Now that working remotely is more common, many of us are looking for places where we can go to get out of the house for a while. The good news? Oak Park and some of the other great suburbs just outside of Chicago, have you covered.
In addition to great coffee and a wonderful ambiance, you’ll likely find free wifi as well. Need the password? Just ask your barista. Many even have outdoor seating for when the weather gets nice.
Here are some of our top picks:
Addis Café is local favorite amongst Oak Park residents. There you can find delicious drinks — from americanos to chai lattes — crafted with the utmost care. A peaceful space with big gorgeous windows makes it the perfect place to have a seat and stay for a while. They also feature a variety of pastries, including incredible muffins and scones. It’s a lovely treat for anyone that visits.
Brewpoint coffee was born out of some soul searching and the hunt for an espresso machine on Craigslist. Six years later, the owners have three shops and are working hard to create community spaces — making it a great place to work remotely — and bring sustainable coffee to everyone. Whether you’re enjoying one of their delicious coffee drinks while you write, or are looking to bring home some incredible coffee beans, their amazing blends — like their signature Illusionist blend — are sure to please.
Fairgrounds is rooted in a dedication to diversity and a commitment to fair business practices. Their goal is to bring people together with every cup — which makes this the perfect place to meet with a friend or business partner. They have locations all over Chicago, including one in Oak Park. In addition to your favorite coffee drinks, they also have a delicious menu where you can find opening acts like one of their popular breakfast sandwiches, or a headliner like their South x Southwest salad. You can sit, sip, and graze — all while you work.
Mulata Kitchen, founded by Cristiane Pereira, delivers not only delicious coffee, but also a space that welcomes a diverse community. You can enjoy any of their espresso drinks, including hot and cold “mulattes” as well as any of their delicious, gourmet sandwiches, inspired by Brazilian flavors. Like the carne louca — made with mozzarella, braised beef, caramelized onions, and bell peppers, all served on a signature rustic bread. This place is one you have to try for yourself.
Located off of Lake St. in downtown Oak Park, Wise Cup offers Indian flair and is a favorite to many locals. In addition to their classic coffee drinks, you can try one of their specialty lattes like the turtle mocha — made with almond, caramel, and dark chocolate. You can also try one of their in-house treats like the samosa — a classic Indian hand held snack — which is a baked pastry with savory filling. Whatever your choice, you can’t go wrong here.
Located in Oak Park and Berwyn, La Borra Cafe and Lounge is a gem to the locals. Not only do they have a wide variety of drinks — from classic coffee drinks and tea lattes to iced cold frappes — but you can also snack while you work. With a menu of delicious small plates — like avocado toast, tomato toast, or a ham and cheese croissant — there’s a little bit of everything to get you through your day.
Gosia is a Polish immigrant with a passion for a really good cup of coffee, which is why she opened up her own shop. At Gosia’s, you can feel the love poured into every cup. They serve a wide selection of coffee drinks made with Collective Coffee — like their delicious latte macchiato — and bakery items from Troubadour Bakery. Gosia’s has a more intimate feel, and is a great place to find some peace and quiet when you need to get work done.
Located in Brookfield, Loca Mocha Cafe is a local gem. From lattes to Americanos, they have all of your favorites. There’s no wild and wacky here, just the classics done right. In addition to their delicious coffee drinks, you can also try out any of their delectable baked goods, including banana nut loaf, lemon poppy seed loaf, and muffins. Need something to bring home for the kids? Try a hot chocolate or little steamer!
A Forest Park favorite, Kribi Coffee Air Roastery does not disappoint. Their goal is to the raise the standards around sustainable coffee, and bring it to their customers, one cup at a time. You can try one of their rotating specialty drinks — like the RBG Matcha for Women’s History Month —or grab a nitro cold brew if you’ve got a lot to get done. Hungry? Try one of their delicious pastries like the Bonjour Bakery pan au chocolat, or a savory rosemary bagel.
Located in the heart of downtown La Grange, Owl and Lark is a treat in every way. They have a great list of incredible coffee & tea-based drinks — like the lavender latte made with natural lavender essence. If you’re hungry, you can grab one of their amazing snacks like the magic smoothie bowl — made with frozen fruit, nuts, and blue spirulina — or the green goddess bagel —made with everything bagel, avocado, and fresh vegetables.
Located in La Grange, Wheelys is a trendy coffee shop with an incredible menu, great for sipping while you work! You can try one of their seasonal specialty drinks— like the Leprechaun Latte, recently released for St. Patrick's Day — or try their take on one of your favorite classics. If you’re in the mood for something a little more filling, you can order one of their refreshing smoothies — from mango coconut to matcha, there’s a flavor for everyone. There’s also a variety of bagels and pastries to nibble on in case you get hungry.
One of the newest additions to downtown Riverside, Sips and Sweets Café offers a variety of coffee drinks and a large open seating room — which means there’s plenty of space for work. Locals come for the delicious cold brew (that you can take home for the week!) and stay for the amazing sweets like their classic cinnamon roll. There’s also a long list of sweets for you to choose from — including muffins, cake balls, and even cookie decorating kits. So the fun lasts long after you leave the shop.
Drip coffee - Drip coffee is the most common type of coffee, that’s made by brewing coffee as you typically would at home.
Espresso - Espresso is much stronger (in flavor and in caffeine) than regularly brewed coffee. Espresso is brewed by forcing nearly boiling water through finely ground espresso beans, which creates a concentrated coffee. This is the base for many Italian-style coffee drinks.
Latte - A latte is espresso with steamed milk and a small amount of milk foam on top.
Cappuccino - A cappuccino is made with equal parts espresso, steamed milk, and thick foam.
Americano - An Americano is a simple mix of espresso and water. It was invented in World War II, where European baristas added water to their espresso to provide a less concentrated flavor (like coffee) for the American soldiers.
Mocha - Mochas are espresso-based drinks with chocolate added.
Cafe au lait - Cafe au lait is made with equal parts strong coffee and steamed milk, a traditional French coffee drink.
Macchiato - Macchiato means spotted, so a macchiato is espresso served with a spot of milk, or a foamed milk.
Whatever your choice, meet us for a cup at any of these incredible coffee shops.