Guidebook for Chicago
Food Scene
If you're looking for a perfect date spot, I recommend Pl-zen. They have great food, a nice beer selection, friendly service, and a romantic atmosphere.
44 locals recommend
Pl-zen
1519 W 18th StIf you're looking for a perfect date spot, I recommend Pl-zen. They have great food, a nice beer selection, friendly service, and a romantic atmosphere.
If you're out late and need a burrito, this place is 24 hours and still has good quality food! It is BYOB and can be really fun on the weekends.
15 locals recommend
Coyotes Restaurant
1451 W 18th StIf you're out late and need a burrito, this place is 24 hours and still has good quality food! It is BYOB and can be really fun on the weekends.
Right on the corner, they serve basic breakfast diner food and mexican breakfast food, and the super sweet owner always gives out free soup!
15 locals recommend
Parkview Restaurant Grill
2000 W 19th StRight on the corner, they serve basic breakfast diner food and mexican breakfast food, and the super sweet owner always gives out free soup!
Burger joint on the corner. I don't eat burgers, so I've never eaten here, but it seems to have a good crowd!
Vio
2000 W 18th StBurger joint on the corner. I don't eat burgers, so I've never eaten here, but it seems to have a good crowd!
Closest coffee shop, if you want to sit and use wifi, or grab a latte to go.
27 locals recommend
Nitecap Coffee Bar
Closest coffee shop, if you want to sit and use wifi, or grab a latte to go.
I think Coyote is better, but this place is also 24 hours, and only a 10 minute walk from my place.
53 locals recommend
Taqueria Los Comales
1544 W 18th StI think Coyote is better, but this place is also 24 hours, and only a 10 minute walk from my place.
Chicago's most famous Mexican restaurant, Nueva Leon, burned down last year, so the owners opened this gem! It's cheap, delicious, and has a cute little patio! Highly recommended for weekend brunch.
29 locals recommend
Cantón Regio Steakhouse
1510 W 18th StChicago's most famous Mexican restaurant, Nueva Leon, burned down last year, so the owners opened this gem! It's cheap, delicious, and has a cute little patio! Highly recommended for weekend brunch.
Foodies, check out this place!! It's Pilsen's only AFFORDABLE Michelin star rated restaurant! Make reservations for dinner or brunch, or sit at the bar and try one of their 24 always rotating tap beers! Bar prices are standard Chicago pricing, and food is around $25-$30 for a dinner entrée. Open till 2am, food till 1am.
156 locals recommend
Dusek's Board & Beer
1227 W 18th StFoodies, check out this place!! It's Pilsen's only AFFORDABLE Michelin star rated restaurant! Make reservations for dinner or brunch, or sit at the bar and try one of their 24 always rotating tap beers! Bar prices are standard Chicago pricing, and food is around $25-$30 for a dinner entrée. Open till 2am, food till 1am.
Pilsen's favorite long-standing coffee shop. Great drinks, very consistent. Always busy, but still fairly quick.
134 locals recommend
Cafe Jumping Bean
1439 W 18th StPilsen's favorite long-standing coffee shop. Great drinks, very consistent. Always busy, but still fairly quick.
Unassuming but very tasty Mexican restaurant close by. Vegetarian burrito has cactus in it! Open 9am-10pm every night.
Chepe's Tacos
2007 S Damen AveUnassuming but very tasty Mexican restaurant close by. Vegetarian burrito has cactus in it! Open 9am-10pm every night.
Everything Else
It's right down the street! Pilsen is a very artsy neighborhood and has many art studios, but if you want to see a bunch of art all at once, check out the museum!
222 locals recommend
National Museum of Mexican Art
1852 W 19th StIt's right down the street! Pilsen is a very artsy neighborhood and has many art studios, but if you want to see a bunch of art all at once, check out the museum!
Harrison Park
1824 S Wood StBring a blanket and sit in the sun. :)
Drinks & Nightlife
My favorite bar in Pilsen, it's got really cool decor, good food, and great drink and food specials. Enjoy a Bloody Maria on the weekend! (Steer clear of the vegan burger tho, it's boring)
151 locals recommend
Simone's
960 W 18th StMy favorite bar in Pilsen, it's got really cool decor, good food, and great drink and food specials. Enjoy a Bloody Maria on the weekend! (Steer clear of the vegan burger tho, it's boring)
Good beer selection (and cheap for Chicago!) and great tater tots! They also have great food for dinner, but it's a dive atmosphere.
73 locals recommend
Skylark
2149 S Halsted StGood beer selection (and cheap for Chicago!) and great tater tots! They also have great food for dinner, but it's a dive atmosphere.
