Guidebook for Evanston
Food Scene
Serves coffee by local roasters Metropolis Coffee http://www.metropoliscoffee.com/
24 locals recommend
Brothers K Coffeehouse
500 Main StServes coffee by local roasters Metropolis Coffee http://www.metropoliscoffee.com/
Best pies, both sweet and savory, in the whole Chicago area! Try the Chocolate Cream, yum. Dollop also serves Metropolis Coffee, northside Chicago local coffee small batch roaster.
37 locals recommend
Dollop Coffee & The Hoosier Mama Pie Company
749 Chicago AveBest pies, both sweet and savory, in the whole Chicago area! Try the Chocolate Cream, yum. Dollop also serves Metropolis Coffee, northside Chicago local coffee small batch roaster.
Great locally owned one off restaurant with quirky interior decor - daily specials and seasonal menu - breakfast, lunch and dinner served.
45 locals recommend
Lucky Platter
514 Main StGreat locally owned one off restaurant with quirky interior decor - daily specials and seasonal menu - breakfast, lunch and dinner served.
A little farther from the House of the Blue Doors but worth the trip. Best bakery in Evanston since 1938! Coffee too.! http://www.bennisonscakes.com/about.html
24 locals recommend
Bennison's Bakery
1000 Davis StA little farther from the House of the Blue Doors but worth the trip. Best bakery in Evanston since 1938! Coffee too.! http://www.bennisonscakes.com/about.html
Hip, fun 'Mexican street food' restaurant and bar. Great place for a cocktail too! https://laprincipalevanston.com/menu/
20 locals recommend
La Principal
700 Main StHip, fun 'Mexican street food' restaurant and bar. Great place for a cocktail too! https://laprincipalevanston.com/menu/
Giordano's
5311 S Blackstone AveBest deep dish pizza in the whole Chicago area!!
A bit far away but totally worth the journey to this new (June 2018) bakery - eat in or bring some yummy treats home to share (hopefully with your hosts :)
32 locals recommend
Lost Larson
5318 N Clark StA bit far away but totally worth the journey to this new (June 2018) bakery - eat in or bring some yummy treats home to share (hopefully with your hosts :)
Drinks & Nightlife
Local Evanston brewery (taproom only - BYOF - bring your own food)
http://www.sketchbookbrewing.com/
Also monthly 'Tour the Brewery' $10 tour
Walk or drive east on Washington (take a right out of your front door), 1 mile, until it dead ends into Sketchbook Brewing Company!
23 locals recommend
Sketchbook Brewing Co.
821 Chicago AveLocal Evanston brewery (taproom only - BYOF - bring your own food)
http://www.sketchbookbrewing.com/
Also monthly 'Tour the Brewery' $10 tour
Walk or drive east on Washington (take a right out of your front door), 1 mile, until it dead ends into Sketchbook Brewing Company!
Gin & whiskey distillery with an old-world industrial vibe, offering tours & a tasting room.
http://www.fewspirits.com/about-few/
FEW Spirits
918 Chicago AveGin & whiskey distillery with an old-world industrial vibe, offering tours & a tasting room.
http://www.fewspirits.com/about-few/
Everyone from complete unknowns to world class stars play here. Fab small music venue to discover new talent or hear old favorites http://evanstonspace.com/
57 locals recommend
Evanston SPACE
1245 Chicago AveEveryone from complete unknowns to world class stars play here. Fab small music venue to discover new talent or hear old favorites http://evanstonspace.com/
Sightseeing
Northwestern University's campus is beautiful. It's architecture is iconic and take a walk or bike along the lakefront on campus out to the 'island' with it's stunning view of Chicago's skyline.
80 locals recommend
Northwestern University
633 Clark StNorthwestern University's campus is beautiful. It's architecture is iconic and take a walk or bike along the lakefront on campus out to the 'island' with it's stunning view of Chicago's skyline.
Did you know that we have a lighthouse here in Evanston?! Grosse Point Lighthouse National Landmark http://www.grossepointlighthouse.net/
-regularly scheduled tours of the lighthouse June through September, on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 - 3 - 4 P.M / $6 / call ahead
12 locals recommend
Grosse Point Lighthouse
2601 Sheridan RdDid you know that we have a lighthouse here in Evanston?! Grosse Point Lighthouse National Landmark http://www.grossepointlighthouse.net/
-regularly scheduled tours of the lighthouse June through September, on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 - 3 - 4 P.M / $6 / call ahead
Beautiful building and place of worship in an unrivaled setting on the lake. https://www.bahai.us/bahai-temple/
120 locals recommend
Baha'i House of Worship
100 Linden AveBeautiful building and place of worship in an unrivaled setting on the lake. https://www.bahai.us/bahai-temple/
Parks & Nature
The beach next to the Lighthouse.... Also the Harley Clarke Mansion is on the grounds between the lighthouse and the beach. A pleasant place to walk, picnic or just explore. You can still glimpse parts of the Jens Jensen designed council circles, stairways and water fountain/pond on the grounds.
