New Eastside coffee guide

By Jon Cohn | Community Contributor

Our highly caffeinated journey begins with a tour around Lake Shore East Park, with stops at The Drunken Bean 400 E. South Water St., Eggy’s Diner, 333 E. Benton Pl. and the 24-hour Subway, which also offers decent coffee.

Of course, Mariano’s grocery store serves up the java hot and fresh every morning, offering its Red Eye and Black Eye specials, with one and two shots of espresso respectively.

Additionally, Bockwinkel’s grocery stores, one located at the Harbor Point building and the other at the corner of Stetson and South Water Streets, offer up delicious Papa Nickolas brand coffee. The Fairmont Hotel, 200 N. Columbus Dr., has a neat little coffee stand right in the lobby featuring coffee, cappuccinos and lattés, as does Radisson Blu hotel at their

“Blu Bar,” which is open every morning.

Another great spot geared toward lovers of coffee is Swissotel, 323 E. Upper Wacker

Dr., which features The Amuse Bar and offers Valentine brand coffee. Moving on in our caffeine saturated venture, we head over to the lower plaza of the Aon building, 200 E. Randolph St., where the selections are nearly endless.

Just follow your nose down the stairs to find a food court inundated with coffee selections, including Sopraffino’s Italian blend coffee, Au Bon’s 100% Arabica beans, Market Thyme’s Intelligentsia brand, and the standard Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks.

Keep this list handy, folks. When the freezing winds blow off the lake,

you’ll be glad you have it.

Published Jan. 5, 2018