Cafe9 Pisolino is now pouring espresso inside Italian Village, giving Loop workers and visitors a quick-hit coffee option without the white tablecloths. The walk-up counter, tucked into the Vivere space on the ground floor of the multi-level restaurant at 71 W. Monroe, is run by fourth-generation siblings Jonathan and Giovanni Capitanini and is built around the idea of a Roman-style pause in the middle of the workday.
A family reimagines daytime at Italian Village
"Cafe9 Pisolino is our way of reimagining how Italian Village can serve the city throughout the day," Jonathan Capitanini said in a press release, according to Chicago Food Magazine. The family is positioning the café as casual and streetside, separate from the more formal dining rooms upstairs. The name nods to the Italian word "pisolino," or a little nap, and the concept favors short, daytime visits over lingering multicourse meals.
What is on the menu
The menu leans hard into espresso and seasonal coffee drinks, with most espresso beverages in the 7 to 8 dollar range and a gianduja-infused house latte listed at 8 dollars. Seasonal specials include a vanilla-peach cold brew at about 7 dollars and a strawberry matcha at around 8 dollars. House-made pastries run roughly 5 to 11 dollars. For something more substantial, a Tuscan chicken salad sandwich is listed at about 14 dollars, according to Block Club Chicago.
Hours and where to find it
Cafe9 Pisolino currently posts hours from Tuesday through Saturday, roughly 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at its address of 71 W. Monroe in the Loop. The café’s website includes an online ordering link for walk-up pickup and emphasizes that the counter is meant for quick stops during the workday rather than long hangs. For the latest on hours and ordering, check the official site at Cafe9 Pisolino.
How it fits downtown
Italian Village has been a Loop mainstay since 1927, and Cafe9 Pisolino is the newest chapter in a sprawling, multi-room operation that is now experimenting more with daytime foot traffic. The group added the Sotto and Bar Sotto concepts to its lower level in 2024, and the espresso bar continues that pattern of carving the building into different experiences for different parts of the day, according to Chicago Food Magazine. For commuters and office dwellers who want something between a corner kiosk and a full sit-down lunch, the café is aiming to be that middle ground.
