1 check-in We stopped by Plein Air for brunch on our final day in Chicago before heading to the airport. It's super convenient to the University of Chicago, so the vibe is very young and airy. There's plentiful outdoor seating and the inside of the restaurant is beautiful - lots of bright, clean whites and modern furnishings. They were very busy when we got there, with no signs of letting up. You get in line to place your order at the counter. We arrived at around 11:20 and didn't get up to place our order until 11:55. It was a pretty slow moving line. The specific time only stands out because they serve breakfast items until 12. That's what I wanted to eat. Mercifully, even though we cut it super close, the employee agreed to put in my breakfast order. Unfortunately, they were out of breakfast potatoes and they asked if they could substitute with a salad. That really wasn't what I wanted at all, but not much to be done about it, so I accepted. We all placed our orders to go. To-go orders are shouted out through a window into the outdoor dining area. We tried our best to sit and enjoy our drinks while we waited, but they had a serious influx of yellow jackets that day that simply would not leave us alone, so that dampened things some. My two friends' orders came out a lot quicker than mine, perhaps because they ordered from the lunch menu, but eventually we got it and walked onto the U Chicago campus to escape the yellow jackets. My food was alright. I ordered the two egg plate, with scrambled eggs, bacon, toast with jam and breakfast potatoes (which were substituted with a side salad). The eggs were beautiful and overall decent but cooked a little hard for my preference - I prefer runnier scrambled eggs. I didn't like my salad because it was mostly arugula and I just straight up don't like arugula. The bread for the toast and jam was nice and crusty, but the jam (I'm guessing blackberry?) wasn't sweet at all. I was really hoping for some fresh, sweet, preserve-type jam, but this wasn't it. The bacon was definitely the best thing; very crispy, as is my preference, with a great balance of saltiness and subtle sweetness. Awesome bacon! Plein Air is a beautiful place to study and they have an attractive menu with lots of tasty sounding options. If I lived here, I would consider trying it again, just maybe ordering something different to see if I liked that a bit more.

Plein Air Cafe was recommend to me by someone that works there and I'm glad for the recommendation. This is a smallish French inspired cafe in Hyde Park at 5751 S. Woodlawn on the University of Chicago campus right next door to the beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright, Robie House. It is a very busy place most if the time, visited by many students and faculty of the University. They serve coffees, sandwiches, salads, quiches and a thick marscarpone stuffed french toast, which is what I traveled there to consume. It is topped with a house jam. I think it was blackberry(but don't quote me). Maple syrup can be had for an additional charge. I would suggest you try it with the syrup. I did not, as I'm attempting to cut back on my sugar intake otherwise I would have had the toast francaise with maple syrup as it was a little dry w/o it but, still delicious. Some fruit on the side would have been nice but, that wasn't offered. Prices ranged at $6.75 to about $10. The students say the place is expensive but I felt that it's not bad for a sit down breakfast. Seating can be limited so I shared a small table with a nice young man and we had a very amicable convo about American consumerism and corporate greed. Parking on the street was free but limited. I parked about 3 blocks away, and me and my arthritic hip limped like quasi-moto on a good day to the restaurant. *I gave this place only 4 stars because I had to order at a window then find seating and wait for my order. I would have preferred to be handed a menu and been served at my table but, that's just me. Service was good, it is clean and the vibe is friendly. I recommend going there if you can one day. They are open untill 8pm. It's a quaint place.

Plein was plain to me, but I'd imagine better experience if you're a UChicago student or a local. I had an omelette, made with gruyere cheese and cherry tomatos, and serve alongside red potatoes. The ingredients in the omelette each stood out individually, instead of melding together, and this made it an enjoyable eat. The temperature was tepid for the potatoes but each bite was delicious. Pairing my omelette was a "premium" cold brew, which was $4.50 and tasted about the same as an iced coffee. Looking back, I think orange juice or even a soft drink would have made a better pairing. But that one was on me. Free WiFi, but its reach outside was very limited. Staff was happy to provide it.

