The Understudy Coffee and Books

Scripts on the shelves, espresso at the counter

The shelves at The Understudy lead with scripts, and the espresso counter sits among them. It opened in March 2023 in Andersonville, on Chicago's north side, pairing a specialty coffee bar with a bookstore given over to theatre writing rather than general fiction, and the name carries the same idea: the performer waiting in the wings, ready to step into someone else's part. Its founders spent close to a year turning a long-vacant corner unit into the room. Tea is part of the drinks list, and plant milk goes into the specialty drinks, so the café side works for dairy and non-dairy drinkers alike.

A bookstore room built for staying

This is a café for long visits. Seating is ample, the wifi is free, and the counter-service format keeps things casual, so laptop work, studying, reading and conversation all fit without anyone hurrying you along. The bookstore element gives the space its texture, since browsing a wall of scripts is a different act from waiting for a drink. Occasional performances and community events push that identity further, turning the room into a small venue as much as a coffee shop. Andersonville, with its independent business culture and Scandinavian history, suits the mixture, and The Understudy has become an anchor in it for writers, readers and remote workers. It appears in Eater's 2026 coffee guide.

Order the Opening Night Latte and a vegan bake

The Opening Night Latte is the drink that ties the coffee list to the theatre-bookstore concept, and it is the one to start with. A plain latte is the simpler route, with plant milk available if you want it dairy-free, and tea works for the same stay-awhile rhythm. The case is built for quick eating rather than a meal: croissants, quiche and pastries on the familiar side, vegan brownies and vegan oat cream sandwiches on the more interesting one, with gluten-free bakes for anyone who needs them. The pairing to aim for is the Opening Night Latte with a vegan oat cream sandwich. A latte with a croissant or a slice of quiche is the classic alternative, and both leave you free to keep browsing.