Guidebook for Chicago
Everything Else
Board the El train here to travel to either "the Loop" (downtown Chicago) or O'Hare Airport
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Western station
1900 N Western AveBoard the El train here to travel to either "the Loop" (downtown Chicago) or O'Hare Airport
Sightseeing
Holstein Park
2200 N Oakley AvePublic 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.
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The 606
1805 North Ridgeway AvenueThis 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. $$
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toast
2046 N Damen AveMore upscale brunch. Warning: long waits on Saturday and Sunday. $$
Upscale restaurant started by famed pastry chef. Excellent brunch. Warning: long waits on Saturday and Sunday. $$$
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Mindy’s HotChocolate
1623 N Damen AveUpscale restaurant started by famed pastry chef. Excellent brunch. Warning: long waits on Saturday and Sunday. $$$
Good, non-fancy breakfast. Shorter wait-times on weekends. $
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Cozy Corner Restaurant and Pancake House
2294 N Milwaukee AveGood, 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. $$
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Big Star
1531 N Damen AveBar/Mexican restaurant with lively outdoor seating. Excellent place to people-watch. Long waits on nice days, but take-out counter is available for quick fix. $$
Nice, but not too expensive, Indian/Nepalese food. Lively atmosphere without the long wait times. $$
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Cumin
1414 N Milwaukee AveNice, but not too expensive, Indian/Nepalese food. Lively atmosphere without the long wait times. $$
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. $
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Pequod's Pizza
2207 North Clybourn AvenueThe 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. $
The Wormhole Coffee
1462 N Milwaukee Ave80s-themed hipster coffee shop.
Starbucks
1 E Delaware PlFor a quick, close-by caffeine fix.
Very affordable and yummy middle-eastern food. Try the Kafta kabob. $
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Sultan's Market
2057 W North AveVery affordable and yummy middle-eastern food. Try the Kafta kabob. $
2311 W North Ave
2311 West North AvenueLow-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. $
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Margie's Candies
1960 N Western AveOld-school ice cream parlor. Feels like a trip back in time. The Beatles ate here back in the day. $
1846 N Damen Ave
1846 North Damen AvenueItalian 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. $$
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Lillie's Q
417 North Ashland AvenueGreat BBQ restaurant with tasty pulled pork sandwiches, ribs, brisket, and sauces. $$
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. $
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Red June Cafe
2020 N Leavitt StCozy 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. $$
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Izakaya Mita
1960 N Damen AveGreat place just around the corner for Japanese tapas, sashimi, tempura, and noodle soup. $$
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. $
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My Pi Pizza
2010 N Damen AveExcellent 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. $
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Vienna Beef Factory Store & Cafe
2501 N Damen AveThis 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. $$
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En Hakkore Bibimbap & Taco
1840 N Damen AveKiller bibimbop for a good price. Walking distance. Casual order-at-the-counter. $$
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. $$
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90 Miles Cuban Cafe
2540 W Armitage AveAs featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives: Warm, festive BYOB that makes you feel like you're in Cuba. Our favorites are the empanadas, ropa vieja, and puerco rostizado. $$
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. $
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Lucia's
1825 W North AveWe 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. $$
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Parson's Chicken & Fish
2952 W Armitage AveTasty fried chicken, fried fish, hushpuppies, and slushy cocktails. Hipster central. Sit outside on a warm day and do some people watching. $$
Great new coffee bar under the El. No wifi, which can be a good thing.
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La Colombe Coffee Roasters
5158 N Clark StGreat 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. $
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Stan's Donuts & Coffee
1560 N Damen AveThey 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.
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Buzz Killer Espresso
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.
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Ipsento Coffee
2035 N Western AveNice 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. $
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Arturo's Tacos
2001 N Western AveGood 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. $$
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Sticky Rice Chiang Mai
1746 North Western AvenueDon't let the unglamorous location fool you. This place has our favorite thai food in the area. BYOB. $$
Rick Bayless's latest Mexican street-food inspired casual spot. The soups, tortas, and churros are fantastic. $$
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Fonda Frontera
1471 North Milwaukee AvenueRick Bayless's latest Mexican street-food inspired casual spot. The soups, tortas, and churros are fantastic. $$
We like the signature Umami Burger with truffle fries. $$
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Umami Burger Wicker Park
1480 N Milwaukee AveWe like the signature Umami Burger with truffle fries. $$
Delicious farm-to-table brunch, lunch, and dinner. Well worth the trip. $$$
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Lula Cafe
2537 N Kedzie BlvdDelicious farm-to-table brunch, lunch, and dinner. Well worth the trip. $$$
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. $$$
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Le Bouchon
1958 N Damen AveClassic French bistro just a short walk away. Great for special occasions and celebrations. Cozy, boisterous, with a great wine list. For a treat, we like the hanger steak and bouillabaisse. $$$
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. $$
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Dove's Luncheonette
1545 N Damen AveWe just discovered this place, and we're already disciples. Imaginative Southern-inspired Mexican food. 60s and 70s Chicago soul records. Mezcal and tequila cocktails. $$
Ridiculously delicious small-batch ice creams. This place will haunt your dreams.
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Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
1505 N Milwaukee AveRidiculously 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.
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Dannys
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.
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Happy Village
1059 N Wolcott AveDelightfully low-key beer garden. Note: outdoor seating closes at 11:00pm.
Well-known bar with excellent international beer selection
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Map Room
1949 N Hoyne AveWell-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.
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Emporium Wicker Park
1366 N Milwaukee AveVideo 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. $$$
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The Violet Hour
1520 N Damen AveHandcrafted, artisanal cocktails. Low-lit private tables and a disguised speakeasy entrance. James Beard Outstanding Bar Program nominee. $$$
Shopping
Reckless Records
929 W Belmont AveFor the vinyl enthusiast
Essentials
2014 W Wabansia Ave
2014 West Wabansia AvenueLittle market / grocery store - excellent cheese and charcuterie selection.
Walgreens
3646 North BroadwayPharmacy
2200 W Armitage Ave
2200 West Armitage AvenueConvenience store - for gum, beer, toothpaste, etc.