My Favorite Dessert Spots in Chicago
Who doesn’t love a sweet treat? I’m a Chicago local and I’ll tell you firsthand – our desserts will have your sugary cravings covered.
This list includes old-school sweet shops, hidden gem bakeries, and everything in between. I touch on long-time Chicago favorites and places that I personally love. Be sure to check some of these places out in addition to all of Chicago’s amazing restaurants.
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15 Chicago Dessert Spots to Try
Margie’s Candies
Step back in time at this old-school ice cream parlor known for its banana splits.
📍 Google Maps | ☕ Website | 📞 (773) 384-1035 (Wicker Park/Bucktown location)
Margie’s Candies is a retro-style ice cream parlor that’s over 100 years old! There are two locations: one in Wicker Park/Bucktown (the original location) and one in Ravenswood.
Everything from the red neon sign and striped awnings to the diner-style decor will transport you back in time. The sundaes and large banana splits are what Margie’s is best known for. Be sure to get your sundae or split with hot fudge! It’s the perfect topping for a little extra indulgence.
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Original Rainbow Cone
This famous ice cream tradition is over 100 years old and a long-time Chicago favorite.
📍 Google Maps | ☕ Website | 📞 (773) 982-4897 (Magnificent Mile location)
The Original Rainbow Cone is a Chicago classic. This ice cream cone is piled high with five flavors: chocolate, strawberry, Palmer House (vanilla with cherries and walnuts), pistachio, and orange sherbert. The layers of ice cream are sliced, not scooped, and piled high on a cake cone in a slightly slanted way.
Fun fact: the “rainbow cone” started back in 1926 as a signature flavor of the ice cream shop. Today, you can find several Original Rainbow Cone ice cream shops around Chicago. It’s the perfect treat for any ice cream lover or person who just can’t decide what flavor they want.
Mindy’s Bakery
This Wicker Park bakery is known for its high-quality baked goods.
📍 Google Maps | ☕ Website | 📞 (773) 489-1747
Be prepared to potentially wait in line at Mindy’s Bakery. This bakery in Wicker Park is popular because they make top-notch baked goods all across the board. Think cakes, croissants, pastries, bagels, and more.
The atmosphere is warm and cozy but bustling. It’s not the most ideal bakery to sit and relax, so I recommend taking your goodies to go and enjoying them in the local park.
Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits
Enjoy sweet and savory delights at what is arguably Chicago’s best pie shop.
📍 Google Maps | ☕ Website | 📞 (773) 276-8888
I’m not kidding when I say that Bang Bang Pie makes some of the best pie I’ve ever had. This small, cozy pie shop in Logan Square is adored by locals. They serve up sweet and savory pies and they never miss.
I especially love Bang Bang’s cheesecakes. I’ve had the cheesecakes in different seasonal flavors and they’re to die for each time. The apple pies are also delicious. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.
You can take your pie to go or eat in the cozy dining room. They have a nice patio to dine at during the summertime.
Annette’s Italian Ice
A no-frills neighborhood dessert spot serving up homemade Italian ice, ice cream, and other frozen treats.
📍 Google Maps | ☕ Website | 📞 (773) 868-9000
Annette’s Italian Ice is an unassuming Italian ice shop nestled on a side street in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. The dessert shop is a no-frills kind of place that operates cash-only and from a walk-up window. Here, you can order natural and homemade frozen treats.
The Italian ice here is downright delicious. Annette’s offers a wide range of flavors with everything from classics to unique flavor combinations. The Italian ice is smooth and so refreshing. But don’t be fooled, the frozen yogurt and ice cream are great, too.
I recommend ordering some Italian ice from Annette’s on a hot summer day in Chicago. Then, take your sweet treat on a stroll through Lincoln Park’s pretty residential streets.
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Hoosier Mama Pie Company
A cozy and friendly West Town pie shop with an old-school feel.
📍 Google Maps | ☕ Website | 📞 (312) 243-4846
Hoosier Mama Pie Company is another top pie shop in Chicago. It’s located in West Town and it has an old-school 50s vibe to it. The pies are all deliciously homemade and the friendly, homey atmosphere gives it a retro twist.
Hoosier Mama makes a wide variety of sweet and savory pies, as well as whole pies, pies by the slice, mini pies, and hand pies. The wide range of flavors means there’s something for everyone and you can visit for breakfast, lunch, or dinner (and of course dessert!)
Doma Cafe
A hidden gem cafe with tasty brown butter chocolate chip cookies.
📍 Google Maps | ☕ Website | 📞 (312) 643-0527
Doma Cafe is a small cafe that’s a little off the beaten path in River North. Doma is unassuming from the outside, but the food and cool, calming vibes inside make visiting worth it.
I love Doma’s brown butter cookie. It’s sprinkled with a little sea salt on top and it’s the perfect crispness. The olive oil cake is also popular. Be sure to visit Doma for brunch or the perfect pick-me-up after exploring Chicago’s Near North Side.
