Guidebook for Chicago
Food Scene
Sultan's Market
2057 W North AveMiddle eastern delicious food holy crap so good.
KAI ZAN
2557 W Chicago AveSushi
The Boiler Room
2210 North California Avenuepizza, booze
Masada
2206 N California Avemiddle eastern food, awesome decor
Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits
2051 N California Avepie, coffee, brunch
breakfast, brunch, lunch, coffee. Awesome options including vegan and vegetarian
75 locals recommend
Flying Saucer
1123 N California Avebreakfast, brunch, lunch, coffee. Awesome options including vegan and vegetarian
Breakfast, coffee, biscuits that will blow your mind, super cute 1950's diner
78 locals recommend
Spinning J Bakery and Soda Fountain
1000 N California AveBreakfast, coffee, biscuits that will blow your mind, super cute 1950's diner
Aztec Dave's Cantina
1143 North California AvenueAmazing food- everything is good here. Tell Kaitlyn I said hi!
Rootstock Wine & Beer Bar
954 North California AvenueCharcuterie, amazing burger, awesome wine.
Shopping
Super cute gifts and vintage home goods. Perfect spot for a last-minute gift or well-planned, thoughtful one. Feel free to buy me anything from here. Thank you.
41 locals recommend
Humboldt House
1045 N California AveSuper cute gifts and vintage home goods. Perfect spot for a last-minute gift or well-planned, thoughtful one. Feel free to buy me anything from here. Thank you.
Unique indie designer boutique. Women's clothing, accessories, gifts.
12 locals recommend
Squasht Boutique
2556 W Chicago AveUnique indie designer boutique. Women's clothing, accessories, gifts.
Komoda
2559 W Chicago AveAccessories, gifts, home goods, men's and women's apothecary
Adams & Son Gardens
1057 N California Avegardening, plants, flowers and the nicest owner around.
Super cute boutique. Good stuff for guys and girls and people who can dress cute at work. Walk around this area to more great shopping.
50 locals recommend
Penelope's
1913 W Division StSuper cute boutique. Good stuff for guys and girls and people who can dress cute at work. Walk around this area to more great shopping.
Chicago’s best #1 worldwide famous swimwear and vintage. 40s-80s mostly. Handmade swimwear house brand Fenton Fox makes sustainable bikinis, one pieces, and shorts
The Fox Club
1101 North California AvenueChicago’s best #1 worldwide famous swimwear and vintage. 40s-80s mostly. Handmade swimwear house brand Fenton Fox makes sustainable bikinis, one pieces, and shorts
Essentials
Groceries. There's also a really close Family Dollar, just two blocks South on Division, if you need toothpaste or something.
111 locals recommend
Cermak Produce
2701 W North AveGroceries. There's also a really close Family Dollar, just two blocks South on Division, if you need toothpaste or something.
Drinks & Nightlife
The California Clipper
1002 North California Avenue1930's bar
Continental Lounge
2801 W Chicago AveLate night boozing
This is a real neighborhood bar. Locals only and all that kind of dive with a pool table and cheap Hamms. Complimentary cheeze balls which are delightful
33 locals recommend
Archie's Iowa Rockwell Tavern
2600 W Iowa StThis is a real neighborhood bar. Locals only and all that kind of dive with a pool table and cheap Hamms. Complimentary cheeze balls which are delightful
Dive, one of the last standing original scenes on the Division strip, surrounded by tons of newer bars and restaurants
24 locals recommend
GOLD STAR BAR
1755 West Division StreetDive, one of the last standing original scenes on the Division strip, surrounded by tons of newer bars and restaurants
One of the oldest piano bars in Chicago. Divey, with live music most nights and a great beer garden. This a Gold Star are pretty much the last of the original Division St bars.
19 locals recommend
Phyllis Musical Inn
1800 W Division StOne of the oldest piano bars in Chicago. Divey, with live music most nights and a great beer garden. This a Gold Star are pretty much the last of the original Division St bars.
