Our Neighborhood Favorites
Cocktails & Bars
Enjoy a cocktail & terrific view of the city from The Robey’s lounge or rooftop pool (*there is a separate fee to use pool).
37 abantu bendawo batusa
The Up Room
2018 W North AveEnjoy a cocktail & terrific view of the city from The Robey’s lounge or rooftop pool (*there is a separate fee to use pool).
Local’s watering hole, a low-key & lovable dive bar. On Tuesday nights expect Irish folk jam sessions to break out in the back (lot of fiddlers!). Cash only.
26 abantu bendawo batusa
Innertown Pub
1935 W Thomas StLocal’s watering hole, a low-key & lovable dive bar. On Tuesday nights expect Irish folk jam sessions to break out in the back (lot of fiddlers!). Cash only.
Inventive craft cocktails in laidback setting, great if you prefer drinks on the drier side
40 abantu bendawo batusa
Queen Mary
2125 W Division StInventive craft cocktails in laidback setting, great if you prefer drinks on the drier side
Award-winning high-end cocktails. No jeans or mobile phone convos allowed.
355 abantu bendawo batusa
The Violet Hour
1520 N Damen AveAward-winning high-end cocktails. No jeans or mobile phone convos allowed.
Rainbo Club
1150 N Damen AveLegendary Wicker Park dive bar. Cash only.
Rotating selection of over 30 craft beers on tap, and whiskey. Great sausages too.
100 abantu bendawo batusa
Bangers and Lace
1670 W Division StRotating selection of over 30 craft beers on tap, and whiskey. Great sausages too.
Small speakeasy with good cocktails and occasional live entertainment. Dark & cozy.
38 abantu bendawo batusa
Bordel
1721 W Division StSmall speakeasy with good cocktails and occasional live entertainment. Dark & cozy.
Food scene
Forget touristy Portillo's, VinnyD's has great Vienna beef Chicago hotdogs, Maxwell Street Polish sausage, gelato, and Italian beef sandwiches. And yes, you must try the beef with giardiniera).
VinnyD's
1709 W Division StForget touristy Portillo's, VinnyD's has great Vienna beef Chicago hotdogs, Maxwell Street Polish sausage, gelato, and Italian beef sandwiches. And yes, you must try the beef with giardiniera).
Mott St
1401 N Ashland AveShareable plates inspired by Asian street food
Beatnik
1604 W Chicago AveDelicious world flavor dishes for sharing. Gorgeous decor!
Tortello
1746 W Division StHandmade fresh pastas!
E-saan style Thai street food. Crispy chicken is my fave. It’s ok to use your hands for the sticky rice! BYOB.
23 abantu bendawo batusa
JJ Thai Street Food
1715 W Chicago AveE-saan style Thai street food. Crispy chicken is my fave. It’s ok to use your hands for the sticky rice! BYOB.
Funkenhausen
1709 W Chicago AveCasual & perfectly executed with a German influence.
Easily one of the best Turkish restaurants in the city. Their Iskender kabob takes us right back to our time in Turkey!
Cafe Istanbul
2014 W Division StEasily one of the best Turkish restaurants in the city. Their Iskender kabob takes us right back to our time in Turkey!
Enjoy a cocktail on their beautiful summer patio before going somewhere for dinner.
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Machine: Engineered Dining & Drink
1846 W Division StEnjoy a cocktail on their beautiful summer patio before going somewhere for dinner.
A Wicker Park favorite for tacos & large patio space. There is a takeout window if you need tacos on-the-go.
1176 abantu bendawo batusa
Big Star
1531 N Damen AveA Wicker Park favorite for tacos & large patio space. There is a takeout window if you need tacos on-the-go.
Antique Taco Wicker Park
1360 N Milwaukee AveOne of the best taco places in the city
Low-key place for street food tacos. One of our faves! Cash only.
27 abantu bendawo batusa
Taqueria Traspasada 2
811 N Ashland AveLow-key place for street food tacos. One of our faves! Cash only.
Casual with outstanding steaks that rival the fancy Downtown/River North steakhouses.
