The Best of Logan Square (according to us)
Where to eat
Logan Square is the seat of the farm to table movement in Chicago, but there are so many unique, critically acclaimed choices with inspiration from all over the world. Some of our favorites (but please please ask us for more!). We are also vegetarian and happy to help with more ideas!
The original Farm to Table spot on the Square and still going strong (we love brunch there!)
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Lula Cafe
2537 N Kedzie BlvdThe original Farm to Table spot on the Square and still going strong (we love brunch there!)
Just a few blocks away, Michelin nod. Farm to Table as well.
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Longman & Eagle
2657 N Kedzie AveJust a few blocks away, Michelin nod. Farm to Table as well.
Our favorite taco place (omg, the rajas tacos…) but every taco place around us is good.
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L' Patron
3749 W Fullerton AveOur favorite taco place (omg, the rajas tacos…) but every taco place around us is good.
Also a few blocks away, focused on Macao, with its Portuguese influence.
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Fat Rice
2957 W Diversey AveAlso a few blocks away, focused on Macao, with its Portuguese influence.
Really good Mexican food that seamlessly blends the heritage of the neighborhood with the new clientele; we loved it even before our son started going to school with the owner’s daughter, but now it gives us warm and fuzzy neighborhood feelings.
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Cafe Con Leche
2714 N Milwaukee AveReally good Mexican food that seamlessly blends the heritage of the neighborhood with the new clientele; we loved it even before our son started going to school with the owner’s daughter, but now it gives us warm and fuzzy neighborhood feelings.
Seriously good brick oven pizza… go for the thin crust, stay for the square Detroit-style
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Paulie Gee's Logan Square
2451 N Milwaukee AveSeriously good brick oven pizza… go for the thin crust, stay for the square Detroit-style
also just really really good brick oven pizza… we alternate between the two
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Reno
2607 N Milwaukee Avealso just really really good brick oven pizza… we alternate between the two
An original concept focusing on handmade, fresh pasta with a Midwest/local focus. Get the radish salad with alllll the herbs.
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Daisies
2375 N Milwaukee AveAn original concept focusing on handmade, fresh pasta with a Midwest/local focus. Get the radish salad with alllll the herbs.
Chiya Chai Cafe
2770 N Milwaukee AveIndian and Nepalese food and, you guessed it, Chai.
Mexican food around the corner. Good vegan meat as well. A good go-to option at short notice.
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La Cocina
2901 North Kedzie AvenueMexican food around the corner. Good vegan meat as well. A good go-to option at short notice.
We really have to mention Lou Malnati’s. Not a Logan Square original but we are lifelong Deep Dish lovers (yes, we really eat deep dish all the time in Chicago) and this is the very best there is. We’ll make it easy: 1-800-LOU-TO-GO. May we recommend you order your pizza un-cut and with a butter crust.
Lou Malnati's and Giordano's are the two biggest deep dish chains in Chicago, and also the longest-running debate in our marriage. Ask us about which pizza won the poll at our wedding.
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Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
1120 N State StWe really have to mention Lou Malnati’s. Not a Logan Square original but we are lifelong Deep Dish lovers (yes, we really eat deep dish all the time in Chicago) and this is the very best there is. We’ll make it easy: 1-800-LOU-TO-GO. May we recommend you order your pizza un-cut and with a butter crust.
Lou Malnati's and Giordano's are the two biggest deep dish chains in Chicago, and also the longest-running debate in our marriage. Ask us about which pizza won the poll at our wedding.
Where to drink
Oh man. Soooo many good choices… this is really a drinking town. Here are some of our favorites in Logan Square, but definitely let us know if you're headed to another neighborhood. We've lived and gone out all over!
Features rare spirits and really unique presentation; voted one of the best bars in America before even opening in 2013.
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Billy Sunday
3143 W Logan BlvdFeatures rare spirits and really unique presentation; voted one of the best bars in America before even opening in 2013.
A Tiki Bar from the same mixologist as Three Dots and a Dash downtown… really good music, really big strong drinks, and a long line on weekends after 5. Also rated one of the top 50 bars in the world.
