Saw this place in passing many times, and today finally decided to stop in with a friend. Coffee was okay, but not worth it for the high price tag. Received glares as my friend and I walked in the door not only from the baristas, but also the clientele. The lack of music only fueled the terrible ambience. The baristas were unfriendly, and were staring at us quite a bit, as if they were expecting us to steal something. They seemed impatient when we were trying to order, which was very difficult since the only menu available is an 8 x 11 piece of paper right in front of the register. Both baristas’ attitudes and the coffee left a bad taste in our mouths. They clearly are only used to a certain type of customer base, and we seemed to stick out like a sore thumb. Will not be coming back here, and I definitely would not recommend a visit.

I've been wanting to try this coffee place for a while, but was deeply disappointed in my experience there today. Right when my friend and I walked in, we received cold stares from the customers and the baristas. The baristas seemed very uncomfortable with us being in the cafe, and would not stop staring at us, which in turn made us very uncomfortable and feel unwelcomed. We had not done anything or had spoken since we walked in that would create that kind of action towards us, but we proceeded to order our drinks anyway. When asking about the menu and the coffee flavors the barista gave us an unpleasant attitude. We then sat down to do some homework, and the barista kept giving us very clear messages that we were not welcome there. It got to the point where we felt compelled to leave because they had created such an uncomfortable atmosphere. They made it very clear that we were not the “ideal” consumer for that location. Overall I am very disappointed and will be warning others about my horrible experience.

Quick Service! Love love their hot chocolate!

Great lattes, and pastries in a relaxing atmosphere. Intelligentsia does a solid job with barista training, so they always make it a really good experience.

Expensive ($5.31) coffee, but five stars because it was tasty, aromatic, and fresh. Coming in here the Friday before Christmas at 10:30 am, I expected this place, like many in the Loop, to be empty. But almost every table was full. It's right across from the courthouse, so if you want to see lawyers in suits, drinking coffee, this is the spot. Friendly staff. The drip coffee was served quickly after ordering despite the overall busy shop. Dollop Coffee is nearby and you can get the same, or at least a similar, cup of coffee for around $4.50. Both are good.

Its a nice coffee shop came here for cappuccino the barista was super friendly liked the atmosphere. The coffee was a little bitter apart from that everything was great.

Ordered a cappuccino, tasted nice but I thought the size of the coffee cup would be a little bigger. It was just a small cup for $5. Portion size could have been bigger - that’d have made it nicer.

You will not do better than Intelligentsia for the best coffee in Chicago, and the absolute best of the best is Monadnock. Its high standards are befitting the historic building, which set records in its day for finding innovative solutions to the challenge of the pre-steel-constructed high rise. The baristas at Mondanock are incredibly knowledgeable and professional, and the vibe is exquisite, the best of what Chicago has to offer in cafe culture. And if you're a hot chocolate fan (I am 😍), this is the best in the city, maybe in the country. The base is a homemade ganache omg that will blow your mind. Love the product, love the staff, an excellent team with excellent leadership. Check them out! Deeelish

Very good coffee and a small but nice selection of pastries and other goodies to go with

I gotta say this was one of the best coffees I got in Chicago. I bought a bag of their Ethiopian beans and roasting was on point. About the staff thought, there is one specific guy with a moustache that is cero friendly, thinks he’s above everyone else and provides an awful service.

Had one of the best cappuccino in town. It’s too bad the barista who did it was going to be leaving. The Kouign-Amman was tasty but also very flaky leaving quite a bit of debris.

Been wanting to try this coffee spot for awhile because it’s close to where I live. The barista I interacted with when I l got there was rude and condescending when I asked her questions about the coffee bc I have never been there. Felt uncomfortable and just left without trying anything. Won’t be returning

Great espresso, good service, nice atmosphere. Stale croissants though, bad, better get something else.

Intelligentsia makes great coffee, but coffee is nothing without talented baristas to get every possible note and nuance from the bean. Their baristas are fantastic and I had one of the best pour overs I’ve ever had at this location. Definitely a good place for any coffee enthusiast to get a great cup. Their espresso is also excellent.

Great coffee shop in the loop. Intelligentsia has some of the best coffee in Chicago. I like that there is always a wide variety of options, either blends or single origin. This shop is unique with the more classic style compared to other Chicago locations. Always impressed with the staff as well, super helpful and willing to answer detailed coffee questions, if you have any.

