Beans & Bagels

Great food, awesome people, and now, impeccable vibes! I've been going Beans & Bagels for four years (since 2020) and they just opened back up on the inside post COVID, and it's a great place to meet friends, read, and enjoy a nice cup of tea with an amazing lox sandwich, my personal favorite. They also make their own pastries, so make sure to check those out!

Stopped by to grab a lox special on an everything bagel which was so delicious! They had a great variety of coffee beans to choose from and I really appreciate that their staff continues to mask. Right off the Rockwell brownline with ample outdoor seating and really fun murals to muse over while you’re waiting for your order. Can’t wait to pop back!

Best croissant I have ever had in the US! Being from Europe I always try so hard to find a croissant that tastes similar to back home, and this one hit the spot! It was honestly even better than the ones back home. I got both the ham & cheese croissant and the English sausage one. And they are amazing! Definitely recommend! I also love the convenience of the little window that you order at! Will be coming back soon

Pretty much the best coffee you can get in Lincoln Square. The staff is always super friendly, and I love that you get a discount for bringing a cup! Knowing that this shop is low-waste and pays a living wage has made it my go-to shop over anywhere else. Definitely recommend this place for a quick coffee and bagel.

What is this, coffee for ants? 8oz mugs only is a CHOICE. Listen I’m not local, Im just a guy who wanted a cup of coffee but had to buy two. Sure, I can come back with my own mug and get as much coffee as I want, but unless ya named the store “Bring Your Own Mug”, it’s kinda guaranteed to be a disappointing first trip, which mine was…

One of the best coffee shops I’ve been to! We love their bagels, and their coffee selection is always great! Service has always been outstanding. And did I mention their croissants? Dear Lord! 🤤 They also offer do right donuts! Which is a plus when your sweet tooth is calling. Hands down, one of the best coffee shops in Chicago. 🙌🏼

Average: Had the breakfast bagel sandwich and chai. Overall it was alright for my taste. Bagel was good but very very simple nothing to brag. I was not particular can of chai, it was okay but I would not get it again. Seating is limited outside. Overall, I'd pass this place unless lived closed by and there is not much else around.

Loved it while visiting Chicago. Went there almost every day. Their bagels are top notch. Their cream cheese is very tasty and there are also different options there. I like the sitting room next door. Interesting wall art. My only complaint is that some of the coffee is a bit acidic for my taste. Oh and the three cheese croissant is a must try.

Incredibly kind and sweet employees. & some of the BEST bagel sandwiches in the city. I always loved coming here when it was just a window, and now that it's opened up I am tempted every morning. Super cute inside, an EPL table up front, free chess boards and magazines to use. There is even a take-a-book-leave-a-book! Also, my personal favorite: no distractingly loud music. It's just people hanging out. Love this place!

Good neighborhood spot, the staff is friendly. Bagels are consistent, drip coffee is really tasty (and I usually doctor mine up but I don't have to here) I love having a spot in the neighborhood to grab my round bread with a hole in the middle

I was running errands when I was bagels and had to stop to try them. I got the everything bagel with cream cheese and blueberry jam. I was wondering why the blueberry jam was on the side and I had to spread it but I am assuming it's because it is already pre-proportioned. I didn't kind and the bagels were good. I'm glad I stopped by and super happy that the staff was friendly and answered any questions I had. This is a to go ordering places so everything happens at a window.

After multiple visits and orders, the coffee just doesn't improve. On my most recent and final visit I ordered a vanilla latte with oat milk and it was terrible. Served in a small paper cup for almost $6 the coffee was hot, bitter and flavorless. Poured the coffee out but recycled the cup for germinating seeds so at least I got that.

There are a number of independent coffee shops In Lincoln Squire. This is a good one, but not a great one. First the negatives. One, their coffee is so just so. When my wife and I recently came here, and she ordered a small latte and I ordered a cold brew My cold brew was good and had a strong caffeine content. However, its hard to mess up cold brew. I tried my wife's latte, but it wasn't good. It was a bit tasteless. Two, the the food we tried was good, but with room for improvement. My wife got a donut that was from Do-rite Donuts. Kudos to them for stocking a good local donut brand, but obviously you can't give them credit on how good the donut was. I got one their house made croissants, the Jalapeño cream cheese croissant. The croissant itself was good, but I wish it had more jalapeño flavor and was spicer. Third, they expensive. For one (very) small latte, a cold brew, a donut and croissant the total was just under $20.00. Now the positives. One, I enjoyed my cold brew and it had a lot of caffeine. Iced coffee and cold brew are my favorite morning drinks, and they make a good one. Two. I like their environmental commitment. My cold crew was served in a reusable aluminum cup, and if you bring the cup back (or your own cup) they will offer you $.50 off your drink. Also the straw was biodegradable, reusable and sturdy. Three, I love the atmosphere. It's on a corner of a prototypical Lincoln Square tree lined street. Also, along the sidewalk outside the coffee shop there were many wooden benches, some even built around some lovely trees. I enjoyed sitting on them eating my croissant and drinking my cold brew. In sum, this a good coffee shop, not a great one. I wouldn't make this your first or only destination for coffee, but just one of them.

