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    Museum Cafe

    3.3 (64 reviews)
    ModerateSandwiches, Soup, Cafes
    Closed Closed

    Museum Cafe Photos

    MUSEUM CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Beth A.

    This is located on the lower level of the Art Institute. When we went there we had to wait until they opened at 11am. We line up at the front and order and pay first. The inside seating area has plenty of options inside and a nice outside patio, if open for the season. The food we ordered was good and came out quickly. I appreciated that they asked for any allergies in our party and the manager made sure to update us about the food. The food is a bit pricey, but you should expect this for a restaurant in a museum. If you have a membership at the Art Institute you get 10% off at the cafe. If you are a member, note that you can order food from the cafe in the member lounge - in case the museum cafe is very busy.

    Green gazpacho
    Hanna S.

    The point of coming here on a bright summer day is to sit in bliss by the fountain in the shady courtyard. On our visit, the food was better than we had any right to expect at this kind of place. The gazpacho, grilled cheese, curry chicken salad, and roasted carrots were all delicious. The sandwiches were big enough to share with an added side or soup. If you visit the museum in beautiful weather, make sure you plan your day to allow for lunch in the courtyard. It's one of the best places to savor a perfect Chicago summer day.

    I sat next to this mess for 30 minutes without anyone cleaning it up.

    OK, first off, we all know and accept we're going to get ripped off a bit at a restaurant inside a museum. It's part of the deal and we all begrudgingly accept it because, we tell ourselves, we're "supporting the museum" and it's easier then finding lunch somewhere else. Fine. But as part of that bargain, the museum cafe agrees to have decent food and, if table service is provided, to do a nice job with that and keep the dining room clean. Pretty straightforward. So if, say, the museum cafe decides to charge SIX dollars for a lemonade for a patron's child, they will have the common decency to bring it in a cup with some ice so we can all pretend it's something nice. What the museum cafe does not do is drop a bare can of Minute Maid onto the patron's table, without even so much as a straw. I know you're ripping me off, but you don't need to rub my nose in it. Again, let's remember this $1-2 can of Minute Maid was just sold to me for $7.20 including "optional" tip -- a price even an airport terminal wouldn't dare charge. Put. It. In. A. Cup. Futhermore if a customer at your museum cafe sits down at a table in your little courtyard and right next to the table, there's a big mess of what looks like vomited up cottage cheese with a big spoon in it? Your part of the deal is that someone cleans that up promptly and it doesn't sit there for 30 minutes drying in the sun. And if a waiter does come over and then stands directly IN this mess without acknowledging it? Well, in that case, the waiter should not then snottily say "I'm aware" when the customer points out the mess. Again, museum cafe, your job is not hard. You provide a clean and attractive place to eat, provide decent quality food, present it and serve it reasonably well, and we agree to overpay for it because we are at the museum. Museum cafe, you provided acceptable food but you took ages to bring it out, served it without even the most rudimentary effort at presentation -- and inexcusably, you let my daughter and me sit next to a revolting mess. On top of all this, you had the gall to charge a 20% gratuity in advance. You have failed.

    Karen N.

    This is a perfect pit stop for some food and drink. There are seats inside and outside that are around a beautiful fountain. Max and I only came for the later... two beers please! The staff is very helpful and friendly.

    Pressed turkey sandwich, side of chips, baby Pellegrino - $36.90.

    The customer experience/logistics of this newly-reopened cafe are a case study in what not to do. You have to wait in line to order at 2 registers. As of late June 2025, there is no menu posted on the wall or on the digital screens before entering the line to help decide if you even want to wait in line - only one small 8.5x11 menu printout in a placard once you get close to the register. Line - 20+ people deep. The lack of self-order kiosks - which I believe they had previously before Covid - makes absolutely no sense. The food itself is not great, and is outrageously priced. 1 turkey sandwich, one side of semi-stale and overly peppery chips, and 1 tiny San Pellegrino - $36.90! Also no mention of the automatic 20% gratuity - just for them to bring your food out and bus the table. No "service" beyond that that I saw. They give you a remote device similar to Panera; I assumed you could just pick up your own food. Which would be far more efficient and fast. Instead you place the device into a dock on the table, and that's how they find you to drop your food. For a sandwich and chips, I waited 20 minutes. I don't remember eating here being this bad of an experience prior to the re-opening. I will not be coming back on any future visits.

    Al fresco dining
    Kathy C.

    Large menu on wall before you get to the counter to order & pay. I received a 10% discount with my membership. Th 20% tip was automatically charged as well, so I didn't have to calculate or add it later. I ordered the broccoli salad (which was listed as "Asparagus salad in the wall menu. Some of the broccoli pieces were too large to eat, and the butter knife provided did not cut anything. I'd have preferred a sharper knife or smaller broccoli sections. The outdoor eating area with umbrella covered tables around a lovely fountain will make me return the next time I'm in the museum

    Ham sandwich, looks good but tastes meh
    Chee K.

