| Map 21 • Wicker Park / Ukrainian Village | |
Wicker Park / Ukrainian Village
Map 21
Wicker Park/Ukrainian Village play host to a brewing battle between shiny gentrified district and gritty arts enclave. Mammoth Victorian homes and angular new constructions line the leafy and historic streets. Stroller-wielders and tattooed-cyclists share Milwaukee Avenue: each equally comfortable sipping Metropolis Coffee next to the full-size replica of a Delorean time machine at Wormhole. Who will ultimately claim the territory as their own? Just ask Bucktown.
Landmarks
• Coyote Building • 1600 N Milwaukee Ave
This 12-story Art Deco building was constructed in 1929 and is currently a shrine to actor Peter Coyote.
• Flat Iron Arts Building • 1579 N Milwaukee Ave
This distinct triangular-shaped building is a part of the Chicago Coalition of Community Cultural Centers and houses artist studios.
• Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral and Rectory • 1121 N Leavitt St
773-486-6064
Designed by Louis Sullivan to look like a Russian cathedral.
• Wicker Park • W Schiller St & N Damen Ave
The homes in this district reflect the style of Old Chicago.
Nightlife
• The Blind Robin • 853 N Western Ave
773-395-3002
Neighborhood dwellers flock for cheap beer and board games.
• Davenport’s Piano Bar • 1383 N Milwaukee Ave
773-278-1830
Once legendary skanker bar, now yuppy fern bar. Whattya gonna do?
• Debonair Social Club • 1575 N Milwaukee Ave
773-227-7990
Friendly and glam go hand in hand in this hipster club.
• Double Door • 1572 N Milwaukee Ave
773-489-3160
Top local and national alt-rock acts.
• Emporium Arcade Bar • 1366 N Milwaukee Ave
773-697-7922
Number of retro arcade games and an extensive beer list.
• Empty Bottle • 1035 N Western Ave
773-276-3600
Avant-garde jazz and indie rock. Smells like cat.
• Estelle’s Café & Lounge • 2013 W North Ave
773-782-0450
Last time we were here a girl puked on my shoes and no one cared.
• The Flat Iron • 1565 N Milwaukee Ave
773-365-9000
Average and open late.
• Gold Star Bar • 1755 W Division St
773-227-8700
Hear the Cars and Cash in under an hour.
• Happy Village • 1059 N Wolcott Ave
773-486-1512
Ping pong inside, lush beer garden outside—a divey gem.
• High Noon Saloon • 1560 N Milwaukee Ave
773-227-9339
Old West meets high definition.
• Inner Town Pub • 1935 W Thomas St
773-235-9795
Wicker Park art dorks.
• Innjoy • 2051 W Division St
773-394-2066
WP scene-ster place for drinking and local acts.
• The Lincoln Lodge • 2011 W North Ave
773-251-1539
A funny night on the town.
• Links Tap Room • 1559 N Milwaukee Ave
773-360-7692
Long list of craft beers on tap and housemade sausages.
• Mana Food Bar • 1742 W Division St
773-342-1742
Gourmet vegetarian with a global influence.
• Ola’s Liquor • 947 N Damen Ave
773-384-7250
Polish-Ukrainian liquor store-bar (Old Style, literally and figuratively).
• Phyllis’ Musical Inn • 1800 W Division St
773-486-9862
Divey hot-spot for local music acts.
• Piece • 1927 W North Ave
773-772-4422
Beer. Pizza.
• Rainbo Club • 1150 N Damen Ave
773-489-5999
Cool-kid mecca and favorite hang of local celeb John Cusack. Enough said.
• Revel Room • 1566 N Milwaukee Ave
773-278-1600
Craft cocktails.
• Standard Bar and Grill • 1332 N Milwaukee Ave
773-904-8615
The name says it all at this newbie sports bar.
• Subterranean • 2011 W North Ave
773-278-6600
Semi-cool music spot.
• The Violet Hour • 1520 N Damen Ave
773-252-1500
Speakeasy that makes perfect drinks. Get there early.
The neighborhood’s cozy artist community warily eyes the yuppies inching their way westward, and local businesses are beginning to reflect these migratory patterns. Upscale chain retailers and slick sports bars wedge themselves between indie shops and cafés. Find the two populations intermingling over gourmet tacos and tequila on Big Star’s summer patio. As always, Indie bands and avant-garde jazz wail through the night from Empty Bottle.
Restaurants
• Antique Taco • 1360 N Milwaukee Ave
773-687-8697 • $$
Shabby-chic taqueria.
