Bombastic Cafe

Decent coffee shop. Can’t speak to the food only got a vanilla iced coffee which was good. they had 1 big table in the front and a smaller round in the back that could fit 3 people and a bunch of small 2 people tables which was nice. The baristas were also nice. Plenty of outlets. Got there on a Sunday morning around 10:15 and it’s was super busy then but got filled up quick.

Nice coffee cafe that transitions into doing cocktails later in the day. Atmosphere was nice with some good art on walls and other eclectic decor. Beans are roasted in house and the coffee was solid.

I paid $5.58 for a large black coffee here. This trend of gouging people in Chicago with Dark Matter/Intelligentsia/Metropolis/Big Shoulders has to stop. These bags are $17 at any grocery store, but you want us to pay 1/3rd of that price for 1/10th of the bag? You're not adding value anywhere close to what you're charging. You're just on a bougie street where you can get away with selling expensive espresso drinks to people, and for some reason the drip coffee crowd has to suffer for it. Get over yourself.

I love their dark roast and cozy vibe. They also have a great selection of innovative syrups and drink combinations. The entire staff is super kind and friendly. Great spot!

Thanks Ilirida! The coffee and lattes are amazing, I highly recommend the polka pistachio and mocha signature latte as well as the Turkish delight latte. A place to hang out and work, outdoor patio is amazing, and the service is so friendly and welcome it and professional. Special shout out to the team that helped us, Ilirida, Sarina, and Amanda!!!

I used to really enjoy coming to this coffee shop (I live in the neighborhood and have been patronizing for years), but service has really gone downhill as of late. Often now when I walk up to the area to order, there are multiple employees engaged in personal conversation, and even if they see you standing there staring at them (should be pretty clear what I’m standing there for), they don’t discontinue their conversation or even acknowledge your presence until you’ve been standing there for a while awkwardly and they decide when to put a pause on their conversation. Also, the girl taking my order today had a salad that she was eating open next to her by the POS system, which seems a little odd. I ordered an iced drink (told her twice), and the barista made it hot (probably due to her paying more attention to their conversation than my order). When I indicated to her that it was supposed to be iced, she didn’t apologize or even acknowledge the error. She and one of the other employees just looked at me as if I was inconveniencing them and their ability to continue their conversation and then asked me to confirm what I ordered. I also stopped ordering any iced drinks here with espresso because on multiple occasions I’ve seen a barista pour hot espresso shots directly into an empty plastic cup, and I don’t want to ingest microplastics with my coffee. I was a barista for several years when I was younger, and I’d probably be more understanding if these issues were a one-off occurrence. It’s a shame because I really like the coffee and matcha here, but I would rather go somewhere else with lesser coffee than continue to experience this level of customer service.

Super sweet and kind service. Nice place too to drink, eat and work (noticed couple of students studying). I got the lavender honey oat latte and the vegan brownie and it was very good. Can’t wait to go back to bombastic cafe on my next trip to Chicago

Lovely neighborhood cafe that serves as a great place for people to work. Drinks are on the higher end, but they do have a great selection of alternative non-dairy options. I ordered the cocosette which I felt was a little on the weaker side when it came to flavor and I wished it had a stronger coconut flavor. They do have free wifi!

This place is very unassuming and easy to pass by - I've lived in the neighborhood for going on 8 years and today was my first time in after googling "coffee" while at the corner of Grace and Southport. Between my husband and I, we got two iced coffees: a poca (pistachio + mocha) latte for me and a pistachio latte for him. Very good drinks!! Will definitely be back and make it a regular spot.

Great hipster vibe that provides some contrast to the preppy spots in the Southport area. Excellent coffee and cozy atmosphere. I took a star off though because it feels a bit cramped and awkward towards the back of the cafe. Will be returning- especially for the street seating in the warm weather!

An unassuming spot on Southport, I stumbled upon it while waiting for my bagel from across the street. The place has a hipster vibe combined with a "hole in the wall" feel. Service was quick & I got my chai latte really fast, and enjoyed it in the sun.