    The ambiance and service is excellent. You order at the counter and servers will bring your food in a large bright and roomy cafe. The problem is the food. We ordered the ham sandwich, roasted beet salad and sweet potatoes fries. The ham sandwich's bread was on focaccia was so thick and slightly stale. The roasted beet was still tough as I couldn't cut it with the butter knife and salad had too much dressing. It would have been better with pear instead of Granny Smith apples since the dressing was already tart. The cafe is best option in the museum but I'd probably just get a beverage. The servers and cashiers were all great, they were 5 stars.

    Po boy
    Melany L.

    We were at the museum on the opening day of the Georgia O'Keefe exhibit, and the museum was packed! When we went downstairs for a quick bite, the line was so long. a café employee walked through the line and handed out menus, he was so incredibly pleasant, he assured everybody that they would be serviced quickly, and just put everybody's mind at ease. The line moved quickly and efficiently, and our food came out to our table without too long of a wait. The café was very well staffed, the food was delicious, we had a great experience. Kudos to the chef and hospitality manager, as well as the entire staff. You have a well-oiled machine.

    This museum cafe is super disappointing compared to the Met's in NYC and the the Getty in LA. The chicken pot pie is tiny, the size of a cup of soup, and is not enough for most adults. The meatballs were mushy and super salty (sodium could be cut back by 50%), and the salmon in the salmon bowl was just okay, with slightly fishier taste than usual. We are not happy with the mandatory 20% gratuity for someone just bring a tray of food over. We had to get up and get our own water refill. The food trucks outside are probably a better option.

    We went without looking at the ratings. Big mistake. Pictures of the tv menu are nothing but absolutely nothing of what they serve you. We had the curry chicken, chicken was super dry and barely anything in the huge bun they serve, and the smoke ham sandwich was a joke. Ham isn't smoked just plain ham, couldn't find the French mustard on the bun and the pickled onions I found a couple at best. Lastly more so on the price $20 for a cheap supermarket sandwich level quality. Will never come again.

    Chicken Bahn Mi Sandwich and Quinoa salad

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    My wife and I both had the Stromboli yesterday, tasted ok but had some stomach issues ( to say the least). Lets say lingering indigestion.

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    9 years ago

    Be careful the dishes are filthy! Pizza dry as cardboard and the price? Astronomical!

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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)
    1.4 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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    Sweet Bean - Hot dog & onion bun

    Sweet Bean

    4.3(268 reviews)
    0.9 miSouth Loop
    $

    A Taiwanese bakery. How could a place that loves Michael Jackson be bad?…read more Salted Egg Yolk Bolo Bun流心菠蘿麵包: Calling it "流心"(runny) isn't quite accurate; it's a bolo bun菠蘿包 (pineapple -shape bun) with a salted egg yolk filling, but it had an authentic, old-fashioned flavor that made me feel like back to childhood. The crust was thin and crispy, with a large air cavity, making it very soft and fluffy. The salted egg yolk has just the right balance of sweetness and saltiness, and wasn't too cloying. Garlic Cheese Brioche Bun蒜香奶酪麵包: Perhaps its more Taiwanese name is "八蒜包" (Eight Garlic Bun). Its appearance and taste were very similar to those I've had at Taiwanese bakeries in mainland China. The cheese and garlic flavors were very strong, but the bread itself was slightly coarse. Hojicha Latte: The whole milk was very milky, but the hojicha flavor felt a little weak. However, it's already great to find a tea latte that's not very sweet.

    We came around 12:30noon and got a huge bread haul at this bakery. I'm SO glad we did!…read more Here's what we got: * Purple rice taro bun / 5 (OUR FAV!!!) * Matcha custard bun / 4.5 * Matcha pistachio bun / 5 * Tuna egg mayo bread / 4.5 * Hot dog & cheese bread / 4 * BBQ hot dog skewer / 3 * Sesame roll / 3.5 * Cheese pudding tart / 3.5 * Banana bread matcha c oat milk / 4.75 If there's one thing you get here, get the purple rice taro bun. Suuuuper soft & chewy bread filled with purple rice and taro. The textures were amazing. Best baked good I ever had. It's pricey but SO worth it!! 10/10, 5 stars, 100%. Service here is just okay, nothing special. There's also a small seating area in the back that is open until 4pm!

    Photos
    Sweet Bean
    Sweet Bean - Inside of Scallion & Ham Bun 蔥花火腿麵包 ($3.95) - very strong scallion flavor. Bread is soft, moist, and pretty oily.

    Inside of Scallion & Ham Bun 蔥花火腿麵包 ($3.95) - very strong scallion flavor. Bread is soft, moist, and pretty oily.

    Sweet Bean - Inside of Lychee Cranberry Scone 荔枝蔓越莓司康 ($5.75) - not the best, is dry and powdery. Definitely not worth the price.

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    Inside of Lychee Cranberry Scone 荔枝蔓越莓司康 ($5.75) - not the best, is dry and powdery. Definitely not worth the price.

