Rent. ran the numbers and uncovered the best apartments in Chicago for caffeine addicts. We mapped out all of the places important to java devotees in Chicago — coffee shops, cafes and more — and assigned weighted proximity ratings to every apartment in the city.
Here are the top 10 Chicago apartment buildings for coffee lovers.
10. 25 E. Delaware
This turn-of-the-century historic hotel once featured a helipad for Emergency Room needs but has since been converted into stylish apartments with modern touches, including hardwood floors, maple cabinets and roomy closets.
25 E. Delaware offers studio and one- and two-bedroom apartments and all Gold Coast residents enjoy high-speed internet, DirecTV Family Package Programming and a fitness center as part of the building’s amenities. Guests who visit will be greeted with a marble-floored lobby, dark wood paneling and sparkling chandeliers reminiscent of the Roaring 20s.
To meet your coffee needs, just down the block is a Starbucks and across the street is Le Pain Quotidien, a wonderful café serving several organic European baked goods and coffee.
9. Optima Signature
Need a place to practice your golf swing or yoga pose? Perhaps access to indoor and outdoor heated swimming pools, cabanas and bars, a cutting-edge fitness center that offers a WELLBEATS™ virtual workout studio and steam rooms and a place for the littles to play.
Optima Signature is luxury living, complete with 1.5 acres of community amenity spaces spread across three floors. The stunning Streeterville beauty stands 57 stories tall, is LEED Silver® Certified and offers residents the option of floor plans ranging from studios to three-bedroom apartments.
Depending on the units, features include built-in stainless-steel appliances, quartz or granite bathroom counters, Snaidero® cabinetry and Balterio® wide-plank flooring. Some even come equipped with a wine refrigerator.
Its prime location makes it easy to find coffee. Whole Foods Market is around the corner and just a couple of blocks away is Lavazza Kafenio, the Italian coffeehouse.
8. The Chicagoan
The Chicagoan is steps away from Water Tower and the Magnificent Mile and surrounded by some of the most stunning 360-views of the city. Junior one-bedroom, as well as one and two-bedroom floorplans all include free password-protected WiFi throughout the entire building, as well as an updated fitness center and heated outdoor pool with a deck overlooking the city.
Whether you’re sporting two wheels or four, there’s free bike storage, as well as an electric car charging station in the garage. For those sans wheels, Zipcars and I-Go cars are available, making it even easier to enjoy the city car-free.
You won’t need wheels to get to your favorite coffee outposts. The next block west on Wabash offers two options: Starbucks and Sunny Side Up and Coffee Shop, a charming café serving up American fare for breakfast and lunch and plenty of coffee and pastries downstairs.
7. Fisher Building City Apartments
Architectural enthusiasts will find the Fisher Building, with its Chicago Landmark status, appealing. At the time the building was completed in 1896, it was one of two buildings that were 18 stories or greater.
Today, the neo-Gothic landmark building is home to residents living in studio, one and two-bedroom apartments of the Fisher Building City Apartments. Many features of the original building are being enjoyed today, including the mosaic and marble hallways and unique apartment doors that feature the original office name for that space.
Past those doors are 10- to 12-foot ceilings, kitchens with a granite island, large closets and the trademark Daniel Burnham-style bay windows for which the famed architect is known.
Dollop Coffee Company is located in the same building, serving coffee from beans they roast, making it particularly easy to grab a coffee. If Intelligentsia Coffee is more your cup of Joe, head down the block to the Monadnock Building where fresh-roasted coffee awaits.
6. Millennium Park Plaza
Floor plans include studio, one, two or three bedrooms and each one has hardwood floors, granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances And at Millennium Park Plaza, the location can’t be beat.
Steps from the Magnificent Mile, it’s also across the street from Millennium Park, which offers its own set of entertainment, from ice skating during the winter to free concerts and movies during the summer. A state-of-the-art fitness center with lap pool under a stunning dome, valet parking and a 24-hour doorman makes it feel like resort living.
