Julius Meinl Coffee House

(773) 868-1857

3601 N Southport Ave
Chicago, IL 60613 41.9469 -87.664

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Neighborhoods: Lakeview, North Side

Price:

$

Last updated 7.27.11

Category:

Coffeehouses, Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Breakfast, Lunch Spot

General Info:

Open 7 Days

Smoking Permitted:

No

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Julius Meinl Coffee House

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – As legendary coffee roaster Julius Meinl's first store in the U.S., this Lakeview shop is authentically Viennese. Coffee is delivered to tables on small silver trays, and the interior of leather-upholstered benches and suspended light fixtures was built in Austria and shipped to the States. Choices on the beverage menu include Meinl's famous coffees, plus iced lattes, espressos, mochas and hot chocolate. Nibbles include tuna melts, strudels and traditional breakfasts of poached egg, ham and Emmentaler cheese.

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
Julius Meinl roasts are available for brewing at home. Blends range from light to medium, and are sold from traditional brass containers that preserve their aroma and taste.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “It's a particularly attractive destination during late evening, when a calm, comfortable site is the perfect compliment to strong coffee and conversations.”
  2. “The coffee is smooth, the atmosphere is elegant, and the pastries are sinful.”
  3. “That aside, everything I've tried here, sandwiches, sweets, soda and coffees were delicious and I definitely appreciate the atmosphere; refined without being intimidating.”
  4. “returned with a girl after seeing a film at The Music Box, and the atmosphere in the couch-filled "Sitting Room" was perfect for quiet conversation.”
dessert
85.71000099182129% positive
  1. “Great food, coffee and desserts.”
  2. “For the chocolate lovers, I would recommend the Mohr Hemd.”
  3. “haven't been there recently (being since Winter 06), but I think it's time I stop in and have some dessert and one of their specialty mochas (yum) =p. Actually, I found out about this place from my "ex" who just happened to have some good taste (except ”
  4. “I'm not sure if they are made in-house or not, but they have the amazing chocolate cupcakes with frosting.”
  5. “They serve great drinks and also a variety of deserts and meals!”
  6. “The desserts were a bit dry for my taste.”
  7. “The teas are awesome, the Death by chocolate too, I wouldn't say all of their deserts taste as good as they look (and they look Really good!)”
drinks
97.37000465393066% positive
  1. “I'm picky about my coffee and this definitely is my favorite place to get it from.”
  2. “Who could argue with Viennese coffee delivered to your table on a small silver tray, French toast smothered in baked bananas, luscious pumpkin pancakes, or baked eggs with pancetta, spinach and feta cheese?”
  3. “It's easy to see why Julius Meinl has become a favorite gathering place for neighbors on Chicago's north side, a place where you can linger over coffee and quiet conversation and forget about all the errands you have to run on a busy Saturday morning.”
  4. “They serve great drinks and also a variety of deserts and meals!”
  5. “My favorite place for coffee!”
  6. “Excellent coffee and very good pastries, but cant seem to get its act together.”
  7. “Good coffee and many choices of tea (little bit pricy).”
  8. “It's a particularly attractive destination during late evening, when a calm, comfortable site is the perfect compliment to strong coffee and conversations.”
  9. “especially love the high tea here which is not as pricey as the Drake Hotel but the food is definitely better.”
  10. “The coffee is smooth, the atmosphere is elegant, and the pastries are sinful.”
  11. “refreshing place for coffee”
  12. “good coffee.”
  13. “Great food, coffee and desserts.”
  14. “The coffee is delicious.”
  15. “Wether it's a cold winter's day (or any type of day for that matter), or coming from the Musicbox Theater after a show, this place will surely warm you up with their tea or espresso drinks and put the "sweet" back in your sweetooth.”
  16. “Perhaps I like sweeter coffee than most, but I hated having to beg like this.”
  17. “The coffee and pastries are outstanding; so exciting to get a true Melange in Chicago.”
  18. “How nice in a world of fast coffee places to find somewhere that understands what is means to have coffee.”
  19. “Top-notch coffee and great service.”
food quality
96.87999725341797% positive
  1. “The coffee and pastries are outstanding; so exciting to get a true Melange in Chicago.”
  2. “The coffee is smooth, the atmosphere is elegant, and the pastries are sinful.”
  3. “What happened to the fresh roasted turkey breast?”
  4. “Fresh soups, sa.”
  5. “We love the baked eggs, almond croissants and lattes.”
  6. “especially love the high tea here which is not as pricey as the Drake Hotel but the food is definitely better.”
  7. “They used some type of sweet, berry-like dressing, giving the sandwich a refreshing taste twist.”
  8. “Excellent coffee and very good pastries, but cant seem to get its act together.”
  9. “We were visiting her new hometown, and a pastry from Julius Meinl's authentic Austrian cafe would be the next best thing to breakfast in bed.”
  10. “Hungry for a light lunch, the soups are fantastic however, the sandwiches could use some work.”
  11. “ANd the food is great too!”
  12. “Good food - lousy service”
  13. “That aside, everything I've tried here, sandwiches, sweets, soda and coffees were delicious and I definitely appreciate the atmosphere; refined without being intimidating.”
  14. “The coffee is delicious.”
  15. “Who could argue with Viennese coffee delivered to your table on a small silver tray, French toast smothered in baked bananas, luscious pumpkin pancakes, or baked eggs with pancetta, spinach and feta cheese?”
  16. “Great food, coffee and desserts.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “They serve great drinks and also a variety of deserts and meals!”
  2. “Good coffee and many choices of tea (little bit pricy).”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “very nice place.”
service
75.0% positive
  1. “Great customer service.”
  2. “One visit I had great service and on others it wasn't so great.”
  3. “The service wasn't as good as you would expect especially since it wasn't crowded.”
  4. “Top-notch coffee and great service.”
  5. “Once they serve you, service is great; however, it sometimes takes a long time to get their attention with the seat-your-self service.”
  6. “Good food - lousy service”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “good prices.”
  2. “especially love the high tea here which is not as pricey as the Drake Hotel but the food is definitely better.”
wait time
50.0% positive
  1. “Julius Meinl used to be my favorite cafe in the City, but since it has become popular I hve had two instances when I came to its doors and had to turn back and go someplace else because the wait was 20 mins!”
  2. “Once they serve you, service is great; however, it sometimes takes a long time to get their attention with the seat-your-self service.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/12/10

