Rivers and Roads Cafe

The 33 Best Coffee Shops & Cafes In Chicago

"If you’re motivated by being in the company of people who are being very productive, try working at Rivers and Roads in Edgewater. This national park-themed cafe's proximity to Loyola University means that it’s common to find students studying, working on group projects, and breaking the record for most words typed per minute. They have some great bagels from Steingold's, pastries from Publican Quality Bread, as well as giant cookies and quiches that are baked in house." - adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru

On the Grid : Ellipsis Coffeehouse

"Sometimes you don't just want a single-origin, pour over drip with just the right blend of fruity and chocolatey notes, you deserve one. If you are a fan of coffee done right, without the lines or a price tag, check out Ellipsis. Serving the beloved Counter Culture Coffee roasts, this spot is a perfect get away to enjoy a creamy espresso and relax." - Sidekick Video

Rivers And Roads Cafe - Review - Edgewater - Chicago - The Infatuation

"If you work best in an environment where everyone is being very productive (or at least looks like it), try working at Rivers and Roads in Edgewater. This national park-themed cafe is very close to Loyola University (camping lanterns hang from the ceiling and there's a portait of Smokey Bear), which means that it’s common to find students studying, working on group projects, and typing like they're competing in a Hackathon. They have some great bagels from Steingold's, pastries from Publican Quality Bread, as well as giant cookies and quiches that are baked in house." - John Ringor

View Postcard for Ellipsis Coffeehouse

"Ellipsis Coffeehouse, Rogers Park Edgewater. Sometimes you don't just want a single-origin, pour over drip with just the right blend of fruity and chocolatey notes, you deserve one. If you are a fan of coffee done right, without the lines or a price tag, check out Ellipsis. Serving the beloved Counter Culture Coffee roasts, this spot is a perfect get away to enjoy a creamy espresso and relax."

Chicago

Michael Damato

Google

Amazing cozy neighborhood coffee shop with pastries, sandwiches, and a variety of specialty drinks with made in house syrups. Staff were very friendly and the space gave off a great vibe of the type of place where the regulars and staff all know each other. Ample seating and plugs available as well. Very worth stopping in.

Theo Wiggin

Google

Adorable, earthy, National Park themed cafe! The inside was super cute and decorated, and the coffee was great! I got an iced latte with macadamia milk which I'd never tried, but it was super good. They have a nice bathroom, and plenty of seats inside. Great for studying! The baristas were very nice, and our drinks came quickly.

J G

Google

Rivers and Roads Cafe near Loyola in Chicago is a cozy, with an original and creative national park-themed spot with a warm and laid-back vibe. They serve creative drinks like the Smokey Mocha and mango coconut matcha, along with espresso drinks, tasty bagels, sandwiches, and vegan options. It’s a great place to grab a quality coffee, study, work, or just relax and hang out.

Daisy Matias

Google

Honestly probably the best cafe food and drinks wise that I’ve been to in the city? And I’ve been to a lot. Mind you, I’m a matcha drinker and oh my god, they kill that. The regular matcha latte is always well whisked and rich and the monthly matcha latte specials are out of this world (I swear if you guys bring back the black sesame matcha I will cry of happiness). While big cookies aren’t really my thing (although I’m sure they’re good!) the other pastries i’ve tried there are great! They also use Steingolds bagels, which are some of the best (easily accessible) bagels in the city, and every breakfast sandwich I’ve had there has clearly been made with fresh ingredients. The only thing keeping it from being my #1 cafe is that it’s always packed with Loyola students but that is to be expected given its proximity to the university. As someone who used to go to Elipsis almost daily and hates change I was at first resistant to loving Rivers and Roads but I think it may be impossible not to. Yay for great locally owned cafes!

Dr. Mia Su Cary she, her

Google

We thoroughly enjoyed our time at the Rivers and Roads Cafe including the huge and delicious birthday cookies, chamomile tea, and hot chocolate. It was also fabulous to listen to the charming Addie and Cole and spend time with the talented Floriography Fellows. Highly recommend all of this!

