Cafe Descartes
5500 N St Louis Ave, Chicago, IL
Crema's Take
“Café Descartes strikes that thoughtful middle ground between third-wave specialty and approachable neighborhood spot, where a perfectly executed Chai Latte with oat milk or a smooth pour-over pairs nicely with fresh pastries and a reliable croissant. The vibe leans toward a lingering space—good for meetings or settling in with wifi—though service consistency seems to waver, so your experience might depend on when you visit and who's behind the counter.”
What to expect
Strong matcha and tea selection, with creative signature drinks. A slow-sit spot, good for meetings. Pastries and light food on the menu. Wifi.
Google Reviews
They keep making my order wrong. Usually ill just take whatever i get because i feel bad and dont want confrontation or the worker to get yelled at, but i cant keep wasting 7$ and getting the wrong order everytime. Sucks too because there isnt many coffee shop options around…
Not a Starbucks and not your local small coffee shop but somewhere in between. I only stop by because of the convenience of it and get hot or iced plain black coffee and a croissant. Overall, okay experience and coffee.
I love the Chaí Latte with Oat milk. The coffee is also delicious! The staff always makes it perfect and it taste so delicious! The staff is always very nice and friendly and service is prompt. I recently met the owners and they're so humbled people. Check them out downs stairs…
One of the best places on the Northside. Everything is tasty there from the hamburgers, to the Italian beefs, Gyros, and souvlaki. Try the Greek potatoes. I like them more than the fries. All portions are very generous, and reasonably priced.
The coffee is good, the baked goods are okay, and the service is okay. The guy always seems like hes in a bad mood but maybe its because hes working and going to school? No excuse though, they are also a bit understaffed at times it seems. Coffee is good but they could use a new…
Crema Reviews
You might also like
City Skyline Chicago - Coffee Lounge
★ 4.9 (250)
This aviation-themed lounge in Lincoln Square serves genuinely excellent…
Heritage Bikes & Coffee
★ 4.7 (489)
Heritage Bikes & Coffee pulls off the rare trick of being equally serious about…
Brew Brew Coffee and Tea
★ 4.6 (591)
Brew Brew has built genuine loyalty around a rotating seasonal menu that…
Brü Chicago
★ 4.6 (381)
Brü Chicago excels at unexpected flavor combinations—think Biscoff cold brew,…