La Boulangerie & Co was a nice little find. We were in the neighborhood craving some French…read morepastries and this spot popped up. It's small, but in a good way. Cute setup, little tables, and that Paris mural on the wall. It totally gives that authentic Parisian feel. Staff was really helpful too, super welcoming. I got the hot chocolate and a Swiss chocolate croissant. The hot chocolate was smooth and really flavorful. Made with steamed milk, so it had that creamy texture right away. Not too sweet, more on the rich side, with a slight bitterness that balanced it out nicely. The croissant though... that was the highlight. Super flaky, layers just falling apart as you bite into it. Light and crispy on the outside, soft inside. The chocolate in the center was slightly melted and it balanced perfectly with the buttery pastry. Every bite had that mix of crunch and softness. Honestly, it took me back to my fall trip to Paris a bit. Just one of those simple, really good moments. I'd definitely come back.

Welcome to La Boulangerie, we give you hardware for eating utensils, pretty funky bathroom door…read morelocks and several options of coffee that is served warm. I ain't gon cap. The little name and title enticed me to make it a thing on some type of routine basis but...the first time that I visited ( although I've returned several times afterwards) I was received poorly. Meaning, the cashier really had a difficult time with placing pleasantries in their tone. I mean, give me patience for the $8 coffee I want. I show up here because it's decent to look at but don't give me no side eye for wanting oat milk with size 18 hips. I did feel a bit judged for my selection but!!!! The next visits I had were nice, however, what does that do for anyone? You want repeat customers? Remember to be nice the first time you meet one always. (Respectfully) The chocolate tart thing was good tho.

Black Women Owned business. Great place to work from or and grab a bite to eat. The ambiance is…read morebeautiful. Decorations and black history details. Felt like a NOLA museum. The food was decent. I ordered the turkey croissant sandwich initially, it was Turkey deli meat on bread, gross. I complained and received a different sandwich, they BYOB sandwich. Much better with real meat, chicken sausage. My friend ordered the chinstrap sandwich, she said it was decent pairing it with the aioli made it better. The blueberry hibiscus tea was great. I'd come here again. It's a hit or miss with the food it seams. So order what you know you'll like! They have members only area, it reminds me of soho but smaller. Nice and quiet overall. Taylor handled my sandwich situation perfectly and with care. I appreciated her service!

This place is amazing and perfectly set within the Bronzeville community of Chicago's Southside!…read moreNeo-soul music plays lightly overhead with a variety of art and artists including Mr. George Washington Carver, himself. There's a "Blind Date with a Book" area, souvenirs, craft beverages, soaps, oils, sauces and fresh food in the cooler and cooked to order. This cinnamon roll is the business! OMGEEZEY!!! I also ordered a house brew with oat milk and honey, and a slice of mushroom & scallion quiche complimented a paprika aioli on the side. The aioli is okay, but you know that I'm a "Spice" girl, so hot sauce will dress this beauty for me. The crust is really flaky and buttery. This is a true gem for all kinds of souls! The team was chill, helpful and professional. Chicago is my kind of town!

Stopped after the library closed for a coffee and a bite. Got the cortado and a turkey sandwich…read more The cortado was really smooth and had non-dairy options. The salad and dressing were great and the turkey sandwich was hearty but honestly a little plain. Overall good stop with a cute vibe and great space.

Now, why didn't anyone tell me about Plein Air? I was in the Hyde Park area with a friend for a…read morewalk when we were browsing the neighborhood for a place to have breakfast and we found Plein Air nestled on the University of Chicago campus. To my surprise this is now my new favorite breakfast spot! Plein Air does not take reservations it's a first come first served restaurant where you order your food at the counter and seat yourself. They value community and have plenty of seating inside for folks as well as a larger patio area if you prefer to eat our doors. Their space was open, airy and welcoming. The line can get pretty long but just a little patience because it's worth it and they try their hardest to get you serviced. The food was awesome! So awesome I offered several things from the menu because I couldn't pick just one thing! I ordered their egg breakfast which was served with eggs your way, protein choice, breakfast potatoes and toast, their yogurt and granola bowl, coffee and I absolutely could not forgive myself if I left without getting their raspberry beignet. Everything was delicious, fresh, light, and quality. I can see why it gets so busy! I cannot wait to get back because thay yogurt bowl has been calling my name since I last had it

A really cool cafe place in the back of Miyagi Records. They also have seatings downstairs and a…read morespacious backyard patio. The owners are super nice and they opened the cafe in January 2025. They are very accommodating and friendly. Will def visit again.

Loved my coffee and the owners were so nice! They brought me another to try after. The way they've…read moredecorated the space is really cool too.

I've been coming here alot for visits to the International house to visit a colleague. The food…read morethey have hear is exceptional, it takes a while to cook stuff that they have here every once in a while or they don't have the items here some of the times. Stuff is somewhat pricey too but then again you're in Chicago. Staff is really nice at times. Definitely not bad to check out unless it's really busy.

