If I could sum up my experience at Abor Vitae in one word, I'd choose "Amazing." As noted so well in other reviews, this little shop is tucked away in the NIU building on Diehl Road. And while it may be a little difficult to find it, it proves the maxim that good things are worth looking for (if that's not a maxim, it is now). The owner roasts his own coffee beans, roasts chicken in house, uses orgcanic greens, makes his own salad dressing, and makes soups from scratch daily. Plus, he serves breakfast, with all the accoutrements one would want. I enjoyed a fresh cup of coffee, some scrambled eggs with sausage, and an English muffin. It was all tasty. The star of the show, however, was the sample of lentil soup he gave me. As I was paying for my bill, I said to Ashraf, the owner: "I'll be back next week to buy some beans from you. And if I like your soup, I'll buy that too. Trust me." "I do trust you," Ashraf said. "And I trust my soup. You'll be back" He was right. I tried the soup that afternoon. It's delightful, flavorful, and made with love. I went back two days later, and bought my coffee beans, and a quart of lentil soup. This is my new favorite place. read more

Cafe Arbor Vitae - Chill place. Great food! Owner is a good guy. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

All recent reviews are accurate. Great food, friendly service and very reasonably priced lunches. Why go outside if you're in the NIU building especially in cold weather! A nice touch, the owner offers free soup samples and everything is homemade. read more

Cafe Arbor Vitae - a man standing in the kitchen - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

What a great little find! ... if you can find it, that is. Before today, I'd only had Arbor Vitae coffee in the form of beer. What? Yeah, that's right, Baby. This little lady is living the mofo-in' dream. My fave porter from Two Brothers Brew Co, Red Eye Porter, is made with Arbor Vitae Coffee and I figured they've gotta make a mean cup a joe if they can make a beer taste so close to magic. Here's the first, possibly most important tip for Arbor Vitae Naperville: The Directions. The map on here is correct but it's not in an obvious place and if you stop reading now, you'll certainly drive past it a few times as it can't be seen from the road. It's located in the Northern Illinois University building on the South side of Diehl road. Once you find the building, park in the main lot and enter through the large center entrance. Are you standing in a large foyer now? I hope so, otherwise you're lost and you should prob keep your karate moves handy. It can be pretty dangerous in this area. Ya know, all those corporate types and all. Anyway, once you're in the foyer, you'll see a front desk to your right. Just walk right on past that and keep following the curve to the right and Arbor Vitae will be on your left, likely with a cute little standy sign outside advertising their specials. The interior is cute and filled with small marble and mosaic table and chairs. I'm sitting at the pretty green one right.this.very.instant. The one worker bee is helpful, friendly, and made quite the Chai tea latte with soy. The prices here are so cheap at just over $3 for a very large Chai tea latte with soy and food items will run you around $5.50 for a delicious healthy wrap with both meaty and veggie options. They also offer some nominally priced smoothies, refreshing iced tea, fresh fruit and veggie juice, baked gods... er, I mean goods, and a variety of health conscious snacks. I will defo be back, and perhaps on a nicer day I'll move my caravan of belongings outside to where you overlook a scenic pond and fountain. read more

Friendly (Ashrof has a very pleasant way about him; he always greets me as a long lost friend who returned unexpectedly), sort of quaint (kind of what I would think a tea house should look like), homemade foods (vegetarian soups to go for my wife; all the sandwiches for me). I discovered the place a few years ago when I was looking for locally roasted coffee beans. They have some. I am not so enamored with their coffee as their food and friendliness. (The coffee is fine). They are small; not a typical cookie-cutter chain eatery. Sort of slower fast-food. The order taker, food maker, waiter, cashier is often the same person...and if he isn't busy, he'll come and chat a bit. Nice experience over all. Slow down & enjoy! read more

In NIU facility. They have not informed yelp that they are not open (maybe because it's summer). Wild goose chase.

