Guidebook for Chicago
Drinks & Nightlife
The Beer Bistro
1061 West Madison StreetA great beer selection and fab bar food environment!
La Vaca Margarita Bar
1160 W 18th StAlways a crowd and excellent margaritas!
My neighborhood bar and grill. EXCELLENT bar foods-- great beer selection. Steps away. I have never seen live music here but they have excellent tunes playing all the time.
151 locals recommend
Simone's
960 W 18th StMy neighborhood bar and grill. EXCELLENT bar foods-- great beer selection. Steps away. I have never seen live music here but they have excellent tunes playing all the time.
Featured in the move "the breakup". It looks scary from the outside but DEF a must on the list of cool venues in the pilsen area. Fab tater tots, great drinks, and possible Vince Vaughn sightings!!
73 locals recommend
Skylark
2149 S Halsted StFeatured in the move "the breakup". It looks scary from the outside but DEF a must on the list of cool venues in the pilsen area. Fab tater tots, great drinks, and possible Vince Vaughn sightings!!
Shopping
Excellent wine selection and they have a little bar in the area too. nice place to stop if you are walking along the roosevelt/harrison area (near whole foods and home depot)
7 locals recommend
Binny's Beverage Depot - South Loop
1132 S Jefferson StExcellent wine selection and they have a little bar in the area too. nice place to stop if you are walking along the roosevelt/harrison area (near whole foods and home depot)
Food Scene
The BEST Italian food just steps away and its a BYOB! I love the environment and its so romantic. Consider this for a date night for sure! Not bad prices either.
12 locals recommend
Ciao Amore
1134 W 18th StThe BEST Italian food just steps away and its a BYOB! I love the environment and its so romantic. Consider this for a date night for sure! Not bad prices either.
Live music + outdoor seating+ VAST beer selection= heaven!! Voted Chicago's best new Restaurant for 2014. Check menu copy in red folder. Circled things I tried like "Beermosa" -beer selections vary
135 locals recommend
Thalia Hall
1807 S Allport StLive music + outdoor seating+ VAST beer selection= heaven!! Voted Chicago's best new Restaurant for 2014. Check menu copy in red folder. Circled things I tried like "Beermosa" -beer selections vary
Great Tennessee BBQ- ask for Willie the owner. Live music and very cool bar area. A hopping place during the weekends.
141 locals recommend
Honky Tonk BBQ
1213 W 18th StGreat Tennessee BBQ- ask for Willie the owner. Live music and very cool bar area. A hopping place during the weekends.
Support our local community- we have some of the best coffee joints around and I love the food here too!
134 locals recommend
Cafe Jumping Bean
1439 W 18th StSupport our local community- we have some of the best coffee joints around and I love the food here too!
Joy Yee
2139 S China PlExcellent Asian cuisine and they deliver!! Love the bubble tea.
nana
3267 S Halsted StBrunch???? This is a must have. Everything is delish. Mimosas too!
A little walk but one of the most romantic, family owned restaurants in little Italy. A must for date night.
RoSal's Dinner with Joe
A little walk but one of the most romantic, family owned restaurants in little Italy. A must for date night.
Great food and drinks. New place in little Italy. A bit of a walk but easy and fun!
8 locals recommend
County Barbeque
1352 W Taylor StGreat food and drinks. New place in little Italy. A bit of a walk but easy and fun!
Francesca's on Taylor
1400 W Taylor StAnother fabulous Italian restaurant.
Jimmy John's
51 W Division StSandwich shop that delivers-- even to the pool!!
Al's Beef
1079 W Taylor StA Chicago classic plus they deliver- even to the pool!
Happy Cakes La Baguette
1350 W 18th StA cute community bakery just steps away from my place.
Efebina's Cafe
1640 S Blue Island AveCoffee!!! Need I say more? Plus it's local. Enjoy our community.
Kohan Japanese Restaurant
730 W Maxwell StExcellent sushi within walking distance.
Stax Cafe
1401 W Taylor StPancakes??? OMG! A must have.
Another breakfast classic. Expect a bit of a line as this is a very popular place on weekends.
39 locals recommend
Sweet Maple Cafe
1339 W Taylor StAnother breakfast classic. Expect a bit of a line as this is a very popular place on weekends.
The closest coffee and bakery to the loft- only 2 minutes away by walk. Lots of locals here & great environment. Pic of pastries on site is from here. Open since April. Please support this business!!