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Lost Lake
3154 W Diversey AveA Tiki Bar from the same mixologist as Three Dots and a Dash downtown… really good music, really big strong drinks, and a long line on weekends after 5. Also rated one of the top 50 bars in the world.
right around the corner from us, a little local dive with good bar food and a metal vibe inside
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Small Bar
2956 N Albany Averight around the corner from us, a little local dive with good bar food and a metal vibe inside
Coffee bar by day, Latin inspired cocktails by night. Amazing open-air in good weather. Hot right now.
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Estereo
2450 N Milwaukee AveCoffee bar by day, Latin inspired cocktails by night. Amazing open-air in good weather. Hot right now.
Websters Wine Bar Chicago
2601 N Milwaukee AveThey know their wine, like really well. Cozy-hip.
Just 10 mins walk, and you can bring in your own food. Note this is not the brewpub with a sit-down restaurant. It's a taproom where you try beers being brewed at the facility.
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Revolution Brewing - Brewery & Taproom
3340 N Kedzie AveJust 10 mins walk, and you can bring in your own food. Note this is not the brewpub with a sit-down restaurant. It's a taproom where you try beers being brewed at the facility.
Awesome, female-owned wine store with a very, very interesting selection
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Diversey Wine
3023 W Diversey AveAwesome, female-owned wine store with a very, very interesting selection
Coffee shops
This is the area for hip coffee shops. A few we go to...
one of the original small batch roasters. Limited seating.
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Intelligentsia Coffee - Logan Square
2642 N Milwaukee Aveone of the original small batch roasters. Limited seating.
another great spot especially for doing work. Solid breakfast.
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Colectivo Coffee - Logan Square
2261 N Milwaukee Aveanother great spot especially for doing work. Solid breakfast.
Starbucks
210 W North Aveif you must, the nearest is on Logan and California.
Groceries near us
Our “bodega”, right around the corner at Wellington and Kedzie, this is your stop before 8pm if you are short just one ingredient for dinner or want to grab some extra pasta/rice/beans/whatever
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Carniceria Ruiz
3001 N Kedzie AveOur “bodega”, right around the corner at Wellington and Kedzie, this is your stop before 8pm if you are short just one ingredient for dinner or want to grab some extra pasta/rice/beans/whatever
12 minute walk on Milkwaukee, like a local cooperative Whole Foods
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The Dill Pickle Food Co-op
2746 N Milwaukee Ave12 minute walk on Milkwaukee, like a local cooperative Whole Foods
7 minute walk, all the grocery essentials at great prices. Across from the Belmont blue line stop.
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Aldi
3363 N Milwaukee Ave7 minute walk, all the grocery essentials at great prices. Across from the Belmont blue line stop.
a 10 to 15 minute walk north on Kedzie (1 block west of us), at Addison. One of our big chains, similar to a Kroger. Unusually good bagels -- stock up for breakfast.
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Jewel-Osco
4729 N Central Avea 10 to 15 minute walk north on Kedzie (1 block west of us), at Addison. One of our big chains, similar to a Kroger. Unusually good bagels -- stock up for breakfast.
Awesome, female-owned wine store with a very, very interesting selection
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Diversey Wine
3023 W Diversey AveAwesome, female-owned wine store with a very, very interesting selection
Local shops and boutiques
We have some awesome homegrown boutiques in the area. Think Brooklyn but more curated for that Chicago/Logan Square vibe. Here are my favorite places to shop local. Way cooler places to shop for gifts or mementos than the tourist stands downtown.
Planet Fitness
2719 N California AvePlans starting at $10/month, cancel any time. $39 sign-up fee.
Closest gym, across from Aldi (grocery store) and half a block from Belmont Blue Line. Very bare bones, but does the job. Month-to-month plans for $10/month.
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XSport Fitness
2310 W Logan BlvdClosest gym, across from Aldi (grocery store) and half a block from Belmont Blue Line. Very bare bones, but does the job. Month-to-month plans for $10/month.
Our nearest 24-hour pharmacy. 7 mins by ride share, 20 mins by public transit.
