Aion
This new Wicker Park tea house is also a store specializing in Greek, Roman and Chinese antiquities. But with more than 70 types of loose tea and two floors of seating, the focus is more on sipping than shopping. Get your tea in one of the Chinese Xiying clay pots shaped like dragons, hands and gourds. 2135 W. Division St. 773-489-1534.
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When Local Grind abruptly closed its doors last spring, Wicker Park lost one of its coziest spots. Not to worry. It’s back with a new name, new owner and updated interior. The tattered couches have been replaced with new ones and arty photos fill the walls. 1585 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-227-4850.
Chase Cafe
Located in a converted 1922 hotel lobby, this sprawling Rogers Park space embraces every aspect of the coffeehouse aesthetic. There’s a cyber cafe, performance space, audio- and video-editing suite, art gallery and patio. Oh, and they serve coffee and sandwiches, too. 7301 N. Sheridan Rd. 773-743-5650.
JavaCha
The specialty here is bubble tea, a sweetened tea blended with milk and loaded with chewy tapioca balls. It’s served cold and slurped through thick straw. 3415 N. Clark St. 773-325-2421. (Also try bubble tea at Joy Yee’s Noodles, 521 Davis St., Evanston, 847-733-1900, and 2131 S. Archer Ave., 312-328-0001.)
IntelligentsiA Coffee Roasters and Tea Blenders
You can find IntelligentsiA coffee at a lot of independent coffee spots throughout the city, but it’s best at this Lakeview cafe where beans are delivered fresh every morning from the roaster. Try the 8th annual Celebration Blend, a spicy and full-bodied holiday roast that debuts Wednesday. 3123 N. Broadway, 773-348-8058.
