ConvoPlaces

Best first date spots in Chicago

40 venues, ranked on what OpenStreetMap actually records about each one.

How this page is built. Every venue below is drawn from OpenStreetMap and scored on recorded facts — Someone needs a low-pressure venue for a first meeting. Venues that OpenStreetMap knows nothing relevant about are left off rather than padded in, which is why this list is shorter than the total number of cafe-type venues in Chicago. Full method.

Compare at a glance

Rank# Venue Hours Outdoor Smoking Access Indoor Booking
1 Little Wok Yes Yes No smoking Yes Yes Yes
2 Demera Ethiopian Restaurant Yes Yes No smoking Not recorded Not recorded Yes
3 Cabra Yes Yes Not recorded Yes Not recorded Yes
4 Dark Matter Coffee - Meddle Yes Yes No smoking Yes Not recorded No
5 Lula Cafe Yes Yes No smoking Yes Not recorded Not recorded
6 Kopi Cafe Yes Yes No smoking Not recorded Not recorded Not recorded
7 Sinya Mediterranean Yes Yes No smoking Not recorded Not recorded Not recorded
8 Tanuki Yes Yes Not recorded Not recorded Not recorded Yes
9 Kaiser Tiger Yes Yes Not recorded Not recorded Not recorded Yes
10 Can't Believe It's Not Meat Yes Yes Not recorded Limited Not recorded Not recorded
11 Momentum Coffee Yes Yes No smoking Yes Yes Not recorded
12 Philz Coffee Yes Yes No smoking Yes Yes Not recorded
13 Goose Island Yes Yes No smoking Limited Yes Not recorded
14 Corcoran's Grill & Pub Yes Yes No smoking No Yes Not recorded
15 Colectivo Coffee Yes Yes No smoking Not recorded Yes No
16 The Lost Hours Yes Yes No smoking Not recorded No No
17 Nobody's Darling Yes Yes No smoking Not recorded Yes No
18 Lao Peng You 老朋友 Yes Yes No smoking Not recorded Yes Not recorded
19 The Beetle Bar and Grill Yes Yes No smoking Not recorded Yes Not recorded
20 Bixi Beer Yes Yes No smoking Not recorded Not recorded Not recorded

Swipe the table sideways for the remaining columns. recorded   recorded as absent   not recorded in OpenStreetMap. A dash means the tag is missing, not that the facility is. Showing the top 20 of 40.

The ranked list

  1. Little Wok

    Restaurant

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Indoor seating
    • Step-free access
    • Takes reservations

    Hours: Mon–Thu 11:30am–10pm; Fri–Sat 11:30am–11pm; Sun 12pm–11pm

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Takes reservations · Opening hours published · Non-smoking indoors · Step-free access · Has a website

  2. Demera Ethiopian Restaurant

    Restaurant · 4801 North Broadway, Chicago, 60640

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Takes reservations
    • Non-smoking
    • Vegan

    Hours: Mon–Thu 4pm–9pm; Fri–Sat 11:30am–10pm; Sun 11:30am–9pm

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Takes reservations · Opening hours published · Non-smoking indoors · Has a website

  3. Cabra

    Restaurant · 200 North Green Street, Chicago, 60607

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Step-free access
    • Takes reservations

    Hours: Mon–Thu 4pm–11pm; Fri–Sat 4pm–midnight; Sun 4pm–11pm

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Takes reservations · Opening hours published · Step-free access · Has a website

  4. Dark Matter Coffee - Meddle

    Cafe · 601 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, 60661

    • Wi-Fi
    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Step-free access
    • Non-smoking

    Hours: Mon–Sun 7am–5pm

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Non-smoking indoors · Step-free access · Has a website

  5. Lula Cafe

    Restaurant · 2537 North Kedzie Boulevard, Chicago, 60647

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Step-free access
    • Non-smoking

    Hours: Mon 9am–3pm, 4:30pm–10pm; Wed–Sun 9am–3pm, 4:30pm–10pm

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Non-smoking indoors · Step-free access · Has a website

  6. Kopi Cafe

    Cafe · 5317 North Clark Street, Chicago, 60640

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Non-smoking
    • Air conditioning
    • Takeaway

    Hours: Mon–Thu 10am–7pm; Fri–Sat 10am–8pm; Sun 10am–7pm

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Non-smoking indoors · Vegetarian options · Has a website

  7. Sinya Mediterranean

    Restaurant · 3224 North Damen Avenue

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Non-smoking
    • Takeaway
    • Vegetarian

    Hours: Mon–Sun 11am–9pm

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Non-smoking indoors · Vegetarian options · Has a website

  8. Tanuki

    Restaurant · 3006 North Sheffield Avenue, Chicago, 60657

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Takes reservations

    Hours: Mon–Thu 11:30am–10pm; Fri–Sat 11:30am–11pm; Sun 11:30am–10pm

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Takes reservations · Opening hours published · Has a website