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Eataly
A downtown restaurant, dessert shop, and grocery store with all your favorite Italian desserts.
📍 Google Maps | ☕ Website | 📞 (312) 521-8700
Eataly is a high-quality Italian grocery store, restaurant, and cafe with locations all around the world, including one in downtown Chicago. Part of Eataly’s setup includes a dessert area for pastries, cakes, and gelato.
They have a range of small cakes and things like tiramisu which you can order individual servings of, or take as full portions to-go. Be sure to hit up the gelato bar for a perfect helping of smooth, creamy gelato. I always get the mango sorbetto but all of the flavors are good.
Mano Modern Cafe
A Filipino cafe that does a unique spin on tiramisu.
📍 Google Maps | ☕ Website
Mano Modern Cafe is a Filipino cafe in West Town. It’s not necessarily a dessert spot, but they have one dessert that’s become one of my favorite sweet treats in all of Chicago.
Mano Modern does a “tiramisube” aka, an ube flavored tiramisu. It’s delicious. And as a lifelong tiramisu lover, I can tell you that it’s good. It’s fluffy, creamy, and not too sweet with just the right amount of ube flavor. This tiramisube might seem like a niche dessert for this list, but I had to include it!
Sugar Moon
A small, hidden gem bakery in Logan Square with outstanding baked goods.
📍 Google Maps | ☕ Website
Sugar Moon is located a bit off the beaten path. It’s about a 10-15 walk from the Logan Square train stop. This small bakery is such a gem. The staff is friendly and they have a good variety of sweet and savory baked goods.
I had the banana almond bundt cake when I visited and it was downright delicious. I could’ve eaten three more. Everything is supposed to be excellent, though, and the bakery receives consistent rave reviews from locals.
Molly’s Cupcakes
House-made, from-scratch cupcakes are made daily at four Chicago locations.
📍 Google Maps | ☕ Website (Streeterville location) | 📞 (312) 600-6323 (Streeterville location)
Molly’s Cupcakes makes, you guessed it: cupcakes. But these cupcakes aren’t your run-of-the-mill cupcakes. They’re fresh, made daily from scratch, and there are tons of specialty flavors to choose from. Think creme brulee, tiramisu, peach cobbler, and more. Molly’s is particularly known for its center-filled cupcakes.
There are four locations in Chicago: Lincoln Park, Streeterville, West Loop, and South Loop. The Streeterville location near Navy Pier is especially popular.
Black Dog Gelato
An artisan gelato shop with unique flavor combinations in West Town.
📍 Google Maps | ☕ Website | 📞 (773) 406-1653
Black Dog Gelato is a neighborhood gelato shop in West Town. This is the place to come if you’re like me and love gelato and unique flavor combinations. This place does both things well, and it’s perfect for a hot summer day.
Expect classics like chocolate and cookie-inspired flavors, but feel free to branch out! Black Dog does unique flavors like gelato with things like goat cheese, balsamic, and seasonal fruits.
Sweet Bean
A Taiwanese bakery in South Loop that serves fresh and delicious baked goods.
📍 Google Maps | ☕ Website | 📞 (312) 248-1881
Sweet Bean is a Taiwanese bakery and coffee shop in South Loop. Come here to indulge in desserts like Swiss cake rolls, egg tarts (so tasty!), and mochi buns. Sweet Bean’s baked goods are always fresh and they have unique flavor combinations as well as classic ones. They do espresso and tea drinks, too!
Sweet Bean is the perfect place to grab dessert before or after exploring all the popular attractions in nearby Grant Park. I recommend taking your desserts to go and enjoying a picnic in the park.
Firecakes Donuts
A craft donut shop that serves classic donuts and unique, seasonal flavors.
📍 Google Maps | ☕ Website | 📞 (312) 329-6500 (River North location)
Firecakes Donuts is an artisanal donut shop with a few different locations around Chicago. However, the River North and Lincoln Park locations are best. This is the place to go if you’re craving a high-quality donut or donuts with unique flavor combinations.
Expect classic donuts as well as fun, seasonal flavors. The pistachio old-fashioned, Tahitian vanilla, and honey-glazed donuts are especially good.
Stan’s Donuts
A go-to Chicago donut shop with locations all around the city.
📍 Google Maps | ☕ Website
Stan’s Donuts is a fixture of Chicago. You’ll find locations throughout the city so it’s an accessible dessert spot no matter where you stay in Chicago.
All your classics like glazed donuts and ones with chocolate icing and sprinkles are on the menu. You can also try new and exciting flavors as well as seasonal ones. I always go for the old-fashioned style donuts.
My whole family loves Stan’s Donuts and they always want to make a stop when they’re in town. This is partially because I have an Uncle Stan, but I promise the donuts are good, too!
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I hope you discovered something new to add to your Chicago itinerary. The sweet treats in Chicago are truly outstanding and the places to enjoy are plentiful.
Have you tried any of these dessert shops? Let us know in the comments below!
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