Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea

Cafe · Oak Park

Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea

Cafe · Oak Park

3

702 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60301

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Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea by null

Highlights

Craft coffee, tea, matcha, sandwiches, salads, local pastries  

Featured in Eater
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702 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60301 Get directions

fairgrounds.cafe
@ourfairgrounds

$10–20 · Menu

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702 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60301 Get directions

+1 708 434 5510
fairgrounds.cafe
@ourfairgrounds
𝕏
@ourfairgrounds

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 19, 2025

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@eater

Lula Cafe, Rickshaw Republic Among Restaurants Reopening for Takeout - Eater Chicago

"Playful Chicago-based coffeehouse chain Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea has reopened a few locations for takeout and delivery. Food and drink ordering is available online. Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea, 1620 N. Milwaukee Avenue; 702 Lake Street in Oak Park." - Naomi Waxman

https://chicago.eater.com/2020/4/22/21230059/chicago-restaurant-openings-takeout-carry-out-coronavirus
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@eater

Where to Try CBD-Infused Food and Drinks in Chicago | Eater Chicago

"Mini-chain Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea stands out by offering coffees from a range of roasters, including Gaslight Coffee Roasters, Dark Matter Coffee, and Stumptown from Portland, Oregon. All three Chicago locations now offer a 10-milligram CBD addition to any drink for $3, in addition to draft CBD kombucha, called “Cannabliss.”" - Naomi Waxman

https://chicago.eater.com/maps/cbd-food-drink-chicago-restaurants-bars-cannabis
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@eater

Where to Eat Near Your River North Office | Eater

"The perfect place to stop in if you want a quick, healthy breakfast or lunch, Fairgrounds prides itself on serving fresh, ethically sourced food and drinks. Breakfast sandwiches and tacos, including vegan options, make up the morning menu, and lunch offers a wide array of options as well. As a nod to their name, there’s also a “From The Fair” section that includes a soft pretzel served with local cold-brew cheese dip, and funnel cake fries." - Vox Creative

https://www.eater.com/ad/maps/best-restaurants-bars-river-north-chicago
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Samia

Google
This cozy and vibrant coffee shop, Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea, offers more than just your typical caffeine fix—it’s an experience. With its playful decor, including a large illuminated “F” on the wall, eclectic furnishings, and warm lighting, it creates a welcoming and creative vibe perfect for work or catching up with friends. The black coffee cup branded with their logo suggests a commitment to craft beverages, and the seating arrangement, from comfy leather chairs to communal tables, caters to every mood. Whether you’re here to work or unwind, this spot invites you to sip slowly and stay awhile.

Chrissy Robinson

Google
I love Fairgrounds for coworking and reading. If you can get one of the arm chair seats by the F grab it! It’s the best seat for hours of deep work! I tried the turkey club today and it was soooo good all the flavors combined just hit so well and it was huge I could only eat half.

Samar

Google
Good coffee, not strong (lattes very milky). Matcha was a bit better. We Tried the avocado toast. Overall relatively spacious seating area- Crowded on a weekday. Slightly on the pricey side. Overall great spot to meet a friend or do some light work

Jacy Holmes

Google
This place is great! But only one person, so far, has been able to make an actual smoothie that’s not the texture of water and has good flavor. Maybe a retraining of how to blend the smoothies would help? Otherwise, I love this place and the service is always amazing!

Rachael Bolek

Google
This used to be our go-to breakfast spot, but it's unfortunately not what it was two years ago. Paid $9.50 for this breakfast bowl (I only moved the egg to show what was under it), which had incredibly burnt bacon, and this was after waiting 30 minutes for one sandwich and one breakfast bowl (didn't get drinks).

Anita Novillo

Google
I found this place a while ago and recently came back! It's a cozy place with plenty of seating. I personally loved their iced matcha and gluten free sweets!

Miguel Gonzalez

Google
Floor-to-ceiling glass walls bring lots of light in. There are plenty of tables and comfortable seating. And the coffee is delicious. Excellent location on Lake Street in the heart of Oak Park.

Wendy Callupe

Google
Everyone here is very nice and helpful. The place is usually full with people working with their laptops but there’s always a spot to sit. It’s right by all the shops in Oak Park and there’s usually paid parking or side street parking a block or so away. I recommend their matcha latte or a dark coffee. This is a good spot to work from.
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Natosha M.