    Hanabusa Cafe

    Hanabusa Cafe

    3.9(563 reviews)
    0.3 miThe Loop
    $$

    Hanabusa Cafe is a cute spot. The café has a nice, airy atmosphere with a garden-inspired aesthetic…read morethat makes it feel bright and inviting. The menu is also pretty extensive, with everything from ramen and udon to small bites, soufflé pancakes, teas, and smoothies. I stopped in mid-morning during the week, and there were already quite a few people in the café. I decided to try the Strawberry Pancakes with the Strawberry Passion Fruit Lemonade. The pancakes are made to order, so expect about a 10-15 minute wait, depending on how busy they are. My tea arrived pretty quickly and had a really nice balance of strawberry and passion fruit. I could taste both flavors without one overpowering the other, which I appreciated. I've had soufflé pancakes before, so I knew what to expect. These were nice and airy and definitely passed the jiggle test. The strawberry topping was delicious and reminded me of a flavored whipped cream. It paired really well with the pancakes without being too heavy. Overall, I had a great experience at Hanabusa Cafe.

    Had to try these pancakes you always see on tv…read more They do take a while to make but honestly it was worth the wait It's a cute little place nice for a date or to have a whimsical time I enjoyed these fluffy cakes so much Service was good

    Photos
    Hanabusa Cafe - Small sets of table and counter for ordering

    Small sets of table and counter for ordering

    Hanabusa Cafe - Earl Grey and Sea Salt Caramel Pancake

    Earl Grey and Sea Salt Caramel Pancake

    Hanabusa Cafe - Original Pancake  Macchiato

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    Original Pancake Macchiato

    Momentum Coffee - South Loop - The Ham and Swiss Mo Melt come with chips and you can add a drink to complete your lunch.

    Momentum Coffee - South Loop

    4.6(88 reviews)
    1.6 miNear Southside
    $

    We Came in for the first time for lunch and ordered a couple of sandwiches. I ordered the Mo'Melt…read moreTurkey and American and my wife ordered the turkey sausage croissant with cheese. When my wife asked for a cheese other than American like Swiss or provolone and she was told that that wasn't possible because the sandwiches are premade so she opted for no cheese. Well we ended up sitting at the table right in front of the counter and observed the staff making SEVERAL sandwiches with different cheeses..... So I am really wondering why we were not allowed to add a cheese other than American....... I found that kind of weird. Food was ok otherwise.....

    Was staying at the Marriott nearby and took a nice stroll over in the AM to grab a matcha latte &…read morebrekkie sandwich. The shop is cute with nice jazz music playing & lots of available seating. When I got my matcha it had no matcha flavor. I took off the lid and saw it was a very, very light green color. I then grabbed a straw and tried to stir the drink but alas the drink stayed the same color. :( The breakfast sandwich was fine, but unfortunately had to toss the latte. Hoping it was an off day, or they need to rethink the matcha powder they are using.

    Photos
    Momentum Coffee - South Loop - Picture of Box of Mo'  - A coffee traveler that can be ordered ahead and taken to go

    Picture of Box of Mo' - A coffee traveler that can be ordered ahead and taken to go

    Momentum Coffee - South Loop - Spinach and feta breakfast Croissant

    Spinach and feta breakfast Croissant

    Momentum Coffee - South Loop - Momentum Coffee and Almond Croissant can be ordered as Grab& Go Combo

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    Swadesi Cafe - Chili cheese toastie

    Swadesi Cafe

    4.3(207 reviews)
    1.1 miWest Loop, Near West Side
    $$

    Absolutely obsessed with this cafe. One of the best cafe experiences I've ever had. When I'm not at…read morethis cafe, I'm thinking about visiting it. The interior is beautifully decorated, with a fair amount of seating. I love how much natural light there is. I've visited over the course of several weekends, and it's always fairly busy. However, the line moves quickly. Service is speedy. The variety of drinks and pastries is incredible. The Indian-inspired pastries are so tasty. I highly recommend the gulab jamun croissant and butter chicken croissant. Their matcha is some of the best matcha I've ever had. The banana cream matcha is perfection - the cream top is fluffy and tastes just like banana. The matcha flavor is deep and perfectly sweet. Another delicious option is the lemon cream matcha. This is definitely a pricey option, but the food and drinks are worth it. Can't wait for my next visit!

    I finally made it to Swadesi Coffee, and it absolutely lived up to the hype…read more I ordered the Lemon Cream Matcha, and it's officially one of my favorite matcha drinks in Chicago. The matcha is smooth and earthy, while the lemon adds a bright citrus flavor that somehow works perfectly without overpowering it. The house-made lemon cream ties everything together, making it refreshing, creamy, and perfect for summer. Beyond the drink, the café itself has a warm, welcoming atmosphere with beautiful design and plenty of character. It's the kind of place where you can catch up with friends, get some work done, or just enjoy a slow morning. If you're a matcha lover--or even if you're just looking to try something different--Swadesi Coffee is absolutely worth a visit. I'll definitely be back to work my way through more of the menu.

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    Swadesi Cafe - Swadesi Cafe

    Swadesi Cafe

    Swadesi Cafe - Jaggery chocolate chip cookie

    Jaggery chocolate chip cookie

    Swadesi Cafe - Sticky toffee cake

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    Sticky toffee cake

    Museum Cafe - sandwiches - Updated September 2026

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