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Walgreens
3646 North BroadwayOur nearest 24-hour pharmacy. 7 mins by ride share, 20 mins by public transit.
Nails Alert
3229 W Addison StMy preferred nail salon, also next to the Jewel Osco where you can get groceries.
There is a running track around the park for those wanting to run outside.
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I-Palmer Square Park
2200 N Kedzie AveThere is a running track around the park for those wanting to run outside.
They take/love walk-ins (especially weekdays!). Where I get my hair cut. Very reasonable prices for great stylists. They even have Ouidad curly hair experts. I also have great story about a fateful meeting with one of the stylists :)
The Bird's Nest Salon
3131 W Logan BlvdThey take/love walk-ins (especially weekdays!). Where I get my hair cut. Very reasonable prices for great stylists. They even have Ouidad curly hair experts. I also have great story about a fateful meeting with one of the stylists :)
Things to do in our area
You can always head downtown and try an Architectural Boat Cruise (not cheesy, totally worth it), Millenium Park, the Willis Tower, or all of our incredible museums. But for the days you're hanging in Logan Square and surrounds, here are some ideas:
An old railway converted into 6 miles of gorgeous walking, running, and biking trail. Our close friend Vivian oversees this trail and she’s doing a great job keeping it magical!
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The 606
1805 North Ridgeway AvenueAn old railway converted into 6 miles of gorgeous walking, running, and biking trail. Our close friend Vivian oversees this trail and she’s doing a great job keeping it magical!
We have the best farmer’s market in the city with lots more than just produce. Plan to get lunch from one of the stands. 10-3pm Sundays, all summer on Logan and Albany and all winter inside Emporium Arcade.
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Logan Square Farmers Market
3025-3113 West Logan BoulevardWe have the best farmer’s market in the city with lots more than just produce. Plan to get lunch from one of the stands. 10-3pm Sundays, all summer on Logan and Albany and all winter inside Emporium Arcade.
Grab a pizza from nearby Reno and have a picnic on the square.
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Logan Square Park
Grab a pizza from nearby Reno and have a picnic on the square.
Logan Square Auditorium
2539 N Kedzie BlvdCatch a show!
Shopping in our area
We have some great boutiques. Think Brooklyn, but more curated for that Chicago/Logan Square vibe.
Super fun selection of clothes from mainstream and independent brands, for both the most daring and those wanting curated basics. Run by two sisters who based the store's aesthetic on inspiration from summer camp in Michigan.
Birdseye Rule
2319 N Milwaukee AveSuper fun selection of clothes from mainstream and independent brands, for both the most daring and those wanting curated basics. Run by two sisters who based the store's aesthetic on inspiration from summer camp in Michigan.
Jewelry and trinkets from an Art Institute of Chicago graduate. Both her own designs and other local designers. All types of price points, both costume and fine jewelry.
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Adornment and Theory
2644 N Milwaukee AveJewelry and trinkets from an Art Institute of Chicago graduate. Both her own designs and other local designers. All types of price points, both costume and fine jewelry.
A magical little place with flowers and gifts. You can't walk in here without picking up a stem or a gift. It feels like self-care just to wander around and look at all the pretty things.
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Fleur
2651 N Milwaukee AveA magical little place with flowers and gifts. You can't walk in here without picking up a stem or a gift. It feels like self-care just to wander around and look at all the pretty things.
City Lit Books
2523 N Kedzie BlvdOur local book store and a hub for a lot of book lovers.
Chicago-themed gifts, and also a bunch of fun items from local Etsy sellers.
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Wolfbait & B-girls
3131 W Logan BlvdChicago-themed gifts, and also a bunch of fun items from local Etsy sellers.
Local independent toy store with an incredible selection of curated toys and kids books for all ages. Pro tip for any younger kids you're shopping for -- pick up a Blue Line train car compatible with the Thomas wooden tracks :)
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Play
3109 W Logan BlvdLocal independent toy store with an incredible selection of curated toys and kids books for all ages. Pro tip for any younger kids you're shopping for -- pick up a Blue Line train car compatible with the Thomas wooden tracks :)