In moving to the neighborhood, I was excited to hear that there was a local coffee spot. It is a walk up spot and close to the Brown line. Seems to be quite popular given the regular line of people. I've tried it twice now, both times ordering a latte. Each time I have been greatly disappointed. The taste is awful. Others for whom I've made try it agree. The donuts and other to-go food items look good however.

I asked my husband to grab me an oat milk latte from a nearby coffee shop while he was out and he stopped at Beans & Bagels because they always have a long line and seem to be popular. He let me know the barista warned him the oat milk was unsweetened, but I'm not one for sweet coffee. Boy was I surprised when I took a sip of lukewarm drip coffee or maybe an americano with a splash of oat milk in it. This was a $5 drink but in no world can this be called a latte. This was watery and weak and completely lacking the presence of any milk. I would take a second look at the products your using and the education you provide to your baristas in how they talk about the coffee they are serving so people are not misled.

I love these guys. I don't agree with every single aspect of their sometimes goofy politics, but I absolutely love their commitment to their beliefs, and the fact that they'll put them ahead of profits. That's righteous and worthy of respect. Also, they have the absolute best whole bean selection of any coffee shoppe in the Midwest (yes, I've checked). No one else comes close to the sheer variety of quality beans they have on hand at any given time. I also love how their idiosyncratic ways (no gluten free bagels --quelle horreur!!) make certain denizens of this bougie hood clutch their pearls/check their Fitbits.

Chocolate hazelnut croissants are amazing! This morning (and once before) I had the serendipitous timing of arriving when these had just been made. Light, flaky pastry topped with hazelnuts and filled with chocolate. Heaven. Grab a napkin! My daughter and I have enjoyed the iced maple lattes. It might be seasonal; I'm not sure. Friendly staff. As of Sept 2022, it's still a walk up to the outside and order situation. Not open inside yet. Beans & Bagels seems to be a popular neighborhood coffee shop which operates its business model in accordance with their values of sustainability, which is admirable. If you order an iced drink, save the cup and bring it back for next time!

Good bagels, amazing croissants. My favorite thing here is the everything croissant. Has a pillowy herby cheese filling.

Had fun reading the negative reviews about this place and I gotta say, the majority of them are consistent with my own experience. I live in the neighborhood and sometimes I walk by on my way to train, I am forced to get coffee. Definitely a woke place operated by a bunch of entitled hipsters. Very slow and they always have a line that seems to form only when I am about to get to their window. Missed too many trains to work because of their slow service. When I weaken and buy donuts, they often place the chocolate side facing the bottom of the bag creating a messy situation in the train later. Then they have the nerves to ask for tip. Sigh. Then there is the bring your own mug or be content with a small ass paper cup bullshit...I am constantly walking around downtown with a mug because of those guys... ok, that is mild first world problem but very unnecessary. They are usually polite. I wasn't a fan of their coffee in the past, but they recently changed their brew and for now, I am a fan of the fruity note, does not taste very strong though. Hope they stay in business and hope they sort out their issues.... Stop being weird .

The donut I ordered was fabulous. The latte was expensive TINY and not delicious. No ambiance because they have never opened back up after Covid. Happy other people are willing to order and stand outside in the cold to keep this business in the neighborhood. It's time to welcome people back inside!

