Grab A Coffee, Pastry, & Work From Home At These Cozy Berwyn Cafes
A friendly neighborhood coffee shop is a hallmark of a close community. Not only does it provide the caffeine — iced or hot — that we need to energize our days, but it also provides a sense of calm, coziness, and warmth that makes us feel at home. Berwyn is lucky to have a number of cafes in convenient locations across the city that offer a welcoming atmosphere, delicious drinks, savory treats, and a peaceful environment where visitors can sit down to enjoy themselves uninterrupted. These coffee shops are a great place to curl up with a book or convene with family and friends, but they can also be an excellent place for holding a business meeting or working solo. In fact, did you know that an estimated 40% of U.S. employees work remotely full-time or have a hybrid schedule that allows them to work from home at least part of the time? With that flexibility comes the task of finding where to work — and nothing is quite better than the local cafe. While Berwyn has no shortage of coffee shops and cafes, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite spots where the java, snacks, and ambiance are all superb — especially for those looking for the ideal work-life balance.
Ridgeland Avenue is a little brighter, more floral, and more pink now with the recent addition of Pink Owl Cafe — a delightful family-owned coffee shop in Central Berwyn. The first thing you’ll see entering the space is a friendly smile from the barista who stands behind a glittering countertop. However, a quick glance around the room will reveal a feast for the eyes with kitschy details like chandeliers, gold mirrors, exposed brick, and velvety chairs. Quirky art, like neon signs and adorable owl paintings, adds flavor to the walls, while an incredible handmade flower wall serves as the backdrop for a digital selfie station. The aesthetic is as great as the coffee, food, and service. Pink Owl’s menu focuses on go-to sweet and savory dishes for breakfast, brunch, and lunch like chilaquiles, prosciutto toast, avocado toast, strawberry and blueberry croissants bursting with rich mascarpone cheese, and specialty waffles that feature fruit, nuts, and yogurt. Fragrant cafe de olla and Mexican hot chocolate treat your sense of taste and smell, and classic espresso drinks like lattes and an Americano offer all the fuel you need to get through the afternoon slump. Add in a special flavor like vanilla, caramel, or butter pecan to take your drink up a notch.
For over 20 years, Avito Cafe on Historic Route 66 has been a Berwyn staple. The storied coffee shop sits inside a building formerly owned by notorious Chicago mobster Al Capone and now serves as a sometimes filming location for owner and filmmaker Vito Brancato. Don’t be surprised to see him working at his production office beside the coffee counter! And as serious as Brancato is about film, Avito Caffe is about coffee — a cheeky sign outside reading “Drink coffee, sleep when you’re dead” makes this abundantly clear. Enter through the bold red door and lights, camera, action! Inside, you’ll be surrounded by classic movie posters, vintage celebrity headshots, and unique memorabilia under a gorgeous copper tile ceiling. The room is warm and cozy while transporting you straight into Old Hollywood. It’s the perfect place to post up with a cup of Joe and get inspired. Classic drinks like house coffee, cappuccino, lattes, tea, and espresso are available hot or iced, while specialty drinks like the Nutella Latte, Espresso Blast, and Super Protein Smoothie offer something a little extra.
This adorable cafe inside the Depot District is here to fulfill all your local coffee, pastry, and bread “kneads.” Living room-meets-the-office here at this spacious shop, with a mix of tables, couches, and chairs spread across a neutral room accented by floral rugs, pillows, plants, flowers, and of course — a neon “Coffee” sign. Natural light fills the room as you stop by for some fresh-baked bread, mouthwatering pastries, coffees, teas, and hot chocolate. Watch the hustle and bustle of suburban life hum right outside the bright windows as you chug away at your projects (and your latte). Step up to the counter to see what baked goods are available for the day. Favorites include the signature Brookie brownie-cookie, blueberry buttermilk muffin, mini-cobbler, carrot cream cheese square, fig pecan scone, and more. You can even preorder breads to take with you, like banana, pumpkin, and zucchini, with the option to add walnuts or chocolate chips. You can also preorder loaves of rosemary garlic or cheddar jalapeño, as well as batches of scones, muffins, and brownies. Not only is The Local Flour Stand Cafe a great place to work, but it’s also one of Berwyn’s best-kept bakery secrets.
Roosevelt Road just wouldn’t be the same without Friendly Coffee Lounge, the coffee side of Friendly Music Community, which is also home to the beloved Friendly Tap. A community-based entertainment venue with a cafe on one side and a local pub on the other, your day at Friendly’s could last morning to night with live music, poetry, and more. In the coffee lounge, you’ll be surrounded by incredible murals that depict life in Berwyn and at Friendly Tap in addition to boardgames, couches, comfy chairs, and group-style tables with more than enough space to spread out. Grab sweet sips like hot chocolate, chocolate milk, juice, and tea, opt for a fresh fruit smoothie or a reliable cup of Joe, try one of the specialty drinks like the Mexican Spiced Mocha, or go for a Double Buzz with a hot toddy or Irish coffee. In addition to grab-and-go snacks, you can also munch on homemade breakfast burritos, personal pizzas, bagels, fruit, oatmeal, muffins, and more. The best part? When the workday is over, you can switch over to Friendly Tap for a happy hour drink and stay for a show!
Coffee is a tried-and-true morning pick-me-up, but sometimes a cup full of flavorful, freshly blended fruit is exactly the boost you need to get going. Fortunately, Juice Vibe has all that and more! This Berwyn cafe is known for its healthy, plant-based menu that specializes in juices, smoothies, fruit bowls, health shots, detox drink sets, and coffee. Start your day with an organic Mexican Cold Brew, Jungle Splash green juice, or Pink Dragon fruit smoothie and pair it with a healthy Vibe Bowl like The Selena, which features strawberries, banana, pitaya, and almond milk with granola, banana slices, oats, and chia seeds on top. The interior’s exposed brick, grassy walls, patio furniture, plants, and sun-filled dining room make it feel like summer never ends here. Set up your remote office from the cafe’s comfy couch or meet up with some friends for group co-working at a table. Whatever you do, make sure to add this tropical paradise to your work-from-home routine.
Starbucks is the go-to coffee shop for millions of people around the world, and we’ve got two locations in Berwyn for those diehard fans. Convenient and instantly recognizable, Starbucks is a great place to grab a cup of coffee and relax for a few hours of concentrated work. While both locations — one at the corner of Harlem and Cermak, the other at the corner of Harlem and Ogden — have drive-through windows, they also have updated dining rooms with plush seating, plenty of table space, outlets galore, and large windows perfect for an extended visit. Get all your favorites like seasonal teas, signature frappes, rich coffee, and more, and munch on everything from warm pastries, breads, and muffins, to hot sandwiches and healthy pre-packaged meals.
When you need a java fix, a tasty treat, and lots of comfy vibes, these cafes are the perfect place to spend a productive morning.
Pink Owl Cafe
Avito Caffe
The Local Flour Stand Cafe
Friendly Coffee Lounge
Address: 6731 W. Roosevelt Rd. | Website: www.friendlymusic.community/coffee-lounge
Juice Vibe
Address: 2137 Oak Park Ave. | Website: www.juicevibe.us Facebook
Starbucks
