Guidebook for Chicago

Sarah
Guidebook for Chicago

Everything Else

Board the El train here to travel to either "the Loop" (downtown Chicago) or O'Hare Airport
42 locals recommend
Western station
1900 N Western Ave
42 locals recommend
Board the El train here to travel to either "the Loop" (downtown Chicago) or O'Hare Airport

Sightseeing

Public park with large pool and playground
25 locals recommend
Holstein Park
2200 N Oakley Ave
25 locals recommend
Public park with large pool and playground
This elevated pedestrian/cycling trail is great for a bike ride or early evening walk. Connects several nearby parks. Entry spots at Damen and Wabansia or Leavitt and Milwaukee.
241 locals recommend
The 606
1805 North Ridgeway Avenue
241 locals recommend
This elevated pedestrian/cycling trail is great for a bike ride or early evening walk. Connects several nearby parks. Entry spots at Damen and Wabansia or Leavitt and Milwaukee.

Food Scene

More upscale brunch. Warning: long waits on Saturday and Sunday. $$
98 locals recommend
toast
2046 N Damen Ave
98 locals recommend
More upscale brunch. Warning: long waits on Saturday and Sunday. $$
Upscale restaurant started by famed pastry chef. Excellent brunch. Warning: long waits on Saturday and Sunday. $$$
108 locals recommend
Mindy’s HotChocolate
1623 N Damen Ave
108 locals recommend
Upscale restaurant started by famed pastry chef. Excellent brunch. Warning: long waits on Saturday and Sunday. $$$
Good, non-fancy breakfast. Shorter wait-times on weekends. $
88 locals recommend
Cozy Corner Restaurant and Pancake House
2294 N Milwaukee Ave
88 locals recommend
Good, non-fancy breakfast. Shorter wait-times on weekends. $
Bar/Mexican restaurant with lively outdoor seating. Excellent place to people-watch. Long waits on nice days, but take-out counter is available for quick fix. $$
1176 locals recommend
Big Star
1531 N Damen Ave
1176 locals recommend
Bar/Mexican restaurant with lively outdoor seating. Excellent place to people-watch. Long waits on nice days, but take-out counter is available for quick fix. $$
Nice, but not too expensive, Indian/Nepalese food. Lively atmosphere without the long wait times. $$
46 locals recommend
Cumin
1414 N Milwaukee Ave
46 locals recommend
Nice, but not too expensive, Indian/Nepalese food. Lively atmosphere without the long wait times. $$
The BEST deep dish pizza in Chicago. Well worth the walk or a short cab ride. Long waits on weekends, but there's a bookstore nearby for browsing. $
536 locals recommend
Pequod's Pizza
2207 North Clybourn Avenue
536 locals recommend
The BEST deep dish pizza in Chicago. Well worth the walk or a short cab ride. Long waits on weekends, but there's a bookstore nearby for browsing. $
80s-themed hipster coffee shop.
131 locals recommend
The Wormhole Coffee
1462 N Milwaukee Ave
131 locals recommend
80s-themed hipster coffee shop.
For a quick, close-by caffeine fix.
215 locals recommend
Starbucks
1 E Delaware Pl
215 locals recommend
For a quick, close-by caffeine fix.
Very affordable and yummy middle-eastern food. Try the Kafta kabob. $
99 locals recommend
Sultan's Market
2057 W North Ave
99 locals recommend
Very affordable and yummy middle-eastern food. Try the Kafta kabob. $
Low-key, mostly vegetarian restaurant with great courtyard and beer list. $
2311 W North Ave
2311 West North Avenue
Low-key, mostly vegetarian restaurant with great courtyard and beer list. $
Old-school ice cream parlor. Feels like a trip back in time. The Beatles ate here back in the day. $
179 locals recommend
Margie's Candies
1960 N Western Ave
179 locals recommend
Old-school ice cream parlor. Feels like a trip back in time. The Beatles ate here back in the day. $
Italian ice stand - great to visit on a warm night - try the traditional lemon. $
1846 N Damen Ave
1846 North Damen Avenue
Italian ice stand - great to visit on a warm night - try the traditional lemon. $
Great BBQ restaurant with tasty pulled pork sandwiches, ribs, brisket, and sauces. $$
34 locals recommend
Lillie's Q
417 North Ashland Avenue
34 locals recommend
Great BBQ restaurant with tasty pulled pork sandwiches, ribs, brisket, and sauces. $$
Cozy coffee and pastry shop just up the street. A good place to start your day or to stop by at lunch for a sandwich. $
41 locals recommend
Red June Cafe
2020 N Leavitt St
41 locals recommend
Cozy coffee and pastry shop just up the street. A good place to start your day or to stop by at lunch for a sandwich. $
Great place just around the corner for Japanese tapas, sashimi, tempura, and noodle soup. $$
8 locals recommend
Izakaya Mita
1960 N Damen Ave
8 locals recommend
Great place just around the corner for Japanese tapas, sashimi, tempura, and noodle soup. $$
Excellent corner deep-dish pizza place. A little less decadent than Pequod's, our favorite, but also a little easier on the stomach. We've got it on speed dial. Take out only. $
22 locals recommend
My Pi Pizza
2010 N Damen Ave
22 locals recommend
Excellent corner deep-dish pizza place. A little less decadent than Pequod's, our favorite, but also a little easier on the stomach. We've got it on speed dial. Take out only. $
This place doesn't look like much. But they have some seriously tasty french fries. They come piping hot, wrapped in a paper bag. The hot dogs are solid, too. Outdoor seating only. Open til 4am. $
8 locals recommend
Vienna Beef Factory Store & Cafe