Tom Williams

Google

This place has a wonderful, friendly, outdoorsy, log cabin vibe that feels super authentic with all the National Park art, cool lighting, and extensive wood work that all came from the same huge 300 year old black walnut tree. They also play great music and the couple who run it are super nice. For the last 2-3 years I’ve been on a fun quest to visit as many independent coffee shops in Chicago that I can find, and of the 175 shops (to date!) I’ve been to, only 17 have made my favorites list. This is one of them. 🙂

Asha Gray

Google

I stopped by here on my way out of town. The line was out the door. Which I took as a good sign. Though it was a long line it moved quickly. I got a plain bagel with their specialty jam which I think was blueberry and banana bread. The bagel was tasty and crisp just the was I like it. The jam was delicious and very fresh tasting. The banana bread wasn't to my liking because it was not as sweet as I prefer. I also got a cold brew coffee with a specially flavored syrup, I think it was marshmallow, it was also very tasty. I took my order to go, which is good because it was around 10am on a Friday and there were no empty seats. Another good sign. Will definitely return when I visit again.

Elizabeth Pyle

Google

Wonderful, locally owned Coffee Shop and Cafe! They bake many of their own sweets! Friendly staff and the food is superior to other cafes! Try their Lox Bagel or BLT! They also have a walk-up window so you can order if you’re with your dog. My neighborhood favorite 😀

Marissa M.

Yelp

This is a favorite among favorites of coffee shops and such a hidden gem of Rogers Park! I first found Rivers and Roads on Instagram. I've been to a couple of those foodie account coffee shops, and they've all been OK. However, this place exceeded expectation! Great theme. Great food. Great coffee. Great atmosphere. Easy street parking. Friendly baristas. Amazing spot!

Brynn P.

Yelp

Love that Rogers Park has this cute coffee house! The lattes there are delicious. Bagels are bomb! And the cookies they sell are to die for. They also have a window you can order from if you've got your pup with you! If you are in the area, check it out!

Jim D.

Yelp

Place was recently featured on infatuation's best breakfast sandwich establishments & seeing as how I'm desperate to find some new establishments I indulged. My initial reaction was that the sausage was reminiscent of play dough & seeing as how we eat with our eyes 1st I wasn't looking forward to this. Sandwich was subpar & seeing as how uber eats wasn't cheap I wasn't pleased. Do yourself a favor & go to loaf lounge

Katrina M.

Yelp

I really enjoyed studying here. For a packed house, it was surprisingly still possible to focus! Everyone there seemed to be working on stuff so it was not too much activity to get my own work done. I prefer my coffee a little sweeter/more flavor than it was made, but I know that's a personal preference. Lastly, the lox bagel had so much potential but was ultimately way too salty to eat. I got it on a rosemary sea salt bagel, so that was on me, but there is also sea salt on top and I just had to take off the tomato since that's where all the salt was. I'd just ask for no salt next time.

Jessica D.

Yelp

Traveled to the city from Elmhurst just to see this National Park themed cafe. Boy was it worth the trip! I met up with a girl friend and we were both super impressed. Starting with the staff who was warm and patient while we decided what we wanted for our first round. We both got drinks that were delicious. We then order another round of coffees after an hour or so and added the garden bagel to our order. IT WAS DELICIOUS! We stayed there for 4 hours without realizing due to the comfortable environment and good conversation. Can't wait to go back! Thank you!!!

Paul J.

Yelp

Another stop at Rivers and Roads - this place still keeps the crunchy caffeinated vibe going in Rogers Park. This time we got our various forms of caffeination, all good, especially drinks with oat milk creamer - smooth and delicious. Highlight of the snack was a fruity pebbles-infused cookie that they were giving away for their anniversary. Giving away!? A clear sign that Rivers and Roads is invested in the community. Always a fun, bright stop in my Chicago travels, I'll be back.

Arielle S.

