Map 19 • Hyde Park image

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Hyde Park

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Map 19

A university’s best attempt to summon up images of Oxford collides with its misguided efforts toward urban renewal in this neighborhood, where the student and middle classes drink in the same bars as the academics and politicians governing their lives. In one of Chicago’s most racially integrated neighborhoods, ethnic dining abounds, as does artistic graffiti. Don’t miss the bookstores along 57th Street; replicas of Borges’s libraries?

image Landmarks

• Drexel Fountain • 5100 S Drexel Ave

The city’s oldest remaining fountain.

• Frederick C. Robie House • 5757 S Woodlawn Ave

Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright; renovations proceeding, stay tuned.

• Harriet M. Harris Park • 6200 S Drexel Ave

312-747-2706

Historic Park building with Mural of Woodlawn Heroes, swimming, and arts.

• Midway Plaisance Ice Rink •

1130 Midway Plaisance

312-745-2470

Professors’ kids collide while the speakers blare Motown and the Beatles.

• Midway Plaisance Park • 1130 Midway Plaisance

312-745-2470

Olympic-sized outdoor skating rink.

• Nichols Park • 1355 E 53rd St

312-747-2703

Home of the Parrots of Hyde Park.

• Nuclear Energy Sculpture • 5600 S Ellis Ave

Birthplace of the Atomic Age.

• The Oriental Institute • 1155 E 58th St

773-702-9514

Educate yourself.

• Rockefeller Memorial Chapel •

5850 S Woodlawn Ave

773-702-2100

Built in 1928, this English Gothic-styled cathedral contains one of the world’s largest carillons.

• University of Chicago • 5801 S Ellis Ave

773-702-1234

A pretty spot for wandering on the south side.

image Nightlife

• Checkerboard Lounge • 5201 S Harper Ave

773-684-1472

This legendary blues and jazz club is back!

• Falcon Inn • 1601 E 53rd St

Cheap dive of regulars where you can hide out.

• The Pub • 1212 E 59th St

773-702-9737

A basement student bar redeemed by the people-watching and wood panels.

• Seven Ten Lanes • 1055 E 55th St

773-347-2695

1920s décor in Hyde Park haven.

• Woodlawn Tap • 1172 E 55th St

773-643-5516

U of Chicago legend.

image Restaurants

• Bergstein’s Deli • 1164 E 55th St

773-891-0429 • $

Brooklyn-style deli’s second outpost.

• Bonjour Café Bakery • 1550 E 55th St

773-241-5300 • $

Have a pastry and be seen.

• Boston Market • 1424 E 53rd St

773-288-2600 • $

Hyde Park outpost of the ubiquitous rotisserie chicken chain.

• C’est Si Bon • 643 E 47th St

773-536-2600 • $$

Go for Sunday Brunch.

• Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen • 1206 E 53rd St

773-324-6227 • $$

Great food, horrible service.

• Chant • 1509 E 53rd St

773-324-1999 • $$$

Upscale Asian for Hyde Parkers.

• Daley’s Restaurant • 809 E 63rd St

773-643-6670 • $$

Century-old restaurant serving comfort food.

• Harold’s Chicken Shack • 1208 E 53rd St

773-752-9260 • $

Buckets and buckets of crispy, crumbling chicken. Best in the ‘hood.

• Kikuya • 1601 E 55th St

773-667-3727 • $$

Best sushi in the neighborhood.

• La Petite Folie • 1504 E 55th St

773-493-1394 • $$$$

The only haute cuisine in the neighborhood. Expensive and worth it.

• Maravillas Restaurant • 5506 S Lake Park Ave

773-643-3155 • $

Cheap, good Mexican. Stinging salsa. Open real late.

• Medici on 57th • 1327 E 57th St

773-667-7394 • $

The essence of life at U of C.

• Mellow Yellow • 1508 E 53rd St

773-667-2000 • $

Comfort food for morning and night.

• Nathan’s Chicago Style • 1372 E 53rd St

773-288-5353 • $

A taste of Jamaica.

• Pepe’s Mexican Restaurant • 1310 E 53rd St

773-752-9300 • $

Damn fine guacamole. You might want it when you’re high.

• Rajun Cajun • 1459 E 53rd St

773-955-1145 • $

Neon lights oversee the marriage of chicken tikka masala and cornbread.

• Salonica • 1440 E 57th St

773-752-3899 • $

Where to go the morning after.

• The Sit Down Cafe & Sushi Bar • 1312 E 53rd St

773-324-3700 • $$

Sake with your caprese salad? Must be fusion.

• Valois • 1518 E 53rd St

773-667-0647 • $

See Your Food.

Hyde Park boasts plentiful entertainment and dining options, including many of President Obama’s favorites, such as Valois and 57th Street Books. Blues and jazz fans flock to hear live music daily at the Checkerboard Lounge. For more upscale dining, savor the cuisine at La Petite Folie. The University of Chicago’s Logan Arts Center built on a vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

image Shopping

• 57th Street Books • 1301 E 57th St

773-684-1300

Brainy, independent bookstore.

• Blackstone Bicycle Works • 6100 S Blackstone Ave

773-241-5458

Super friendly and welcoming Woodlawn bike shop.

• DJ’s Bike Doctor • 1500 E 55th St

773-955-4400

Trustworthy, friendly service and parts for your bike.

• Freehling Pot & Pan • 1365 E 53rd St

773-643-8080

All sorts of kitchen gadgets, plus bulk coffee and tea.

• Futons N More • 1370 E 53rd St

773-324-7083

Futons ‘n’ more.

• House of Africa • 1510 E 63rd St

773-324-6858

Afrocentric everything.

• Hyde Park Produce Market • 1226 E 53rd St

773-324-7100

A grocery store full of cheap produce and ethnic ingredients.

• Hyde Park Records • 1377 E 53rd St

773-288-6588

Buy/sell vintage LPs.

• Powell’s Bookstore • 1501 E 57th St

773-955-7780

Famous bookstore.

• Seminary Co-op Bookstore •

5751 S Woodlawn Ave

773-752-4381

Underground trove of scholarly books for all.

• Toys Et Cetera • 1502 E 55th St

773-324-6039

Just for fun.

• Wesley’s Shoe Corral • 1506 E 55th St

773-667-7463

Quality shoes from around the world.