like the books they have are terribly diverse as far as genres go: they mostly seem to be queer or race related, which is fine to offer obviously but they just don't devote much shelf space to other types of books. Maybe that's to be expected in a gay neighborhood though. The coffee aspect has been okay. The first drink I tried was a little too sweet but had great flavor otherwise. My second drink had fairly bitter espresso and was a little more disappointing. It's a bit pricey ($7 for a 12oz latte), and they don't have a ton of good specialty lattes and I'm not overwhelmed by the flavor options for their drinks. read more

Dog walker friendly!! I love to take my dog out and about and recently found that there is a walk up window on the side of the building for dog walkers. I absolutely love when businesses do this and will be returning many times because of it. The plus is amazing coffee & very friendly service. Thanks for thinking of us dog walkers that can't go inside!! :) read more

The Understudy Coffee And Books - Walk up window for dog walkers - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Super cute spot with cozy nooks for reading and quiet chatter. Cold brew is delicious and staff are highly energetic often singing or debating vociferously philosophy books etc. Lively and inviting. There is a major lack of vegan pastries. Only dessert items like wrapped brownie and whoopi pies. Would be nice to have a muffin, croissants, fun donuts - these go with coffee. Fancy Plants makes incredible pastries and Beacon Doughnuts is all vegan. Few coffee shops seem to understand this menu/market gap. read more

Very good overall! The drinks fit the bill exactly, and the ambiance was good. The Understudy made for a very nice place to have a warm drink and get comfortable for a few hours. Pros: - Solid drinks (not unbelievable, but they were good. Checked all the boxes). - Nice space. Large, with a fair amount of seating. - Nice music - Lots of natural light - Friendly staff - Cool bookstore attached - Open late for a café (6pm!) Cons/neutral: - Music could be considered slightly loud (it did not bother me). They also played albums all the way through, so if you don't like the artist, maybe you won't like the music. - Limited table seating. They have little side tables that people used to prop up their laptop and things, but they only have a few substantial tables. First come first serve. - Not cheap. A matcha was $6, with $0.50 upcharge for non-dairy milk. This is about middle of the road in my opinion. Not a crazy price, but not cheap - I was told that the cinnamon was not evenly distributed in the chai latte, so you may not get much cinnamon taste until you're at the bottom. All in all, this is a good place to get a drink and get cozy. Be warned: there is a fair amount of traffic on the weekends, so you may not have your first pick for seating. read more

The Understudy Coffee And Books - matcha + chai latte. - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love the theme of this cafe! Wish there was a bit more seating. I had an espresso tonic.

Absolutely a coffee shop/bookstore combination that is in one of the cuter places of Chicago neighborhoods. I believe I absolutely fell in love with the Ube latte that they had. And then I encouraged all my friends to try it too and they loved it. The atmosphere was great this there's not a lot of space to read in the bookshop part there's a few tables on the coffee shop side it's quite tight but it works. Service was OK because you order from the counter and pick it up. They have cute decor and bright ceiling to floor windows on one side. read more

The Understudy Coffee And Books - Books and Coffee - Bookstores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois