Chicago coffee shop/breakfast
 

On an upcoming trip to downtown Chicago, we're staying at a pricey hotel in the vicinity of Wacker Dr. and Michigan Ave. Looking for recommendations within walking distance that won't be "an arm and a leg", since b'fast is not included in our hotel rate.

Try Lou Mitchell's You may encounter a line which tells me a lot of people like it. http://www.loumitchellsrestaurant.com/
A cheap lunch is at Pierogi Heaven on North Wells under the El tracks.

The following are on the north side of the Chicago River but not far from Wacker/Michigan :
West Egg Cafe on N. Fairbanks Ct Yolk on E. Ohio.
Right on the SW corner of Michigan and Wacker there's a Corner Bakery for coffee and pastries.

The only pricey hotel in that area is really the Trump - and brunch at Sixteen is a wonderful option! (Doesn't appear to be in your budget, though.)

If you are speaking of breakfast - and not brunch - sit-down(with an entrée, not continental) will set you back between $15-20, when you include beverage (sans alcohol), tax and tip. Brunch would be several dollars more expensive, as a rule. A national chain, such as The Corner Bakery, - which, BTW, does offer entrees in addition to pastries - will be a few dollars less.

If you go to any restaurant frequented by tourists (as are all/most of these are in this area) at prime time, be prepared for at least a 1/2 hour wait.

Wildberry Café is close to Millennium Park, about 3 blocks south

Pittsfield Café is on Washington, as is Toni Patisserie

One of the locations of Intelligentsia Coffee sits between the Chicago Center and Macy's. They do serve pastries and such.

The original location of Heaven on Seven (Cajun) at 111 N. Wabash, 7th floor, does serve breakfast.

If you are coming on the weekend, Bridge House Tavern, near Clark - with patio seating on the River, has nice brunch offerings.

You could walk down to the Chicago French Market, immediate to the Ogilvie Transportation Center, where you have many choices.

I'm also guessing the OP is staying at Trump as there aren't any other high end hotels right there.

We all have different ideas of "pricey." When I was there in January,Holihans had a breakfast buffet that was in the $12 range. I tried every morning to get into Wildberry but there was always a 1-2 hour wait.

gardendiva, I am SO SORRY that you had to go to Houlihan's. There are so many other better places. (If anyone else cares to look, the Yelp reviews speak for themselves.)

I do *always* try to tell visitors not to go to better, popular restaurants during the prime breakfast, lunch, dinner times, especially on weekends. Otherwise, you'll get those long waits - supply and demand, you know. I'm sure there are other things which you'd prefer doing with your vacation time than wait on a table. For breakfast, I recommend that you try to get to the restaurant as soon as they open, maybe just a little after.

In as far as "pricey", the location really dictates the meaning. Chicago is an expensive destination. As HT mentions above, all the other hotels in this area, except the Trump, are merely mid-level.

"Chicago is an expensive destination"

Not if you are used to Boston or NY.

exiledprincess - not to be snarky but "pricey" does mean different things to different people. Many may consider the "mid-level" hotels as pricey. The only type of hotel that I expected breakfast to be included would be a chain such as Comfort Inn etc.

No need to worry about my selection of restaurants. The food was good. Sometimes time constraints and weather have to dictate choices. I was just putting out a choice. We don't all have to agree on choices.

gardendiva, not to be snarky, either, but...respectfully disagree with you on both subjects.

"Pricey"...Again, you have to compare apples to apples, not apples to oranges. Prices in the same location, not prices from differing locations.

I already knew that the OP was probably unfamiliar with what to expect price-wise in Chicago, because of how she phrased her initial inquiry. I was trying to give her information on what to expect so she could budget more properly and not experience possible sticker-shock when she got to Chicago. AND I gave her options in all price ranges (even including a chain).

Re Houlihan's...Yes, we don't all have to agree about restaurants. But, as you can see, I specifically mentioned to the OP to check another resource so they can see other's thoughts as well. She doesn't have to necessarily use Yelp but could use any other source she wants. She could even check with the concierge at her hotel if they recommend Houlihan's.

P.S. And I have to ask this: Didn't you find it a little funny that there was a 1-2 hour wait for a table at Wildberry Cafe. But, at another restaurant only a couple of blocks away, on a major thoroughfare, situated in-between two large hotels and across the street from others, there was very little, if any, wait? At least, I assume that was the case, from your comments.

P.P.S. I'm sincerely glad that you had a positive experience at Houlihan's.