Yelp
Wanted to do a little work at a coffee shop and i randomly stopped here . I can honestly say that I am happy I did. The ambiance is fresh and light. There are tables outside on the patio and plenty of seating inside. I do wish there were outlets where I sat, that would my only issue but there are outlets at the table near the window. But staff were great and helpful. I will be returning
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Suhasini G.

Yelp
I got coffee a few times here during my stay in Oak Park. It seems like a great place to get work done, with lots of ppl working or reading inside. The coffee was alright, and they always were out of whole milk when I came by, but overall seems like a solid option if you want a quick coffee in the area.
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Kristin G.

Yelp
Slowest service ever. Mediocre scone. And an environment that's trying to look funky but is really corporate. Why can't someone open a truly funky cafe in Oak Park that stays open past 4 and has good stuff?
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Khalid F.

Yelp
We stopped here on the way home from Chicago. It's a nice corner coffee shop in a nice neighborhood. The interior is pretty spacious and well decorated. The yellow touches are really nice; overall it was a fun interior. It also felt family friendly. Aside from coffee and tea, they had a good amount of food items. We ordered a cappuccino and a Vosges hot chocolate to drink. We also ordered grilled cheese sandwich for my son, and a matcha chia seed pudding for me. The latter is something that seems to be getting popular and I just had to satisfy my curiosity. The cappuccino was okay. Certainly not the best I've had, but certainly not the worst. Thankfully it didn't have a burnt-to-a-crisp taste like the capp I got from Dunkin Donuts a couple months ago. I only had a sip of the hot chocolate, but it was rich and delicious; my wife enjoyed it. My son didn't mind the grilled cheese; he ate about half of it. The chia seed pudding was delicious! I didn't know what to expect, but I loved the flavor and consistency. If we're ever in this area again, we'd definitely revisit Fairgrounds.

Kohl H.

Yelp
Best male barista in the state It always smells good in there I would kill for their tomato soup
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N.A. S.

Yelp
"We don't have any clean knives right now" (offering to clean a couple was not an option, only a "plastic one") , a fun sentence for anyone who has worked in food and beverage, but they really try to compile all of the legendary lines one can hear in such establishment, like giving you a sigh and telling you the kitchen is backed up when the latte ordered almost half an hour prior obviously slipped through the cracks and our food has already been out... The collective lack of dynamism and professionalism of the staff shines through, and adds to the odd atmosphere in the shop. To many similar places to ever come again to this sad parody of a cafe.

Zachary N.

Yelp
This used to be our go-to spot, the coffee was always delicious. However, some of the staff are bad at their jobs, especially the barista who repeatedly makes our lattes with Oat milk when we ask for Whole milk, even when we clearly state "with a W." He seems to be doing this on purpose now; when I thanked him today, he did not look my way or respond. Julian provided a refund but this is our last time here. See you at Kribi-- much better service.

Leah K.

Yelp
I did not know that they don't accept cash! It is very discriminatory towards this who don't want credit cards or don't want one or can't get one! Same with debit cards! I will not honor any place that does not accept cash!!!!! I'm only giving a 1 star as if I don't this will not get posted!
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Fernilla S.

Yelp
Ambience was perfection for studying or meeting up with a friend to hangout. Matcha was ok. Service was great.

Ruby P.

Yelp
This is a nicely decorated small cafe good for working/studying. I had to get my car fixed at a nearby Firestone and this cafe is conveniently around 15 minute of walk from it. Had a brunch here while my car was getting fixed. I got Goldie's Lox Platter and iced Frothy Monkey espresso with their seasonal rose flavor. Both were fair, as their shop name suggested lol Almost all tables and seats were occupied around noon, but I was still managed to get a table when my food and drink were ready. I enjoyed studying here.

David W.

Yelp
First time coming in, and was pleasantly surprised! Very calm indoors with a very aesthetically pleasing set up behind the counter, not to leave out the nice outdoor seating! I splurged for a summer drink: Iced Strawberry Matcha, I normally wouldn't go for this but it was such a lovely day! Looking forward to coming back.
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Sara M.

Yelp
When you order a BOWL of soup for $8+, you expect to get more than 4-5 oz! And it was lukewarm. I'll never step foot in there again. It's 0 stars, not 1 star.

Chad P.

