Guidebook for Chicago
Essentials
Fantastic smoked and cured meats and sausages, decent selection of cheese and basic produce. Rooftop garden in warm seasons serving sausages and beer.
91 locals recommend
Gene's Sausage Shop and Delicatessen
4750 N Lincoln AveFantastic smoked and cured meats and sausages, decent selection of cheese and basic produce. Rooftop garden in warm seasons serving sausages and beer.
Shopping
Fairly comprehensive selection of new vinyl and a great oddball mix of used depending on what's come in.
11 locals recommend
Laurie's Planet of Sound
4639 N Lincoln AveFairly comprehensive selection of new vinyl and a great oddball mix of used depending on what's come in.
New bookstore featuring a surprising selection of autographed books (I snagged Rushdie and Bryson here in signed editions recently) with a little cafe/wine bar to boot.
40 locals recommend
The Book Cellar
4736 N Lincoln AveNew bookstore featuring a surprising selection of autographed books (I snagged Rushdie and Bryson here in signed editions recently) with a little cafe/wine bar to boot.
The name and exterior looks daunting, but there's a great range of wine, beer and spirits in this shop, and the owners are friendly and helpful. Usually features a good selection of inexpensive wines.
Fine Wine Brokers
4621 N Lincoln AveThe name and exterior looks daunting, but there's a great range of wine, beer and spirits in this shop, and the owners are friendly and helpful. Usually features a good selection of inexpensive wines.
Arts & Culture
A great Chicago institution - folk and world music concerts, a small instrument shop, and classes, should you be here long enough to take advantage!
103 locals recommend
Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N Lincoln AveA great Chicago institution - folk and world music concerts, a small instrument shop, and classes, should you be here long enough to take advantage!
Not a great movie theater per se (for that, check out the Landmark Century at Diversey and Clark, with impeccable projection and great selection) but close, decently programmed, and cheap!
104 locals recommend
Davis Theater, Chicago
4614 N Lincoln AveNot a great movie theater per se (for that, check out the Landmark Century at Diversey and Clark, with impeccable projection and great selection) but close, decently programmed, and cheap!
An only-in-Chicago theatre company whose work is almost always worth seeing. Day-of tickets available for $20; call the box office when they open to snag one!
109 locals recommend
Steppenwolf Theatre
1650 N Halsted StAn only-in-Chicago theatre company whose work is almost always worth seeing. Day-of tickets available for $20; call the box office when they open to snag one!
The art house programming is sound, but what makes this a gem is their late-night and matinee series, highlighting classic films and campy favorites.
152 locals recommend
Music Box Theatre
3733 N Southport AveThe art house programming is sound, but what makes this a gem is their late-night and matinee series, highlighting classic films and campy favorites.
Drinks & Nightlife
Excellent cocktail lounge with great food; one of the better late-night options in the area. Kitchen open til 11, 1 AM on weekends. Try the Tiny Burgers and any of their seasonal cocktails.
35 locals recommend
Tiny Lounge
4352 N Leavitt StExcellent cocktail lounge with great food; one of the better late-night options in the area. Kitchen open til 11, 1 AM on weekends. Try the Tiny Burgers and any of their seasonal cocktails.
A deep burger menu (try the Edmund Fig-gerald or Slow Burn) with a wide-ranging beer menu leaning hard on Belgian and craft options. Taps rotate regularly and often feature rare brews.
76 locals recommend
The Bad Apple
4300 N Lincoln AveA deep burger menu (try the Edmund Fig-gerald or Slow Burn) with a wide-ranging beer menu leaning hard on Belgian and craft options. Taps rotate regularly and often feature rare brews.
Food Scene
Naples-style pizza done right, out of wood-fired ovens with blistered crust and high-quality ingredients.
83 locals recommend
Spacca Napoli Pizzeria
1769 W Sunnyside AveNaples-style pizza done right, out of wood-fired ovens with blistered crust and high-quality ingredients.
Reliable bistro fare, with a great all-you-can-eat mussels deal on Tuesday evenings. Serves a very nice, simple brunch on Sundays.
47 locals recommend
Bistro Campagne
4518 N Lincoln AveReliable bistro fare, with a great all-you-can-eat mussels deal on Tuesday evenings. Serves a very nice, simple brunch on Sundays.
Check out the Thai-language menu (it's translated!) for regional specialties and funky, sour, authentic flavors. Better for dining in and adventurous eating than for takeout.
21 locals recommend
Opart Thai House
4658 North Western AvenueCheck out the Thai-language menu (it's translated!) for regional specialties and funky, sour, authentic flavors. Better for dining in and adventurous eating than for takeout.
A haven for game and gourmet sausages in a classic Chicago-style hot dog stand. Lines are crazy on Saturdays, and Doug keeps short hours, but it's worth the wait (come on a weekday if you can).
11 locals recommend
Hot Doug's
A haven for game and gourmet sausages in a classic Chicago-style hot dog stand. Lines are crazy on Saturdays, and Doug keeps short hours, but it's worth the wait (come on a weekday if you can).
Jaw-dropping desserts (James Beard nominee five years running now) and well-executed comfort food; a great night on its own, or come for dessert after tacos at Big Star (just a bit further south).
108 locals recommend
Mindy’s HotChocolate
1623 N Damen AveJaw-dropping desserts (James Beard nominee five years running now) and well-executed comfort food; a great night on its own, or come for dessert after tacos at Big Star (just a bit further south).
A beautiful array of gelato parked on Lincoln Square's adorable fountain plaza. If it's too cold, skip across the street to Cafe Selmarie for a pastry and coffee and enjoy the square!
16 locals recommend
Paciugo
2324 West Giddings StreetA beautiful array of gelato parked on Lincoln Square's adorable fountain plaza. If it's too cold, skip across the street to Cafe Selmarie for a pastry and coffee and enjoy the square!
Sightseeing
One of our many young local breweries; open for first-come first-serve tours on Saturdays, well worth the cost of admission for three pours and a pint glass. Or just grab a 4-pack any day of the week!
103 locals recommend
Half Acre Beer Company
4257 N Lincoln AveOne of our many young local breweries; open for first-come first-serve tours on Saturdays, well worth the cost of admission for three pours and a pint glass. Or just grab a 4-pack any day of the week!
Everything Else
Good for any ad-hoc personal/home-goods needs, with a pharmacy open til 10 PM except on Sundays.
202 locals recommend
Walgreens
4801 N Lincoln AveGood for any ad-hoc personal/home-goods needs, with a pharmacy open til 10 PM except on Sundays.