I love this place right at the core of UChicago. I recommend the salads and the quiche, also scrambled eggs with the best bacon in the city! Coffee is very well prepared, too. Staff are super friendly. Just mind that this place is usually crowded and sometimes can be a bit noisy and overwhelming. Other than that, it’s one of my favorite spots to have lunch at campus.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Recommended dishes
Plein Continental Breakfast, Tomato Avocado Salad, Quiche of the Day, Almond Croissant and Pain Au Chocolat, Smoked Turkey Sandwich

Excellent opportunity to have a sandwich before touring Robie House. The place is spotless, has charming, shady outdoor seating plus a dining room, and a variety of food and drink options. From the outdoor seating,, you are looking at the back of the Robie House. It also sits next to a fascinating bookstore, so it is a worthwhile stop in its own right. I had a smoked turkey sandwich, and my SO had a prosciutto and manchengo on a small baguette, both with greens. Coffee also great@
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Good, clean food. Staff stayed calm and in control, even with high lunch hour traffic. Coffee was delicious! In and outdoor seating available.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Vegetarian options
Vegetarian options available and tasty.
Kid-friendliness
Indoors are not comfortable for kids as it can get cramped when it gets busy. Outdoors is more comfortable for children.
Wheelchair accessibility
Indoors not accessible. Outdoors more wheelchair friendly.

Very cute spot with delicious food and pastries. I had a black coffee, vegetarian quiche served with side salad and also an almond croissant. Everything was delicious and well presented, service was fast. I love that they don’t allow people to save seats because it was very packed. We got lucky and sat near the window. Would be great to visit again on a warm day and make use of their beautiful outdoor seating area.
Meal type
Brunch
Price per person
$10–20
Recommended dishes
Quiche of the Day, Drip Coffee

I went on a Wed @1p & it was PACKED. Very loud. Very busy. Before going I didn’t realize that it was on the U of C campus. I ordered the grilled cheese, mushroom & kale pot pie, & a homemade chai. The latter 2 were m delicious. I would go again but avoid the busy student times. Also, parking sucks. There is absolutely nowhere to park. So good luck!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30
Features
Dine in: Yes
Outdoor seating: Yes
Takeout: Yes

I had no idea this was a UChicago cafe. It’s right next to the Frank Llyod Wright prairie house! Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating as well. Great place to chat with friends, enjoy the weather, or get light work done. The drip I had was from an Ethiopian bean and was really tasty. Could be a great daily brew for home. I got notes of citrusy fruits and a little sweetness with a nutty, but not dry, aftertaste.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$1–10

Probably the best cafe in Hyde Park, with a great staff and good food. Lively welcoming atmosphere. It’s also directly across from the revered Seminary Bookstore and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House. Garden seating as well as inside.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Price per person
$1–10
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Quiche of the Day, Chorizo Burrito, Chocolate Croissant

Breakfast was great. I'd prefer my eggs and ham warm, guess it's the style they make/serve it, next time I'll ask for it warmed up, but other than that great place, great hospitality and service!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$1–10
Features
Dine in: Yes
Outdoor seating: Yes
Takeout: Yes
Delivery: Not sure
Curbside pickup: Not sure

Nice little cafe near Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie house on University of Chicago Campus. Only problem is it was packed the 2 times I went there. They need to expand and get more staff. Long queues.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Quiche of the Day

The home baked pastries that were fantastic. I recall saying "this is really good" several times while eating. The Mocha was probably the best I have had. The patio was lovely and the property butts up to a Frank Lloyd Wright building. The breakfast burritos and potatoes were good. There were a fair amount of yellow jackets outside which were annoying at times.