• Bangers & Lace • 1670 W Division St
773-252-6499 • $$
Brit pub meets Wisconsin lodge.
• Big Star • 1531 N Damen Ave
773-235-4039 • $$
Pretty long wait, pretty good tacos, pretty pretty people.
• Birchwood Kitchen • 2211 W North Ave
773-276-2100 • $
Sophisticated sandwiches for grown-ups.
• Bite Cafe • 1039 N Western Ave
773-395-2483 • $
Comfy cafe, go in, and get warm. Next to Empty Bottle. Eat, stay, rock.
• Black Dog Gelato • 859 N Damen Ave
773-235-3116 • $
Beloved local spot for the frozen Italian delicacy.
• Blue Fin Sushi Bar • 1952 W North Ave
773-394-7373 • $$$
Upscale, trendy sushi bar.
• Blue Line Lounge & Grill • 1548 N Damen Ave
773-395-3700 • $$
Mix a diner with a Martini club and here you go.
• Bob San • 1805 W Division St
773-235-8888 • $$$$
Youthful sushi joint.
• Briciola • 937 N Damen Ave
773-772-0889 • $$
Charming al fresco dining.
• Carriage House • 1700 W Division St
773-384-9700 • $$$
Authentic low country classics.
• Cumin • 1414 N Milwaukee Ave
773-342-1414 • $$
Modern take on Nepalese and Indian cuisines.
• Dove’s Luncheonette • 1545 N Damen Ave
773-645-4060 • $$
Throwback diner serving up Southern/Mexican cuisine.
• Feast • 1616 N Damen Ave
773-772-7100 • $$$
Popular for Sunday brunch.
• The Fifty/50 • 2047 W Division St
773-489-5050 • $
Great inexpensive food.
• Flash Taco • 1570 N Damen Ave
773-772-1997 • $
Cheap late-night tacos.
• Glazed & Infused • 1553 N Damen Ave
312-226-5556 • $
Doughnuts are the new cupcakes.
• Handlebar • 2311 W North Ave
773-384-9546 • $$
Bicycle-themed (largely) vegetarian restaurants decorated with off-duty messengers.
• Hash • 1357 N Western Ave
773-661-2964 • $
Beyond traditional corned beef at this 70s-inspired brunch spot.
• Jam • 3057 W Logan Blvd
773-292-6011 • $$
Open for breakfast and lunch.
• Jerry’s Wicker Park • 1938 W Division St
773-235-1006 • $$
Jerry’s knows good sandwiches, and isn’t afraid to…make them.
• Las Palmas • 1835 W North Ave
773-289-4991 • $
Great al fresco Mexican goes beyond the norm.
• Leghorn Chicken • 959 N Western Ave
773-394-4444 • $
I say, I say: The fried chicken frenzy continues.
• Letizia’s Natural Bakery • 2144 W Division St
773-342-1011 • $
Addictive sweets and savory fare that holds its own
• Lillie’s Q • 1856 W North Ave
773-772-5500 • $$$
Well-appointed, beer-friendly ecumenical barbecue joint.
• Mana Food Bar • 1742 W Division St
773-342-1742 • $$
Gourmet vegetarian with a global influence.
• Milk & Honey • 1920 W Division St
773-395-9434 • $
Heaven for breakfast.
• Mirai • 2020 W Division St
773-862-8500 • $$
Chic dining and good sushi.
• The Monarch • 1745 W North Ave
773-252-6053 • $$
Try the dill pickle chicken wings.
• Native Foods Cafe • 1484 N Milwaukee Ave
773-489-8480 • $$
Vegan selections made daily with a West Coast vibe.
• Oiistar • 1358 N Milwaukee Ave
773-360-8791 • $$
Pan-Asian ramen that meanders through France and Italy.
• Picante Taqueria • 2016 W Division St
773-328-8800 • $
Very, very, very, very, very small taqueria.
• Piece • 1927 W North Ave
773-772-4422 • $$
Beer. Pizza.
• Red Square • 1914 W Division St
773-227-2284 • $$
Russian café and spa within the historic bathhouse.
• Santullo’s • 1943 W North Ave
773-227-7960 • $
New York-style thin crust pizza in a deep dish town.
• Smoke Daddy • 1804 W Division St
773-772-6656 • $
Barbecue and blues.
• The Southern • 1840 W North Ave
773-342-1840 • $$
Comfort food served up with locally sourced ingredients.
