The Understudy Coffee and Books

This is such a cute space, pretty big inside and the book selection is great. As you can imagine they have a lot of playwright books. Several versions of Hamlet, guides to the great comet of 1812, incredible selection. The coffee shop is great too, although folks said online they had a breakfast sandwich, this is not true anymore. We came here on a Saturday morning around 10am and we were able to get a seat for three. I got a butte croissant, my child got a chocolate chip zucchini bread, and my partner got the savory cornmeal danish, it has sun dried tomatoes on top. We also got two hot coffees, black, and they carry the Pink Lemonade from Marz. It was all good.

Wanted to check out some bookstores in the area and this cafe/bookstore duo is a must to stop by in this fun area of Chicago. The iced ube latte was so delicious and the curated book finds with notes from staff were fun to sift through. The seats and tables are a little on the smaller side but they make do with the space they have.

Understudy Coffee & Books is a bright and modern café that combines great coffee with a curated bookstore. The space can get quite busy midday, but seats tend to open up after a short wait. They serve Metric coffee, along with a variety of seasonal specialty drinks; during my visit, I had an espresso tonic that had a light touch of vanilla which was refreshing. Overall, it’s a charming spot to browse books, enjoy some quality coffee, and settle in for a productive or relaxing break.

Love this place. The vibe, the decor, the bookstore, the morning sunshine, the special events and the community board. I appreciate the willingness of the staff to help their local community folx and theatres share their work here. Also, cute piano in the back that sometimes gets played. Seating is creative and the bathrooms are always clean. <3

The understudy is a great place to get a tasty coffee and snack, and stay for the good vibes. Acting as a coffee shop and a book store, the place is split into two sections. You can enjoy some sunlight in the front of the store or go to the back and get a bit more cozy. The drinks are well done - I enjoyed their cold brew and although their pastries are from local bakeries, they have a wide option of unique vendors. I appreciate that they put the allergens that are included in the pastry on the display. I got the butter croissant and it was fresh and fluffy. We also got a pecan bar that was delicious. The place has spare outlets but there are some and the wifi is solid. I worked from here for a few hours and I enjoyed my time hanging out. I’d come back to check out the local book selections and get a good drink.

Cute coffee and book shop. Will be back in a future trip. Great for a a date or just doing work. Chocolate morning bun was amazing. All the drinks are excellent.

Incredibly cozy coffee shop and book store with a theater theme. There's a walk-up window, outdoor patio and very nice glass and stoneware if you're eating in. Pastries and coffee were both very high quality, served by friendly staff. There's a nice community feel to the place and even at opening there was a steady flow of people in for their morning fix. The book side is heavily slanted towards theater and plays. Both in the book selection and the cozy art deco decor. A bit of a hike from where we live but well worth the visit.

What a great coffee place. The book store just adds such a nice vibe to it. Went on a Sunday morning and it was super crowded. Tried the hot mocha and Chocolate croissant and they were great.

Excellent coffee and wonderful very chill and relaxing atmosphere. Staff was super friendly. As well as good strong coffee the iced chai was well done. Wonder selection of books and cards.

The baristas were welcoming, and the coffee was spot on. We tried the summer purple drink cortado and a fresh fruit Danish everything was excellent. The combination of a bookstore and cafe creates such a relaxing vibe, making it an ideal place to unwind and enjoy some delicious treats. I was also impressed by the creativity in the decor. They've used old book pages as wallpaper, which is such a unique touch. Even while waiting for the restroom, you can read the annotations and highlighted sentences on the walls a really cool and artistic detail!

How cool is The Understudy? Extremely. Chic coffee shop and a book store?! Amazing. My nerdy little introverted heart feels at home here, especially surrounded by such comfy and cozy seating!

Great location, cute interior, and staff was quick. I ordered a chai tea latte with oat milk which costed $6.34 including a $2 tip. Con was that the drink was lukewarm and only 3/4 full.

Really great cafe in Andersonville in an interesting setting of books and playwrights. I had a tasty no overly sweet seasonal pastry and soy cortado which was very good.

