The Understudy Coffee And Books
The Understudy Coffee And Books — photo 2
The Understudy Coffee And Books — photo 3
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The Understudy Coffee And Books

5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL

★★★★★4.8(629 Google reviews)

Crema's Take

Nestled in Chicago, this theater-themed café seamlessly merges specialty coffee with a thoughtfully curated bookstore, creating a bright modern space that feels like a creative's second home. Their signature drinks like the Theater Camp Latte showcase genuine creativity, while warm staff (like the notably attentive Jett) and killer pastries make it equally perfect for a solo work session or hosting a celebration with friends. The playwright-heavy book selection and cozy, spacious interior have earned loyal fans who keep coming back for the genuine good vibes.

What to expect

Traditional drinksSpecialty drinksSlow sitSignature drinksPastriesLaptop friendlyWifiMeetings

Google Reviews

Laura Nevrenchan
★★★★★2 months ago

This place is my new favorite spot. The vibe is always so good in here. I Love the Theater Camp Latte. Super cool bookstore attached Killer cute. Wonderful pastries. Check it. 💜

Kandise Le Blanc
★★★★★4 months ago

I hosted our engagement party at The Understudy on a Friday evening in October for around 40 people, and I genuinely could not have asked for a better experience. From the start, Jett was incredible. They helped schedule the event and functionally served as our day-of coordinator, making everything feel seamless and calm. Jett went above and beyond all night, checking in, clearing empty plates, and making sure the space flowed well. Truly the kind of person who elevates an entire event. They helped us create exactly the vibe we wanted. Warm, intimate, and celebratory. They brought out candles to fill the space beautifully and let us play our own playlist, which made the night feel personal and intentional. We were also graciously allowed to stay past our original end time, which meant we could enjoy the evening without feeling rushed. Having bartenders for the entire event made such a difference. Ander helped develop our batch-made signature cocktails, a spicy margarita and a coconut gold rush, and they were outstanding. So good, in fact, that I’m now seriously considering having them recreated at our wedding. They also created a sign outside for our event, which was such a thoughtful touch. Honestly, the whole night felt cared for. I’m already looking for excuses to host future events here because the team, the space, and the experience were that good. Highly, highly recommend.

Korn TH
★★★★★5 months ago

This is one of my favorite coffee shops. I love how it’s paired with a bookstore — good coffee, tasty pastries, and a great selection of books all in one place. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a good read with a fragrant cup of coffee in the heart of Andersonville.

Natasha Al-Rafie
★★★★★7 months ago

This is such a cute space, pretty big inside and the book selection is great. As you can imagine they have a lot of playwright books. Several versions of Hamlet, guides to the great comet of 1812, incredible selection. The coffee shop is great too, although folks said online they had a breakfast sandwich, this is not true anymore. We came here on a Saturday morning around 10am and we were able to get a seat for three. I got a butte croissant, my child got a chocolate chip zucchini bread, and my partner got the savory cornmeal danish, it has sun dried tomatoes on top. We also got two hot coffees, black, and they carry the Pink Lemonade from Marz. It was all good.

Bill
★★★★★a year ago

Understudy Coffee & Books is a bright and modern café that combines great coffee with a curated bookstore. The space can get quite busy midday, but seats tend to open up after a short wait. They serve Metric coffee, along with a variety of seasonal specialty drinks; during my visit, I had an espresso tonic that had a light touch of vanilla which was refreshing. Overall, it’s a charming spot to browse books, enjoy some quality coffee, and settle in for a productive or relaxing break.

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