Cafe Integral

Good coffee, good food. Lounge like ambience. very cozy and some parts are dark. There is a table up front where you get sunlight and can work. at the back, there are couches and it is dimly lit. Service is fantastic. They serve you in porcelain cups and not paper like some places.

I wanted to go here for quite a bit, I had high expectations for it. Don’t get me wrong the service is really good, friendly staff and all but their coffee was just OK for me, nothing out of this world. I do want to highlight that the entrance door is an amazing looking wood door :)

45 minute wait for yogurt.
It looks like a slow Tuesday morning, the morning rush is over, but the wait is beyond what I can understand. When I went to check on my order, I was told they only have 1 chef in the kitchen. I did notice there is a lot of staff around, slowly pacing the area, carring glass bottles of water. I am not sure why none of them can go scoop yogurt in a bowl, but I guess that’s a task only this special cook can handle, or maybe this staff is wholeheartedly dedicated to pretending to not notice the disgruntled customers around them. There is 1 guy who is actually working… I like him and feel bad for him for getting the brunt of the angry customers as he picked up empty dishes behind.
I would have left, but after spending $ 9.50 and only getting a glass of OJ with 1 sip in it, I am determined to get my yogurt. I am hoping this long wait brings me something that tastes like hipsters dancing on my tongue.
The place is cute and comfortable at least, and the couple who just walked out without getting their meal gave me comfort that maybe I should settle on a bowl of disappointment, and do the same.
Update: 56 minutes, I got my yogurt! The fella who brought it over to me was the same one I mentioned above, he was apologetic and sweet. I wanted to hug him as my tummy leaped for excitment. I had it put in a takeout cup, and on my walk to my hotel, I realized they forgot to add the honey that was listed in the description.

This review is for the coffee only. Oh, and the attitude. As a San Franciscan, I take my coffee seriously. I came here based on the reviews with high hopes. After being ignored for a full minute, while I was the only person in line or anywhere near the coffee bar, I ordered my almond milk latte. $ 5.25!!! I mentioned I’m from SF, so I’m used to being robbed for good coffee, but that’s more than my go to place back home… still, if it’s great I’m ok with it. While I was waiting for my drink, another customer politely asked for cream and sugar. When she walked away, the female employee muttered something about her. Nice.
Almond milk latte arrives. Tastes like coffee flavored water. Threw it away. Maybe this is why everyone I see around here has a Starbucks cup.

Was in a bind for a bite to eat for breakfast and popped into this place. It is in the freehand hotel. The atmosphere is unique, somewhat bohemian chic. The coffee was delicious. The breakfast sandwich was less than desired-​the bagel wasn’t toasted which left the egg and avocado fairly mushy. The smoked fish toast, however was pretty tasty. If I went back, I’d aim for getting pastries and coffee!

It’s beautiful inside but I can’t give it 5 stars for just that. First of all– one piece of avocado toast is $ 9, which is frankly ridiculous. Charging $ 9 for a slice of bread with no more than ¼ of an avocado smashed on top is absurd, and the toast itself was nothing to write home about. I had the drip coffee of the day which, while fine, was again nothing special.
Where this place wins major points is its décor– it has a gorgeous interior and it would be a great way to spend a couple hours. However, the price points are way off, and the product itself is mediocre. Don’t think I’ll come back

This place is adorable! AND it DOES have decaf. The baristas are very friendly. As others have said it’s located in the lobby of a hotel, and that lobby is filled with tons of couches and dark nooks perfect for cozying up with hot coffee and a good book. There are also tables for computer users. Outlets are scattered throughout. The servers do a good job circulating and keeping things cleaned and customers served. There is a separate bar with cocktails and you can order from them while seated, but for coffee/​tea service from the café you must get up from your spot and order at the café — it’s really a separate business.
I had a decaf americano (that silly person who said there wasn’t decaf almost kept me from this great place!) and while it was rather small and pricy for the size it was very very good — smooth and balanced. I then tried the Malabar Tonic tea — a lovely decaf blend of ginger, turmeric, and lemongrass made by a local tea maker called Spirit (whose loose leaf I will now be hunting for the remainder of my stay in Chicago). The tea is generously portioned and served in a teapot so go that route if you want to sip a while.

One thing was better than the next! We ordered the shakshuka and the yuca Benedict– both are MUST tries! Each of us had a latte as well– one whole milk, one almond milk. The mugs are basically bowls which is AMAZING! Service is great, definitely more of a fast casual place but very, very cool! Located in The Freehand Hotel on Ohio.

I never go inside hotel coffee shops because I don’t know about them. Living in River North it was nice to escape from my daily Starbucks run and head to café integral inside of the Freehand hotel. Styled in a dark, vintage, and comfortable style area, it was nice to get a fresh Nicaroughan beans coffee. From start to finish the smells and taste was so satisfying. It was nice to have option to add almond milk to sweeten it.
Some of the hotel guests it seemed like– were enjoying little bites of café style foods while sitting quietly and enjoying their morning. I will definitely return for a to go!

I heard about this place through friends, but didn’t enjoy the brand of coffee one bit. I’ve never cared for Nicaraguan beans, and this was the final try for me.
Blends are either too acidic, watery, or, bland in taste.
The Flat White was better than the drip coffee.
I also tried a mixed coffee drink that was recommended by the barista, and that was good. Not good enough to return for, though.
Interior setup was decent. Some light existed in the entrance-​way, but as you continue inward, towards the lobby/​lounge area, it gets drastically dim. Perhaps even dark.
Service was nice, and the stars are strictly allotted for it.

