Hope Cafe

Don’t let the location scare you. Friendly staff, great atmosphere, excellent coffee and a wonderful mission!

Great service, great coffee and food, very hospitable, accommodated a large group. They are really doing good work.

Hope café is amazing! One of the best caprese sandwiches I’ve ever had in a very relaxing setting. The coffee here is also very good. Overall a great stop for coffee and lunch.

What wonderful service and atmosphere! I absolutely love the layout and the exposed brick. Came here on a sunny, warm day and the Juliet balcony was open and there was a wonderful breeze, plenty of light to work or socialize, and the food and drinks were on par. The owner, James, made sure to accommodate the large group that I came with and the employees were very attentive throughout the time we were there. Some of the best service here and such a relaxing spot. Thanks again!

Awesome food and staff. Place has great vibes. Will come back for sure. Coffee and tea good stuff too.

Perhaps, as a former New Yorker, service in Chicago seems especially customer centric, or perhaps Hope Café just has service at its core. Either way, Hope café is a wondrous place.
Synergized with the school, for which it gets its name, this spot is my favorite midday get away. The lounge is a peaceful living room with furniture seemingly strewn about and the coffee is strong.
The fruit tea and the pour over coffee are my favorites. The caprese sandwich is rustically made and delicious. Like everything in Hope Café, the sandwich feels like something your fancy aunt made for you with love. Patron Hope, have a great coffee because you’ll find an excellent spot and you’ll be doing some good for humanity all at once.
PS: ask the barista for history of the place it’ll surprise you.

Horrible service, rude manager, flavorless coffee. This coffee house even had an employee standing in the middle of street on Roosevelt waving a ragged cardboard sign begging to people to come in. I felt so bad I stopped in, on my way to work, absolutely no customers in line or anywhere for that matter, I inquired about the menu to the barista, and then a man with a hope café shirts walks over and rudely begins talking to the barista as if I wasn’t there ordering#?!? I began to have a 10mins convo with this barista about paper cups in such a rude tone, I felt bad for the guy. After he walked away the barista apologized for the guy, said he was a inexperienced manager, obviously, that’s why there’s no one in here… I suggest people don’t waste there time, the barista tried explaining to me that the company donates to local groups, my question is donate what there is no business, I rather just give directly to the charity than be treated rudely, in a empty coffee place.

This place is beyond amazing! Hope café did an event for our office and they did an amazing job! Not to mention the coffee they serve is delicious!!! They were extremely friendly! Their café venue is breath taking!!! This place and their coffee is a gem!

Despite the fact that it was freezing, I really like Hope Café and what they stand for. The macchiato was great and the workers are very attentive. I will definitely be visiting again.

Like others have said, don’t let this café’s location stop you from going in and checking it out. I went in on a Saturday morning, and I was greeted by a friendly employee, named Stephanie. She gave me a quick rundown on the location’s history, told me a lot about their menu, and provided me great customer service.
They serve ‘I Have a BEAN’ coffee, which is a company that operates under the premise that they can use every part of their business to «love our neighbor as ourselves» to positively impact the spiritual, social and economic condition of their employees, their families and the communities in which they live.
Great coffee.
Great atmosphere.
Great customer service.
Great people.

This cozy coffee spot has a great vibe and good coffee. I just had a classic latte, but they have a selection of other drinks as well and their service is spot on. It’s a great space for a meeting, or just getting some work done. It’s also one of the few spots of its kind in that neighborhood, so you should definitely check it out.

Cozy and lovely place. The coffee is way better than SBs in my opinion.

Just found this place! LOVE it. The space is rustic but incredibly spacious. I got an iced dirty chai and it was among the best I’ve had… Great espresso! After we got our drinks the manager talked with us and explained the heart behind Hope Café. he was so welcoming! We will definitely be back!!!

I can’t believe I didn’t stop in earlier.
Beautiful space (converted «German gymnasium,» apparently), tasty beverages (barista hooked me up with an iced chai on a beautiful fall day), and the most relaxed, warm, welcoming space you can imagine. Free wi-​fi and attentive staff.
I sat in the sunshine near the open windows and hated to leave when they closed, which is, as other reviewers have noted, a bit on the early side (2pm).
Looking forward to coming back for a bagel and coffee for breakfast and another lovely mid-​day pick-​me-​up. Sandwich board had several options, including a vegetarian choice (caprese sandwich).

Don’t be deterred by the location. This is a beautiful space that is just waiting to be widely discovered. Right around the corner from the Medical District, Hope Café feels like a loft — exposed brick walls, expansive floor plan, and beautiful wood trim everywhere. Plenteous (free!) street parking, free wifi, and warm staff make this location perfect for some ME time.
They’ve got beverages and sandwiches, and profits go to support Hope Academy. We also just held an event here and could not be happier with the experience. A/​V was very easy to work with, and the space has so much charm we didn’t have to do much to decorate. The place easily accommodated 50+ guests, not to mention 15+ screaming little kids. More than one guest said they’d look into booking their next party here.

The type of place that reminds me why the city is so great. Cool old building set up for lounging and having a coffee and good eats. The Caprese sandwich was great! I stopped in to get a little work done before heading to Riot Fest at Douglas Park. Everyone working here was really nice. Clean bathrooms too!

Was looking for a cup of coffee and a quick bite to eat and was in the neighborhood. Found this on Unilocal and it is a true hidden gem place. Great customer service, friendly staff and owner while getting good service. Ordered an ice soy latte and a bagel to go. After working for Starbucks for 3 years, I know the difference between a good coffee and a s**t coffee. They do the shots by hand and it’s delicious. Good pastry items too. Recommend this for sure. Plus it’s a non-​profit and their proceeds go to Chicago Hope Academy (hence their name).

Better than Intelligentsia coffee — A+
Open space — A
Free parking — A+
Fast wifi — A
Non profit — Priceless
Pros– The food and drinks are quality with friendly service, the atmosphere is open with exposed brick. It’s one of the few options in the area. And I can park right in front without worry. BTW, the salami asiago bagel sandwich was yummy.
I’m not hipster, but it’s nice to know that from the coffee beans to the sandwiches, I’m finding some of the best chicago has to offer, while sustaining the community and supporting truth and transformation. It’s really encouraging to see find in this world, and hope to see more evidence.

Great local spot with exceptional service, reasonable prices, and all for a great cause. As stated in other reviews, the space is clean and welcoming with a variety of seating options. This is a perfect place to hang out and chat or get some work done. Snacks & pastries are available and the sandwich menu is beginning to expand. I enjoyed the cross-​breeze coming through the large open windows/​doors while nestled on the couch sipping an iced coffee. The manager also brought over a sample of a mixed berry Benjamin Tea that was tasty and refreshing on such a warm day. I encourage you to come in and see what this place is about!

Great coffee, friendly people, and cozy atmosphere.
What else do you need? Oh yeah, free and easy street parking!
This place is top notch.