Reviews for VIP Beachfront Cabana Experience at Caffe Oliva

A quaint cafe right on the beach. Our server was friendly and attentive. I was able to customize my seafood entree. The salads are also delicious. Go on a Wednesday for half priced wines.

Caffè Oliva on Ohio Street Beach is my happy place — every single time. As a regular, I can confidently say there’s nothing quite like sipping a perfectly made latte just steps from the lake, with the city skyline behind you and the breeze off the water. The vibe is unbeatable — relaxed, vibrant, and full of good energy. A massive shoutout to the manager, who keeps things running smoothly even on the busiest beach days — always friendly, professional, and on point. And let me not forget the true coffee magician behind the counter — the barista who makes lattes better than anything I’ve had at Starbucks. No exaggeration. The foam, the flavor, the consistency — he’s got it down to a science. If you’re anywhere near Ohio Street Beach and not stopping at Caffè Oliva, you’re seriously missing out.

I had my wedding here last weekend, it rained a lot so the place and the beach were completely empty, they provided a tent that was a little worn but worked perfectly. The most important is that the food was amazing, it was fresh, perfect seasoned, served warm, absolutley perfect. The staff was also amazing, the event planner took care of everything and made sure my guest were having a good time. The servers and bartenders were amazing, everybody did a great job considering they had to get wet bringing the food from the kitchen to the tent. I appreciate so much good service and quality products. You made my day perfect, thank you so much!!

Walked right up for a late lunch. You grab whatever seat you want. Server was prompt and nice. Drinks and food came out quickly. Blackened fish tacos were solid! Can’t beat the view of the lake while eating.

Great restaurant on the beach! Casual and chill, with great vibes. Open access to view the skyline, the water, and situated on the beach with the option to sit on a patio with your toes in the sand! Visiting from Louisiana and it did not disappoint. Ordered the St Caprese Panini added bacon with sweet potato fries. Would recommend!

Wow! Loved this place! Absolute hidden gem (in my opinion) since I live a little further north. The views cannot be beat, makes you remember why you love to live in Chicago. The vibe was relaxed/beach casual. Would see this being an amazing lunch/dinner or work HH spot. The service was amazing and we were checked on and accommodated heavily by most of the staff but Alejandro was our main server and he was AMAZING. So much personality, enthusiasm and passion for the menu and the food. He was not wrong. The food was better than expected for a lakefront spot. It didn’t have to be good with those views, but THE ERIE BURGER. I will dream about that burger. 10/10 would recommend for a fun, casual spot for food and drinks with friends who appreciate an amazing Chicago skyline/beach/lake view.

Staying in town on Lake Shore Drive right across from the Ohio Street Beach and our friend demanded that we go for a visit but not without food first, and Caffe Olivia was conveniently right there. What an amazing view of downtown from the restaurant! Starting off with drinks can you resist a Finding Nemo fishbowl and the hunt for Swedish Fish in the ice (but act fast before the turn to stone 🤣) Between the Hummus & Pita Platter and the Oliva Caesar Salad with Steak for starters was certainly enough between drinks as we waited for the main course of Blackened Fish Tacos for myself Blackened Shrimp Tacos plus Fish & Chips for friends. Superb portions and delicious for our midday lunch. Certainly a must return spot on Lake Michigan for future trips to the Windy City

Fun little beach bar with tasty snacks and the perfect beachside cocktail menu. They have great specials 7 days a week. The bartender Alejandro is attentive, efficient and very helpful.

Our 49th anniversary! Beautiful evening and we were treated so special. Conversations with two servers and manager came by our table to congratulate us! Comped the dessert and gave discount! Hidden jem with great food and views!

Caffe Oliva is amazing. I appreciate the staffs and managers kindness to me even though I have autism and their food is amazing and really good. Owner Nick and Joshua is very nice. The restaurant is in good condition. Amazing Erie street burger. Must come back. 10/10.

We got lunch on the beach here. We got the fish tacos to share, and they were so good that we got the shrimp tacos, too, which were also amazing. We sat at the tables in the sand and ate while our teens swam. A very chill vibe here, no rush for us to leave. Great food, great service.

Tyler was the best server ever! The food is great. The view is top notch! Josh- one of the owners will make you feel right at home! This is the best atmosphere to enjoy a drink or food right on the beach with the best views of the city!

Beautiful location on the beach, there was a DJ and upbeat music, our drinks and food were great, the waitress was very friendly. The service was a little slow, but honestly I think it was because they were busy - our waitress was fast and working hard. What made our visit impressive was the manager's reaction to an issue we had, and I will 100% be back. There was another person, who actually wasn't even eating at the restaurant but rather helped themselves to a cabana - exhibiting some questionable behavior. Nothing too bad, but we had our toddlers with so we weren't too thrilled. We didn't say a word nor did we complain to anyone, we were just dealing with it. Within minutes - like literally less than 5 minutes, the manager asked the person to leave, and he was hyperaware that we were at a nearby table with children. They offered us dessert and were very apologetic and were very diligent. Our kids had literally no idea anything was even going on, it was handled swiftly and calmly. By the way the manager reacted, it was very clear this was not typical behavior at the restaurant, and secondly, showed how much they cared about our experience.

Love this place. I pretend that I am on vacation on a beach in Mexico! It works! Total beach vibe with amazing service and food. My favorite beach bar by far!!!

This was the perfect way to kick off my bachelorette! Tyler was an awesome server and we really enjoyed all of our food and drinks. They have DJs every weekend which was a nice touch!