A shout out to Candice G. for her great review (complete with directions) which led me to today's stop on the Caffeine Cruise. By now all my friends and family know I have undertaken this mission and want to be part of it. I wanted to get together with my bud for her bday and she lives in Plainfield. Yelp gave me this suggestion when I searched for Coffee Chops near Plainfield, I love Yelp! First and foremost, this was a total hip hip hooray on the Caffeine Cruise, a smooth and delicious Vanilla Latte which tickled my taste buds and made me awake and happy! But remember, my friend had turned a year older; lunch was in order. I ordered the Egyptian Shawarma Chicken, mild spice, with the soup of the day, chicken vegetable. (My friend ordered a salad, I know, I love her anyway.) The soup and sandwich were divinely fresh, flavorful and unique. Everything was so delicious that it seemed criminal that they were also so reasonably priced! The staff here could not have been friendlier and more helpful. I felt like if I had asked them to balance my checkbook they would have done it and done it well! What terrific customer service. I was glad to see a little crowd gather here around lunch time. All around magnificent day - great conversation, exquisite food, smooth coffee and my friend turned a year older, not me! Cup - mug Cost - 3.90 for 16 ounces Preparation - hand crafted with pride read more

See all

Popped in here with hopes of hanging out for a while with my laptop and enjoying a cold caffeinated beverage. Well, half of that happened... Let me explain. This cafe is located on Naperville's NIU campus. I would have never known it was here if it wasn't for Yelp. But I'm always looking for new coffee joints to hang out at so I decided to give it a try! Thanks to Candice G.'s directions I was able to find the place just fine. I walked into the empty cafe and ordered a blended latte drink. It was taking quite some time for the only guy working to whip this up. He completely apologized for the wait and said he wasn't ready and that he really needs to lock the door. Well now I'm confused... When he rang up the beverage I asked him what time they closed. He said they close everyday at 2pm, but reopen again at 5pm. AH HA. That explains why at 2:10 he was nowhere near ready for my service. All was forgiven and I packed up and left. Honestly, the blended coffee itself was just okay. Cute little shop though so I'll be back another time when they're open and ready for business. Updated review coming soon... Key takeaway: they're closed from 2-5pm! read more

Cafe Arbor Vitae - a coffee pot with a sticker on it - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

See all

They have very freshly made high quality sandwiches here. They are a little pricy though and it was a bit slow on our carryout order of the Egyptian chicken shawarma wrap (delicious) and a roast beef and cheddar croissant. The Middle Eastern owner guy was gracious and friendly and offered us samples of their roasted garlic and cream of chicken soup (very good), as well as a free small cookie (I think it for our wait as the sandwiches were prepared by another). I added the 4th star basically for the touch there. Parking and location tip here for you as the Cafe is not visible - just enter the eastern entrance (there's a western one) on Diehl to the NU campus, and there are two marked parking Arbor Cafe spaces in the lot. The cafe is straight up the corridor as you enter the nearby rear entrance from the parking spots. read more

See all

Do you need caffeine? Do you try to stay healthy? Do you still indulge in incredible, succulent baked goods? If you answered YES to any of these questions, Arbor Vitae may be just the place for you. Oh, you also need to be in the Naperville- or as I refer to it-NaperVILE area. Caffeine? Oh yeah, they have this. They carry a fair trade coffee that meets my needs- and I am pretty darn picky. Their blend is called "Wild ASS"- and tastes pretty fine. One of my friends and colleagues has compared it to the "Puerto Rican Rocket" blend that we always drink in NYC. Their flavored coffees are always a bit weak to me, but, I know quite a few people that drink them. Arbor Vitae also carries a large selection of teas. Staying Healthy? They have an incredibly large menu of made at request smoothies and ginger drinks. They also make some fantastic organic salads. In my opinion, their hummus is exceptional- I typically order the hummus plate. Desserts? Whew... these make my mouth water. Trust me, order the peanut butter brownie when you are having a horrible day. Things will look better! I have been known to order plates of the brownies for when my teams are locked down in long meetings- they really do help make everyone happier- me especially, and if I am happy, well, things go better! The carrot cake is also yummy. Pricing may feel a bit high- but if you are used to this VILE town, no problem! Check them out. I don't think you will regret it! read more