Yelp
This used to be my favorite coffee shop. Good food, easy to pick up orders, well staffed. Something changed. They are perpetually understaffed, they have no idea how to do pick up orders through their app, and most orders they get wrong now. Honestly, what happened?

Olivia N.

Yelp
Workers are REALLY nice. They are willing to give out suggestions which are actually GOOD. The lemon poppy seed muffin is a perfect snack. Not to mention the interior of this shop is gorgeous. They have plenty of comfy seating. Definitely check them out!
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Ryan T.

Yelp
Slow, slow service. Had 30 minutes to kill, went in and ordered a cappuccino, paid, 30 mins later: no cappuccino. Didn't have time to wait to get my money pack. Despite being a COFFEE shop most of the staff seemed to be less than half awake.
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Elizabeth H.

Yelp
Morning @ourfairgrounds in Oak Park, IL This place is really cute and specializes in cold brews and espresso. I had the Master of Nann (egg whites, shakshuka spread, baby kale, feta) with my coffee (perfectly bitter and soft). Vibe is comfortable and welcoming. Food and coffee worth the trip.
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Carleen T.

Yelp
Really great selection of coffee, particularly cold brews, and lots of kombucha as well. Much of the time, I've gone and several of the cold brew taps weren't working, which is a bummer. Pastries are nothing special, but the coffee is great and most of the time, the staff is friendly and efficient. There have been times when things get really backed up, orders are not called out properly, and it gets messy. Regardless, I'm a regular and will keep coming back. Plenty of room--you can always find a seat and get work done. Nice ambiance/good music, too.

Taylor O.

Yelp
Did a mobile order for lunch for the first time here and was extremely disappointed. My coffee was supposed to be iced but instead was hot but was really luke warm- mind you I picked it up 2min after the time it was supposed to be ready. I got home and took a sip just open it and see that it was half full. I usually can forgive a mix up of iced and hot but would it be so hard to make it actually hot and fill the cup?
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Russell J.

Yelp
When the cold brew on tap is good, it's amazing. Their pour overs are great. You will get a great cup of coffee at this place. But it is very inconsistent. I've had days where the service was. Excellent; I've had days where the service was absolutely terrible and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. There are many times where the cold brew runs dry in the summer, and they simply never replace it the next day. Or they make excuses about equipment. Or there are things broken in the kitchen and they can't make you your food. So be ready to settle. But no matter what happens, you will get good coffee.

Hadley May C.

Yelp
I come here every so often and it's great! a while ago, they realized after I paid that they were out of the food item I selected, and allowed me to choose something else, free of the up charge. I did appreciate that. another time however, I ordered the yogurt that is meant to have granola, got it to go, and realized once I was gone that there was no granola. I'm assuming they were out of it or, because it was to-go, didn't want it to get soggy. It wasn't a big deal, but would've appreciate they just told me they were out of granola, I would've ordered something else. It's just not the same with a whole entire ingredient missing. Otherwise, the workers are always super nice and I love the coffee and chai

Cole M.

Yelp
Waited 32 minutes for a BLT while the two baristas sat and chatted the entire time until the owner came back from break to make food. Horrible experience and service.
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Eve M.

Yelp
Ambience is great for millennials its got that shabby chic quirky look. Too much going on decor wise for it to be a spot to study or relax, but some people might like that? The service was fine, but THE DRINKS. The drinks are sad and the baristas clearly havent been trained properly. If you are going to charge single origin prices the espresso should taste fresh and full of flavor- also the milk should be steamed and poured properly. Sad latte that tasted like drip. Will never be coming back here due to untrained baristas and lack of care when preparing and presenting drinks. Get ceramic cups!! Drinking out of a to go cup makes thing feels so cheap and like the business is cutting corners. (2) 12 oz lattes, hot, regular milk, no added flavor shots and (2) orders of avocado toast $48.50 including 20% tip
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Qinchun L.

Yelp
I really like this place. It meets my expectation of what a nice working space looks like for people who are tired of working remotely at home. The coffee has been great, and the food is tasty! I also appreciate the variety of food and drinks they offer. However, I do wanna let people who work here know that the sunflower seeds you put on the avocado toast are stale. This can really compromise the taste of this meal. But this does not prevent me from giving this place a five star! Because I really like it overall!
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Cheryl G.

