Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea

First place I have found in America that cooks pastry properly, I have lived here over 5 years. Absolutely delicious pastry and spot on coffee. Full of flavour, will be visiting again when we go back to Chicago in a few weeks.

My husband, doggo and I stopped in while visiting Millennium Park, given they're dog-friendly. We ordered a couple of coffees and both were delicious and fairly priced ($4+tx each). Friendly service, highly recommended.

First time here but will definitely be back! Barista that made our coffee (Eric) has only been here for 4 days but he is already a great addition! Super knowledgeable, sweet and attentive! Can't wait to come back!!!

Great coffee and croissants! Not much space to sit, but the building is beautiful

The cafe has decent drink options. You can grab a coffee and relax in a beautiful lounge upstairs!

Visited in a Saturday. The cafe was crowded , but the employees moved pretty fast. The coffee is terribly disgusting. I got the iced caramel lattee, and it was terrible. Just go to Starbucks instead.

Convenient location right on the park. The coffee shop is in the lobby of an office building. Very mediocre oat milk cappuccino. Not terrible, but not great.

I've gone to fairgrounds twice. I had 2 of their specialty hand pours, their power flower milk tea, vosges cocoa, military latte and imperial matcha. Of all the drinks i had, the power flower and vosges stood out the most. The milk tea was a change for me, because it felt like I was drinking a healthy milk tea. I make milk tea myself and this was similar to what I make. Not great, but refreshing even though it's hot. Overall an interesting flavor. The vosges cocoa was very good. I don't know how they made it, but this was the best hot cocoa I've had. Their hand pours are also excellent and prepared on demand, so the grind is fresh and brewed correctly.
The lattes were average for a good coffee shop. The military is not as good as sawada coffee, but better than other attempts. What I like is that none of their drinks are sweet!
The only one that I didn't like was the imperial matcha. I believe it wasn't a fresh powder, but I can't say for sure. The best matcha I had so far was unfortunately at a whole foods when some lady was doing samples of a matcha they were carrying. That was back in 2010. It's hard to explain what I am tasting in the rishi that fairdgrounds offers.. almost dirty? Based on the color of matcha, I am expecting more of a fresh flavor similar to a good gyokuro tea.
Matcha aside, fairgrounds is definitely better than Starbucks and most other coffee shops. The staff has also been friendly and answered questions that I had. It's almost a 5* coffee shop, just their drinks didnt wow me like say Ipsento. I will definitely visit there again, to try more of their specialty drinks.

Fantastic coffee severed with a smile. This place is in my top 10 for a latte. Bonus points for being in such an awesome building, the Chicago Athletic Association.

Absolute terrible service. I came to this shop while visiting Chicago on Sept 22 around 7:30pm. First, I was NOT greeted at all. Instead, we were looked at like animals. I was excited thinking what to get when the women working rolled her eyes and went to the other women who she was training and said "they don't know what they want". I was with my sister and her husband and felt utter disrespected. She came back 20 second later and continued her petty attitude and said "okay what else" in the most disrespectful tone. Of course, I left without giving this coffee shop my business and plan to tell ALL my business partners who often visit Chicago (MI Ave) area to not support such a shop. I felt completely discriminated against!!! Also to note, if this women who I left a picture of had the audacity to treat us in such a discriminatory and just absolutely rude way while training someone... that's smart let all your employees be disrespectful! Considering your located at a very busy street with a lot of tourist / business people I would consider some ethical training!