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Coffee is kind of my favorite, and if you’re here, I’m guessing you’re a fan, too. When Starbucks announced that they were opening the Largest Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Chicago, I knew I had to visit it. You might be worried about the crowds. Or maybe you’re not sure what all the buzz is about. Find answers to all your questions about the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Chicago to help you make the most of your visit there!
Will I have to wait in line to get in?
The short answer – Yes, you likely will have to wait in line to get into the Starbucks Reserve Roastery. We arrived early in the morning, and still had to stand in line for 20 minutes before going inside. (They have to keep their building under its capacity.) And they let everyone inside in waves so the first floor doesn’t get over-crowded.
How many floors does the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Chicago Have?
There are four floors of coffee fun at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Chicago.
When we visited, we tried to escape the crowds the best we could by racing up to the fourth floor and working our way down to the first. In reality, we didn’t avoid crowds by doing this. At least by the time we were done we could just walk back out onto the street and not have to fight our way back downstairs.
I’ve written this guide from the ground up. If you want to start at the top and work your way down, read this post in reverse!
The First Floor – The Coffee Bar
They don’t call it the Reserve Roastery to sound fancy. This structure does what it promises. It is a building dedicated to Roasting specialty coffee beans. These beans can only be tried here at the Reserve. Awesome, isn’t it?
The first floor is dedicated to letting you try what they’re roasting. There’s even a sign that flips to let you know what they’re currently roasting. And a large piano-organ-like structure that transports beans sporadically throughout your visit.
On the first floor, you can purchase coffee beans or a specialty gifts, and order a drink of your favorite blend.
Also on the first floor, you can find this soon-to-be iconic “Chicago” photo op. There were lots of people taking photos here while we visited (us included!)
The Second Floor – Princi Bakery & Cafe
I’ll be completely honest, I didn’t spend a lot of time here. This floor is perfect if you’re looking for a bite to eat. It is touted as the “Authentic Italian Bakery” serving up bread, pastries, and pizzas. If you’re hungry, consider grabbing a bite to eat here. We opted to save our appetite for our trip to Giordano’s Pizza, our favorite deep dish pizza in Chicago. (More on that in a later post!)
The Third Floor – Experimental Coffee Bar
Before I had the chance to explore the Reserve Roastery for myself, I thought I would most enjoy this floor. (As it turns out, the fourth floor was our favorite!) The Third floor is a coffee lover’s dream. Experience different brew styles, exceptional flavors, and a truly unique coffee pour here.
On this floor, I grabbed a Cardamom Latte and it was truly one of the most delicious cups of coffee I have ever had the pleasure of drinking. I hope when they say “experimental” they mean “we’re testing this out before we launch it nationwide” because this would be my go-to drink at Starbucks if they made it available. Full warning, the Cardamom Latte is available for a limited time, and it comes with an $8 price tag. Maybe not something you should indulge in every day, but absolutely worth it for a one-time taste!
The Fourth Floor – Arriviamo Cocktail Bar
There is a magical place where a cocktail bar exists inside a Starbucks…and you’ve just found it. You heard that right, there’s a Starbucks that’s serving cocktails right now!
We are bourbon drinkers. And lucky for us, there were lots of Knob Creek inspired drinks on the Cocktail Bar menu when we visited.
If you are a lover of bourbon, be sure to check out all of my posts about the Urban Bourbon Trail in Louisville! – A must-see destination for bourbon drinkers!
While the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Chicago is relatively new, the plan is for the menus to change often so these may not be available during your visit. Here’s what you might expect to see on the menu:
The first thing we tried is a side-by-side tasting of the barrel-aged cold brew, aged in Knob Creek barrels, and served along side a pour of Knob Creek 100. This unique pairing makes it easy to pick out the similarities in flavors.
This floor serves more than just bourbon and barrel-aged coffee. One of the most unique offerings of the fourth floor is their coffee cocktails. While you might assume this would mean a traditional cocktail with the addition of coffee, that isn’t quite correct…
One of the drinks we tried is a “Cold Fashioned,” a new take on the Old Fashioned. Instead of bourbon, this cocktail was served with their Barrel-Aged Cold Brew. This replacement made this drink delicious and alcohol free.
The “Secret” Fifth Floor – The Rooftop Terrace
Whoa, wait, a Fifth Floor? That’s right. While the escalators only take you up to the fourth floor, the stairwell will take you up to the additional level of the Rooftop Terrace. This wasn’t open during our visit, but it is expected to be open in the summer.
Visiting the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Chicago
You can easily spend a few hours exploring everything at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Chicago. I would plan for at least an hour during your visit, maybe more if you visit during a busy time.
Be prepared to stand in some long lines, or wait for a seat at the bar. For coffee (and cocktail!) lovers, the wait will be worth it!
