Two Shades Cafe
Quick info
About Two Shades Cafe
Two Shades Cafe is a coffee shop, bakery, cafe, salad shop, tea house, and Wi-Fi spot in Chicago, operating at 1152 W Taylor St. Its range of formats gives it a broad everyday role, pairing a coffee and tea program with bakery and salad-shop offerings under one roof. The menu spans 113 items, with mains covering casual meals and lighter options, so the space works for both quick coffee stops and longer lunch or snack visits. The Caramel Macchiato sits within the coffee and tea lineup, while the Avocado Toast is a popular main and the Quesadilla adds a heartier food option. Wi-Fi is part of the setup, making the cafe practical for laptop work or casual meetups.
Good to know
- ReservationsWalk-in only
- ParkingFree of charge street parking · Paid street parking · Somewhat difficult to find a space
- AccessibilityHas wheelchair-accessible entrance · Has wheelchair-accessible seating · Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
- DietaryServes vegan dishes · Serves vegetarian dishes
Menu & Prices
113 dishes · mains $2–36
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention matcha, turkey panini, nutella latte and cafe au lait.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention matcha, turkey panini, nutella latte and cafe au lait.
Customer Review Summary
Two Shades Cafe earns consistent praise for its drinks, with reviewers repeatedly highlighting the matcha, chai, and a range of lattes including the Cuban latte, Nutella latte, caramel macchiato, and cafe au lait. Food also draws positive feedback, with diners calling out the turkey panini, chocolate croissant, avocado toast, and quuesadilla as fresh, hot, and more satisfying than typical cafe fare. The space near the UIC campus is described as well suited for both focused work and socializing, with a mix of work tables and comfortable seating, and reviewers frequently note friendly, quick service. A few caveats surface: one reviewer found a donut that did not taste very fresh, another felt the plain cup of coffee was a little acidic, and one mentioned wishing they had known about a supposed student discount. Several suggest it as a solid alternative to chain coffee shops for both studying and casual hangouts.
Customer Review Summary
Two Shades Cafe earns consistent praise for its drinks, with reviewers repeatedly highlighting the matcha, chai, and a range of lattes including the Cuban latte, Nutella latte, caramel macchiato, and cafe au lait. Food also draws positive feedback, with diners calling out the turkey panini, chocolate croissant, avocado toast, and quuesadilla as fresh, hot, and more satisfying than typical cafe fare. The space near the UIC campus is described as well suited for both focused work and socializing, with a mix of work tables and comfortable seating, and reviewers frequently note friendly, quick service. A few caveats surface: one reviewer found a donut that did not taste very fresh, another felt the plain cup of coffee was a little acidic, and one mentioned wishing they had known about a supposed student discount. Several suggest it as a solid alternative to chain coffee shops for both studying and casual hangouts.
Featured reviews
- David Seligson
“Nice coffee shop. Good coffee and food offerings. The cafe au lait was nice. Very friendly service, cool vibe.”
- Amber Simpson
“Amazing food! Great place! The food really surprised me. It did not taste like your typical cafe level food. It was fresh and tasty. Chai was also great”
- Cat M
“The food was very good and nice and hot. I got the turkey panini and it was hot and not skimpy at all. I also got a Nutella latte with good flavor and a raspberry match that was smooth and not grassy or clumpy at all. I wish I knew about the supposed student discount.”
- Michael Damato
“Great spot with good vibes, food and service were pretty quick and there's a decent number of options on the menu. A lot of nice space for collaboration or quiet work. Definitely worth your time if you're at the university.”
- Chill Guy606__
“Great coffee, I had their Cuban latte which tasted smooth yet flavorful!”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
- Serves great coffee
- Has great tea selection
- Popular for popular for breakfast
- Popular for popular for lunch
- Popular for good for solo dining
- Popular for good for working on laptop
Amenities
- Has Wi-Fi
- Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Free of charge street parking
- Dogs allowed inside
- Has no-contact delivery
- Offers takeaway
Show more amenities
- Serves dine-in
- Serves vegan dishes
- Casual
- On-site services available
- Serves coffee
- Serves comfort food
- Dining options· 4
- Serves breakfast
- Serves lunch
- Has catering
- Serves dessert
- Highlights· 1
- Has great tea selection
- Accessibility· 2
- Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Popular for· 4
- Popular for breakfast
- Popular for lunch
- Good for solo dining
- Good for working on laptop
- Facilities· 1
- Has toilet
- Parking· 2
- Paid street parking
- Somewhat difficult to find a space
- Service options· 1
- Offers delivery
- Offerings· 2
- Quick bite
- Serves vegetarian dishes
- Atmosphere· 3
- Cosy
- Quiet
- Trendy
- Pet-friendly· 1
- Dogs allowed outside
Location
How Two Shades Cafe compares to nearby cafes
- Two Shades Cafe · This shop4.5282 reviews
Mentioned in reviews: matcha, turkey panini, nutella latte
- Mojo Coffee4.6400 reviews1.2 mi
Mentioned in reviews: coffee, avocado toast, smoked salmon on rye
- TARY4.7984 reviews1.9 mi
Mentioned in reviews: balgyn quyrdaq, baursak, tary sweets
Two Shades Cafe This shop | Mojo Coffee | TARY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.5(282) | 4.6(400) | 4.7(984) | |
| Price | $10–20 | $1–10 | $20–30 |
| Distance | — | 1.2 mi | 1.9 mi |
| Open today |
How this listing is sourced
Hours, contact details, and amenities are sourced from publicly available business data and re-checked regularly. Listings are ranked independently — no paid placement.