Guidebook for Chicago
Food Scene
Dark Matter Coffee is Chicago's craft coffee crowning glory. Osmium, their Lakeview location is great for getting work done or for lounging in their back patio. Staff is kind and super knowledgeable about coffee. Three train stops from the apartment- but worth it.
47 locals recommend
Osmium Coffee Bar
1117 W Belmont AveDark Matter Coffee is Chicago's craft coffee crowning glory. Osmium, their Lakeview location is great for getting work done or for lounging in their back patio. Staff is kind and super knowledgeable about coffee. Three train stops from the apartment- but worth it.
Incredible Ethiopian restaurant just two blocks from the apartment. A solid intro to Ethiopian food if you've never had it before. After this, you can venture to the more "hole in the wall" Ethiopian and Nigerian food destinations in Uptown.
65 locals recommend
Demera Restaurant
4801 N BroadwayIncredible Ethiopian restaurant just two blocks from the apartment. A solid intro to Ethiopian food if you've never had it before. After this, you can venture to the more "hole in the wall" Ethiopian and Nigerian food destinations in Uptown.
Bubble tea, mochi, and macaroons. Delicious! My favourite bubble tea spot in Uptown. Just a few blocks from the apartment.
Bambu
5010 N BroadwayBubble tea, mochi, and macaroons. Delicious! My favourite bubble tea spot in Uptown. Just a few blocks from the apartment.
Only good mexican spot on the North side of Chicago. And that's coming from a gal from South Texas.
Los 3 Panchos
1155 W Diversey PkwyOnly good mexican spot on the North side of Chicago. And that's coming from a gal from South Texas.
Excellent brunch. Can't really go wrong with anything on their menu.
91 locals recommend
The Bongo Room
5022 N Clark StExcellent brunch. Can't really go wrong with anything on their menu.
Little Bad Wolf
1541 W Bryn Mawr AveYum yum yum. Delicious food, creative cocktails, good vibe.
My favorite brunch spot in the area. Giant menu filled with gluten free, veggie, and vegan options. Everything is so tasty and the space is so cute.
111 locals recommend
Tweet
5020 N Sheridan RdMy favorite brunch spot in the area. Giant menu filled with gluten free, veggie, and vegan options. Everything is so tasty and the space is so cute.
Tank Noodle
4953-55 N BroadwayA staple of "Asia on Argyle"
Wonderful Vietnamese food!!!
Drinks & Nightlife
Provisions is the hipster version of a liquor store. Amazing selections of wine, beer, liquor, and snacks. They host regular tastings that are a blast. They also sell hip Chicago souvenirs, if you're in the market for that.
Provisions Uptown
4812 N BroadwayProvisions is the hipster version of a liquor store. Amazing selections of wine, beer, liquor, and snacks. They host regular tastings that are a blast. They also sell hip Chicago souvenirs, if you're in the market for that.
Fat Cat is a short walk down the alley from the apartment. Great for a night when you're too lazy to venture out, but still want something good. Great drink selection, tasty food, EXCELLENT patios, and billiards.
58 locals recommend
Fat Cat Restaurant & Bar
4840 N BroadwayFat Cat is a short walk down the alley from the apartment. Great for a night when you're too lazy to venture out, but still want something good. Great drink selection, tasty food, EXCELLENT patios, and billiards.
A major spot to hit for Chicago history, drinks, jazz, and a notoriously mean staff all rolled into one.
471 locals recommend
The Green Mill
4802 North BroadwayA major spot to hit for Chicago history, drinks, jazz, and a notoriously mean staff all rolled into one.
If you're a beer person, Beermiscuous is worth the short train trip. It's a craft beer wonderland that boasts that it is a coffee shop but for beer. My absolute favorite place for drinks. If you're someone who actually like to hear the person you're talking to when you drink- this is your spot.
16 locals recommend
Beermiscuous
2812 N Lincoln AveIf you're a beer person, Beermiscuous is worth the short train trip. It's a craft beer wonderland that boasts that it is a coffee shop but for beer. My absolute favorite place for drinks. If you're someone who actually like to hear the person you're talking to when you drink- this is your spot.
Trader Todd's
3216 N Sheffield AveA tiki themed karaoke bar. That's just that.
My favorite North Side bar. Delicious food, amazing drinks, perfect atmosphere.
70 locals recommend
Big Chicks
5024 N Sheridan RdMy favorite North Side bar. Delicious food, amazing drinks, perfect atmosphere.
Cute little bar-cade right down the street from the apartment. Great games. I like this place much better than the giant chain bar-cades that are popping up everywhere.
10 locals recommend
Uptown Arcade
4830 N BroadwayCute little bar-cade right down the street from the apartment. Great games. I like this place much better than the giant chain bar-cades that are popping up everywhere.
Parks & Nature
Montrose Beach
Super quick bus or uber ride from the apartment.
Foster Beach
Getting Around
Lawrence Red Line Station
Argyle station
Arts & Culture
Everyone tells you to go to the Art Institute, but for me, the MCA is where it's at. Check out their website to see what exhibits are up and to see if you can catch a live show their.
532 locals recommend
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
220 E Chicago AveEveryone tells you to go to the Art Institute, but for me, the MCA is where it's at. Check out their website to see what exhibits are up and to see if you can catch a live show their.
A tiny, "pay what you can" museum of folk art. Amazing, rarely seen art. There is usually a cool iterative portion as well.
27 locals recommend
Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art
756 N Milwaukee AveA tiny, "pay what you can" museum of folk art. Amazing, rarely seen art. There is usually a cool iterative portion as well.
Another wonderful alternative to the Art Institute. It's FREE FREE FREEEE and full of incredible art, not to mention stunning architecture.
203 locals recommend
Chicago Cultural Center
78 E Washington StAnother wonderful alternative to the Art Institute. It's FREE FREE FREEEE and full of incredible art, not to mention stunning architecture.
If you want like interesting, thought provoking theatre/comedy and have already done the whole Second City and iO thing, hit up the Neo-Futurists for a more innovative look at comedy and theatre.
66 locals recommend
Neo-Futurists
5153 North Ashland AvenueIf you want like interesting, thought provoking theatre/comedy and have already done the whole Second City and iO thing, hit up the Neo-Futurists for a more innovative look at comedy and theatre.
The Annoyance Theatre & Bar
851 W Belmont AveAnother comedy alternative to Second City and iO