Best Coffee Shops and Cafes in Chicago Ridge

"Stan’s Donuts originated in Los Angeles, and has only showed up on the Chicago donut scene a few years ago. Regardless, they continue to open new locations and rarely run out of donuts unlike other shops in the city. The great perk about Stan’s isn’t just that you can actually sit down at any time of day and enjoy a donut and coffee, it’s also that they have endless donut options available that make choosing one nearly impossible."

"If you’re still trying to diet in this pandemic, well you should definitely avoid following Stan’s Donuts & Coffee’s Instagram, because one look at their photos will completely override any self discipline you thought you had. More importantly, Stan’s has the flavor to back it up. Featured flavors include: Biscoff Banana Pockets, Glazed Pretzels, Lemon-Pistachio Old Fashioneds, and their new Caramel Marshmallow Pockets."

"Stan's Donuts has quickly become a Chicago icon with decadent flavored donuts, cookies and delicious beverages. They are currently open every day for takeout and delivery."

"Floriole functioned as a stand at Chicago's beloved Green City Market for nearly five years before it became a brick-and-mortar restaurant. As such, expect market-driven fare that prizes freshness and seasonality above all else. Those priorities manifest in menu items like late-season roasted tomato and swiss chard quiche, ricotta toast topped with plums and honey, and pea salad with radishes, turnips, and spring onions."

"The longest-established purveyor of canelés in Chicago, Floriole Café & Bakery's Sandra Holl may also be their least traditional practitioner. Holl produces her canelés without the use of beeswax, and has even been known to tweak the time-honored vanilla-rum flavor profile. (A chocolate version, for instance, makes an appearance in the café each February.) Traditional or not, her approach works."

"Restaurants Coffee shops Wicker Park. To get Wicker Park excited about another coffee shop, you’d have to do something pretty crazy. Like, say, install a DeLorean in the front of the store."

"If you have an unhealthy obsession with the movie “Back to the future,” this is the store for you. The Wormhole is a trip back in time to circa 1984. The whole coffee shop is an homage to pop culture from the 1980s."

"Located just steps away from Millennium Park in Chicago’s South Loop, Wildberry Pancakes & Café is one of the best breakfast joints in town, with a range of mouthwateringly delicious choices for breakfast, brunch, and lunch. The café’s all-encompassing menu features everything from eggs and skillets to yes, you guessed it, pancakes, and the casual eatery is always packed with crowds of locals and tourists alike waiting for a table. The menu boasts a wide range of egg dishes from omelets and scrambles to egg entrees and skillets, but it’s the signature specialty pancakes that draw the crowds, with toppings such as chocolate chip and banana, Oreo cookies, fresh berries and granola, and lemon buttercream and vanilla crème Anglaise."

"You'll feel instantly uplifted upon entering Blue Door Farm Stand, a bright, two-story Lincoln Park restaurant outfitted with modern-meets-rustic touches like iron chandeliers, exposed wooden beams, plush seating, and a long marble bar. A local and seasonal approach drives the menu here, with a compilation of classic brunch plates that take some contemporary twists. Try the flavor-packed bell pepper and bacon Benedict (with chèvre, heirloom tomatoes, and spring onion), or go lighter with the veggie burger."

"As the name suggests, farm-to-table is the game at this rustic restaurant that pulls produce and other ingredients from nearby farms. For those whose resolutions are still intact, order the smoked chicken salad on multigrain bread. If not, opt for the apple pie and bacon grilled cheese."

"The striking English Gothic clock tower that sits along the lakefront at Waveland is home to the Clock Tower Café. The casual spot is popular with those playing on the nearby tennis courts and golf course, but all are welcome to enjoy cold drinks and a casual menu. Choose from burgers, salads, sandwiches, and hot dogs, plus your choice of seating on two different patios."

"Argo tea on Randolph street is in a great location and offers a comfortable sitting area for their clientele. The service is also quick and friendly. They have many options for bubble tea lovers and you will be spoilt for choice."

