5 Underrated Cafes in Downtown, Bloomington IL Worth Trying
Updated 29 September 2026 · 15 cafes in Downtown, Bloomington IL considered · Ranked from Google ratings
This guide covers five cafes in and around Downtown Bloomington, IL that score well on Google but have not yet collected a large pile of reviews. It is meant for locals and visitors who want a coffee, a pastry or a sit-down drink somewhere other than the usual chains. To qualify, a place needed a Google rating of 4.4 or higher with fewer than 400 reviews. Fifteen businesses met that bar, and the five below were ranked from Google ratings weighted by review count.
#1
Ivy Lane Bakery
★ 4.8 (235 Google reviews)Bakery and Cake Shop$1–10 per person
Representative photo, not of this business.
Ivy Lane Bakery is a bakery and coffee house at 405 N Main St, open daily from 7 am to 4 pm. Reviewers mention sugar cookies, cinnamon rolls with the right amount of frosting, scones, peach tea and a cherry pie cookie on a shortbread base. One regular points to a rotating weekly lineup of cookies, muffins and scones. It offers breakfast, Wi-Fi, takeaway and free parking, and reviewers describe a cozy room for sitting a while.
Best for: Cookies, scones and a morning coffee
- Address
- 405 N Main St, Bloomington, IL 61701, United States
- Hours
- daily 7 am–4 pm
#2
Dar Al Coffee
★ 4.8 (54 Google reviews)Cafe$10–20 per person
Representative photo, not of this business.
Dar Al Coffee sits at 1520 E College Ave in Normal and keeps late hours, running until 11 pm on Friday through Sunday. Reviewers mention a pistachio cardamom latte, a Spanish latte, an iced banana dal latte, coconut mousse cake and Nutella pistachio croffles and waffles. They also point to made-to-order food, a wide dessert range, a nicely designed interior and big, comfortable seats. Dine-in, takeaway and free parking are available.
Best for: Specialty lattes and late-night dessert
- Address
- 1520 E College Ave Ste G, Normal, IL 61761, United States
- Hours
- Fri 7 am–11 pm; Mon 6 am–9 pm; Sat 7 am–11 pm; Sun 7 am–11 pm; Thu 6 am–9 pm; Tue 6 am–10 pm; Wed 6 am–9 pm
#3
Lab Coffee Mulberry
★ 4.8 (38 Google reviews)Coffee shop
Representative photo, not of this business.
Lab Coffee Mulberry is a coffee shop at 210 W Mulberry St in Normal, open 7 am to 7 pm most days and until 4 pm on Tuesdays. Reviewers describe a bright, spacious room suited to meeting a friend or working for a while. Regulars point to drip coffee, espresso and Americanos, seasonal drinks that are not overly sweet, acai bowls, toast and a Super Fruit yogurt bowl. The space has wheelchair-accessible parking, seating and restroom.
Best for: Working a few hours over good coffee
- Address
- 210 W Mulberry St, Normal, IL 61761, United States
- Hours
- Fri 7 am–7 pm; Mon 7 am–7 pm; Sat 7 am–7 pm; Sun 7 am–7 pm; Thu 7 am–7 pm; Tue 7 am–4 pm; Wed 7 am–7 pm
#4
BLOOM BARISTA
★ 4.7 (306 Google reviews)Indian restaurant
Representative photo, not of this business.
BLOOM BARISTA is listed on Google as an Indian restaurant and serves Indo-American fusion food at 608 N Main St. It opens at 11 am daily and stays open until 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays. Reviewers mention smoothies, a corn panini, well-liked dipping sauces and dishes that balance Indian spices with American-style ideas. They also point to a balcony and basement seating area, friendly staff and prompt service. Access is wheelchair-friendly throughout.
Best for: Late fusion bites and smoothies
- Address
- 608 N Main St, Bloomington, IL 61701, United States
- Hours
- Fri 11 am–2 am; Mon 11 am–10 pm; Sat 11 am–2 am; Sun 11 am–10 pm; Thu 11 am–10 pm; Tue 11 am–10 pm; Wed 11 am–10 pm
#5
Bloom's Coffee Bar
★ 4.7 (266 Google reviews)Coffee shop
Representative photo, not of this business.
Bloom's Coffee Bar is at 1209 1/2 S Towanda Ave and opens at 6 am on weekdays and Saturdays, 7 am on Sundays, closing at 7 pm. Reviewers mention a drive-through that keeps waits short, gluten-free options, and a white chocolate peanut butter latte. Some note sugar-free and dairy-free drinks are available, though one found the taste less appealing. Regulars describe friendly service and a small, convenient setup.
Best for: Quick drive-through coffee on the way
- Address
- 1209 1/2 S Towanda Ave, Bloomington, IL 61701, United States
- Hours
- Fri 6 am–7 pm; Mon 6 am–7 pm; Sat 6 am–7 pm; Sun 7 am–7 pm; Thu 6 am–7 pm; Tue 6 am–7 pm; Wed 6 am–7 pm
How we made this list
We looked at 15 cafes in Downtown, Bloomington IL with a Google rating of 4.0 or higher and at least 20 reviews, then rated 4.4 or higher on Google but with fewer than 400 reviews. A rating from thousands of reviews counts for more than the same rating from a handful, so a new place with a few perfect scores does not jump the queue. Ratings and hours are from public Google listings on 29 September 2026 and can change. Nobody paid to be on this list.
Tips before you go
- For an early start, Dar Al Coffee opens at 6 am.
- Hours and prices come from Google listings and change, so check the listing before a long trip.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the highest-rated cafe on this list?
Ivy Lane Bakery ranks first, with a Google rating of 4.8 from 235 reviews. Dar Al Coffee is second at 4.8 from 54 reviews.
Which cafes in Downtown, Bloomington IL are open late?
BLOOM BARISTA stays open until 2 am.
How much does it cost at these cafes?
Google lists these price ranges per person: Ivy Lane Bakery $1–10; Dar Al Coffee $10–20. The others do not list a price range.
Which of these have free parking?
Google lists free parking for Ivy Lane Bakery and Dar Al Coffee.
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