Best Coffee Shops and Cafes in West Loop

"Stan’s Donuts originated in Los Angeles, and has only showed up on the Chicago donut scene a few years ago. Regardless, they continue to open new locations and rarely run out of donuts unlike other shops in the city. The great perk about Stan’s isn’t just that you can actually sit down at any time of day and enjoy a donut and coffee, it’s also that they have endless donut options available that make choosing one nearly impossible."

"We like going to Stan’s when we want a lot of variety or a donut that sounds like it was created by an eight-year-old. For example, they have a caramel marshmallow, Cap’n crunch, and our personal favorite, the biscoff (a.k.a. cookie butter-filled) pocket. If you don’t feel like feeding your inner child, consider ordering something like their pretzel-glazed or the pistachio old fashioned."

"Stan's Donuts has quickly become a Chicago icon with decadent flavored donuts, cookies and delicious beverages. They are currently open every day for takeout and delivery."

"Floriole functioned as a stand at Chicago's beloved Green City Market for nearly five years before it became a brick-and-mortar restaurant. As such, expect market-driven fare that prizes freshness and seasonality above all else. Those priorities manifest in menu items like late-season roasted tomato and swiss chard quiche, ricotta toast topped with plums and honey, and pea salad with radishes, turnips, and spring onions."

"Find your way to this cute cafe and you’ll be forced to leave all your cravings at bay. Order their Concord grape and salty brown butter walnut tarts, honey pie, coffee cake, almond croissant, or even pecan roll, and you’ll find your senses thanking you for such a lovely reward. The cafe is well lit, and the environment is clean and chic, service too, is friendly and quick."

"Probably the most modernized bakery on this list, Floriole quickly rose to the top after its inception. This Lincoln Park bakery in Chicago is beautifully designed and even features a relatively large cafe area where you can sit and enjoy your pastry. The bakery is specifically European-style, featuring wines and beers to accompany your sweets, and plenty of coffee."

"Wicker ParkAs good as the coffee at The Wormhole is, that’s not the draw (though you should order the Peanut Butter Koopa Troopa). No, the reason you go to Wormhole is to kick back with a latte in a coffee shop modeled off of the living room you wish you had. The seating, although limited, is plush and comfy, and nestled underneath the shop’s iconic DeLorean busting through the roof is an old TV featuring an original NES with a selection of games for when you need to take a break from working."

"Like a trip back in time, The Wormhole Coffee in Wicker Park serves coffee in an atmosphere filled with quintessential nostalgia pieces, complete with an almost-to-scale model of the Delorean."

"The Wormhole Coffee is one of the best-reviewed coffee shops in Chicago. It’s located in Wicker Park. The interior has this relaxed retro vibe going on."

"Located just steps away from Millennium Park in Chicago’s South Loop, Wildberry Pancakes & Café is one of the best breakfast joints in town, with a range of mouthwateringly delicious choices for breakfast, brunch, and lunch. The café’s all-encompassing menu features everything from eggs and skillets to yes, you guessed it, pancakes, and the casual eatery is always packed with crowds of locals and tourists alike waiting for a table. The menu boasts a wide range of egg dishes from omelets and scrambles to egg entrees and skillets, but it’s the signature specialty pancakes that draw the crowds, with toppings such as chocolate chip and banana, Oreo cookies, fresh berries and granola, and lemon buttercream and vanilla crème Anglaise."

"Wildberry is a favorite stop for many when visiting downtown Chicago and gets amazing reviews on both Trip Advisor and Yelp. With 2 equally awesome locations in downtown Chicago, be sure to visit Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe near Millennium Park, or when close to the John Hancock Building and 360 Chicago in Water Tower Place. Wildberry is widely known for offering huge, delicious portions of breakfast and lunch comfort food."

"North Avenue Beach is home to one of the most popular beachfront restaurants. Castaways is instantly recognizable — when you spot the giant ship washed up on the sand, you’ll know you’re in the right place. While the first level’s menu consists of ice cream and snacks, the rooftop is a beach bar and grill with burgers and frozen cocktails."

"Bars Beer bars Lincoln Park. Modeled after a beached oceanliner, the two-level space at Castaways is decked out with a first floor ice cream cafe and a rooftop perfect for catching summer rays by the water."

"If you adore cheesecake, then you must try Eli’s Cheesecake Company. Their strawberry cheesecake has been deemed one of the best desserts in Chicago, as it has perfectly balanced flavors and a delectable cookie crust. Eli’s is a family-owned business, and they’ve been around since 1980."