Cute space, good coffee. A good place to meet up with friends and chat for a little while!

$7 large cold brew I think. Was real cold and pretty smooth and tasty. They do have wifi and lots of seating.

What a great hidden gem! We found ourselves escaping the rain and wanted something warm and found ourselves walking inside here. The vanilla latte and Mexican chocolate latte were incredible and warmed us up right away. Didn't try any of the food but our service was prompt and friendly. Can't wait to come back and try some of the pastries.

I think I just had a one off bad experience but they were completely out of any decaf options and the latte that my friend got was so bad that when we left he let me taste it and was like "there's something wrong with that, right?" It barely even tasted like coffee. Super disappointed because I've had a close friend say they really loved this place. Maybe I'll have to come back some other day and give it another chance.

ICED CHAI LATTE REVIEW: You know it's a good chai when you can SEE the spice at the top of the lid (swoon)! Spiciness: 8/10 BEST FIRST TASTE EVER. The only reason I'm giving it an 8 is before after the first couple sips, the overall spice starts to go away. Sweet to spicy ratio: 9/10 (if you prefer spicy to sweet) Milk to tea ratio: 9/10 (I subbed the whole milk for almond milk) The location itself is very hipster! A lot of art, vintage decor and ~spooky~ decor including two skeletons having coffee in the window lol. I had to fight the urge to order a pastry because their croissants and quiches looked soooo good! I'd come back

Definitely an unexpected but great coffee shop. The vibe feels very hipster and chill, plus the decorations will surely catch your eye. I went in on a Saturday morning and it was pretty busy. I ordered one of their signature latte and a pastry- both were very delicious and reasonably priced. I docked one star because the barista handed me a drink with a crack in the cup. It didn't make much sense to me how he could not feel or see the liquid coming out of the side. He ended up remaking it for me, but the 2nd cup I got had a large piece of plastic at the bottom of the cup. Sucking up a piece of plastic is not very enjoyable but the coffee was still pretty good.

Came here on my lunch break. Lots of meter street parking, which made getting food quick real easy. Service was fast and friendly. Coffee was

The spinach feta pastry is so delicious. I will def be back for it and to try a fun drink!

Feeling lucky to have found this cute spot! There isn't much advertising out front, so if you aren't looking for it, you just might miss it. The inside is adorable & retro with funky art hanging on the walls. Quirky and homey come to mind: think lava lamps, plants, and a bunch of random knick knacks on display. It honestly just makes you smile because it's so uniquely bombastic. The staff here is awesome. I noticed they have a ton of different flavorings, so I asked the barista what his favorite was in an oat milk latte. He suggested a Cocosette Latte (inspired by the candy bar from his home country!) which is a combination of hazelnut, mocha, and coconut. I worried it would be overload with all those flavors, but not at all! It was perfectly sweet, warm, and toasty (though I'm sure it would be delicious iced too). One of the best lattes I've had in a long, long time. Being impressed by a coffee is one of my favorite feelings because more often than not I feel underwhelmed. Not here! I will definitely be back, probably more often than I care to admit. I think this will be my new work from home go to when I need a break from my actual home :).

Well, shame on me for not getting here sooner because this may just become a new regular spot for us. Perfectly located right across the street from the Music Box Theatre, with a vibe to match it, Bombastic offers excellent coffee options, baked goods, and, yes, cocktails! And the cocktails are...damn good! They really take their time here, this isn't a slash-and-grab Dunkin Donuts operation, and the results show. A lot of care, craft, and thought goes into making each drink. We will 100% be back, I can't wait to try some of the other options on the menu! And, a special shoutout to the barista/bartender behind the counter, Guiseppe, whose affable personality and humor made for an even more delightful experience.

