Home to roughly 100,000 proud Chicagoans, Lakeview is a mix of energy. The neighborhood is unofficially divided into smaller enclaves: Lakeview East, West Lakeview, Southport Corridor, Boystown & Wrigleyville. It's a mix of the bustling, the peaceful and everything in between. Here you'll find tourists and residents alike vying for space at popular restaurants, cafes, biergartens, boutiques, parks & the lakefront. It's also home to many of the city's "bests" in several categories.
Lakeview East is home to this original Intelligentsia cafe. I recall hearing of their pour-overs being described by coworkers in legendary fashion, back when I had no idea what a pour-over was. This place is for the uber coffee geek, and the casual drinker alike. I can vouch for the latter. Although these folks take their coffee very seriously, they are just as eager to share recommendations. You can either set up shop in the cafe at a number of tables, or have your caffeine as takeaway. The whole bean options also make a great gift.
