The Tea Drinker's Guide to Chicago's Neighborhood Cafes, Shops, and Restaurants

Adagio Teas - River North

Other locations: Skokie and Naperville

A lot of places you’ll find tea in Chicago dabble in coffee and food too, but not Adagio Teas: This place is only about tea. Take your pick of flavors: black teas, white teas, green teas, chai, blends, decaf, and more. This River North shop also sells plenty of accessories. Anyone can appreciate the convenience of a travel mug, while connoisseurs will love tea kettles and pots. For suburbanites, Adagio also has locations in Skokie and Naperville.

Brew Brew Coffee + Tea - Avondale

Other location: Pilsen

Brew Brew is mainly known for its coffee, but tea drinkers won’t be disappointed by the menu at either the Avondale or Pilsen locations. Select your to-go tea from a wide variety of loose leaf teas, sourced from Benjamin Teas. You can also go a little fancier with a matcha latte, chai latte, or dirty chai latte (for anyone who loves the idea of mixing tea and espresso). When summertime rolls around, you can’t go wrong with the cafe’s classic black iced tea.

Chiya Chai Café - Logan Square

Chiya Chai in Logan Square has a casual cafe in the front and a full dining room in the back. Wherever you decide to sit, you have access to a menu straight from the dreams of anyone who loves chai. Iced or hot, select a chai flavor like masala, anise, ginger, cardamom, black pepper clove, coconut cream, caramel sea salt, dark chocolate spearmint, and a cornucopia of others. Plus, you can indulge in the cafe’s iced chai summer specials that include blueberry lavender, maple banana, strawberry mint, and raspberry coconut. When you’ve finally settled on a chai, don’t forget to try the delicious Indian fusion food. 

The Coffee & Tea Exchange - Lakeview

The Coffee & Tea Exchange has been open in Lakeview since 1975. This is the place for you, if you prefer brewing your tea at home. Come browse the dazzling selection of teas. Take home whichever flavor calls to you (maybe it’s English Breakfast or something a little bolder like blood orange tisane) by the fourth pound, half pound, or pound. If you don’t have the time to make it into the shop, order your favorite flavors online. 

Coffee Tree & Tea Leaves - Boystown

Coffee Tree & Tea Leaves is a small independent shop in Boystown that sources teas from around the globe. Breathe in the scent of Assam black tea, Ceylon black tea, rooibos teas, herbal blends, green teas, and more as you browse the shelves of this shop. Take the loose leaf tea home with you, or order it online by the pound.  

The Langham - Near North Side

For anyone who wants a classic tea-drinking experience, high tea is a must. Quite a few downtown hotels serve afternoon tea, but The Langham just might be one of the finest. This Near North Side hotel follows in an afternoon tea tradition that dates back to The Langham in London in 1865. Savor delicate finger foods like fresh herb scones, sea scallops, and violet macaroons along with a fine selection of teas (think first flush Darjeeling, imperial earl grey, and jasmine pearl). You also have the option of adding Champagne or sparkling wine to your afternoon tea spread. 

Tea'se Tea Shoppe - Portage Park

Tea'se Tea Shoppe in Portage Park is ideal for grabbing a fresh cup of tea—hot or iced—to go or all of the loose leaf tea you can carry back to your home. The cafe and shop has more than 80 different blends. You can even get creative and make your infusions. If you’re into brewing tea at home, you can grab all the accessories you need at Tea'se Tea Shoppe. 

Vanille Patisserie - Lincoln Park

Schedule a high tea with a French twist at the Lincoln Park location of Vanille Patisserie. The salon serves a selection of gourmet Benjamin Teas along with its own pastries and finger sandwiches, which include gluten-free and vegetarian options. Choose from teas like honey milk ginger, bamboo plum, coconut frenzy, early grey, and guava green.