Yelp

OBSESSED with the national park theme! Doesn't hurt that their coffee is pretty great, too. Looked like they had a nice pastry selection - will have to go back and try some of them sometime.

Shay R.

Yelp

Rivers and Roads Cafe is my go-to place to work when I want a change of scenery. Every time that I have visited the staff has been wonderful. Everyone is always smiling and they acknowledge you from the moment you walk into the cafe. They have ample seating to accommodate large to small groups of people. It can get really busy so if you want one of the prime working spots you have to get there early. In the warmer weather they have a decent sized outdoor space. Depending on the time of day the area is pretty shaded and tolerable to sit outside for a longer period of time. I love working at Rivers and Roads Cafe because they have a good amount of plugs for charging your devices. If you site along the wall you are not too far from a plug and I have not run into an issue asking someone to let you charge your laptop at the plug near them if it is not in user. Aside from the periodic bender/coffee bean grinder noises the music isn't too loud so you can take a call at the cafe. My go-to order are the lox bagel. They have a really delicious parmesan cheese bagel that takes the sandwich up a notch. I normally struggle to complete a whole one so you could easily share the sandwich. If you like sweets, they typically have a rotating seasonal cookie!

pammy s.

Yelp

Incredible workers, super kind. The cafe itself is clean and spacious, with a cabin-like and Halloween vibe going on right now. I ordered the London fog, large, whole milk for a total of $5.52- delicious

Rosalba V.

Yelp

They remodeled their cozy coffee spot a few months back and came back better than ever. The coffee is always fresh, the food amazing and the staff is the nicest. Definitely a good spot to chill and enjoy some coffee and chill with friends.

Carolyn E.

Yelp

What a cute, inviting little coffee shop. No corporate standardized decor here! It's very cozy and warm. I just stopped in and grabbed one of their iced cold brews - absolutely fantastic. I order it black, so I could really taste the coffee - roasty and nutty and just perfect on a hot day walking through the lovely neighborhood. The food items looked really good too - baked items and sandwiches, everything looked yummy. There is seating inside and the server was very friendly. I will return whenever I'm in this neighborhood.

Aesha E.

Yelp

It was okay. This corner coffee shop has some counter seats along the windows, along with some two-tops and a couple communal tables. There's also lower counter seating where each space has a dedicated outlet and an individual light switch. This is cool regardless, but I wonder if it's particularly to appeal to college students, since Loyola is only a few blocks away. They had some cookies and quick breads that apparently are made by in-house/under the same ownership. But way too expensive for me--paying $6 for a cookie is just not something I could bring myself to do. I picked up a peach cobbler latte and a chai latte this afternoon after a trip to the library. The chai was just ok. It tasted kind of bland and lacking flavor; almost as though it was watered down, which was disappointing. Maybe they just use a chai concentrate. The peach cobbler latte was good. It tasted more spicy than fruity; in trying to figure out what flavors they were experiencing, my significant other wasn't sure if it was a variation on pumpkin spice or something. So maybe a tiny bit fruity, but warm fruit instead of bright, summer fruit. Regardless, this is something that would be ordered again, though the chai would not. For that reason, I'm not sure I'd be back; there are lots of coffee shops closer and with better fare. I'm glad I have visited though, I'm not mad about it! Parking is street only. Devon is paid parking, and the side streets possibly have parking--not sure that it requires a permit, but it's fairly close to Loyola so it could be in order to deter students from parking and walking.

Encourager Z.

Yelp

This Cafe is a cornerstone of the neighborhood. Great food, great drink, and amazing ambience. Truly a business run with passion and artristy. Service excels your wildest expectations. Not just a cafe but the heart of the community.

Kess T.

Yelp

My favorite cafe in all of Chicago and I have been to a LOT of cafes in Chicago. The staff is extremely kind and there is always new options every month to switch things up. The national parks theme is so on point. So obvious that the owners and staff care deeply about great coffee and great vibes.

Ireta G.

Yelp

This spot is a great addition to the neighborhood, however, be aware their kitchen closes at 3pm even though the coffee shop itself stays open until 4pm. So I guess only drinks are available in that last hour.

