I came here with my partner to check out the drinks and get her some ceremonial matcha they offer. its a cute shop with limited seating, more geared to takeout orders. They sell Japanese imported matcha but the demand is high, so they don't always have it. They have many matcha making accessories, including these gorgeous pottery matcha bowls. We ended up just getting some drinks since they were out of matcha. I got the banana milk tea with boba pearls. I am a huge banana milk fan but have only had it out of a bottle or can. The freshness of this drink was noticeable, and the banana flavor was vibrant. The boba was soft and tasted like it was just made. This would bring me back here alone. My partner got the matcha latte and she loved her drink too. The matcha was prepared just right. I would love to come back to try more beverages they offer. read more

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Hands down the best matcha in Chicago. I will never stop recommending this to friends & family! Please give it a try if you're in the area. It can get pretty busy as this place has recently blown up on social media. They have many other options (including milk tea, fruit teas, etc.) if you don't like matcha. read more

This has and will always hopefully be MY favorite spot in Chicago. It's aesthetic, chill (they do play a lot of kpop so maybe not too chill music), but their qualitEA of teas is just superb and the prices are just WOW especially in this economy. When I used to go to Chinatown, one bubble tea with boba would easily be $10. Here it's $6.50 (fruit teas with boba at least). I know they had to recently charge more for the matcha lattes due to the tariffs. This will easily be my favorite bubble tea spot in all of Chicago. They have so many good Taiwanese drinks while also not trying too hard. Plus the location is so nice -- not hard to find parking at all! read more

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The Ube-Taro monster is the best boba I've had in my life! Can tell the distinct flavors topped with 2% milk and Oreo crumbles.

Very nice matcha drinks! We got the matcha mango lattes and sesame lattes, both were delicious- creamy and fruity on the bottom and refreshing matcha on top! read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A few days ago, I went there with my friend, and we had such a great experience at Gathers Tea Bar! The atmosphere was calm and beautifully designed, making it a perfect place to relax and catch up! The tea selection was impressive, and everything we tried tasted fresh and flavorful. The staff were very welcoming and helped us choose the best options from the menu. Service was quick, and the presentation of the drinks was lovely! read more

Hands down the best boba spot in the city. I've been coming here since they were a counter in Hana sushi and they've kept the quality up ever since. The staff are always super welcoming and know their way through the menu offerings. They keep things fresh with seasonal menu offerings as well having a core menu. In my most recent trip I tried the Ube Monster boba (a new seasonal item). My main complaint with most Ube foods (and drinks) is that they lack enough Ube flavor, this drink does NOT have that problem. The Ube flavor is strong and complimented with come coconut as well. Very worth stopping by and trying this seasonal offering. And of course the core menu is always a hit. This place has a fun, light vibe that makes you want to try something new. I love the decor of their new location and I hope for many more great things for them to come! read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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While I have not tried many bubble tea places in the city, after I found gathers, I had no reason to because they make their milk tea to perfection. They have a variety of options and flavors of milk, tea, bubble, tea, and iced tea. My favorite milk tea is one that is difficult to find at many shops, but I would highly recommend trying Genmaicha which has a unique rice flavored profile. As usual, it was made to perfection. I sincerely appreciate that the drink sweetness level can be customized, and they are willing to accommodate for less ice. The café itself is a very soothing place to spend time in with simplistic decoration. There are no tables so would caution against anyone trying to get a full day of work done. The employees are always extremely kind and willing to answer any questions or make accommodation. Their drinks are ready pretty quickly, and such an enjoyable treat from the first sip! Now that I found my favorite tea place in the city, I don't feel any need to keep searching at for alternative options. I highly recommend this spot anyone looking for some delicious milk or bubble tea! read more

Food and service is always great. Ube cookie drink was amazing. Often store is very busy but it usually means people enjoy the drinks. I always get gathers when in the area. read more

my cousin introduced me to this tea bar. i've never been a huge fan of matcha lattes the way i am today. i've had my fair share of conventional matcha lattes from dunkin and starbucks, as well as other mom n' pop coffee shops, but this place? it's unmatched. this place is the reason why my standards for matcha lattes are incredibly high. i've gone to LA and hoped to find something similar during my stay-- i haven't. i've been in different tea shops in the chicagoland area to find something similar, as well-- i haven't. this place is great, and it deserves all the stars and more. read more

