Our Local Favorites
Drinks & Nightlife
One of the finest Belgian beer collections in the city, and even finer mussels to boot!
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Hopleaf
5148 N Clark StOne of the finest Belgian beer collections in the city, and even finer mussels to boot!
Simon's Tavern
5210 N Clark StLovable dive.
Cavernous music venue that hosts a ton of concerts. Right off the red line CTA.
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Aragon Ballroom
1106 W Lawrence AveCavernous music venue that hosts a ton of concerts. Right off the red line CTA.
Legendary Chicago jazz spot. Al Capone used to hang out there, they say. Great—but crowded!—on the weekends.
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The Green Mill
4802 North BroadwayLegendary Chicago jazz spot. Al Capone used to hang out there, they say. Great—but crowded!—on the weekends.
Food Scene
Mid-century mod meets a smidge of rustic. Great coffee. Light and airy space worth the price.
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The Coffee Studio
5628 N Clark StMid-century mod meets a smidge of rustic. Great coffee. Light and airy space worth the price.
The name says it all. Kind of granola...but we love granola. Check out the travel books in back.
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Kopi Cafe
5317 N Clark StThe name says it all. Kind of granola...but we love granola. Check out the travel books in back.
Reza's Restaurant
5255 N Clark StSuperb Middle Eastern food.
Like Reza's but cheaper. There's a Middle Eastern grocer across the street with a dizzying array of dried and just-prepared foods to go.
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Taste of Lebanon Restaurant
1509 W Foster AveLike Reza's but cheaper. There's a Middle Eastern grocer across the street with a dizzying array of dried and just-prepared foods to go.
The Bongo Room
5022 N Clark StDelicious contemporary American-style brunch.
One of our favorite brunch spots. Owned by a Wisconsin mushroom farmer who focuses on featuring only regional producers. Small market in the front of gourmet goods.
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River Valley Farmer's Table
1820 W Wilson AveOne of our favorite brunch spots. Owned by a Wisconsin mushroom farmer who focuses on featuring only regional producers. Small market in the front of gourmet goods.
A Taste of Heaven
5401 N Clark StFood is okay, but the scones...yum.
Over Easy Café
4943 N Damen AveA popular brunch spot with great eggs, of course!
Mexican-Korean fusion. Tacos are a bit pricey, but worth it, especially if you're into kalbi.
Takos Koreanos
1706 West Foster AvenueMexican-Korean fusion. Tacos are a bit pricey, but worth it, especially if you're into kalbi.
One of the best Korean BBQ places in the city. Great for late-night grub too—it's open from 7am to 4am daily.
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San Soo Gab San
5247 N Western AveOne of the best Korean BBQ places in the city. Great for late-night grub too—it's open from 7am to 4am daily.
Aroy Thai
4654 N Damen AveDependable Thai spot with all the classics.
Sun Wah BBQ
5039 N BroadwayExcellent Peking duck and dependable all-around Chinese food.
Tried-and-true pho spot. Always busy on the weekends with locals looking for a steaming bowl of this delicious Vietnamese soup.
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Tank Noodle
4953-55 N BroadwayTried-and-true pho spot. Always busy on the weekends with locals looking for a steaming bowl of this delicious Vietnamese soup.
Ba Le Sandwich Shop
5014 N BroadwayGreat to-go bahn mi sandwiches.
Fried chicken and grilled romaine salad, washed down with wicked selection of beer.
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Little Bad Wolf
1541 W Bryn Mawr AveFried chicken and grilled romaine salad, washed down with wicked selection of beer.
Giordano's
5207 North Clark StreetClassic Chicago-style pizza.
Jin Ju
5203 N Clark StTrendy sushi spot.
A local outpost of a West Coast cafe fave. Try the latte on draft—airy, foamy, unique, amazing.
