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    Cafecito

    4.1 (169 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Cafecito Takeout or Delivery

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    CAFECITO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafecito

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    Outside
    Jenna C.

    I have a soft spot for Cafecito, and I've gotten takeout from this location multiple times. It's a little bit odd and hard to find, tucked away next to a hostel, but that's the vibe - very casual, kind of eclectic. I love their guava-q pork platter, their Cubano sandwich is usually pretty good, and surprisingly their baked goods are too. As far as their coffee drinks, I've tried their cafecito and cortadito, which were just ok. I keep coming back for the food!

    Some of their fun art!
    Rich S.

    We had recently been to the Streeterville location of Cafecito and loved it. And we happened to see this location across Ida B. Wells from the C33 gallery! Of course we stopped in! The entrance is to the right in a shared lobby. The line grew long and the seating for about 30 filled quickly at 11:30am on a Wed (Feb 2026). This Cuban restaurant is brightly decorated with art, and a wall full of awards and reviews. The food menu is the same as their other locations, while this one leans into the café feel. We got the classic hot-pressed Cubano sandwich: Thin-sliced tender roasted pork and ham with swiss, and a few pickles, on crisped Cuban bread. Rich and tasty. And we had the hot-pressed Pollo Chipotle sandwich: tender thick-sliced chicken, a handful of fresh basil, thin-sliced fresh tomato, a little mozzarella and a light chipotle aioli. Bright, lightly spicy, and moist. They have at least four locations around Chicagoland. We'll gladly stop in whenever we are nearby any of them :-)

    Saucy sauces
    Kara L.

    I ordered a Ropa Vieja, an Iced Cafecito, and Tres Leches. All three were 10/10. Yum! The staff were quick and friendly. Ropa Vieja: A pressed sandwich of slow roasted skirt steak, sweet plantains, black beans, and tomato creole sauce *chef's kiss*

    Very shady place! My wallet got stolen while I was dining in at this cafe. According to the staff, peoples' laptops, phones and wallets got stolen at this place before!! The cafe doesn't even have a sign to warn people. just avoid this place at cost. It's so ridiculous! UPDATE: the management said the surveillance camera couldn't catch what happened because it wasn't pointed in the angle I was sitting. Yeah what a joke! The staff was right. the management is definitely part of it.

    Ropa Vieja Sandwich
    Angelica R.

    Went towards the end of the day. Got the ropa vieja sandwich- the bread is perfectly toasted and thin. The meat is flavorful and the plantain inside is perfectly sweet. Service could be better - seems like they were trying to make sure they closed on time so when I asked for the restroom key, they said they thought someone was using the bathroom .... No one came out for the 30 min we were there. Go for the food because it's good but take it to go.

    Ropa Vieja Sandwich
    Mary Kay H.

    Friendly staff and good pressed sandwich! I had the ropa vieja sandwich and a large café con leche (light sugar...still very sweet). Coffee wasn't hot, exactly, and I think the sandwich would have been better if eaten in the cafe instead of to go. Something to go with the sandwich would have been appropriate given the price...even a handful of plantain chips, better optics and all.

    Maduro Omelette (huge!)
    Francie M.

    A great hearty brunch option for brisk windy days. We ordered: - the Maduro omelet with tomato, peppers, and plantain: the tomato sauce was rich and flavorful, an interesting contrast to the sweetness of plantains. Served with both tater tots and toasted bread - an abundance! - the Cafe con leche pancakes, two large pancakes with simple sugar glaze and a pourable amount of coffee glaze (not straight espresso, don't try to drink it ‍): delicious but very sweet by the end - cafecito: espresso, sugar, and a little milk. I wanted to try something new but was worried because I don't like straight espresso but this was the perfect sugar ratio to keep it bitter and sweet, similar to Vietnamese coffee Logistics: - indoor seating only - order at counter and then food is brought out - limited street parking nearby but close to the loop transit - gluten free options (barring cross contamination) if you ask for no bread with the omelet

    La Costa
    Rahima J.

    Got takeout and wow, this is a good place to get a sandwich in a pinch. They definitely did not skimp on the ingredients, flavor, and the bread was still crispy. The sandwich itself was very filling and good for leftovers as well. Would love to go to the location to check out the inside and try out their cafe menu!

    Steak Chimichurri Sandwich
    Sofia E.

    The steak chimichurri sandwich was pretty good. The meat was definitely the star, and it definitely had to be since there isn't much more to the sandwich besides the sauce and tomato. It was a little on the salty side, but the bread to meat ratio balanced it out. I'd like to try out the chicken and definitely some of the other sandwiches. It was a cute and calm interior giving cafe vibes while still having a full fledged menu. Great spot to stop in if you're needing a break while walking around Chicago or need a quick bite to go.

