Back in 2005, brothers Marc and Paul Pribaz left their corporate jobs to start a business.  After much deliberation and late night brainstorming sessions, the idea to start a coffee and gelato shop was born.  They decided on the name “Istria Café,” paying homage to their family roots outside Trieste, Italy, on the Istrian peninsula.  The vision since day one has been to create a European inspired café experience focusing on delivering exceptional coffee and gelato complimented with unparalleled service.  The brothers opened their original location under the Metra rail tracks on 57th Street in the historic Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago.  The space, though small, was immediately a welcome addition to the neighborhood. 

Sourcing locally roasted coffee beans from critically acclaimed Intelligentsia and learning the arts of barista and gelato making, Istria Café quickly developed a reputation for excelling in both of these categories.  Within its first year, Istria Café was named “Best Coffee Shop” in Hyde Park by TimeOut Chicago and tied for first overall in the city. 

In 2008, Istria Café opened its second location at the Hyde Park Art Center.  Given the modern aesthetic of the building, Marc and Paul wanted to preserve the best aspects of the original shop and also create a comfortable environment to complement the café’s service and offerings.  Most recently, the new Istria Café location was  named amongst the best places in Chicago for coffee.  

The brothers have many exciting products planned and look forward to introducing them in the coming weeks and months.