Heather’s Irving Park and Chicago guidebook
Nearby Food & Drink
Places we like to eat and drink in the general Irving Park area, though we're still pretty new here
A 5-minute drive or 15-minute walk to legendary Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef and chocolate cake
270 locals recommend
Portillo's Hot Dogs
100 W Ontario StA 5-minute drive or 15-minute walk to legendary Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef and chocolate cake
If you ask me, no visit to Chicago is complete without a late-night stop at White Castle (5 min drive, 15 min walk)
24 locals recommend
White Castle
3212 W Addison StIf you ask me, no visit to Chicago is complete without a late-night stop at White Castle (5 min drive, 15 min walk)
Neighborhood craft brewery and gastropub in an old warehouse (5-10 min drive or a short bus ride)
31 locals recommend
Old Irving Brewing Co.
4419 W Montrose AveNeighborhood craft brewery and gastropub in an old warehouse (5-10 min drive or a short bus ride)
Pick up a sashimi platter for $30 on Wednesdays and Fridays, or try Korean counter-service in a small cafe called the "Snack Corner" in the back (8 min drive)
25 locals recommend
Joong Boo Market
3333 N Kimball AvePick up a sashimi platter for $30 on Wednesdays and Fridays, or try Korean counter-service in a small cafe called the "Snack Corner" in the back (8 min drive)
Take a 5-minute walk to this seasonal spot where you can order an Italian ice out the window of a neighborhood residence
9 locals recommend
Miko's Italian Ice (Irving Park)
4125 N Kimball AveTake a 5-minute walk to this seasonal spot where you can order an Italian ice out the window of a neighborhood residence
Old school family-owned Italian restaurant nearby - eat inside for the white tablecloth experience, or on the patio in nice weather
14 locals recommend
Mirabella Italian Cuisine & Bar
3454 W Addison StOld school family-owned Italian restaurant nearby - eat inside for the white tablecloth experience, or on the patio in nice weather
Well-known local favorite with a nice patio and great delivery too
99 locals recommend
Honey Butter Fried Chicken
3361 N Elston AveWell-known local favorite with a nice patio and great delivery too
Buona Terra
3608 N California AveSit-down, upscale Italian restaurant just a walk down the street
Nighthawk
4744 N Kimball AveNearby coffee bar turned bar bar at night
Nearby & Notable
Other places you should know about nearby
Large nearby park with playground, dog park and grassy areas for picnicking; Free parking lot
56 locals recommend
Horner Park
2741 W Montrose AveLarge nearby park with playground, dog park and grassy areas for picnicking; Free parking lot
I just found out about this vintage bowling alley/bar nearby that opened right before the pandemic and has been featured on Accidentally Wes Anderson, so of course I wanna go.
13 locals recommend
Avondale Bowl
3118 N Milwaukee AveI just found out about this vintage bowling alley/bar nearby that opened right before the pandemic and has been featured on Accidentally Wes Anderson, so of course I wanna go.
Food & Drink Worth the Trip
Places we've personally visited, mostly in our former neighborhoods or near places we've worked
Giant
3209 W Armitage AveMake reservations if you're celebrating a special occasion
Parson's Chicken & Fish
2952 W Armitage AveGreat food, negroni slushies, awesome dog-friendly patio
The Moonlighter
3204 W Armitage AveGreat burgers and sours on an all-season patio
Our favorite brewery/restaurant when we lived in Lakeview
42 locals recommend
Corridor Brewery & Provisions
3446 N Southport AveOur favorite brewery/restaurant when we lived in Lakeview
Good deep dish and thin crust close to Wrigley Field
34 locals recommend
D'Agostino's Pizza and Pub Wrigleyville
1351 West Addison StreetGood deep dish and thin crust close to Wrigley Field
Pequod's Pizza
2207 North Clybourn AvenueMake a reservation online
Pretty Cool Ice Cream
2353 N California AveIce cream bars made 'Grammable
If you're going to brave Navy Pier, treat yourself to a Rainbow Cone
Original Rainbow Cone - Navy Pier
600 E Grand AveIf you're going to brave Navy Pier, treat yourself to a Rainbow Cone
We all know it's where you'd rather be staying, so take some of the money you saved and have fancy cocktails at one of its elegant establishments before suddenly deciding you need Shake Shack
53 locals recommend
Chicago Athletic Association
12 S Michigan AveWe all know it's where you'd rather be staying, so take some of the money you saved and have fancy cocktails at one of its elegant establishments before suddenly deciding you need Shake Shack
The Whale Chicago
2427 N Milwaukee AveWhere I drink in Logan Square when pretending to be fancy
Spilt Milk
811 South BlvdThe place my coworkers and I hang out when we're not downtown
Lonesome Rose
2101 N California AveTrendy Mexican restaurant with a speakeasy in the basement
The California Clipper
1002 North California AvenueIt's the red lighting for me
Other Fun Stuff
Gated-off northern section of Lake Michigan beaches where dogs are allowed to swim and run free - amazing/hilarious, go even without your own dog (can usually find parking nearby)
28 locals recommend
Montrose Dog Beach - Dog Friendly Area - Temporarily Closed
West Wilson DriveGated-off northern section of Lake Michigan beaches where dogs are allowed to swim and run free - amazing/hilarious, go even without your own dog (can usually find parking nearby)
This is the architecture boat tour you want - led by Chicago Architecture Foundation docents
55 locals recommend
First Lady Architecture Tour
112 E Wacker DrThis is the architecture boat tour you want - led by Chicago Architecture Foundation docents
The Bean, BP Bridge, Crown Fountain, Maggie Daley Park, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, free summer music/movies and winter ice skating
1243 locals recommend
Millennium Park
201 E Randolph StThe Bean, BP Bridge, Crown Fountain, Maggie Daley Park, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, free summer music/movies and winter ice skating
Even more fun when recreating Ferris Bueller scenes (and visit the modern wing)
1159 locals recommend
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S Michigan AveEven more fun when recreating Ferris Bueller scenes (and visit the modern wing)
The 606
1805 North Ridgeway AvenueCatch the revue or whatever you can get tickets for, the attached bar is a decent pre-game, then head across the street to Old Town Ale House after for the true Second City experience
433 locals recommend
The Second City
230 W North AveCatch the revue or whatever you can get tickets for, the attached bar is a decent pre-game, then head across the street to Old Town Ale House after for the true Second City experience
I'm a sucker for those swan paddle boats they have on the lake; This is also a big/beautiful park overall, I would just limit visiting to daytime hours
34 locals recommend
Humboldt Park Boathouse
1301 North Humboldt DriveI'm a sucker for those swan paddle boats they have on the lake; This is also a big/beautiful park overall, I would just limit visiting to daytime hours
Try taking an inexpensive ride on the Chicago Water Taxi (seasonal) to Chinatown for dinner/shopping
Chicago Water Taxi - Riverwalk
140 Chicago RiverwalkTry taking an inexpensive ride on the Chicago Water Taxi (seasonal) to Chinatown for dinner/shopping
Cloud Gate
201 E Randolph StWe call it The Bean and we admit it, it's pretty cool
Shopping
Foursided Card + Gift
2958 N Clark StPick up a cute Chicago souvenir
The perfect place to pick up party supplies or holiday decorations, or to just browse
Festive Collective
2643 W Armitage AveThe perfect place to pick up party supplies or holiday decorations, or to just browse
Greeting cards printed in-house and gifts from independent designers
9 locals recommend
Steel Petal Press
2321 N Milwaukee AveGreeting cards printed in-house and gifts from independent designers
Transit Tees
1371 N Milwaukee AveBest insider Chicago t-shirts and gifts
RAYGUN
5207 North Clark StreetLove this store and excited they came to Chicago
This is my favorite area for designer-y home shopping - mostly chains, but ones you don't find everywhere and they're all nearby: CB2, Crate and Barrel, Anthropologie, West Elm, Pottery Barn, Rejuvenation, The Container Store, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Design Within Reach, Blu Dot - plus places like the Apple Store and Nordstrom Rack
18 locals recommend
North/Clybourn station
This is my favorite area for designer-y home shopping - mostly chains, but ones you don't find everywhere and they're all nearby: CB2, Crate and Barrel, Anthropologie, West Elm, Pottery Barn, Rejuvenation, The Container Store, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Design Within Reach, Blu Dot - plus places like the Apple Store and Nordstrom Rack
Coffee Shops Around Town
Some coffee shops we've visited recently that are fairly close
Coffee shop in the heart of Logan Square - finding parking nearby can be a little bit iffy though
108 locals recommend
Gaslight Coffee Roasters
2385 N Milwaukee AveCoffee shop in the heart of Logan Square - finding parking nearby can be a little bit iffy though
Milwaukee chain that came to Chicago fairly recently - this location is in Logan Square, and you can park in the lot across the street without getting towed (probably)
19 locals recommend
Colectivo Coffee - Logan Square
2261 N Milwaukee AveMilwaukee chain that came to Chicago fairly recently - this location is in Logan Square, and you can park in the lot across the street without getting towed (probably)
This place has a super cool interior and a large patio for summer days, it was hopping when we went on a Sunday!
Hexe Coffee Co.
2000 W Diversey PkwyThis place has a super cool interior and a large patio for summer days, it was hopping when we went on a Sunday!
Caffè Umbria
2545 W Armitage AveLarge coffee roastery and cafe in Logan Square/Bucktown area
I haven't actually been here yet, but it's kind of a big deal
31 locals recommend
Starbucks Reserve Roastery
646 N Michigan AveI haven't actually been here yet, but it's kind of a big deal
City advice
Getting around
Driving Downtown
I never park downtown without going through the SpotHero app because rates are much cheaper that way (often cheaper than an Uber/Lyft if you're not drinking)