Looking for an extra bougie place to grab a cup of coffee? You’re in luck: Ralph’s Coffee, the highly photographable coffee shop from fashion brand Ralph Lauren, just opened its first Chicago location inside the brand’s flagship store on Michigan Avenue.
Scores of luxury brands have expanded into the hospitality biz—think Gucci Osteria in Beverly Hills or Armani Ristorante in New York City—but cafés offer a more affordable entry point into the design-minded world of fashion dining and drinking. In New York, Ralph’s Coffee shops have become something of a staple on TikTok (one even made an appearance on the new HBO Max Gossip Girl reboot), and the Chicago location promises a similarly aesthetic-driven experience.
Located adjacent to RL Restaurant—the brand’s first-ever hospitality offering, which debuted in 1999—the 16-seat shop channels Ralph Lauren’s signature preppy vibe with herringbone wood floors, wainscoting, tufted banquettes and a crisp green-and-white color scheme, plus a fireplace and large windows overlooking Michigan Avenue. Even the staff, who dress in Ralph Lauren striped shirts and matching ties, kind of look like they’re in a catalog.
But you’re not just here for the aesthetic! The shop offers a series of specialty coffee blends and espresso drinks from La Colombe—which you can take to go and sip while browsing in the adjoining retail store—along with a selection of pastries, yogurts, overnight oats and other sweet treats, including a morning glory muffin that’s exclusive to the Chicago location. And while you probably won’t be able to recreate Ralph’s exact prep school vibe at home (short of redecorating in shades of white and hunter green, that is) you can spring for branded cups, tote bags, T-shirts and coffee beans for home brewing, in case you don’t feel like jockeying with the inevitable crowds of Instagrammers.
Ralph’s Coffee (750 N Michigan Ave) is open Monday–Saturday 8am-8pm and Sunday 9am-7pm.