Gallery Cafe

I’ve come here a few times now as it’s right around the corner from my boyfriend’s place and it’s so great everytime. Good coffee, great service and I love the vibe. We always enjoy looking at the local art. The DaVinci sandwich is sooo good. Our forever local spot

Got coffee with a friend here - great vibe and good coffee. Also had the goat cheese / fig pastry, solid choice. Want to come back and try their sandwiches (and more coffee!) to see just how strong their food game is. Everything looks good, and I really like coffee places that also have a small selection of good food for when I feel like staying for a while. Great vibe plus outdoor seating.

I got the veggie sandwich, had hummus, avocado, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, and onions. The avocado was more of a guacamole and there was more of that than hummus, I felt like the ratio was off and as a veggie sandwich aficionado it was not my favorite. It was on a whole wheat bread. It came with chips. I also got a cold brew. My husband got a cheesy chicken sandwich, and a hot coffee. Overall the environment was very smokey like someone had used a toaster over and over and burnt all the bread. Although the bread on my sandwich was not burnt. It was almost so Smokey my eyes were burning, and it was subtle at the same time. The art on the walls was nice but the curation was weak, everything was uneven, but not purposefully. It’s weird considering it’s called a gallery cafe.

Far as I know, Gallery Cafe has been slammin' since 2006. The in-house roasted coffee is delicious. The food is filling and everything is priced like we're still in the W/Obama era. The vibe is hip without feeling pretentious. The staff is friendly & efficient. They sell work by local artists. The seating area is comfortable and roomy. The patio is shaded in the morning. Hope they're there for the next 20+ years!

Cute corner Cafe with a good selection of drinks, food, and smoothies. There's some art on the walls for sale as well. Overall decent place to grab a bite, work, or study. They do have a roaster in house, and during the time I visited it was quite smokey inside, didn't smell bad, but something was definitely wrong with the roasters ventilation that day.

I really enjoy gallery cafe but there are a few things that will prohibit me from coming back. First off, the food and coffee is amazing: their specialty drinks are so good. But the service and organization are consistently a nightmare. The place gets crowded and during peak times it can take 15 minutes to get a coffee and 20-30 minutes to get food. To make this worse, the workers announce when a coffee or bagel is ready, but they don’t say who it’s for. This results in guests accidentally taking each other’s orders and extended wait times. Sadly won’t be coming back after too many bad experiences.

Gallery Cafe was a super cute place to grab an afternoon snack and a cup of tea. We got the honey lavender latte and hot blueberry hibiscus tea. We also got one of their blueberry muffins as well as their iced elderflower hibiscus tea.

I got the Manet sandwich and it was delicious. Very reasonably priced. The croissant it was on was perfect. Cool place, note that there aren't a ton of tables so if you come on a weekend you might have to wait a few minutes for one.

When I used to live in Wicker Park, I'd occasionally make a pit stop here while walking the dog. I'd keep the pup outside by the outdoor seating area and pop inside for an iced oat milk latte, and continue on for our stroll around the neighborhood. They have fun coffee, drinks, sandwiches named after famous artists, ie the "Matisse," "Van Gogh," or "Riviera" sandwich. Would you care for a "Basquait" biscuit or the "Kahlo" tortilla wrap? It's fun. They have artwork by local artists on display, sometimes for purchase hanging on their walls. This spot really has that neighborhood feel. I've ordered food/drink to dine in once, while working on my laptop, but for the most part Gallery Cafe is a coffee-to-go place for me. My favorite is the "Rothko" latte that has honey and lavender - I highly recommend getting it iced. Support your local cafe :)

I got the veggie sandwich, had hummus, avocado, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, and onions. The avocado was more of a guacamole and there was more of that than hummus, I felt like the ratio was off and as a veggie sandwich aficionado it was not my favorite. It was on a whole wheat bread. It came with chips. I also got a cold brew. My husband got a cheesy chicken sandwich, and a hot coffee. Overall the environment was very smokey like someone had used a toaster over and over and burnt all the bread. Although the bread on my sandwich was not burnt. It was almost so Smokey my eyes were burning, and it was subtle at the same time. The art on the walls was nice but the curation was weak, everything was uneven, but not purposefully. It's weird considering it's called a gallery cafe. The staff were polite.