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I was craving matcha and my doctor recommended this place. I looked up the yelp reviews and decided to give it a try. I was stuck between the mango matcha cream and the mango passionfruit tea. I also had a question about the difference between the matcha cream and the matcha latte (in the cream the matcha is in the cream making it sweeter vs in the latte it is dropped in like espresso shots). I asked one of the ladies who worked there and she recommended the mango matcha cream. It was the best decision. The drink was delicious (and expensive at $10). It was a treat that I wasn't mad that I splurged on. I got it with oat milk, 100% sweetness, and with tapioca balls (which they called golden boba). Another yelp review had recommended getting the large size and I should have listened. I got the regular and I regretted not going larger. I got light ice in mine since I had a long drive and didn't want to dilute my drink when it melted. The only way to make ice modifications is to ask the barista AFTER you put in an order. Don't love that. I also don't love that all orders are done at the self serve kiosks. I had questions since it was my first time and I had to go to the pickup counter. Service was fast. I came during a lull around 1:30 on a Thursday but as soon as I put my order in, an influx of people came into the store. There's street parking but I was able to find a spot out front. Highly recommend. Will be back! read more

My boyfriend and I stopped by on a Saturday, early afternoon and this place was busy!! We decided on the brown sugar mat hand the strawberry matcha. They were both tasty! I wish they offered coffee but I'm okay without it. Next time I will lower the sweetness in the brown sugar matcha. read more

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both the hojicha latte & matcha latte were very good! Id recommend getting a double shot of hojicha if you don't like it being too milky, the matcha as is was strong enough though!! In a college area so lots of students it can get busy but the service is still pretty fast! very cute inside! read more

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amazing black sesame hojicha! it was the baristas recommendation and it was one of the best drinks i have had in a long time! i need to find an excuse to be in the area again and try more flavors! read more

This has and will continue to be my favorite boba ever!!! I don't live in Illinois anymore, but every time I come back I make SURE I swing by Gathers. Their golden boba is perfection. Their milk teas are amazingly blended. The tea flavor is incredible. Their seasonal menus are creative and always keep me excited to try something new. If I lived by Gathers, I would have it every week (only because my wallet would cry if I went more). One thing that has surprised me is their consistency. I've had Gathers countless times over the past 4 years, and they are right on the mark every time with their teas. The only item that has ever missed was the 2024 summer menu Ube Taro Monster. That one was too sweet. I love their new location. I love their merch (still need to buy one). Their staff are very friendly. Everything about Gathers is awesome. I love Gathers so much that we had it catered at our wedding. I've had lots of boba in China, Canada, the bay area, LA, Seattle, Chicago, NYC, Boston, etc. My top 3 milk teas across all of those are Gathers Tea Bar, Chicha Sanchen, and TP Tea (in no particular order). read more

I went for the first time 4 days ago...I've come 4 days in a row now. I thought it might've been overhyped but NO. Believe the hype! I got the mango cream matcha and the strawberry cream matcha! Both are delicious and just depend on if you prefer mango or strawberry read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Strawberry Cream Matcha (24oz) Mango Cream Matcha (24oz) - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

the matcha flavor is really strong!! great bitterness that shines through the sweet mango syrup. they use real mango chunks and the syrup is great, a bit too sweet however read more

Gathers Tea Bar - mango matcha latte - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Hands down the best iced matcha latte I've ever had! I knew immediately when I saw the bright vibrant matcha that they don't skimp here! It was so smooth and frothy and not bitter at all. I didn't want my mango matcha latte to end. The earthiness of the matcha was balanced perfectly by the sweet mango, and I loved that the puree still had some mango bits! I wish I was local to Chicago but will continue recommending this place to everyone! Would love to try their hojicha series next read more

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super underwhelming the taste wasn't bad but i guess we were expecting a little bit more. it wasn't as rich as i'd hoped. i got the black sesame and my friend got the seasonal flavor (forgot which one but it was a sort of cream?). the place wasn't so packed thankfully but it was a cute location. read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Gathers Tea Bar is so cute and has tons of tea flavors! They have seasonal ones & all of the classics. I tried the strawberry matcha and absolutely loved it. I would definitely go back to try more flavors :) read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A cute boba shop with 3 touch screen order kiosks! Our drinks came out so quickly, I was impressed! They have a few tables and some seating. I'm super sensitive to caffeine so I could only try the banana milk, which I think is their only non-caffeinated option! That's totally okay, as this place is known for their teas!! I got the banana milk, which comes with fresh banana, oat or whole milk, and cinnamon. I opted for the oat milk, which was surprisingly FREE!! No additional cost!! The drink was insanely good, I was seriously blown away. I'm not a fan of bananas usually, but truly this was such a rich, not too sweet, and addicting drink. The banana flavor was clearly fresh and not artificial. My friend got the chai tea, and she says this is her favorite boba shop in Chicago. read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Left: chai tea latte with golden boba Right: banana milk with golden boba - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The inside was clean and very modern. I used the iPad to order my drink which was quick and very user friendly. My drink was ready in about 5mins total. I enjoyed the strawberry sauce at the bottom which had chunks of real and jellied strawberries. I did not enjoy this drink. I even swirled it around to mix it but it was too strong for me. Next time I'll ask for more milk or something because the Matcha was overpowering for me. read more

