Chicago Food Spots｜abrah & soloway coffee ☕️

The sister cafe of soloway coffee, abrah bakery, just opened nearby. Their baked goods looked delicious, so I had to try them on a nice day. The two shops are right next to each other — super convenient to visit both! 🏙️👯♀️ Both have outdoor seating, but soloway’s area under the trees is especially nice 🌳. abrah feels more like a spot for meals rather than working or studying — perfect for daytime chats or casual meetings. At abrah, I ordered the Nordic Breakfast: Lemon butter, sourdough, smoked salmon, and radish — layered and well-balanced 🍋🍞🐟. The salmon had a noticeable dill aroma, with a nice fatty texture that was rich but not too salty. The Gruyére cheese and cherry jam on the side paired well — neither was overpowering, just gentle and subtle. The whole plate felt quietly sophisticated, like an introvert’s flavor profile 😌✨. From the bakery: Fig Earl Grey Danish – Had high hopes but was sadly too sweet 🍯. The fig’s light fragrance was lost, and the Earl Grey flavor in the cream was too faint. Apricot Vanilla Croissant – Excellent! 🥐 The apricot jam kept its tangy fruitiness and texture, balanced beautifully with vanilla ganache — fragrant and not overly sweet. One note: Their storage for baked goods could be better. I visited around 1–2 PM and the pastries were already a bit stale — missing that fresh, flaky texture 😕. At soloway, I tried the Matcha Latte — wouldn’t recommend, as the matcha flavor was too light 🍵. But the vibe inside and out is lovely — great for studying or people-watching in the sun ☀️👀. #CoffeeShopVibes #StudyAbroadEats #BrunchLife #ChicagoLiving #ChicagoEats #ChicagoFoodie