Best Coffee Shops and Cafes in The Wire

"Stan’s embraces the vintage vibe of a classic donut shop, with a modern spin. They’ve perfected the classics (glazed old fashioneds, cinnamon sugar cake donuts, massive apple fritters) and added in some of their own creations (peanut butter pockets, croissant-donut hybrids, and gluten-free options). Find the one closest to you here"

"The Best of the Batch: Glazed Old Fashioned Donuts ($2.75) or Nutella Pocket Doughnut ($3.75). Stan’s yeasty doughnuts have become a Chicago staple in the past few years. Stan’s was one of the first specialty doughnut shops to open in Chicago."

"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."

"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."

"The Wormhole will take you back to the future—a model of Marty McFly’s DeLorean is literally in the shop. This ‘80s themed coffee shop has a menu full of delicious coffee options and is one of the coziest spots in Wicker Park. Order for pickup now!"

"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."

"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."

"A post shared by Chicago Food Blogger • 312food (@312food) on Jun 6, 2020 at 11:17am PDT. The maple syrup at Sweet Maple Cafe comes from Vermont and the recipe for the pancakes is all original. Try it “bursting with blueberries” or “not-so-plain” buttermilk, and add the extra maple syrup for a sweet breakfast taste."

"Neighborhood locals and Chicago visitors alike, can be found enjoying the Sweet Maple menu. Family recipes and fresh ingredients make this restaurant feel like home. Pancakes: Good-Old-Fashioned Pancakes-Their great taste comes from our original recipe."

"The Tempo Café is a family-friendly 24-hour diner that serves an all-day breakfast that is packed with favorites such as fluffy omelets, egg scramblers, gourmet sandwiches, fresh salads, hamburgers, and more. Established over three decades ago, the warm and welcoming neighborhood diner has been providing locals with delicious comfort food for more than 30 years and continues to do so today. Breakfasts are wholesome and hearty, with dishes such as huevos rancheros, continental chicken livers, steak & eggs, corned beef hash & eggs, eggs Florentine, poached eggs and eggs Benedict."

"Chicago’s my kinda town with bars generally open until 4 a.m. That means late night grubbing is an essential part of the going out experience – the greasier the better. Also Try: Hollywood Grill, Melrose Cafe"

"This newer delicious hotspot comes from the same owners as Maple and Ash. Located in Wicker Park, Etta is known for its mediterranean-leaning menu with lots of tasty wood-fired options like pizza and the “bubbling shrimp.” The large second floor terrace offers the same menu and warm breezes above North Avenue."

"The Publican has become a part of the fabric of Fulton Market highlighting farm-to-table fare long before it was a culinary catch-phrase. Among the first to open in the uncharted meatpacking district in 2008, its star has not dimmed and The Publican is now serving lunch, Monday - Friday from 11:30 a.m."

"We love our bagels here in Chicago, and Bro Bagel is the best of the best. Purists can choose from plain bagels and a variety of cream cheeses, and the adventurous can explore bagel sandwich options like ‘The Veggie’ and ‘The Pizza Bagel.’"

"This Evanston hole-in-the-wall has earned a devoted cult following among North Shore denizens. They flock here for Loretta—a sandwich, not a woman. A feast for $7, the Loretta layers white cheese, mayo, peppers, tomatoes, onions and your choice of bacon, ham, turkey or chorizo on a six-inch French roll."

"Wicker Park & WrigleyvilleOne of Chicago’s most iconic outdoor dining destinations continues to do what it does best as we gladly resume our normal positions in the sun with a couple of tacos and a huge pitcher of margaritas in front of us. Both the OG Wicker Park and dog-friendly Wrigleyville locations are summer staples, where you can get your al pastor fix set to the musical stylings of the appropriately named DJ Funky Cowboy on the first Tuesday of the month.How to book: Reserve via Tock (Wicker Park, Wrigleyville)."

"This beloved hangout offers tacos to-go with all the necessary fixings. Their Big Star DIY Taco Kits equip at-home diners with everything needed to assemble the ultimate taco, from tortillas and sauces, to veggies and proteins. Go for some of the house specialties — namely the al pastor, with pork shoulder and pineapple, or the barbacoa, with braised beef and guajillo."

"It's cramped and noisy, and the service is often ambivalent, but most locals are willing to bear the substantial waits at Big Star because the...Read More"

"Making fetch happen: This friendly neighborhood sports bar in the West Loop welcomes your pooch to their patio, and that’s reason enough to visit in my opinion. Your pup will watch jealously as you scarf up your crispy Chicken Tenders, Mini Cheeseburgers, Blackened Mahi Fish Tacos, or Big Pepperoni Pizza. There’s also a Kale Salad for those so inclined."

"Kids love the lively atmosphere and sports focus at WestEnd. Even young Chicago sports fans enjoy supporting their team together with a group of people. Kids can grab a soda and some wings, while watching as their parents and siblings cheer on a hometown team."

"If you’re looking for fresh comedy or considering doing a 5-minute set yourself, the Gallery Cabaret is perfect for you. Located in Bucktown, just north of downtown, the Gallery Cabaret is a fun dive bar with comedy open-mic nights. They offer decent food, great cocktails, beer, and everything you need for making the nightlife in Chicago fun for you and your friends."

"The Laugh Factory is a small yet cozy establishment that has an intimate ambiance. The biggest highlight of this comedy bar would probably be its occasional open mic nights, which give guests the opportunity to realize their dream of being stand-up comics, even for just one night. Be aware that there’s a two drinks minimum policy here, but even non-drinkers can go around this, as non-alcoholic beverages are sold here as well."

"The Annoyance Theatre is (proudly) edgier than the other comedy bars in the Windy City — think buckets of fake blood, actors stripping down to their underwear, and wacky premises for improv shows. The theater’s first big hit was its original musical, “Coed Prison Sluts,” which ran for 11 straight years, and then came back to the stage in the late 2000s. Although the musical isn’t currently being performed, you don’t need to fret — the theater has replaced it with plenty of other bawdy shows."

"The Annoyance Theatre & Bar is in the process of moving their venue, but it is well worth following their updates to see when they reopen. They focus strictly on improv shows, from all out themed shows to witty comedians doing their best one-offs. They usually enter the night with the mentality of ‘there are no rules’, but the rule of ‘no comedian can refuse a drink’ comes into play on occasion to transform an already hilarious comedian into a hot-mess that entertains like no other."