Very good overall! The drinks fit the bill exactly, and the ambiance was good. The Understudy made for a very nice place to have a warm drink and get comfortable for a few hours. Pros: - Solid drinks (not unbelievable, but they were good. Checked all the boxes). - Nice space. Large, with a fair amount of seating. - Nice music - Lots of natural light - Friendly staff - Cool bookstore attached - Open late for a café (6pm!) Cons/neutral: - Music could be considered slightly loud (it did not bother me). They also played albums all the way through, so if you don't like the artist, maybe you won't like the music. - Limited table seating. They have little side tables that people used to prop up their laptop and things, but they only have a few substantial tables. First come first serve. - Not cheap. A matcha was $6, with $0.50 upcharge for non-dairy milk. This is about middle of the road in my opinion. Not a crazy price, but not cheap - I was told that the cinnamon was not evenly distributed in the chai latte, so you may not get much cinnamon taste until you're at the bottom. All in all, this is a good place to get a drink and get cozy. Be warned: there is a fair amount of traffic on the weekends, so you may not have your first pick for seating.

This place was super cute! Half of it was a bookstore and the other half was a really nice cafe. The vibes are really good and even if you're not getting books its a great spot to stop for a coffee. I got the pumpkin latte, usually something I don't go for the server convinced me to give it a try. It was really delicious! I also got a savory danish, which was surprisingly good. I was kind of impressed with the quality of the food, and the books make it extra fun. I would definitely go back!

Boy, this coffee/book shop deserves 5 stars for its execution of a theme! An homage to the theater, this coffeeshop had a stage and walls covered with scripts. All the books being sold had something to do with theater (whether plays or about famous actors or something in between). The decorations are immaculate too! I did not try the coffee, but i know I must be back!

This place was cute! It is part bookstore and part coffee shop. There are a wide variety of seats from couches to stools. It is a great place to meet with friends but make sure you bring your headphones if you plan on studying because it can get pretty loud with people chatting. The drinks are okay and the chai comes from a bottle.

The place is decorated cute and ai love the design of the coffee car, but I didn't love the vibe inside, it felt somewhat like an upscale Barns and Noble. There were a lot of people with laptops, it is a good place for doing work but finding a seat was somewhat difficult. The coffee was good, and the hot chocolate was very good.

Took me a while to get to this side of town to visit, but this cute bookshop-cafe combo lives up to the hype. 1. Metric drip coffee is delicious 2. Baked goods (also by metric!) are exceptional: squash rosemary scone didn't sound like it worked. It worked. 3. Bright and sunny corner plus warm wood floors and fantastical creature wallpaper = ideal vibe. 4. Staff are rambunctious and friendly and somehow know how to chat with each other behind the counter but also instantly be attentive to customers: uncommon.

Hands down my favorite place to study. Very good playlist, adorable space, good sunlight, nice staff. The coffee is good too, but expensive. There's also cute seating in the back, where the books are. I will say the ambience borders on stimulating -- the music is loud, the staff are chatty, and there's movement near the bookstore. It's up to your preference. The book selection is pretty great, too.

This is my favorite coffee spot in Chicago. It's such a nice place to sit and read (usually there are a decent number of people, so it's probably not best for quiet studying). I got their iced chai latte and enjoyed it but thought it was just a little too sweet. They have a small but well curated selection of novels and nonfiction aside from plays, so it's definitely worth browsing even if drama isn't your jam!

Great coffee and establishment!!!! Coffee was so delicious! I will be back! The customer service was awesome and there's multiple areas to sit, and enjoy the atmosphere.

Absolutely a coffee shop/bookstore combination that is in one of the cuter places of Chicago neighborhoods. I believe I absolutely fell in love with the Ube latte that they had. And then I encouraged all my friends to try it too and they loved it. The atmosphere was great this there's not a lot of space to read in the bookshop part there's a few tables on the coffee shop side it's quite tight but it works. Service was OK because you order from the counter and pick it up. They have cute decor and bright ceiling to floor windows on one side.

Cool spot for theater and coffee lovers, with a unique selection of scripts and theatrical literature and an aesthetically pleasing space. The coffee was good, though not extraordinary. I expected it to be better since it's a little pricey. The service was efficient, if not particularly warm or friendly. There were a few seating options, but all were taken due to how busy and packed it was. Personally, I wouldn't find it ideal for getting work done given the bustling environment.

