The Wormhole Coffee
About This Spot
Stepping into The Wormhole Coffee feels like slipping through a portal to a world where nostalgia and creativity mingle quietly. Nestled on Chicago’s bustling Milwaukee Avenue, this coffee shop unfolds as a spacious yet intimate retreat, humming with a relaxed energy that invites you to settle in — whether you’re here to focus, socialize, or simply pause.
The pace is unhurried, marked by the gentle clink of espresso cups and occasional bursts of retro video game music, thanks to a corner set up with a classic Nintendo console. Surrounding you are walls adorned with colorful movie posters, and most notably, an iconic life-size DeLorean that seems to capture both the imagination and a moment in time far removed from today’s rush.
This isn’t a place where you’re just grabbing coffee; it’s where the ritual of ordering and savoring takes on a personal rhythm. From a subtly spiced ginger and curry latte to a honey-laced vanilla bean creation, each drink feels thoughtfully crafted, complementing the ambiance and the slow unfolding of conversation or concentrated work. The pastries here—moist chocolates or flaky croissants—add a quiet joy that you might find yourself reflecting on long after your visit.
The Wormhole Coffee has that rare welcoming spirit that makes it easy to linger: plenty of comfortable seating, softly curated tunes, and a light buzz of shared community without overwhelming noise. Whether you’re looking for a thoughtful nook to work, a cozy spot to catch up with friends, or a curious place to explore layers of '80s charm, this is a destination where time stretches and the everyday moment gains a little extra magic.
What’s Available Here
-
Outdoor seating - On-site services
- Takeaway
- Dine-in
- Delivery
- Great coffee
- Great tea selection
- Solo dining
- Good for working on laptop
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Wheelchair-accessible car park
- Coffee
- Quick bite
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
- Toilet
- Wi-Fi
- Casual
- Cosy
- Trendy
- Groups
- Tourists
- University students
- Accepts reservations
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
- Paid street parking
- Parking
Location & Hours
| Monday | 07:00 AM - 07:00 PM | |
| Tuesday | 07:00 AM - 07:00 PM | |
| Wednesday | 07:00 AM - 07:00 PM | |
| Thursday | 07:00 AM - 07:00 PM | |
| Friday | 07:00 AM - 07:00 PM | |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 08:00 AM - 07:00 PM | |
| Sunday | 08:00 AM - 07:00 PM |
Guest Reviews
Share Your Experience
Related Listing
Recently Viewed Listing
La Reina Markets
Cottage Sialkot
AFURI IZAKAYA SE PORTLAND
Luxy Karaoke Lounge & Bar
Jason Everett 13 Dec 2025
If you have work to do, this place is great. You might have to wait a little, but you can usually snag a good table seat. It’s a fun spot to take people to see the iconic life-size replica of the Back to the Future DeLorean. If you need a brain break, you can play some Super Mario Bros. 3 on the retro Nintendo. They usually play good music. Admittedly, it’s not my go-to coffee shop, but if I’m going to hang out in Wicker Park, this is where I’m going. It has character and utility, a combination that’s hard to find in the city café scene. I like that they added the outdoor seating option for the warmer months.
Mei 13 Dec 2025
Fantastic vanilla bean latte that I will be thinking about for a long time! The inside is spacious and quiet with lots of seating comfortable for teleworking, reading, or chatting with friends.
Emily Buerk 08 Dec 2025
Atmosphere is 10/10 I included lots of pics to show. The menu is also super cool there were plenty of creative drink options. Matt created the drink that we tried and did an excellent job! Service was great. Will be back!
Moises Treviño Garcia 07 Dec 2025
The Wormhole blew me away. This was my second time coming, and honestly, it’s still the same as my last visit more than 10 years ago. Pure 80’s nostalgia, the place is covered in movie posters everywhere and even a real DeLorean from Back to the Future 2 in the back. You could spend hours just exploring the decor from every corner and still find something new. The staff was awesome too, really friendly and down to chat while you’re there. I started my morning with a hot chocolate and a chocolate croissant. The croissant was flaky, crispy, but still soft inside, and dipping it into the hot chocolate… wow, just hits different. The hot chocolate itself was smooth, creamy, and rich, the perfect combo with the croissant. Honestly, this place is more than a coffee shop. It's a place where you can just sit back and relax.
Wendee Cohee 02 Dec 2025
It was BUSY! But the line moved quickly and the quality was great. The most chocolaty and moist donut ever! And creative coffees! Super friendly service. I can’t see why the line was so long. And the nostalgic score was great.
Johnny Novo 05 Oct 2025
Wormhole Coffee has to be the hipster capital of Chicago. I felt like I walked right off a 1980s Venice beach boardwalk and into this coffee shop. There was a full scale model Delorean hanging in the back, vintage 80s movie posters lining the walls, and vintage chairs and tables. I always romanticize getting a sophisticated coffee drink in a place like this. How cool would I look if I ordered something chic like a flat white or a cortado? I would love to order a drink that I would only trust someone with a nose piercing or colored hair to make, but I always end up just getting a black coffee. A straight black coffee just makes me feel so beast. It feels like smoking a Marlboro Red. It feels like running 6 miles on an empty stomach. It feels like raw dogging a 7 hour flight with no movie, music, or wifi. It's just a win to start the day. I was slightly perturbed when a small black coffee cost me $4.15, but I guess life as whole is just getting more expensive. I'd expect this in NYC, but in Chi? Damn. All good though. I sat outside sipping my delicious black coffee in a white button down with the sleeves rolled up while performatively reading Dostoevsky, fully maxing out my aura points for the week. IG @johnny.novo Tiktok @jnov__ Substack @johnnynovo
Florrie Shattock 22 Sep 2025
This is my favorite coffee shop in the city, hands down. Great vibes, great people, great drinks. The ghostly trio is the best latte I’ve ever had, and I’ve been trying to recreate it for months at home— but it just never tastes as good as their version! The matcha is ok, but what you’re really here for are the lattes— unique, inventive, flavorful, not too sweet, crafted with care. The playlist is always a vibe, the decor is nostalgic and fun, and the baristas are excellent at what they do. Bonus points for the trans flag in the window :) So, why not five stars, you ask? Because it is impossible to find a table. I’ve come to this shop at 9am on a Tuesday, 6pm on a Saturday, noon on a Friday, whenever I can/feel like it. It is always packed. But the people at the tables aren’t sipping drinks, they’re remote working. For hours. Every day. Now I can freely admit I’ve been a part of the problem as I have remote worked here once before, but I stayed for all of 3 hours. I get that if people want to sit there all day they can, but since that’s the case— you guys NEED more seating or a bigger location. I don’t mind getting my latte to go sometimes, but just once, It would be nice to sit down.