2501 N Damen Ave
8 locals recommend
This place doesn't look like much. But they have some seriously tasty french fries. They come piping hot, wrapped in a paper bag. The hot dogs are solid, too. Outdoor seating only. Open til 4am. $
Killer bibimbop for a good price. Walking distance. Casual order-at-the-counter. $$
32 locals recommend
En Hakkore Bibimbap & Taco
1840 N Damen Ave
32 locals recommend
Killer bibimbop for a good price. Walking distance. Casual order-at-the-counter. $$
As featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives: Warm, festive BYOB that makes you feel like you're in Cuba. Our favorites are the empanadas, ropa vieja, and puerco rostizado. $$
182 locals recommend
90 Miles Cuban Cafe
2540 W Armitage Ave
182 locals recommend
As featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives: Warm, festive BYOB that makes you feel like you're in Cuba. Our favorites are the empanadas, ropa vieja, and puerco rostizado. $$
We love this place for its homemade chicken soups and Italian deli: Lucia's Famous Sub and Yale Special are delicious. Great place to pick up food for a picnic in Wicker Park. $
13 locals recommend
Lucia's
1825 W North Ave
13 locals recommend
We love this place for its homemade chicken soups and Italian deli: Lucia's Famous Sub and Yale Special are delicious. Great place to pick up food for a picnic in Wicker Park. $
Tasty fried chicken, fried fish, hushpuppies, and slushy cocktails. Hipster central. Sit outside on a warm day and do some people watching. $$
658 locals recommend
Parson's Chicken & Fish
2952 W Armitage Ave
658 locals recommend
Tasty fried chicken, fried fish, hushpuppies, and slushy cocktails. Hipster central. Sit outside on a warm day and do some people watching. $$
Great new coffee bar under the El. No wifi, which can be a good thing.
162 locals recommend
La Colombe Coffee Roasters
5158 N Clark St
162 locals recommend
Great new coffee bar under the El. No wifi, which can be a good thing.
They aren't good for you, but, boy, are they good. The straight-up glazed is something special. And they deliver, which should be outlawed. $
209 locals recommend
Stan's Donuts & Coffee
1560 N Damen Ave
209 locals recommend
They aren't good for you, but, boy, are they good. The straight-up glazed is something special. And they deliver, which should be outlawed. $
Drip coffee and a beautifully lit, lofted second floor. Buttery, flaky croissants. Good WiFi signal for the working traveler.
26 locals recommend
Buzz Killer Espresso
26 locals recommend
Drip coffee and a beautifully lit, lofted second floor. Buttery, flaky croissants. Good WiFi signal for the working traveler.
Nice little writerly cafe to grab a cup, sit in lamplight, and chat or work.
109 locals recommend
Ipsento Coffee
2035 N Western Ave
109 locals recommend
Nice little writerly cafe to grab a cup, sit in lamplight, and chat or work.
Good neighborhood Mexican restaurant. Not the nicest ambiance, but the carne asada and shrimp dishes are tasty. $
25 locals recommend
Arturo's Tacos
2001 N Western Ave
25 locals recommend
Good neighborhood Mexican restaurant. Not the nicest ambiance, but the carne asada and shrimp dishes are tasty. $
Don't let the unglamorous location fool you. This place has our favorite thai food in the area. BYOB. $$
10 locals recommend
Sticky Rice Chiang Mai
1746 North Western Avenue
10 locals recommend
Don't let the unglamorous location fool you. This place has our favorite thai food in the area. BYOB. $$
Rick Bayless's latest Mexican street-food inspired casual spot. The soups, tortas, and churros are fantastic. $$
39 locals recommend
Fonda Frontera
1471 North Milwaukee Avenue
39 locals recommend
Rick Bayless's latest Mexican street-food inspired casual spot. The soups, tortas, and churros are fantastic. $$
We like the signature Umami Burger with truffle fries. $$
30 locals recommend
Umami Burger Wicker Park
1480 N Milwaukee Ave
30 locals recommend
We like the signature Umami Burger with truffle fries. $$
Delicious farm-to-table brunch, lunch, and dinner. Well worth the trip. $$$
936 locals recommend
Lula Cafe
2537 N Kedzie Blvd
936 locals recommend
Delicious farm-to-table brunch, lunch, and dinner. Well worth the trip. $$$
Classic French bistro just a short walk away. Great for special occasions and celebrations. Cozy, boisterous, with a great wine list. For a treat, we like the hanger steak and bouillabaisse. $$$
56 locals recommend
Le Bouchon
1958 N Damen Ave
56 locals recommend
Classic French bistro just a short walk away. Great for special occasions and celebrations. Cozy, boisterous, with a great wine list. For a treat, we like the hanger steak and bouillabaisse. $$$
We just discovered this place, and we're already disciples. Imaginative Southern-inspired Mexican food. 60s and 70s Chicago soul records. Mezcal and tequila cocktails. $$
113 locals recommend
Dove's Luncheonette
1545 N Damen Ave
113 locals recommend
We just discovered this place, and we're already disciples. Imaginative Southern-inspired Mexican food. 60s and 70s Chicago soul records. Mezcal and tequila cocktails. $$
Ridiculously delicious small-batch ice creams. This place will haunt your dreams.
131 locals recommend
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
1505 N Milwaukee Ave
131 locals recommend
Ridiculously delicious small-batch ice creams. This place will haunt your dreams.

