Juice bars have been a thing for a while now, right? But unlike most things that become things, this one seems to be more than a fad. I, for one, am all for it. From an easy breakfast to an afternoon pick-me-up, a big ol’ cup of just-pressed juice is a treat that also happens be nutrient dense. I mean, think about the last time you had fresh juice. Didn’t it feel like the heavens were pouring the radiant goodness of the earth straight into your veins? No? Are you sure?
Not surprisingly, the North Shore has some good spots to load up on juice (and several offer kid-approved options packed with fruits and veggies that little ones shun when dished up on a plate). Here are five of my faves.
Purple Sprout Cafe
As a transplant from the San Francisco Bay Area (read: Granola-ville), I can’t turn down a place that serves up organic, plant-based food. Purple Sprout is no joke—we’re talking hemp seed ice cream, people—and the juice bar is insanely amazing. Try the Power House Orange (carrot, apple and sweet potato), or go for a 1-ounce shot of anything from wheatgrass to ginger to turmeric.
341 E. Dundee Rd., Wheeling
Pure Juice Cafe
What’s ailing you? Swing by Pure Juice to find your cure. Morning Uplift (apple, kale, carrot and lemon) promises to stimulate, alkalize and hydrate, while the Skin Repair Ultra Tonic (kale, chard, celery and a bunch of other green things) will detoxify and restore your skin. Pure Juice also serves smoothies, elixirs and shots, and ever-popular acai bowls. There’s even a menu just for kids with fun item names, like the Shrek and the Bunny Dash.
24 S. Evergreen Ave., Arlington Heights
Mingle Juice Bar
With a drink called the Cinnamon Roll, can you go wrong? (It’s almond milk, cinnamon, banana and vanilla protein powder, by the way.) Try a smoothie with your choice of almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk or coconut water, or order an acai bowl loaded with tasty toppings like granola, mixed berries, cacao nibs and shredded coconut.
1830 Tower Dr., The Glen Town Center, Glenview
True Juice
The name sums up what this cute little shop wants you to know about their juice—it’s just pure, clean juice with no fillers. The menu is varied, creative and long, with smile-making item names like Skinny Jeans (celery, apple, kale, ginger and spinach), Winnetka Talk (kale, beet, parsley and pineapple), and my most frequently ordered, Hangover Cure (beet, carrot, apple, ginger and lemon).
542 Chestnut St., Winnetka
Mariano’s
My local Mariano’s would just have to put a juice bar right by the entrance, wouldn’t they? Well, joke’s on me because it works every time. A little juice, a little shopping, a happy girl. My personal fave is the Beet Berry Fruit—it’s got that earthy beet taste plus a kick of cayenne pepper (yeow!). My little guy asks for the Apple-Ginger Zing, made with apples, green grapes, strawberries and plenty more goodness that I’m 100 percent cool with.
784 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook
