Steven’s guidebook
Food scene
Logan Square is known for their fine dining and this place is totally off the radar and our personal favorite.
72 locals recommend
Table, Donkey and Stick
2728 W Armitage AveLogan Square is known for their fine dining and this place is totally off the radar and our personal favorite.
This is one of our favorite weekend breakfast places but they serve food all day. Located right on the Square in Logan, this place is cheap (cash-only), good and really good vibes. During nice weather its also great people watching.
340 locals recommend
Reno
2607 N Milwaukee AveThis is one of our favorite weekend breakfast places but they serve food all day. Located right on the Square in Logan, this place is cheap (cash-only), good and really good vibes. During nice weather its also great people watching.
This is a great neighborhood bar. Video games, great tap list, good vibes, what else do you need.
65 locals recommend
Logan Arcade
2410 W Fullerton AveThis is a great neighborhood bar. Video games, great tap list, good vibes, what else do you need.
Logan is now home to half a dozen brew pubs and this one of the original Chicago craft breweries and is super convenient to the AirBNB.
724 locals recommend
Revolution Brewing - Brewpub
2323 N Milwaukee AveLogan is now home to half a dozen brew pubs and this one of the original Chicago craft breweries and is super convenient to the AirBNB.
Best coffee in the neighborhood, a little bit of a hike (and you'll walk by 5 other coffee shops in the process) but its worth it.
11 locals recommend
Electric Mud Coffee Bar
1856 N Western AveBest coffee in the neighborhood, a little bit of a hike (and you'll walk by 5 other coffee shops in the process) but its worth it.
Middle of the road price range for some delicious fried chicken and fish. Please try something off their slushy machine, their negroni is famous but they always have daily specials.
658 locals recommend
Parson's Chicken & Fish
2952 W Armitage AveMiddle of the road price range for some delicious fried chicken and fish. Please try something off their slushy machine, their negroni is famous but they always have daily specials.
CHEAP EATS - may look and have the name of a hot dog stand but this place has one of the best cheeseburgers in the city..... just try it (CASH ONLY)
18 locals recommend
Redhot Ranch
2449 W Armitage AveCHEAP EATS - may look and have the name of a hot dog stand but this place has one of the best cheeseburgers in the city..... just try it (CASH ONLY)
People think of Deep Dish pizza when the they think of Chicago but you won't find many locals at Gino's East or Giordanos. Instead try Chicago Tavern Style pizza which is thin crust cut into squares.
27 locals recommend
La Villa Restaurant Lounge and Banquets
3638 N Pulaski RdPeople think of Deep Dish pizza when the they think of Chicago but you won't find many locals at Gino's East or Giordanos. Instead try Chicago Tavern Style pizza which is thin crust cut into squares.
Gaslight Coffee Roasters
2385 N Milwaukee AveMy favorite coffee shop. On site roaster, can’t beat it
Chicago is most known for pizza and steakhouses. The steakhouse options in River North can be overwhelming but Bavette’s is the best. New School with a throwback vibe but they don’t cut any corners
79 locals recommend
Bavette's Bar & Boeuf
218 W Kinzie StChicago is most known for pizza and steakhouses. The steakhouse options in River North can be overwhelming but Bavette’s is the best. New School with a throwback vibe but they don’t cut any corners
Originally Mott Street featured a burger if you sat at the bar, during Happy Hour. They became so famous they spun off a second restaurant just for the burgers. Some people say it’s the best burger in town, once you try the thought will cross your mind
20 locals recommend
Mini Mott
3057 W Logan BlvdOriginally Mott Street featured a burger if you sat at the bar, during Happy Hour. They became so famous they spun off a second restaurant just for the burgers. Some people say it’s the best burger in town, once you try the thought will cross your mind
Awesome cocktail list and surprisingly good food, we always are impressed with what they are doing at Scofflaw
584 locals recommend
Scofflaw
3201 W Armitage AveAwesome cocktail list and surprisingly good food, we always are impressed with what they are doing at Scofflaw
This place is very walkable from the unit on Belden and has some of my favorite cocktails in the city and a cool back patio. They used to have food but I think that went away with COVID
53 locals recommend
Weegee's Lounge
3659 W Armitage AveThis place is very walkable from the unit on Belden and has some of my favorite cocktails in the city and a cool back patio. They used to have food but I think that went away with COVID
This place is like a Dave & Busters for drunks. Four breweries housed in one place with self pouring taps and Lilly Q’s bbq, this is a great place to kill an afternoon. On the same train line as the Garfield Park Conservatory
10 locals recommend
District Yards Brewing
417 N Ashland AveThis place is like a Dave & Busters for drunks. Four breweries housed in one place with self pouring taps and Lilly Q’s bbq, this is a great place to kill an afternoon. On the same train line as the Garfield Park Conservatory
This is the Korean restaurant that the owners of all the other Korean restaurants go to. The place is off the beaten path but food here is over the moon. Side note, Ichiro Suzuki used to bring his teammates here when he played baseball and they have an enormous amount of signed memorabilia from different players visiting over the years.
