In the age of laptops, tablets, and smartphones, it’s hard to find a cafe that isn’t packed with customers who work from home. While Chicago offers plenty of incredible cafes and coffee hot spots, from cocktail-inspired cafes to theater-centric bookstore/cafe hybrids , and designer affiliated picks .
Still, there’s something special about curling up with a good paperback and a hot beverage! Kibbitznest provides the perfect atmosphere to do so.
The bookstore/bar is a wifi free zone and a laptop-free environment, instead filling the space with community wooden tables, comfy lounge chairs, floor pillows, and plenty of kitschy decorations. It’s BYOB (bring your own book!) and if you so desire, you can also bring your own snacks.
With a giant front room featuring a long wooden top bar, and tables to gather at, often you’ll find the place packed, customers busy reading or speaking in hushed tones. There’s even an event room that can be reserved in advance and the back area functions more like a community room, with chatter at normal volume and ambient music piping through the speakers.
There’s a menu filled with cheese plates, hummus platters, and ice cream sundaes, along with an extensive selection of drinks ranging from alcoholic seltzers, and beers, to espresso martinis, and of course your typical drip coffee and tea options.
Kibitznest hosts comedy nights, storytelling sessions, and liberal arts discussions, along with a selection of board games and books available for purchase from best sellers to used books and everything in between.
Make a reservation for the back room, which hosts 20 to 59 people, or rent out the entire venue. The Reading Room, a more secluded space behind closable glass doors can also be rented out in advance for parties of 12 to 17 people. Email store@kibbitznest.com if interested. For anyone looking to bring a party of 5 or more, it is asked that you make a reservation prior to arriving to accommodate your party. Grab a happy hour special from 4 to 6 pm Wednesdays through Fridays.
Normal hours of operation include Wednesday to Thursday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., Friday from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., Saturday from 1 p.m. to 12 a.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Check out the official website here.
Address: 2212 N. Clybourn Ave., Chicago, IL 60614