I have been waiting for The Understudy to open for months, and was excited when they announced on Instagram that they were ready for the big day! I didn't make it to the grand opening but came in a few weeks later. The decor in the shop is gorgeous, and I love that an owl seems to be their mascot; I have a bit of an affinity for owls myself. There's street parking only around here, so plan accordingly. This store's niche is that it focuses on plays and theatre. While they did have a section with a few books that aren't plays, or dramatic analysis or the like, most of what you'll find here is the latter. It's the brainchild of a couple of DePaul Theatre graduates, and it's just a really cool idea. In the bookstore section, toward the back, there were a bunch of folks and lively discussion taking place when I was there wandering around. I'm not sure if it was a bunch of friends or if it was some sort of impromptu gathering, but I like the community feel that it lent the place. I can't wait to see what sort of events they might end up hosting here. The cafe takes up about half of the shop. They don't have an extensive menu, but they do have interesting specials in addition to their standards. They have some delicious looking pastries if you get here in time; I snagged a cheese danish that was yummy. My chai latte was good, but less sweet than what is served at the other coffee shops that I've gone to. It wasn't bad, and while I can't say it was my favorite chai I also would not hesitate to get it from here again next time I stop in. I love the vibe here, and will be back.

I love the feel when you walk into the cafe. The special touch of fresh flowers and the comfortable seating placed at some of the tables. I ordered a seasonal drink of chai and apple cider. They also had a savory option for dessert. It was tasty but a little spicy. The bookstores theme is theatre. So if that's your interest, then you'll feel right at home.

The Understudy Coffee and Books is so adorable. I love the mix of a legitimate coffee shop paired with books. It reminds me of the Borders or Barnes and Nobles days of my youth. Like many of the newer businesses in the area they invested a lot in their decor. The inside reminds me of what I would expect to see at a cafe in Wicker Park; mixed match furniture, plants, random wallpaper, and upbeat music. The staff is unbelievably friendly. Whenever you enter the shop someone is going to greet you with a smile. The energy from the staff is infectious. They have only been open for a few weeks and I already observed them acknowledging the regulars by name and having small talk. The inside of the shop is on the louder side. They have trendy music playing and it is always bustling with people. If you want to score one of the prime tables you have to get here early. They have ample sitting but a lot of the sitting is at high tops. They don't have a lot of plugs available so if you want access to one of the few you have to get here early. I tired the quiche and iced mocha. I loved both of them. The quiche was a nice size for the price that you pay. I got a solid meal from it without feeling like it was too much or too little. The quiche was more solid which I loved because I've experienced quiches that are too soft in the center. The iced mocha was nicely made. It was a little more of the chocolate side but not too overpowering. I could easily see myself coming back here if I want a cafe with a vibe. The amount I spent for my visit was reasonable based on the amount of time I stayed.

We are very excited about this new coffee shop/theater themed bookstore in our Andersonville neighborhood. The coffee shop utilizes Metric coffee, which is always a solid choice. For my first visit, I did a black house coffee to stay, and it was solid. Plus the to-stay mugs are adorable. The menu is simple and straightforward with some exciting seasonal drinks to jazz things up. Prices are very reasonable for the area. Refills on to-stay mugs are one dollar. It also appears that they have pastries! I cannot wait to try them in the future! There is ample seating throughout the store for folks to work. The only thing to note is that the tables themselves are fairly small, so know that you won't have tons of room to spread out. But coming to read, work on your computer, or catch up with a friend is perfect for the seating layout. The seating is also cozy, warm, and spread out. The store itself is wonderfully designed. I would divide it into three sections: (1) the chic coffee shop, (2) the beautifully rainbow color-coded theater themed bookstore, and (3) the main seating area + seating nooks throughout the store. I can already tell that I'll need to come back several times to notice all of the wonderfully thought out details in this store, and spend time looking through the books. I'm here doing school work at the moment, but I definitely want to return for a leisurely exploration. Finally, the staff are warm and welcoming as they help all of us get acclimated to the store. Also, they store is clean and welcoming. And there are restrooms! What more could you want! I can already tell that the Understudy is going to become a staple of our neighborhood and I cannot wait for my next visit!

Love the vibe and so cute to be theater theme and focused. I visit when they have some great events, but as a non-coffee drinker, still trying to find a drink I like. The matcha isn't for me, and will try to find something I do love.

Lavender latte was delicious! Found a nice spot on the couch and got some work done on a Sunday morning

Maybe I'm just getting older, but I remember a time when independent bookstores and coffee shops had character & the people that worked there exuded a personality, even if it wasn't a great one. You'd especially expect it from a place where the focus is on "theater" types. The iced coffee was as good as a Dunkin' Donuts one. It was afternoon and not a single pastry left in the case. The cashier did their job, but seemed miserable (long day maybe). No creamer left out, etc. Had to wait to ask. It was just a bland experience. The bookstore area wasn't looked at as I was short on time.

