Best Darn Apple Cider Around Chicago
By Rachel Azark
Nothing screams fall like apples! And when the weather starts to get a bit chilly, nothing warms us up like a hot cup of apple cider. Whether you find you need a mug while you're out apple picking in the suburbs or just stopping to get one in the city, these places are offering up some of the best.
Kuipers Family Farm
1N318 Watson Rd.
Maple Park, IL 60151
815-827-5200
www.kuipersfamilyfarm.com
Located in Maple Park, Kuipers sells their apple cider by the gallon. Not sure where Maple Park is? Well, it's a bit of a treck (way past Sugar Grove on I-88!) but for what they offer it's well worth it. Enjoy lots of fall activities including tours of the farm, pumpkins in October, and apple cider doughnuts in their bakery!
Starbucks
Oh please – you know it too. Starbucks offers what they used to call Caramel Apple Cider but what they recently changed to Caramel Apple Spice. It's like drinking a caramel apple and it's delicious. They use steamed apple cider and cinnamon syrup, a mountain of whipped cream on top, with caramel sauce layered on top of that. If you're not looking so much for the whipped cream, you can have it without and it's still deliciously spicy.
Flipside Café
1846 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
773-645-9664
www.flipsidechicago.com
It's not open yet, but will be opening back up in October. To keep in touch with them you can follow them on Twitter at @Flipside_Cafe. They will be returning to Bucktown and will reside next to Miko's Italian Ice. You can count on them to be providing their guests with real cocoa and hot cider - all the good things to keep us warm and toasty this season.
Julius Meinl
3601 N. Southport
Chicago, IL 60613
773-868-1857
northamerica.meinl.com
Known more as a coffeehouse that bridges traditional values with modern culture through their menus, Julius Meinl offers authentic Viennese cuisine. They offer their customers Julius Meinl coffees, teas, drinking chocolates and of course apple cider. Don't forget to try one of their yummy pastries, too, like Black Forest Cake, Opera Torte or Peach Berry Tartlet.
Do you have a favorite go to spot in Chicago for apple cider? Let us know in the comments section!
Rachel Azark is a writer and lives in Chicago. Read more of her work on her blog parksandpancakes.com.
