| Map 39 • Ravenswood / North Center | |
Ravenswood / North Center
Map 39
Ravenswood and North Center are by and large the hip place to be seen pushing an expensive stroller. Lincoln Square is its epicenter, featuring plenty of wine stores and bars with stroller parking. It’s not all yuppie, though. An old German immigrant presence still exists in restaurants like the Chicago Brauhaus (featuring live Oompah bands on the weekends) and annual German festivals (Mayfest and Christkindl) directly off the Western L.
Landmarks
• Abbott House • 4605 N Hermitage Ave
Comely Queen Anne painted-lady built in 1891 for Abbott labs founder.
• Krause Music Store • 4611 N Lincoln Ave
It’s easy to overlook this Louis Sullivan beauty on a bustling commercial strip.
• Lincoln Square • 4800 N Lincoln Ave
773-728-3890
A virtual tour through a European-style neighborhood.
• Old Town School of Folk Music •
4544 N Lincoln Ave
773-728-6000
Northern expansion of beloved Chicago institution. Classes and concert venue.
• St. Benedict Parish & School •
2215 W Irving Park Rd
773-588-6484
The namesake of the St. Ben’s neighborhood.
• Winnemac Park • 5001 N Leavitt St
312-742-5101
Cute neighborhood park, replete with families and children playing.
Nightlife
• Celtic Crown Public House • 4301 N Western Ave
773-588-1110
Great specials without over-Irishing it!
• Chicago Brauhaus • 4732 N Lincoln Ave
773-784-4444
More German than Germany…even in Oktober.
• Daily Bar & Grill • 4560 N Lincoln Ave
773-561-6198
Bar food in retro ambiance.
• Fountainhead • 1970 W Montrose Ave
773-697-8204
Seriously extensive beer list.
• The Globe Pub • 1934 W Irving Park Rd
773-871-3757
Great music venue gone sports bar.
• The Grafton • 4530 N Lincoln Ave
773-271-9000
Outstanding bar food and friendly atmosphere.
• Half Acre Beer Company • 4257 N Lincoln Ave
773-248-4038
Where cans met craft beer.
• Huettenbar • 4721 N Lincoln Ave
773-561-2507
German-town favorite with great beer selection.
• Katerina’s • 1920 W Irving Park Rd
773-348-7592
Live jazz, gypsy music, and local rock at this European lounge.
• Koval Distillery • 5121 N Ravenswood Ave
312-878-7988
Tour, sip, and mix in the whisky wonderland.
• Laschet’s Inn • 2119 W Irving Park Rd
773-478-7915
Pull on the Lederhosen!
• O’Donovan’s • 2100 W Irving Park Rd
773-478-2100
It’s a neighborhood bar. You can watch sports.
• O’Lanagan’s • 2335 W Montrose Ave
773-583-2252
Not an Irishman in sight!
• Oakwood 83 • 1959 W Montrose Ave
773-327-2785
Glorified version of your uncle Frank’s basement.
• The Rail • 4709 N Damen Ave
773-878-9400
One-time dive, the rail rocks in Ravenswood.
• Resi’s Bierstube • 2034 W Irving Park Rd
773-472-1749
Wear your lederhosen.
• Tiny Lounge • 4352 N Leavitt St
773-463-0396
Tiny name, but big on flavorful cocktails.
• Wild Goose • 4265 N Lincoln Ave
773-281-7112
Guy’s bar. Cheap eats, TVs, and games.
• Windy City Inn • 2257 W Irving Park Rd
773-588-7088
Nice family feel…if you’re from Kentucky.
By day, local yuppies shop at places like the Book Cellar, a cute bookshop cum wine café, and browse-friendly Merz Apothecary. By night, a stretch of Lincoln Avenue becomes restaurant row featuring mouth-watering international fare including Opart Thai, Chicago Brauhaus, and Spacca Napoli. The Davis Theater sates cinephiles with their no-frills, low-priced flicks.
Restaurants
• Bistro Campagne • 4518 N Lincoln Ave
773-271-6100 • $$
Organic French fare in a cozy room.
• Browntrout • 4111 N Lincoln Ave
773-472-4111 • $$
Sustainable hoodie with a fish proclivity.
• Budacki’s Drive-In • 4739 N Damen Ave
773-561-1322 • $
Artery clogging late-night eats.
• Café Selmarie • 4729 N Lincoln Ave
773-989-5595 • $$
Bright, clean, bakery/cafe with wine and beer.
• Chicago Brauhaus • 4732 N Lincoln Ave
773-784-4444 • $$
Live German music in beerhouse atmosphere.
• Diner Grill • 1635 W Irving Pk Rd
773-248-2030 • $
Home to the infamous “Slinger.” Motto: Eat it here, leave it somewhere else.
• Eat N Drink • 4649 N Damen Ave
773-506-8689 • $
Cheap Chinese food and fresh smoothies.
