Where To Find Free Wi-Fi In Chicago

McDonald's

McDonald’s might not be the healthiest choice, but they’re now offering free Wi-Fi at more than 15,000 locations. The nice thing about this is that there is a McD’s in just about every location.

Intelligentsia Coffee

I really enjoy my visits to Intelligentsia. I’m not a huge coffee drinker (I only like it if it doesn’t taste like coffee, ha!) but I really enjoy theirs. At peak hours, Ingelligentsia might not be the best place for studying; it can get quite noisy. If you can manage to avoid the lunch and after work rush, you should be okay.

Argo Tea

You can find Argo Tea randomly sprinkled around Chicago. My classmates would swear by their tea on a daily basis. Besides having free Wi-Fi, they have plenty of outlets. Don’t worry about dead batteries!

I Coffee

I Coffee boats a friendly and warm environment and very tasty food. Sadly I was informed that I Coffee is currently closed. Don’t fret! I’ve heard rumors that it will open again soon. I love I Coffee because it’s close to where I live. Once you leave downtown and the hip Chicago neighborhoods, the Starbucks, Argo Teas and other cute shops become few and far between.

Caffe RoM

Caffe RoM has amazing coffee and pastries. It’s one of Chicago’s only modern Italian coffee bars. The staff is bubbly, the music and decor are energizing, it has everything you need for those long work days. It doesn’t strike me as the most quiet place though. If you need silence, try one of the other coffee shops. If you need amazing gelato to get your work done, this is the place for you.

Noble Tree Coffee & Tea

Great Coffee | Serious Pie | Free Wi-Fi
Noble Tree Coffee & Tea is my favorite location in this guide. There’s plenty of space for students, book and coffee lovers and freelancers. Noble Tree has three floors with plenty of tables, comfortable chairs, outlets and reading lamps. There’s all sorts of fun and inspirational decor.

Starbucks

You can use your Starbucks card to get two hours of free Wi-Fi at any one of their locations. Just purchase a gift card for any amount you’d like, register it online and when you use it in store, reap the benefits of free Wi-Fi for the price of a coffee. Get more information about it here.

Pause

Pause was recommended to me as a cozy coffee shop with a unique style. What I love about Pause, aside from the free Wi-Fi, is the fact that they have iMacs available to rent for $1 (per 10 minutes). The staff is extremely pleasant and easy to talk to. There’s even a small seating area outside so you can work and still enjoy the beautiful weather.

Pause

Star Lounge

Star Lounge is a freelancer’s dream. By that I mean they offer plenty of table space and a lot of outlets! I hate being expected to fight over an outlet. People can be vicious and I’m quite fragile. Star Lounge also has outdoor seating for those gorgeous Chicago days. (Photo by Alec Oliver)

Caribou Coffee

If you pay close attention while walking in downtown Chicago, you’ll see Caribou Coffee among the hundreds of Starbucks. I prefer Caribou because it’s usually less crowded than Starbucks. The staff is very friendly and you get free coffee refills. My favorite drinks are the Turtle Mocha and Caramel High Rise. I also discovered that they sell delicious Caribou Coffee granola bars, both at the shop and Jewel.

Borders

I’ve spent many hours inside of Borders. Okay, so some of those hours were spent looking at books and not working, but can you blame me? I know that Borders doesn’t have free Wi-Fi, unless you’re a T-Mobile user, but I included them for the space. Most Borders have ample study/work space. Chairs are randomly mixed in throughout the floor and the cafe has many tables, chairs and a few couches.