I still remember when you used to be able to sit down at this place and eat yogurt from a store-bought container in one of their hard wooden chairs and lean on a wobbly table inside a real room with walls and floors. It was great because when you had to go to the bathroom, you'd be told that you couldn't use it because it was off-limits to paying customers. Then you'd get so disgruntled and belligerent that you'd go anyway, climbing your way through the janitor's closet, and you'd try to pee extra loudly because you wanted the jerk-butt owner to know that you were disobeying his draconian rules. After that, you used to be able to go up to a real counter where you'd see an employee who was about five days away from quitting like all the others, and you'd ask to buy an everything bagel. The fed-up but kindly person behind the register would tell you they were all out, and then you'd ask for an onion bagel, and they were always out of those too. Lastly, you'd just try to get your hands on a plain bagel but no dice. Sometimes the jerk-butt owner would be somewhere nearby, arms folded, scowling, waiting to scold you for even THINKING that they would have more bagels at this ungodly hour of 11 am on a Saturday. "We can't order enough bagels for everyone! It's wasteful! Don't you know that there are people starving in Africa?!" Okay, totally... I'M THE WEENIE! Can I just have the beans then? One. You were allowed to have one bean. Those were the days. Now? Oh, it's so much worse!

Love this fun bagel shop on Rockwell. They have some great murals on their outdoor walls that kids enjoy. Their bagels are delicious, the staff friendly, and cream cheese is ample. Give this off the beaten track a visit.

Ignore the bad reviews and treat yourself to a delicious bagel from a neighborhood entrepreneur working hard to nourish the community with food and spirit. It's a bagel shop. It's not that serious y'all. The bagels are divine, the cream cheese is creamy and the staff are precious. We plan to make this a weekly stop.

I ordered a tree hugger sandwich and got a ham one instead. I can't eat it either cause I'm a vegetarian and i can't find a number to call and ask for a refund I will say that I really liked how they used compostable packaging. Just v disappointed cause I was really excited Update: they felt bad about what happened and gave me a refund! I'll still be sure to check my order next time before leaving

How do you charge ten bucks for this bagel? So overpriced. I always forget that I shouldn't come here.

It's a bit on he expensive side, but not out of the norm for this part of the city. Bagels and donuts are good - donuts are from Do-Rite, which are exceptionally tasty. Coffee is fine. Some of the "Covid theater" going on is a bit much. The inside is closed (walk-up only). Staff are all in gloves/mask. They have the standard card reader and ipad for paying, but they keep the ipad behind the counter, so you get this semi-awkward exchange where they ask you which tip percentage you'd like to choose. I could deal with all of that, but the gloves are a bit much. Unless they're changing them in between customers (which I don't believe is happening), it doesn't do any good.

Love the bagels here but what's the deal with the awkward transaction at the end? Basically putting someone on the spot to feel forced or obligated to leave a tip. Asking the customer "What would you like to leave here?" Doesn't seem right. Let the customer decide that on their own.

Staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. Great selection of bagels & pastries. Definitely recommend the homemade vegan corn patties if you're getting a breakfast sandwich!

I love their recyclable cups but went there for bagels and they didn't even have any. Coffee was okay service was nice and friendly Very cute location

The food at this place is great, coffee is okay, service is terrible. This place is SO slow and so inefficient. It should not take 15 minutes to get a coffee and 30 minutes to get a bagel, especially when they only take one order at a time and there was little to no line. Staff is rude, inefficient, dimwitted, and have no customer service skills. Mobile order is a joke as well. Takes double or triple the time shown on the app. There is no pick up area so you are at the mercy of the staff to remember to bring it and off it to you. Also I don't understand why they do not let customers inside. All other businesses in the area are back to functioning "normally." This place has so much potential, and could be doing so much more business, but lack the processes and intelligence to be able to do so.

Got 30 minutes to wait? Then you're in luck, this is the place for you! In all seriousness, they need to hire more kitchen staff, stop offering online orders or reorganize their order workflow, because there are some serious bottlenecks happening here that can't be ignored. For instance, why throw a to go order for 6 bagels--which just requires throwing them in a bag-- into the cooked food order window queue? The 15-20 other people waiting for their orders showed a miraculous amount of Midwestern patience (or quiet annoyance). If this was the East Coast, this place wouldn't still be in business as the complaints would be loud and frequent. I was looking around for the hidden camera and my $100 for being on MTV's Boiling Points.

Usually love it here, but lately been skimpin on the bagels w cream cheese. I asked for 2 not toasted bagels and I got 2 toasted bagels - not a big deal I just don't personally like warm cream cheese. There are better places for bagels so will probably go elsewhere next time

This place is right around the corner from our friend's place - and the bagels are SO good! They have a veggie sausage that is super good! And the everything bagel is dream worthy. They also have oat milk for those avoiding dairy! And they have awesome artwork on the building exterior!