I like the vibe of this place. I can't tell if they just recently opened, or what because when we walked in, it felt kind of like, messy almost? I don't even know how to describe it. Not messy in a *bad* way, but more so just kind of like... things seemed purposely left out and it felt unfinished. It actually reminded me of a coffee shop that you'd go to in like San Francisco, with the wooden noisy floors, and hipster vibe even. It's hard to pin point the vibe really, but I'm all about it. The lady who helped us when ordering was really friendly and gave a good recommendation. I don't remember what I ordered exactly, but it hit the spot for a nice cold morning walk. I'd love to come back and read a newspaper or something here. Overall just a nice addition (assuming they are new here still? Lol) to the neighborhood. To be fair, I think they are new because they didn't even have a sign outside their door so it was hard to find this place initially. Will be back!

I was waiting for another store to open up on Southport, which lead me to grabbing a coffee here. And I'm so glad I did! This place is run by two brothers, who upon hearing that I didn't like things that "tasted like coffee" happily recommended me a variety of other drinks I'd like. They were very helpful in telling me why they made me what they did and offered to remake it if I didn't like it. No need - the pistachio mocha as delicious! I decided to drink it in house and it was delivered to my table with beautiful latte art. The brothers checked in to make sure it was to my liking, which was appreciated. TLDR: Incredible customer service and delicious pistachio mocha. Give it a try!

Cute, cozy, local. Feels old school in a good way. Their pastries are good! Try them!

Bombastic is fantastic. My partner and I dropped in for the first time to warm up while on a walk during a wet, cold winter day. The barista was extremely nice and the inside vibe was cool. The prices were also fair, so we knew we'd be back and have been a couple times since--always greeted by friendly smile and delicious coffee drink. Last time we popped in, I treated myself to a dirty chai latte. It was super flavorful--nice and spicy but not too sweet. They also have a wide selection of non-dairy milk, if you're vegan. I got macadamia in my latte. If you're feeling extra adventurous, they also have a full selection of alcohol that you can add to your coffee drink if you want. Last time I was in, they suggested whisky in my cold brew, but I wasn't ready for it. I bet that would be real good, though. COVID-wise, they have hand sanitizer, limited indoor seating, and the staff is wearing masks. They also have a few patio tables on the sidewalk to enjoy your drinks outside.

This place is lovely! I go every week or so and the service is always delightful. Everyone in there is so sweet and it's definitely a great place to work at if you are a 20 something remote worker. Music is always great (Fridays tend to be a little loud and pumping), and it has that chaotic hipster energy that isn't overbearing at all. You can tell it's a very local place. One of the best parts is the FOOD. I am not exaggerating when I say that their pastries are INCREDIBLE. They have so many different kinds and when they come right out of the oven, it is the most exciting thing. A lot of people come by to just get pastries and leave. The ONLY reason I rate this 4/5 is the coffee. It isn't TERRIBLE. However, this point of view is someone who has worked in the manual espresso world for 2 years. It is not that good. It is very bland and almost burnt tasting. I am not sure the roast they use for their beans, but as a medium roast lover, I am not a fan. It just doesn't have that full body taste. I don't think this is their fault tho!!! It is dialed in beautifully always--just their beans aren't my favorite. Do I still get lattes here? Yes. Always. So, moral of the story--if you don't mind not having the perfect coffee, but the most lovely space, go here!

Environment: A cool space, not a lot of seating but you could bring your work or a book to spend some time. Coffee: some good options, not an extensive menu but some creative choices

Great little spot to do work and grab a coffee... Music can get a little loud sometimes and food options are limited, but the drinks are typically great and worth the local small business surcharge. Happy to support this spot and happy to return.

I got an iced nostalgia latte that was absolutely perfect! The espresso was creamy with a nice full body and the syrup wasn't overpowering to the drink! The staff was friendly and the drinks came out quickly! Thank you!

Love this local spot! I had only stopped in once prior to today, and today it became my refuge while my internet was down. Such a great chill vibe and amazing coffee. I had a hot vanilla latte, and it did not disappoint. The two employees were super friendly and welcoming to everyone who came in (which was a lot of people during the few hours I was here--they were busy!) and paid close attention to each customer. Definitely will be coming here often!

