Downtown

Chicago’s newest food hall is a 10,500 square foot temple to the new wave American culinary themes that have exploded in the last decade. Modern iterations of ethnic cuisine (chicken shio ramen from Japanese noodle bar Furious Spoon, non-GMO Polish pierogi from The Chow Brothers) are right next to farm-to-table fast casual spots, like Fare, which serves organic, produce-driven dishes (try the breakfast bowls with Tuscan kale, slow roasted tomatoes, cage-free eggs, and an herby pesto). For a quick pick-me-up, there’s even a florist, Flowers for Dreams, which offers sustainable, artisanal bouquets starting at $15 and come wrapped in recyclable cloth or vases made of reclaimed wood.

While Dollop has expanded across Chicago over the past 10 years, it’s still very much the neighborhood coffee house at heart—there’s nothing slick or overwhelmingly modern about any of the cafes. At the original Uptown spot, the seating options include lived-in couches and upholstered chairs, which if you’re in it for the long haul, makes a difference. The food offering, while modest, will do the trick in a pinch. The Streeterville location is spacious and well suited for study groups or casual meeting. Want fresh-baked pie to go with your coffee? Evanston serves Hoosier Mama pie all day. Perfectly brewed Metropolis coffee is consistent throughout so check out the Gold Coast outpost, too.