The Nutella Café on Michigan Avenue was the first Nutella Café in the world when Ferrero opened it in 2017. It is also, on any normal morning, a queue.
We went for breakfast with two boys, arrived early, and still waited outside. Here’s what you need to know before you build a morning around it.
The practical answers, first
- No reservations. First come, first served — there is no booking system to miss.
- Expect a queue, even early. We arrived early in the morning and still waited outside.
- Around $15–25 per person for breakfast.
- 189 N Michigan Avenue, about ten minutes’ walk from Millennium Park.
- Opens around 8am — worth confirming before you go.
- Very family-friendly, and the hot chocolate is a genuine reason to bring children.
Where to stay in Chicago with kids — our quick picks
We haven’t stayed at these three — they’re what I’d shortlist based on where they sit and who they’re built for. Our three real Chicago stays are further down. Some links are affiliate links, which may earn us a small commission at no cost to you.
Do you need a reservation at Nutella Café Chicago?
No — and you can’t make one. The café works entirely first come, first served.
What that means in practice is that the only variable you control is what time you turn up. We arrived early in the morning and still found a queue outside, made up of a mix of tourists and locals.
Build the wait into your morning rather than assuming you’ll walk in, and don’t come with children who are already hungry — the queue is outside.
What it costs
Around $15–25 per person for breakfast, depending on what you order and whether you add coffee.
We had Nutella pancakes, waffles and Nutella-filled croissants, with coffee for us and hot chocolate for the boys.
Prices from our 2025 visit — check before you budget.
What to order
The signatures are the Nutella pancakes and the Nutella-filled croissants. The menu also runs to crepes, gelato and espresso drinks topped with Nutella foam.
Two things worth knowing before you order:
- The portions are rich rather than large. One sweet dish per person is enough, including for children — this is not a place to over-order.
- Everything is plated to be photographed, with the glossy Nutella spread applied generously. People stopped at our table to look at the food, which tells you something about both the café and the street.
Where it is, and how it fits into a morning
189 N Michigan Avenue, on the Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago, with the street outside doing a good deal of the entertaining.
It sits about ten minutes’ walk from Millennium Park, which is exactly how we used it: breakfast here, then straight down Michigan Avenue to the Bean and Crown Fountain. That’s a good morning with children — a treat breakfast followed by somewhere they can run.
If you want the sequence, it’s day two of our 3 days in Chicago with kids.
The world’s first — and why that matters
Ferrero opened this café in 2017, and it was the first official Nutella Café anywhere. That’s the reason it draws a queue on a street that has no shortage of breakfast options: people aren’t queueing for pancakes, they’re queueing for the only one of its kind at the time.
Is it worth it with kids?
Yes — as a treat breakfast, not an everyday one. The children’s hot chocolate is good, the staff are used to families, and it pairs naturally with Millennium Park ten minutes away.
The queue is the only real drawback, and it’s a manageable one if you plan for it. If your morning is tight, or your children don’t do waiting, have breakfast elsewhere and come past later for a coffee.
If you like this, the other Chicago food stops
- The Starbucks Reserve Roastery — five floors, ten minutes further up Michigan Avenue, free to walk into
- Giordano’s deep dish
- Portillo’s
- Where to eat in Chicago with kids — everywhere we went, and how we kept the food budget down
- Chicago with kids: our complete guide
Nutella Café Chicago: FAQs
Do you need a reservation at Nutella Café Chicago?
No, and you cannot make one. Nutella Café works entirely first come, first served. Expect a queue at peak breakfast times and at weekends. We arrived early in the morning and still waited outside, so build a wait into your morning rather than assuming you will walk straight in.
How much does Nutella Café Chicago cost?
Around 15 to 25 dollars per person for breakfast. We had Nutella pancakes, waffles and Nutella filled croissants with coffee and hot chocolate for the children. Portions are rich rather than large, so one sweet dish per person is enough. Prices are from our 2025 visit, so confirm before you budget.
Where is the Nutella Café in Chicago?
At 189 N Michigan Avenue, on the Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago, about ten minutes on foot from Millennium Park and the Bean. It opens at around 8am, though the hours are worth checking before you go.
Was this the first Nutella Café in the world?
Yes. Ferrero opened the Michigan Avenue café in 2017 and it was the first official Nutella Café anywhere. That is a large part of why it still draws a queue on a street with no shortage of breakfast options.
What should you order at Nutella Café Chicago?
The Nutella pancakes and the Nutella filled croissants are the signature items, alongside crepes, waffles, gelato and espresso drinks topped with Nutella foam. The portions are rich rather than large, so order one sweet dish per person rather than sharing several.
Is Nutella Café Chicago worth it with kids?
Yes, as a treat breakfast rather than an everyday one. The children’s hot chocolate is good, the staff are used to families, and it pairs naturally with Millennium Park ten minutes away. The queue is the only real drawback, so go early or plan for the wait.
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