Walking into Sfera feels like stepping into a Dolce & Gabbana ad—rich tile, yellows, blues, and  greens. Lemons, oranges and  Moor’s heads lining the shelves (two large heads used to be at the counter making the entrance more dramatic, but they seem to have been relocated). Sunlight pouring through the windows.

The first time I went, I thought, someone really cares here. Not in the curated-for-Instagram way, but in the flavor-first kind of way.

Everything is made fresh. The focaccia is baked in-house. The soups are flavorful and clearly made from scratch.

The offerings are focused, but intentional.  There’s the sfincione, a thick-cut Sicilian-style pizza with a golden cheese crust. And the arancini—crisp-fried risotto balls—filled with anything from meat to mushrooms, always with a dipping sauce on the side.

The sandwiches are honest but elegant. The artichoke tapenade, with a house-made citrusy spread, roasted red pepper and arugula, is one of my favorites. So is the slow-roasted chicken, layered with red pepper–almond relish and basil pesto, served on that same focaccia.

If you’re a meat lover, go for the mortadella and capicola, but I’d ask for the giardiniera on the side. You’ll want control over that kind of flavor punch.

But the thing that knocks me out EVERY  time is the Sicilian hot chocolate. Spiced with citrus and made with their house-made syrup, it’s topped with three pillowy marshmallows that melt slowly as you sip. Decadent?  Yes—but not over the top and not too sweet. I know this is  technically a winter drink, but honestly? This gives me a  reason  to no  longer mind if it’s snowing in April.

Desserts here aren’t an afterthought. There’s a cherry-pistachio cupcake filled with sweet ricotta and a candied Door County cherry, topped with crushed pistachios, and rose petals. It’s as beautiful as it is delicious. And you will have a hard time finding better cannoli in Chicago.

The menu features vegan and gluten-free options, too—and none of them feel like a compromise.

The hospitality is remarkable. We love that dogs are welcome well beyond the patio, which is always such a relief when your family includes four-legged members. Our favorite pup never leaves without a treat.

Sfera also caters and ships—yes, they’ll send a little of this joy across the country.

It’s rare to find a place that does both: beauty and heart, but Sfera pulls it off.

And every time we go, we all  leave happy.