For a Saturday morning, the place was bustling. It's pretty small inside but there were plenty of people (and dogs) there stopping by on their morning errands, remote working, catching up with friends, etc. It got pretty cramped inside pretty quickly with everyone waiting for their orders. Drinks are ready pretty quickly but the food requires a bit of patience. I had a cortado which was great and the Manet breakfast sandwich which was even more amazing. The croissant was so flaky, the eggs were so fluffy, and the pesto was so flavorful. Both the drink and the sandwich came PIPING hot so I did have to wait a bit before enjoying so I wouldn't burn my mouth.

Classic example of where price dictates quality. Tbh everything in the area with the excretion of Obelix is overpriced so what led me here was the fact that it's a breakfast sandwich under $10. The result was something that tasted like a sandwich from a gas station. Everything about this sandwich tasted fake, frozen or premade. This is why I stick to overpriced fine dining

Got some sandwiches next door to go with a nice hot latte. It was a little sad in there, not super cozy for a local coffee shop. I got two large lattes - chai tea latte, one regular latte. Unimpressed and the chai came out of a carton. Service was okay, a few people came in and out and some were dining in. But not too much space for picking out a little corner to read and spend a light morning. Especially with an art theme, it feels like there is so much potential to make it align with the coffee shop's name.

They really deserve a higher rating! Great coffee, food, and smoothie options. They have recently made a deal with a discount for orange theory membership to get 20% off on a latte or free coffee after a workout! That's pretty amazing deal! The Bob Ross sandwich is incredible. Plan to come back soon and because I have also heard their smoothies are good!

THIS IS THE PLACE. This is the place you want to go. For your breakfast, for your morning coffee, for your cravings, for your afternoon coffee, for your digital nomad work space, for your catch ups with friends, for a stop while you walk your dog so you can sit on the patio and enjoy the art and the lovely weather and the people watching. This is the place. Besides the low key artsy vibe of the place, the breakfast sandwiches are amazinggggg. GET THE SPICY BOB ROSS. It indeed packs a punch of spice and dang that is a flavor bomb. The egg, cheese, jalapenos, bacon, and indescribable sauce are all sandwiched between a perfectly steaming hot bagel. It can't get any better than this for breakfast. It's very filling and satisfying. Grab an iced latte or coffee with the bagel sandwich, step outside, and sit in the little patio area to hang out and eat. People come here with their laptops to work or just hang out with their dogs or friends. What's more, they have a little planter with a rock garden! Inside the cafe in the corner they offer a variety of paints, paintbrushes and small stones that you can use to paint your own rock to add to their garden. How cute is that!!

I've tried ordering from here three times, and every time they've gotten something wrong (missing item entirely, missing ingredients) but this time is truly the last time that I order from them. We ordered an iced chai latte, an almond croissant, two Manet sandwiches with bacon. First, the chai latte tasted like watery milk. There was no chai spice and the milk was thinner than skim, and the cup was damaged and leaking. The almond croissant was completely missing. Worst of all, the Manet sandwiches not only did not have bacon, but the eggs were GREY. Food was completely inedible. When I called the store to tell them, they said that the eggs must've just been "overcooked". That's disgusting. At least they offered a full refund, but honestly this is all so gross and I don't even know if I can eat eggs again.

Small but mighty! Friendly staff, lovely rotating art decor, quality coffee and awesome breakfast sammies! Make sure to stop in if you're in the neighborhood.

