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

Black coffee is good. Service was friendly and ambiance is pretty relaxed and casual.read more

Latte was made with just the right amount of milk and coffee (for me, at least). Did not get to try…read morethe pastries but they looked delicious. Service was quick and efficient. You order on a tablet which was pretty easy to use. Restaurant was pretty chic and clean with huge windows facing Millenium Park.

This place was near our hotel so we tried it to brunch. I didn't realize this was like a franchise…read moresince I saw other stores like this throughout Chicago. Anyways - walking in they have kiosks to order your food. We took awhile ordering our food since this was our first time here. I got a turkey/ham baguette which was really large. I could only finish half and had to take the rest to go. Other folks got the egg dishes and they enjoyed it. Seating wise was at first hard due to limited space but after folks left we were able to sit and eat our brunch. I was expecting more French but it's more or a bare store being runned (Subways/togos etc. I would come again and the prices were reasonable.

I stopped by Intelligentsia Coffee and really enjoyed it. I ordered a matcha latte with almond milk…read moreand my husband got a cappuccino with oat milk. Both were excellent. I appreciated that the matcha can be customized. You can choose sweetened or unsweetened and even adjust the matcha strength. Since I am sensitive to caffeine I chose light matcha and it was perfect. Smooth flavor and not overly sweet. The cafe is also a really nice place to sit for a bit. There are big tables and lots of natural light which makes it feel relaxed and comfortable. The staff were nice and the drinks came out quickly. Great spot for a quality matcha or coffee in the area. I would definitely come back.

I was already skeptic about coffee shops in the Loop, especially big chains like this but my…read morefriends & I were in desperate need of caffeine and this was the closest spot...we should have just pushed through without the caffeine. First off, the staff were nice so this review does not have to do with them. It has everything to do with the atrocious, offensive liquid that they dare call coffee. When you walk in, the space is small, humid, and dirty. The tables were all sticky with drink residue and crumbs everywhere. It's the Loop so I'll give some grace but it was pretty unpleasant. We ordered the strawberry matcha and vanilla latte. The matcha came out murky green with an attempt of making it look nice with a chaotic splattering of strawberry puree/sauce (?). It tasted like it looked...trash. You might be wondering, "Well why would you order a matcha here?" And you would be correct. In my defense, you would think that if there is a drink on the menu, it would at least be somewhat good but now that I think about it, that might be too much to ask. Now to my #1 gripe, the latte. It was watery and nearly flavorless aside from the diabolical acidic taste that assaulted my tastebuds. For context, we HATE wasting food/drink; I could probably count on one hand how many times I've done that in my life. We threw away the lattes after a few forced sips; that should tell you how nasty it was. Bad coffee, bad drinks, it happens. But paying ~$8 for each drink really does rub salt in the wound. I will NEVER drink Intelligentsia coffee again. In the grand scheme of things, my review doesn't matter but if I can warn at least one other person about the atrocities this company commits to coffee/matcha, then maybe it will make up for the waste of money & time I spent here.

Staff was kind and fast in service. We came at 10am and waited probably 5 mins to get a table…read more We got the iced matcha latte and wasn't too sweet but I didn't love the matcha quality and that's my only reason for 1 star off. We also got the custard and earl grey pancakes. It was delicious and not too sweet. Fruits tasted fresh. Would so try the matcha cream next time.

While in The Loop, I was intrigued when I found out there was a Japanese soufflé pancake shop in…read morethe area. Hanabusa Cafe is a restaurant which offers soufflé pancakes and specialty drinks. Unlike in Japan where soufflé pancakes are eaten for breakfast, this is more of a dessert cafe, especially since Hanabusa opens at 9am. The place itself isn't too big and the revolving entrance door placement is a bit misleading since it is off to the side appearing to go into another business. Although tables and chairs are available, ordering is done at the register and I wouldn't exactly classify this as a sit down restaurant. I arrived on a Thursday just after noon and there were a couple parties already dining in. I ordered the earl gray and sea salt caramel soufflé pancake and was told the wait would be around twenty minutes, which was fine since I wasn't in a hurry. This arrived at the table and had earl grey tea sauce under whipped cream and sliced strawberries, blueberries, and bananas. The pancakes were denser than I expected but the earl gray sauce was definitely the star of the dish (and the main reason I ordered this); the flavor was evident without overpowering the rest of the ingredients or adding too much sweetness. The whipped cream seemed like filler, the caramel made the dish a little too sweet, and the slice fruit added flavors to the plate. Luckily I was looking at the fruit before eating since I found a pointy stem sticking out of one of the blueberries. I also didn't notice the sea salt flavor in the mix of everything on the plate. Otherwise, the plate composition was not bad. Hanabusa Cafe is a nice place that offers something unique in the area. However, I do not think it is worth coming out of your way for since the execution could be improved, especially with the removal of stems from the fruit.

Fantastic drinks. Convenient location. Very quaint but comfortable interior with some creative…read moredesign elements including a TV playing YouTube DJs... it looks like a livestream from another room and really adds a cool ambiance. The best part are the baristas. I've been a couple of times and they are always approachable, engaging, kind, interested in conversation, and willing to make recommendations. One of my favorite shops in The Loop.

I stopped by Happy Monday Coffee on the way to the Art Museum for some quick caffeine. Very good…read morecoffee and great chill, moody ambiance. It was quiet (around 4 pm on Friday) and not too crowded. You order from a kiosk so not too much to add about service, but my oatmilk cortado was fantastic. If I lived here, it seems like a great little coffeeshop to come read, work, or I even saw someone crocheting. The downside was that it seemed they don't have public restrooms, which maybe makes it hard to sit and stay awhile despite the cozy environment.

Great food options and really nice service. If you are visiting Chicago must have breakfast hereread more

Wait is kind of long but they are efficient. Food was great, they got it out super quickly, but…read moredefinitely not the play to go if you want a chill brunch experience.

Morning coffee and tea with a pastry! Two Raisin Danishes, a Grim Steeper, and a Applely Ever After…read morehot beverages.

Finally came back to check out a different drink. Ended up getting the London Calling Latte, which…read morewas much better. I have tried a latte with honey and sea salt before; that one I didn't like but this one was much better. Like last time, pretty fast & friendly service. Coffee place seems nice and calm; I would come back and work next time! Note: London Calling Latte is usually made with oat milk but I ordered mine with whole milk.

This place is good for ambiance and drinks. Very much TikTok friendly. Our waiter was very sweet…read more However the food was 'okay'

As its name implies, every single item in this store is full of sugar. Heaven for pre diabetic…read more Hell for diabetics. Let me be more clear, everything is painfully sweet. Visit at your own risk.