How many coffee shops are there in Chicago's busiest areas?
We counted 314 coffee shops within 1 km of the centres of 10 Chicago areas. The Loop is the most crowded at 22.3 per km²; Hyde Park is the least, at 3.5.
Mapped
314
in 10 areas
Busiest area
22.3/km²
The Loop
Average rating
4.2★
places with 10+ reviews
Last scanned
13 October
2026
Coffee shops by area, most crowded first
Measured within 1 km of the centre: LOW under 5, MODERATE 5–15, HIGH 15–40, INTENSE over 40 places per km².
| Area | Within 1 km | Per km² | Avg rating | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Loop4.0★ average | 7022.3/km² | 22.3 | 4.0★ | HIGH |
| River North4.1★ average | 6922.0/km² | 22.0 | 4.1★ | HIGH |
| West Loop4.3★ average | 3511.1/km² | 11.1 | 4.3★ | MODERATE |
| Wicker Park4.3★ average | 3410.8/km² | 10.8 | 4.3★ | MODERATE |
| Lakeview4.4★ average | 278.6/km² | 8.6 | 4.4★ | MODERATE |
| Andersonville4.4★ average | 247.6/km² | 7.6 | 4.4★ | MODERATE |
| Logan Square4.6★ average | 175.4/km² | 5.4 | 4.6★ | MODERATE |
| Lincoln Park4.2★ average | 165.1/km² | 5.1 | 4.2★ | MODERATE |
| Pilsen4.5★ average | 113.5/km² | 3.5 | 4.5★ | LOW |
| Hyde Park4.2★ average | 113.5/km² | 3.5 | 4.2★ | LOW |
Where is it least crowded?
- Hyde ParkLOW
11 coffee shops within 1 km (3.5 per km²), averaging 4.2★.
- PilsenLOW
11 coffee shops within 1 km (3.5 per km²), averaging 4.5★.
- Lincoln ParkMODERATE
16 coffee shops within 1 km (5.1 per km²), averaging 4.2★.
Fewer coffee shops is not the same as more demand. Look at foot traffic and rents before you read a quiet area as an opening.
How they are rated
All 314 coffee shops in the 10 areas, by rating. Places with fewer than 10 reviews are counted apart.
- 4.5 and up112 (36%)
- 4.0 to 4.4115 (37%)
- 3.5 to 3.950 (16%)
- Below 3.518 (6%)
- Under 10 reviews19 (6%)
Chains seen most
Brands with two or more outlets inside one area circle.
- Starbucks Coffee Company44 outlets · 7 areas
- Dunkin'36 outlets · 7 areas
- Goddess and the Baker5 outlets · 2 areas
- Big Shoulders Coffee4 outlets · 2 areas
- Starbucks4 outlets · 2 areas
- Foxtrot Market4 outlets · 2 areas
- Corner Bakery Cafe3 outlets · 1 area
- Panera Bread2 outlets · 1 area
Check competition at your exact address — free
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Questions
Is Chicago saturated with coffee shops?
It depends on the street. Within 1 km of the 10 area centres we mapped, density runs from 3.5 per km² in Hyde Park to 22.3 per km² in The Loop. 2 of the 10 areas count as high or intense competition (over 15 per km²). Check the exact address you have in mind before you commit.
Which Chicago area has the most coffee shops?
The Loop, with 70 within 1 km of its centre (22.3 per km²). Next come River North (69) and West Loop (35).
What is the average rating of coffee shops in Chicago?
4.2 out of 5, across the 295 coffee shops with at least 10 reviews in the areas we mapped. The highest area average is Logan Square (4.6), the lowest The Loop (4.0).
Which coffee shop chains are most common in Chicago?
In the areas we mapped: Starbucks Coffee Company (44 outlets in 7 areas), Dunkin' (36 outlets in 7 areas), Goddess and the Baker (5 outlets in 2 areas).
How was this counted?
We scanned a 1 km circle around the centre of each area on 13 October 2026 and counted every coffee shop on the map inside it. Places missing from the map or opened since are not counted, so treat the numbers as a floor. Circles of neighbouring areas can overlap, so a place near two centres is counted in both, and the figures are not a total for the whole of Chicago.