  9. Kaiser Tiger

    Restaurant · 1415 West Randolph Street, Chicago, 60607

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Takes reservations

    Hours: Mon–Fri 11am–2am; Sat 11am–3am; Sun 11am–2am

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Takes reservations · Opening hours published · Has a website

  10. Can't Believe It's Not Meat

    Restaurant · 226 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, 60654

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Access: Limited
    • Takeaway
    • Vegetarian

    Hours: Mon–Sun 11am–9pm

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Step-free access · Vegetarian options · Has a website

  11. Momentum Coffee

    Restaurant

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Indoor seating
    • Step-free access
    • Non-smoking

    Hours: Wed–Sun 10am–2pm

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Non-smoking indoors · Step-free access

  12. Philz Coffee

    Cafe · 1555 North Wells Street, Chicago, 60610

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Indoor seating
    • Step-free access
    • Non-smoking

    Hours: Mon–Sun 6am–5pm

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Non-smoking indoors · Step-free access

  13. Goose Island

    Restaurant

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Indoor seating
    • Access: Limited
    • Non-smoking

    Hours: Mon–Sun 6am–9pm

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Non-smoking indoors · Step-free access

  14. Corcoran's Grill & Pub

    Bar · 1615 North Wells Street, Chicago, 60614

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Indoor seating
    • Non-smoking

    Hours: Mon–Fri 11am–1:30am; Sat 10:30am–2:30am; Sun 10:30am–1:30am

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Non-smoking indoors · Has a website

  15. Colectivo Coffee

    Cafe

    • Wi-Fi
    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Indoor seating
    • Non-smoking

    Hours: Mon–Sun 6:30am–6pm

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Non-smoking indoors · Has a website

  16. The Lost Hours

    Cafe · 5256 N Broadway, Chicago, 60640

    • Wi-Fi
    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Non-smoking

    Hours: Mon–Sat 6:30am–3:30pm; Sun 7:30am–3:30pm

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Non-smoking indoors · Has a website

  17. Nobody's Darling

    Bar · 1744 West Balmoral Avenue, Chicago, 60660

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Indoor seating
    • Non-smoking

    Hours: Wed–Thu 5pm–11pm; Fri 4pm–midnight; Sat 2pm–midnight…

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Non-smoking indoors · Has a website

  18. Lao Peng You 老朋友

    Restaurant · 2020 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, 60622

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Indoor seating
    • Non-smoking

    Hours: Thu–Sun 11am–9pm

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Non-smoking indoors · Has a website

  19. The Beetle Bar and Grill

    Bar · 2532 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, 60622

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Indoor seating
    • Non-smoking

    Hours: Mon–Wed 4pm–1am; Thu 4pm–2am; Sat 12pm–2am…

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Non-smoking indoors · Has a website

  20. Bixi Beer

    Restaurant · 2515 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, 60647

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Non-smoking

    Hours: Mon–Sun 4pm–2am

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Non-smoking indoors · Has a website

  21. The Walk In Chicago

    Bar · 2727 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, 60647

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Non-smoking

    Hours: Mon–Fri 5pm–2am; Sat 12pm–3am; Sun 12pm–2am

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Non-smoking indoors · Has a website

  22. Shokolad

    Restaurant · 2524 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, 60622

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Indoor seating
    • Non-smoking

    Hours: Tue–Fri 10am–5pm; Sat 9am–5pm; Sun 10am–4pm

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Non-smoking indoors · Has a website

  23. New Wave Coffee

    Cafe · 2557 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, 60647

    • Wi-Fi
    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Non-smoking
    • Takeaway

    Hours: Mon–Thu 7am–3pm; Fri–Sun 7am–4pm

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Non-smoking indoors · Has a website

  24. Essence of India

    Restaurant · 4601 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, 60625

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Indoor seating
    • Non-smoking
    • Air conditioning

    Hours: Mon 4:30pm–9:30pm; Tue closed; Wed–Thu 4:30pm–9:30pm…

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Non-smoking indoors · Has a website

  25. Lone Wolf

    Bar · 806 West Randolph Street, Chicago, 60607

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Step-free access

    Hours: Mon–Tue 4pm–2am; Wed–Fri 12pm–2am; Sat 12pm–3am…

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Step-free access · Has a website

  26. Afro Joe's Coffee & Tea

    Cafe · 1818 West 99th Street, Chicago, 60643

    • Wi-Fi
    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Step-free access
    • Takeaway

    Hours: Mon–Fri 7am–2pm; Sat 8am–3pm; Sun 9am–1pm

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Step-free access · Has a website

  27. Rose Mary

    Restaurant · 932 West Fulton Market, Chicago, 60607

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Step-free access

    Hours: Mon–Thu 4:30pm–10pm; Fri–Sat 4:30pm–11pm; Sun 4:30pm–10pm

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Step-free access · Has a website

  28. Leona's

    Restaurant · 4363 West Irving Park Road, Chicago, 60641

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Step-free access
    • Takeaway

    Hours: Mon–Thu 11am–11pm; Fri–Sat 11am–midnight; Sun 11am–9pm

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Step-free access · Has a website