    Cubano and side of plantains

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    11 months ago

    A really good meal , good salad, great cafe con leche this am. Right next to hostel we stayed at so easy to get there

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    5 months ago

    Chimichurri sandwich was amazing will definitely be coming back here for it. 10/10 recommend.

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    4 years ago

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    8 months ago

    The Cafecito was delicious but the grilled tilapia pressed sandwich was an top 10 all-timer sandwich.

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    4 years ago

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    11 months ago

    Super yummy I got chorizo sandwich they were really nice and food was good. It's right next to the hostel which is nice

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    While my pancakes with plantains were pretty good, the coffee stole the show. They make such a smooth cup of coffee!

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    2 years ago

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    11 months ago

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Café con Leche was decent and affordable ($3.49)! Not sure if it's as amazing as everyone else says

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Really good and fresh. Big menu and a nice presentation of food. Courteous service. Heuvos queso is a good pick.

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    Page 2 of 5

    Cafecito Reviews in Other Languages

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    Peet's Coffee

    Peet's Coffee

    3.6(108 reviews)
    0.3 miSouth Loop
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    --Location/Parking-- Located off the corner of an…read moreintersection in the South Loop near the Printer Row district. No parking except paid parking structures near by. --Ambience-- Rectangular setup, which can make it crowded for pick up since everyone is huddle near the pick up area. There is only one restroom and the employee has to buzz you in. Limited outlet near the wall. I was lucky to have switch tables with me to charge my laptop. --Service/Staff-- Staff was cool with recommendation. The restroom can be an issue when there was no one near the cashier station. Other than that minor grip. Place is a great grab and go. --Products-- The usual Peet's coffee setup. Great selection of food items near the cashier which consist of snacks and hot food. --Capacity-- Small, rectangular coffee shop. Seating is probably max 8 people comfortably. You can squeeze in more people waiting in line to 20 to get their order. There were outdoor seating in front of the store. I didn't see the number available, but it was raining and not an optimal place to work. --Overall-- If you need a place to work and you are in the area. Recommended spot to work and grab coffee.

    friendly staff and quick service at this location! Peet's used to be one of my favorite coffee…read moreplaces in college, and I'm so glad they have one in Chicago. Fairly cheaper than most coffee places nearby, but tastes just as good. The location is slightly small with no seating on the inside, but it's cozy and there's plenty of outdoor seating. [note as of march 2025, this location has closed.]

    Photos
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    Peet's Coffee
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    Buttercup  - Gelato! Cookie Butter on the left and chocolate hazelnut on the right, served in chilled goblets. So good!

    Buttercup

    4.2(54 reviews)
    1.1 miNear Southside

    Walked over to Buttercup after checking into my hotel in Chicago to grab a coffee and fire up the…read moreold laptop and get some work done. Though usually one for a hot coffee, it was steamy hot out so I went for an iced vanilla latte with oat milk and was wildly impressed. I was going to sit for a bit so had the latte for there and it was icy cold and the vanilla flavoring was brilliantly paired to the really good espresso notes within the latte. I also went for a Financier, which is a gluten-free banana bread sort of loaf and this was downright silly how good it was. It had a rich banana and sort of caramel flavor to it and as a gluten-free pastry option was one of the finest that I have had. Love that the coffee shop had just about every seat full with people doing work, studying, reading and catching up and the spot was a true neighborhood gem sort of location. Awesome spot!

    I've been to this place a few times since it opened, and I even visited its predecessor. I can…read morehonestly say that at first, I was a little turned off by the contrast between the two. However, this place has definitely grown on me. I really like the quaint feel of the space. The drinks are strong, but still very well crafted, and the wait staff are always kind and attentive. It has a comfortable atmosphere that makes it easy to settle in and enjoy yourself. It's not quite my Cheers, but it's definitely a place where you can let your hair down from time to time.

    Photos
    Buttercup  - Vibes

    Vibes

    Buttercup  - Buttercup - shaved iced on top.

    Buttercup - shaved iced on top.

    Buttercup  - Welcome to Buttercup.

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    Welcome to Buttercup.

    Paris Baguette - Oooh, I just might.....