• Elizabeth • 4835 N Western Ave
773-681-0651 • $$$$$
Communal dining at its finest.
• Essence of India • 4601 N Lincoln Ave
773-506-0002 • $$
Traditional northern Indian food, fancier than Devon St.
• First Slice • 4401 N Ravenswood Ave
773-506-7380 • $$
Upscale café benefiting the hungry in more ways than one.
• Glenn’s Diner • 1820 W Montrose Ave
773-506-1720 • $$
Fish-focused American fare.
• House of Wah Sun • 4319 N Lincoln Ave
773-477-0800 • $
Chinese/Cantonese/Mandarin eatery.
• La Amistad • 1914 W Montrose Ave
773-878-5800 • $
No fusion here, just reliable Mexican.
• Margie’s Candies • 1813 W Montrose Ave
773-348-0400 • $
Ridiculously decadent sundaes and homemade confections.
• Opart Thai House • 4658 N Western Ave
773-989-8517 • $
Local favorite for fresh Thai. BYOB.
• Orange Garden • 1942 W Irving Park Rd
773-525-7479 • $$
Over seventy years of Cantonese cooking.
• Over Easy Café • 4943 N Damen Ave
773-506-2605 • $
Bright breakfast spot.
• Pannenkoeken Cafe • 4757 N Western Ave
773-769-8800 • $
It’s like having dessert for breakfast!
• Snappy’s Shrimp House • 1901 W Irving Park Rd
773-244-1008 • $
Frozen or friend shrimp to go.
• Spacca Napoli • 1769 W Sunnyside Ave
773-878-2420 • $$
Neapolitan-style pizza in Ravenswood.
• Sticky Rice • 4018 N Western Ave
773-588-0133 • $
No frills storefront, serves amazing Thai for cheap!
Shopping
• Alapash Home • 1944 W Montrose Ave
773-769-8825
Terrariums and other home goods.
• Architectural Artifacts • 4325 N Ravenswood Ave
773-348-0622
Renovator’s dream.
• Book Cellar • 4736 N Lincoln Ave
773-293-2665
Book store/coffee shop/wine bar. Also has sandwiches.
• Chicago Soccer • 4839 N Western Ave
773-271-2255
All things soccer store.
• The Chopping Block • 4747 N Lincoln Ave
773-472-6700
Gourmet cooking utensils and cooking classes.
• Dark Tower Comics & Collectibles •
4835 N Western Ave
773-654-1490
Comics with extra awesome service.
• Eclecticity • 4718 N Lincoln Ave
773-275-3080
You’ll never know what cool stuff you’ll find here.
• Fleet Feet Sports • 4762 N Lincoln Ave
773-271-3338
Runner’s mecca.
• Gallimaufry Gallery • 4712 N Lincoln Ave
773-728-3600
Artisan crafts including instruments, incense, stone fountains.
• The Glass Art & Decorative Studio •
4507 N Lincoln Ave
773-561-9008
Stained glass and gifts.
• Griffins & Gargoyles • 2140 W Lawrence Ave
773-769-1255
Pine furniture from Europe.
Katerina’s, on an unassuming stretch of Irving Park, features regular live gypsy music along with local acts. Koval Distillery offers classes, tours, and plenty of bottled varieties of whiskey to take home. For beer, Half Acre fills growlers at their tap room. Meanwhile, Fountainhead has an incredible beer selection and The Globe Pub is just a great Irish bar.
• Hazel • 1902 W Montrose Ave
773-769-2227
Stylish gifts and jewelry, plus an extensive stationery section.
• Laurie’s Planet of Sound • 4639 N Lincoln Ave
773-271-3569
Funky CD shop with unpretentious service.
• Margie’s Candies • 1813 W Montrose Ave
773-348-0400
Second generation of a Chicago classic.
• Merz Apothecary • 4716 N Lincoln Ave
773-989-0900
German and other imported toiletries, herbal supplements, etc. The original.
• Nadeau • 4433 N Ravenswood Ave
773-728-3497
This furniture warehouse may change your life.
• Neighborly • 2003 W. Montrose
773-840-2456
Your friendly print, design, and gift shop.
• Old Town School Music Store •
4544 N Lincoln Ave
773-728-6000
Guitars and such.
• Provenance Food and Wine • 2312 W Leland Ave
773-784-2314
Select offerings of wine, cheese, olives, and other gourmet fare.
• Quake Collectibles • 4628 N Lincoln Ave
773-878-4288
Vintage toys and fun!
• Ravenswood Used Books • 2005 W Montrose Ave
773-593-9166
General used, classic literature.
• Rock N Roll Vintage • 4740 N Lincoln Ave
773-878-8616
Guitars galore.
• Timeless Toys • 4749 N Lincoln Ave
773-334-4445
Old-fashioned toys.