Guidebook for Chicago
Drinks & Nightlife
The Beer Bistro
1061 West Madison StreetA great beer selection and fab bar food environment!
La Vaca Margarita Bar
1160 W 18th StAlways a crowd and excellent margaritas!
My neighborhood bar and grill. EXCELLENT bar foods-- great beer selection. Steps away. I have never seen live music here but they have excellent tunes playing all the time.
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Simone's
960 W 18th StMy neighborhood bar and grill. EXCELLENT bar foods-- great beer selection. Steps away. I have never seen live music here but they have excellent tunes playing all the time.
Featured in the move "the breakup". It looks scary from the outside but DEF a must on the list of cool venues in the pilsen area. Fab tater tots, great drinks, and possible Vince Vaughn sightings!!
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Skylark
2149 S Halsted StFeatured in the move "the breakup". It looks scary from the outside but DEF a must on the list of cool venues in the pilsen area. Fab tater tots, great drinks, and possible Vince Vaughn sightings!!
Shopping
Excellent wine selection and they have a little bar in the area too. nice place to stop if you are walking along the roosevelt/harrison area (near whole foods and home depot)
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Binny's Beverage Depot - South Loop
1132 S Jefferson StExcellent wine selection and they have a little bar in the area too. nice place to stop if you are walking along the roosevelt/harrison area (near whole foods and home depot)
Food Scene
The BEST Italian food just steps away and its a BYOB! I love the environment and its so romantic. Consider this for a date night for sure! Not bad prices either.
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Ciao Amore
1134 W 18th StThe BEST Italian food just steps away and its a BYOB! I love the environment and its so romantic. Consider this for a date night for sure! Not bad prices either.
Live music + outdoor seating+ VAST beer selection= heaven!! Voted Chicago's best new Restaurant for 2014. Check menu copy in red folder. Circled things I tried like "Beermosa" -beer selections vary
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Thalia Hall
1807 S Allport StLive music + outdoor seating+ VAST beer selection= heaven!! Voted Chicago's best new Restaurant for 2014. Check menu copy in red folder. Circled things I tried like "Beermosa" -beer selections vary
Great Tennessee BBQ- ask for Willie the owner. Live music and very cool bar area. A hopping place during the weekends.
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Honky Tonk BBQ
1213 W 18th StGreat Tennessee BBQ- ask for Willie the owner. Live music and very cool bar area. A hopping place during the weekends.
Support our local community- we have some of the best coffee joints around and I love the food here too!
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Cafe Jumping Bean
1439 W 18th StSupport our local community- we have some of the best coffee joints around and I love the food here too!
Joy Yee
2139 S China PlExcellent Asian cuisine and they deliver!! Love the bubble tea.
nana
3267 S Halsted StBrunch???? This is a must have. Everything is delish. Mimosas too!
A little walk but one of the most romantic, family owned restaurants in little Italy. A must for date night.
RoSal's Dinner with Joe
A little walk but one of the most romantic, family owned restaurants in little Italy. A must for date night.
Great food and drinks. New place in little Italy. A bit of a walk but easy and fun!
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County Barbeque
1352 W Taylor StGreat food and drinks. New place in little Italy. A bit of a walk but easy and fun!
Francesca's on Taylor
1400 W Taylor StAnother fabulous Italian restaurant.
Jimmy John's
51 W Division StSandwich shop that delivers-- even to the pool!!
Al's Beef
1079 W Taylor StA Chicago classic plus they deliver- even to the pool!
Happy Cakes La Baguette
1350 W 18th StA cute community bakery just steps away from my place.
Coffee!!! Need I say more? Plus it's local. Enjoy our community.
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Efebina's Cafe
1640 S Blue Island AveCoffee!!! Need I say more? Plus it's local. Enjoy our community.
Kohan Japanese Restaurant
730 W Maxwell StExcellent sushi within walking distance.
Stax Cafe
1401 W Taylor StPancakes??? OMG! A must have.
Another breakfast classic. Expect a bit of a line as this is a very popular place on weekends.
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Sweet Maple Cafe
1339 W Taylor StAnother breakfast classic. Expect a bit of a line as this is a very popular place on weekends.
The closest coffee and bakery to the loft- only 2 minutes away by walk. Lots of locals here & great environment. Pic of pastries on site is from here. Open since April. Please support this business!!