I'm obsessed with this place. The fact I've lived in wicker park for 2 years and am just now discovering this place is crazy. AND THEY HAVE GLUTEN FREE BUNS! When I saw that I almost cried tears of joy. It's so hard to find a gf breakfast sandwich in the neighborhood and this one is so unbelievably delicious. We got the spicy Bob Ross. I love their menu tons of good options like matcha, coffee, smoothies, etc. The workers are all so nice and friendly. And they even sell local artists work which I loveeee. Great spot to get some work done at or meet your friends. Also have a patio! Highly recommend:)

This place deserves way better reviews. Nice people good coffee. I'm not sure what else we could really ask for!

I just moved to the Wicker Park neighborhood, and this was my first coffee shop to visit on my long checklist. I went around noon, and the place was busy enough to have only one table available. Jazz music was playing, local art being sold, the baristas gave me a warm welcome. It seemed from the chatter around me that the cafe has its devoted followers. As for the coffee, it was delicious! Probably not my favorite roaster in Chicago, but mega respect to any place using freshly roasted, in-house beans. However, for me, the way they have their service structured lowered my perceived value. No mugs for dining in, coffee is poured at self-fill station, no offers of pour-overs to highlight the personality of their roast. And the dealbreaker for me was just how loud the music was. I like Charles Mingus, but not when he's giving me sensory overload and making it hard to talk to my friends. A great coffee shop to go by yourself and take in the environment, but a bit rambunctious for a work station or a nice conversation. A whole lot potential here, and the coffee is delicious and well-priced. I will be back for to-go orders, but it didn't match my personal preferences for a hangout bar.

The food here is good enough, and the coffee is still great. This place has been here for a long time. I moved to the neighborhood in the early 90s, and I remember the look and feel the place being similar to what it is today. There are two major downsides. First, the cost is a little bit out of control. It was over $16 for a coffee and a sandwich. I guess that's normal, but it still bothers me. Far more important is that the Wi-Fi doesn't work for streaming. It's not nice about it either. When you try to go to webinar or certain pages that have video, it just crashes. I know it certainly makes sense that they don't want people to stay long enough to watch a webinar or attend a session like that, but it's very difficult to plan to run to a coffee shop and get some work done when you don't know that you're not going to be able to get online for what you need. It's just frustrating and upsetting. It's worth knowing this. Don't plan on going here to do work.

Really cute place to get drinks. Good honey-lavender latte and chai. Decor and ambiance serve for a bright and warm atmosphere.

I am absolutely shocked Gallery doesn't have a better rating. Since moving to Chicago last September, Gallery has become my number 1 go to. Their food is great (I highly recommend the Davinci) and the coffee is stellar. The staff is awesome. They were some of the first friendly faces I knew in the city and were quick to remember my order and greet me with a smile and hello every time I walked in. A great place to get some work or studying done, or to meet up with a friend and chat. I love that they consistently promote local artists too! It's the one place I consistently take friends and family when they come to visit. Overall, 5 stars, 10/10, I feel so lucky to have come across this place!

Pretty tasty breakfast/brunch food! I ordered avocado toast and it was really good, the wait was 15-20 minutes which was pretty long for avocado spread on toast (but who knows). The breakfast bagel (with egg, cheese, and bacon) is also really good. The art is very pretty and colorful! Definitely a place to visit again!! The food is also very inexpensive

Gallery Cafe is my new favorite coffee shop when I moved into the neighborhood. Good food and friendly faces...I literally cant ask for anything more! The spicy Bob Ross sandwich is my go to order! I love getting it with avocado added to it. they also have a wide variety of pastries, sandwiches and seasonal coffee drinks. I have gone a few times to do work; I will say there isn't a lot of outlets, but there is definitely 4/5 around the place. Gallery Cafe also has art pieces by local artist that you can purchase! I love going in and looking at the new pieces each time.

Coffee is average, food is decent, ambiance is nice except for when the coffee is roasting because the smell can get pretty intense. Its a fine neighborhood coffee shop with space to work if you need to. Not worth going out of your way to stop here though. Coffee is on par with Starbucks. They do have a nice happy hour coffee special though where espresso is $1. Thumbs up for that.