On the same block is the Nutella Café for coffee or swing around the corner to Market Creations or Wildberry Café in the Prudential Plaza for coffee and more.
5. MDA City Apartments
Contemporary kitchens are paired with sexy bathrooms in this historic yet modern, LEED-certified building with panoramic views of the city, just steps away from Michigan Avenue.
Residents can escape from the hustle and bustle by retreating to the MDA City Apartments’ rooftop Sky Club and Sky Park or enjoying a film in the private movie theater. Choose from studios, convertibles, one- and two-bedroom apartments and penthouses and take advantage of the convenient on-site restaurant and market.
Dunkin’ Donuts is a hop, skip and a jump from MDA City Apartments but a quick jaunt across Michigan Avenue is the new-ish Nutella Café, where you can pair your coffee from the espresso bar with a French- and Italian-inspired sweets and savories featuring the namesake chocolate-hazelnut spread.
4. LINEA
Residents of LINEA‘s apartments love the dark wood-grained floors and sound-engineered glass on the floor-to-ceiling windows that provide jaw-dropping city views.
Whether you choose a studio, one- or two-bedroom unit, each resident will enjoy the top-floor sky lounge which includes a state-of-the-art fitness center, while the indoor/outdoor pool makes it easy to enjoy throughout the year.
For those who need to grab a cup of coffee, Big Shoulders Coffee starts serving its roasted on-site coffee, tea and signature marshmallow lattes at 6 a.m. Otherwise, there’s a Starbucks just a block away.
3. 215 West
Be prepared to be wowed every time you walk into your unit at 215 West Washington Street since each comes with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Chicago’s Loop.
Located within the heart of the Theater District, the thoughtfully-designed studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units are within walking distance to everything from public transit to the lakefront.
A 24-hour fitness club with cardio and weight equipment and complimentary yoga classes make it easy to stay in shape without the need for an additional gym membership. The clubroom features billiards and a game table and a garden terrace with pool and kitchen make entertaining a breeze.
Across the street is Cafecito, a popular Cuban coffee shop that also offers pressed sandwiches, while Dollop, another popular coffee joint among both nearby residents and professionals who work in the Loop, is just around the corner, making it easy to grab a coffee.
2. 180 W. Adams
With a walkability score of 99 and a transit score of 100, 180 W. Adams is conveniently located to nearby attractions and transportation options. The loft-style studio and one-bedroom units feature the traditional loft look with exposed brick, high ceilings and large windows. Choose from furnished or unfurnished units, all of which come equipped with in-unit laundry, internet and DirecTV amenities.
Coffee addicts won’t need to venture too far to get some hot coffee since there’s both a Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts just across the street. A Pret A Manger with ready-made sandwiches is just a half a block away.
1. Millennium on LaSalle
One of Chicago’s most recent complete conversions from a 13-story office building to a highly-amenitized property, Millennium on LaSalle blends modern finishes and conveniences while paying homage to the historic elements. The building was originally built as the National Life Building and designed by Jenney & Mundie.
In addition to 214 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments featuring stone countertops, stainless appliances and smart home technology, the building now includes a new 14th-floor level featuring a pool, lounge, a sports court with fitness room, a dog run and landscaped roof deck. The basement offers more entertainment options with access to a theater room, a WiFi and music lounge, a dog wash, laundry/dry cleaning valet and secure private storage.
Being in the Loop’s Financial District, there are plenty of places to get your caffeine kick. A Starbucks is just a few feet away from the building’s entrance while a Peet’s is just half a block away.
Methodology
We looked at all apartments in Chicago and rated them on the number of coffee shops within a half-mile radius. We used an exponentially decreasing scale based on distance from the apartment. For instance, coffee shops located across the street from a specific property would carry more weight than those a quarter-mile away. Our establishment counts come from commercially available business listings and may not reflect recent openings and closings.