Echoing Candace: Great little place...if you can find it, and if it's open. It's INSIDE the NIU building, which the girl I spoke with when I called for directions neglected to tell me. The location gives it an awkward feel, and the place was empty, which made it feel weirder. Setting that aside, cute ambiance, free wifi, extensive coffee/juice/smoothie menu and decent selection of sandwiches, quiche, soup and goodies are all pluses. My curry chicken salad sandwich was absolutely delicious- green grapes gave it some crispy sweetness and the wheat bread was soft. Perfect lunch. Could be a place to nestle down & do some reading or work for a while... IF they didn't close for two hours in the middle of the day. Hours are funky: M-Th and Sat 7am-2pm & 4pm-8pm. Closed Fri and Sun. Might have been 4 stars or even 5 in a different location with better hours. read more

Another great independent business is leaving downtown (apparently rent has doubled, so they are moving out in January). Everytime I come back to Naperville, we seem to lose one more great business downtown - the old Oswald's pharmacy, the Tasty Bakery, etc. All to make room for Williams Sonomas, Pottery Barns, and other snobby joints. Arbor Vitae...what an adorable, cozy place. Relax at a table outside and watch the riverwalk traffic go by. They roast their own coffee, gotta love the Wild Ass blend. Enjoy them at this great location while you can!!! read more

This cafe serves the freshest, most tasty, and thoughtful homemade dishes and desserts. Whether you are vegan or a meat eater, organic conscious or just a food lover, a stop at Arbor Vitae is a must! I have eaten sandwiches, soups, salads, veggie plate with hummus, and homemade baklava. All delicious! My first visit here was before a class at the Naperville NIU campus. Now, I try to stop between work and home, or Saturday lunch. The cafe is small and the homemade service takes a few minutes, but they are so friendly and the atmosphere so warm, that even an impatient soul like me doesn't mind. Can't wait to go back! read more

Such a cute little juice and coffee bar, totally reminds me of the places that my friends and I would hang out in while we were in high school. Friendly staff, family feel, and definitely a bit small. Great coffee, too- I usually get a pound of their Wild Ass house blend to go as well. Edit, whelp, this joint closed down. WTF. Like downtown Naperville needs another Stabucks or Jamba Juice, gah. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a hater and I patronize chain stores like the Bux way too often for the good of my wallet and the size of my ass, but still, GAH. read more

Give them props for having a roaster in house, roasting their own beans. They hire colorful people to work the counter, but I hear they aren't so nice to employees - so eat but don't work here. I love the smoothies, even though they can get up to $5 a small cup. Been going here almost as long as I have lived here, and they carry Alternative Baking Company Cookies. Too bad about going out of business, but rent is astronomical in this town. read more

Based on the reviews, I wanted to see what this lovely little place was all about before it closed. BTW, info is correct, it is closing January 28th. Good news, however, I understand that it's 99% certain they will be moving to the Northern Illinois University building on Diehl Rd. in Naperville. I sat next to the large San Francisco coffee roaster this morning and had a lovely cappucino and a muffin. The owner is very friendly and talkative, and the coffee is very good. The muffin was burnt, but some people may dig the crispy side of life so I thought I'd share. I was a bit melancholy myself after watching all the regulars come in and wistfully talk about how they'll miss the place. They were hugs all around, but I'm really hoping she'll do really well in her new location. It was a lovely little place, and I hope she ends up succeeding. Godspeed, Arbor Vitae, godspeed. read more

