Guidebook for Chicago
Food Scene
Great little neighborhood rock'n'roll bar with a surprisingly delicious menu and outdoor seating.
53 locals recommend
Five Star Bar
1424 W Chicago AveGreat little neighborhood rock'n'roll bar with a surprisingly delicious menu and outdoor seating.
The pizza is good but the build-your-own salads are HUGE and delicious! Massive outdoor space, a good combination of booths and tables for families or watching sports.
126 locals recommend
Roots Handmade Pizza
1924 W Chicago AveThe pizza is good but the build-your-own salads are HUGE and delicious! Massive outdoor space, a good combination of booths and tables for families or watching sports.
Incredible sushi if you're on a medium-high budget! The Nori Old Fashioned is so, so tasty and the menu items are inventive.
37 locals recommend
Arami
1829 W Chicago AveIncredible sushi if you're on a medium-high budget! The Nori Old Fashioned is so, so tasty and the menu items are inventive.
Great sushi, good decor, cheap price! Always has good music, can get a little loud. Not located where AirBn'B shows on the map - on Chicago Ave a walk from the apartment.
111 locals recommend
Yuzu Sushi & Robata Grill
1751 W Chicago AveGreat sushi, good decor, cheap price! Always has good music, can get a little loud. Not located where AirBn'B shows on the map - on Chicago Ave a walk from the apartment.
Mr Taco's Restaurant
1640 W Chicago AveGreat burritos, family friendly!
Very nice people, great coffee, and a good stop if you're walking to go shopping on Magnificent Mile.
68 locals recommend
Big Shoulders Coffee
1105 W Chicago AveVery nice people, great coffee, and a good stop if you're walking to go shopping on Magnificent Mile.
Star Lounge Coffee Bar (Dark Matter Coffee)
2521 W Chicago AveBest coffee in Chicago, hands down.
Do you like alligator? Wild boar? Other off-the-beaten-path meaty menu choices? Look no further. Vaguely southern, vaguely western, all delicious.
62 locals recommend
Frontier
1072 N Milwaukee AveDo you like alligator? Wild boar? Other off-the-beaten-path meaty menu choices? Look no further. Vaguely southern, vaguely western, all delicious.
A local hipster Italian joint with impeccable decor, delicious cocktails, and a rotating pasta list that will blow your socks off. Get reservations - this place does get noisy at night.
37 locals recommend
Charlatan
1329 West Chicago AvenueA local hipster Italian joint with impeccable decor, delicious cocktails, and a rotating pasta list that will blow your socks off. Get reservations - this place does get noisy at night.
Drinks & Nightlife
Great craft cocktails and good beer list. Local neighborhood spot, often has fun giveaways or sponsored events going on. Later, the back half turns into a dancefloor.
57 locals recommend
Bar Deville
Great craft cocktails and good beer list. Local neighborhood spot, often has fun giveaways or sponsored events going on. Later, the back half turns into a dancefloor.
A barcade with an amazing beer selection and a stage for live music. No outdoor area, but huge and fun to go with groups of friends.
158 locals recommend
Emporium Wicker Park
1366 N Milwaukee AveA barcade with an amazing beer selection and a stage for live music. No outdoor area, but huge and fun to go with groups of friends.
Cheap, delicious craft cocktails, fun decor, great outside area, and chess tables!
116 locals recommend
Sportsman's Club
948 N Western AveCheap, delicious craft cocktails, fun decor, great outside area, and chess tables!
Great dive bar with an active ping pong scene (admire the velvet wallpaper in the ping pong room) and the best secret garden covered in grape vines, twinkly lights, and white tents ever out back. Did I say dive? I meant dive.
63 locals recommend
Happy Village
1059 N Wolcott AveGreat dive bar with an active ping pong scene (admire the velvet wallpaper in the ping pong room) and the best secret garden covered in grape vines, twinkly lights, and white tents ever out back. Did I say dive? I meant dive.
Lush Wine & Spirits
1412 W Chicago AveGreat liquor store/wine bar.
Shopping
Study Hall
2016 W Chicago AveGreat, small women's clothes shop
Awesome, awesome textile and furniture store - combination of vintage furniture, beautiful off-kilter ceramics, and jewelry. Great for a long walk.
41 locals recommend
Humboldt House
1045 N California AveAwesome, awesome textile and furniture store - combination of vintage furniture, beautiful off-kilter ceramics, and jewelry. Great for a long walk.
Best plant store ever! Things are $$$ but the selection is amazing and worth just browsing in even if you can't buy.
23 locals recommend
Sprout Home
745 N Damen AveBest plant store ever! Things are $$$ but the selection is amazing and worth just browsing in even if you can't buy.
If you need candles, magnets, socks, tchatchkies, souvenirs, or flamingo lawn ornaments, this is your place. The owners are incredibly nice and RR is stacked to the brim with fun knick knacks.
31 locals recommend
RR #1 Chicago
814 N Ashland AveIf you need candles, magnets, socks, tchatchkies, souvenirs, or flamingo lawn ornaments, this is your place. The owners are incredibly nice and RR is stacked to the brim with fun knick knacks.
Best clothing store in Chicago if you've got hipster tendencies, hands down. A great selection from brands like Stance, Barney Cools, Tovar, RVCA, and many others that are way too cool for me to remember.
34 locals recommend
Una Mae's
1528 N Milwaukee AveBest clothing store in Chicago if you've got hipster tendencies, hands down. A great selection from brands like Stance, Barney Cools, Tovar, RVCA, and many others that are way too cool for me to remember.
Essentials
Walgreens
1931 W Cermak RdMariano's
2021 W Chicago AveThe Noble Grape
802 N Bishop StNice liquor store with great selection.
Getting Around
Chicago & Milwaukee station
O'Hare to the Loop.
$10 for a day, stations all around the city. This is across the street from our house.
Divvy Station: Ashland Ave & Chicago Ave
$10 for a day, stations all around the city. This is across the street from our house.
Division & Ashland station
O'Hare to the Loop
Entertainment & Activities
United Center
1901 W Madison StParks & Nature
Wicker Park
1425 N Damen AveEckhart Park
1330 W Chicago Ave