Great cafe with indoor and outdoor seating that does the basic things perfectly. As a sucker for hazelnut anything they had a hazelnut beignet that paired very well with a properly pulled espresso
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$1–10
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

WiFi hasn’t been working for about a year so but maybe that’s on purpose because I think they only want students coming to this cafe. The food was otherwise solid and the staff was nice (other than being coy about the WiFi not working today even though it hasn’t been working for about a year based on the reviews)

Cool little cafe at Univ. of Chicago to grab a bite, a coffee and chill or get some work done. Food did not disappoint and a great selection of teas! Great spot!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Breakfast
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Spent several hours and two meals there. The homemade chai mix was flavorful and not too sweet. The beignet was very doughnut-y and light. The tomato avocado salad was delicious but a tad small. Sandwich was large and very good. Staff was nice even when it got very busy for late lunch rush.

This is one of my favorite lunch/ coffee spots on U Chicago campus. This coffee house is very quaint. It has a decent amount of seating (inside and out), and the food is great! I like the tuna sandwich and croissants. I also love their chai tea latte! Keep up the good work Plein Air!

This place is amazing!! Honestly the best coffee I have ever had. My partner agreed. We got the the maple latte. The food was absolutely phenomenal. Lots of vegan options! A great outdoor space as well. Don’t miss this place.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

This place has good coffee and food/desserts. Seating inside and outside. But too crowded and music too loud for any anyone intending to study, work, or relax. I'd come back for the food and drinks but not for anything else.
Food: 4
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 3

The coffee and atmosphere were great. We ordered a beignet and they gave us a free one! However, they were a little dry and just OK.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Other
Price per person
$1–10
Food: 4
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 5

The best chai I’ve had in Chicago! Their chipotle chicken sandwich is so good too
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Homemade Chai

Located on the U of Chicago campus, the cafe is next to Robie House by Frank Lloyd Wright and occupies the building with the Coop Bookstore. The coffee is superb, with a wide selection of croissants, sandwiches, and breakfast choices. Food

The pastries here are bangin'. And you know what else is bangin'? Your buck! Cuz here, they have sparkling water on tap, hot sauce at the ready at a self service table, really great indoor seating options, and some schmexy bottles of wine

Often long lines and expensive prices, but their food is delicious, their coffee is even better, and they have a cute outdoor space when it is nice out. Highly recommend stopping by for breakfast or lunch if you are in the area.

Love the coffee and atmosphere. Staff are very friendly and helpful as well. One of the few coffee shops with pour over coffee on the UChicago campus.
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5

Beautiful place to check out in the University of Chicago. Decent beverage and good spots to sit and hangout. It is next to the co-op bookstore so you can go check out some books afterwards as well. More

Cool hidden gem on U of C campus, right next door to a frank loyd home. Love the courtyard and coffee and food is great.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Brunch
Price per person
$10–20

The prosciutto baguette and vanilla latte are both delicious!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Chill little university cafe with good baked goods & coffee, also hot items which got good reviews from our group. Good music which is a plus. Only drawback is it gets pretty packed.

Great place for breakfast, had a croissant egg sandwich and chai. good vibes and service. The home made chai could be more authentic in my opinion, hence a 4. More

Good food but I never got my hot chocolate. The employee did not ask my name. I wonder whether my drink order was actually placed. Terrible management today. More

Amazing!!! Such a cute little cafe! Will definitely be back to enjoy the atmosphere while blogging. Super friendly staff and the Chai Tea was AMAZING!

Food and drinks are wonderful, but it’s tight and crowded a lot! I hate to dock a star, but the ambiance of a cafe is a big part of the charm.

The brioche grilled cheese is divine, as are the various pastries and beignets. An expanse of outdoor seating is available as well. More

Locally in the U Chicago campus. Food and pastries/breads are spot on, and the coffee is nicely flavored. Good low key breakfast spot.

Cute casual place by University of Chicago to grab a coffee, some brunch/lunch and sit down to study! The outdoor is really cute More

This place started as my happy place hideout in a time I needed it. It’s very respectful and pleasant to everyone.

Great food at a great price. Very chill cafe spot in the UChicago campus.

Awesome café spot with decent seating space and a 5/5 almond croissant.