DJs every night, and great punches and cocktails! Great atmosphere, though a little loud, and free shot at midnight, when you sit at the bar. Open 6pm-2am open till 3am on Saturdays.
78 locals recommend
Punch House
1227 W 18th StDJs every night, and great punches and cocktails! Great atmosphere, though a little loud, and free shot at midnight, when you sit at the bar. Open 6pm-2am open till 3am on Saturdays.
LOVE this place! Only open on the weekends, this place has a really entertaining and funny live piano player at night. Classier atmosphere than Punch House downstairs, but no need to get dressed up to go here.
Tack Room
1807 S Allport StLOVE this place! Only open on the weekends, this place has a really entertaining and funny live piano player at night. Classier atmosphere than Punch House downstairs, but no need to get dressed up to go here.
Really great music venue. Small enough that the shows are always affordable, but big enough that you may see one of your favorite artists play here! Events almost every night. Check out their website!
135 locals recommend
Thalia Hall
1807 S Allport StReally great music venue. Small enough that the shows are always affordable, but big enough that you may see one of your favorite artists play here! Events almost every night. Check out their website!
My favorite bar in walking distance. Great bartenders, great selection of EXCLUSIVELY local beer on tap, and easy to meet people and carry on conversations. Sort of a dive-bar feel, but very clean and cared for. Live music on Friday nights, sometimes.
20 locals recommend
The Barrel
2015 S Damen AveMy favorite bar in walking distance. Great bartenders, great selection of EXCLUSIVELY local beer on tap, and easy to meet people and carry on conversations. Sort of a dive-bar feel, but very clean and cared for. Live music on Friday nights, sometimes.
Essentials
One stop grocery shop!! Sushi bar, hot food, salad bar, vegan options, and great produce section!
200 locals recommend
Pete's Fresh Market
2333 W Madison StOne stop grocery shop!! Sushi bar, hot food, salad bar, vegan options, and great produce section!
Super Mercados El Güero
2101 W Cermak RdClosest full grocery store. Cheap and good produce!!
La Adelita
2058 W 19th StCorner store for snacks, drinks, and basic groceries.
Shopping
I'm friends with one of the owners, and they have great vintage clothes. Go on the second friday of the month after 8pm and there are free drinks in the back!!
27 locals recommend
Knee Deep Vintage
1219 W 18th StI'm friends with one of the owners, and they have great vintage clothes. Go on the second friday of the month after 8pm and there are free drinks in the back!!
After shopping at Knee Deep, cross the street and see if Pilsen Vintage has something perfect for you!
28 locals recommend
Pilsen Vintage
1430 W 18th StAfter shopping at Knee Deep, cross the street and see if Pilsen Vintage has something perfect for you!
Owned by a friend of mine, this vintage store is more modern the Knee Deep or Pilsen vintage. Definitely has a 90s flair.
Very Best Vintage
1346 W 18th StOwned by a friend of mine, this vintage store is more modern the Knee Deep or Pilsen vintage. Definitely has a 90s flair.
Sightseeing
Pilsen is covered in murals and street art, and 16th street between Wood and Blue Island has a great display of some local artists' work! (don't follow the attached map on this one, it's too far west.)
West 16th Street
West 16th StreetPilsen is covered in murals and street art, and 16th street between Wood and Blue Island has a great display of some local artists' work! (don't follow the attached map on this one, it's too far west.)
This is a great park! Took my breath away when I first saw the "great lawn" where you can watch bands/movies/theater during the summer months. Plenty of paths to stroll along, and don't miss the Bean!!
1243 locals recommend
Millennium Park
201 E Randolph StThis is a great park! Took my breath away when I first saw the "great lawn" where you can watch bands/movies/theater during the summer months. Plenty of paths to stroll along, and don't miss the Bean!!
Arts & Culture
Art Gallery and shop within walking distance! Purely Pilsen, nothing touristy about this place!
10 locals recommend
Pilsen Outpost
1637 W 18th StArt Gallery and shop within walking distance! Purely Pilsen, nothing touristy about this place!
La Luz Gallery
1545 W 18th StSee great art on the weekends! Only by appointment on weekdays.
Great gallery on 18th street. About a mile away, but if you walk down 16th street, you'll be entertained by all the murals!
Prospectus Art Gallery
1210 W 18th StGreat gallery on 18th street. About a mile away, but if you walk down 16th street, you'll be entertained by all the murals!
Most of Pilsen's independent art galleries are on Halsted St. between 18th street (1800 S) to about 2202 S. Halsted.
12 locals recommend
Chicago Arts District
1945 S Halsted StMost of Pilsen's independent art galleries are on Halsted St. between 18th street (1800 S) to about 2202 S. Halsted.