The espresso is quite good and they give you a small glass of sparkling water with it which is a very nice touch. I also have had some of their pastries which are very good, I would recommend the Espresso creme muffin, the old fashioned donuts are also very good. The mochas they make are more sweet and milky than I prefer but if that's your thing than you'll definitely enjoy them. Intelligentsia is a great coffee shop worth going to and its in the Monadnock building which is a plus if you enjoy historic buildings.

A great place to grab a cup of java. My go to is the Avena Latte but sometimes sidetrack to a Mocha. Friendly staff and even though it stays busy, I never wait to long. Definitely recommend stopping by and grabbing a drink and a snack.

Cozy small coffee shop with surprising number of seats. Avena Latte is one of their signature drinks that is amazingly delicious.

World class coffee and eats in a stunning and unique space. Perfect location in the famous Monadnock building just south of the Calder Flamingo sculpture in Federal Square in Chicago's proud Loop! So thrilled they are open again! Keep that impressive building and businesses on the right track for recorvery. It's good for all of us. Hooray for Intelligentsia! Welcome back.

Great plce to have 3rd wave coffee. Also offering fresh beans from various countries.

Actually, their coffee was good. Nothing earth-shaking at all. It appeared to be primarily a meeting place for business bodies. Felt like I should've worn a tie and jacket. 😀

Absolutely love Intelligentsia and this location is no different! Phenomenal coffee as always, with baristas who know what they’re talking about. The friendly person with a mustache was incredibly knowledgeable in helping me figure out what to order. Thank you kind stranger!

What a coffee!!! Lot better than Starbucks or Dunkin 😄

I had a mocha here once and then five more times since last month..That speaks for itself .

A step up from Starbucks to say the least. These guys have it down to a science; they’re so efficient, knowledgeable about their craft and products, and to top it off they have such a classy appearance to compound the overall look of the shop. One of the best coffees I have had, and that is no exaggeration.

Walked in wearing a tank top and I was looked at like a homeless person just entered the store. To be fair, "Intelligentsia" explicitly states their expected audience. I bought a coffee anyway and their coffee was good.

Nice coffee shop serviced by some great folks. The bakery items are top-notch! The Jalapeño Parm Cornbread muffin is most excellent, as is the Ham & Swiss Croissant.

Intelligentsia coffee is one of my favorite local coffee brands. This place had great coffee, an amazing chocolate croissant and nice ambiance. I would only try to make the chairs more comfy

Intelligentsia Coffee's Monadnock Coffeebar is a must-visit for coffee lovers. The coffee is high-quality and expertly prepared, the baristas are knowledgeable and friendly, and the ambiance is modern and inviting. Prices are reasonable. 5 stars!

Very nice place to sit and drink a good esspresso.

The people were really nice, very clean. The food and coffee were delicious. I ordered the creme brûlée mint latte hot it was taste just like it's name so I wasn't disappointed. The only thing it was kind of pricy but it's a small business so I didn't mind.

There is better coffee in Chicago. This place is a large chain, with the consistency you’d expect from one. The prices are incredibly high. $9 for a shot and a drip?!?

A friend recommended this place for the coffee. That was good. The ham and cheese croissant was "meh", and I would not recommend it. Also, they had no ability to heat the croissant, which I thought was a bit odd. Service was pleasant, and I liked the interior decor as well as the cup and saucer style.

A cozy little spot that can easily be missed. Fast friendly service, but kind of pricey.

Great coffee. My Americano was perfect. I brought a bag of coffee beans home to extend the experience. A truly great roast!

Staff is always extremely friendly and makes mornings a little brighter. Great pastries and the Angelino with Oatmilk is to die for. Slowly becoming one of my go-tos when I'm downtown!

Good coffee. Super friendly staff. Clean environment. The croissant could be warm to be a 5-star. Everything else is great.

The barista was very friendly when I came by a few months back as I was staying in the area. The espresso was delicious as was the kouing-aman. What I especially liked was the historical pictures on the wall about what the building used to be.

A trip to Chicago isn't complete without a visit to the Monadnock Coffeebar. Urbane, comfortable and satisfying. I love stopping by for a well-prepared and presented coffee beverage and pastry. I HIGHLY recommend!

Good espresso. Atmosphere could be nicer but still great.

Great location, very impressive chai tea latte I was impressed with the environment of the coffee shop and the great service.

Their latte has a bit of cayenne in it, I think it was really flavorful, 10/10 will go again

Very fun independent cafe in this see of starbucks and DDs! Had a great espresso with free sparkling water.