Layla T.

Yelp

Only when I got home after spending almost $20 on 3 bakery goods that were all thrown into one bag like I want to taste all 3 items together at once did I realize that I spent $6 on a 4-day-old cookie and stale pastries that were sitting out too long. I skip the drinks here - the names are the most interesting thing about them and they taste like they're 95% milk and sugar. Never tried the foods bc the environment it's made in just doesn't appetize me. Anyway. Please don't sell 4-day-old cookies for $6.

Matthew L.

Yelp

This is the closest coffee shop to my place, so it gets a bit of an edge due to convenience. They remodeled recently which is cool. The staff: I think they are super friendly and sunshiny. The cookies are good, but it's impossible to finish them. They are just so huge. It's more of a cookie that you would eat with a group of friends. I do think overall, the place is a little pricey. But for a coffee or treat, it's solid.

Rachel L.

Yelp

Best coffee shop in the area!! The staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming! Super cute and cozy atmosphere for studying, meeting up with people or just chilling! Food and drinks are amazing!!!! Their iced/hot chai is unmatched!!!!

Elizabeth M.

Yelp

Customer service was phenomenal. Coffee was just ok. I wanted to love it. It's got the name of one of my favorite songs, cute interior, (again) wonderful staff, and delicious sounding coffee, but the coffee just all tastes the same. I got a s'mores latte and a bourbon one. Couldn't tell the difference nor spot any tastes that were specific to s'mores or bourbon.

Chris M.

Yelp

Stopped in for the first time this morning. Cozy place with friendly service and really good coffee. Nice selection of food (savory and sweet). Great outdoor seating spaces too.

L M.

Yelp

I ordered the BLT, but requested to have it on a rosemary bagel instead of white bread. This was stacked with bacon and had very good flavor. Along with the BLT, I had an ice drink one of the June specials with cinnamon in a for here glass. Appreciate not adding to the waste.

Julia R.

Yelp

I stopped in and ordered a blueberry cobbler iced coffee. The guy who helped me was very nice in answering all my questions. The drink was great, and I would go back to try their other seasonal specials and pastry selection. A cute spot to people watch at.

Elizabeth D.

Yelp

I love this cafe for its inclusive (im dairy free) dietary options for anyone! And not to mention delicious and affordable! Used to be called ellipsis, but I love the new aesthetic! Also, the employees are very friendly and helpful to people who have food restrictions. Thanks guys!!

Marquuta J.

Yelp

I recently tried Rivers and Roads in Edgewater. It is really crowded and more of a young crowd there. The coffee is fine, but I am more interested in an older person vibe where I get my coffee. No offense to this place, but I just felt out of place. A little too loud for my liking also. Other than those things the baristas are very Friendly. They also offer some very good pastries.

John G.

Yelp

I cannot say enough good things about this cafe. Great coffee and I had a great dark chocolate sea salt cookie too. My son works there and loves the place. He gets coffee there on his days off! My wife and I also meet the owners who are a terrific couple and running an excellent business. I loved the park theme as well and the place was full showing how popular it is!! Just a great cafe.

Sydney M.

Yelp

My favorite coffee shop in Chicago! The name, decor, kind staff, delicious food and drinks reminds me of home and all the things I miss in the PNW

Nicole T.

Yelp

I was staying at an Airbnb in the area and decided to stop in one morning to try some coffee. The guy working behind the counter was friendly and patient with me as I decided what I wanted. I ended up going there twice, and would recommend the mocha latte. I also tried their butter croissant which was delicious and perfectly flaky. If you're in the area, stop by and support this local coffee shop!

Caroline R.

Yelp

The food is delicious (the chocolate chip banana bread is so melt in your mouth good). The baristas are all very friendly and knowledgeable!

Tanya M.