This bubble tea spot wasn't quite what I expected. I'm used to seeing strawberry and honeydew as my go-to bubble tea flavors and I didn't see those here, so after staring at the menu I finally asked someone for help. Since it was later in the afternoon and I wanted a caffeine-free option, they recommended the brown sugar milk tea -- and it was really good! The place was so busy, it must be a really popular spot! It seemed mostly like a grab and go type atmosphere, not somewhere you'd spend a long time in, really. The drink was pretty creamy and sweet so I wasn't able to have the whole thing but it was yummy nonetheless. read more

If you're a boba lover in Chicago, you have to check out Gathers Tea Bar--it's hands down my favorite boba spot in the city! Every drink I've tried has been absolutely amazing, from their creamy milk teas to their refreshing fruit teas. My Go-To Favorites: Earl Grey Milk Tea with Boba - A classic done right! The earl grey has that perfect floral, slightly citrusy note, balanced beautifully with the creamy milk and chewy boba. Rose Rose Tieguanyin Milk Tea with Boba - If you love floral teas, this one is a dream! The Tieguanyin oolong base adds depth, while the rose flavor is delicate and fragrant--so unique and well-balanced. Mango Matcha Cream - My absolute favorite! This drink is a must-try--the sweet mango, earthy matcha, and creamy texture come together so perfectly. It's refreshing, rich, and so satisfying. Beyond Milk Teas - Refreshing Fruit Teas! Gathers Tea Bar doesn't just stop at milk teas--their fruit teas are some of the most refreshing I've had. Whether you're in the mood for something light and fruity or a more indulgent, creamy tea, you truly can't go wrong with any choice here. Why I Keep Coming Back: High-quality ingredients - You can taste the difference! Their teas are rich and flavorful, not overly sweet or artificial. Perfectly chewy boba - Soft, fresh, and the ideal texture every time. Cozy & inviting atmosphere - Whether you're grabbing tea to go or sitting in to relax, the space feels welcoming. If you're a boba fan, this place is a must-visit. I'm already thinking about my next Mango Matcha Cream! read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So glad this spot is near campus--it's exactly the treat I needed! I ordered the hojicha latte and black sesame latte. While I'd prefer the hojicha a bit stronger, the black sesame latte was so good we finished it in seconds. Definitely coming back soon to try their matcha lattes or one of the fruit-forward matcha drinks. Service was super sweet! They were extremely welcoming. This place is more of a quick-stop rather than a sit-down hang-out location. Great ambiance overall! read more

This is my favorite boba tea shop and have stopped going to other places! I'd actually die on a hill for their matcha, it's that good. Everything else that I've ever tried has also been amazing. Their tea is actually tea, and the ambience and vibe is so welcoming and cutesy. I introduce all my friends and family to this place when they visit and they love it as much as I do. read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Orange matcha - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Easily one of the best matchas I've ever had! I had the strawberry matcha cream today and it was SOOOOOO good! I may have to come in 5 times a week now highly recommend! read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Strawberry matcha cream - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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It is embarrassing how often I visit Gathers. I've been a huge fun since Gathers was in the little restaurant doing take out only. Ever since Gathers expanded, I'm so happy I can bring more friends to my favorite local spot. I've tried about 85% of the menu & my favorite are : 1) matcha cream (strawberry/Mango) (matcha is comparable to the ones I had in Kyoto) 2) Hong Kong Milk Tea. Comparable to the ones in HK 3) Ube Taro Monster - when I want something super sweet 4) brown sugar assam black tea 5) Peach Oolong Milk tea (one of the best in chicago) The fact that they steep their tea to be so concentrated is my favorite part. I haven't spent $ on other boba in the city since I've met Gathers. read more

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Gathers Tea Bar is all the hype right now so I was excited to give it a try! It was easy to find parking nearby. The storefront itself is small and there isn't much room to sit given the amount of people that were there ordering on a Sunday afternoon. The line moved quickly though and the service was fast! We orders the strawberry matcha and the brown sugar tea. The brown sugar tea was just okay, and the strawberry matcha was more strawberry tasting than matcha. The strawberries were fresh through which I appreciated! For the price and the quality, I wouldn't go back, only to try something else if I was in the area. read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Strawberry Matcha - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