9 locals recommend
Chicago Kalbi Korean BBQ
3752 W Lawrence AveThis is the Korean restaurant that the owners of all the other Korean restaurants go to. The place is off the beaten path but food here is over the moon. Side note, Ichiro Suzuki used to bring his teammates here when he played baseball and they have an enormous amount of signed memorabilia from different players visiting over the years.
Another restaurant off the beaten path in Albany Park, this is our go to for Persian food. If you haven’t had Persian food, this is the perfect place to start
17 locals recommend
Kabobi - Persian and Mediterranean Grill
4748 N Kedzie AveAnother restaurant off the beaten path in Albany Park, this is our go to for Persian food. If you haven’t had Persian food, this is the perfect place to start
Just a cool dive bar about a one mile walk from the unit. A very friendly place
26 locals recommend
Whirlaway Lounge
3224 W Fullerton AveJust a cool dive bar about a one mile walk from the unit. A very friendly place
Very under the radar restaurant tucked on a corner building in a residential neighborhood, this place is a blast. Reservations are required otherwise they’ll put you in their bar which can be overwhelming loud.
54 locals recommend
Club Lucky
1824 W Wabansia AveVery under the radar restaurant tucked on a corner building in a residential neighborhood, this place is a blast. Reservations are required otherwise they’ll put you in their bar which can be overwhelming loud.
My personal favorite spot in Wicker Park, Piece has delicious New Haven style pizzas along with a decent selection of drafts from their own brewery. There tends to be a wait but the pizza place directly next door (Paradise Park) siphons off a lot of potential visitors. Piece is the better choice between the two
488 locals recommend
Piece Brewery
1927 W North AveMy personal favorite spot in Wicker Park, Piece has delicious New Haven style pizzas along with a decent selection of drafts from their own brewery. There tends to be a wait but the pizza place directly next door (Paradise Park) siphons off a lot of potential visitors. Piece is the better choice between the two
This is the original Off Color, they do have a tasting room in Lincoln Park which is just okay, but you can order beer for pickup at this location and literally walk four minutes to pick it up.
Off Color Brewing - Production Brewery
3925 W Dickens AveThis is the original Off Color, they do have a tasting room in Lincoln Park which is just okay, but you can order beer for pickup at this location and literally walk four minutes to pick it up.
Another pickup only brewery, in a neighborhood with 9 breweries, nobody will argue with you if you say Pipeworks is your favorite. Staff is as friendly as they get.
9 locals recommend
Pipeworks Brewing Company
3912 W McLean AveAnother pickup only brewery, in a neighborhood with 9 breweries, nobody will argue with you if you say Pipeworks is your favorite. Staff is as friendly as they get.
Awesome summer bar although it’s indoors (they have garage doors that open up). Their cocktails are stroooong and delicious. Three of their signature cocktail, The Breezy, will humble just about anyone.
85 locals recommend
Estereo
2450 N Milwaukee AveAwesome summer bar although it’s indoors (they have garage doors that open up). Their cocktails are stroooong and delicious. Three of their signature cocktail, The Breezy, will humble just about anyone.
Locals don’t like deep dish. I actually hate deep dish. But if you’re reading this you came from out of town and must have Deep Dish! Pequods makes excellent deep dish pizza with a carmelized cheese crust out of a seasoned pan that is the absolute truth.
536 locals recommend
Pequod's Pizza
2207 North Clybourn AvenueLocals don’t like deep dish. I actually hate deep dish. But if you’re reading this you came from out of town and must have Deep Dish! Pequods makes excellent deep dish pizza with a carmelized cheese crust out of a seasoned pan that is the absolute truth.
Here’s what you do, Kumas corner is directly across the street. Walk into Kumas (heavy metal burger bar, very famous), if they have any wait just go to DTap. Or, give the middle finger to the metal burger bar and go to DTap, either way you’ll get an excellent meal at a spot with a cool bar.
8 locals recommend
DMen Tap
2849 W Belmont AveHere’s what you do, Kumas corner is directly across the street. Walk into Kumas (heavy metal burger bar, very famous), if they have any wait just go to DTap. Or, give the middle finger to the metal burger bar and go to DTap, either way you’ll get an excellent meal at a spot with a cool bar.
Nestled in Lincoln Park amongst a lot of affluent/douchy establishments, this place has an unbelievable tap list and a creole inspired menu that will send you off to kayak to plan your next NOLA trip. This place has the nicest staff of any bar I can name. You won’t recognize most of the beers on the chalkboard but they’ll help you with a recommendation.