http://evanstonlakehouse.org/story/
There is a daily fee for using the beach only.
https://www.cityofevanston.org/government/departments/parks-recreation-community-services/lakefront-and-beaches
12 locals recommend
Lighthouse Beach
The beach next to the Lighthouse.... Also the Harley Clarke Mansion is on the grounds between the lighthouse and the beach. A pleasant place to walk, picnic or just explore. You can still glimpse parts of the Jens Jensen designed council circles, stairways and water fountain/pond on the grounds.
http://evanstonlakehouse.org/story/
There is a daily fee for using the beach only.
https://www.cityofevanston.org/government/departments/parks-recreation-community-services/lakefront-and-beaches
Start here to walk or bike along Lake Michigan or go to the beach. (daily fee required to get on the beach / free to use the lakefront)
https://www.cityofevanston.org/government/departments/parks-recreation-community-services/lakefront-and-beaches
15 locals recommend
Lee Street Beach
Start here to walk or bike along Lake Michigan or go to the beach. (daily fee required to get on the beach / free to use the lakefront)
https://www.cityofevanston.org/government/departments/parks-recreation-community-services/lakefront-and-beaches
It's a park, it's a garden, it's a 2 mile hiking/running/biking trail and it has monumental sculptures! Great place to take that morning run and only 1 mile from the house. Free and open to the public - self-guided tours and monthly docent guided tours.
http://sculpturepark.org/
9 locals recommend
Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park
North McCormick BoulevardIt's a park, it's a garden, it's a 2 mile hiking/running/biking trail and it has monumental sculptures! Great place to take that morning run and only 1 mile from the house. Free and open to the public - self-guided tours and monthly docent guided tours.
http://sculpturepark.org/
Arts & Culture
When was the last time you even thought about Toby Jugs?! It's good to take the road less traveled occasionally :)
http://www.tobyjugmuseum.com/
American Toby Jug Museum
910 Chicago AveWhen was the last time you even thought about Toby Jugs?! It's good to take the road less traveled occasionally :)
http://www.tobyjugmuseum.com/
Evanston History Center
225 Greenwood Sthttp://www.mitchellmuseum.org/about/index.html
11 locals recommend
Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
3001 Central Sthttp://www.mitchellmuseum.org/about/index.html
http://www.blockmuseum.northwestern.edu/
20 locals recommend
Block Museum of Art, Northwestern University
40 Arts Cir Drhttp://www.blockmuseum.northwestern.edu/
Shopping
Great store and basement fossil museum - really cool fossils, rocks, geodes, shells - a must visit - $ to $$$$$ something for everyone
14 locals recommend
The Olive Mountain
610 Davis StGreat store and basement fossil museum - really cool fossils, rocks, geodes, shells - a must visit - $ to $$$$$ something for everyone
Essentials
Regular grocery store with a huge fresh produce department and good in store bakery, sushi, fresh meat, wine/beer/liquor etc. Closest grocery store to the house at .8 miles.
17 locals recommend
Valli Produce
1910 Dempster StRegular grocery store with a huge fresh produce department and good in store bakery, sushi, fresh meat, wine/beer/liquor etc. Closest grocery store to the house at .8 miles.
Discount grocery store, cheap prices for staples. Closest grocery store to the house .8 miles.
6 locals recommend
Food 4 Less
2400 Main StDiscount grocery store, cheap prices for staples. Closest grocery store to the house .8 miles.
Trader Joe's
1211 Chicago AveJewel-Osco Pharmacy
411 Green Bay RdRegular grocery store with in-store pharmacy
Whole Foods Market
6020 N Cicero Avegrocery store with loads of delish prepared foods to eat-in or take home, bar, oyster bar, sushi bar, hot and cold buffet, candy maker, bakery, butcher, coffee bar, homemade gelato etc. If you're hungry and have an hour to kill this is the place to go. A moveable feast!!
171 locals recommend
Mariano's
3358 W Touhy Avegrocery store with loads of delish prepared foods to eat-in or take home, bar, oyster bar, sushi bar, hot and cold buffet, candy maker, bakery, butcher, coffee bar, homemade gelato etc. If you're hungry and have an hour to kill this is the place to go. A moveable feast!!
Walgreens
811 Green Bay RdUnited States Postal Service
1929 Central StThe UPS Store
1333 W Devon Ave