Retreat at Currency Exchange

Currency Exchange Cafe is a coffeeshop and restaurant located in the heart of Washington Park on Chicago's southside.  The cafe’s unique design- created from repurposed materials, including the original hand-painted signs of the actual currency exchange that inhabited the space previously- allows for a growing collection of browsable books, and eventually access to an expansive 35mm slide collection of world art and architecture. Patrons are invited to use the space for contemplation, conversation and consumption of both edible and cultural products. Currency Exchange Cafe’s cuisine is a modern pairing of Southern Soul and Mexican Spice. Inspired heavily by traditional flavors of these strong cultures, Currency Exchange Cafe’s food takes on a deep, local character that reflects the culinary heritage of our home, Chicago.