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La Colombe Coffee Roasters
5158 N Clark StA local outpost of a West Coast cafe fave. Try the latte on draft—airy, foamy, unique, amazing.
Passerotto
Award-winning Italian-Korean fusion spot.
Super-satisfying, authentic Italian fare and a lively bar. Excellent alfresco spot in summer.
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Bar Roma
5101 N Clark StSuper-satisfying, authentic Italian fare and a lively bar. Excellent alfresco spot in summer.
Baobab BBQ
2301 W Foster AveBBQ spot with South Africa touches. Yes, they have biltong.
Adorable coffee shop. Part of a Wisconsin-based regional chain of coffee roasters/cafes.
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Colectivo Coffee
2530 N Clark StAdorable coffee shop. Part of a Wisconsin-based regional chain of coffee roasters/cafes.
Dollop Diner
5060 N Clark StThree words: fried. Chicken. Sandwich.
Essentials
Jewel-Osco
3531 N BroadwayThe nearest big grocer in the area. Get all your staples here.
Just across the street from Jewel is this gem of a local produce place. Well-priced fresh fruits and veggies and tons of Mexican/Latino foodstuffs.
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Edgewater Produce
5515 N Clark StJust across the street from Jewel is this gem of a local produce place. Well-priced fresh fruits and veggies and tons of Mexican/Latino foodstuffs.
A cross between WholeFoods and a Jewel: Great variety of prepared foods (American, sushi, oyster bar, grill, coffee/gelateria) and all the groceries you could need. Convenient hours, too: 6am-10pm.
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Mariano's
3358 W Touhy AveA cross between WholeFoods and a Jewel: Great variety of prepared foods (American, sushi, oyster bar, grill, coffee/gelateria) and all the groceries you could need. Convenient hours, too: 6am-10pm.
Shopping
Ultra-trendy Chicago chain. Beware—a size S here probably only fits an 7-year-old. But as far as trendy women's/men's clothing goes, this is the best in the 'hood.
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AKIRA
1814 W North AveUltra-trendy Chicago chain. Beware—a size S here probably only fits an 7-year-old. But as far as trendy women's/men's clothing goes, this is the best in the 'hood.
Super-cute store with lots of stationery and gift-worthy knick-knacks.
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Foursided Custom Framing Gallery
5061 N Clark StSuper-cute store with lots of stationery and gift-worthy knick-knacks.
Square Nail Chicago
2535 W Armitage AveOur fave neighborhood carpenter shop.
Turin Bicycle
4710 N Damen AveExcellent local bike shop.
Amy's Candy Bar
4704 N Damen AveWhimsical little candy shop.
Let’s ignore for a minute that if you’re a visitor, you won’t have any use for a ginormous flower and plant shop, other than to wander around aimlessly and marvel at potted beauties. Now go wander!
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Gethsemane Garden Center
5739 N Clark StLet’s ignore for a minute that if you’re a visitor, you won’t have any use for a ginormous flower and plant shop, other than to wander around aimlessly and marvel at potted beauties. Now go wander!
The name says it all and yet doesn’t accurately describe the vibe of this wonderful jewel of a store.
Martha Mae
1727 West Grand AvenueThe name says it all and yet doesn’t accurately describe the vibe of this wonderful jewel of a store.
Everything Else
Swedish Bakery
5348 North Clark StreetName pretty much says it all.
Sightseeing
Chicago's only Swedish Museum. Nice little store in front.
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Swedish American Museum
5211 N Clark StChicago's only Swedish Museum. Nice little store in front.
Andersonville was originally a Swedish neighborhood. Learn all about it!
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Swedish American Museum
5211 N Clark StAndersonville was originally a Swedish neighborhood. Learn all about it!
Arts & Culture
Excellent world music—the best in the city. Don't miss the Wednesday nights, which feature free (i.e., by donation) concerts.
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Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N Lincoln AveExcellent world music—the best in the city. Don't miss the Wednesday nights, which feature free (i.e., by donation) concerts.