PROS - High quality matcha and drinks that do not feel too heavy in the mouth (or in your belly) - Great color. Very green, clear matcha. Tastes and looks awesome. NOT a mucky/milky color. Stays green (never brown), even after mixing with the other ingredients (strawberry, etc) - Their matcha lattes are phenomenal (note: I did not try the creams)! It's very hard to balance flavors for matcha drinks, and they usually turn out mucky or not sure what you're tasting, but not here! You can taste both the matcha and the additional flavors, and they are melded well - Not too sweet! Perfect amount - They use just the right amount of ice. Drink stays cold but doesn't become a watery/flavorless mess as the ice melts - Very fast service (for delivery)! CONS - N/A. I got delivery for my first time, so I can't comment on cleanliness, bathrooms, service, or in-person service speed RECOMMENDED - Black Sesame Matcha, Strawberry Matcha, Banana Milk - Note: I did not try the matcha latte creams. I just did the normal matcha lattes -- CONCLUSION - PHENOMENAL drink place!! A new favorite. I wouldn't mind going here daily - If I had to pick one drink to have forever, it would be the Black Sesame Matcha read more

This place does not disappoint. One of the best and consistent boba tea shop in Chicago. Always crowded. read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Mango matcha with lychee jelly - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My first time here was a really good experience. The space is typical of that area so it's not very spacious inside. The Beau was very minimalistic and modern. The service was very friendly and had good recommendations, especially for my first time. You can make a lot of alterations with the drinks, so you can make it your own. I got the roasted Long with golden Boba that was 75% sweetness. It was really good and since I got a large, it lasted a good chunk of the day for me. It tasted like a nice roasted tea with some sweetness that was very smooth and not overpowering. read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Gathers is my favorite boba place in Chicago! My go to drink is the brown sugar Assam milk tea with the golden boba.They've never disappointed me and are so consistent with their quality. It is a smaller space, more of a to go spot. Their staff is always very friendly and knowledgeable when me or my friends want to try something new. Highly recommend Gathers! read more

I cannot seem to get enough of this place. They use ceremonial grade matcha and you can definitely tell if you are a big matcha drinker. I love the mango or the strawberry matcha lattes and they are so beautiful and flavorful. They take orders via the kiosks and work pretty quickly. There is not much seating here so it is more of a grab and go style instead of a place to chill and relax. read more

Gathers Tea Bar - mango matcha - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My fav boba spot in Chi!! I love getting the strawberry matcha latte with boba. I also got to try their limited edition Thai green tea during st Patrick's and it was so good. Their boba is a nice chewy texture and cooked perfectly! It's a ways to get to gathers but it's always worth the trip for me. The workers are very friendly and there's a decent amount of seats inside while you wait for your drinks! read more

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Omg this matcha is delicious. My husband and I are huge matcha lovers. They import all of their matcha from Uji. The matcha cream series is delightful and so refreshing especially as we're heading into Chi summers! The regular matcha lattes are also amazing. The lines are usually long but they move quickly. They have 3 tablets that allow customers to order their drinks and the workers are pretty efficient. If you haven't tried it, add it to your list! Definitely worth checking out if you love matcha and boba :) read more

Here at Gathers Tea Bar and ngl I loved the vibe Super chill and trendy spot with a cool crowd and good music playing that interior was modern and clean and the lighting made it feel really cozy. I got a fruit tea and it was super refreshing. The staff were welcoming and quick with orders. Great place to hang out, catch up with friends, or even just chill solo I'd definitely go again before leaving my country read more

I got the pumpkin cream chai tea with oat milk! The cream itself is dairy, but I recommend the spot and the drink. I can definitely tell that they use high quality chai and black tea--the flavor is much stronger than other bubble teas I've had (although I didn't get bubbles). The place is not very suited to working or studying, although you could work for a bit with Xfinity wifi while sipping on your drink. They also have a clean bathroom. read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Pumpkin cream chai tea with oat milk (cream is dairy) - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We waited outside for this place to open for the day and we were not the only ones! Nor were we the only ones who ordered the Strawberry Matcha Latte. This drink reminds me of the Italian flag (or the Mexican flag) with its bright red and green colors. I am normally not a matcha fan, but this one wasn't too strong and grassy. Maybe it's due to the high quality green tea that they whisk to order. We got ours with oat milk for a non-dairy treat. Will definitely return. read more

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As someone from LA who appreciates good matcha, I was excited to try this place out. They hand whisk the matcha for every order, which is a huge green flag. Unfortunately, the matcha itself was a bit of a letdown. While it had a beautiful and vibrant green color, the taste was quite astringent and left my mouth feeling dry. I felt it was a bit overhyped and not quite worth the visit if you're someone who loves smooth and creamy matcha lattes. read more

Gathers Tea Bar - Matcha oat milk latte - Bubble Tea Near Me - Chicago, Illinois