The best iced coffee drinks to try in Chicago right now

A coffee shop with a goth vibe, Hexe is not only a serious coffee roaster but also a cocktail bar, event venue and bakery all in one. Drink the refreshing cold brew on a spacious patio or if you’re feeling sinister, try one of their barrel-aged coffee cocktail concoctions with bourbon.

Kasama is the world’s first Michelin-starred Filipino restaurant and is known for its drool-worthy baked goods. However, its iced espresso drinks are just as impressive and unique. Stop by Wednesday-Sunday between 9am-3pm to try the Oh, Hot Yam! ube latte with coconut or the slightly sweet and savory Red Bean Sesame Cold Brew. It’ll help soak up the divine pastries.

Dark Matter undoubtedly has some of the best cold brew in the city, ranging from nitro to iced draft options, and it also runs a chocolate shop in Pilsen. The brand's draft black splash nitro cold brew is bold, with an out-of-this-world taste that will wake you from your slumber. Craving something a little gentler? Try the iced Mayan mocha—full of flavor and delicious chocolate to satiate your sweet tooth.

If you’re looking for a coffee shop with retro-horror vibes and a record store, look no further than The Brewed. Drink an iced firestarter latte filled with brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, star anise, cocoa powder, orange zest and chili powder—the perfect combination of sweet and spicy. If you’re a late riser, you’re in luck because The Brewed is open till 7pm.

Are you looking to drink an iced latte with your dog? This Humboldt Park spot has got you covered as it's pup-friendly and a hop, skip and jump away from the 606 trail. While Dayglow emits serious coffee shop vibes, it has some extremely playful concoctions. Try the iced Warhol latte with bourbon vanilla, cinnamon, citrus, espresso and cream. It also has an excellent version of the military latte if you’re looking for something with matcha and espresso.

VeitFive uses beans grown and harvested in Vietnam in its diverse collection of complex beverages. Try a traditional iced Vietnamese coffee with sweetened condensed milk (ca phe sua) or the vegan version made with oat milk and agave. It can sometimes be hard to find non-dairy Vietnamese coffee but VietFive makes it quite easy. If you’re hungry, order one of the tasty Banh Mi sandwiches, which can also be made vegetarian.

From the team behind Indienne and Sifr, Swadesi is chef Sujan Sarkar’s nostalgic homage to the bustling café scene in India—"swadesi" means “from one’s country” in Hindi. While the shop offers innovative twists on traditional Indian beverages, the iced oak smoked vanilla latte is a must try, with vanilla bean and smoked sea salt. Fans of rose water can also indulge in the rose and orange latte. For those who like traditional chai, you can’t go wrong with the masala chai. Swadesi also has an assortment of sweet and savory pastries and breakfast sandwiches if you’re hungry.

This California-based coffee roaster has spread its wings throughout the U.S. with two locations in the downtown-Chicago area. Get a taste of the Big Easy with the New Orleans-style iced coffee—a specialty brewed with roasted chicory, a bit of sugar and your choice of dairy/non-dairy milk. Grab a drink and enjoy the Riverwalk views.

Kopi Cafe is an eclectic and Bohemian spot with an extensive beverage and food menu for many different appetites. Try the Thai iced coffee—a refreshing and sweet drink made with condensed milk. Catch a live music act while enjoying some tasty, vegetarian-friendly snacks or a naughty cafe loco—coffee with a shot of tequila and Kahlua.

Inspired by the French expression “plein air,” the act of painting outdoors in the open air, this Hyde Park staple serves up dreamy French tartines and other pastries along with classic espresso and coffee beverages. Come early and enjoy a premium cold brew on the dog-friendly patio and stay late for the natural wine. The cafe features seasonally rotating artisanal roasters.

Focusing on ethically sourced coffee, this local roastery is always serving fresh brews and baked goods. Try the iced Charlatte—a delicious combination of honey, cayenne, espresso and coconut milk mixed in with your choice of milk. Pedestrian Coffee boasts other crowd pleasers such as a Nutella latte and a serious flash-chilled, Japanese-style iced coffee.

Another excellent option off the 606, Ipsento has an attractive assortment of serious coffee and fun espresso drinks. One notable beverage is the signature Ipsento latte—get it iced with cayenne, honey, coconut cream and your choice of milk. Then enjoy the views of the beautiful dogs in the neighboring park as you sip on your iced beverage.

The Cream Top at Allez Cafe is quite the showstopper—an iced americano that's perfectly balanced with whipped cream. If you’re looking for something without dairy, the cold coffee is a solid iced drink using Chicago-based roaster New Math Coffee. Come hungry because the breakfast sando is a must-have, or try one of the sweet baked goods from Ambrosia Foods.

If you’re feeling nostalgic about the '90s, then Wormhole is the perfect vibe for you! It offers many innovative beverages featuring coffee and espresso from Halfwit roasters. While there's a seasonal rotation of dynamic lattes, the Ghostly Trio iced latte is a menu staple for a reason. Made with white miso, caramel and black sesame, this cold drink will transport you to another dimension of space and time.

Chicagoans can escape to Italy at Caffe Umbria, which serves artisan Italian espresso at its Logan Square roastery. Try an iced espresso shakerato—a perfectly refreshing beverage on a hot day with espresso, brown sugar, and simple syrup. It goes down pretty quickly so if you need more caffeine, don’t sleep on the nitro cold brew.

You can get the military latte at Hogsalt's Sawada Coffee all the time, and you can also get it iced. Boasting matcha, espresso and white chocolate, it's gorgeous and green on top, white on the bottom (until you stir it up, at least) and a refreshing sipper with a bit of creaminess.

Probably the sweetest coffee on the list, the cafe con leche will only look the faintest color off of what you'd expect a glass of milk to look like, but don't worry about it. It's still a great, sweet drink—just perfect for a mid-afternoon jolt and sugar rush.

Same Day Cafe, the charming reboot of Flipside Cafe, serves Ipsento coffee in a variety of ways, including mixed with house-made horchata, the traditional Mexican cinnamon-laced rice milk.

Oromo Cafe looks damn fancy when you first walk in. The lattes list is a bit overwhelming with a bunch of choices, but when you start really looking through it, you'll see that it's not too far from what you've had as far as coffee's concerned. But grab the pistachio-rose latte. It's floral and garnished with rose petals, which is adorable and nice on the nose. If you're looking for something that reminds you of spring, this is certainly your latte.

The iced coffee at Gaslight Coffee Roasters is a Brazil blend called the Passeio. It's bitter but we'll still take it black. Whatever your preference may be, this one's sure to jolt you out of your slumber.