City News Cafe in Chicago, Illinois

“I was looking for a particular new issue of Fangoria that 15 book and comic shops that I called before did not have. An amazing person at the DePaul Barnes & Noble suggested City News and they had two copies. The owner graciously set them aside for me and I was able to come pick up after work. This small act of looking through the ample stock and making sure I’d be able to purchase it made my week. I will definitely be telling everyone I know about this store and be returning in the future.”

— Kimmi Marković · ★★★★★ · 2025-11-20

“My wife wanted to check this place out and I regret going. It's really a news stand and not much of a coffee shop. Their "espresso" machine is a computerized automatic thing and it's Americano output was disgusting. The smoothie was ice and a concentrate syrup. The hot chocolate was a powder. It's odd because apparently they make their own chocolates (that looked delicious), so I'd have expected even a little bit of skill with making the coffee. Bad coffee would make me avoid the place, but not torch it in a review. That threshold was crossed when there were prominently displayed right ”

— Anthony Claypool · ★☆☆☆☆

“The City News Cafe has just about every book, magazine and newspaper that you'd like to read. They also have greeting cards. They have various types of coffees, teas and other beverages. They serve delicious handmade chocolate truffles, bakery pastries, loaf cakes and pies. They have live music on many weekends. It's a fun place to browse but you're probably not going to leave without making a purchase.”

— Tom Matuch · ★★★★★

“Fantastic cafe & shop! Pleasant cafe, very friendly, and good selection of both books and magazines... Highly recommend and will definitely be back!”

— Justin Schroeder · ★★★★★ · 2025-10-25

“They play Sirius XM Music. It is very relaxing. The staff is very friendly. They make your coffee when you order it. It is always fresh. They give you a homemade truffle with your coffee order. The food is very good. The pastries come from a bakery daily. Great variety! I love this place.”

— Judith · ★★★★★

“City New Cafe is a great little magazine shop /coffee shop,/weekend musical venue. The one thing most people don't know as every Saturday, and Sunday late morning they have musical artists come in and play live music. It's great to stop by and have a cup of coffee, enjoy a pastry and listen to the music offered every weekend. If you don't do dairy, they do offer non-dairy options such as coconut milk, almond milk or soy. They also have some of the most delicious chocolate truffles made in the city! Perfect for gift giving! This is an absolute must when you come here. In fact, you get a free”

— Jacquelyn Marie · ★★★★★ · 2023-10-28

“My mother took me to this place when I was 10 years old and I am now 57. They have really really good coffee and they are serving some of the best pies on the northwest side as of November. 5. 2024 oh I almost forgot. If you have a taste for the summer that’s handmade chocolates. You need to stop in and buy some. They were wonderful assortment of great flavors.”

— BIll · ★★★★★ · 2024-11-5

“This is a special GEM on northwest side! I guess tastebuds vary and are subjective; i frequent the cafe multiply times every week for years, have never had a coffee not delicious. Also, i see another recent reviewer called it a strike against the store that there was something right wing? As a committed progressive I will say that i am so grateful for the diversity of voices in the mags and books! Places willing to resource independent thinkers with a multiplicity of perspectives are a dying breed! I call this one of the store's great selling points. LOVE CITY NEWS!”

— Jacki Belile · ★★★★★

“Small super friendly — “You got everything you need? You sure? Sorry we ran out of truffle samples…” — coffee shop within an old school newspaper and book store playing big band and jazz from the 1940s where they make and sell their own dark chocolate truffles. They sell actual newspapers! Very authentic. It felt like the kinda place I imagine my dad might’ve stopped in on his way to work before I was born. Aside from the stale scone I really enjoyed it”

— Tom Williams · ★★★★★ · 2024-1-4

“Imagine growing up, and every weekend you'd go to Borders books, music, and cafe, and it was more magical than Disneyworld to you! A place where everything about anything was at your fingertips. Then, one day, an evil corporate mogul destroys the company, and every borders store in the world closes immediately!!! I thought the days of seeing anything like it again were over till I came here and discovered the next closet thing and the lady working in cafe was a giant sweetheart!!!”

— Christopher Blaker · ★★★★★ · 2024-7-9