Guidebook for Chicago
Drinks & Nightlife
The Green Mill
4802 North BroadwayThis is amazing. It's capone's old place, and has a great bar.
This is one of the if not the best legit dance club in Chicago, it's sort of strange that it's in the basement about 1 block over- you'd never know that this huge club is there if you don't go down there.
44 locals recommend
Smartbar
3730 N Clark StThis is one of the if not the best legit dance club in Chicago, it's sort of strange that it's in the basement about 1 block over- you'd never know that this huge club is there if you don't go down there.
Holiday Club
4000 N Sheridan RdReally good chill bar. Retro feel
This is a nice local relatively laid-back bar that is nothing like the Wrigley Bar Scene.
63 locals recommend
The Bar on Buena
910 W Buena AveThis is a nice local relatively laid-back bar that is nothing like the Wrigley Bar Scene.
this is the closest brewery (we think, there are a lot) to the house -- and it's a lot of fun
103 locals recommend
Half Acre Beer Company
4257 N Lincoln Avethis is the closest brewery (we think, there are a lot) to the house -- and it's a lot of fun
This is the only real dive bar left in the neighborhood (we think). Good pool table, actual friendly people, a little bit of desperation -- but most of all, authentically cheap drinks
11 locals recommend
Wrigleyville Dogs
3737 N Clark StThis is the only real dive bar left in the neighborhood (we think). Good pool table, actual friendly people, a little bit of desperation -- but most of all, authentically cheap drinks
If I were to pick a Wrigley sports bar to go to, it would be Murphy's. It's huge, with sort of different converted areas making it into like 3 places. Fills up for events. Manages to be a little more chill than places on Clark. Good place for a late beer outside too.
39 locals recommend
Murphy's Bleachers
3655 N Sheffield AveIf I were to pick a Wrigley sports bar to go to, it would be Murphy's. It's huge, with sort of different converted areas making it into like 3 places. Fills up for events. Manages to be a little more chill than places on Clark. Good place for a late beer outside too.
Iconic Wrigley sports bar -- first on the long street of 1000 sports bars which gets really crazy on summer weekends especially if there's a game. Barhopping here is insane. You are not sure if you're taking part in a riot or not if you are out here on Clark late enough. There are literal riots down the street here after big games. All this kind of stuff is luckily contained to the other side of Wrigley, and doesn't interfere with the neighborhood feel where the house is.
36 locals recommend
Cubby Bear
1059 W Addison StIconic Wrigley sports bar -- first on the long street of 1000 sports bars which gets really crazy on summer weekends especially if there's a game. Barhopping here is insane. You are not sure if you're taking part in a riot or not if you are out here on Clark late enough. There are literal riots down the street here after big games. All this kind of stuff is luckily contained to the other side of Wrigley, and doesn't interfere with the neighborhood feel where the house is.
Boystown is just a few blocks away, there are about 1000 gay bars and clubs sort of paralleling the sports bars on Clark street (I have always thought that this was an interesting layout). While I'm not really the target audience here, I went to Scarlet with some friends and it was pretty amazing - great music of course and if I remember right they were just handing out drinks to everyone for a couple bucks, it was pretty nuts.
16 locals recommend
Scarlet Bar
3320 N Halsted StBoystown is just a few blocks away, there are about 1000 gay bars and clubs sort of paralleling the sports bars on Clark street (I have always thought that this was an interesting layout). While I'm not really the target audience here, I went to Scarlet with some friends and it was pretty amazing - great music of course and if I remember right they were just handing out drinks to everyone for a couple bucks, it was pretty nuts.
This place is a pretty amazing part of Boystown. Most of the waiters/waitresses are in drag. Great 1/2 price martinis
19 locals recommend
Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club
3700 North Halsted StreetThis place is a pretty amazing part of Boystown. Most of the waiters/waitresses are in drag. Great 1/2 price martinis
this is a small but nice liquor store that is close.
the owner will usually give you a fist bump after your purchase, which is awesome
Addison Liquors
932 W Addison Stthis is a small but nice liquor store that is close.
the owner will usually give you a fist bump after your purchase, which is awesome
Food Scene
This is a surprisingly excellent mexican restaurant - a step up from a taqueria. There's a really great courtyard in the back which is a great place for margaritas.
24 locals recommend
El Mariachi Tequila Bar & Grill
3906 North BroadwayThis is a surprisingly excellent mexican restaurant - a step up from a taqueria. There's a really great courtyard in the back which is a great place for margaritas.
This is a fun argentinian restaurant that is like a Brazilian BBQ - Lek's favorite. BYOB!!
119 locals recommend
Tango Sur
3763 N Southport AveThis is a fun argentinian restaurant that is like a Brazilian BBQ - Lek's favorite. BYOB!!
Taqueria El Asadero - Chicago
2213 W Montrose AveThis is our favorite taqueria -- delicious
Your local authentic Thai place--- this place is a total treat. One of Lek's friends owns it so we may be biased. BYOB
13 locals recommend
Krung Thep Thai Cuisine
3205 N Halsted StYour local authentic Thai place--- this place is a total treat. One of Lek's friends owns it so we may be biased. BYOB
This place has great sushi and Asian food - I say Asian because it's a Thai-owned Japanese place, so hopefully you get the idea. Lek works here on some Friday nights.
