Best Coffee Shops and Cafes in Oak Park

"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 embraces the vintage vibe of a classic donut shop, with a modern spin. They’ve perfected the classics (glazed old fashioneds, cinnamon sugar cake donuts, massive apple fritters) and added in some of their own creations (peanut butter pockets, croissant-donut hybrids, and gluten-free options). Find the one closest to you here"

"In addition to a wide array of donuts (everything from Glazed to Nutella Banana Pockets), Stan’s Donuts also serves up gelato, shakes and Intelligentsia coffee. Stop by to take in the fun, retro vibe and order one of their most popular creations – Lemon Pistachio Old Fashioned."

"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."

"Probably the most modernized bakery on this list, Floriole quickly rose to the top after its inception. This Lincoln Park bakery in Chicago is beautifully designed and even features a relatively large cafe area where you can sit and enjoy your pastry. The bakery is specifically European-style, featuring wines and beers to accompany your sweets, and plenty of coffee."

"The Wormhole will take you back to the future—a model of Marty McFly’s DeLorean is literally in the shop. This ‘80s themed coffee shop has a menu full of delicious coffee options and is one of the coziest spots in Wicker Park. Order for pickup now!"

"Come for Marty McFly's Delorean, stay for the coffee in this cozy Wicker Park space. The Wormhole is a fan favorite, and owner Dan Weiss is planning a ‘90s-style sequel in Bucktown called Wormhole 2."

"The Wormhole Coffee is one of the best-reviewed coffee shops in Chicago. It’s located in Wicker Park. The interior has this relaxed retro vibe going on."

"Sip on a variety of refreshing beverages at Chinese bubble tea chain Tsaocaa. Customers can mix their drinks with fruits or try cheese tea, a popular food trend featuring a foamy top layer of milk, cream cheese, and salt. There are also snacks like fried chicken and egg waffles on the menu."

"You may have a hard time saying their name but the bubble tea at TSAôCAA is the real deal. Bubble tea shops have popped up all over Chicago to meet the growing demand for bubble tea. TSAôCAA Tea specializes in fruit teas, mixed teas, and milk teas."

"This homemade ice cream is a treat that can be savored all-year round. With shakes, floats, cones, and sundaes, you can enjoy your ice cream any way that you want it."

"Matcha lovers now have a dedicated cafe to satisfy their cravings. Housed inside Squeez Juice Bar, Matchacita creates all kinds of hot and cold green tea beverages, including a “Purple Haze” latte (CBD, lavender, matcha, oat milk), a charcoal matcha latte, and a matcha horchata. They’re paired with brunch-y foods like waffles, toasts, and smoothie bowls."

"And at four stories and 35000 sq feet, it’s also the biggest. The centerpiece of the store is a 56 ft steel cask. Also, it serves as a Willy Wonka-esque chute for roasted beans."

"It might surprise you that a thin crust pizza place made a top list for Chicago, but it is well deserved. Coalfire Pizza makes their pies in an 800 degree oven and their topping combinations are outside the box, yet perfect. They have everything from Vodka Meatball to Lasagna pizza — all worth a try."

"Regardless of what certain chains might say, Jeni Britton Bauer is the real "dairy queen." The woman who ignited an ice cream renaissance in Columbus, Ohio with her namesake ice cream shop has become synonymous with seasonal and innovative ice creams. With several locations in Ohio, she brought her charming wares to Chicago via a sleek scoop shop on Southport. What sets Jeni apart is her unique approach to flavor combinations and textures."

"These ice cream flavors will blast you into a different world. Jeni’s is founded on the concept of creating a quality, delicious ice cream that keeps people coming back together for that nostalgic feeling. Ice cream should be the main attraction, not an after-thought."

"The Beverly Arts Center is a multifaceted space that hosts regular programs on dance, film, theater and music. There is also a gallery space here that presents a rotating and diverse program of visual arts. Past exhibits have included works by local Chicago cartoonists, printmakers, photographers and painters, as well as programs focused on the LGBTQ community."

"Restaurants Contemporary American River North. True to its name, you can expect a bevy of roasted meat and veggie options on the menu of this riverside American restaurant, which offers pork loin, whole fish, sweet onion and more, all carved up tableside. Snag a reservation on its scenic patio area and enjoy dinner or a weekend brunch."

"If the views from this riverside patio, bar and restaurant don’t have you over a barrel, the food certainly will. River Roast's riverfront patio is open, but daily reservations fill up quickly. Be sure to book yours in advance!"