Perfect dining exerience!

by digitalgio at Citysearch

This is a really great place for a bite to eat and a cup of coffee!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/14/08

Sweet Treat for a Saturday Morning

by TheCulinaryTourist at Citysearch

My husband woke up craving a Chicago-style hot dog, but our daughter Emily had something entirely different in mind. We were visiting her new hometown, and a pastry from Julius Meinl's authentic Austrian cafe would be the next best thing to breakfast in bed. Who could argue with Viennese coffee delivered to your table on a small silver tray, French toast smothered in baked bananas, luscious pumpkin pancakes, or baked eggs with pancetta, spinach and feta cheese?

It's easy to see why Julius Meinl has become a favorite gathering place for neighbors on Chicago's north side, a place where you can linger over coffee and quiet conversation and forget about all the errands you have to run on a busy Saturday morning.

See my complete review at "The Culinary Tourist."

3 Star Rating: Average

09/28/08

Good food - lousy service

by dietch at Citysearch

We frequent this spot at least once a weekend. We love the baked eggs, almond croissants and lattes. However, every time we are there the service is incredibly slow. Once or twice is understandable, but without fail it takes too long to order, get the coffee or food to the table and you can add ten more minutes waiting for the bill.

  • Pros: Baked eggs, coffee/lattes, almond croissants, outdoor seating
  • Cons: very slow inconsistent service
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

09/11/07

High Tea is awesome!

by mosaicstar at Citysearch

Julius Meinl is one of my favorite cafes in Chicago. I lived in Vienna for a while and this place lives up to its European counterparts. I especially love the high tea here which is not as pricey as the Drake Hotel but the food is definitely better. I have never had any trouble with the service at Julius Meinl, they have always been nice and friendly.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

07/23/07

"I'm afraid you're not in Starbucks anymore, Toto" =)

by vegitoboi at Citysearch

One phrase says it all, Mmmmmm!!! I haven't been there recently (being since Winter 06), but I think it's time I stop in and have some dessert and one of their specialty mochas (yum) =p. Actually, I found out about this place from my "ex" who just happened to have some good taste (except for dumping me for an uglier guy of course, but that's another story). Believe me, once you step in and order something, you'll never want to head back to any Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks ever again. What's surprising to me is that they've never been featured on Food Network or any food shows. What's wrong Rachael Ray, can't make it out to Lakeview? Wether it's a cold winter's day (or any type of day for that matter), or coming from the Musicbox Theater after a show, this place will surely warm you up with their tea or espresso drinks and put the "sweet" back in your sweetooth.

  • Pros: Good coffee and pastries, friendly staff, NOT STARBUCKS =)
  • Cons: parking

The Details on Julius Meinl Coffee House

Place Categories:

  • delicious sweeter coffee
  • great customer service
  • great food
  • not as good service
  • especially love high tea
  • elegant atmosphere
  • fantastic soups
  • great desserts
  • delicious sweets
  • yum p
  • delicious soda
  • fresh sa
  • amazing chocolate cupcakes
  • love baked eggs
  • luscious pumpkin pancakes
  • wonderful sugar
  • authentic austrian cafe
  • awesome teas
  • great roast turkey sandwich
  • great drinks
  • good look
  • wonderful cafine
  • favorite gathering place
  • good taste
  • love lattes

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