Walked in near closing time, and the barista was extremely nice. ordered an iced coffee with strawberry and soy milk but regretted not ordering their cold brew that's freshly made in house every day! love the half coffee shop/half art studio feel of the place; will definitely come back to try their cold brew!

Fall is here and so is pumpkin spice! Had to make a quick stop at this cute lil cafe post my weekday morning grocery run. They have a secret menu with a lot more options inside the cafe. You can make any of their drinks diary free for an extra 50 cents, customize the sweetness based on your liking and even make it boozy for $5. Tried their pumpkin spice latte with oat milk and minimal sugar for a stronger pumpkin spice flavour. Oat milk made the latte creamier. The barista made the drink just the way I wanted! She topped it off with a cute latte art. Perfect drink for the perfect season of the year. The latte was definitely worth 5 dollars.

Great local coffee shop, super friendly staff. Had one of their specialty lattes with ginger & tumeric and loved it.

I stop by x cappuchino and a mufin was pretty good patio available they also offer wine and cocktails

Great coffee and coffee shop ambiance. The service was great and she managed all by herself.

My husband and I stopped by Bombastic Cafe when we were on the way to visit a friend in the neighborhood, and I am so glad that we did! We grabbed a chai latte and blueberry scone for our friend, and a black coffee, raspberry scone, plain croissant, and ham & cheese croissant for ourselves. Everything was SO tasty and satisfying. As someone who is sensitive to bitter/ acidic/ citrusy coffee, I was so, so pleased with the cup that we got from Bombastic. It was very well balanced and full-bodied, and didn't put me off in any way. Even when we went back to sip on it again much later in the day, it was still tasty. The pastries were great--super flaky croissants and really, really good scones. Aside from the food and drinks, we loved the cafe itself! It's full of great artwork and plants, and the owners were so kind and welcoming. We hope to be back in the near future but in the meantime highly recommend Bombastic to anyone curious about stopping in!

Walking into the bombastic cafe as art student in New York mixed with a Halloween store. A great place to sit and work for a few hours with amazing staff. The baristas especially are very welcoming and always have great recommendations. They have a lot of milk options with a lot of great food choices. I recommend the blackberry hot chocolate or the violet latte.

This place is the perfect place to get work done! The vibes are arty and goofy, the employees were friendly and the coffee can't be beat. I got the pistachio mocha iced latte and a spinach pastry- highly recommend both.

I've walked by this place for months thinking to myself "I should try this place!" I finally decided to and will recount my experience on my three visits. AMBIENCE: The decor looks like stuff you'd find in someone's basement. Two glow in the dark skeletons are front and center in the display window. Random art along with a chopped off doll head, a lava lamp and other random items strewn about...not the vibe I'm looking for in a coffee shop. There's not a lot of seating (but a huge long table that seats probably 8 people near the door). And the acoustics aren't that great either. Everything was echo-y and it was hard to have a conversation in there. SERVICE: I saw the same two baristas (which I suspect one or both might also be the owner/s) on all three visits. They were friendly and made the coffee in a quick timeframe. That's pretty much the reason I'm giving this place three stars instead of two. COFFEE: Another reviewer mentioned the Cocosette latte which I tried on my first visit and it tasted good. I ordered the same thing on my second visit and for some reason, it did not taste as good. On my third (and final) visit, I asked what other special lattes they had. The barista recommended a lavender drink mixed with something else that I can't quite remember but he claimed it tasted like cereal milk. My interest piqued, I ordered it. It did not taste like cereal milk. It tasted nothing like cereal milk so that was disappointing. On my second visit, I was thinking of ordering a food item but they only had a couple of muffins and a croissant which didn't seem appetizing to me. Maybe this is a fine place to grab your basic coffee and go but I still think there are better coffee options on Southport Avenue. SUMMARY: With the lackluster coffee, lack of food items, tacky decor and bad acoustics, I will not be returning.