Yelp
I like the location of this shop and the atmosphere was pretty good. We sat for over two hours drinking coffee and tea and was not disturbed in a bad way. The coffee was good, but I felt a little overpriced for a coffee shop. Also, my coffee was only luke warm...this is after I asked the barista to make sure it was extra hot as I knew my friends and I would be there for at least an hour. So I only drank a little and had to take it home to warm and enjoy. Overall cute place and might visit again if i'm in the area.
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Rie U.

Yelp
New favorite coffee shop in OP without a doubt. The shop is clean, friendly, and they have SWING SEATS AT THE COUNTER! (Okay, calm down, Rie.) I like my coffee black like my soul, so I ordered the 16oz Verve brewed coffee (medium body with allspice and earl grey notes). They have a pretty big selection (6 or 7?) of brew bar coffees which is always nice for no-frills black-coffee-drinking curmudgeons like me. My friend got the Latte Flight and all 3 of them were solid but we both agreed that their Chai Tea Latte--while on the pretty sweet side--was the best of the three lattes. Everybody there was either brunching or working/studying, and the environment was really just perfect for both. Free WiFi, comfy seats, and 2 well-maintained non-gendered bathrooms! Oh, almost forgot, they have SPARKLING WATER ON TAP FOR FREE so that you can rehydrate while you study. I love that nice little touch. I'll definitely be back for more coffee and will definitely be trying their baked goods!
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Victoria M.

Yelp
This place recently opened up and it's awesome. This is what the town needed!! Prepare for a bit of crowds! The kombucha on tap is amazing. I got the pineapple turmeric one and it's a new favorite-I love the bit of tumeric. There are so many cool coffee options! Lots of cold brew on tap. They've got elixers-I tried the butterscotch chai and it was sweet and delicious. The Vietnamese cold brew was my favorite -a mix of cinnamon and coffee. They have still and sparkling on tap which is always a fun bonus. The food is WOW. I got the fried egg and bacon breakfast sandwhich and it is delicious!! Bacon, egg, cheese with a delicious garlic aioli on a English muffin is my perfect breakfast meal. The creamy garlic aioli with the gooey egg on top of crispy bacon is a savory breakfast delight. Mike loved the huevos rancheros tostadas. The food is on the smaller side so not super filling but this place takes the best breakfast award. We ended up ordering a New York style bagel because we were so excited to try everything and still hungry. The vibe here is awesome. People come and work on laptops or chat with a friend.
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Ben C.

Yelp
As a rule, I DO NOT leave positive reviews. But wow! Fairgrounds over-delivers, and I have to change my policy! The modern aesthetic blends with nostalgia for the perfect ambiance. The employees are friendly and responsive. The menu is diverse, from local coffee to satisfying entree's and their world famous Funnel Cake Fries, it won't be hard to find something for everyone. I'd describe Fairgrounds as the perfect place for a Sunday afternoon, or a midweek study session. Whoever is running this shop knows what they are doing, keep it up, can't wait to come back!
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paul c.

Yelp
Doesn't take CASH. Enough said. This is basically saying we don't trust our employees to handle cash and we don't value your privacy or your bank account. I don't want to use my card at every little mom&pop coffee shop and have my CC info compromised whenever someone gets lazy. Also I value my privacy. The government has no business knowing where I went to get a cup of coffee 5x a week. Last I checked Illinois tried to pass a law banning businesses like this from this unconstitutional practice of not allowing federal currency.
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Munsanje M.

Yelp
The decor in here is so cute! I love how they an expansive list of different teas and coffees to try. I head their cold brew flight which was amazing and way more coffee than I needed! All of these cold brews came on tap which was so cool. I Leo had the Vietnamese cold brew which was delicious. I may or may not have been extremely jittery by the time I got home but it was so worth it! Such a cute coffee shop right in the middle of downtown oak park. A must try for sure!
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Nurul Hana M.

Yelp
The drinks are the best part-- I definitely recommend the Flower Power Milk Tea. I liked the latkes with the salmon and dill on it, but it's pricey.
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Nicole G.