Yelp

I think this might just be my new favorite cafe. The ambiance is cozy? comforting? I'm not sure of the adjective but I get a nice feeling from the atmosphere. I plan to bring my cafe buddy with me next time for a full review. I ordered the cranberry coconut almond oatmeal and a seasonal drink. I didn't particularly care for the drink and the menu stated cranberry almond but not coconut (unless I missed that part) good thing I'm ok with coconut. I'm definitely going back though and trying out some other drinks.

Allison C.

Yelp

LOVE this place. Everything is delicious. I especially love the bagel and lox. And they have lots of great GF options (bagels, pastries)!

Gianni C.

Yelp

my favorite neighborhood coffee shop! everyone who works is here is wonderful. they have great outdoor seating when it's nice out and cozy indoor seating if you want to sit and work or chat. usually crowded, and rightfully so, because they have an awesome rotating seasonal menu, delicious coffee, and yummy baked goods!

Leena S.

Yelp

Cute little coffee shop. Has the open faced bagel sandwich and it was delicious. Sat on the patio for a delightful breakfast.

Sydney H.

Yelp

I live nearby and love visiting Ellipsis! The drinks are always yummy, they have fun specials all the time! The staff are AMAZING! We love the big cookies they keep at the register. The bagels and cream cheese are delicious as well. You cannot go wrong with this cute, vibey coffee shop!

Jan H.

Yelp

Nice intimate café. New owners have expanded offerings and now regularly have bagels and muffins available. Very comfortable Setting with very friendly staff.

Hannah S.

Yelp

Ellipsis is one of my favorite coffee shops in the city! They make all of their syrups in-house for the specialty drinks, and every time I try a new one it becomes my favorite. The baristas are cool as hell, knowledgeable, and kind. The atmosphere is buzzy but not loud- it's a place where you can work comfortably alone or catch up with a friend or two. The almond croissant is amazing. Their seasonal drinks and food specials are delightful. Highly recommend!!!

Sara N.

Yelp

The staff is soooo friendly it warmed my heart. pain au chocolat was delicious too :)

Diane C.

Yelp

Wandered in after searching for a breakfast place close to the Loyola campus. Coffee was ok, nothing special. The only food was a small glass display of a couple of muffins and what turned out to be stale croissants.

Emily Anne N.

Yelp

employees are superrrr rude, i just walked in, today is 10/28/23. i am not aware of the hours because i've never been here before, but door was unlocked and open/close sign was still on the "open" side, so i thought great i can get a bite to eat! as soon as i walk in the girl behind the counter says "we're closed" looking pissed and i say "that's too bad..." and turn around to walk out. as i'm leaving she yells "youreeee out of here!" and laughed. i just moved to the neighborhood and was hoping to make this my new stop on my way to work. not anymore, and i will be telling everyone to stay away from this whack ass place. i work in the service industry as well and ive never felt so compelled to leave a bad review. all you have to say is "sorry we are closed, we forgot to lock the door."

Ben Y.

Yelp

Cute, relaxing cafe with friendly baristas. I had a yummy amound croissant. They get all their pastries from Dollop so if you are a Dollop fan you'll be in good company. They have tons outlets.- they added individual outlets for each at the high table area. My only complaint is that they kept the temperature a bit too low. Lots of people kept their jackets on. I'll definitely go back! Hopefully they can turn up the heat

Naomi V.

Yelp

My last time coming here was my second time I love it it's beautiful and comfortable to be around espically work wise. I had order a chai drink can't remember exactly the name but it was my first time and it taste like to me cinnamon toast crunch the milk part but mix with something else I cannot really pinpoint I had also order a bake red velvet cookie which taste great. However when you open the bag it smell weird, but overall it was fine.

Chris R.