I thought this cafe was okay. I got the matcha latte (iced) and felt like I was just drinking light green milk. It didn't seem to have too much flavor (not terribly sweet, and the matcha flavor wasn't that strong). The latte art for their hot drinks was cool though. Almost looked like a honey comb of sorts. I've never seen that at any other coffee shop and I've been to a lot! The ambiance was okay. Our table was a bit wobbly so it was hard to work on for long periods of time. The lighting was mostly from the window, but it was a bit overcast that day so it wasn't extremely bright.

Place has decent drinks and food. Nothing spectacular. Staff is friendly. Coffee is $3.43/16oz and bagel is about $5 with cream cheese. They pour the cream and you pour the coffee. They spread the cream cheese on the bagel for you. Had the Mexican dark and it was pretty smooth. Refills are about $1.50. I had the everything bagel and it was decent. Place isn't ideal to work from because there is limited seating and not close to wall outlets.

I thought that the Kahlo breakfast burrito was tasty; a good size, with turkey sausage extra, so the meat gave it some heft and the wrap was toasted without being too crispy. I was hoping this would be spicier, but then again, most people aren't down with food being too spicy so maybe that's the right call! My minor beef was with the chocolate croissant; it was a bit light on chocolate but the croissant is truly massive. Flaky, decent flavor; I came in for lunch so I'll give the Cafe the benefit of the doubt that this would have tasted much better earlier on the morning. I spent $14 for the above; this feels a buck or two too high, until you consider that this is technically Bucktown. For those that come in seeking coffee and a haunt to work in, I'm guessing Gallery Cafe is a good fit...as a place to have a meal, it's only OK.

The coffee is great and the ambiance is even better. When things were in full swing, they had local music pretty frequently including secret SoFar Chicago shows. When I lived down the street, I went back because I felt like you could talk to the other patrons and the baristas. I've met people at this place that I've connected with beyond the coffee shop.

Made a quick stop at this coffee shop next to Tatu Tattoo. Got a giant cold brew and a honey almond milk matcha latte. The giant cold brew was well received by the person who ordered that! And the latte was very hot and sweet and good. The vibe of the cafe is casual -- I was there on a Tuesday around 1:30pm and there were only a couple of other customers in there.

This is a great local cafe conveniently located for me. In the spirit of supporting small businesses over Starbucks, I have been very satisfied with my lattes. They have plenty of options for speciality custom drinks. They also serve sandwiches and pastries. I really WISH they continued to sell their chocolate croissants though. That is the only thing I'd change. BRING BACK THE CHOCOLATE CROISSANTS!!

Food: delish Service: great I have lived in the neighborhood for a year or so and am devastated that I didn't try this spot sooner. An awesome local coffee shop (with AMAZING Chai Tea lattes) that doubles as a sandwich spot that serves up made to order delicious food. It has quickly become my go-to spot.

I came to see the art of the bear champ from jc Rivera also I get in and meet a friend that I haven't see in 4 years then I order capuchino and a btl sandwich on multigrain whit a few terra chips Was good Nice cozy place They also have patio

Gallery Cafe is a perfect neighborhood spot to grab delicious and piping hot breakfast sandwiches. My favorite is the Davinci - two eggs, bacon, tomato, provolone on tomato focaccia - and I wash it down with an iced oat milk matcha. Perfection! I would order it nearly every day if I could... but the two stars off is for how hard and frustrating the ordering experience has continued to be. I totally understand that we're going through a logistically complex time for food service industries, but other cafes seem to have managed their order + process flow more successfully. I've had so. many. instances. where I've tried to order ahead by calling them directly only to have the phone ring endlessly or receive the "phone is disconnected" message. Even when the phone is picked up, I've been put on hold for 5+ minutes which at that point I give up. More frequently than not, there's something missing in my order which I just accept because it's still delicious! But frustrating. Today, I tried ordering online for pickup via DoorDash (I went to Gallery Cafe's website and they direct users to the 3rd party food apps). I expected this to be relatively fast as I live nearby and it's Tuesday at 10, but still after no confirmation from the cafe, I had to cancel after 10-15 minutes (of just waiting for the restaurant to confirm it's received my order!) since my window to grab breakfast was diminishing. All in all - great food and drinks but hopefully management can review and improve the order + wait processes in place. I think it would absolutely benefit their business and bring in more happy repeat customers.

