Chicago Cafés｜LOBA & La Colombe ☕️🥐

Tried two coffee/bakery spots recently—just a quick note. My top requirement for breakfast coffee is proximity—ideally within a 10-minute walk. This time I stayed at Hilton Magnificent Mile, for reference. LOBA was farther, a 10–15 minute ride, so I only went once.👍😘 Based on flavor and vibe alone, I’d definitely go more often. Cozy, bright, and warm inside, though the pastry selection was limited on a weekday morning around 10:30. Grabbed the last pineapple sourdough muffin and a flat white to go. The flat white was aromatic with well-balanced milk and espresso—solid for a neighborhood bakery. The muffin was moist with nice pineapple bits, but had a noticeable oily feel whether cold or warmed.🙌😘 Sadly missed the coconut sourdough milk bread—staff said it’s more likely available Fridays/Saturdays. La Colombe was my go-to the next two days—only a 10-minute walk. Classic chain vibe, compact space, and busy with office crowds, so I took everything back to the hotel. Coffee wasn’t as great as reviews said—beans had a slight boozy but bitter note, milk wasn’t rich, and the hot latte tasted watery. Croissants (chocolate & bacon cheese) were clearly frozen.💕😁 But prices are fair—think of it as Starbucks with slightly better coffee. Their draft latte reminded me of Starbucks’ canned version—refreshing iced. Vanilla was actually better than the popular strawberry flavor. #StudentEats #WhatToEatToday #ChicagoEats #ChicagoCafes 🥯✨🏙️