The corner of Lake and Marion streets is no doubt one of the most bustling intersections in Oak Park. With the Lake Theater down the block and the popular restaurant Crepas Culichi on the corner, it can be easy to overlook a little coffee shop tucked away on the first floor of the historic Shaker Building at 1100 Lake St. But this little coffee shop deserves your attention.

Vigo Coffee has two locations, one in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago and the location mentioned above. Vigo provides Oak Park with a fascinating fusion of traditional Mexican desserts and drinks alongside your run-of-the-mill coffee shop drinks such as matcha, latte or chai.

One such fusion is their horchata chai, which is by far my favorite chai to date. Vigo features many different drinks mixed with horchata (a traditional Latin American drink typically made with rice, water, cinnamon, sugar and vanilla) including a horchata matcha and a horchata latte. However, the horchata chai is by far my favorite drink on the menu.

I cannot speak to how this drink would be iced, but I would certainly recommend ordering it hot, as my drink came out with a perfect creamy foam on top. The slight spice of the chai is perfectly complemented by the richness of the milk and vanilla from the horchata, bringing out each individual flavor.

My favorite part of this coffee, however, was not the drink itself but the experience of drinking it. This little shop is the perfect place to study or enjoy some unique art inspired by Mexican culture which is featured on each wall. The shop also has a quiet glass-enclosed room near the back, perfect for a quiet study space while you enjoy your drink.

Between the unique chai, calm atmosphere and beautiful art, Vigo is in my opinion one of the most underrated spots in Oak Park. For both the atmosphere and delicious drinks, I give Vigo five out of five stars. So next time you’re on Lake Street, be sure to stop by Vigo and give their delicious chai a try.