Very unique concept--coffee shop and bookstore of plays! The coffee was great and all of the baristas seemed very cool. My sister got an iced matcha latte, which she was very impressed with. We also really liked the bakery item we shared. I don't remember what it was called. Shoutout to whoever made the small floral arrangements for the tables, they were insanely cute. The decor was very fitting with the playwright theme. Easy parking in the area because it's a bit away from the city.

Understudy is an Andersonville delight. The ambience is welcoming and comfortable. They have delicious coffee beverages and an assortment of baked goods. If you're in Andersonville, stop by and check it out!

I'm officially old. I hate this place, but I'm guessing it's not for me. The coffee is not great, but the worse thing about this place is - itself. The staff are the loudest people there, and people keep coming by playing the piano. So it's basically not the kind of place you can go to get a cup of coffee and get some work done. There hasn't been one time that the staff doesn't act obnoxious. Ask them for anything like cream, or if they could heat up a croissant and it's like you're totally inconveniencing them. And as much as I get that this whole vibe is not for me, I can't wrap my mind around why they have to be so rude. I'm sure people who have nothing to do, probably enjoy sitting around with all the distractions and attitude - but it's definitely not for me.

A cute coffee shop/bookstore in Andersonville. I ordered the mocha and a brown butter chocolate chip cookie. The cookie was delicious and definitely could have eaten like 3 of them. Medium rating is due to it just not being a great work from home or study spot. The whole time I was there someone was tuning a piano and it was kind of grating to listen to (even with headphones in) I know it's a theater themed coffee shop so maybe it fit the vibe? But would have preferred them playing like showtunes or something.

Super cute airy space with an old school library feel, complete with a theater theme curated book shop and space attached. They use Metric coffee, which I love, and while the specialty drinks are as usual a bit on the sweet side for me, you can't go wrong with a regular latte or cold brew. Fast and friendly service, lots of seating...I'll definitely be back on a quieter day!

Do yourself a favor and get the spring awakening! Beautiful spot the owners did a wonderful job neighborhood feel with an amazing selection of inspiring and inspired cafe bevs and treats. Can get busy during high traffic times so come early for a seat. Really nice selection of books and journals. Come give this place a visit, you won't regret it.

This place is so cool!! Beautiful drinks, stunning interior design, and unique books. What more could you need? I got the chilled Magic of Roses tea which also had hibiscus and citrus. It was delicious. I appreciate a coffee shop that has its own tea options instead of the normal tea bag flavors. The matcha latte comes in this beautiful ceramic set. There are huge wraparound windows here so lots of good light though it did get pretty warm inside. You can tell they put a lot of thought into the design of the cafe. No outdoor seating.

Actually a dream coffee shop and bookstore! The food/coffee is good, but you stay for the ambience and the books! The bookstore part is lovely and has a unique selection for every theatre kid out there! Love the buckets of dollars/a few dollars books!

I'm shocked there are only 17 reviews for this place when it has so many passionate fans in the neighborhood. This is a stunning, gorgeous space with so much thoughtfulness and care reflected in the design choices. The love of theater, art, and performance is palpable--from the vintage violins and playbills, the soaring ceilings, the upright piano, and the velvet curtain backdrop to the kind baristas who occasionally burst into song, showcasing their practiced range. All that, and some fantastic curated books, activity workbooks, and plays to purchase. If the Understudy were just a beautiful space, that'd be one thing, but the creative coffee concoctions and cafe fare are some of the best in the city. The cold Espresso Tonic is a game-changer; you might think it sounds strange, but trust me, everyone I've seen try it becomes a true believer. The other standout is the Castle on a Cloud, which indeed clouds up when you stir it. It's a tea, lavender, and seltzer based drink that resolves into a lovely pale lavender blue. The food is also incredible; try the lemonade lavender donut and the quiches. To top it all off, this is a queer-owned and queer friendly space, and while I love the bars, it's fantastic to have a different kind of gathering spot for our community. I am so excited about this place and I hope they continue to thrive.

This is one of my favorites places in Chicago. I've been going ever since it opened and it never disappoints. My favorite are the lattes and the Magic of Roses iced tea. All of the workers are amazing, I love chatting with them! Please go. You will not regret. The vibes are nothing but perfection.

Such a great vibe in this place! The staff is phenomenal and my cappuccino was perfect!!! I can't wait to come back.

Really loved this place. A great place to get work done but also find some plays and reads. Great people working. I got an arnold palmer, which was also really good! Chill and modern.