Coworker stumbled upon this little gem this AM by looking for a cafe on Google. His raves and an invite brought four of us for lunch. I normally brown bag it but I am so glad I decided to leave the brown bag in the fridge at work. I had their Curry Chicken as a wrap. Wow was it great! The wrap he used was flakey. In addition the ingredients were mixed together carefully. It is a mayo based chicken salad but its not heavy like you would expect a chicken salad. The grapes inside were a nice surprise. I also purchased a slice of carrot cake. Hands down, the best carrot cake I have EVER had. Normally carrot cake is heavy. This cake is very light and crumbly. he garnishes the cake with a light cream cheese frosting and candied carrot. He knocked my socks off when he recommended a strawberry sauce for the cake as well. I thought how can this work, but it does. Finally I purchased a pound of coffee to bring home to the wife. Best part is that the coffee is roasted on premise. I cannot wait to go back. The shawarma is next on my list. Keep up the great work! read more

This cafe is hands down, amazing! I'm a student at the NIU Naperville campus (the cafe is INSIDE the campus), and I literally count down the minutes until break when I can go to the cafe and get my Chai Latte. Pretty much everything is organic, even the chai used for the latte. Ashraf is the chef and he makes the most unique pairings that always give my tastebuds a food explosion of goodness. Carrot cake with an apricot sauce? YES. Peanut butter brownies? OMG so good. Muffin with apricot and macadamia nuts? Died and went to heaven. I really need to come here for lunch or dinner. My classmates give raving reviews on their soups, hummus, and falafel. Plus Ashraf is just the sweetest dude ever. Awesome customer service and really makes everything with care. read more

This place is a hidden gem! We were at NIU for a convention and had the pleasure of enjoying homemade soup on our break. The owner treated us to a sample of fresh baked banana bread which was divine. Most importantly, we were all touched by his kindness. He made us feel right at home! read more

I'm slowly sipping on the mocha from Cafe Arbor Vitae because I don't want this delicious experience to end. A perfect balance of coffee and chocolate it was worth the wait. Visiting the cafe felt like stepping into an oasis during the work day. The music, ambiance, friendly service made the busyness of the work day slow down. Overall a great experience, I'll be back soon. Be sure to read the directions to get there. It's not visible from the outdoors, you will need to enter NIU to find it. read more

Being a long time coffee fan, I really do love myself a good cup of Joe. It doesn't have to be complicated. It doesn't have to be fancy. But man is there something to be said for a good cup of Joe! That's exactly what you get at this fine little coffee shop. I really love it here. I travel to Naperville a lot and I always make a point of stopping by this lovely little establishment here for a visit. The baristas are all really nice, and they always have some good music playing on the speakers. You gotta take your hat off to the way this place is decorated too though. It emanates a small town, locally owned, pleasant coffee shop feel. I love that probably more than anything else about it. I appreciate a locally owned institution that is doing something right by the local community. I appreciate the small town feel. I really enjoy a menu that doesn't look like every other menu in every other coffee shop in the nation. That's this little hole in the wall for sure. This coffee shop does have wifi, but what I notice about it is that you don't really want to spend a lot of time on your phone or computer while you're in here. Too much to look at, too many interesting sights and smells. They have art on their walls being sold by local artists, and the baristas know a thing or two about the city of Naperville. Pretty invaluable for an out of towner like me. The menu is superb too. Lovely little pastries, muffins, and cookies. Lots of different coffee options too. All in all though, I just love the plain roast they use. Something about it is just so tasty! I will definitely be coming back. read more

The staff here was SO nice and the food is amazing! I had the Riverwalk sandwich, and it was the most amazing, warm, comfort-food sandwich ever. As others have mentioned, the prices are also fantastic. I'll go back again to try the soup and sweets! read more

I L O V E D this spot, I cannot get over the fact they decided to move to two campuses within the county. My Naperville meanderings shall never be the same :o( Guys, please consider reopening somewhere nearby! read more

First of all, this is my first time realizing that 5 stars is sometimes not enough to fully express your impression. I would give Arbor Vitae 50 stars if I could. Every time I visited the place in the past 3 years, I tried different foods and all were out of this world; hospitality is one more plus that you can feel immediately once you are there . The Executive Chef Ashraf is very friendly, profesional and truly loves what he is doing. Prices are so reasonable and the place is cozy and warm. read more

Cafe Arbor Vitae - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

See all

Great Service, Great Food. If you're going to the building pay them a visit. Everything homemade and delicious.

