Live Cafe

Decent atmosphere, and one of very few options for a local coffee shop in the area. On my visit, the only employee was under-trained and over-extended. Took me 20 minutes to get a pour-over coffee. Pasteries available were nearly all gluten free, which is fine but doesn't necessity reflect quality or nutritiousness.

There are so many reasons to love this spot, but my first reason would have to be the sense of community I feel the moment I walk in that door. There are always good coffee shops opening up around OP, but this one is different. The owner radiates and inspires, and takes pride in opening a space that is for everyone. I will never forget the first time I attended a discussion she moderated centered around racial discrimination. She was so graceful and I learned so much about becoming a better active listener and to recognize my own patterns as a person who lives with many privileges. She treats people with respect, and that carries over to her staff. You can tell everyone there really enjoys their job. They take pride in the food they serve and the drinks they make. I have never NOT enjoyed one of menu items. I really enjoy their innovative way of thinking about small business and the ways in which their small business can become a hub for community members to come together. I love hosting events here, and I really enjoy attending all the different events hosted there. Oak Park is lucky to have a place like L!VE Cafe.

Definitely my favorite coffee shop in the OP/FP area. Love the GF quiche, love that you can get wine, and love the variety of coffee. It’s always just the right amount of crowded, and parking is always relatively easy to find.

Beautiful space with a delightful menu! I just had a plain old coffee the true testament to a fantastic coffee spot and it was wonderful. I resisted the temptation to order one of their pastries and have made a mental note to make my next lunch meeting here to try out "The Oak Parker" sandwich! The Wi-Fi was great and the volume was surprisingly low for such an open space. Lots of locals working and meeting here, and steps to the Green line!

Tucked on middle Oak Park Avenue near the green line el' station, sits a movement. Sit and sip, watching the hip and trendy passers by on the street in this cozy space. Live! Cafe is social enterprise in West Cook that believes in the power of micro-enterprises and the regeneration of communities. Serving up fair trade coffee and locally made muffins, brownies, etc. Lunch is also a tasty offering. It is a hive of activity! The café also hosts a wealth of local meetings and events, from classes to theatre, to an enviro' justice campaign - it's a true community collective.

Very cute coffee shop! It's a good spot if you need to get some work done or if you like to read. They play jazz or lo-fi music which is nice to work to. I've seen people use the space to chat and hang-out, so the cafe functions well as a social space, too. The decor is pleasant, with art work along the walls and with the furnishing committing to a kind of industrial-hipster vibe. The place feels understaffed and they're not huge on customer service, but the baristas are nice and make good drinks! I've also noticed that the menu is always being refreshed, so there's always something new to try. Overall, the atmosphere works and the menu is tasty!

My book club regularly meets here. Its never super crowded and doesn't get noisy either. It has a huge selection of coffee and tea drinks, with small sandwich and pastry offerings. Not really a lunch spot, but good for studying/writing/coffee dates. Supet community focused too, which is awesome. Edit: I still love the feel and food at this place, but I have to mention that in the past few months, service has been getting slower. My book club still meets here even after, wow 3yrs, - it's the only place that fits our needs. But now it's not uncommon for a latte to get to us 30 min after someone pays, or a meal an hour after an order on weekend early afternoons. We're usually chatting longer so don't mind, but it is something we've all noticed. It's gotten to the point where we won't order sometimes, because we're not sure we'll get it before we leave.

I didn't have any of the food here so I can't comment on that. I like the space because of what goes on here. Its not just a place to get sandwiches and coffee; this space is designed to bring people together for conversation, learning and sharing. It is an intimate space with a nice village vibe. There is an entertainment stage. I'm not a coffee drinker it doesn't occur to me to go there for anything other than the social justice events that go on there. That being said, it is a welcoming safe place for those discussions to happen.

The atmosphere, service and product were all fantastic. If I lived in the area, this would be my go-to for coffee.

I had some work to finish last night and found Live café most welcoming, comfortable and serving delicious coffee and pastries just what we needed!, we didn’t realize the cafe had closed for 30 min, staff went on with their end of day work, and were most polite and kind allowing us to gather our stuff without rush. Live is very much involved with our community, it feels great to support a place owned by neighbors who care. The friendliest of places!