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Best Cafés in Chicago (2026)

Chicago's café scene mixes history with serious coffee. Lou Mitchell's, near Union Station, has its roots in 1923 and is known as the first stop on Route 66, with breakfast classics and donut holes for diners. Hendrickx Belgian Bread Crafter on East Walton Street offers thirteen kinds of croissant and house-made chocolates, a useful stop for anyone staying near North Michigan Avenue. In River North, Doughnut Vault sells handcrafted doughnuts from 7:30am until they sell out.

Further from the centre, Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits in Logan Square is a relaxed place for pie and brunch, and Milli by Metric in Avondale lets you watch coffee being roasted while you eat. Dark Matter Coffee's Star Lounge in West Town, the roaster's first café, opens from 6am to 9pm daily. Check opening days before you go, as several of these cafés close on one or two weekdays, and arrive early at weekends for the fullest choice.

6 places · Updated October 27, 2026

Our top 3 cafés in Chicago

  1. Lou Mitchell’s Historic breakfast diner, West LoopLou Mitchell's is a family diner dating from 1923 near Union Station, known as the first stop on Route 66 and for its breakfasts, coffee and complimentary donut holes.
  2. Hendrickx Belgian Bread Crafter Belgian bakery, Near North SideHendrickx is a Belgian bakery on East Walton Street run by chef Renaud Hendrickx, with artisanal breads, thirteen kinds of croissant, pastries and house-made chocolates.
  3. Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits Pie shop and biscuit café, Logan SquareBang Bang Pie & Biscuits is a Logan Square bakery-café serving pies, biscuits and coffee, with counter ordering and first-come seating from Wednesday to Sunday.

Café

1. Lou Mitchell’s

Historic breakfast diner$$West Loop

Lou Mitchell's is a family diner dating from 1923 near Union Station, known as the first stop on Route 66 and for its breakfasts, coffee and complimentary donut holes.

View details — Lou Mitchell’s

Café

4. Doughnut Vault

Doughnut shop$River North

Doughnut Vault on North Franklin Street sells handcrafted doughnuts from a walk-up counter every morning from 7:30am until 1pm or until they sell out.

View details — Doughnut Vault

Café

5. Milli by Metric

Roastery café and bakery$$Avondale

Milli by Metric is Metric Coffee's all-day café and bakery in Avondale, where diners can see the roasting and production floor while eating pastries and seasonal food.

View details — Milli by Metric