I’ve chosen Café Inegral to be my 300^th Unilocal review, because it meets a bar of criteria that Buddy Guy set for his own show at Legends in January: «so funky you can smell it.» You start out in the café, with a purist preparing your coffee like a laboratory scientist might, weighing the ingredients and using time as his accompanist to extract the exact flavor desired from what must be über-​carefully-​roasted beans. I’ve been here just a couple times so far, but my espresso was flawless, served with a bonus fizzy-​water back; my mocha was damned tasty, served in a bowl like they do in France, sending me back in time to some fond memories of Paris in the spring, in the courtyard of a cheap, yet shabby-​chic hotel, stumbling with my freshman French until the lass finally freed me with her native soft, English accent…
Ah, but that’s only the appetizer to the journey at Café Integral. After you order, saunter to the back of the bright café and you move into a dimmer world of the hotel lobby. It’s like entering your uncle’s den, if your uncle were very funky and decorated it with comfy couches, chairs, footstools, pillows and more than enough electrical outlets to keep your fingers and thumbs busy as long as you’d like. (Yes, I know that thumbs are fingers too; I just forget sometimes, since they seem so opposed to it.) Groovy.
Your uncle likes his music funky; so be prepared for your feets to want to dance to one America, under a groove, with old Sly and the Family Stone, Eddie Kendricks, Curtis Mayfield, and even a little Ike and Tina Turner before Tina got the funk out of that bad situation. It’s nice to have her visiting this good situation, though. But it’s still daytime, and you’re still sipping caffeine and not cognac. I really need to return here once the apertifs start flowing…

Café Integral was a pleasant surprise — the drip coffee was fresh and strong and I indulged by having the avocado toast. So good! The service was a tad slow to get the food but I was not in a big hurry to eat. Instead, I relaxed in the lobby area on one of the sofas, read and enjoyed my carafe of coffee. A great way to start the day in this comfy, chill café.

This is the first time I went here. I ordered hot chocolate and smashed avocado toast with a poached egg ($ 16 without tips). The hot chocolate is about average compared to the one at Mindy’s Chocolate. The toast is good. It is fresh and healthy.

Classy elegant lounge! located in the lobby of the hotel. This place is perfect to grab a cup of coffee to go or have a short coffee break while strolling downtown Chicago.
I came here to grab a latte to go. Espresso bar area where you order had lots of natural lights and I liked the interior a lot. When I walked in further, I noticed it was actually used as a lobby of hotels, so it had a dark, cool, and classy lounge atmosphere. I liked it and I saw lots of people working on computer there, but I preferred the counter corner spaces near espresso bar because of the brightness.
I was not very big fan of taste of coffee, but I got a beautiful art on my cup and I still like it. It was better than Starbucks for sure!

This place freaking rocks. It’s in the lobby of a hostel… The lattes are well crafted with care. I’m picky about latte quality. They are delicious. The sitting are is part of the hostel lobby — but it is retro-​sheik. It reminded me of an old Bogart movie set. There were ample plugins available for laptops and mobile devices.
The pasties were really good as well. The menu also had simple sandwiches and the like. It all looked really good.

I’m very particular about coffee — I’m a Starbucks fanatic and drink it black. If coffee is not so good, and you don’t dress it with anything, it can be a bad experience.
My daughter chose this place for us while she waited for her shift to start at her job. Café Integral is attached to a boutique hotel and maintains the character of the hotel in their coffee shop.
Their menu is fairly basic — they have drip coffee, espresso drinks, teas and some pastries. I had a small coffee. It was very different than what I’m used to — it had a strong flavor with chocolate overtones. It was very good. The rest of the group had either coffee of lattes and everyone was pleased.
Café Integral is set up almost like a living room. There are overstuffed couches and chairs, with tables to set your drinks or laptop on. Lots of people were around talking, and quite a few were working. It was comfortable, clean and a place I would go back to any time.

My boyfriend and I stopped by Café Integral while on a weekend trip to Chicago, and we really enjoyed it! I had an almond milk hot chocolate which was very creamy and rich. He had an Americano which he liked as well. The espresso machines are top-​notch and one of the best we’ve seen. They offer breakfast foods and snacks, but we didn’t try any of them as we were going to brunch shortly afterwards.
The interior is quite dim and has a lounge feel to it. There are lots of sofas, bookshelves, and cool wooden décor that gives off the feel of a plush study. The music is on louder side, so it’s not ideal for studying or reading. The tables are low (more like coffee tables) so it’d be difficult to place your laptop and work on it. There is free WiFi though.

Café Integral is located inside Freehand Hotel. I just moved to Chicago, and I am happy my husband and I found this spot.
The coffee is perfect! They make a delicious Almond latte, it is so good that this week we have been grabbing two coffees a day… You know you have been drinking too much coffee when on your first week in a new city, the barista already knows who you are!
The spot is charming, really cozy décor. You can get your coffee and sit wherever you want. They offer free wifi.
The baristas are friendly and good at what they do.
They offer some sandwiches and pastries and they look good, unfortunately nothing for vegans. That would be my only wish.
Hello Universe?! Please make them add something vegan to the menu!

Amazing little café inside the Freehand hotel on Ohio Ave. Walk up to the coffee bar and order, then take a seat anywhere and enjoy. When we came in on a Sunday lunch, there was a live band playing in the background, which was such a wonderful way to start our brunch. There’s good, fast internet available for free throughout the building and some plugs around in case you need.
The flat white is wonderful and rich, but not overpowering. Get the avocado smash openfaced toast — served with pickled radishes, it’s light, fresh, and delicious. Frittata was also fluffy and delicious.
Could easily (and did) pass many hours here just hanging out, checking out the scene, getting some work done. Feels very euro/​NY, but not in a pretentious way. Not overly hipster, just a nice, solid café. Staff is incredibly nice.

Great coffee + awesome staff.
The only downside is that there’s only a tiny bit of light in the space which comes through the front window.