Guidebook for Oak Park
Food Scene
Funky laid back cafe right by the Lombard entrance to the Blue Line trains. Perfect for a quick coffee to go, sandwiches and salads, and one of the best BLT's! Can accommodate GF too.
37 locals recommend
Buzz Cafe
905 S Lombard Ave Funky laid back cafe right by the Lombard entrance to the Blue Line trains. Perfect for a quick coffee to go, sandwiches and salads, and one of the best BLT's! Can accommodate GF too.
Fresh, authentic Thai food. BYOB. Short walk from the house or they also deliver.
25 locals recommend
Bodhi Thai Bistro
6211 Roosevelt Rd Fresh, authentic Thai food. BYOB. Short walk from the house or they also deliver.
Local, independent, cooperative natural foods grocer. Small but mighty selection, great prepared foods, awesome local foods selection.
21 locals recommend
Sugar Beet Food Co-op
812 Madison St Local, independent, cooperative natural foods grocer. Small but mighty selection, great prepared foods, awesome local foods selection.
Upscale pan-mediterranean dining in a friendly space with great staff. Delicious flatbreads, house made pasta, interesting wine list by the glass or bottle, fun cocktails, outdoor patio in warm weather.
20 locals recommend
Autre Monde Cafe & Spirits
6727 Roosevelt Rd Upscale pan-mediterranean dining in a friendly space with great staff. Delicious flatbreads, house made pasta, interesting wine list by the glass or bottle, fun cocktails, outdoor patio in warm weather.
Small local grocery store very close to the house. Have been updating in recent years to include more natural/organic foods, but have all the standard grocery fare plus latino food specialties.
Fair Share Finer Foods
Small local grocery store very close to the house. Have been updating in recent years to include more natural/organic foods, but have all the standard grocery fare plus latino food specialties.
The Happy Apple Pie Shop
226 Harrison StSome of the best pie you will ever eat! Plus other pastries and coffee.
57 locals recommend
Spilt Milk
811 South Blvd Some of the best pie you will ever eat! Plus other pastries and coffee.
Very good middle eastern food - love the baba ganoush and the kefta kabob. Does delivery.
15 locals recommend
Grape Leaves Restaurant
129 S Oak Park Ave Very good middle eastern food - love the baba ganoush and the kefta kabob. Does delivery.
Yoga studio with a small cafe - great, fresh, vegan dishes, and cold beverages and coffee.
Nature Yoga Sanctuary & Cafe - Oak Park
146 Harrison StYoga studio with a small cafe - great, fresh, vegan dishes, and cold beverages and coffee.
The Heritage
7403 Madison StFarm to Table restaurant - lovely interior and friendly staff.
Drinks & Nightlife
Great music venue, and the smaller bar next door "Sidebar" is an awesome vintage bar space, with jazz & classic cocktails on Wednesday nights.
62 locals recommend
FitzGerald's
6615 Roosevelt Rd Great music venue, and the smaller bar next door "Sidebar" is an awesome vintage bar space, with jazz & classic cocktails on Wednesday nights.
Dive-y local bar with lots of live music, and coffee on one side in the mornings.
14 locals recommend
Friendly Tap
6733 Roosevelt Rd Dive-y local bar with lots of live music, and coffee on one side in the mornings.
Small local brewery - no food/cocktails, just good beer. Only accepts plastic (no cash)
14 locals recommend
Kingslahger Brewing Company
6806 Roosevelt Rd Small local brewery - no food/cocktails, just good beer. Only accepts plastic (no cash)
Two Brothers Social Tap
100 South Marion StreetShopping
Fun Charity resale store with an ever-changing selection.
10 locals recommend
Brown Elephant Resale Shop
217 Harrison St Fun Charity resale store with an ever-changing selection.
Very complete bead shop a short walk from the house. Lots of selection!
6 locals recommend
Bead In Hand
145 Harrison St Very complete bead shop a short walk from the house. Lots of selection!
Paper Source
1109 Lake St The local Paper Source from the Chicago-based company.
Pumpkin Moon
1028 North BlvdFun quirky shop for kids and the young-at-heart.
Val's Halla Records
239 Harrison St A long-time used music store. Large selection.
Very good local/independent book store with mostly new and some collectible/used books. Fun other book/reading related items as well. Knowledgeable staff.
18 locals recommend
The Book Table
1045 Lake St Very good local/independent book store with mostly new and some collectible/used books. Fun other book/reading related items as well. Knowledgeable staff.
Magic Tree Bookstore
141 North Oak Park Avenue Fabulous independent/woman-owned children's book store.
Sightseeing
Unity Temple
875 Lake StFrank Lloyd Wright designed Unitarian Temple
Book tours in advance if you want to see the inside - they do sell out. Still fun to see the outside, plus there are a bunch of other homes of his in the area.
184 locals recommend
Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
951 Chicago Ave Book tours in advance if you want to see the inside - they do sell out. Still fun to see the outside, plus there are a bunch of other homes of his in the area.
Parks & Nature
Small conservatory a short walk from the house. Free entrance, nice desert room, and a cute local treasure.
35 locals recommend
Oak Park Conservatory
615 Garfield St Small conservatory a short walk from the house. Free entrance, nice desert room, and a cute local treasure.
Large glass conservatory with themed rooms and seasonal exhibits. Also a large multi-faceted outdoor space with water features, edible garden space, and the resident honeybees.
258 locals recommend
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N Central Park Ave Large glass conservatory with themed rooms and seasonal exhibits. Also a large multi-faceted outdoor space with water features, edible garden space, and the resident honeybees.
Nice public park just across the border into Chicago. Garden space was designed by Jens Jensen.
Columbus Park Refectory
5701 W Jackson BlvdNice public park just across the border into Chicago. Garden space was designed by Jens Jensen.
Barrie Park
1011 S Lombard Ave Green space a short walk from the house.
Essentials
Walgreens
1931 W Cermak Rd