Yelp
My husband and I popped in on a Sunday, late morning because I was craving their breakfast tacos!! When we walked in we were greeted immediately and welcomed with smiles. I love their outdoor seating options and their social distancing reminders throughout. The two associates that helped us with our order were very kind and told us to take as much time as we needed. Everyone inside was wearing masks which was good to see. We each ordered the breakfast tacos and they came out quickly and hot in to go containers. The salsa is still my favorite part and I could probably eat these tacos at least once a week. To drink, we ordered iced tea this time! They were both floral flavors and very refreshing. My husband tried the peach blossom white tea and I got the jasmine green. I snuck a couple sips of his and I'd definitely order that one next time- SO food! Overall, such great service during our visit. We're excited to come back and try more off their menu!
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Tommy H.

Yelp
Nice quiet atmosphere to work and just relax. The coffee on tap is very very good highly recommend. Try the parfait as well. Nice workers don't bother you, nice sitting area next to a fire place
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Mickey B.

Yelp
I'm giving Fairgrounds 2 stars only because the customer service was awesome! As for the Lox plate it was an $11 tummy ache. salmon was pasty, bagel was dry "sour cream tasted spoiled, with a whipped butter texture, tomatoes and cucumber were old and tasteless, onions cut thick with skin left on some pieces. We all have bad days so, hopefully this was one of theirs.
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Siobhan D.

Yelp
Wow!! The vegetarian breakfast tacos are delicious- so light, flavorful, healthy, and fresh. The two soft shell tacos and half a blueberry/lemon glazed scone made the perfect breakfast! They sell Coke and Diet Coke, too- cute glass bottles. The dining area is spacious and tidy. Friendly staff. Quick service. Reasonable prices. I got free street parking just a block away. I will definitely be back. This is my new favorite Oak Park breakfast place!! I can't wait to try their lunch menu!
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James D.

Yelp
Okay so I have this special place in my heart for local coffee shops. I really, really enjoy them and they're all over. The charm, the quality of them, the employees, and of course the COFFEE!!! Who doesn't enjoy awesome coffee especially when you can support local businesses! We can here on Saturday, 12/28/19, later in the evening to give place a try. It's a really cool place and I'll be back for sure. It's located in Oak Park on the east end of Lake street right by the high school. There isn't a parking lot, but there is a ton of street parking in the area. There is plenty of seating including swing, which I've never seen before. The coffee looks amazing, simply awesome. There is a ton of choices, cold brew on tap and some food as well. There are some really cool beans to choose from and I can't wait to try a cup. It was a little later in evening and I got a hot chocolate while my girlfriend got a tea. I was blown away with my hot chocolate including two piece of chocolate covered marshmallows. Very good drink. The only reason I'm not giving them 5 stars is we were there at closing time, 9 pm. An employee starts barking that it's closing time and they immediately put on some heavy metal. I get it, you're tired and want to get out of there, but maybe a little different than like that. Either way, great place and I'll be back.
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L O.

Yelp
Nice place but their wifi is broken. If you're coming here to use it don't bother. DHCP error, to be exact.
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Tim N.

Yelp
I found this spot after a quick search of the area...and I'm glad I did! I had the breakfast tacos...umm...wow sooooo good!! Add a nice oat milk latte and I was briefly in heaven for the limited time I had to indulge and take a break. To add to the food, the seating and ambiance was nice, relaxing, comfy and quiet. Then to the order taking and barista, great service, good vibes and fast service! I'll be back!
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Crystal N.

Yelp
Really love the variety of well-sourced coffee they have here! My go-to order is always a black coffee and I enjoy trying the different types they have and having the opportunity to bring a bag of that type home with me. They also have a bunch of pastries in the case and a decent menu for breakfast and lunch. I'm big on studying in coffee shops, but there are zero outlets at the Oak Park location, making studying difficult if you don't have a full charge. So, unfortunately, some days I'd love to come here, but I'm limited by my laptop's battery.
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Charisse B.

Yelp
They have many different drink concoctions (which they call elixirs) that are either tea or coffee-based, as well as seasonal ones. You definitely pay premium prices for their drinks. I had the Vosges chocolate truffle mocha, which was expectedly decadent as Vosges is a luxury chocolatier that's been named the best chocolate in the U.S.! More fun facts about Vosges: Not only is it Chicago-based, the founder also apprenticed under Ferran and Albert Adrià at the legendary El Bulli! If you come here to do work, make sure that your electronics have plenty of juice as there aren't many outlets around. I didn't even see any, to be honest, but I'm sure there's at least one either by the communal table or the couch/armchairs. WiFi was pretty reliable though, and there's plenty of seating around if you're going by yourself or with a group. Aside from the food on their menu, they also have pre-packaged stuff like salads and parfaits. As far as retail goods, they have a lot for sale, from growlers and mugs to granola and chocolates. They carry many multiple brands of coffee and tea sourced from different parts of the world. Finally, I loved the little touches like the Ayurvedic copper drinking mugs that apparently has tons of health benefits to the Chemex light fixtures! They also participate in single-stream recycling. I've been to the other locations and they all pretty much have the same blueprint and all look very identical!
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Yi-Liang C.

