Guidebook for Chicago
Food Scene
It's a smaller brunch spot with a more traditional menu. They also have a pastry case if you’re in the mood for to-go treats.
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A Taste of Heaven
5401 N Clark StIt's a smaller brunch spot with a more traditional menu. They also have a pastry case if you’re in the mood for to-go treats.
Super close brunch spot with a full menu of breakfast staples and some booze too. Good pancakes and waffles - think red velvet, pumpkin spice, etc. The wait can get long on the weekends, but they’ll text you when your table is ready if you want to walk around the neighborhood while you wait.
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The Bongo Room
5022 N Clark StSuper close brunch spot with a full menu of breakfast staples and some booze too. Good pancakes and waffles - think red velvet, pumpkin spice, etc. The wait can get long on the weekends, but they’ll text you when your table is ready if you want to walk around the neighborhood while you wait.
Closest coffee shop! They serve a small menu of meals too so if you’re in the mood for a light breakfast instead of a big brunch, this is a good bet. Great outdoor patio, laptop friendly.
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Dollop Diner
5060 N Clark StClosest coffee shop! They serve a small menu of meals too so if you’re in the mood for a light breakfast instead of a big brunch, this is a good bet. Great outdoor patio, laptop friendly.
Another great brunch spot with a good amount of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
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Tweet
5020 N Sheridan RdAnother great brunch spot with a good amount of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
Craft coffee shop that takes their menu seriously. Heads up: they’ve been known to turn off the wifi on the weekends.
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La Colombe Coffee Roasters
5158 N Clark StCraft coffee shop that takes their menu seriously. Heads up: they’ve been known to turn off the wifi on the weekends.
Kopi Cafe
5317 N Clark StA “travelers cafe” with a hippie vibe and vegetarian menu.
Slightly upscale spot that serves delicious southern food and the only good sweet tea in town.
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Big Jones
5347 N Clark StSlightly upscale spot that serves delicious southern food and the only good sweet tea in town.
My favorite restaurant in the neighborhood! The food is delicious, and the booze menu is extensive. Go when they open or be prepared to wait an hour.
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Little Bad Wolf
1541 W Bryn Mawr AveMy favorite restaurant in the neighborhood! The food is delicious, and the booze menu is extensive. Go when they open or be prepared to wait an hour.
A cheap, no-frills Vietnamese restaurant with good food. There’s never a wait and it’s BYOB!
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Pho Lily
5100 N BroadwayA cheap, no-frills Vietnamese restaurant with good food. There’s never a wait and it’s BYOB!
Specializes in pie but has a small menu of biscuits, collard greens, and other comfort foods too.
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Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits Ravenswood
4947 N Damen AveSpecializes in pie but has a small menu of biscuits, collard greens, and other comfort foods too.
One of my favorite spots in the neighborhood! It's a cozy pie joint with great desserts, coffee, and a small menu of salads, sandwiches, etc. Laptop-friendly.
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First Slice Pie Cafe
5357 N Ashland AveOne of my favorite spots in the neighborhood! It's a cozy pie joint with great desserts, coffee, and a small menu of salads, sandwiches, etc. Laptop-friendly.
Local ice cream shop with lots of options. Very cute and open late.
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George's Ice Cream & Sweets
5306 N Clark StLocal ice cream shop with lots of options. Very cute and open late.
Drinks & Nightlife
Gastro pub and a mainstay in the neighborhood. They’ve got lots of craft beers and a Beligan-inspired menu.
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Hopleaf
5148 N Clark StGastro pub and a mainstay in the neighborhood. They’ve got lots of craft beers and a Beligan-inspired menu.
Kitschy burger joint with standard diner food and a full bar. They host lots of LGBT-friendly events upstairs - drag shows, karaoke, open mics, cabaret, etc.
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Hamburger Mary's
Kitschy burger joint with standard diner food and a full bar. They host lots of LGBT-friendly events upstairs - drag shows, karaoke, open mics, cabaret, etc.
A “nano-brewery” and sports bar. They’re attached to Hamburger Mary’s so they have a full food menu too.
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Andersonville Brewing Co
5402 N Clark StA “nano-brewery” and sports bar. They’re attached to Hamburger Mary’s so they have a full food menu too.
An upscale but casual cocktail bar. Great for a chill date night.
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Income Tax
An upscale but casual cocktail bar. Great for a chill date night.
