WEST TOWN / UKRAINIAN VILLAGE

Dark Matter Coffee — The Mothership — 738 N Western Ave. Dark Matter has some of the best cold brew in the city, ranging from nitro to iced draft options. Roasts on-site. Open daily 6am–6pm.

Dark Matter Coffee — Star Lounge — 2521 W Chicago Ave. Chicago’s best late-night specialty coffee. The original Dark Matter location with pool table, back patio, and rocket-themed walls. Known for a bourbon barrel-aged and Mayan mocha and the Mayan Mocha. Open daily 6am–9pm.

FULTON MARKET / WEST LOOP

Metric Coffee — 2021 W Fulton St. Named on a 100 best coffee shops in the world list, Metric roasts on-site with roasting windows. They are known for smooth, light, unburnt espresso that needs no added flavors or sweeteners. Open daily 7am–4pm.

Sawada Coffee — 112 N Green St. Fulton Market’s most famous specialty café with lines out the door. Try the white mocha cold brew.  Open daily 8am–4pm.

La Colombe Coffee Workshop — West Loop — 955 W Randolph St. All three La Colombe Chicago locations have rotating specialty drinks on tap including cold brew. The house-made vanilla syrup is amazing. Open Mon–Fri 6am–6pm, Sat–Sun 7am–6pm.

THE LOOP

Big Shoulders Coffee — 213 W Lake St. Small-shop quality coffee with the speed and consistency of a streamlined operation. It has a neighborhood vibe without sacrificing convenience. Regulars love the cold brew. Open Mon–Fri 7am–3pm only.

WICKER PARK / BUCKTOWN

Ipsento 606 — 1813 N Milwaukee Ave. White and black nitro options, plus a signature Mexican Nitro Coffee which is quite good.  There is a patio and a park next door. Open daily 7am–6pm (until 8pm Thu–Sat).

LOGAN SQUARE

Caffè Umbria — 2545 W Armitage Ave. A Seattle-born Italian roaster in Logan Square serving artisan Italian espresso. Their iced espresso and cold brews are simply divine. Open Mon–Fri 7am–5pm, Sat–Sun 8am–5pm.

LAKEVIEW

Pedestrian Coffee — 939 W Belmont Ave. Consistently praised for exceptional cold brew, high-quality matcha, single-origin pour-overs, and a rotating creative seasonal drinks menu.  Open Mon–Fri 7am–5:30pm, Sat–Sun 8am–5:30pm.

The one that stands out: Dark Matter’s Star Lounge is open until 9pm daily. It’s a serious specialty cold brew destination in the city that stays open late enough to actually serve you after dinner. That alone makes it worth knowing about.