Drinks & Nightlife

A dark, chill bar in the early evening, a hipster dance party in the late evening.
76 locals recommend
Dannys
76 locals recommend
A dark, chill bar in the early evening, a hipster dance party in the late evening.
Delightfully low-key beer garden. Note: outdoor seating closes at 11:00pm.
63 locals recommend
Happy Village
1059 N Wolcott Ave
63 locals recommend
Delightfully low-key beer garden. Note: outdoor seating closes at 11:00pm.
Well-known bar with excellent international beer selection
119 locals recommend
Map Room
1949 N Hoyne Ave
119 locals recommend
Well-known bar with excellent international beer selection
Video games and beer. If that's your thing-- or even if its not--it's a fun place to peek inside.
158 locals recommend
Emporium Wicker Park
1366 N Milwaukee Ave
158 locals recommend
Video games and beer. If that's your thing-- or even if its not--it's a fun place to peek inside.
Handcrafted, artisanal cocktails. Low-lit private tables and a disguised speakeasy entrance. James Beard Outstanding Bar Program nominee. $$$
355 locals recommend
The Violet Hour
1520 N Damen Ave
355 locals recommend
Handcrafted, artisanal cocktails. Low-lit private tables and a disguised speakeasy entrance. James Beard Outstanding Bar Program nominee. $$$

Shopping

For the vinyl enthusiast
111 locals recommend
Reckless Records
929 W Belmont Ave
111 locals recommend
For the vinyl enthusiast

Essentials

Little market / grocery store - excellent cheese and charcuterie selection.
2014 W Wabansia Ave
2014 West Wabansia Avenue
Little market / grocery store - excellent cheese and charcuterie selection.
Pharmacy
246 locals recommend
Walgreens
3646 North Broadway
246 locals recommend
Pharmacy
Convenience store - for gum, beer, toothpaste, etc.
2200 W Armitage Ave
2200 West Armitage Avenue
Convenience store - for gum, beer, toothpaste, etc.