Great local coffee shop. Employees are friendly. Their Lox Bagel is one of the best in the city. They also make their own oat mile in house which is delicious Note to self. Don't go at 10am on a Saturday morning. You will have to wait in line for an hour but it's worth the wait.

Great coffee. I love their fried egg, vegan sausage, bagel sandwich. Located in a cute area, near an el stop. I've been going here for years. Quirky decor with some dinosaur toys my son loves. The staff is very friendly. It's a go-to for me.

Great walk-up coffee shop and friendly neighborhood presence. The sandwiches are excellent and the coffee and tea great, too. They're genuinely green: compostable wrappers and lightweight aluminum cups that are 100% recyclable--but are also durable enough to reuse at home.. The shop is local, not a chain or corporation, and that's important to me.

I love this coffee shop it's the place you want to go if you want to escape Starbucks. I love that menu food and drink menu is simple unpretentious. The people here will greet you will a smile, not make you feel rushed and make a good recommendation if you need one. It is tucked on the corner at the same block as the Rockwell brown line stop. This area in Lincoln square makes you feel like you aren't in the city anymore as the train passed by the street with the cute shops around. The area where you can sit down and eat is not connected to the cafe. If you do eat in they will bring it to you but to access the area you have to go outside and go next door. You will see several tables of people working remotely on any given day and a piano in case you want to play. It makes me feel like I'm in someone's living room and cozy. I wish the hours were longer. If you are tired of Starbucks, I definitely am then come and check this place out for a different more relaxing vibe.

Really great cold brewed coffee and breakfast sandwiches! Stopped into Beans & Bagels in the Lincoln Square location and loved it! My husband and I ordered cold brew coffee, which was so delicious sand perfect since it was so hot outside. We also split a chocolate old fashioned donut from Do-Rite Donuts (which the cafe stocks) and we split a Napoleon Bagel: goat cheese, beets, arugula on a bagel of your choice. The location is great - it's on the same block and right before the Rockwell stop on the Brown Line. I ended up stopping in here each day I was visiting my sister and BIL because their cold brew coffee was so delicious!

Not going back here. The wife and I chose this place due to good overall yelp ratings. It soon became clear that the good reviews were not reliable. We arrived at 12:30. The menu at this place looks like it was produced only after the receipt of a Freedom of Information Act request. Most of the menu items were blacked out with black tape. In other words, during the lunch rush, most items were blacked out on the menu. There were only two kinds of bagel available, plain and wheat. I ordered the lox special. It was reasonably good. There were very few other customers but it took 15 minutes to get our order. The wife ordered the mother jones. Of course, the kitchen was out of pesto. The cashier offered to use mustard instead, but that didn't make it on to the sandwich. The wife specifically asked for no onions. There was at least an entire onion that she had to pick off the sandwich. This is a problem since onions make her sick. See photo of what no onions looks like. The bread also tasted burnt/bitter.

Every time I visit Chicago, I always end up at Beans and Bagels at some point. I can't stay away! They're a little pricey, but absolutely worth it. The bagels and coffee are excellent. (Perfectly chewy bagels, fragrant, flavorful coffee). I've tried several of their sandwiches and they are all delicious (try to get the one with their homemade tomato jam). I recently started trying their baked goods and they have not disappointed. Try the pomme pastry or the bread pudding! The people are also super helpful when I have questions or need recommendations, and they are very Covid safe and low-waste. Cute little tree-benches along the sidewalk where you can eat your treats and dog-watch. My friends and I go here (and the zero-waste store down the street) when we want to have a really good day.

COME HERE FOR BREAKFAST but hurry because the morning rush is savage and all the good bagels/donuts will be gone by 9. Not my favorite place for coffee but definitely one of the best breakfast sandwiches if not the best in the neighborhood and the croissants are just puffy little clouds.

Always consistent and high quality. Delicious donuts and bagel sandwiches. My favorite is the veggie sausage and the chocolate old fashioned donuts. Also, their croissants are extremely well done. My daughter and mom love coming here and they are very picky! So lucky to have them in the neighborhood. Also, they are very environmentally conscious, which everyone should be on board with.

Thank you for being open and providing some normalcy to our lives during this unprecedented time. Thank you for adapting for the times and the safety of others. I recommend, and personally love, an 8oz chai latte with a comfortingly breakfast bagel sandwich. But everything else (coffee, pastries, etc.)is delicious!

