this is my running list of chicago spots i actually like — coffee, food, bars, records, books, shows, dancing, all of it. mostly north + west side but the south side stuff is worth the trek, i promise. scroll down or use the menu on the left. the map is at the very bottom.
where 2 pretend to work on ur laptop
| the spot | the hood | why it slaps |
|---|---|---|
| the wormhole | wicker park | there is a DELOREAN inside. also the coffee is good |
| engine coffee | west town (1109 n ashland) | good place 2 WORK. good pastries + they play VINYL |
| the good ambler | west loop | GOOD PASTRYS |
| bridgeport coffee | bridgeport (morgan st) | just good coffee!! |
| afro joe's coffee & tea | far south side (99th st!!) | worth the trek |
| jackalope coffee & tea house | bridgeport (halsted) | the RAINBOW BAGEL sandwiches r good!! |
| sawada coffee | west loop | the military latte!! |
| robust coffee lounge | woodlawn (63rd st) | good place 2 do work + good lunch sandwiches |
| bourgeois pig cafe | lincoln park (fullerton) | old house vibes + they got sandwiches |
get off the train & just walk around!!
| the hood | the vibe | don't miss |
|---|---|---|
| hyde park | worth the drive!! walk down 53rd street. also walk around uchicago campus - SO pretty in the fall, go see the fall colors 🍂 | cafe 53, 14 parish, 57th street books |
| logan square | get off the blue line (the logan square stop!!) & honestly just walk around, its pretty chill | the whistler, cafe mustache, babes, lonesome rose, noodle bird + four letter books |
| wicker park / bucktown | blue line 2 damen & walk milwaukee ave. THRIFTING, records, bars - the classic | the wormhole, reckless, shuga records, dorian's, louie's, mott st, ina mae |
| lincoln park (armitage & halsted!!) | brown line 2 armitage & walk armitage ave - cute lil restaurants, bars & SHOPS. brownstones + oz park r right there | bourgeois pig cafe, cafe ba-ba-reeba, oz park |
| bridgeport | south side!! orange line 2 halsted. walk halsted / 31st st. palmisano park has a CRAZY skyline view | jackalope, bridgeport coffee, antique taco, marz brewing |
be a tourist in ur own city (it's allowed)
| the spot | the hood | why it slaps |
|---|---|---|
| obama presidential center | jackson park / south side | duh |
| dusable black history museum | washington park | CHICAGO african american history |
| museum of science & industry | hyde park | be a nerd!! the spiderman exhibit was good |
| adler planetarium | museum campus (on the lake!!) | THE PLANETARIUM |
| corbett vs. dempsey | west town (fulton st) | ART GALLERY - free 2 walk in!! |
| bridgeport art center | bridgeport (35th st) | old warehouse full of artist studios + galleries. go on 3rd friday when the studios r open |
where 2 actually sit down & talk 2 ur friends
| the spot | the hood | why it slaps |
|---|---|---|
| dorian's | wicker park | hidden behind a record shop!! jazz bar vibes |
| life on marz community club | logan square | smaller vibe than the bridgeport one but nice - RETRO vibe |
| marz community brewing co | bridgeport | the OG marz. cool spot 2 play BOARD GAMES + the thc drinks r good |
| babes | logan square (3017 w armitage) | SPORTS BAR - womens sports + LGBTQ+ 🏳️🌈 |
| cafe mustache | logan square | coffee by day, bar by night!! |
deep dish is 4 tourists... or is it??
| the spot | the hood | order this |
|---|---|---|
| noodle bird | logan square (diversey) | noodles (obviously). right next door 2 bird bird - SAME OWNER |
| bird bird (bakery!!) | logan square (diversey) | BAKERY. next door 2 noodle bird + across from four letter books |
| gorilla sushi | wicker park (off milwaukee) | cheap but also v good |
| cafe 53 | hyde park (53rd st) | breakfast/lunch |
| tacotlán | hermosa | TACOS (the birria!!) |
| cleo's | bronzeville | SOUL FOOD |
| antique taco | bridgeport | TACOS |
| ina mae | wicker park | SOUL FOOD (new orleans style) |
| soul vibez | river north (chicago ave) | SOUL FOOD (vegan menu too!!) |
| mott st | wicker park (off ashland) | asian american small plates - built 2 SHARE. korean-ish, night market vibes (+ ppl say the burger is one of the best in the city) |
| ramen wasabi | logan square | RAMEN |
| lonesome rose | logan square | TACOS |
| 14 parish | hyde park (53rd st) | CARIBBEAN / jamaican |
| medici on 57th | hyde park (57th st) | restaurant + BAKERY + deli. burgers, pan & thin pizza, deli sandwiches, brunch. been there since 1955 (obama used 2 eat here) |
| la luna | pilsen | TACOS |
| lou mitchell's | west loop (jackson blvd) | BREAKFAST - old school diner, they give u donut holes while u wait!! |
| pequod's pizza | lincoln park (clybourn) | PIZZA - the caramelized crust!!! (deep dish that actually slaps) |
always room 4 this
| the spot | the hood | get this |
|---|---|---|
| black dog gelato | ukrainian village (damen) | GELATO |
| sugar shack | bridgeport | the CHURRO SUNDAE or the funnel cake sundae!! |
vinyl never died it was just sleeping
| the spot | the hood |
|---|---|
| reckless records | wicker park (+ the loop) |
| dusty groove | west town (off ashland) |
| shuga records | wicker park (off n milwaukee) |
buy the book u will def read later i promise
| the spot | the hood | why it slaps |
|---|---|---|
| four letter books | logan square (diversey) | right across the street from bird bird + noodle bird!! make it a whole trip |
| 57th street books | hyde park (57th st) | basement maze of books, u will lose an hour |
earplugs are punk actually
| the venue | the hood | best 4 |
|---|---|---|
| salt shed | goose island (old morton salt factory!!) | nice sized music venue + they got BARS inside the space |
| schubas tavern | lakeview (3159 n southport ave) | lil intimate historic tavern + music room. indie rock / folk / singer-songwriters |
| thalia hall | pilsen | good shows + they have BARS inside |
| ramova theatre | bridgeport (halsted) | old 1929 theatre they just brought BACK. CHANCE THE RAPPER is one of the owners + he performs there!! |
if ur not sweating u r doing it wrong
| the spot | the hood | the music |
|---|---|---|
| roscoe's | boystown 🏳️🌈 | pop / disco |
| scarlet | boystown 🏳️🌈 | more known ARTIST TAKEOVER nights. a lil more TOP 40 - pop / disco / rnb |
| progress bar | boystown 🏳️🌈 | hip hop / rnb / rap |
| the whistler | logan square | GOOD DJS - house / rnb / whatever they playin tbh lol |
4 when u want more than just A Bar
| the spot | the hood | the move |
|---|---|---|
| the lincoln lodge | logan square (milwaukee ave) | comedy!! |
| louie's pub | wicker park (off north ave) | KARAOKE |
| wintrust arena | south loop (by mccormick place) | CHICAGO SKY GAMES!! |
every spot in this guide!! hover over a dot 2 see what it is
not 2 scale & roughly placed!! do not navigate w/ this lol