15 locals recommend
Local Option
1102 W Webster AveNestled in Lincoln Park amongst a lot of affluent/douchy establishments, this place has an unbelievable tap list and a creole inspired menu that will send you off to kayak to plan your next NOLA trip. This place has the nicest staff of any bar I can name. You won’t recognize most of the beers on the chalkboard but they’ll help you with a recommendation.
What guidebook is complete without a tiki bar recommendation? A whack guidebook. This place is awesome, typically tiki bars only make rum fueled drinks, this place does whiskey.... they used to have a Chinese restaurant sharing space but it burned down and I don’t have an update on their food situation.
356 locals recommend
Lost Lake
3154 W Diversey AveWhat guidebook is complete without a tiki bar recommendation? A whack guidebook. This place is awesome, typically tiki bars only make rum fueled drinks, this place does whiskey.... they used to have a Chinese restaurant sharing space but it burned down and I don’t have an update on their food situation.
Sightseeing
Six greenhouses located in one setting; this place is both very old and off the beaten path from normal Chicago tourist activity. The neighborhood is a little rough but easy access from CTA Green Line or Uber drops you right at the front.
258 locals recommend
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N Central Park AveSix greenhouses located in one setting; this place is both very old and off the beaten path from normal Chicago tourist activity. The neighborhood is a little rough but easy access from CTA Green Line or Uber drops you right at the front.
If you want a more permanent souvenir during your trip, hit up Revolution Tattoo (email Omar and tell him Larissa and Steven sent you). There’s a large stable of awesome tattoo shops in Chicago and Revolution is highlighted in every “Best of” list and the artists are friendly, accessible and will always come up with something much cooler than you originally had in mind.
Revolution Tattoo
2221 N Western AveIf you want a more permanent souvenir during your trip, hit up Revolution Tattoo (email Omar and tell him Larissa and Steven sent you). There’s a large stable of awesome tattoo shops in Chicago and Revolution is highlighted in every “Best of” list and the artists are friendly, accessible and will always come up with something much cooler than you originally had in mind.
Excellent elevated running/walking trail with its trailhead roughly three blocks South of the unit. An excellent way to see the entirety of both Logan Square, Humboldt Park, and Bucktown
241 locals recommend
The 606
1805 North Ridgeway AvenueExcellent elevated running/walking trail with its trailhead roughly three blocks South of the unit. An excellent way to see the entirety of both Logan Square, Humboldt Park, and Bucktown
In the summer time the beaches in Chicago are a welcome treat along with the 20 mile lakeshore path. Please note that parking is always a nightmare and if you rent a Divy bike you can get stuck in long lines waiting to drop off at the beach. Taking the bus or riding a bike is your best bet. Also the beaches up North (Montrose Beach) have more parking options.
176 locals recommend
Oak Street Beach
In the summer time the beaches in Chicago are a welcome treat along with the 20 mile lakeshore path. Please note that parking is always a nightmare and if you rent a Divy bike you can get stuck in long lines waiting to drop off at the beach. Taking the bus or riding a bike is your best bet. Also the beaches up North (Montrose Beach) have more parking options.
The Art Institute is one of the best museums in the country. Their permanent display of French Impressionist art is the most robust exhibit we’ve seen outside the Orsay Museum in Paris. In addition their exhibit of 20th century American art features iconic paintings such as American Gothic, Nighthawks, and Dorian Gray. If you can visit on a weekday the vibe is much more chill than the overwhelming crowds on the weekends.
1159 locals recommend
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S Michigan AveThe Art Institute is one of the best museums in the country. Their permanent display of French Impressionist art is the most robust exhibit we’ve seen outside the Orsay Museum in Paris. In addition their exhibit of 20th century American art features iconic paintings such as American Gothic, Nighthawks, and Dorian Gray. If you can visit on a weekday the vibe is much more chill than the overwhelming crowds on the weekends.
Stationary store but if you’re in town and need to get a gift, this place is totally rad
9 locals recommend
Steel Petal Press
2321 N Milwaukee AveStationary store but if you’re in town and need to get a gift, this place is totally rad
Is your apartment furniture straight out of the IKEA Catalog? Does your home/wardrobe shout basic b? Stop in Sideshow, this place has everything from cool t shirts to taxidermy to A LOT of witchcraft paraphernalia..... Cheri and Ana are awesome and we love this place
Sideshow Gallery
2219 N Western AveIs your apartment furniture straight out of the IKEA Catalog? Does your home/wardrobe shout basic b? Stop in Sideshow, this place has everything from cool t shirts to taxidermy to A LOT of witchcraft paraphernalia..... Cheri and Ana are awesome and we love this place