# Best Cafes in Chicago

Chicago coffee shops spanning third-wave roasters and neighbourhood mainstays. · community starter list

A list of the 9 best cafes in Chicago, including Sawada Coffee (West Loop, Chicago). The order here is where we started — no votes have been cast yet, so voting decides it from here.

**Where:** [Third Platz](/.md) / [United States](/united-states.md) / Chicago
**Updated:** 2026-08-25 16:17:56

1. **[Sawada Coffee](/e/sawada-coffee---1272.md)** (cafe) — Coffee bar from Hiroshi Sawada, who won the Free Pour Latte Art Championship in 2008; known for the military latte of matcha, espresso and cocoa. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://dailycoffeenews.com/2016/01/05/world-latte-art-champ-hiroshi-sawada-swirls-into-chicago/, https://www.sawadacoffee.com/chi/home
2. **[Metric Coffee](/e/metric-coffee---1273.md)** (cafe) — West Town walk-up flagship opened in 2016, ranked among the world's top 100 coffee shops for its transparent, craft-driven sourcing. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://theworlds100bestcoffeeshops.com/locales/metric/, https://metriccoffee.com/pages/cafe
3. **[Four Letter Word Coffee](/e/four-letter-word-coffee---1274.md)** (cafe) — Logan Square roaster launched in 2014 on Burgaz Island, Istanbul, filling its shop with work from local makers and artists. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://blockclubchicago.org/2018/08/31/peek-inside-four-letter-word-logan-squares-new-coffee-shop/, https://www.4lwcoffee.com/
4. **[Side Practice Coffee](/e/side-practice-coffee---1275.md)** (cafe) — Lincoln Square corner cafe, open since 2020, that showcases the community's "side practices" alongside its coffee. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://www.th3rdwave.coffee/side-practice-coffee/, https://sidepracticecoffee.com/
5. **[Intelligentsia Coffee](/e/intelligentsia-coffee---1276.md)** (cafe) — Downtown Loop coffeebar from the Direct Trade pioneer Doug Zell and Emily Mange founded in Chicago in 1995. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://fltrmagazine.com/2026/05/26/best-specialty-coffee-shops-chicago/, https://www.intelligentsia.com/pages/monadnock-coffeebar
6. **[Cafe Jumping Bean](/e/cafe-jumping-bean---1277.md)** (cafe) — Pilsen institution since 1994, known for Mexican hot chocolate and molletes alongside its espresso menu. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/22/cafe-jumping-bean-is-brewing-up-3rd-location-in-pilsen/, https://www.theinfatuation.com/chicago/reviews/cafe-jumping-bean
7. **[Bridgeport Coffeehouse](/e/bridgeport-coffeehouse---1278.md)** (cafe) — South Side roaster and cafe pouring direct-trade coffee from a restored period storefront since 2004. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://www.localspecialtycoffee.com/specialty-coffee-place/bridgeport-coffeehouse, https://bridgeportcoffee.net/
8. **[Plein Air Cafe & Eatery](/e/plein-air-cafe-eatery---1279.md)** (cafe) — French atelier-style cafe on the University of Chicago campus next to the Robie House, serving espresso and tartines. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://www.theinfatuation.com/chicago/reviews/plein-air-cafe-eatery, https://www.pleinaircafe.co/
9. **[Sip & Savor (Bronzeville)](/e/sip-savor-bronzeville---1280.md)** (cafe) — Black-owned coffeehouse chain's Bronzeville outpost, open since 2014 and built around Trez Pugh's community-first ethos. — score 0 — endorsements 0 — sources: https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/09/07/coffee-shop-sip-savors-first-north-side-spot-opening-this-month-in-edgewater/, https://blackchicagoeats.com/listing/sip-and-savor-43rd/

## Related lists

### Nearby
- [Best Cafes in Los Angeles](/united-states-los-angeles/best-cafes---176.md) — Los Angeles
- [Best Cafes in New York City](/united-states-new-york-city/best-cafes---75.md) — New York City
- [Best Cafes in San Francisco](/united-states-san-francisco/best-cafes---206.md) — San Francisco

### More in Chicago
- [Top 10 Restaurants in Chicago](/united-states-chicago/top-10-restaurants---203.md) — Chicago
- [Things to Do in Chicago](/united-states-chicago/things-to-do---204.md) — Chicago
- [Best Parks in Chicago](/united-states-chicago/best-parks---205.md) — Chicago

### Same topic, elsewhere
- [Best Cafes in Amsterdam](/netherlands-amsterdam/best-cafes---163.md) — Amsterdam
- [Best Cafes in Melbourne](/australia-melbourne/best-cafes---195.md) — Melbourne
- [Best Cafes in Budapest](/hungary-budapest/best-cafes---270.md) — Budapest

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