8 locals recommend
Beurrage
1248 W 18th StThe closest coffee and bakery to the loft- only 2 minutes away by walk. Lots of locals here & great environment. Pic of pastries on site is from here. Open since April. Please support this business!!
Health food place- fresh squeezed juices, quick foods, grocery AND yoga downstairs. Open for 10 months now. Support our local business owners!
20 locals recommend
Belli's
1850 W 18th StHealth food place- fresh squeezed juices, quick foods, grocery AND yoga downstairs. Open for 10 months now. Support our local business owners!
Some of the BEST coffee in Pilsen. I love the environment. Relax, get work done, and enjoy a fresh dessert too. A local favorite in Pilsen.
47 locals recommend
La Catrina Cafe
1011 W 18th StSome of the BEST coffee in Pilsen. I love the environment. Relax, get work done, and enjoy a fresh dessert too. A local favorite in Pilsen.
The BEST selection of tamales, quick stop and go and even has tables out front to eat. They have a HUGE variety at such a great cost. ++THEY DELIVER but recommend the short walk for total experience.
10 locals recommend
Dia De Los Tamales
The BEST selection of tamales, quick stop and go and even has tables out front to eat. They have a HUGE variety at such a great cost. ++THEY DELIVER but recommend the short walk for total experience.
Essentials
Grocery store on one side, Taqueria on the other w/parking nearby-- its steps away. Use my cart and do a little shopping "on foot" in one of the cutest Mexican grocery stores in pilsen.
32 locals recommend
Taqueria Casa Del Pueblo
1834 S Blue Island AveGrocery store on one side, Taqueria on the other w/parking nearby-- its steps away. Use my cart and do a little shopping "on foot" in one of the cutest Mexican grocery stores in pilsen.
Everything Else
We Wash Hand Car Wash and Detail Center
2042 S Halsted StCar wash!!!
Local wine and beer stop. Easier to get to compared to Binny's and a little pricier I think. I still go here bc its a family owned place!
Gentile's Bottle Shop
1160 W Taylor StLocal wine and beer stop. Easier to get to compared to Binny's and a little pricier I think. I still go here bc its a family owned place!
My hair salon. Ask for Joel-- he's my guy!! Tell him you know me if you need a stat hair treatment.
Solo Salon - Elizabeth
114 N Elizabeth StMy hair salon. Ask for Joel-- he's my guy!! Tell him you know me if you need a stat hair treatment.
Not far from loft. Great place for dry cleaning, general laundry, and last minute alterations. They also provide shoe repair but turnaround is at least a few days.
Spot Cleaners
1009 W 14th PlNot far from loft. Great place for dry cleaning, general laundry, and last minute alterations. They also provide shoe repair but turnaround is at least a few days.
Local venue to pick up nice beer & wine and attend local tastings as well. Just down the street & they have a neat outdoor space next to the building.
43 locals recommend
Lush Wine & Spirits
1412 W Chicago AveLocal venue to pick up nice beer & wine and attend local tastings as well. Just down the street & they have a neat outdoor space next to the building.
Take #18 bus eastbound from 18th street and bus stops right in front of whole foods. This is my go to place for organic fresh veggies.
836 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
3640 N Halsted StTake #18 bus eastbound from 18th street and bus stops right in front of whole foods. This is my go to place for organic fresh veggies.
Lap swimming-- kids swim classes too. Lots of camps happening for kids during spring, summer, and winter breaks. Definitely check out what they have to offer. Open to non-Chicago residents too.
Fosco Park Community Center
1312 S Racine AveLap swimming-- kids swim classes too. Lots of camps happening for kids during spring, summer, and winter breaks. Definitely check out what they have to offer. Open to non-Chicago residents too.
The ONLY place to watch a movie in a theater. Stadium seating, food & drink delivery, and reserved seats. A little on the $$ with amenities but worth the experience. Take #18 bus eastbound.
95 locals recommend
ShowPlace ICON Theatres at Roosevelt Collection with ICON•X
1011 S Delano CtThe ONLY place to watch a movie in a theater. Stadium seating, food & drink delivery, and reserved seats. A little on the $$ with amenities but worth the experience. Take #18 bus eastbound.