    Paris Baguette

    3.9(130 reviews)
    0.5 miSouth Loop
    $$

    What I love about this bakery cafe is that it truly reminds me of my trip to Paris. There is a…read morefresh smell of butter, sweet cream and homemade breads. Everyone is so friendly and eager to serve. I love the variety, the themes and that they are trendy. I also love the French and Korean fusion. Ingredients are premium and the taste is real. Never too sweet and you're tasting the flavors you are supposed to taste. My first experience was in China Town, but I have certainly enjoyed other locations as well. Get the app, earn the rewards, eat or drink for FREE!

    I usually love coming to this location because it is right in my neighborhood, the store is always…read moreclean, and the staff is consistently warm, friendly, and helpful. Buying our birthday cakes here has been a go to tradition for our family for a long time. Unfortunately, my most recent purchase was a huge letdown. I got the Matcha Strawberry Cake on the day of the celebration, but the cake base was completely wet, soggy, and mushy right where it met the cream and strawberry filling. Instead of the light, airy matcha sponge we normally look forward to, the texture was heavy and gummy, almost like it had been sitting in the display fridge absorbing moisture for days or the fruit had not been properly prepped. I really appreciate the great customer service here, which is why this review hurts to write, but the quality control on the bakery side this time around was unacceptable. I really hope the management addresses freshness and shelf life standards because we would love to keep coming back.

    Photos
    Paris Baguette - Dining area

    Dining area

    Paris Baguette - Beautiful pastry displays with various treats

    Beautiful pastry displays with various treats

    Paris Baguette

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    Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea

    Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea

    4.1(232 reviews)
    0.4 miThe Loop
    $

    AMAZING! Get the breakfast burrito!!!! A must try if you're…read morein the Chicago area. When visiting Chicago last week I was looking for coffee spots within walking distance of Grant Park and I found fairgrounds. I'm so glad I chose to stop in! The indoor seating area is small with one larger table, a single seat & table, and some bar like seats. I was able to snag the single seat with a small round table to myself. It was so cute inside and while I wish there was more indoor seating there was a lots of space to sit outside which I also enjoyed after finishing my food. I got the tahini caramel latte, the staff was very kind in helping me decide on a drink, I made a substitution to have it made with almond milk and it was delicious! So rich in flavor and a great coffee taste without being too sweet. Also you have to get the breakfast burrito with an extra side of salsa. I've never had a breakfast burrito and salsa like the one I ate at Fairgrounds and I'm still dreaming of it! The burrito was piping hot, had so many different bright flavors and the salsa on the side was very bright and fresh. Absolute 10/10

    Cute coffee shop with little seating inside. Attached to a fancy hotel. Beautiful decor around you…read moreif you're able to sit. Service was fast. Selection of coffees were good and the coffee was great. I would definitely come back for more when I'm in town. Conveniently located right across the street from the bean.

    Photos
    Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea - Pick up area

    Pick up area

    Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea - Vietnamese cold brew and the Grilled Cheese & tomato soup combo

    Vietnamese cold brew and the Grilled Cheese & tomato soup combo

    Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea - Area to order

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    Area to order

    Herb N' Kitchen - Croissant sandwich

    Herb N' Kitchen

    2.1(25 reviews)
    0.3 miSouth Loop
    $

    Even though I was staying at the hotel for a week, I only had breakfast here once. I mean they do…read morehave food and drink items that are not breakfast items as well but I was so busy during the days I was there. I wanted to take advantage as well because my job was reimbursing for meals so I went to indulge. I have been staying away from meat for the past year so I was disappointed that they did not have any meatless options for the breakfast sandwiches. I decided on the croissant sandwich, which had bacon, egg, and cheese. I also ordered a large iced coffee. Holy crap-for those 2 items-it was $17!!! We went back to our room to eat and the food was still warm enough. It was good but not like $12 amazing or worth it. The coffee was good. I had to ask for almond milk to be added afterwards because that was not an option at the self serve area. They had Stevia though so I was excited about that. The staff were pleasant. This place is also open late, like 10pm or 11pm! I checked out the deli sandwiches but they looked skimpy and again not worth $15+ so I didn't bother considering here the other days for food.

    Considering this is the only spot to grab coffee if you're staying in the Hilton, I think it could…read moreuse some work. Don't get me wrong, the staff are great and work efficiently to get the hoards of conference goers and hotel patrons through the long lines but this place could use an upgrade. It looks like it hasn't been upgraded since the early 2000s and the breakfast options leave much to be desired. I wish there were some healthier options besides oatmeal, maybe something more protein heavy. Coffee was decent.

    Photos
    Herb N' Kitchen - Breakfast items

    Breakfast items

    Herb N' Kitchen - $26.27 for this

    $26.27 for this

    Herb N' Kitchen - Pastries

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    Pastries

    Cafecito - cuban - Updated August 2026

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