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Beurrage
1248 W 18th StThe closest coffee and bakery to the loft- only 2 minutes away by walk. Lots of locals here & great environment. Pic of pastries on site is from here. Open since April. Please support this business!!
Health food place- fresh squeezed juices, quick foods, grocery AND yoga downstairs. Open for 10 months now. Support our local business owners!
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Belli's
1850 W 18th StHealth food place- fresh squeezed juices, quick foods, grocery AND yoga downstairs. Open for 10 months now. Support our local business owners!
Some of the BEST coffee in Pilsen. I love the environment. Relax, get work done, and enjoy a fresh dessert too. A local favorite in Pilsen.
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La Catrina Cafe
1011 W 18th StSome of the BEST coffee in Pilsen. I love the environment. Relax, get work done, and enjoy a fresh dessert too. A local favorite in Pilsen.
The BEST selection of tamales, quick stop and go and even has tables out front to eat. They have a HUGE variety at such a great cost. ++THEY DELIVER but recommend the short walk for total experience.
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Dia De Los Tamales
The BEST selection of tamales, quick stop and go and even has tables out front to eat. They have a HUGE variety at such a great cost. ++THEY DELIVER but recommend the short walk for total experience.
Essentials
Grocery store on one side, Taqueria on the other w/parking nearby-- its steps away. Use my cart and do a little shopping "on foot" in one of the cutest Mexican grocery stores in pilsen.
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Taqueria Casa Del Pueblo
1834 S Blue Island AveGrocery store on one side, Taqueria on the other w/parking nearby-- its steps away. Use my cart and do a little shopping "on foot" in one of the cutest Mexican grocery stores in pilsen.
Everything Else
We Wash Hand Car Wash and Detail Center
2042 S Halsted StCar wash!!!
Local wine and beer stop. Easier to get to compared to Binny's and a little pricier I think. I still go here bc its a family owned place!
Gentile's Bottle Shop
1160 W Taylor StLocal wine and beer stop. Easier to get to compared to Binny's and a little pricier I think. I still go here bc its a family owned place!
My hair salon. Ask for Joel-- he's my guy!! Tell him you know me if you need a stat hair treatment.
Solo Salon - Elizabeth
114 N Elizabeth StMy hair salon. Ask for Joel-- he's my guy!! Tell him you know me if you need a stat hair treatment.
Not far from loft. Great place for dry cleaning, general laundry, and last minute alterations. They also provide shoe repair but turnaround is at least a few days.
Spot Cleaners
1009 W 14th PlNot far from loft. Great place for dry cleaning, general laundry, and last minute alterations. They also provide shoe repair but turnaround is at least a few days.
Local venue to pick up nice beer & wine and attend local tastings as well. Just down the street & they have a neat outdoor space next to the building.
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Lush Wine & Spirits
1412 W Chicago AveLocal venue to pick up nice beer & wine and attend local tastings as well. Just down the street & they have a neat outdoor space next to the building.
Take #18 bus eastbound from 18th street and bus stops right in front of whole foods. This is my go to place for organic fresh veggies.
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Whole Foods Market
3640 N Halsted StTake #18 bus eastbound from 18th street and bus stops right in front of whole foods. This is my go to place for organic fresh veggies.
Lap swimming-- kids swim classes too. Lots of camps happening for kids during spring, summer, and winter breaks. Definitely check out what they have to offer. Open to non-Chicago residents too.
Fosco Park Community Center
1312 S Racine AveLap swimming-- kids swim classes too. Lots of camps happening for kids during spring, summer, and winter breaks. Definitely check out what they have to offer. Open to non-Chicago residents too.
The ONLY place to watch a movie in a theater. Stadium seating, food & drink delivery, and reserved seats. A little on the $$ with amenities but worth the experience. Take #18 bus eastbound.
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I-ShowPlace ICON Theatres ku-Roosevelt Collection nge-ICON•X
1011 S Delano CtThe ONLY place to watch a movie in a theater. Stadium seating, food & drink delivery, and reserved seats. A little on the $$ with amenities but worth the experience. Take #18 bus eastbound.