15 Coffee Shops That Are Open Late

Chicago isn’t hurting for great coffee shops , but most close at 3pm. This is a problem when you want a pick-me-up later than what’s socially accepted as normal—whether you have a long night of work ahead of you, just really like the taste of coffee, or need a low-commitment option when you’re forced to meet up with someone who wants to "pick your brain" about their latest startup idea. Ideally, this cup of coffee comes with decent seating, isn’t in a spot that’s an all-day diner in disguise, and most importantly, is available past 5pm. Here are 15 of these coffee shop unicorns.

THE SPOTS

Hexe Coffee Co.

We’re big fans of Hexe, a large, industrial-feeling coffee shop located in a section of Roscoe Village. There’s nothing this place doesn’t do well—along with great coffee and a ton of space to work, Hexe also has outstanding pastries, friendly staff, a fantastic patio, and serves alcohol. Come to work during the day, then stay and meet friends here for drinks in the evening. Honestly, you might as well sleep here while you’re at it.

The Wormhole Coffee

The Wormhole has a DeLorean time machine hanging from its ceiling and an old-school Nintendo, and that’s reason enough for us to come here. The whole theme of this place is “back in time and stuff.” This is fitting, because it makes you feel like you’re sitting in your bedroom at your parent’s house back when bedtime was 7pm, which, coincidentally, is when this place closes.

Pedestrian Coffee

Pedestrian Coffee in Lakeview has plenty of outlets and seating, perfect for getting some work done. But despite the long tables that seem to be asking for a local book club or project group to loudly set up shop, this spot tends to be fairly quiet—probably because everyone is silently savoring one of their delicious pour-over coffees. They also have some pastries, but the focus here is definitely on coffee. And if a bacon scone won’t tide you over, Pedestrian is very close to places like Taipei Cafe , Zaza's Pizzeria , and Bop N Grill .

Brü Chicago

If Randolph Street is Restaurant Row, then this stretch of Milwaukee Ave. is the Coffee Canopy. Just north of The Wormhole, you’ll find Brü, a laid-back coffee shop in Wicker Park. It’s basically the coffee house equivalent of a WeWork, but free and with events like yoga and movie nights. They’re open until 7pm, and have a food menu with assorted smoothies, juices, and gluten-free crepes in case you need a snack while you wait for your chronically late friend to show up.

Osmium Coffee Bar

Osmium is one of the spots owned by Dark Matter Coffee , (who also own Star Lounge, which is open until 9pm). Besides serving excellent coffee, this spot has a bunch of creative coffee-adjacent specials, like a barrel-aged mocha and the “wake and bake” latte with maple, sage, and black pepper. There’s also a patio outside, but you’ll probably want to sit indoors where you can gaze at the artwork on the wall and wonder to yourself whether Salvador Dali painted it in a little-known steampunk phase.

Jackalope Coffee & Tea House

This sprawling Bridgeport coffee shop has a patio and spans multiple rooms—all of which feature hilarious and unsettling decor like a poster of a bloodthirsty zombified Thumper from Bambi , and disembodied arms sticking out of a wall (holding a coffee cup, of course). But besides the entire sale section of a Spirit Halloween, you’ll also find wifi, plenty of tables, good coffee, and a few baked goods and sandwiches at Jackalope.

Bridgeport Coffeehouse

Compared to Jackalope down the street, Bridgeport Coffeehouse has significantly less character. But what this coffee shop lacks in Halloween decor, it makes up for in tranquil, sunny, minimalist rooms perfect for catch-ups in murmured voices or times when you just really need to focus on work sans distraction. Skip the small menu of sandwiches and wraps, and stick to the coffee—they roast and grind their own beans. If you get hungry, there’s always 3LP Chi or Kimski across the street.

Cafe Mustache

Cafe Mustache is a Logan Square spot for people who need a funky place to sit and do things. There are plenty of mismatched tables and chairs, plus more than a few pieces of mustache artwork. Just know that the wifi is turned off at 6pm, when this place becomes more of a local bar than a coffee shop.

Coffee Lab & Roasters

Coffee Lab & Roasters in Lakeview takes their coffee seriously. They roast their coffee and espresso on-site, and offer a variety of specialty drinks like Kyoto-style cold brew or a pear-and-yuzu latte in case straight-up black coffee isn’t your speed—though it is exceptionally smooth and low on bitterness. We wouldn’t recommend posting up with a laptop unless you can handle sitting on benches for long stretches of time, but the quiet atmosphere and 6pm closing time make it the perfect place to have a low-key coffee catch-up with a friend.

Ipsento 606

While Ipsento’s original location feels like your artsy friend’s messy apartment, their second shop just off the 606 trail has more of a sleek, wide-open feel to it. They’ve got pour-overs, specialty lattes, nitro cold brew, some light bites, and a full bar starting at noon. They’re open until 6pm most nights, so it’s a good place for a pre-dinner drink or a coffee to sip on during an evening walk down the 606.

La Colombe Coffee Roasters

Andersonville is a pretty neighborhood with cute boutiques where people always seem to be shopping in the middle of the day. While these people apparently have no deadlines to worry about, you might, and that’s why you need to know about La Colombe. This coffee shop has no distractions, plenty of tables meant for individuals, and is open until 6pm, so you can duck in during the late afternoon and pick up a double espresso to power you through building that last spreadsheet model due at midnight.

The Brewed

At the center of the very niche Venn diagram of coffee addiction and horror film fandom lies The Brewed. This Avondale coffee shop is decorated with a variety of movie posters and memorabilia, and sells horror-themed coffee merchandise. They also occasionally host screenings after hours, so if you want to watch Elvira: Mistress of the Dark while drinking a macchiato, that’s an option.

Standing Passengers

Standing Passengers is a great spot for getting work done—and for avoiding said work. This West Town coffee shop is open until 7pm, there’s strong wifi, plenty of outlets, and a long menu of flavored coffee drinks (like a blueberry pancake latte) to fuel your inbox zero quest. Want to ignore all those post-5pm Slack messages instead? There’s vintage Nintendo to play and old movies to watch while you lounge in worn leather couches.

Cafe Jumping Bean

Cafe Jumping Bean is a neighborhood institution that’s been around since 1994. It’s colorful, with lots of local artwork, and is always a popular spot for coffee, pastries, and sandwiches. Come here to study, or finish that soul-sucking spreadsheet in a bright space that will cheer you up. And after you do, try their Mexican hot chocolate and a mollete topped with refried beans, cheese, salsa, and avocado to celebrate.

Bombastic Cafe

You might miss the entrance for Bombastic Cafe, which is hiding between a waxing center and brow threading spot on the north end of Southport Corridor, but the unmistakable smell of roasting coffee will let you know you’re in the right place. Bombastic roasts their beans in-house for cold brew, drip, and pour-over drinks, plus they have a variety of teas and a long menu of lattes with interesting flavors for people who don’t actually like the taste of coffee. While the food selection is limited to a few pastry options, there’s a respectable amount of cocktails available too.