Great service and awesome people! They have the best cookies! Awesome place to hang out and read a little!!

An oasis. It's small but loaded with lunch and dessert choices, excellent juices and teas, and COFFEE. Good American and Middle Eastern fare. Perfect for carry out and dining at the Riverwalk across the road, or sit if you can find a seat. There are just four or five tables, and Internet access in the back. read more

Friendly service and GREAT coffee. Located inside the NIU building. Hard to find location but definitely worth it.

This cafe is the gem of NIU's Naperville campus and of Naperville in general! I highly recommend any of the soups, but especially the lentil soup. The coffee is my favorite in town, dark and bold. And the owners are the sweetest people you'll ever meet. read more

Their soups are wonderful and they have organic salads. This place is adorable, with brightly colored walls and exposed brick.

This is a small coffee/juice shop located in downtown Naperville. Its mostly for take-out because there's really no room to sit inside. There are a few tables set up outside if you would like to enjoy your drink watching the nice lake. I especially enjoyed their strawbery-banana smoothie. They also have a good menu for lunch, which I still have to go back and try! read more

See all

This place is amazing. Wonderful hummus! Maybe a little pricey, for the atmosphere but the food is worth it. It is small,so carry out or go sit in the lobby. The gentleman/ owner is very kind. read more

Sandwiches delicious! Soups amazing! Pastries heavenly! Why didn't I know about this place before? Food is freshly made and tastes like it. Highly recommend. read more

This might just be the very best dining option in the Naperville area. The food is outstanding and the owners are extremely kind, gracious and friendly. The homemade soups are seasoned perfectly, and the unique salads not only taste excellent, but are healthy as well. My favorite is the Riverwalk Sandwich, by far the best I have ever had. I never leave without purchasing a dessert to go-their baked goods are the best around. Also try the excellent coffee they roast on site! read more

Only local coffee shop I have found In Naperville. Just a brief rant about how EVERY other place I have lived, has great locally owned coffee shops that stay open late. What's wrong with Naperville? (No need to answer that.) Have had some meetings for a stop-genocide group I run here. Its nice and quiet and has good food and drinks. I LOVE the hummus plate. I am really sad with Sophie's news that they are cosing. :( read more

A delightful little place hidden away in the NIU Naperville Building. I had lentil soup yesterday. It was clearly made in house and honestly the best soup I have ever had. I will be making a trip back there to try some other things soon. They have a great menu full of salads, sandwiches, soups, hot dishes, baked goods, and coffee. Definitely a place to visit. read more

Great little stop ahead of a client meeting. Hard to find, but once you've been there, you'll go again. NIU building and wi-fi as a guest. All good. read more

Delicious soup, wonderful hospitality. Added bonus for the delicious homemade cookies and cakes. I stumbled in before an appointment for a quick lunch and a place to work for an hour. Perfect environment and awesome food. The gentlemen working there takes pride in what he does and really goes above and beyond. read more

Soup was delicious on a below 0 day. Service good and workers very pleasant. Quite a "find" - I'll go back for coffee another time. Thanks to Candice G otherwise I'd never have found this place and her descriptive directions otherwise I'd have turned right around in the large imposing foyer. I got take-out and the aroma was the envy of my coworkers. read more

This place is so good. You should come here even if you do not work or study here. Best Lentil soup ever.

I am sad that this cafe lost its prime downtown Naperville location. However, as a student at NIU, I am glad that they are on campus. They have wonderful soups, sandwiches and salads which are much better than the usual campus fare. Many veggie options, fresh juices (they juice it right there), wheatgrass, coffee drinks, wonderful tea selection and friendly services. The only downside is that they no longer have music or late hours...They need a 2nd location in town again. read more