Solid lattes. Cute inside and out, really nice area of Southport Ave. definitely going back to try their croissants.

Very good coffee, great flavor combinations and not too sweet. Cozy place with the best music taste

Eclectic atmosphere. Great coffee, pastries and the flatbread is great as well. Room outside when the weather cooperates as well.

Love this place. Everyone is so nice. The drinks are appropriately priced. It has a cool vibe. I love the espresso machine it looks vintage. It fits into the local business vibe on Southport. I enjoy it more than the commercialized place down the street.

Cute coffee shop & the baristas were really nice. However, don't come here if you need steady WiFi for work. The connection was so weak the music in the store stopped playing multiple times- in addition to kicking me off repeatedly, until I just gave up and used my cell phone hotspot. So if you need to use internet, don't come here. If you just want to enjoy a coffee/read/study/etc, then this is a cute find.

really strong espresso and nice baristas. they play good music. I just wish it would have been warmer inside. great neighborhood though.

Our new favourite local coffee place! Super friendly staff and really excellent coffee! Tried the hot chocolate today and it was the best I've had in the USA - perfect creaminess and not too sweet!

Interesting place, good coffee. Very friendly staff. Pumpkin spice latte was really good and not too sweet. Was very quiet in there, needs some music

The cutest little coffee spot. I broke out of my Oat Milk comfort zone and tried a cold brew with Macadamia Milk- and I was so glad I did! The coffee itself had the best flavor, and the splash of milk was such a nice, unique touch. I took the coffee to go, but it looks like a cute place to sit both inside and outside on their front patio. Can't wait to go back soon!

Finally a coffee spot in that area. I was so excited. I walk in, expectations high. Are they even open yet? Yes, soft pending. Whoa, don't greet me with too much enthusiasm, lady. The interest of the barista to serve one of her first customers was smothered with disinterest and any information about the place (food, official opening, ..) had to be pried from her. The cafe was ok, a bit on the acidic side. Service 1, cafe 3.5

I went to Bombastic Cafe for the first time yesterday and it was great! The latte was delicious and the staff super friendly. Another customer accidentally took my drink but they remade mine and gave me the extra! The atmosphere was great too - definitely will be back with a book or when I want to get a little work done!

The perfect coffee shop. Bombastic combines that old school eclectic decor with modern specialty coffee, and they have alcohol! Great study or hangout space with lots of tables (though it does fill up quickly), and in the summer there's a patio area outside. The baristas really one what they're doing and are super nice. I would call this easily one of the best coffee shops on the north side of Chicago.

Really good coffee and a nice chill atmosphere. They take their time and do it right. Friendly service too. I'll be back!

Bombastic Café is easily the best coffee experience I have ever had. The staff is patient, cheery, and they make you feel like a neighbor dropping by. The atmosphere is just as creative and calming as the lads behind the counter. Swing by, you won't be disappointed.

The coffee is great and the staff is so welcoming and cool and friendly. They make you feel at home here and their secret menu is awesome.

Unique coffee shop with helpful and knowledgeable staff. I had been waiting literal years for this place to open and it's worth the wait. We sat at the front of the shop which had great views of the Music Box Theater and while we didn't sit outside, they had a great front patio. Can't wait to come back!

This is my favorite cafe in Chicago. They roast the coffee fresh (literally I watched them do it) and the employees are the kindest people I have ever met. Seriously, ever. And I've been in way more than once and met most of them. It's the perfect little spot to work, do a puzzle, or catch up with a friend.

Barista was very nice. Place was full Sunday afternoon but he got orders prepared and out quickly. Coffee is very good. I had a cappuccino and my wife had monk tea which the barista recommended and woman ahead of us also ordered. Excellent. Cool place. We got ours to go but would hang next time if we hit it right and there was a seat. They have sidewalk seating when the weather lends itself to that. Their pastry tray looked good too. Worth stopping in!