Upscale martini bar with an after-dinner, LGBT crowd. It’s connected to Replay so you can order from their menu.
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Marty's
1511 W Balmoral AveUpscale martini bar with an after-dinner, LGBT crowd. It’s connected to Replay so you can order from their menu.
Replay
5358 N Clark StArcade bar with retro games, TVs, and a menu of bar/comfort foods.
Shopping
Independent comics shop with a friendly staff. They also host board game nights, movie nights, and other geeky events.
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AlleyCat Comics
5304 N Clark StIndependent comics shop with a friendly staff. They also host board game nights, movie nights, and other geeky events.
Cute gift shop with a great selection of greeting cards, decor, and trinkets. A good place to get Chicago-themed souvenirs for friends that don’t want a Cubs t-shirt or Sears Tower postcard.
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Foursided Card + Gift
2958 N Clark StCute gift shop with a great selection of greeting cards, decor, and trinkets. A good place to get Chicago-themed souvenirs for friends that don’t want a Cubs t-shirt or Sears Tower postcard.
Independent, feminist bookstore. Their selection is top notch, with a sizable collection of journals and children’s books too.
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Women & Children First
5233 N Clark StIndependent, feminist bookstore. Their selection is top notch, with a sizable collection of journals and children’s books too.
Tiny resale shop that stocks antiques and “oddities.” It’s a nice place to window-shop or pick up trinkets for a quirky friend.
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Woolly Mammoth
1513 W Foster AveTiny resale shop that stocks antiques and “oddities.” It’s a nice place to window-shop or pick up trinkets for a quirky friend.
Essentials
Big box grocery store that has everything, including alcohol, pharmacy items, etc.
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Jewel-Osco
3531 N BroadwayBig box grocery store that has everything, including alcohol, pharmacy items, etc.
Smaller grocer with butcher, fresh veggies, other staples.
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Edgewater Produce
5515 N Clark StSmaller grocer with butcher, fresh veggies, other staples.
Target
4466 N BroadwayGrocery, clothing, home stuff, etc.
Entertainment & Activities
When they're not having concerts, The Vic shows second run movies for cheap. You can see movies and showtimes at brewview.com.
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The Brew & View
3145 N Sheffield AveWhen they're not having concerts, The Vic shows second run movies for cheap. You can see movies and showtimes at brewview.com.
Baseball park where the Cubs play. The Clark bus or red line will drop you off right in front if you want to catch a game, get a tour, or just check it out. The area is also surrounded by sports bars and divey food joints. There's also a tiny green space in front called the Park at Wrigley that has farmer’s markets, outdoor movies, yoga and crossfit classes, etc. You can check out the full schedule at parkatwrigley.com/events.
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Wrigley Field
1060 W Addison StBaseball park where the Cubs play. The Clark bus or red line will drop you off right in front if you want to catch a game, get a tour, or just check it out. The area is also surrounded by sports bars and divey food joints. There's also a tiny green space in front called the Park at Wrigley that has farmer’s markets, outdoor movies, yoga and crossfit classes, etc. You can check out the full schedule at parkatwrigley.com/events.
Sports center where the Bulls and Blackhawks play. Famous Michael Jordan statue out front.
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United Center
1901 W Madison StSports center where the Bulls and Blackhawks play. Famous Michael Jordan statue out front.
Arts & Culture
An experimental theater with a famous show that changes every week. It’s a uniquely Chicago experience and I highly recommend checking it out! Get there early even if you buy tickets online.
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Neo-Futurists
5153 North Ashland AvenueAn experimental theater with a famous show that changes every week. It’s a uniquely Chicago experience and I highly recommend checking it out! Get there early even if you buy tickets online.
The art museum is definitely worth checking out! It's also very close to the Bean, Millenium Park, and other hotspots if you want to hit them all in one day.
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The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S Michigan AveThe art museum is definitely worth checking out! It's also very close to the Bean, Millenium Park, and other hotspots if you want to hit them all in one day.
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
220 E Chicago AveThe Field Museum
1400 S Lake Shore DrNatural history museum with an awesome t-rex named SUE.
Getting Around
The closest red line station. This train runs north/south, 24/7.
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Argyle station
The closest red line station. This train runs north/south, 24/7.
Chicago Union Station
225 S Canal StThe big train station for Amtrak