// CHICAGO // GOLD COAST //
hendrickx belgian bread crafter
a cozy european bakery tucked in the rodeo drive of chicago
Hendrickx Belgian Bread Crafter is easy to miss if you don’t know what you’re looking for. The Belgian bakery is tucked inside an old nondescript apartment building among big designer names and trendy chains in Gold Coast. Inside, it’s a tiny, homey space. A little counter with pastries displayed (and splayed out in the back into the kitchen), and a refrigerator with more sweets. Like a secret stash of European pastries that the locals keep hidden in plain sight, just a hop and skip away from the less quaint strip of Michigan Ave.
Their selection is deceivingly large, with a whole bunch of different flavors of croissants to choose from. They also have coffee and light lunch-y foods (aka sandwiches that make use of their giant loaves of bread) in addition to the pastry selection. It’s humble. It’s not fussy. There might not be a ton of seating or reliable wifi, but it’s a gem.
When I lived in Chicago, this place was my go-to neighborhood bakery whenever I was looking for a treat. It helped that it was within a 5 minute walk from my front door, but I’d travel for this.
the details
| Address | 100 E Walton St #105, Chicago |
| Website | http://hendrickxbakery.com/ |
| Yelp | https://www.yelp.com/biz/hendrickx-belgian-bread-crafter-chicago |
| Hours | 8am-3:30pm Monday 8am – 7pm Tuesday – Saturday 9am-3pm Sunday |
| Price | $-$$ – probably a half notch cheaper than your typical cafe or trendy bakery prices |
| Aesthetic | cozy and warm, not really decorated by homey |
good to know
Go here for: a solid bread and pastry fix that’ll make you feel like a local
Order this: their bread is formidable, the caneles are huge and super custardy, also any of their croissants (which aren’t as buttery and flaky and well-laminated as let’s say Floriole’s, but loaded up with the various flavors are just as satisfying)
Amount of time to spend: great for a short breakfast or afternoon coffee treat, or for takeaway
When to come: earlier in the day generally means more selection, so probably morning or early afternoon
Getting here: the closest train station is Clark/Division on the red line, and it’s about a 10 minute walk from there. Probably easier to access by bus (Michigan & Oak, Michigan & Delaware both drop you off pretty close and have plenty of options up and down Michigan)
Other things to note:
- They do have wifi, but there are only a couple tables inside and outside, so it’s better for a quick breakfast or lunch, or to get something to go.
- Their hours are probably the most authentically European thing about it, so make sure to check if it’s a Sunday or Monday because they close earlier those days.
Last visited: August 2019
Last updated: April 2020
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