57 abantu bendawo batusa
BoeufHaus
1012 N Western AveCasual with outstanding steaks that rival the fancy Downtown/River North steakhouses.
Smoke Daddy BBQ - Wicker Park
1804 W Division StA Chicago BBQ fave
Folklore | Argentine Restaurant
2100 W Division StFor a taste of Buenos Aires
Yuzu Sushi & Robata Grill
1751 W Chicago AveSushi & robata. The lunch specials are a bargain!
Blue Frog Bar & Grill
676 N LaSalle DrInventive gelato flavors
Homecooked Polish comfort food. Low-key, casual, and deliciously authentic. Cash only.
17 abantu bendawo batusa
Podhalanka
1549 W Division StHomecooked Polish comfort food. Low-key, casual, and deliciously authentic. Cash only.
Sandwiches, cheeses, cocktails, & the best baguettes in the city (we buy all our baguettes here, bread & pastries by Aya Fukai)! Very limited seating.
9 abantu bendawo batusa
All Together Now
2119 W Chicago AveSandwiches, cheeses, cocktails, & the best baguettes in the city (we buy all our baguettes here, bread & pastries by Aya Fukai)! Very limited seating.
Au Cheval took Chicago by storm with its craveable burgers & fries. Small Cheval satisfies those cravings by serving only their burgers & fries.
161 abantu bendawo batusa
Small Cheval
1732 N Milwaukee AveAu Cheval took Chicago by storm with its craveable burgers & fries. Small Cheval satisfies those cravings by serving only their burgers & fries.
Modern Korean cuisine with a cultish following. Their tasting menu is a steal!
8 abantu bendawo batusa
Jeong
1460 W Chicago AveModern Korean cuisine with a cultish following. Their tasting menu is a steal!
Really tasty Nashville hot fried chicken. Location isn't showing on this Airbnb map but it's at: 1529 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642.
10 abantu bendawo batusa
Fry the Coop
1529 W Chicago AveReally tasty Nashville hot fried chicken. Location isn't showing on this Airbnb map but it's at: 1529 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642.
Another winning effort from the Beatnik & Black Bull team. More Iberian fare, this time focusing on Portugal's coastal flavors.
8 abantu bendawo batusa
Porto
1600 W Chicago AveAnother winning effort from the Beatnik & Black Bull team. More Iberian fare, this time focusing on Portugal's coastal flavors.
There's only 1 menu item I recommend here but it's perfection: the mozzarella sticks. Wonderful!
126 abantu bendawo batusa
Roots Handmade Pizza
1924 W Chicago AveThere's only 1 menu item I recommend here but it's perfection: the mozzarella sticks. Wonderful!
Lao Peng You
2020 W Chicago AveAmazing dumplings, noodles, and more.
Phodega
1924 N Ashland AveVery small menu, but great Vietnamese soup.
Grocery & Liquor Stores
Great small selection of fresh items & craft beer by the bottle
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Garden Gourmet Market
1130 N Ashland AveGreat small selection of fresh items & craft beer by the bottle
Mexican grocery & taco/torta/burrito counter (great tortas!)
18 abantu bendawo batusa
Carnicerias Guanajuato
1436 N Ashland AveMexican grocery & taco/torta/burrito counter (great tortas!)
Small retail space but solid wine selection--they curate wines primarily in the $22-$40 range and do a darn good job of it. On the other side of the space they have a small wine-and-cheese plate space to relax as well.
43 abantu bendawo batusa
Lush Wine & Spirits
1412 W Chicago AveSmall retail space but solid wine selection--they curate wines primarily in the $22-$40 range and do a darn good job of it. On the other side of the space they have a small wine-and-cheese plate space to relax as well.
Supermarket. Worth a walk over just to get a bottle of the Mariano's brand fresh-squeezed orange juice. It's addictive!
866 abantu bendawo batusa
Mariano's
2021 W Chicago AveSupermarket. Worth a walk over just to get a bottle of the Mariano's brand fresh-squeezed orange juice. It's addictive!