Yelp

I'm starting to think Ellipsis is one of the better neighborhood craft coffee spots in the city, and really overlooked. That's partly cause of the un-trendy neighborhood: it's right on the border of Edgewater and Rogers Park in the Loyola district. But owner Chris is friendly and fastidious (sorry, big words) about his coffee selection. And cause it's obvious he loves it, he's willing to talk to you about it in a way that doesn't make you feel dumb. I just tried an coffee cold brew he's been perfecting--said he tried multiple varietals to zone in on the right nose and taste with ice. Explained that while many coffee shops try for dark blends to get chocolate in there, a light roast is more refreshing. He was right. With an aroma of strawberry shortcake (really), this is one of the best iced coffees I've ever had. Strike that: I didn't even know that well done iced coffee could smell as interesting as a cup of hot coffee. Now he's starting a launch a line of custom sodas, including a Juniper soda that might make the rest of the summer amazing. My only wish for this place is that they'd find a way to do a egg sandwich. Not really the focus (and they've got good pastries), but it keeps me from stopping by sometimes I'm craving a little morning protein. Outdoor seating has shade in the morning. Wifi speeds are well above average for local places, so this means I can actually get some solid work done here too.

Stephen M.

Yelp

A coffeehouse that fits the good vibe groove of relaxed setting with good music. Straight ahead coffee menu (no on-the-edge offerings). The pastries look great.

Christopher R.

Yelp

As the photo shows they promised to be open until 5pm today. The sign on the door, though, said they'd closed at 1pm. Please keep your Yelp info updated!

Rosa J.

Yelp

Here's something to keep in mind when a university is near where you are: look for a local coffee shop. Furthermore, have I told you the "rule of Chi-town foodie?" Yes, I bet I have. Pull out your Yelp app. when seeing a national-chain spot, here are the steps to follow: 1) purposely skip the "green logo" or a place where they sell cloying donuts and mystery coffee. 2) don't ever hesitate, because an independently-owned coffee shop is really in proximity. Ellipsis is located a couple blocks west of Broadway, on the corner of Devon and Lakewood. Unlike many other coffee shops in the city using Metropolis, Dark Matter, and Intelligentsia, Ellipsis has a business relationship with "Counter Culture," roasted in Durham, North Carolina. Mr. Americano and Ms. Iced Chai were quite delighted with their drinks, not to mention that free wifi was graciously available for me to get intimate with my i-pad mini. The noise level was moderate, so it was appropriate to have conversations with Daddy J. I also saw some serious-looking essay composers around, so I would assume that types of patrons here were pretty diverse and inclusive. After a brief repose, we checked the #36 bus schedule on the CTA bus tracker and soon headed out to the bus stop. Thank you, Ellipsis.

Joslyn J.

Yelp

This food is delicious! The banana bread is amazing and so is the cheese garlic bagel!

Jonathan D.

Yelp

I've been meaning to review this coffeehouse since we moved to the area just over a month ago! My husband and I are avid coffee drinkers (and honestly just love a good pick-me-up of caffeine and sugar...who doesn't?!). We're so happy to live just blocks away from this place. Every time we've gone we've been met with great customer service, a chill, friendly atmosphere, and the aromatic smells of a great brew. We've tried both their hot and iced coffee options -- the hubby likes it black, my go-to is a flavor shot and oat milk. We love Counter Culture and Ellipsis brews it to perfection. I've been really into their fall options too, especially their Vanilla Bean Pear Matcha Latte (what a drink name) -- if my budget could support it I'd be buying it on the daily. I look forward to it as a sweet treat every now and then, especially after a hectic work day (or in the middle of it). My ONLY critique is wishing it was open earlier! But not a critique that lessens the 5 stars they so rightfully deserve.

Billy G.

Yelp

Chill place with great service to get a morning coffee. Has a nice ambiance to chat with friends or do work.

Kimberly S.

Yelp

Popped in today to try the new fall lattes. I would definitely say to give the maple/sage latte a try if you haven't already. Forgot how charming this little shop is.

Marion P.

Yelp

Ok coffee, but noticeably more expensive than other independent coffee shops without actually having the best coffee drinks. I know inflation is coming, but I'm not ready to spent $7-8 on a latte yet.

The 33 Best Coffee Shops & Cafes In Chicago

On the Grid : Ellipsis Coffeehouse

Rivers And Roads Cafe - Review - Edgewater - Chicago - The Infatuation