Important Notice:We have made the tough decision to say goodbye to the Foursquare City Guide mobile app, effective December 15, 2024, with the web version to follow in early 2025. Visit our FAQ for more information or to download our Swarm app.
Planning a trip to Chicago?
Foursquare can help you find the best places to go to.
Bow Truss Coffee
(Now Closed)Coffee Shop$$$$
River North, Chicago
87 Tips and reviews
Sort:
- Popular
- Recent
Adrian PhillipsOctober 12, 2017Cozy coffee spot by the Merchandise Mart Brown Line stop. Use their helpful menu which features milk quantity to select the right beverage for you. Flat whites all the way! They carry Topo Chico too!
Fernando CovasApril 26, 2016The alt macchiato is a treat. Try Las Ninfas Pacamara if you can. Their coffee is excellent, and if you can find a space (not many seats), it's a good place to work or hang out with a friend.- Smantha JonesNovember 19, 2015The space is hip,but still cozy.The espresso is top tier.And Jeffrey was the friendliest barista I've encountered in a long time:genuine,helpful,and knowledgeable without pretense. surely recommended
Aaron CruzJune 19, 2016Latte, latte, latte at this River North neighborhood shop. Sitting right alongside the path of L, love the vibe and looked forward to coming to this spot for years.
Alexandros PlexidasDecember 2, 2014Nice, small and cosy cafe. The tastes of coffee are authentic and elegant and the owners are really cool. Too bad the place doesn't have enough sitting space... Recommended!
Seth PutnamMay 19, 2014Cave-like with a beautiful sliver of light toward the front in the morning. +1 for the Dead Weather morning jams. Bring a book or some offline work, because you won't find WiFi here.
Cole KennedyNovember 23, 2016Cute coffee spot with a variety of roasts and V60 pourovers. It's not huge but there are a handful of spots to get work done.
Hands down best coffee in Chicago. Great v-60 coffee, and delicious cold brew. Great, friendly staff, and very speedy service!
Jonathan FerreraJanuary 29, 2016Bow Truss is a tiny space with sparse seating, but the cozy feel is something you don't get at many coffee places downtown.
Marty DiamondJanuary 6, 2016Especially helpful and friendly staff! I recommend discussion their various whole bean offerings with them. They know their stuff!
Paul FarrellApril 17, 2015Excellent coffee. V60 pour overs are great, but the flat white was the most memorable and worth a detour
Mark TattersallMay 11, 2015Espresso to stay. Truly delicious and comes with sparkling water to wash it down. Just good coffee done right.
Staff PicksJanuary 7, 2016Looking for that special coffee place? Try Bow Truss, where staffers—all coffee aficionados—roast the homemade coffee in store. Read more
Paul TziridesDecember 17, 2016Pour-over coffee is well worth it, Bow Truss always has high quality beans and great roasts.
Rachel SlursMarch 15, 2017Latte was perfect. They have matcha lattes too, but they were temporarily out when I visited.
Danny RosadoSeptember 18, 2016They Are A Very Nice And Calm Welcoming Coffee Shop To Go To And Such Kind Workers That Are Always Excited
Bo ShiMarch 27, 2013Very cool, rustic styled coffee shop. Seating is sparse, but what is available is very charming. Hopefully they get free WiFi soon!
Simply the best espresso near the mart. And of course you can get an americano.
K JaxxMarch 15, 2013What a nice surprise when getting off the Brown line. The Coffee was bold & rich. The staff was friendly & knowledgable of their different blends.
Chris SteeleDecember 22, 2014If you can't decide and love espresso, order a one-and-one: split shot with one half served as a macchiato.
Adam ZadikoffAugust 6, 2014Fantastic cup of coffee. The Chemex is a great way to share a cup with a friend.
no Wi-Fi and it's wonderful. nice to be able to have a decent conversation or read a book without the constant ticking and clicking.
Cold brewed coffee (aka iced coffee) is really good here. And I mean go out of your way for it good.
Bruce BoltonAugust 4, 2014Not on the menu but if you ask they'll do a flat-white. And a good one. Thanks chaps.
Ed PodojilOctober 4, 2015The hipsterness is real. Appreciate the local atmosphere/attitude, but I get better vibes at intelligentsia.
Pop up pastry stand breaks the usual monotony. Pour over is worth the wait.
James BroccoliJuly 8, 2016A little small, but the coffee is worth squeezing in. Don't be intimidated by the hipsters.
Mackenzie BrillAugust 19, 2015Right off the brown line at merchandise, amazing atmosphere, wildly friendly staff
Charles PeedMarch 12, 2015Awesome coffee shop! Great people, delicious coffee... a must every morning.
Bow Truss CoffeeFebruary 7, 2013It's opening day! Come have a look around the new space and say hello to our baristas!
Chantay LeonardFebruary 28, 2014Great Guatemalan coffee. You must also have a Glazed & Infused donut. Pure #Donut-cide
Here in the morning? Say hi to Jess & Greg. Then leave them a nice tip for your wonderful drink.
Jill MoorheadNovember 7, 2013Ordering a coffee here requires more decisions than buying a house. Also, pulleys holding suitcases!
- It's a small shop, but there's a table along the window with pastries. Good pastries!!!
NickJanuary 21, 2016They do have WiFi. Pass code is right on the blackboard. Watch out when you enter or exit. The door SLAMS!
Linda FelterAugust 24, 2015Don't come here looking for a seat or a place to have a meeting. No wifi and only two tables. The coffee though... 👌🏼- Really good coffee here. And really nice staff. Support these folks.
FJune 24, 2013Get a seat by the window, drink a cappuccino and listen to the trains thunder by overhead.
Chris BeukenkampFebruary 26, 2015A lil bit of a different route to work today allowing me to drop in on @bowtruss
Aaron MakinenApril 19, 2014Decor fiends will enjoy the 125-year-old cash register, and the suitcase-speakers.
266 Photos
Foursquare © 2024 Lovingly made in NYC, CHI, SEA & LA
Bow Truss River North is the downtown sibling to Lakeview's Bow Truss Coffee Roasters. Home to freshly roasted beans and a vintage vibe, Bow Truss River North is the perfect way to start your day.
Permanently closed (Show more)
- Mon–Fri
- 7:00 AM–6:00 PM
(312) 222-1306
Features
Credit Cards
Yes (incl. Discover & Visa)
Wi-Fi
No
Outdoor Seating
No
Food & Drink
Menus
Lunch
See More
You might also like
- 8.8
"Free drip or iced coffee with an order of beans!"
David
- 8.7
"There's no visible menu and that's a good thing. They serve European style drinks. Artificial is out. A cup of coffee is 2.50 with 50 cent refills and it's definitely worth it. Great pastries too."
Chad Curry - 9.1
"Nice experience,good ambience and city view😍 with many choices of drinks,snacks and coffee tools to buy."
Ghaida✨
Places people like to go after Bow Truss Coffee
- 8.0
"Massive place. You WILL get lost. But they have everything. Including great food!"
L K
- 8.9
"One of the best Donuts place in the world!!!!! Go early for more choices! Take out only except little table outside."
Christine D - 9.1
"They have a wide variety of donuts & other treats! Get here early to snag some of their apple fritters as they tend to run out quickly!"
Kimmie Ohh
Appears on 391 lists
Thrillist's Best Day of Your Life: Chicago
Created by Thrillist
12 items • 935 followers
Created by Jason Pope
217 items • 159 followers
