Cafeography
Chicago · Wicker Park & Bucktown

Cafés in Wicker Park & Bucktown

Milwaukee and Damen avenues from the Blue Line up to The 606: a DeLorean at the Wormhole, Ipsento roasting on the trail since 2006, and Bucktown brunch counters.

Photo: Guohua Song, Pexels License

Alderman Charles Wicker and his brother Joel bought 80 acres along Milwaukee Avenue in 1870 and laid out streets around a 4-acre park, which gave the neighborhood its name.1 It later became a center of Polish Chicago, with Division Street known as the Polish Broadway, and Nelson Algren wrote about that strip while living at 1958 W. Evergreen Avenue from 1959 to 1975.1

Cafés follow Milwaukee and Damen avenues. Milwaukee has The Wormhole at 1462, Oro Chocolate & Coffee at 1553, Cafe Robey at 1616 and Ipsento 606 at 1813; Damen has Discourse Coffee Workshop at 1542, Buzz: Killer Espresso at 1644 and Caffe de Luca at 1721. Bucktown, north of the trail, adds Bucktown Beanery at 2158 N. Damen and Red June on Leavitt Street.

Local tip: Walk or cycle The 606 from the Damen access ramp and come down at Milwaukee Avenue for Ipsento 606; The Wormhole is about half a mile south, near the Damen Blue Line station.

At a glance

27Cafés listed
9With opening hours
07:00Earliest opening
22:00Latest closing
  • Opens earliest: Cafe Robey, from 07:00 (Mon–Thu 07:00–21:00 · Fri–Sat 07:00–22:00 · Sun 07:00–21:00).
  • Most listed streets: North Milwaukee Avenue (6), N Damen Ave (4), North Western Avenue (3).
  • Most common features: wheelchair access (15%), card payment (11%), takeaway (7%).

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Coffee chains in Wicker Park & Bucktown

The Blue Line and The 606

The Damen and Division Blue Line stations put Wicker Park a short ride from the Loop.1 The 606, an elevated park built on the old Bloomingdale freight line, opened on June 6, 2015, and runs 2.7 miles (4.3 km) east to west; the railroad dates from 1873 and was raised about 20 feet in the 1910s.2 It forms Wicker Park’s northern boundary and has access ramps at Milwaukee, Damen and Western avenues.12

The Wormhole and its DeLorean

The Wormhole, at 1462 N. Milwaukee Avenue between Evergreen Avenue and Honore Street, is a time-travel-themed coffee shop with a DeLorean installed at the front of the store.3 When Time Out reviewed it in June 2010, it served Fritz Pastry doughnuts and breakfast cereal alongside beans from several roasters and a strong cold brew, and an average cup of coffee cost US$2.3 The closest train is the Damen Blue Line stop.3

Ipsento on the trail

Ipsento has roasted its own coffee in Bucktown since 2006, and its name joins the Latin ipse (self) and sentio, which the café translates as “to discover”.4 Its café, Ipsento 606, sits on The 606 at 1813 N. Milwaukee Avenue, and its house latte cost from US$6.80 and chai latte from US$6.30 as of 2026.4 It opens at 07:00 every day, with Wi-Fi and outdoor seating.

Across the street, thrd at 1816 N. Milwaukee opens at 07:00 from Tuesday to Saturday. A few blocks west, Allez Café at 2239 N. Western Avenue serves daily 08:00–14:00.

Galleries, brunch and later hours

The Around the Coyote arts festival began here in 1989 to promote local artists and for years centered on the Flatiron Arts Building, usually in October, before moving downtown in 2008.1 Gallery Cafe, at 1760 W. North Avenue, opens at 07:00 Monday to Saturday, and Sarima Cafe at 1924 W. North serves 09:00–14:00 from Wednesday to Sunday.

Many Wicker Park cafés close by mid-afternoon. Two that stay open into the evening are Cafe Robey, at 1616 N. Milwaukee, open 07:00–21:00 and until 22:00 on Friday and Saturday, and Deep Purpl, at 1375 N. Milwaukee, which serves until 21:00 every day.

Sources

  1. Wicker Park, Chicago, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
  2. The 606, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
  3. The Wormhole Coffee (June 16, 2010), Time Out Chicago, accessed October 2026
  4. Ipsento 606: about and menu, Ipsento, accessed October 2026
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In Wicker Park & Bucktown, also browse: Wi-Fi Bakery cafés Outdoor seating Open late Specialty coffee

FAQ

Wicker Park & Bucktown cafés: questions

What is the coffee shop with a DeLorean in Wicker Park, Chicago?

It is The Wormhole, a time-travel-themed coffee shop at 1462 N. Milwaukee Avenue, between Evergreen Avenue and Honore Street, with a DeLorean installed at the front of the store. When Time Out reviewed it in 2010 it served Fritz Pastry doughnuts and cereal, and an average cup cost US$2. The nearest train is the Damen Blue Line stop.

Which café is on The 606 trail in Bucktown, Chicago?

Ipsento 606, on The 606 at 1813 N. Milwaukee Avenue, has roasted its own coffee in Bucktown since 2006. It opens at 07:00 daily and has Wi-Fi and outdoor seating; its house latte cost from US$6.80 as of 2026. The 606 opened on June 6, 2015, and runs 2.7 miles on the old Bloomingdale freight line.

Which cafés in Wicker Park, Chicago, stay open in the evening?

Cafe Robey, at 1616 N. Milwaukee Avenue, is open 07:00–21:00 and until 22:00 on Friday and Saturday, and Deep Purpl, at 1375 N. Milwaukee Avenue, serves until 21:00 every day. Many other cafés in Wicker Park and Bucktown close by mid-afternoon.

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