Yelp
Any place that have complimentary sparkling water on tap have my heart! This is a great place to grab a coffee and catch up with your person of choice. The space is bright and inviting even on a rainy Sunday morning. Food and drink offering wise, they have breakfast sandwiches, various types of coffee, espress, and matcha. We ordered the ceremonial grade matcha latte and the house cold brew on tap, yes you read that right, they have cold brews on tap. We also ordered the egg and bacon sandwich and a ham and Swiss everything croissant. Our total was $30!!! Everything taste so great... But... definitely will not be our regular Sunday spot.
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Cameron B.

Yelp
I am moved to review this place, if only because its Oak Park and the standard for pompous and mediocre was set in this august place. But Fairgrounds is a cut above in the realm of Oak Park FOS. At $5.27 for a medium coffee, I was expecting...quite frankly...multiple explosive orgasms and possibly a bit of cuddling afterwards. After all, having shelled out the equivalent of three months salary in Rwanda, I thought "hey...at least its gonna be great coffee even if I had to take out a second mortgage for it". Alas, like all things Oak Park, its not about the product being produced, and more about making the pompous asses of Oak Park feel superior and smug. The coffee is, frankly, awful. Simultaneously tasteless and bitter, the experience of watching the self important "barista" pour hot water over a cup with poorly ground coffee chips in it wasn't so much confusing since I'm used to Oak Park performance art masquerading as skill, but I was nonetheless struck by the theater at which a place that makes...at least nominally...coffee, could take the Automatic Drip Coffee machine concept and make it artisanally manual in such an exacting and showy manner. The end result, however, was a lovely, but empty, suit. The coffee (and I will say I know a thing or two about good coffee) is terrible. I mean god-awful terrible, not your run of the mill "this sucks!"! It is perhaps informed by the cost of the product and the incongruity of watching such showmanship in the construction that would have to strive MUCH further to become merely mediocre, but I must say that the end result is decidedly not good, bad, insufficient, and deserving of any other superlatives that describe such a Kyle Farnsworth-esque epic miss. Not to be too strenuous in hammering home the point, but this coffee flat out sucks, and the ludicrous show put on only underscores what a steaming pile of offal is being served up for the overprivileged DOOPers of the People's Republic. For a town so FOS, however, I can only say I applaud the effort to ensure the prevailing omphaloskepsis continues by refueling the populace's appetite for human waste that this coffee represents. I further applaud the organization that is so "next level" in the culinary arts that picking through predigested civet feces for the smoothest possible beans has been elevated to skipping the coffee altogether and simply urinating in a cup.
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Lyn W.

Yelp
Fairgrounds is a decent, but not outstanding, location to meet someone if they want to go out for coffee/tea in Oak Park specifically. PROS: it's got a very fine location that is visually distinct from the surroundings and is easy for people from out of town to find; good parking for them, walkability for locals. It has a LOT of outdoor seating for those who are concerned about ventilation, and a decent selection of creative craft brews. And while the company has more than one location, it's still def a local business. CONS: There is the chronic overpricing endemic to the industry. The music is not my style and it's loud enough to be slightly distracting; in general, the acoustics are not conducive to intimate conversation. Too many hard surfaces plus the vaulted ceiling. The decor is fairly minimalist and doesn't have strong character. This is just not a cozy space to linger and talk one on one for long stretches of time while ordering multiple drinks. If you're conscious of your surroundings, you'll feel guilty at about the 45 minute mark for taking up space. BUT if you really only want to talk for someone for about 45 minutes, what do I know, maybe it's the perfect venue for you! A lot of people prefer generic coffeehouse rock and minimalism is very popular! I feel comfortable advising you to try it at least once and to form your own opinion. And the Vietnamese cold brew tastes pretty good.
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Regina D.