Low-key coffee window that sells fresh bagels with delicious coffee! Their maple latte is the best and they make their own oat milk in-house!

THEY WON'T SELL YOU ESPRESSO TO GO. Why? Snarky answer is that they are illogical pretentious a$$holes intent on providing you with your very own scene out of Five Easy Pieces but here are the answers I got: 1. It wastes the 8oz cup. So, let's think about this one for a minute. The drink I want (a double espresso), because it isn't more voluminous, is "wasteful", but adding 4oz of water to it to make an Americano that do I not want and frankly, have at home with better coffee than they have, somehow makes that not wasteful. Let that sink in. 2. The paper cup ruins the integrity of the drink. Okay. So that at least explains why they don't just buy the small paper cups like every decent takeaway espresso bar from Seattle to Rome does. But shouldn't I be the arbiter of whether I want to take that oh so important first-world-problem chance? And so are they also then saying that their Americano and every other drink they offer in a paper cup is sub-par? And that their espresso is better than all the other bars that respect their customers (it isn't)? Anyway. Just walk a block over to the Green Post. Great ambiance, service, and choices.

Would be great but if you want to read the newspaper or book bring headphones. They have pianos and toys and kids playing them. Like a daycare center. Other than that coffee is great and staff is great. Highly recommend for takeout or if you need free daycare. I'm just joking but it is loud when kids are playing on one of the 3 pianos.

Decadent croissant, scrumptious bagels and an unparalleled coffee program accompany a rockstar crew who work exceptionally hard to meet the needs of the community. We are incredibly fortunate to have Beans & Bagels as our local shop and even more fortunate that the folks at Beans seek to ethically provide us with them most delicious treats and coffee in the city. Don't hesitate, get in line! It moves fast and the bliss that awaits afterward makes it all worthwhile.

The Lox Special bagel is everything! Personally, the prices are rather high. But hey - Heaven isn't cheap. Great lunch offerings as well, and some of the best coffee I've ever had. I love the eclectic decor, and the staff are fun, friendly people who take their food (which include fantastic croissants too) and coffee seriously!

DOPE coffee shop! VHS videos playing, great energy, you can really feel the neighborhood vibe right when you walk in which I love. Cold brew is strong and delicious and the signature cream cheese flavors are fab.

It's both adorable & delicious! I had a berry bagel with fresh blackberry schemer. Great place for a quick morning coffee & snack.

Today I had a hankering for a bagel breakfast sandwich. They accidentally gave me the wrong sandwich - not a big deal, these things happen. I would have been fine with them just making me the correct sandwich but they also gave me a refund after apologizing profusely. Small businesses have a lot during the pandemic and to offer that level of customer service speaks to what a great place this is. I usually only pop in a couple times a month but I will definitely be dropping by more often. We need these neighborhood spots!

I love this place and I go here all the time. They might not always have the same stuff but if you don't know what you want pick a random item w stuff that sounds good to you and you will never be disappointed. Croissants are fire

Back to five stars, because I'll admit when I'm wrong about a place (or they improve)! ‍ In fact, this is the best place to get coffee in Chicago - fantastic lattes, amazing croissants, and lovely service. I adore the neighborhood friendly atmosphere and always recommend people stop by to try out this cafe. Check out their breakfast sandwiches, as well.

Awesome coffee shop, really good beans & roast selections. Corner spot non corporate chain so it's super friendly!

One of my favorite coffee spots in the city. Absolutely love the iced maple latte, perfect amount of sweetness. Bagels are amazing and slathered with cream cheese- just the way they should be! Love all the pastries (from West Town Bakery) as well as the service. They're always playing older tv shows and movies in the ordering room. I haven't sat down in the "dining" area (you need to exit and re enter next door) but I'm sure I will in the winter. Located right off Rockwell, super popular for commuters.

I found this place odd at first with the separate dining area, but they grew on me fast. The staff are incredibly friendly. The coffee and the foods they offer are all fantastic.

This place is extremely frustrating! You would think that they would take the countless poor reviews seriously and make some positive changes. My reasons for finally deciding to give up on this place: -ALWAYS out of food -service is rude and so so slow -no sense of urgency -they have forgotten my drink and I've had to remind them almost every time I've gone -over priced -unreliable hours -pretentious, know it all staff -poor use of space, they could offer so much more So sad that such a cute shop in a great neighborhood doesn't care to make the effort to make positive changes to accommodate the reviews of the community that supports them. I hope they get it together or get out.