• Sultan’s Market • 2057 W North Ave
773-235-3072 • $
Cheap Middle Eastern, groceries.
• Takito • 2013 W Division St
773-687-9620 • $
Contemporary taqueria.
• Tamale Station • 1341 N Damen Ave
312-909-7009 • $$
Where the Tamale Spaceship docks; scrumptious namesake dishes and tacos.
• Taxim • 1558 N Milwaukee Ave
773-252-1558 • $$
Fancy, contemporary greek. Duck gyros, anyone?
• Thai Lagoon • 2322 W North Ave
773-489-5747 • $$
Great Thai, funky atmosphere.
• Thai Village • 2053 W Division St
773-384-5352 • $
Cheap, tasty, and great outdoor seating.
• Trenchermen • 2039 W North Ave
773-661-1540 • $$$
Dash of whimsy with your pickle tots and candied quinoa.
• Xoco Bistro • 1471 N Milwaukee Ave
872-829-3821 • $$$
Farm-to-table Mexican courtesy Rick Bayless.
Piece serves up New Haven-style pizza with a selection of microbrews crafted in-house. Mana features fine upscale vegetarian, and Carriage House is trendy but good. Satisfy any and all fried chicken cravings at Leghorn Chicken.
Shopping
• Akira • 1814 W North Ave
773-489-0818
High fashion for wannabe Eurotrash.
• Art + Science Salon • 1552 N Milwaukee Ave
773-227-4247
Beakers bring you back to science class. Student discounts available.
• Artemio’s Bakery • 1443 N Milwaukee Ave
773-342-0757
Mexican sweetstuffs.
• Asrai Garden • 1935 W North Ave
773-782-0680
Unique home accents and garden doodads.
• Beadniks • 1937 W Division St
773-276-2323
DIY activity of the 00s.
• Brainstorm Comics • 1579 N Milwaukee Ave
773-384-8721
Comic books.
• Brobagel • 1931 W North Ave
773-276-2243
Good bagels, inventive spreads, and sandwiches; they’re actually brothers.
• Broken Cherry • 1734 W North Ave
773-278-4000
Rockin’ boutique with custom apparel options.
• Brooklyn Industries • 1426 N Milwaukee Ave
773-360-8182
All your bags are belong to us.
• Cattails • 1935 W Division St
773-486-1621
A unique flower market.
• City Soles • 1566 N Damen Ave
773-489-2001
You could wear your paycheck, one on each foot. But beautifully handcrafted European soles.
• DeciBel Audio • 1429 N Milwaukee Ave
773-862-6700
New and used stereo equipment.
• Dr. Martens • 1561 N Milwaukee Ave
773-489-5499
Yep, they’re back.
• G-Star Raw • 1525 N Milwaukee Ave
773-342-2623
More denim than your little heart could desire.
• Greenheart • 1911 W Division St
312-264-1625
Fair-trade items galore!
• Iron Cycles • 1375 N Milwaukee Ave
773-772-4553
Repairs, fits, and custom builds.
• John Fluevog • 1539 N Milwaukee Ave
773-772-1983
Funky, eco-friendly shoes.
• Moon Voyage • 2010 W Pierce Ave
773-423–8853
Luxe boho clothing, accessories, and home goods.
• Myopic Books • 1564 N Milwaukee Ave
773-862-4882
A Wicker Park brainy-hipster institution.
• Paper Doll • 2027 W Division St
773-227-6950
Paper, cards, and great gifts.
• Penelope’s • 1913 W Division St
773-395-2351
Pad your wardrobe with adorable at remarkably reasonable prices.
• Quimby’s • 1854 W North Ave
773-342-0910
Books and music.
• Ragstock • 1459 N Milwaukee Ave
773-252-4880
Funky vintage clothes and trendy irregulars.
• Reckless Records • 1532 N Milwaukee Ave
773-235-3727
Instant satisfaction for the vinyl-hungry masses.
• Ruby Room • 1743 W Division St
773-235-2323
A “spa for the spirit” of the chic.
• Saint Alfred • 1531 N Milwaukee Ave
773-486-7159
Who knew Alfred was the patron saint of super cool sneakers?
• Silver Moon • 1721 W North Ave
773-235-5797
Amazing vintage.
• The Silver Room • 1442 N Milwaukee Ave
773-278-7130
Clothing and accessories.
• Una Mae’s • 1528 N Milwaukee Ave
773-276-7002
A Wicker Park staple—vintage and new clothing.