"This family-owned bakery has been making their signature dessert in Chicago since 1980. Try a slice of their most popular flavors, like original, chocolate chip, toffee, and strawberry — all made with Eli’s famous all-butter cookie crust."

"Evanston & Navy PierAfter relocating to the States from Buenos Aires, cousins Sebastián Koziura and Enrique Schcolnik missed the moments they shared indulging in dulce de leche gelato with their grandmother. Thus, they decided to transport the sweet treat to Chicago with FRIO, a family-owned gelatería featuring Argentine favorites like Sambayon, Malbec Wine with Berries, Tramontana, and, of course, Dulce de Leche. The offerings range far beyond these, though, with up to 36 flavors in the portfolio including hyper seasonal musts like avocado, pumpkin, and white chocolate.How to book: Stop by for counter service or order delivery via GrubHub, DoorDash, or UberEats."

"Must Try: Fragola Camarosa This boutique gelato shop off State Street in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood boasts exotic, European flavors. They serve gelato in ice cream sandwiches, cones, and there are even dishes where the ice cream is scooped and molded into the shape of a rose served with a mouth-watering macaron on top. This popular spot just opened a brand new shop in Water Tower Place making gelato a perfect snack to grab after an afternoon of shopping along the Magnificent Mile."

"Restaurants Ice cream parlors Lower West Side. No summer bucket list is complete without a trip to Pilsen to visit La Michoacana Premium, Chicago's premiere paletería. Upon entering this cheerful shop, you'll be pulled to the display case, which is jam-packed with dozens of paletas in flavors like blackberry, kiwi-strawberry and creamy pistachio."

"This Mexican ice cream shop and its colorful paletas are a total must-try. La Michoacana’s extensive options, ranging all the way from tangy Michelada to creamy strawberry, will have you coming back and back again for more!. The shop also sells tangy mangoneadas, with blended mango sorbet, diced fresh fruit, lime juice and Tajin chili powder, another incredible option for cooling down in the hot summer weather!"

"There is so much color, fun, and creativity in every dessert that you won’t be able to resist squeezing in a quick photoshoot before everything melts!. Looking for more fun things to do in Chicago?. Check out these posts to read more:"

"Restaurants Ice cream parlors Austin. The technicolor soft serve at Little Italy's Kurimu is inspired by the always-trendy desserts of Japan, Taiwan and Korea, with a rotating list of flavors like Okayama peach, taro, and matcha (you can even get your soft serve wrapped in gold or silver foil, if you're feeling fancy). Pair your cone with a boba milk tea or frothy Dalgona coffee, and consider ordering ice cream tucked into the shop's warm melon buns, a type of soft, moon-shaped sweet bread that originally hails from Japan."

"New to the dessert scene, the Little Italy shop serves aesthetically pleasing ice cream. Soft serve flavors are constantly changing and currently, the menu highlights Uji Matcha x Kuro Goma (black sesame). Your tweens and teens will love to take a photo for Snapchat or Instagram!"

"While Donald Trump is making headlines, the real story is taking place at his international hotel. The Terrace sits in the shadow of the Wrigley Building, giving it a daunting view of the majesty around it, but also serves color-changing cocktails infused with odd fruits from around the world for a drinking experience that is downright transcendent."

"Featuring stunning views from every area of the hotel, this landmark building of stainless steel and tinted glass stands 92-stories above the Loop and North Michigan Avenue along the Chicago River...."

"The Waldorf Astoria Chicago is located downtown, one block from Chicago’s Magnificent Mile in the stylish Gold Coast neighborhood. The hotel is well known for its superior spa treatments and packages including in-room spa services perfect for a romantic stay and an indoor lap pool. The spa’s couple suite is perfect for a romantic getaway, featuring side-by-side personalized body massages."

"The stone Greek god and goddess banking the spa’s changing rooms are symbolic of the sybaritic pampering (try the new silk peel facial) that awaits guests. Memorable features include a spa sun deck, eucalyptus steam room, and mosaic-tiled lap pool where thousands of individually-patterned tiles offer an illusion of swimming in a bed of roses."

"Boasting Parisian-inspired elegance in downtown Chicago’s premier Gold Coast, the Waldorf Astoria Chicago offers luxury travelers an urban sanctuary featuring spacious apartment-style accommodation..."