Some restaurants you visit once and think "that was nice." Then there's Dolce Arte -- the kind of…read moreplace you bring your favorite people to, because you already know it's going to be a great time before you even sit down. This was my second visit and it delivered just as hard as the first. The Food What sets this place apart is the quality of ingredients. You can taste the freshness in every dish. The Service Attentive, friendly, and never rushed us. Exactly what you want when you're spending quality time with the people who matter. The Vibe It's cozy, warm, and the kind of spot where catching up with people you love just flows naturally. We lost track of time -- in the best possible way.

Dolce Arte ended up being a nice place to slow down for a bit. It's inside an art gallery, so it…read morehas this mix of rustic and industrial style that feels different from a regular coffee shop. They also have a patio, and with the weather being nice, it was easy to just sit outside and relax for a while. I was honestly too hungry to spend much time deciding, so I just ordered one of the sourdough donut ball. It was exactly what I was hoping for. The outside had a light coating of sugar that gave it just the right amount of sweetness without being too much. Once I bit into it, the inside was soft, airy, and slightly chewy from the sourdough, which made it different from a regular donut. There was a subtle tang from the sourdough that balanced the sweetness really well, so it never felt overly sugary. It had a light crispness on the outside, then a warm, pillowy center that practically melted away with each bite. I finished it way faster than I expected. The only thing I forgot was ordering something to drink with it. Looking back, a good coffee would've made it even better. Still, I'd definitely stop by again the next time I'm in the area.

Cute little corner Cafe. I came on a Saturday morning and there was one really nice guy working…read more Ordered a coffee and sausage egg and cheese croissant. It was AMAZING. I could hear him beating the eggs and everything was so fresh and tasty! Park the car and walk the neighborhoods of Chicago especially Hyde Park...never know what gems you'll run into.

I love this cafe! It's a chill place with great food and coffee menu. I love the red velvet latte…read more It's not always packed but it should be.

Love that there is a ice cream hangout spot in Bronzeville! I appreciate that they have a variety…read moreof ice cream bases to work from: dairy, vegan (coconut) and sorbet. I got the cookies & dream ice cream, which was ok - I couldn't pinpoint what was overpowering the ingredients, but it was unfortunately prominent and lingering. Minus the ice cream, I'm primarily giving this a 3 because of the clean, beautiful space (TVs, games, group and lounge seating abound) and the empanadas. My birria one was phenomenal, and my husband's spinach one was really good. They alone are worth coming back for. One last thing - 2 milkshakes, a scoop of ice cream and a milkshake cost us nearly $50.

Meh. I stopped in…read morebecause I wanted to support a local business but left feeling shafted. The product provided wasn't worth the price in my opinion. I ordered the strawberry letter 43 which was supposed to consist of strawberry ice cream, graham crackers, and pound cake. I wanted vanilla ice cream instead, which they swapped out without a problem. The ice cream didn't have much flavor and was much too sweet. There weren't any graham crackers either. They sprinkle the dust from the graham crackers on top of the ice cream. You're not actually being served graham crackers, which is false advertising. Lastly, the pound cake was dry and hard. It was so hard that it was flaky rather than being moist. It's doubtful that it was homemade either. It's more likely that it came out of a plastic, single-serve container. I took four bites before tossing it all in the trash. My sister had the mango and key lime sorbet on a waffle cone. She opted to skip the toppings. She liked the sorbet but not enough to be a repeat customer. She said the waffle cone was too thin. It broke into several pieces when she lifted it out of the plastic cup to rotate it. The inside of the ice cream shop is cute. There's a large flat-screen TV and there were games on some of the tables. They were playing 90s pop hits on the sound system which added to the vibe. The space is comfortable, and it's clear that someone paid attention to the details, but the product they're serving is lackluster. You're better off going to Baskin Robbins, where you can get two double scoops for twelve dollars. It's a national chain but you're getting a better value for your money. We paid $21 for two single scoops, which for us ended up being a waste of money. Nitro was definitely a one and done experience. I'll stick with Sugar Shack, Kilwins, or Runaway Cow.

Cafe Logan is a grab & go option on the campus of the University of Chicago at the Logan Center for…read morethe Arts. The hours were a little limited from my film-viewing perspective, but once I realized that, I was able to time my visits accordingly. Staff were fast and friendly. I ordered a cup of tomato bisque soup and it hit the spot.

There are so many planned cultural events here it makes one head spin. Throughout the building as a…read morewhole there's things happening, but they had a nice jazz series in the Spring. We came here on a Tuesday to hear some live music. It was cool on this day so we opted for tea instead of a 'drink'. The variety has good picks of pastries and salads. I don't think there is table service, but rather you have to go up and order on your own. It is not cheap but not grossly overpriced either. I usu get beverages so I can't quite speak to the food. I found comfort on the elevated seats, but there are comfy chairs and outdoor seating as well. The attached pictures are from an exhibit by Tony Smith, 'Black is Beautiful'. The walls are a pretty blue but I hope they keep rotating and redecorating the area. What a great space for a gallery/cafe!