Chicago rewards guests who wander past the lobby coffee station, and the Loop delivers some of the best coffee shops in Chicago within a few blocks of Michigan Avenue. You do not need to venture far from Arlo Chicago to land a genuinely excellent cup, and each stop below sits close enough to fit into a morning walk before you head into meetings, museums, or Millennium Park. Here is a rundown of the best coffee shops in downtown Chicago, so you can plan your route without wasting a step.
Dollop Coffee, 150 N Michigan Ave
Dollop Coffee sits just a few doors down from Arlo Chicago, making it the easiest of the best cafes in downtown Chicago to reach on a rushed morning. You can cover the distance in about a minute on foot, since the shop occupies the same block as the hotel.
Dollop roasts its own beans and bakes its pastries in-house, so you get a fresh croissant alongside a well-pulled espresso or a smooth honey cinnamon latte. The shop keeps weekday hours from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and closes on weekends, so plan a Monday-through-Friday visit if this is the stop you want to hit first.
Floor-to-ceiling windows fill the small space with morning light, and the counter service moves quickly even when a line of neighborhood regulars forms.
Momentum Coffee, 11 N Michigan Ave
Momentum Coffee sits a short 4-minute walk south of Arlo Chicago, right at the edge of Millennium Park. You can grab a rideshare in under five minutes if you would rather save your legs for sightseeing later.
This spot ranks among the best coffee shops in downtown Chicago for anyone who wants a full breakfast alongside their drink, since the menu covers bacon-egg-and-cheese croissants, smoothies, and daily-baked muffins in addition to espresso drinks and cold brew.
Momentum stays open every day of the week, running from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The staff moves fast, and the space works well for a quick stop before a stroll through the park.
Intelligentsia Coffee, Millennium Park Coffeebar, 53 E Randolph St
Intelligentsia’s Millennium Park location is about a 3-minute walk from Arlo Chicago, tucked a block into the Loop near the park’s Randolph Street side. Rideshare drivers can make the trip in roughly the same time given midday Loop traffic, so walking usually wins here.
This coffee bar represents one of the best coffee shops in Chicago for anyone chasing a serious espresso, since Intelligentsia has spent decades building a reputation on direct-trade sourcing and in-house roasting. The seasonal drink menu changes often, and the Avena Latte, made with oat milk, ginger, cinnamon, and a touch of cayenne, gives you something more adventurous than a standard flat white. Intelligentsia stays open daily until 7 p.m., which makes it a solid option beyond breakfast hours.
Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea, 12 S Michigan Ave
Fairgrounds sits inside the Chicago Athletic Association building, directly across from Cloud Gate, about a 6-minute walk south of Arlo Chicago down Michigan Avenue. A rideshare shaves off only a couple of minutes if the weather turns.
Fairgrounds earns its spot among the best cafes in Chicago’s downtown by pairing craft coffee with an equally serious tea program, including cold brew and sparkling tea on tap plus matcha whisked to order. The historic building adds character you will not find at a chain coffee counter, and the outdoor patio on Michigan Avenue makes for excellent people-watching once the weather cooperates.
Fairgrounds opens at 6 a.m. daily and stays open until 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday, so it works whether you are grabbing an early cup before a flight or a late-afternoon pick-me-up after a museum visit.
Plan Your Stay
Downtown Chicago rewards a short detour before you settle into your day, and these four stops prove that the best coffee shops in Chicago sit within easy reach of Michigan Avenue.
Whether you have one minute or six, you can walk to genuinely great coffee and still make it back in time for whatever the day holds. Book your stay at Arlo Chicago and start each morning with a short walk to some of the city’s best coffee.
