Shopping
Lovely green beauty spa and boutique, a neighborhood favorite. Just a quick 15 min walk or one stop on the Brown Line!
Lena Rose Beauty
4645 N Rockwell StLovely green beauty spa and boutique, a neighborhood favorite. Just a quick 15 min walk or one stop on the Brown Line!
This place has been in Lincoln Square forever and is a great place if you need personal items or a gift!
52 locals recommend
Merz Apothecary
4716 N Lincoln AveThis place has been in Lincoln Square forever and is a great place if you need personal items or a gift!
Great place to see live music (when we can), also lovely shop.
103 locals recommend
Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N Lincoln AveGreat place to see live music (when we can), also lovely shop.
If you like to thrift, go here. Best deals, crazy music, and great finds.
16 locals recommend
Village Discount Outlet Store 03
2032 N Milwaukee AveIf you like to thrift, go here. Best deals, crazy music, and great finds.
Unique clothing, home, and gifts. Plus this place is a nonprofit so you can feel good about where your money goes.
6 locals recommend
Planet Access Company Store
4727 N Lincoln AveUnique clothing, home, and gifts. Plus this place is a nonprofit so you can feel good about where your money goes.
Anchor Baby Vintage and upcycled
4432 N Kedzie AveNew shop, must-visit for vintage and upcycled stuff. Go!
Hazel
1835 W Montrose AveOne of the best gift shops in the city.
District
4835 N Damen AveCoolest MCM furniture, terrific candles.
Food scene
LD Pho
4722 N Kedzie AveSeriously best Pho in the area, we love them. They are on Grubhub!
Brü Coffeeworks
3005 W Lawrence AveCheck the hours first!
Somethin' Sweet Donuts
5112 W Fullerton AveJust get the donuts. They are crazy good.
Love this place so much. It's the hottest of woks and coolest of sush.
38 locals recommend
Hot Woks Cool Sushi
3930 N Pulaski RdLove this place so much. It's the hottest of woks and coolest of sush.
If you want the best Al Pastor taco ever (don't come for me), go here. Get a Jarrito. Cash only and they are doing curbside last time I checked.
13 locals recommend
Taqueria El Asadero - Chicago
2213 W Montrose AveIf you want the best Al Pastor taco ever (don't come for me), go here. Get a Jarrito. Cash only and they are doing curbside last time I checked.
La Amistad Restaurant
1914 W Montrose AveOne of our go-tos for Mexican food. Solid. Fast. Local.
If you want crazy taco options, this is your jam. I LOVE their fish tacos.
12 locals recommend
ROJO GUSANO
3830 W Lawrence AveIf you want crazy taco options, this is your jam. I LOVE their fish tacos.
Nighthawk
4744 N Kimball AveTo-go cocktails! Do I need to say more?
Chicago pizza is the boss of all pizza. And Lou's is in charge. Get the buttercrust. THIS is Chicago pizza. Also, deep dish is NOT great. Seriously don't come for me, everyone.
163 locals recommend
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
3986 N Avondale AveChicago pizza is the boss of all pizza. And Lou's is in charge. Get the buttercrust. THIS is Chicago pizza. Also, deep dish is NOT great. Seriously don't come for me, everyone.
This is our go-to for thin crust pizza. They make their own Italian sausage and it's great. Also they use not-gross mushrooms. Do it.
6 locals recommend
Armand's Pizzeria
6694 N Northwest HwyThis is our go-to for thin crust pizza. They make their own Italian sausage and it's great. Also they use not-gross mushrooms. Do it.
Great and interesting pizza, terrific salads, fantastic wine. Love this place.
33 locals recommend
Angelo's Wine Bar
3026 W Montrose AveGreat and interesting pizza, terrific salads, fantastic wine. Love this place.
This is my absolute favorite Persian food. Everyone loves Noon-O-Kabob but seriously Kabobi has won in my book.
17 locals recommend
Kabobi - Persian and Mediterranean Grill
3224 N Kedzie AveThis is my absolute favorite Persian food. Everyone loves Noon-O-Kabob but seriously Kabobi has won in my book.
THIS is a Chicago Hot dog. Get everything on it and pick off the sport peppers. Italian beef is great here, but not the best. You can't go wrong with Portillo's. Also they have a shake with a piece of cake in it if you want to live on the edge.