Historical bar built in the 20's. Old beat generation and musician hangout that hasn't changed since it was built. Cool original woodwork and local art.
81 locals recommend
Rainbo Club
1150 N Damen AveHistorical bar built in the 20's. Old beat generation and musician hangout that hasn't changed since it was built. Cool original woodwork and local art.
Best sound in the City. Good punk and indie bands and a fun soul night. Free Mondays are always worth checking out if you're lucky enough to be here then.
208 locals recommend
The Empty Bottle
1035 N Western AveBest sound in the City. Good punk and indie bands and a fun soul night. Free Mondays are always worth checking out if you're lucky enough to be here then.
Insanely cool historical spot re-opened las year after lying dormant since the 80's. Overlooking Millenium Park
53 locals recommend
Chicago Athletic Association
12 S Michigan AveInsanely cool historical spot re-opened las year after lying dormant since the 80's. Overlooking Millenium Park
The California Clipper
1002 North California AvenueThe Empty Bottle
1035 N Western AveBest venue in the city for punk and indie bands. Good bar, too.
Parks & Nature
Close to the lake, lots of info on local animals and plants
140 locals recommend
The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 N Cannon DrClose to the lake, lots of info on local animals and plants
Right by the house. You can play tennis, fish in the lagoon, shoot hoops, eat food truck food, go for a jog or have a picnic. Chicago’s fourth largest park, it's two miles around the circumference, with lots of good paths. Movies in the park sometimes, too.
293 locals recommend
Humboldt Park
1400 N Humboldt DrRight by the house. You can play tennis, fish in the lagoon, shoot hoops, eat food truck food, go for a jog or have a picnic. Chicago’s fourth largest park, it's two miles around the circumference, with lots of good paths. Movies in the park sometimes, too.
Smaller park, but they have a community pool and baseball field. It's also about a mile from the apartment and half mile around the whole thing in case you're a runner. They also show movies in the park sometimes
39 locals recommend
Smith Park
Smaller park, but they have a community pool and baseball field. It's also about a mile from the apartment and half mile around the whole thing in case you're a runner. They also show movies in the park sometimes
This is one of the world's largest conservatories, and it's awesome. See all the plants here.
258 locals recommend
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N Central Park AveThis is one of the world's largest conservatories, and it's awesome. See all the plants here.
The 606 is an elevated trail connecting a string of Chicago neighborhoods together from. It's a great way to walk, run, or bike from Central Park Ave to Ashland Ave.
http://www.the606.org/about/
241 locals recommend
The 606
1805 North Ridgeway AvenueThe 606 is an elevated trail connecting a string of Chicago neighborhoods together from. It's a great way to walk, run, or bike from Central Park Ave to Ashland Ave.
http://www.the606.org/about/
Arts & Culture
Voted Best Museum in the world! This place is amazing. student discounts. Check out the miniatures.
1159 locals recommend
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S Michigan AveVoted Best Museum in the world! This place is amazing. student discounts. Check out the miniatures.
Weird and fun history of painful-looking surgical instruments.
21 locals recommend
International Museum of Surgical Science
1524 N Lake Shore DrWeird and fun history of painful-looking surgical instruments.
Contemporary Art and some great events at night
532 locals recommend
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
220 E Chicago AveContemporary Art and some great events at night
Entertainment & Activities
Vintage rehabbed movie theater. They have current movies and play classics. I saw Karate Kid on the big screen as well as Texas Chainsaw Massacre--super fun!
315 locals recommend
The Logan Theatre
2646 N Milwaukee AveVintage rehabbed movie theater. They have current movies and play classics. I saw Karate Kid on the big screen as well as Texas Chainsaw Massacre--super fun!
Go here during the day for records, but a few block further East will get you to their Arcade, which is super fun for drinks and game time. Pinball and whatnot
17 locals recommend
Logan Hardware Records
2532 West Fullerton AvenueGo here during the day for records, but a few block further East will get you to their Arcade, which is super fun for drinks and game time. Pinball and whatnot