Nice selection of wine & spirits. There are two locations in Wicker Park, but for some reason this guidebook won't allow me to enter the location of the closer store. It is at Milwaukee Ave & Hermitage Ave!
Garfield's Beverage Express
1704 N Milwaukee AveNice selection of wine & spirits. There are two locations in Wicker Park, but for some reason this guidebook won't allow me to enter the location of the closer store. It is at Milwaukee Ave & Hermitage Ave!
The closest supermarket to the house, open 24/7. Grocery stores in Illinois are allowed to sell alcohol (located on second floor at this store).
675 abantu bendawo batusa
Jewel-Osco
3531 N BroadwayThe closest supermarket to the house, open 24/7. Grocery stores in Illinois are allowed to sell alcohol (located on second floor at this store).
Convenience Stores & Pharmacies
Smaller selection of goods but well represented. Also has a small grocery section. This is the closest place to grab the basics.
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Target
2901 S Cicero AveSmaller selection of goods but well represented. Also has a small grocery section. This is the closest place to grab the basics.
There are two locations close by, this one at 1372 N Milwaukee Ave and another one at 1650 W Chicago Ave.
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Walgreens
3646 North BroadwayThere are two locations close by, this one at 1372 N Milwaukee Ave and another one at 1650 W Chicago Ave.
CVS
771 N Ogden Aveconveniently located next to the Blue Line "El" station.
Coffee Shops / Cafés
Caffè Streets
1750 W Division StThe closest place to run out and grab a good cup of coffee.
Alliance Bakery
1736 W Division StCakes, cookies, cupcakes, tea, coffee, & more!
Colectivo Coffee
1211 N Damen AveA Milwaukee based coffee roaster.
Philz Coffee
1640 W Division StA San Fransisco based coffee roster.
Entertainment
Theatre that features great local & regional productions. They also have comedy & various other events throughout the week.
23 abantu bendawo batusa
The Den Theatre
1331 N Milwaukee AveTheatre that features great local & regional productions. They also have comedy & various other events throughout the week.
An independent theatre and mainstay in the area. Check out Block Club Chicago's wonderful article on this theatre's history headlined, "100 Years In Wicker Park: The Chopin Theatre’s Revival Brought Elegance To Gritty Polish Triangle"
40 abantu bendawo batusa
Chopin Theatre
1543 W Division StAn independent theatre and mainstay in the area. Check out Block Club Chicago's wonderful article on this theatre's history headlined, "100 Years In Wicker Park: The Chopin Theatre’s Revival Brought Elegance To Gritty Polish Triangle"
Longstanding, classic piano bar that has stood the test of time.
6 abantu bendawo batusa
Davenport's Piano Bar and Cabaret
1383 N Milwaukee AveLongstanding, classic piano bar that has stood the test of time.
Get your game on--retro arcade game, that is. Relive your childhood with a drink & play arcade games to your hearts content.
158 abantu bendawo batusa
Emporium Wicker Park
1366 N Milwaukee AveGet your game on--retro arcade game, that is. Relive your childhood with a drink & play arcade games to your hearts content.
Escape Artistry runs two escape room challenges in the area, both on Milwaukee Ave. Break a mental sweat and make some new friends!
7 abantu bendawo batusa
Escape Artistry - Time Gallery
Escape Artistry runs two escape room challenges in the area, both on Milwaukee Ave. Break a mental sweat and make some new friends!
Well-known Chicago dive bar/live music venue primarily for indie bands. Cash only.
208 abantu bendawo batusa
The Empty Bottle
1035 N Western AveWell-known Chicago dive bar/live music venue primarily for indie bands. Cash only.
Spas
A Russian style bath house that offers saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs, & massages with men's, women's, and co-ed areas . Far from fancy but good for a mid-week breather without feeling like you've overindulged.
8 abantu bendawo batusa
Red Square Spa
1914 W Division StA Russian style bath house that offers saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs, & massages with men's, women's, and co-ed areas . Far from fancy but good for a mid-week breather without feeling like you've overindulged.