Shiawase Japanese Restaurant
3422 N BroadwayThis place has great sushi and Asian food - I say Asian because it's a Thai-owned Japanese place, so hopefully you get the idea. Lek works here on some Friday nights.
Really neat little "independent" cafe / music venue with good food. A friend of ours performs here occasionally - great for the singer/songwriter scene. Now that I think about it, I think that they operate a brewery out of here in the back (I take back what I said about Half Acre being the closest brewery)
56 locals recommend
Uncommon Ground (lakeview)
3800 North Clark StreetReally neat little "independent" cafe / music venue with good food. A friend of ours performs here occasionally - great for the singer/songwriter scene. Now that I think about it, I think that they operate a brewery out of here in the back (I take back what I said about Half Acre being the closest brewery)
Amazing (and beautiful) sushi and a cool as hell place. Owned by a friend, so this is a biased review.
111 locals recommend
Yuzu Sushi & Robata Grill
1751 W Chicago AveAmazing (and beautiful) sushi and a cool as hell place. Owned by a friend, so this is a biased review.
great local coffee shop - the large americano has 6 shots of espresso!
surprisingly good food
17 locals recommend
Emerald City
1224 West Wilson Avenuegreat local coffee shop - the large americano has 6 shots of espresso!
surprisingly good food
This is the location of the closest starbucks, just so you know. It's new, huge, and in a converted bar -- the most unusual starbucks I've ever been in. Would not be surprised if this becomes a sort of landmark.
18 locals recommend
Starbucks
3549 North Sheffield AvenueThis is the location of the closest starbucks, just so you know. It's new, huge, and in a converted bar -- the most unusual starbucks I've ever been in. Would not be surprised if this becomes a sort of landmark.
on the top of the John Hancock building, really nice restaurant. Great brunch!
525 locals recommend
The Signature Room at the 95th®
875 N Michigan Aveon the top of the John Hancock building, really nice restaurant. Great brunch!
Sightseeing
Wrigley Field
1060 W Addison Stthis is your local neighborhood landmark
The "street of 40 doors" which is just a cool street (like, architecturally) 1 block away. Strange it's so close to wrigley...
6 locals recommend
North Alta Vista Terrace
North Alta Vista TerraceThe "street of 40 doors" which is just a cool street (like, architecturally) 1 block away. Strange it's so close to wrigley...
Cloud Gate
201 E Randolph Stmandatory tourist destination
Willis Tower
233 S Wacker Drmandatory tourist destination
Parks & Nature
Belmont Harbor Dog Beach
It's a dog park and a small beach! Walkable from the house.
This is a really nice beach on the lake -- also has a (giant) dog beach that is fun because there are 1000 dogs there in the water on a warm day.
297 locals recommend
Montrose Beach
This is a really nice beach on the lake -- also has a (giant) dog beach that is fun because there are 1000 dogs there in the water on a warm day.
Challenger Park
1100 Irving Park Rdsmall dog park - next door is a larger playground for kids
Tennis courts, walking/jogging trail, lots of outdoorsy stuff right on the water.
19 locals recommend
Waveland Park Tennis Courts
3650 N Recreation DrTennis courts, walking/jogging trail, lots of outdoorsy stuff right on the water.
Entertainment & Activities
Music Box Theatre
3733 N Southport Avecool indie theater near the house
this is a nice midsize music venue for rock shows and similar
on off nights they have this thing called the "Brew and View" where they show second-run or goofball old movies in the venue with a good bar -- grungy, fun feel -- highly recommended
52 locals recommend
The Vic Theatre
3145 N Sheffield Avethis is a nice midsize music venue for rock shows and similar
on off nights they have this thing called the "Brew and View" where they show second-run or goofball old movies in the venue with a good bar -- grungy, fun feel -- highly recommended
This is one of the improv theaters nearby - there's a lot of improv in Chicago, and there's a cluster near our place in Wrigleyville.
The Public House Theatre
3914 N Clark StThis is one of the improv theaters nearby - there's a lot of improv in Chicago, and there's a cluster near our place in Wrigleyville.
A zoo in town, small but nice. Free. They light it up for Christmas, which is cool
1117 locals recommend
Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N Clark StA zoo in town, small but nice. Free. They light it up for Christmas, which is cool
I can't say I've actually been here, but it's supposedly an awesome aquarium
673 locals recommend
Shedd Aquarium
1200 S Lake Shore DrI can't say I've actually been here, but it's supposedly an awesome aquarium
haven't been here to be honest (you know how it is to not go to places visitors are supposed to go when you live there), but it's a famous place to go in this town
393 locals recommend
Adler Planetarium
1300 S Lake Shore Drhaven't been here to be honest (you know how it is to not go to places visitors are supposed to go when you live there), but it's a famous place to go in this town
Navy Pier
600 E Grand AveThis is sort of a tourist playground, literally and figuratively.
Arts & Culture
Mercury Theater Chicago
3745 N Southport Aveone of the many nearby theatres...
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S Michigan AveMandatory awesome art museum
big famous modern art museum which I haven't been to in years but quite a thing
532 locals recommend
Museum Of Contemporary Art Chicago
220 E Chicago Avebig famous modern art museum which I haven't been to in years but quite a thing
Essentials
Whole Foods Market
3640 N Halsted Styour local whole foods
Jewel-Osco Pharmacy
3630 N Southport Avethis is probably the closest general grocery
Alta Vista Foods
3942 N Sheridan Rdvery small/cheap grocery where it's a pleasure to buy basics