Walked in on a whim and loved this location! We had a cold brew (so smooth) and banana mocha muffin (delicious). Staff member was clearly passionate about the coffee and talked with us about the beans he was roasting. We realized that he was there after hours, but he stayed open past scheduled closing & was very welcoming, bringing out an assortment of pastries for us to see. We'll be back!

Came here for lunch the other day. Super cute corner cafe, friendly staff and good food. Had the Rivera and I definitely recommend it!

Cozy neighborhood spot for a good coffee and yummy sandwiches. We stopped in for a few hours to work and the WiFi, the sound level and light was perfect for getting things done. If you're nice to the barista, they may make you a fun latte with funky art on it, and their latte flavors range from standard to different. The lavender one was lovely and the spicy one had just the right touch of heat. We got one of the sandwiches after a while and it came with veggie chips on a plate that looked like a painter's palette, which was fun. And the sandwich was fresh and tasty.

Despite the fact that this coffee house is located close to where I get my hair done, I had not stopped in here until a recent Friday afternoon. The artist's palette included with the signage is a clever touch. A bar/counter and tables and chairs make for an inviting space. Street-facing windows let in the natural light (excellent on a brisk December day) and allow for people watching. The barista and person taking the orders were both friendly. My Americano with room came out promptly. This is a space for coffee, art, and community. It is evident that the café provides a supportive space for people to work, as I noticed a woman painting at the back of the café. The music is unobtrusive, which is also a bonus--no annoying earworms here. I will definitely be stopping by here instead of making the Starbucks Reserve my default whenever I am back in this neighborhood.

I really like coming to this local coffee spot. I live in the neighborhood and it is convenient and the staff is friendly. The weekends can get a little busy, but you can tell that the staff is working at full capacity. They have a loyalty card system and an eco friendly bring-your-own cup. The sandwiches are good and can be on the healthier side.

Holy cow! I've ordered from this place before and have always enjoyed it. Today was a killer, though. The Spicy Bob Ross was amazing as per always, but whoever is making the coffee today deserves a raise. They came correct. Thank you so much !

This review is for the location located on Milwaukee Avenue in the Avenir Apartment building - I can't seem to find another location on yelp to put the review. I've never been to the other location but this one is great! The staff is always friendly and welcoming, wish I knew their names to give them a shout out! I love blueberry pastries so I have had the blueberry scone and the blueberry muffin this past week and I will definitely be back for more. The Columbia dark roast they are featuring right now is absolutely delicious and I drink it black! But the real star to me, that separates this place from any other coffee shop is the Maple Spice syrup they offer in the fall. I dream of this stuff after I finish my latte - it is SO good! Please never stop offering it!! The weather is so hot these days, and I am ready for fall and this beats any pumpkin spice latte syrup by a long shot. Go, try the maple RIGHT NOW. Can't wait to go back tomorrow morning........3rd day in a row.....for one of these!

Great way to cool down after a walk along 606 is to have an iced tea from Gallery Cafe. Their staff is cheerful and helpful, the artistic and laid back vibe also adds to the charm of the place. Free wifi and they hold events.

Wonderful coffee, service and wonderful almond croissants! We will be back. Thank goodness to get back to normal life!