Very cute and a lovely addition to the neighborhood. I like the bookstore and its curated collection. However, not sure if I'll be back. I took my sister once and it was nice for a to-go drink. However I went again on a Sunday with my husband, intending to sit and chill for a bit. There was too much anxious/frenetic energy from everyone on their laptops trying to get work done. And then everyone on their laptops made it so there was nowhere to sit and just have a coffee.

What a wildly charming and welcoming coffee shop + bookstore. Walking in, I was surprised at how many books were available, but it's legit like a mini bookstore focused on theater, music, and creativity-specific books. Be sure to check out the YA section and theater books for kids--super cute! I had a decadent hot chocolate with almond milk (not a coffee drinker) and imagine my DELIGHT upon seeing Defloured pastries in the case up front (I have a gluten allergy). I anticipate this being a place I'll come often to meet with friends, get some work done, and hunt for unique gifts. A lovely addition to the Andersonville neighborhood. I hope more folks will join me in singing their praises here on Yelp. P.S. My only Q is... can anyone play the piano? It's so rare to see a real upright piano in a coffee shop space. I'd love to know if patrons can play and/or if performances are scheduled in the future. Live music is so heavenly.

They serve metric coffee here! I got a latte and it wasn't the best coffee I've ever had but still pretty good. It's a super cool cafe with lots of books for sale and small tables to sit, read, and enjoy your coffee. not too loud but probably not the best spot to get work done since most of the tables were quite small. The books are really cool! There were a ton of drama books that I had fun flipping through.

My favorite coffee spot in Andersonville and around this area!! First off it's sooo cute in here and it's a book store and coffee spot in one! The decor, the people, the seating options, the delicious drinks, THE BATHROOM (it's super cute), and the bookstore make this place a slam dunk to visit. A must when you're in the area or looking for a good place to work. I always take my friends here and I even introduced my bf to it and he claims it as his own lmao

My most favorite coffee shop in Chicago! Such a cute theme, delicious pastries and the best coffee. Their syrup flavors are wonderful and unique-so many options! Can be pretty busy on weekends but you never wait too long. Staff is very friendly

So it's still really tasty and the people working are all sweet and helpful. The downside for me personally is that most of the seating doesn't feel good for someone who has chronic back pain. The benches are really hard and the couches are really soft. I think the tables might have good seating potentially but they're always occupied. The other downside is that it's too loud for me personally. I think I'll like going there when it's warmer and could check out their patio seating...

The place is decorated super cool and I was able to study well here and it was very good for me that there was not too much noise.

Just beautifully done. We needed this. Thank you for creating it. Meet me there, okay?

Bought a few plays and later realized they were signed copies! So that's cool. The cafe part has always been way too full to sit so I haven't partaken. However, got home and realized they had put NON-REMOVABLE stickers over the back of every book's ISBN (can't scan them into LibraryThing w/o peeling them off, can't peel them off without making a gooey paper shred mess and getting crap under my fingernails) just to mark them up above cover price. I honestly don't care about the cost - support small bookstores! - but seriously, if you absolutely MUST cover the original barcode (and why? you can use whatever # you want to uniquely identify an item in a point-of-sale system, so why not just use the already printed unique identifier? ) **REMOVABLE STICKERS EXIST FOR A REASON** and that reason is probably book lovers. Just a friendly suggestion - I probably won't buy any books from y'all again unless I don't have to spend 30+ minutes per book dealing with that unnecessary annoyance. :(

This is the perfect spot to go to if you have writer's block. I had the best writing session in months being in their cafe. It's teeming with creative energy. It's giving: Passion. The team at the Understudy is friendly and vivacious & they can make a mean iced mocha to boot. I'm beyond excited to see what they do with this space+

Good coffee, but consistently the worst customer service. When you've got 10 people in line, you can't chitchat with every single customer and coworkers. Many times have had the person at the register turn their shoulder to me and act like I'm not there so that they can chitchat with other people for several minutes before acknowledging me... While the line just gets longer. Done with this place.

it's fine as a coffee shop. read a lot of good things about it and would love it as a bookstore/library more than a coffee shop for working at

The ambiance is remarkable for a coffee shop. It's a beautiful space with nice but too limited seating. The bookstore space is quite entertaining. The picture window views demand attention. The coffee products are good but slightly overpriced. Alll in all, highly recommended based on quality and originality. Tom

Really nice place to get some work done. Nice bookstore as well. Just cozy, love it. I recommend it highly