  29. Morton's The Steakhouse

    Restaurant · 65 East Wacker Place, Chicago, 60601

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Step-free access

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Step-free access · Has a website

  30. Baobing

    Restaurant · 857 West Fulton Market, Chicago, 60607

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Step-free access

    Hours: Mon–Thu 5pm–10pm; Fri 4:30pm–11pm; Sat 11am–11pm…

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Step-free access · Has a website

  31. Tufano's Vernon Park Tap

    Restaurant · 1073 West Vernon Park Place, Chicago, 60607

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Step-free access

    Hours: Tue–Thu 11am–8:30pm; Fri 11am–9pm; Sat 4pm–9pm…

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Step-free access · Has a website

  32. South Branch

    Bar · 100 South Wacker Drive

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Step-free access

    Hours: Mon–Tue 11am–9pm; Wed–Thu 11am–10pm; Fri 11am–9pm

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Step-free access · Has a website

  33. Greek Islands

    Restaurant · 200 South Halsted Street, Chicago, 60661

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Step-free access

    Hours: Tue–Thu 11am–9pm; Fri–Sat 11am–9:30pm; Sun 11am–9pm

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Step-free access · Has a website

  34. Pizano's Pizza & Pasta

    Restaurant · 61 East Madison Street, Chicago, 60603

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Step-free access

    Hours: Mon–Sun 11am–midnight

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Step-free access · Has a website

  35. Pizzeria Aroma

    Restaurant

    • Hours published
    • Indoor seating
    • Takes reservations
    • Non-smoking
    • Takeaway

    Hours: Mon–Thu 11:30am–10pm; Fri–Sat 11:30am–10:30pm; Sun 11:30am–10pm

    Why it ranks here: Takes reservations · Opening hours published · Non-smoking indoors · Has a website

  36. Blowfish Sushi & Ramen

    Restaurant · 60660

    • Hours published
    • Indoor seating
    • Takes reservations
    • Non-smoking
    • Takeaway

    Hours: Mon–Thu 4pm–10pm; Fri 4pm–11pm; Sat 12pm–11pm…

    Why it ranks here: Takes reservations · Opening hours published · Non-smoking indoors · Has a website

  37. Jin Thai Cuisine

    Restaurant

    • Hours published
    • Indoor seating
    • Takes reservations
    • Non-smoking
    • Takeaway

    Hours: Mon 11:30am–9pm; Wed–Sun 11:30am–9pm

    Why it ranks here: Takes reservations · Opening hours published · Non-smoking indoors · Has a website

  38. Coalfire

    Restaurant · 3707 North Southport Avenue, Chicago, 60613

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Vegetarian
    • Vegan

    Hours: Tue–Thu 4pm–10pm; Fri 11:30am–11pm; Sat 12pm–11pm…

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Vegetarian options · Has a website

  39. Brown Bag Seafood Co.

    Restaurant · 3400 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, 60657

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Vegetarian

    Hours: Mon–Sat 11am–9pm; Sun 11:30am–8pm

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Vegetarian options · Has a website

  40. Happy Camper Old Town

    Restaurant · 1209 North Wells Street, Chicago, 60610

    • Hours published
    • Outdoor seating
    • Indoor seating
    • Air conditioning
    • Vegetarian

    Hours: Mon–Wed 11am–11pm; Thu 11am–11:30am; Fri 11am–1am…

    Why it ranks here: Outdoor seating · Opening hours published · Vegetarian options · Has a website

Where they are

40 venues on the map Loads OpenStreetMap tiles on demand

Frequently asked questions

How many Chicago venues are on this list?

This page ranks the top 40 of 1275 venues in Chicago that OpenStreetMap records at least one relevant detail for. Of the 40 shown, 5 have Wi-Fi recorded and 40 publish their opening hours.

Which of these Chicago venues have Wi-Fi?

Of the venues on this page, Dark Matter Coffee - Meddle, Colectivo Coffee, The Lost Hours, New Wave Coffee and Afro Joe's Coffee & Tea all have Wi-Fi recorded in OpenStreetMap. Wi-Fi is not tagged for every venue, so absence here means "not recorded", not "no Wi-Fi".

Which of these venues stay open late?

Little Wok, Cabra, Tanuki, Kaiser Tiger and Corcoran's Grill & Pub are open until 11pm or later on at least one day of the week, according to the opening hours published in OpenStreetMap.

Which of these venues are step-free?

Little Wok, Cabra, Dark Matter Coffee - Meddle, Lula Cafe and Momentum Coffee are tagged as wheelchair accessible in OpenStreetMap. Accessibility tagging is incomplete, so it is worth confirming with the venue.

How is this list ranked?

Venues are scored on the facts OpenStreetMap records about them - outdoor seating, takes reservations, opening hours published, non-smoking indoors, no live music - easier to talk - and ranked by that score. A venue with no relevant detail recorded is left off the list entirely rather than padded in. Nothing on this page is a paid placement.

Other guides for Chicago

Data last refreshed from OpenStreetMap on 30 July 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us — or fix it directly in OpenStreetMap, and it will flow through on the next refresh.