Yelp
Although there are many other coffee joints I could visit, this is one of my neighborhood favorites. A great choice after a walk, morning bike ride or yoga class. The baristas are always friendly and available to make suggestions if you're an indecisive person like me. They offer an array of coffees and espresso, lattes, cappuccinos and herbal teas. I'm not much of a coffee drinker, so I lean toward teas and hot chocolate . My favorite is the turmeric mango with a shot of coconut milk and their hot chocolate made with ethically-sourced Vosges chocolate . Fairgrounds also offer hot and cold menu options such as egg and sausage, various deli-style sandwiches, grilled cheese & tomato soup, and my favorite bagels & lox. If you don't want to dine in, they are a number of grab & go options, such as boiled eggs, salads, yogurt parfaits, fresh fruit and chia parfaits. The cafe offers free street parking, but limited and permit parking in residential areas (be sure to check street signage). There's also plenty of indoor seating, so feel free to plop down on there comfy leather couches near the fireplace. There's also a large family-style table which seats ten guests, great for small meetings and gatherings. Did I mention outdoor seating? Yes, they offer that as well. If you're anything like me, you want to take advantage of all of the outdoor space available for eating and drinking because summer in Chicago comes and goes in a flash! Btw, there are other several Fairgrounds locations in the Chicago area as well as Milwaukee WI, Minneapolis MN, and Dallas TX - So, if decide to stop by, tell them I sent you. Deuces!

Alice J.

Yelp
I didn't even get to order anything because I had cash and they only accept credit cards. Also, they did not have signage on their door or anywhere in the restaurant about this, only one small sign by the register. When I was told this by the employees behind the counter, they got rude and snotty about it. Crappy customer service.
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Lizzy K.

Yelp
Coffee was not my favorite but the food was quite good (we had the master of naan and breakfast sandwich) and staff was friendly.
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Kristy F.

Yelp
I love this cafe! They're the best at fulfilling my weird drink modification requests
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Vee M.

Yelp
Makes Starbucks look cheap. First time customer. 3 stars for price (almost $13 for 2 coffees) and odd service. Key things: a small hot and cold beverages will both be 12oz and cost the same - meaning you are paying top dollar for that ice! Seriously. I noticed last week that my local Starbucks upped all their prices, so I thought if I'm going to be paying $6 for a coffee, let's go more local and support local and blah blah blah. I downloaded the Fairgrounds app - cool. I wanted to get a fun latte, so I got a Vosges chocolate marshmallow latte: delicious. ONE size (12oz) with oat milk was $6. 12 ounces (can't get the 16 oz). And it was iced, so $6 for 4oz of ice and 8oz of drink is discouraging. Next, friend got the drip coffee - $3. Plus a splash of creamer - another $0.50. Cool. BTW - there is NO ICED COFFEE on the menu. Only cold brew. $2 difference between the two. (Thank you for that) My in-app subtotal was about $9.50 and my actual total was about $12.50?? How were taxes almost 25% of my total? I purchased anyway. I went inside to get my order and asked them to re-print my the receipt. And asked them why it was so high and it looks like their POS added some California taxes to my receipt. So I am standing for a few mins while they work this out. I really didn't want to wait over essentially $1.50 refund so I asked if I could get a piece of candy on the counter and call it a day. They said NO, they would have to re-charge me for that. Yay bureaucracy! So I left. I have not seen a refund and don't anticipate getting one lol. Will not be coming back. Thank you for reading.
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Jay M.

Yelp
5 pm,walked in to order cappuccino. Man and women behind counter didn't even look and kept their conversation until I finished looking at menu to say "hi"...then they turned around. Cappuccino was expensive, heavy with milk, .. no froth but ton of small bubbles. Already knew milk wasn't prepared properly. After walking to my car to take little sip and it literally burned my tongue!!! Even after 5 hours my tongue feels unnatural. So fake and act like barista, yet ..... the guy just boiled milk and poured ....! So, unprofessional and no way this place can be considered as specialty coffee shop. You have many options at other location with drinks prepared with care. Do NOT visit this place, my money and tip totally wasted.
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Gamaliel E.

Yelp
We stopped by here after the Oak Park Farmers market. Plenty of covid safe guards are in place. The coffee options are plentiful and theres a nice variety of food options. The interior is really nice with a somewhat industrial look. Plenty of spaced out seating and outdoor tables. Give it a try!