270 locals recommend
Portillo's Hot Dogs
100 W Ontario StTHIS is a Chicago Hot dog. Get everything on it and pick off the sport peppers. Italian beef is great here, but not the best. You can't go wrong with Portillo's. Also they have a shake with a piece of cake in it if you want to live on the edge.
This is the best Italian beef sandwich in Chicago. And there is a LOT of Italian beef here.
62 locals recommend
Al's Beef
1079 W Taylor StThis is the best Italian beef sandwich in Chicago. And there is a LOT of Italian beef here.
Passion fruit mousse is killer. Order ahead of time!
9 locals recommend
Brazilian Bowl Brazilian Grill
3200 W Lawrence AvePassion fruit mousse is killer. Order ahead of time!
They make all their own stuff. Open morning to early afternoon. It's so good.
12 locals recommend
Spoken Cafe
1812 W Montrose AveThey make all their own stuff. Open morning to early afternoon. It's so good.
Neighborhoods
This lovely neighborhood is full of local shops. Most have curbside pickup or you can shop in-store. Terrific restaurants! Take the Brown Line two stops to Western.
104 locals recommend
Lincoln Square
This lovely neighborhood is full of local shops. Most have curbside pickup or you can shop in-store. Terrific restaurants! Take the Brown Line two stops to Western.
This is where you are staying. This is Chicago's oldest neighborhood association and there are lots of historic buildings here. We're on the east edge of a larger neighborhood called Albany Park, one of the most exciting and diverse areas in Chicago.
6 locals recommend
Ravenswood Manor
This is where you are staying. This is Chicago's oldest neighborhood association and there are lots of historic buildings here. We're on the east edge of a larger neighborhood called Albany Park, one of the most exciting and diverse areas in Chicago.
So many cultures! Check out Albany Park, the main streets are Kedzie, Lawrence, Montrose, and Kimball - so many local restaurants from a huge array of cultures. You'll love it!
7 locals recommend
Albany Park
So many cultures! Check out Albany Park, the main streets are Kedzie, Lawrence, Montrose, and Kimball - so many local restaurants from a huge array of cultures. You'll love it!
I love to go here and walk around. Get a scone. An LGBTQ-centered neighborhood with incredible people and shopping.
154 locals recommend
Andersonville
I love to go here and walk around. Get a scone. An LGBTQ-centered neighborhood with incredible people and shopping.
Outside
Go outside here. It's lovely all year, you can park on the street, it's big, and there's a nature play space for the kids.
18 locals recommend
West Ridge Nature Preserve
5801 N Western AveGo outside here. It's lovely all year, you can park on the street, it's big, and there's a nature play space for the kids.
Grocery Stores
Local favorite for food that's not boring. Great prepared food section and terrific coffee.
46 locals recommend
HarvesTime Foods
2632 W Lawrence AveLocal favorite for food that's not boring. Great prepared food section and terrific coffee.
I shop here 90% of the time. Lots of organic options and cheap/good wine. Don't get stuck in the What-Not Aisle or you'll spend so much money. You'll see what I mean when you get there. Bring your own bags!
71 locals recommend
ALDI
2431 W Montrose AveI shop here 90% of the time. Lots of organic options and cheap/good wine. Don't get stuck in the What-Not Aisle or you'll spend so much money. You'll see what I mean when you get there. Bring your own bags!
Mariano's
3358 W Touhy AveInsane grocery store that goes on forever. For real.
Part grocery store, incredible deli, gift shop, beer extravaganza, wine and spirits, European market. It's great.
91 locals recommend
Gene's Sausage Shop and Delicatessen
4750 N Lincoln AvePart grocery store, incredible deli, gift shop, beer extravaganza, wine and spirits, European market. It's great.
Traveler advice
Traveling with kids
Chicago Super Sitters
This is a GREAT matchmaking babysitter service in Chicago. They are meticulous about screening sitters and matching them to your specific needs. Make SURE You sign up before, as they will need time to get to know you.
https://chicagosupersitters.com/
Getting around
Brown Line is your friend
You can take the Brown Line all the way downtown and back. Easy switching to the Red Line at Belmont.