Honestly, I'm surprised by the reviews. I typically only order plain coffee at coffee shops. This time was no different, so I can't speak to their specialty drinks. However, the dark roast drip coffee was superb. Some coffee shops are pretentious. The Gallery Cafe isn't one of them. It's a chill, cozy environment. Good energy. The staff was attentive. When I walked in, I was asked to wait for a moment. I didn't mind. I appreciated the communication. The staff member who waited on me was a quirky guy. I'm a little quirky, too. Great! The menu said that high fives were free with purchase. I wasn't going to pass up that opportunity. I paid, then asked the barista for my high five. He completely understood and proceeded to lift his hand about head height. I then proceeded through with a high five motion. I think it was a good high five. I can't speak for the barista's experience. The price was fair. I sat in the shop so I went ahead and paid for a coffee refill with my original purchase. The barista applauded my proactive method which made me feel like I could really tackle the day. Thanks for that. Overall, good experience. I was pleasantly surprised but not necessarily wowed. The tile floor and bathroom decor could use an update, but hey, the energy was on fleek. Thank you Gallery Cafe. You made my day a little better. I'll return the favor my donating a high five to someone in need.

I really liked the folks working here. They were pleasant and made my first trip a nice experience. Not to bash the great vibe, but my sandwich--The Klimt--was not very filling. It was ok but underwhelming, both in portion and just the general taste. It was also a tad pricey, as were a lot of their sandwiches. The glass plates resembling artist palettes were cute, but the rest of the place felt more student lounge and less quaint cafe. That's not a bad thing, just an observation.

This is such a cute spot! I stopped by with a rather large group to get some work done and the location and spot was perfect. Cute set up , great service, and awesome place to work. I had already eaten that day, but I went with the blueberry tea. Yummy! I'm not a fan of coffee so can't give you much insight into that, but everyone else seemed to be enjoying it. Next time I stop by I'll try out their sandwiches. The girl next to me had one and I was eyeing it. :)

A quirky spot that supports local artists! Its an awesome environment but the coffee was not satisfactory! I was the only person in the coffee shop (super cold day) and it took forever... i got the Rothko.....honey lavender latte. I couldn't taste the honey or lavender and the coffee had a really weird after taste! However, I would definitely come back to try something else, maybe it just was not for me

The cafe looks and feels stale. The service isn't awful but is a little too snotty for comfort. The coffee is alright and the sandwiches, while they taste good, seem a bit light for what you're paying. I never feel comfortable hanging out here for any amount of time. It's not a horrible experience coming here but the vibe here is always kind of poor and I'd rather go down to Milwaukee Avenue and drink coffee at one of the places there.

I really like this place, the staff is awesome, the baked goods are delicious and the coffee is excellent. They make a couple chai drinks in house and both are terrific!

Good neighborhood place for breakfast sandwiches and nice place to sit for a while. The prices are bit high though, and it's difficult to find a spot on the regular because the space is small and customers park for a long time to use wifi.

Have gotten breakfast sandwiches and donuts here that are always solid. They have great coffee and atmosphere to hang out (pre-covid). They are currently still open and having artists spotlights that you can paruse while you wait for your coffee!

Cute cafe that made a nice strong cortado. Friendly staff and great looking sandwich menu

Big fan of this place! Love the kahlo breakfast burrito. I also like the iced mocha and cold Brew

Delicious breakfast sandwiches here! Had a lavender latte, which was tasty (just the right hint of lavender). Love that they highlight artists' work in their space!

Cozy cafe with friendly service. Dropped in for a quick bite on a weekday and tried the Rodin sandwich (Chicken, bacon, avocado and more) served with chips...will be back! Crowd at noon on a Monday was small, a handful of people talking, working, or in my case enjoying my food while people watching our the window. A steady stream continued to come through for coffee.

Every time I come to Chicago the Gallery Cafe is on my "must stop" list. I've had coffee all over Chicago including the premium price, ultra trendy hotspots. You name the brand or the coffee shop and I bet I've had it or been there. I don't do lattes or barista required concoctions. I want dark roast straight up black. And no one does it better than the Gallery. Especially for the price. Proves that the quality of the coffee isn't measured by what you paid for it. They have great sandwiches and wraps - I'm particularly fond of the breakfast sandwich selections, all named after a famous painter. Outstanding. For a small place, they really serve it up huge.