"This Andersonville neighborhood favorite is beloved for its new American-style breakfasts, fresh bakery, charming setting, and its use of locally sourced and organic food. While other breakfast menus are serving the obligatory eggs and avocado toast, spring and summer at m.henry brings a dandelion, shallot, and leek omelette; blackberry bliss cakes; Fannie's killer fried egg sandwich; "veritable vegan epiphany" with scrambled organic tofu, rapini, sweet onions served with tempeh strips or veggie sausage, sliced avocado, a petite fruit salad or house potatoes. The flavors of fall are revealed in items like Sweet Potato Flapjacks w/Apple Cider Syrup; Rustic Peasant Quiche; and Pumpkin Pecan Hotcakes w/maple mascarpone, among many others."

"m.henry is an anchor for the Edgewater and Andersonville brunch bunch, but visitors to nearby Loyola University also descend on this comfy spot to dig in. There’s plenty of American comfort food to go around: filled-to-bursting omelets (sometimes with a twist: dandelion, shallot, and leek anyone?); heaving stacks of hotcakes; and brioche French toast layered with homemade lemon curd and raspberry coulis. The restaurant is committed to organic when possible, and there are lots of options for those on special diets."

"Of all the fantastic brunch spots in Andersonville, the historic Chicago staple M Henry is a frontrunner dedicated to using mostly organic and meat-free options. If bacon is an essential member of your dream brunch setup M Henry might not be for you. But if you’re looking for a place to satisfy a number of different tastes and tendencies, you can’t go wrong with M Henry."

"Best Cupcakes: Nutella and Peanut Butter Filled Cupcake ($3.75). If you like grabbing a sweet stuffed cupcake and swinging on a swing set inside of a cafe, Molly’s Cupcakes should be on your “to go” list. They promise to give unsupervised kids free puppies and fulfill every cake craving you could possibly have."

"Molly's is famous for their center-filled cupcakes, but you really can’t go wrong with any of the flavors. If you’re really not feeling any of the flavors though, they’ll let you create your own cupcake AND decorate it with sprinkles. Does it get any better?"

"Molly’s Cupcakes is next on our list of the best desserts in Chicago. And it’s definitely a place you won’t want to miss out on!. The cupcakes here are just perfect – soft and airy, and available in loads of wonderful flavors too!"

"This center dedicated to the famous artist is located in Jefferson Park, and with its bright mural you can’t miss it. You can check out an iPod at the front desk for a self-guided tour, or visit the first Thursday of the month at 2pm for a thirty-minute guided tour."

"The National Museum of Mexican Art is one of the only Chicago museums of art that showcases the art, culture and history of the Latino, Mexican and Chicano communities. Founded in 1982, it now counts some 10,000 pieces in its collections. These range from pre-Hispanic and pre-Colombian objects made by indigenous Mexican groups – including the Maya, Mezcala and Toltec – to folk art, textiles and paintings."

"Small-batch donuts are the name of the game at this adorable Glenview spot, where they bypass preservatives and trans fats in favor of natural ingredients, making all of the jams and fillings in-house. The Boston Cream, stuffed with rich pastry cream and glazed with shiny ganache, and the oh-so-springy Strawberry Glazed are highlights."

"Restaurants Bakeries Bridgeport. This iconic Polish bakery closed in October 2019 after decades of serving pączki, doughnuts, cookies and other candy-colored sweets to its fans. Thankfully, new ownership swept in and restored the spot to its former glory."

"If you’re wondering what happened to Bridgeport Bakery 1.0, it closed. But thankfully version 2.0 has the same delicious treats as the original. And while they have a lot of baked goods besides donuts, we like coming here for their long johns and bismarks."

"Their donuts are made in small batches so they’re always warm and fresh, and they have amazing gluten-free and vegan options every day. If you’re someone who loves old fashioned type donuts, then this place is for you. Similar to other donut shops around the city, they can sell out of their popular and gluten free options quickly, so your best bet is to either order online ahead of time or show up early!"

"Top-pick donuts here include the Carrot Cake, Chocolate Old Fashioned and Pistachio Lemon. If you are trying to be less sinful, try their gluten-free or vegan options. Do-rite serves them up daily and you can even order online."

"Having the fam there for support will help alleviate the stress of the endless amounts of options on the menu. Bonus: since the menu is so overwhelming with goodness, having the extra people there means getting a bite off of everyone's plate. What to order: Led Zeppelin Burger"

"If you like your burgers with a side of heavy metal (and ridiculous mac and cheese), Kuma’s your guy. Just don’t be alarmed ordering the Black Sabbath or Iron Maiden. Also Try: Au Cheval, DMK Burger Bar, Shake Shack"